Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen
Stars I'll give: 5
Summary is from the book flap


Riding a bike is only one of the many things Auden's missed out on. Even before her parents divorce, she was cast in the role of little adult, never making waves, focusing on academics to please her demanding mother.

Now she's spending the summer before college in the tiny beach town of Colby with her father and his new wife and baby. A job in a trendy boutique introduces her to the world of girls, friendships, conversations, romances. And then there's Eli, an intriguing loner. A former star on the bike circuit and a fellow insomniac, Eli introduces Auden to the nocturnal world of Colby. Together they embark on a quest: for Auden, to experience the carefree teenage life she's been denied; for Eli, to put the tragic episode behind him. Combine to lonely people with a charming beach town and an endless supply of long summer nights, and just about anything can happen.



First things first really loved this book. Before I never liked romance books, I was the avid sc-fi/horror reader that of course had a little romance in it, but not about romance. When I got this book I didn't read it until I basically had nothing left that I haven't read so I picked it up and it engaged on the first sentence. Pure magic. The main characters were very well shaped and the story created a little movie in your head. You could feel the emotion in this book. How akaward it was with Eli back, the emotion towards Jake, how her father was selfish, and her mother mean. Auden wrapped you around her finger you thought from her point of view and were surprised as her when Maggie was actually smart? The ending was sweet to and a little frighting.