Along for the Ride

This book starts slow but leads into a book you can't put down. I just needed to get passed the background information first.

My Thoughts: Oh, Dessen, how I love thee. Out of all the books I've read so far from Dessen, I think this has got to to be my favorite one.We are introduced to Auden who lives with her mother. Her parents have gotten a divorce and her father is remarried and just had a baby with his new wife. She also has a brother named Hollis who is running all over the country. He never stays in one place too long. Auden is really into education, studying, the whole nine yards. That is what happens when your mom is a teacher and writer, and your dad is a writer. They expect greatness out of you. That is all she has ever known.She decides to go stay the summer with her father and his new family. She wants to see the baby anyway. Her name is Thisbe. Yes, they have funny names and there is a story behind each name.Auden goes to stay with them and she finds Last Chance. They have the best onion rings ever. Just reading those words, I wanted to rush right out and get me some onion rings. She also meets a few new friends at her stepmothers clothing store. She gets to know them pretty well.Auden is spending the summer realizing how busy her father really is, she's not sure he really even wants her there, and half the nights she spends out driving around, unable to sleep. Along For The Ride mostly focuses on family issues, but of course there is a little bit of romance.Eli, oh Eli, Sweet Eli. Eli is somewhat mysterious at first, we don't really know much about him, other than that he used to ride bikes a lot and compete. He also has a brother and had a best friend named Abe. Horrible story there.Eli and Auden end up bumping into each other and that starts the staying out all night together, getting to know each other, and Auden starts taking quests, to fulfill everything she missed out in high school. And Eli is there to guide her a long the way.Eli and Auden make a great pair. They are both suffering from something, and can relate to one another. They are learning new things, and experiencing them together. Eli finally starts to open up to someone after most of his friends have started to give up hope.Auden's family isn't perfect. She learns this lesson as the novel goes on. She learns that she just has to take it how it is.Along For The Ride was a sweet novel. I loved every minute of it. All the characters just suck you right in, and you feel like they are really your friends. You begin to love each and every one of them. You learn their quirks, what makes them sad, what makes them mad. All the characters feel so real. As I finished the book, I knew I would miss them.The good thing is, I can revisit them as many times as I want in the future.Overall: Awesome!!! Loved this one! Sarah Dessen sure does know how to make you fall in love with a story, doesn't she? What else can I possibly say? Can I have my own Eli please?I loved how each child was named after a story. Hollis, Thisbe, Auden! So creative!Cover: Love it! This is probably my favorite cover of hers. I love the bike and I love the girl and guy, and how we can't see the whole person. It cutting off at the head, is perfect. I even love their clothes. It's so pretty.What I'd Give It: 5/5 Cupcakes____________________Review Based On Hardcover EditionTaken From Princess Bookie

I appreciate how the author didn't over dramatize the characters or the plot. There's a simplicity to the storyline and they way each character handled their struggles that I find endearing. Thank you!!

This was my 4th Sarah Dessen read and I really enjoyed it! Even though this was a slower read, I felt like time was flying while I was reading this book. It was so easy to get wrapped into the story. I can’t wait to watch the movie Along for the ride on Netflix!!

This help explain the many questions I had after watching movie before reading the book so yes read first then movie.

For some reason I've always steered clear of these kinds of books, chick-lit, I had this idea that all of them are boring and cliche.I've seen 'Along for The Ride' a while, and it always tugged at a part of my mind, practically screaming "Read me! You wouldn't regret it, I promise! Perty please!" well I gave it a try and to my surprise I wasn't disappointed!This is my first Sara Dessen and I really admire how she captured Auden. You could relate to her, how she felt about her parents' divorce to her social isolation.Oh, and Eli! Even I have a crush on him! He's totally unlike that jerk brother of his, Jake.He really cares about her. He made Auden realize that she has a second chance to have a childhood she didn't have. The guy was sort of a reck at the begining, not talking to anyone since the accident until Auden came, which was kind of sweet. She helped him as much he had helped her. Now he talks and begins to joke around like he used to, before Abe's death.I also liked how Auden and Eli didn't get into all that boyfriend-girlfriend routine, holding hands and kissing all the time and going gaga over each other eek!That's what really turn me off of with these books.Her dad was a selfish bastard and he was going to make the same mistake twice! He needs his nine hours of sleep, sheesh! Heidi needed more than he did by far and deserved as much. She was on the verge of a meltdown, but lucky Auden was there.Aude got really attached to Isby(part Thisby and part Isabel), something else she didn't see coming.Aud and her mom had made assumptions about Heidi but she was alright and I guess surprised that she did turn out to be not so bad after all. But I can't say the same for the office in Clementine's, just hearing about it made me want to gag. I wasn't all for the girly-girl kind of thing. It was nice to see that she finally made friends, Maggie, Leah and Ester were all nice. The nine o' clock dance got me though! That was cool and original, well at least I didn't come across that before.On the subject on Aude's mom...that woman's a piece of work. The whole I'm-superior-than-you kind of thing really sends people running, but I think she's fine with that or she isn't even aware of it. In the end though, she's better than her husband.Finally in the end, Auden made a bunch of friends and found a way to keep in touch with Eli and the rest. I relieved to see that they finally ended the debate on what to call Clyde's bike shop, with a proper name too.All in all it was a fun read, not too much and not too little, after all less is more, right?(My review from Goodreads.com)

Shipping came in in pretty good timing . Front cover was a little beat up but inside of book was good . Happy with our purchase over all .

I love how Sarah Dessen writes about family life, and the problems it creates and fixes. She's a master storyteller when it comes to writing about everyday life, and her characters are always so well-crafted and layered. While I didn't think Along for the Ride had her usual spark, it's still miles better than a lot of YA fiction out there, and is a great addition to the Dessen library.Auden, Eli and Co. are all fantastic characters, who are haunted by the past and afraid to face the future. They remind me of an ensemble cast from a TV show -- one that's perfectly chosen and flawlessly acted. I could imagine these people living together in the small town of Colby, almost as if I was there myself. Their personalities jump off the page, and demand your undivided attention.This time around, I wanted more romance. Yes, Auden and Eli click; they have chemistry, they understand each other... but there isn't enough of them. Their relationship is quite a late development, with earlier time devoted to Auden and her family's situation. I didn't mind that at all, I just wanted more of the strong, all-consuming romance I've become so accustomed to.As is commonplace with any Dessen novel, the writing is almost mesmerising. It flows well, draws you in, and holds you in a vice until you reach the final sentence. I can never put one of her books down for long, and if I have to, it's for absolute necessities. She's still my Queen of Teen, and I really can't wait to see what she comes up with next. I just know it'll be good.

I've read lots of Sarah Dessen, but this is easily my favourite. I couldn't stop thinking about it afterwards, there's so much truth to it. The protagonist Auden's journey is poignant and relatable, drawing attention to the dysfunctions and paradoxes of family life without judgement. Bereavement is a key theme - for loved ones, for what might have been - and Dessen illustrates how important it is to move on and let go of the past. This is a brilliant book for young people that could teach many adults a thing or two.

Sarah Dessen at her finest - a beautiful novel about self-discovery, friendship, family, love and acceptance. With a fantastic selection of characters, and Dessen's trademark combination of humour and truly touching prose, this is an excellent summer read that is not to be missed!

Good seller. Product arrived on time and unharmed. This book was a smooth ride.

I bought this book as a gift for my 13 year old granddaughter, on the advice of a fellow Grandma. I have to admit the storyline sounds interesting and I will probably read it too.