Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen
Publication Date: June 16, 2009
Plot: 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.

MY THOUGHTS:
Love, love, love this book! I used to be OBSESSED with Sarah Dessen books in high school and college. You wouldn’t find a book of hers I didn’t have on my shelf. They were such incredible reads, and I always found her stories so relatable in a way I’d never related to another author's work before. Friends, the beach, the adventures, and the life lessons we learn as young adults coming into full-blown adulthood.
I picked Along for the Ride back up for a re-read before the Netflix movie was released, and now I remember why I’ve always loved her so much. It’s not a perfect adaptation, and yes things are changed but it worked well. I loved so many things about it, and it got me deep in my Sarah Dessen feels. This book feels like coming home.
If you’re looking for a book that gives off a spontaneous adventure vibe, this is it. It’s all about family, friends, falling in love, exploring, hardships, breakthroughs, and healing. Basically everything you could ask for in a comfort book. 10/10 recommend!