Author of the Week: Sarah Dessen (last week)

Out of all the summer romances giddy girls flip through on those hot days by the pool, you’ll most likely find that it is a literary contribution of author Sarah Dessen.  In my years of obsessively reading young adult fiction, I have read many of Sarah Dessen’s romance novels; which always cause me to squeal and wish I could meet a boy as awesome as the ones contained in the pages.

Growing up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Dessen attended UNC-Chapel Hill (As did Jenny Han, author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series) and graduated with highest honors in Creative Writing.  To this day she still presides in North Carolina and cooks up sizzling summer novels for readers to enjoy.  If you ever come across a movie entitled How to Deal, it’s based on Dessen’s first two novels.

My Dessen Favorites:

Along for the Ride- As one of her newest contributions, this is the last Dessen book I’ve read in a while (I’ve been otherwise preoccupied) and it was lovely diving back into her summer fling stories.  This is my second favorite of her novels.  Focusing on Auden who is trying to heal over her parents’ divorce and then finding love is present in that turmoil.

Keeping the Moon- Now this one marks itself as my favorite summer romance to date.  I enjoyed it so much that I bought a copy or two and gave them as presents to some of my friends (who also really enjoyed it).  Why I liked it so much?  For the artistic feel and free-spirited nature and I also love the scenes from the small town diner (very appealing).  The main message conceived in this novel that truly speaks to me is: Love yourself for who you are and all your insecurities because that’s what makes you, you. “Be Your Own Kind of Beautiful."

Other works I’ve read: Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, This Lullaby, Someone Like You, That Summer.

What I look forward to reading: What Happened to Goodbye, Lock and Key, Dreamland.

Website: http://sarahdessen.com/    (On her site you can find descriptions of each one of her novels!)