Along For the Ride
Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Viking Juvenile, 2009
Along for the Ride is a typical Sarah Dessen coming of age novel. By typical, I mean that there’s nothing all that new here–realistic characters, the well paced story, and a well crafted emotional landscape of being confused and at that age where you’re deciding who you want to be in life.
Auden, an overachieving, a-type girl with problems (this time it’s her parents’ divorce) is thrown out of her element and winds up meeting a quirky cute boy with problems as well (dead best friend). She helps him, he helps her, both of them grow. If you’ve read the fabulous The Truth About Forever, you have practically read this one, but even so, I’d recommend both! Sarah Dessen does what she does so well that the repetition doesn’t both me. Recommended for Sarah Dessen fans and/or readers seeking a realistic coming of age story (complete with a few tear jerker moments and that general sweet/warm hearted feeling that you get at the end of every good coming of age story).
Tags: adults, chicklit, coming of age, girls, Sarah Dessen, young adults
