Spotlight On: Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen is quite possibly the QUEEN of young adult literature. Not only does she have nine incredibly popular novels, but she also had a movie deal and hosts a very loved blog. Most importantly, today marks the launch of her newest book Along for the Ride! Let's see what it's about, shall we?

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.

Sound good? I think so! I just got my copy and can't wait to read it! Dessen has a terrific talent when it comes to writing about young girls and I'm sure this book will live up to her previous best sellers.

As for Dessen, she's pretty awesome herself. From her bio: "I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and that's a good thing. It's always more fun to make stuff up anyway."

So what do you think? Interested in reading Along for the Ride? Have you read any of her other books? Love them as much as I do? Let us know in the comments!