author: Sarah Dessen

I would like to read a book by Sarah Dessen as she is suppose to be a great author, but she has so many to choose from. I was wondering what everyone favorite book was by this author?

Dreamland or Someone Like You.

My daughter is a huge Dessen fan. When I asked her which one of her books I should read, she recommended Just Listen. The plot was very similar to Speak.

I've read five or so Dessen novels and after awhile they all get a bit repetitive. My favorites and in my opinion the most original are The Truth About Forever and This Lullaby.

thanks, I'll check them out

I'm putting together a Christmas list, any other recommendations?

I've read a few Dessen books in recent months. My favourite would be The Truth about Forever the others were all ok too however I wasn't impressed by Lock and Key. I can see why teens like to read books by Sarah Dessen but they aren't as stand out as other popular teen books, such as Speak, which has already been mentioned.

>7 kiwiflowa:
thank you for the comment kiwiflowa

I really enjoyed Dreamland and Lock and Key. I also liked That Summer. Although I love Sarah Dessen, I do agree with yummyfishmeister...they get pretty repetitive.

Many teens like the repetiveness of books. I can remember devouring Nancy Drew before moving on to James Michener and other authors that wrote many books in similar formats. When they reach the end of a series (Harry Potter, Twilight) they will ask for more of the same style. As long as they ask for something, I say it's OK. I still like series (The No.1 Ladies Detective Agency) and authors and it sometimes takes a concerted effort to reach for something outside my comfort zone but I am usually rewarded by doing so.

Just Listen was the first one i read by her and it's very good. Lock and Key is not the best, and The Truth About Forever is another favorite.

Thanks for all the recommendations. I'll have to pick one and read it over the summer when I have more time)

Just Listen is very good. I just finished Someone Like You. I wrote up a fairly long review about it if you'd like to read more. It's too big for me to post here. It wasn't my favorite Dessen story, but she has a way with characters that make you like them no matter what.

>13 Kaydence:
lol. Thanks. Good to know.

I like Sarah Dessen too, but I prefer Deb Caletti and she has several and I've read them all, but The secret life of Prince Charming is probably my favorite. At least until she writes the next one. LOL

>15 cquiltmom:
lol, ok I'll check out the book too. Thanks

Definitely start with The Truth About Forever. It is one of her best books and you won't regret it. She really is an awesome author and this story is a great love story that is written exceptionally well. I'm a sucker for teen love stories so, yeah. But read this book! It's AWESOME!!!!!

My favorite book by her so far is Along for the Ride. Truth about Forever is pretty similar to AFTR, but I think AFTR had more original plot. One thing I've noticed about all the books I've read by her is that the basic plot of all of them is pretty much the same: Girl is not happy with her family situation, girl meets boy, the boy helps girl view the situation differently, and in the end they end up together. Even though after reading a couple of books I know it'll be the same thing, it's interesting to see the characters. All of her characters are well developed, but, like others have said, the plot is repetitive.

>18 avid_reader25:: @avid_reader25, you forgot the part that all of Sarah Dessen girls kind of shun their love interest for a period of time before they have this big epiphany and go looking for the boy again, and THEN they end up together. ;-)

I agree about the repetitiveness and that her books follow a formula-even though I'm totally hooked on them! One thing I really like, though, is that the boys usually aren't some Prince Charming that saves the girl. In Lock and Key the boy's life is pretty messed up, and in Along for the Ride the boy has suffered pretty severely. I think you could make the argument that the girls help the boys as much as the boys help the girls.

Well i have read all her books and my three favourtites were;
+ The truth about forever
+ Just Listen
+Along for the ride
:)

I have really enjoyed all of Sarah Dessen's books. But it really depends on what you feel like reading in my opinion. For instance, "Dreamland" deals with some really heavy topics, it's super sad, and pretty much depressing throughout the whole thing, but really good overall.

And then there is "Along for the Ride" which is a bit lighter. Overall, though, all of her books deal with issues that most teenagers deal with every day.

I've read all of her books, and they are all a good choice, I just can't think what each one is about individually right now haha, the two I mentioned stuck out the most to me I guess. :)

I have read The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. It was good

This is very helpful as I just finished Along for the Ride and really liked it. It's almost like discovering Marian Keyes all over again.

I think The Truth about Forever is her best, and also, the first one of her novels I read. But I thought her others, like What happened to goodbye are also quite good. She's actually one of the few authors my sister (who doesn't like reading) actually enjoys.

Along for the Ride is my favorite.

I enjoyed Dreamland, What Happened to Goodbye, Just Listen, and The Truth About Forever.

Someone Like You, i read it about 8 years ago, and i still re read it. It is one of my favourite books, and has such a good plot. It was the first Sarah Dessen book i read, and i still the best

Someone Like You Is pretty great. I've read it more than once. Really gets to your heart.