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Book: Along for the Ride
Author: Sarah Dessen
Audio book read by: Rachel Botchan
This book is a summer read that takes place the summer after high school graduation for the main character Auden, an 18 year old girl. I found myself relating closely with the main character whose family is split and father remarried. Set in a small town on the coast is definitely familiar to me, but the small town was surprisingly not used as a supporting character, thank goodness.
In fact the author did a remarkable job with creating likeable and believable characters, avoided annoying pitfalls of cliché teen dialog. Maggie was particularly likeable, and many of the characters grew on me. For a story that was a little predictable, I was sincerely grateful that there were a few surprises left for the reader. It was a relief to have a teen romance that wasn’t wrought with drama and too much sex, it was simply a sweet love story.
I was disappointed that we didn’t get to learn more about some of the supporting characters, or for that matter, the lead love interest. The author spent a great deal of time describing Auden’s father but fails to resolve the conflict she creates, and for that I am also frustrated. At least we get to see her mother grow as an individual, her father seems to remain much the same.
What you will find in this book is some fun characters that you might have even known in your own high school years, and a charming love story with a happy ending. The title, “Along for the Ride” is used as a device to explain how when life knocks you down, you need to get back up and try again. Sometimes there are second chances. This book was light enough and as a summer read it’s perfect. If you are looking for solid resolutions for all of the back stories, then you may be left hanging.
