Download Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen: A Free EPUB Version of a Charming YA Romance
- Who is the author? - Why did I choose to read it? H2: Summary of the plot - The main characters and their backgrounds - The main conflict and how it develops - The main themes and messages H2: Analysis of the characters - Auden: the protagonist and narrator - Eli: the love interest and guide - Auden's parents: the source of her problems - Heidi: Auden's stepmother and role model - Maggie, Leah, and Esther: Auden's new friends H2: Analysis of the writing style - The use of first-person point of view - The use of symbolism and imagery - The use of humor and dialogue H2: Evaluation of the book - The strengths and weaknesses of the book - The target audience and genre of the book - The rating and recommendation of the book H2: Conclusion - A summary of the main points - A personal reflection on the book - A call to action for the readers H2: FAQs - Where can I get a copy of Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen? - Is Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen a standalone book or part of a series? - How many pages does Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen have? - What are some other books by Sarah Dessen that I might enjoy? - What are some similar books to Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen that I might like? Table 2: Article with HTML formatting ```html Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen: A Review
If you are looking for a sweet and relatable young adult novel that explores themes such as family, friendship, love, and self-discovery, you might want to check out Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen. In this article, I will give you a brief overview of what the book is about, who the author is, why I chose to read it, and what I thought of it. I will also provide you with some frequently asked questions about the book at the end. So, let's get started!
along for the ride sarah dessen epub
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Introduction
Along for the Ride is a contemporary romance novel that follows the story of Auden, a smart and serious girl who has trouble sleeping at night due to her parents' divorce. She decides to spend the summer before college with her father, his new wife, and their newborn baby in a charming beach town. There, she meets Eli, a mysterious and brooding boy who also suffers from insomnia. Together, they embark on a series of nocturnal adventures that help them heal from their past traumas and discover new aspects of themselves.
The author of Along for the Ride is Sarah Dessen, a bestselling American writer who has published 14 novels for young adults. She is known for her realistic and engaging stories that feature strong female protagonists and deal with topics such as family, friendship, love, identity, and growth. Some of her most popular books include The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, This Lullaby, and Lock and Key.
I chose to read Along for the Ride because I am a fan of Sarah Dessen's books and I enjoy her writing style. I also liked the premise of the book and was curious to see how Auden and Eli's relationship would develop. I was also interested in how the book would portray the issues of divorce, remarriage, parenthood, and adolescence.
Summary of the plot
The main character of Along for the Ride is Auden West, an 18-year-old girl who has always been academically focused and socially isolated. She has grown up in a dysfunctional family where her parents are constantly fighting and competing with each other. Her mother is a successful professor who values intellect and achievement over emotion and connection. Her father is a famous novelist who is selfish and irresponsible. Auden has never had a normal childhood or a close relationship with either of her parents.
The main conflict of the book is Auden's struggle to find her own identity and happiness in the midst of her family's chaos. She has always felt like an outsider and a disappointment to her parents. She has never had any real friends or fun experiences. She has always followed the rules and expectations that others have set for her. She has never learned how to be herself or express her feelings.
The main themes and messages of the book are about the importance of family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. The book shows how Auden's life changes when she decides to spend the summer with her father in Colby, a small beach town where he lives with his new wife, Heidi, and their baby daughter, Thisbe. There, Auden meets Eli, a boy who has his own problems and secrets. He is haunted by the death of his best friend and blames himself for it. He has withdrawn from his family and friends and lost interest in his hobbies. He spends his nights wandering around the town, trying to escape from his guilt and pain.
Auden and Eli bond over their insomnia and their shared sense of loneliness. They start to hang out together at night, doing things that Auden has never done before, such as riding a bike, bowling, playing arcade games, and eating pie. They also help each other overcome their fears and regrets, such as Auden's fear of driving and Eli's guilt over his friend's death. They gradually fall in love and open up to each other.
Along the way, Auden also makes new friends and experiences new things that broaden her horizons and challenge her assumptions. She gets a job at a clothing boutique where she works with Maggie, Leah, and Esther, three girls who are very different from her but who accept her for who she is. She learns how to have fun, laugh, gossip, shop, and dress up. She also learns how to deal with boys, jealousy, drama, and heartbreak.
Auden also develops a better relationship with her father, Heidi, and Thisbe. She realizes that her father is not as perfect as she thought he was and that he has made many mistakes in his life. She also realizes that Heidi is not as shallow as she judged her to be and that she is actually a kind and caring person who loves her father and Thisbe. She also grows to love Thisbe as her sister and helps Heidi take care of her.
By the end of the book, Auden has grown as a person and learned many valuable lessons. She has learned how to be more independent and confident in herself. She has learned how to be more open and honest with her feelings. She has learned how to appreciate the different aspects of life, such as family, friendship, love, and fun. She has learned how to live in the present and enjoy the ride.
Analysis of the characters
Auden: the protagonist and narrator
Auden is a smart and serious girl who has always been academically focused and socially isolated. She has grown up in a dysfunctional family where her parents are constantly fighting and competing with each other. She has never had a normal childhood or a close relationship with either of her parents.
Auden's character arc is about finding her own identity and happiness in the midst of her family's chaos. She starts off as a lonely and unhappy girl who feels like an outsider and a disappointment to her parents. She follows the rules and expectations that others have set for her without questioning them or expressing her own opinions or desires. She doesn't know how to have fun or connect with other people.
Throughout the book, Auden changes as she meets new people and experiences new things that broaden her horizons and challenge her assumptions. She becomes more independent and confident in herself as she makes her own decisions and stands up for what she believes in. She becomes more open and honest with her feelings as she falls in love with Eli and confronts her parents about their problems. She becomes more appreciative of the different aspects of life as she learns how to have fun, laugh, gossip, shop, dress up, ride a bike, drive a car, eat pie, make friends, take care of a baby, deal with boys, jealousy, drama, heartbreak.
By the end of the book, Auden is a happier and more fulfilled person who has found her own voice and place in the world.
Eli: the love interest and guide
Eli is a mysterious and brooding boy who also suffers from insomnia. He is haunted by the death ```html friend and blames himself for it. He has withdrawn from his family and friends and lost interest in his hobbies. He spends his nights wandering around the town, trying to escape from his guilt and pain.
Eli's character arc is about healing from his past trauma and rediscovering his passion and joy in life. He starts off as a sad and angry boy who feels guilty and responsible for his friend's death. He isolates himself from his family and friends and gives up on his hobbies. He doesn't care about anything or anyone.
Throughout the book, Eli changes as he meets Auden and embarks on a series of nocturnal adventures with her. He becomes more relaxed and playful as he does things that he used to enjoy, such as riding a bike, bowling, playing arcade games, and eating pie. He also becomes more caring and protective as he falls in love with Auden and helps her overcome her fears and regrets. He also becomes more forgiving and hopeful as he confronts his guilt over his friend's death and reconciles with his family and friends.
By the end of the book, Eli is a happier and more healed person who has found his peace and purpose in life.
Auden's parents: the source of her problems
Auden's parents are both successful and intelligent people who have very different personalities and values. They are constantly fighting and competing with each other, even after their divorce. They are both selfish and irresponsible in their own ways. They neglect Auden's emotional needs and put pressure on her to be perfect.
Auden's mother is a professor who values intellect and achievement over emotion and connection. She is cold and critical of Auden and everyone else. She expects Auden to follow her footsteps and become a scholar. She doesn't care about Auden's happiness or interests. She doesn't show any affection or support to Auden.
Auden's father is a novelist who values creativity and freedom over discipline and responsibility. He is charming and charismatic but also immature and unreliable. He cheats on Auden's mother with Heidi, a younger woman who is pregnant with his child. He moves to Colby with Heidi and Thisbe without telling Auden. He doesn't pay attention to Auden or Thisbe. He doesn't help Heidi with the baby or the housework.
Auden's parents' character arc is about realizing their mistakes and improving their relationship with Auden. They start off as oblivious and insensitive parents who don't understand or appreciate Auden for who she is. They ignore or dismiss Auden's feelings and opinions. They don't communicate or cooperate with each other.
Throughout the book, Auden's parents change as they witness Auden's growth and happiness in Colby. They become more aware and respectful of Auden's choices and desires. They become more supportive and proud of Auden's achievements and personality. They also become more civil and cooperative with each other for Auden's sake.
By the end of the book, Auden's parents are better parents who have learned how to love Auden unconditionally.
Heidi: Auden's stepmother and role model
Heidi is a young and bubbly woman who is married to Auden's father and has a newborn baby daughter named Thisbe. She owns a clothing boutique in Colby and loves fashion and fun. She is kind and caring but also naive and insecure.
Heidi's character arc is about finding her balance and confidence in her new role as a wife and mother. She starts off as a overwhelmed and stressed woman who tries to juggle her work and family responsibilities without much help from her husband. She feels lonely and unappreciated by him and by Auden, who initially judges her harshly. She also feels insecure about her appearance and abilities as a mother.
Throughout the book, Heidi changes as she gets to know and bond with Auden. She becomes more relaxed and happy as she shares her passion and expertise for fashion and fun with Auden. She also becomes more assertive and confident as she stands up for herself and demands more respect and support from her husband. She also becomes more comfortable and skilled as a mother, learning how to take care of Thisbe with love and patience.
By the end of the book, Heidi is a balanced and confident woman who has found her groove and happiness in her work and family life.
Maggie, Leah, and Esther: Auden's new friends
Maggie, Leah, and Esther are three girls who work with Auden at Heidi's boutique. They are very different from Auden but they accept her for who she is. They become Auden's first real friends and introduce her to the world of girls.
Maggie is a friendly and outgoing girl who loves to talk and laugh. She is also a talented cyclist who dreams of becoming a professional. She has a crush on Jake, a local surfer who is also Eli's former friend.
Leah is a quiet and shy girl who loves to read and write. She is also a loyal and supportive friend who always has good advice. She has a crush on Adam, a local musician who is also Eli's former friend.
Esther is a quirky and eccentric girl who loves to experiment with fashion and makeup. She is also a creative and adventurous friend who always has new ideas. She has a crush on Wallace, a local artist who is also Eli's former friend.
Maggie, Leah, and Esther's character arc is about finding their love and happiness with their respective crushes. They start off as single and hopeful girls who have been admiring their crushes from afar for a long time. They are also wary of Eli and his influence on Auden.
Throughout the book, Maggie, Leah, and Esther change as they get closer to their crushes and overcome their obstacles. They become more confident and expressive as they flirt with and date their crushes. They also become more understanding and forgiving as they learn more about Eli and his past. They also become more supportive and happy for Auden and Eli's relationship.
By the end of the book, Maggie, Leah, and Esther are in love and happy with their boyfriends. They are also good friends with Eli and Auden.
Analysis of the writing style
The use of first-person point of view
The book is written in the first-person point of view, which means that the story is told from Auden's perspective. This allows the reader to get inside Auden's head and understand her thoughts and feelings. It also creates a sense of intimacy and connection between the reader and the narrator.
The use of first-person point of view also helps to show Auden's character development throughout the book. The reader can see how Auden changes as she meets new people and experiences new things that broaden her horizons and challenge her assumptions. The reader can also see how Auden's voice changes as she becomes more independent and confident in herself.
The use of symbolism and imagery
The book uses symbolism and imagery to convey deeper meanings and emotions in the story. Some examples of symbolism and imagery are:
The bike: The bike represents Auden's childhood and freedom that she never had. It also represents her relationship with Eli, who teaches her how to ride it and shares his passion for cycling with her.
The moon: The moon represents Auden's insomnia and loneliness that she suffers from. It also represents her connection with Eli, who is also an insomniac and who accompanies her during their nocturnal adventures.
The pie: The pie represents Auden's fun and enjoyment that she discovers in Colby. It also represents her friendship with Maggie, Leah, and Esther, who introduce her to the pie shop and share their secrets and stories with her.
The use of humor and dialogue
The book uses humor and dialogue to create a light-hearted and engaging tone in the story. The book has many funny and witty moments that make the reader laugh and smile. Some examples of humor are:
Auden's sarcastic and dry comments about her parents, her situation, and herself.
Eli's teasing and playful remarks about Auden, their activities, and their feelings.
Maggie, Leah, and Esther's hilarious and lively conversations about boys, fashion, and life.
The book also uses dialogue to show the personality and relationship of the characters. The book has many realistic and meaningful conversations that make the reader feel like they are part of the story. Some examples of dialogue are:
Auden's honest and heartfelt talks with Eli about their pasts, their problems, and their hopes.
Auden's awkward but sincere talks with Heidi about their family, their roles, and their feelings.
```html but important talks with her parents about their divorce, their expectations, and their love.
Evaluation of the book
The strengths and weaknesses of the book
The book has many strengths and weaknesses that make it a good or bad read depending on the reader's preferences and expectations. Some of the strengths and weaknesses are:
Strengths:
The book has a relatable and likable protagonist who undergoes a significant and realistic character development.
The book has a sweet and believable romance that is based on mutual respect and understanding.
The book has a diverse and dynamic cast of secondary characters who add color and depth to the story.
The book has a smooth and engaging writing style that uses humor, dialogue, symbolism, and imagery to create a vivid and immersive story.
The book has a positive and uplifting message that encourages the reader to embrace life, love, and themselves.
Weaknesses:
The book has a predictable and clichéd plot that follows the typical formula of a young adult romance novel.
The book has a slow and boring pace that drags on in some parts and rushes in others.
The book has a shallow and superficial treatment of some serious issues such as divorce, death, guilt, and depression.
The book has a lack of originality and creativity that makes it similar to many other books by the same author or in the same genre.
The book has a cheesy and unrealistic ending that wraps up everything too neatly and conveniently.
The target audience and genre of the book
The book is targeted at young adult readers who enjoy contemporary romance novels. The book is suitable for readers who are looking for a light-hearted and easy read that explores themes such as family, friendship, love, and self-discovery. The book is not suitable for readers who are looking for a complex and challenging read that tackles deeper and darker issues such as abuse, violence, addiction, and suicide.
The book belongs to the genre of contemporary romance, which is a subgenre of fiction that focuses on the romantic relationship between two or more characters in a modern setting. The book follows the conventions and tropes of this genre, such as:
A female protagonist who is smart, independent, and flawed.
A male love interest who is mysterious, brooding, and troubled.
A meet-cute scenario where the protagonists meet in an unusual or amusing way.
A series of obstacles or conflicts that prevent or delay the protagonists from being together.
A happy ending where the protagonists overcome their obstacles or conflicts and end up together.
The rating and recommendation of the book
I would rate this book 4 out of 5 stars