Along for the Ride - Sarah DessenPages: 424
Publisher: Puffin
Release Date: 4th February 2010
Other Titles by this Author: Someone Like You, Last Chance, That Summer (my review), Dreamland (my review), Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, Lock and Key (my review)
Auden has always felt like the odd one out.
Since her parents’ divorce she’s shied away, studying lots and staying out of the party scene.
But now Auden’s realised there must be something more and, just like that, she changes everything. Moving to her dad’s house opens up a whole new world of beach parties, food fights - and simply having fun.
As she gets to know herself - and a secretive boy with dark, brooding eyes - can Auden begin to let go and finally feel like she truly belongs?
Sarah Dessen doesn’t know how to write a novel that’s less than amazing. Before reading this I’d been waiting for a ‘Wow!’ book, and Along for the Ride delivered.
I know I’ve said it about Sarah Dessen’s books before, but she really writes her characters so beautifully and intricately that I feel like I’ve known them forever. Closed-off, controlled, insomniac Auden is a classic Dessen heroine; strong, likable, a little damaged and in need of some real friends and the love of a legendary Dessen boy. Eli Stock. Quiet, mysterious and gorgeous Eli. He’s managed to make himself my second favourite, just under Wes from The Truth About Forever.
The way that the characters in Along for the Ride interact with and help each other is one of my favourite aspects of the novel. Relationships are very important in this novel: romantic ones, ones between siblings, those between friends and definitely the one between parent and child. Auden and Eli’s connection grew steadily and realistically in such a believable way that I felt myself grin every time they were together. I loved the way that they just talked and talked, it was such a contrast to their daytime personas. All the friends that Auden made in Colby really helped her to grow and I’d love to be friends with any one of them. I also found myself really liking Auden’s step-mum, Heidi; more that her mum actually! Sarah Dessen really is an extraordinary character writer.
Along for the Ride is written in such a familiar voice that it was almost nostalgic. I love Sarah’s style so much that I would read a leaflet on the life cycle of worms if she wrote it! Her books are such a pleasure to read, I try to drag them out for as long as possible. One of my favourite parts of Along for the Ride, as with her other novels, is the way Sarah Dessen dives her old characters cameos. Joining Auden in Colby were Jason from The Truth About Forever (Macy‘s boyfriend) and Colby from Last Chance/Keeping the Moon. Nate from Lock and Key was also mentioned. I really love being caught up with them!
I love Sarah Dessen’s novels to death and I will continue to read and recommend them forever.
For my 2010 100+ Reading Challenge
Sophie
What a wonderful review! I really enjoyed reading it - thank you! I'll have to read this book one day, too. :)
ReplyDeleteI agree she writes characters you can easily love! Great review :D
ReplyDeleteGreat review! I'm glad you enjoyed it so much, and I'm with you on loving her books forever. She's amazing!
ReplyDeleteI simply love her writing style. Haven't come across any of her books which I haven't loved..
ReplyDeleteI love Sarah Dessen too. She's amazing! Great review which I agree 100% with. ;D
ReplyDeleteI haven't read this novel yet, but I do like Sarah Dessen's books.
ReplyDeleteFantastic review! Sarah Dessen is on my list of must-read authors this year, because I hear so many good things about her work.
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Sophie! I haven't read any of Sarah Dessen's books before, though I won a copy of That Summer that arrived yesterday, which I'mr eally looking forward to! Just wondering, is there a specific order to read them in? I know they're stand alones, but if there are cameos of previous characters, should I read these books in a certain order? Cheers!
ReplyDeleteJo - You don't HAVE to read them in any order, but I suppose reading them in publication order would mean that you'd catch all of the cameos. But I don't think it really matters.
ReplyDeleteI've only read one of Sarah Dessen's books. I really should read more of her books. "Along for the Ride" sounds like a great read. Superb review :)
ReplyDeleteWow, awesome review! I loved it just as much as you did, it is one of my favorites :)
ReplyDeleteDo you ever write reviews for books you didn't like so much? I write reviews too, and sometimes, it's hard to write about those I didn't enjoy too much.
ReplyDeleteKate - I review every book I read, so yes. Sometimes I find it easier to write about books I didn't like too much as they often give me much more to say!
ReplyDeleteisn't she great? my fave dessen boy would have to be owen, though!
ReplyDeleteI am almost finished reading Along for the Ride. It's her only book I haven't read. I had a question for you about something strange I found in my paperback version and I was wondering if it had happened to anyone else. At page 308 it stopped and the next page was back at 277 and went through 278-308 again. I didn't know if this was a part of an earlier release of the paperback book that got re-released or if I had found something special. Any thoughts would be great as I have found NOTHING about it after searching the web. Great review by the way agreed with everything you said 110%!
ReplyDeleteDo you mean that the actual words repeated or just the page numbers? I checked my edition (UK, 2010 ed.)and mines perfectly normal - it's probably just a mis-print. If you take/send it back to wherever you got it from, they should exchange it for you. If you want to, that is!
DeleteHope that helps!