Review: Along for the Ride

As it was the first day of school, this is the promised first of atleast two reviews that I will be posting daily until I'm caught up with all the books on my Goodreads shelf. So may the reviewing commense.


Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Summary (from Goodreads):

It’s been so long since Auden slept at night. Ever since her parents’ divorce—or since the fighting started. Now she has the chance to spend a carefree summer with her dad and his new family in the charming beach town where they live.

A job in a clothes boutique introduces Auden to the world of girls: their talk, their friendship, their crushes. She missed out on all that, too busy being the perfect daughter to her demanding mother. Then she meets Eli, an intriguing loner and a fellow insomniac who becomes her guide to the nocturnal world of the town. Together they embark on parallel quests: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she’s been denied; for Eli, to come to terms with the guilt he feels for the death of a friend.

My Review:

Just another reason to love the wonderful Sarah Dessen. Sarah Dessen has done it once again! Auden was unremarkably believable. The emotions and thoughts expressed by Auden, were totally ones that I could see my own self, or atleast imagining someone, exppressing. Part of this was due to the fact that I was totally able to relate to Auden on many different levels, but I think everyone can find a bit of themselves in Auden.

Relationships between characters were also believable. The friendship formed by Auden, Leah, Maggie, and Esther felt very real. I did have a little problem with how the 3 girls in regards to their level if dynamics, but that is easily overlooked. I am trying not to give too much away, but I will give you one reason, worth a thousand points, that you should read this book; One word- ELI!

Want More Sarah Dessen? Try The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, This Lullaby, Lock & Key (and some others...)


Cover Comments: I think this cover is adorable, the two models are positioned in a very eye-catching way. I do however think that the cover is a little misleading regarding the content of the book though. (4/5)


Overall Rating:
(5/5)

Any Sarah Dessen fan should pick this up, or anyone who wants a book with relatable characters and a good romance. Plus, as I've mentioned before, reading a Sarah Dessen novel is a right-of-passage read for any true YA avid reader.

USvsUK: The Truth About Forever

US vs. UK is a meme hosted over at Wondorous Reads.
Basicly the title is self-explanatory, this meme is one
designed to show US and UK covers of a book, and decide which one is better.

And now for today's contenders...

(The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen US vs. UK)

On the US Side...

On the UK Side...

My Pick: I'm definitely going with the US cover, on my scale it is a 4.5/5! Personally I was never a fan of the UK Dessen covers, they're just kind of blech! And this cover is no exception, it is only a 2.5/5 on my handy dandy cover rating scale!

Now that you've seen my pick, Who do you think won the Battle?

Recommendation: The Truth About Forever

.
The Truth About Forever
By Sarah Dessen


Summary (from Goodreads):

In The Truth About Forever, when asked how she is coping with her
father's death, invariably seventeen year old Macy Queen's answer is "fine," when nothing could be further from the truth.

In actuality, she is drowning in grief while maintaining a flawless façade of good grades and unblemished behavior.

Though she feels lost when her boyfriend heads to "Brain Camp" for the summer, she finds
herself a job with the quirky Wish Catering crew, and meets "sa-woon"-worthy Wes, whose
chaotic lifestyle is in direct opposition to her own.

As the two share their stories over the summer, Macy realizes she can no longer keep her feelings on ice.

Though it feels like her future ended with her dad's death, Macy's learns that forever is all about beginnings. Dessen charts

Macy's navigation of grief in such an honest way it will touch every reader who meets her.

All of the Dessen trademarks are here: a girl in transition, a wonderfully fleshed out cast of secondary characters, and of course, the luminous, powerful writing itself.

From What I Can Remember:

*This was my first Sarah Dessen novel, and it started my love affair with all things Sarah D
Dessen!

*Dessen created a character so incredibly relatable, though I could not relate with her experiences, her take on everything was so undeniably relatable!

*Wes stole my heart in this book, it was one of the first books that the romance in it just took me to another place where I didn't want to leave. (If that makes since)

*This book was heartbreaking, and raw, and funny, and far surpassed any expectations I had going to it! (Truthfully I actually didn't have any expectations going in, but nonetheless they would have been surpassed!) :)

*I did not like Jason one bit, he annoyed me from the get-go.

*I wish I could be apart of my own "Wish Caterring Crew"!

(Sorry, that is all I can remember)


Want more Sarah Dessen? Try Just Listen, Lock and Key, This Lullaby, Along for the Ride (plus some others...)

Cover Comments: I always thought this cover was so visually entertaining, one time in English I just sat there and stared at the cover completely enthralled. (I had finished the book and had nothing else to read.) :) (4.5/5)

Overall Rating:
(5/5)



Would I recommend this bad baby? Ugh, Yeah! I think it is every avid readers right-of-passage to read atleast one Sarah Dessen novel. And while there are many wondrous Dessen novels to choose from, this one I hold particurarly close to my heart!