Reviews

Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

alexsbooks_'s review against another edition

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DNFed at 40%

mylibrarybooks's review against another edition

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3.0

A friend let me borrow this, and I think it will be a great show. It just made me so anxious most of the time! No one knows about gripe water to help a baby with colic?? There's no melatonin or therapy in sight? No one's ever told the dad that the world doesn't revolve around him?? Of course all of these questions did find resolutions, but it felt like the issues lasted for so long and the resolutions happened so quickly. There was a lot going on, and like I said, I think it will be so great for an adaptation. I was also in the middle of so many anxiety inducing things in my life, so if that's the case for you, this is not quite the ice cream/escape book you might be looking for. But it is still very cute and a great coming of age story.

brittneyfike's review against another edition

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4.0

DREAMING OF
SUMMER DAYS AT
THE BEACH. CUTE,
EASY READ. I THINK
THIS WAS MY FIRST
SARAH DESSEN
NOVEL. I WILL FOR
SURE BE CHECKING
HER OTHER ONES
OUT.

historyfreak's review against another edition

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funny hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

buzzzybooks's review against another edition

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5.0

One of the best contemporary novels I've read in while! I loved it!

shema's review against another edition

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4.0

I really liked this book. It was avery cute summer read.

sunwhoohoo's review against another edition

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4.0

4.25 stars

this wasn't a crazy plot or something that I've never read before. but the characterization. I felt so connected to Auden that even when I disagreed with some of her actions they never felt unreasonable and I was always rooting for her. It had so many plots that I've read before but somehow was done with new characters that set it apart from all of the previous works that it mirrors. honestly I wasn't that invested in the romance but it was still a very captivating read

lorilaws's review against another edition

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5.0

Sarah Dessen never fails to surprise me. You would think after reading so many of her books I would just expect her fabulous writing and to fall in love. I’m still always stunned by how much depth she infuses her characters with. The story and issues are never one dimensional. There’s always layer upon layer of emotion and it always blooms into such a beautiful story. Maybe the next time I pick up a book by Sarah Dessen I’ll remember this.

Along for the Ride had been languishing on my shelf for quite awhile and then all of a sudden it just called to me and I had to pick it up. Auden’s story is a somewhat slow journey to be okay with who she is and who her parents are. When I say slow, I definitely don’t mean that as a bad thing. Dessen has a way with unfolding a story slowly and beautifully. I never lose interest. Plus, her descriptions of Colby are just gorgeous. It’s so easy to picture it.

Auden wasn’t the most likable character at the beginning of the novel. She has very rigid and judgmental opinions about everyone. She was the smartest person in the room most the time, or so she thought. My favorite part of Along for the Ride was hands down Auden’s growth. Watching her get to know these people she had formed such negative opinions about and realizing she was so far off the mark was amazing. I’ve also noticed that Sarah Dessen fills her books with incredibly strong female characters from all different backgrounds. Auden’s mother and stepmother are about as different as two adult women can be, but they both represented a part of Auden. They were her role models and she learned so much from them.

There’s also swoon worthy romance, of course. I adored Eli. He was kind of broken and lost. Doesn’t that always make for the best YA boys? While I really enjoyed their relationship, I still like Auden’s growth was the focus of the story. Eli was just a bonus. I certainly recommend this one if you haven’t read it–but you probably have.

rileymc04's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

smeepc's review against another edition

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5.0

So freaking good