Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Auden is the type of girl who excelled in every academic activity and with all her hard work to achieve such high standards, she had little time for a social life. In Along for the Ride, by Sarah Dessen, she discovers what she has been missing when she stays with her dad, step mom, and newborn sister. During her stay, she makes many friends and unforgettable memories especially with Eli, a mysterious boy with an intriguing past. Together, they recreate the events Auden has missed out on such as having a food fight or riding a bike. In this story Auden discovers who she truly is. I personally love this book because it’s a very realistic story which allows the reader to view the world through Auden’s perspective which is very interesting. Each character had a very dynamic personality which made the story very relatable. The situations Auden was in were relatable as well which gave the story a personal touch. The setting, a small town on the beach in the summer time, added a very calming and laid back attitude to the story. This book also conveyed a strong and important message. One character gives inspirational advice to Auden by saying: “What defines you isn’t how many times you crash, but the number of times you get back on the bike”. (325)On the other hand, there were some slow parts in the book that seemed unnecessary and excessive, and sometimes the author added too much, almost pointless, detail. Overall, I truly enjoyed the book and recommend it to anyone who is interested in romantic, realistic novels.