Along for the Ride Review

Title: Along for the Ride 
Author: Sarah Dessen 
Publisher: Viking Juvenile 
Publication Date: June 16, 2009 
Pages: 383 
My Edition: ARC 
Reading Level: Young Adult 
Where I got it: won from Mishel at mis(h)takes! 

Summary from Sarah's website:

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. In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

Review: 
Sarah Dessen always writes amazingly, great books and this one is just as wonderful. All of her stories are similar: girl and boy fall for each other then something happens where they stop talking, so then they either get back together or they don't. I couldn't stop reading and really wanted Auden and Eli to be together! I was worried they wouldn't be together, but the ending was perfect.

The story is cute, funny, and pretty good. I love all the characters because they all are unforgettable and very easy to relate to. Auden goes through a lot in one summer, and it great how much she grew during then. She makes new friends, learns to let loose a little, and even to love and forgive. This wasn't my favorite Dessen book, but I still like it a lot. If you're looking for a nice, quick, summer read this would be perfect. I can't wait to read future books from such a great author!
 

Rating:

Friday Firsts (7)

The first line can make or break a reader’s interest. Just how well did the author pull you in to the story with their first sentence? To participate in this weekly book meme is extremely easy.

• Grab the book you are currently reading and open to the first page.
• Write down the first sentence in the first paragraph.
• Create a blog post with this information. (Make sure to include the title and the author of the book you are using. Even an ISBN helps!)
• Did this first sentence help draw you into the story? Why or why not?

The book I'm currently reading is the Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. I'm very close to finishing my books, so expect the Along for the Ride and the Treasure Map of Boys reviews sometime this weekend. I love all of Sarah Dessen's books and so far this one hasn't disappointed at all! This is the first sentence:

"THE EMAILS ALWAYS began the same way. Hi Auden!!"

 

This is a decent first sentence, but could have been a tad better. It got my attention and is kind of funny. Along for the Ride of course has a female main character who falls for a boy but then kinda blows it. I really like it and really just want to know it ends.

What's your current book's first sentence?

IMMB (9)

The IMMB meme was started by The Story Siren. This week I received Candle Man ARC from Goodman Media and won Along for the Ride ARC from a contest. Also, I bought To Kill a Mockingbird and Sex and the City for 47 cents and a Eragon audiobook for $1.97 at Goodwill. I'm so exciting I finally got Along for the Ride!

Candle Man Book 1: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance by Glenn Dakin

Summary from Amazon 
Murder, mystery, and adventure aren’t your typical birthday presents . . .
But for Theo, anything that breaks up his ordinary routine is the perfect gift. A mysterious “illness” and Theo’s guardians force him into a life indoors, where gloves must be worn and daily medical treatments are the norm. When Theo discovers a suspicious package on his birthday, one person from the past will unlock the secret behind Theo’s “illness” and change his life forever. Molded into an exhilarating steampunk adventure that gives birth to the next great fantasy hero, Theo Wickland, Candle Man: The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is the first book in a trilogy by debut author Glenn Dakin.


Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Summary from Sarah's website:
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. In her signature pitch-perfect style, Sarah Dessen explores the hearts of two lonely people learning to connect.

 Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

Summary from Candace's website:

Sex and the City offers a tantalizing glimpse of the openings, launch parties, and celebrity affairs that keep society amused. Throughout, a cast of characters-the troubled writer, the successful businessman, the famous underwear model, and others-searches for true love...or at least someone to go home with at the end of the night. It's a chronicle of the true-life adventures of the "in" crowd that is often hilarious and sometimes terrifying, but always mesmerizing.

What books did you get this week?