ALONG FOR THE RIDE

Dessen, Sarah. 2009. ALONG FOR THE RIDE. New York: Viking, 2009.

Auden is an insomniac. Staying awake at night and studying became her way of escaping her parents arguing. Now, her parents are divorced, her father is remarried, and has a new baby. The summer before Auden goes to college she decides to stay with her father for the summer. It’s there that she meets mysterious Eli, also an insomniac, who rides his bicycle at night.

Auden is a very relatable character, at least to me. She’s somewhat socially awkward, having chosen to throw herself in to her studies over the years, and she’s always felt like an adult, even while growing up. Spending her summer in the beach town of Colby puts her out of her element, and it is fun to see how she handles each new situation: the new mother, the baby, Eli, and making friends.

ALONG FOR THE RIDE is a story of growth and find oneself, but also of romance. The chemistry between Eli and Auden will surely draw readers in and keep them on edge until they find out what happens in the end. The events unfold through Auden’s eyes, and are told in first person point of view. The writing style is detailed and easy to soak up, making it hard to put the novel down. The tone is one of discovery, as Auden struggles to keep up with the changes in her life. Debbie Carton even states in her review in Booklist, “…fans will not be deterred by the length or…cover; they expect nuanced, subtle writing, and they won’t be disappointed.”

Reference List:

Carton, Debbie. 2009. Review of Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen. Booklist.