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.
Review: This was actually the first Sarah Dessen book I read. I had heard a lot about her and knew this book was coming out so I decided to get it and see if this Sarah Dessen person was any good. And in answer she is not good...she is wonderful!
What I loved about this book was how light and carefree it was yet it still managed to have complex emotions and a deeper meaning than most summer beach reads. It had the humor and the cute romance, but it also showed Eli's grief and all of Auden's various problems.
That's another thing that Ms. Dessen did that made this book shine the way it did. Her characters were flawed. Eli and Auden were not the perfect happy couple. Eli was dealing with his grief and guilt while Auden was dealt with her parents' divorce and her need to be the perfect child. Even the minor characters had their own emotions which were subtly shown yet easy to see.
Overall this is a great read for anytime, not just summer. Its complex characters and emotions make it 100% more believable. I have most definitely become a Sarah Dessen fan and cannot wait to read what else she has!
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