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.
Onto the rules!
To win a ARC copy of Along for the Ride leave a comment sharing an adventure you've had in the middle of the night and if you haven't stayed up almost all night an adventure you would like to have in the middle of the night!
For 1 additional entry post/blog about this giveaway and leave a separate comment telling me you have done so.
The giveaway is open to addresses within the U.S.
Please leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!
The giveaway will end July 30th at 11:59 pm Central Time.
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.
Along for the Ride is my second Dessen novel, the first being Lock and Key. I definitely think Along for the Ride was more enjoyable for me, I connected with the main character Auden a great deal more than Ruby in Lock and Key. Instead of just being a nice book it made me feel something.
This book has a wonderful message, it's never too late to live your life the way you want to and you are never too old for anything. I admittedly probably cannot ride a bike. I learned when I was young and had a nasty encounter with one in my early teens I believe, never touched one again. I really applaud Auden's determination to make up for the things that she missed earlier in her life when she was acting more like an adult than a child.
Another really interesting thing the book has going for it is what can two kids getting to know each other do in the middle of the night? Where can they go what can they see? I loved reading about Auden and Eli's routine they fell into. And Eli, what a sweet boy. I definitely can say I'm on Team Eli. I think most boys would never take the time to help Auden on her journey but Eli does. I loved how they both came to lean on each other and help each other through some tough times.
I really liked the secondary characters as well, from Auden's mom (I kind of hated her dad) and her stepmother Heidi and her little baby half sister Isby to the boys at the bike shop and the girls that worked at Heidi's boutique. They all helped her on her journey and really rounded out the story.
Since I've read only one other book this probably isn't saying much but this is by far my favorite Dessen book so! I'm excited to dig into her back list and find some other stories that really speak to me as well!
Along for the Ride was released June 16th! Genre: Young Adult 4.5/5 Stars
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan
From the Publisher: Two superstar authors join forces on a collaborative novel of awesome proportions.
One cold night, in a most unlikely corner of Chicago, two teens-both named Will Grayson-are about to cross paths. As their worlds collide and intertwine, the Will Graysons find their lives going in new and unexpected directions, building toward romantic turns-of-heart and the epic production of history's most fabulous high school musical.
Hilarious, poignant, and deeply insightful, John Green and David Levithan's collaborative novel is brimming with a double helping of the heart and humor that have won both them legions of faithful fans.
Released April 6th 2010
Well let's see here... two master of YA check, an interesting sounding plot check. Loving the cover as well. This should be GOOD! Maybe in the meantime I can read a few of their other books!
Sparkling white snowdrifts, beautiful presents wrapped in ribbons, and multicolored lights glittering in the night through the falling snow. A Christmas Eve snowstorm transforms one small town into a romantic haven, the kind you see only in movies. Well, kinda. After all, a cold and wet hike from a stranded train through the middle of nowhere would not normally end with a delicious kiss from a charming stranger. And no one would think that a trip to the Waffle House through four feet of snow would lead to love with an old friend. Or that the way back to true love begins with a painfully early morning shift at Starbucks. Thanks to three of todays bestselling teen authorsJohn Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myraclethe magic of the holidays shines on these hilarious and charming interconnected tales of love, romance, and breathtaking kisses.
The second Paperback is horrible just horrible. It looks like Target wrapping paper and this is the only time that I have ever referred to something Target related as horrible. It's just so BLAND! The original paperback is too cute and should not have been messed with. Case closed.
Which is your favorite?
UPDATE: 7/15/09:
Real Paperback 2
I didn't think it was possible but I like this even less than the discarded one I think. They should have just kept with the original paperback cover. I'm sure there is a reason they did it but I'm not feeling it. :/
From Melissa Walker's website:This is the story of Quinn, an indie rock girl who came out to Austin, Texas for a music internship.
She also plans to spend long, lazy days in the sun at outdoor concerts--and to meet a hot musician or two. Instead, she's stuck rooming with her sorority brainwashed cousin, who now willingly goes by the name 'Party Penny.' Their personalities clash, big time.
But Sebastian, a gorgeous DJ, definitely makes up for it. Sebastian has it all: looks, charm, and great taste in music. So why can't Quinn keep her mind off Penny's friend cute, All-American Russ and his Texas twang?
One thing's certain: Quinn's in for a summer she'll never forget!
Lovestruck Summer has got to be one of my favorite summer romances of all time. I seriously squeeeeeeed throughout the whole book. Oh My God. I felt like Melissa Walker wrote this book for me. I totally and completely got Quinn. I'm sort of a music snob myself and could totally see myself in her. I don't do country music, I just don't. I'm sure I like a few songs that I don't realize are country but that is all. Also, I've never thought of a cowboy/fratboy as hot, never, until now. I really appreciated this book's message of not dismissing something or someone just because you think you should or because you believe the stereotype about something.
I loved the back and forth between Quinn and her cowboy/fratboy neighbor Russ. Holy heck was that boy as sweet can be! But no, Quinn is set on finding herself an indie/emo boy and sets her sights on Sebastian a local dj who might not be as good inside as he looks outside.
Then we have Quinn's cousin Penny and her sorority sister/next door neighbor Chrissy who at first glance Quinn writes off. And then there's co-intern Jade who comes off kind of cold at first. By the end of the summer Quinn will get to know these girls so well and come to learn a lot about herself and her beliefs in the process.
Ok, I could just go on and on about how much I love this book, but just really see for yourself. You will squeal and laugh and go aww about 1,000 times!
Here are some things I've come across in the last 3 weeks that I wanted to share...
Beautiful Creatures Trailer
Doesn't it make you want to read the book RIGHT NOW. Although I'm sure you felt that way before you even saw this trailer! Shiver Trailer
Isn't this beautiful! I mean this stuff takes work! I'm super impressed that author Maggie Stiefvater made this herself. Gorgeous!
Forget Beach Reads. Darken Your Summer Days.
Cute little summer reading trailer from Penguin Young Readers. I'm totally not a beach girl so this made me laugh!
Burn This Book
I know a lot of people in the reading/blogging community are very interested in censorship and the thought behind it. Here's a book that was recently brought to my attention that might interest you on the subject!
Published in conjunction with the PEN American Center, Burn This Book is a powerful collection of essays that explore the meaning of censorship, and the power of literature to inform the way we see the world, and ourselves. Contributors include literary heavyweights like Toni Morrison, Salman Rushdie, Orhan Pamuk, David Grossman and Nadine Gordimer, and others.
In “Witness: The Inward Testimony” Nadine Gordimer discusses the role of the writer as observer, and as someone who sees “what is really taking place.” She looks to Proust, Oe, Flaubert, and Graham Greene to see how their philosophy squares with her own, ultimately concluding “Literature has been and remains a means of people rediscovering themselves.” In “Freedom to Write” Orhan Pamuk elegantly describes escorting Arthur Miller and Harold Pinter around Turkey and how that experience changed his life.
As Americans we often take our freedom of speech for granted. When we talk about censorship we talk about China, the former Soviet Union. But the recent presidential election has shined a spotlight on profound acts of censorship in our own backyard. Both provocative and timely, Burn This Book includes a sterling list of award-winning writers; it is sure to ignite spirited dialogue.
Antics In the Big Apple
Maureen Johnson is just hilarious. Enough said! And yes I still need to read this, what's wrong with me!
Sarahland
There is a really cool contest going on in Sarahland right now and it's interactive! You are supposed to upload a photo of a friend, family member anyone that you want to introduce to the world of Dessen holding up one of Sarah's books and why you want to introduce them to the world of Sarah Dessen and you can be entered to win two paperback sets of her books, one for you and one for a friend! Enter by August 1st!
Speaking of Sarah Dessen two of my lovely twitter pals helped me out when I was getting all confused about Sarah Dessen's boys. I've only read two of her books so this is mighty helpful! From Karen Healey we have this sweet flowchart! And from my blogger pal Myathis sweet Condensed Guide to the hottest of Dessen guys chart! You guys rule!
And finally Along For the Ride debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. Another book I loved, Dork Diaries also found a spot on the list as well! Congratulations!
Traveling to Teens website
There is now a Traveling to Teens website (the blog is still around but it's for participants only) for anyone that is interested in learning more about it! Go check it out! Authors and bloggers interested in participating can fill out forms to learn more and get in touch with the masterminds behind the project!
My Soul To Lose E-book
For those of you like me that are excited about Rachel Vincent's new teen series, starting with the book My Soul to Take it's exciting to find out a free e-book prequel has been released by Harlqeuin. Check it out here! I downloaded it yesterday!
You would think Petronella’s sixteenth birthday would be cause for celebration. After all, fashionable friends are arriving at her country estate near London, teas are being served, and her coming out party promises to be a resplendent affair. Everything is falling nicely into place, until, suddenly—it isn’t. For Petronella discovers that her guardian, Uncle Augustus T. Percival, has developed a most unVictorian compulsion: He must eat bugs. Worse still, because he is her guardian, Uncle Augustus is to attend her soiree and his current state will most definitely be an embarrassment.During the festivities, when Petronella would much rather be sharing pleasantries with handsome Lord James Sinclair (swoon), important guests are disappearing, kidnapping notes are appearing, many of the clues are insects, and Uncle Augustus is surreptitiously devouring evidence. It’s more than one sixteen-year-old girl should have to deal with. But, truth be told, there is far more yet to come . . .
This has got to be one of the strangest, cutest, most wonderful starts to a series I've ever read and I think I'm in love with it. The language, the characters, their behaviors to me everything was spot on.
Right off the bat we are introduced to Victorian manners and ways of doing things and then all of a sudden we find Uncle Augustus T. Percival having a bite to eat, a bite to eat of BUGS! His compulsion is just so hilarious, the way the author writes it, seeing him hopping around in the background grabbing bugs out of the air and such, it just never got old! That was probably my favorite part of the book.
Next we have this wonderful mystery of two very important people vanishing from Petronella's party and she and her friends and relatives take it upon themselves to help out the police to find them. Oh and did I mention that Petronella's Aunt and son and Great Aunt and two daughters show up to try and help sort out this mess but are basically in the way the whole time. They make for some great comedy.
And most surprisingly and most welcome too is a bit of romance in the story. Petronella's best friend happens to have an adorably handsome brother who Petronella swoons for, if only he would notice her as anything other than a sister. Let's just say I can't wait to see where the story picks up in the next installment of this series!
I would highly recommend this book for something a bit out of the ordinary. I was highly impressed.
Petronella Saves Nearly Everyone: The Entomological Tales of Augustus T. Percival was released on June 1st. Genre: Middle Grade/Young Adult 5/5 Stars
This isn't a book but check out the SWEETEST TAPIR BAG IN THE WORLD MADE BY KATIE ALENDER! OMG! I'm totally trying out the eye pillow ASAP! Thanks so much Katie you made my day!
My Big Nose and Other Natural Disasters by Sydney Salter
While I do like how bright the eyes are in Toy Monster, My Big Nose wins, it's easier on the eyes. I love the pastels!
Which is your favorite?
Thanks to Liviania and pepsivanilla (and was there someone else, I haven't been updating via my email lately sorry, will add in later) who also noticed this lookalike!
I like to read (anything from memoirs to short stories to graphic novels to YA and fiction and most things in between), watch movies/tv, listen to music, hence pop culture junkie! Email me at aleareads(at)gmail(dot)com I'd love to hear from you!
Now that you've read my review of Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen, I'd love to give you a chance to win your very own ARC copy of the book!
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