Along for the Ride

Sarah Dessen's 'Along for the Ride' is a truthful examination of death and divorce, as well as the ties that bind. Auden has grown up as a perfectionist, trying to live up to her successful and strong mother's expectations. Living in someone's shadow has socially stunted her and she's never really had the chance to be a kid; plus, she's developed insomnia because of the late-night fights of her parents' divorce. When she goes to live with her dad, stepmother and brand-new baby sister for the summer, she finds a house in chaos. Her stepmother is overwhelmed with her shrieking stepsister, so Auden volunteers to pitch in at her girly boutique. There, Auden is unexpectedly introduced to the world of girls and their girl talk for the first time. However, she continues her nighttime escapades, and late one night, unexpectedly encounters a mysterious biker boy who seems to have a bit of insomnia of his own. As Auden begins to unravel her nighttime companion's secrets, she also learns a few surprising things about herself.

Dessen's most recent novel is as pitch-perfect as all those that came before it. Her characters are vivid and believable, and readers will empathize with their pain and their joys. The plot is the perfect blend of fun and intrigue. Dessen expertly navigates the complicated realms of divorce and pressure, death and friendship, while offering hope and insightful wisdom to readers who may find themselves in similar situations. Dessen's brilliant portraits of the different kinds of human relationships create the backbone of all her stories and the complicated ties she creates between her characters in 'Along for the Ride' are some of her most enchanting yet. Readers will find themselves caught up in the world Dessen has created and reluctant to leave it when the story ends.