Sarah Dessen

When your family’s attention is entirely consumed by someone else's mistakes, how do you make yourself seen? Sydney has always felt completely invisible in her own home. She has grown used to her charismatic, handsome older brother, Peyton, being the absolute center of their parents' universe. But when Peyton’s reckless behavior culminates in a drunk-driving accident that severely injures another boy, he is sent to jail, leaving their family shattered. As her parents remain fiercely in denial and obsess over Peyton's well-being, Sydney is left entirely on her own, struggling with overwhelming guilt and questioning her place in the world. Desperate for an escape, Sydney unexpectedly finds herself drawn into the warm, chaotic, and deeply loving circle of the Chatham family. For the first time in her life, she experiences what it means to be accepted without any conditions. And it is with Mac—the gentle, quiet, and fiercely protective older brother of the Chatham family—that Sydney finally feels truly seen. This is a profoundly moving, psychologically rich story about surviving the fallout of someone else's choices and discovering the family you choose for yourself.

Sometimes you think you have your entire life mapped out. You have great friends, a solid relationship, and a clear sense of who you are. But what happens when the unexpected crashes into your carefully planned world? In this special two-book collection from bestselling author Sarah Dessen, you will dive into the complex, beautiful, and sometimes messy reality of growing up. In The Moon and More, the arrival of a new boy in town threatens to turn a perfectly predictable summer completely upside down. Will throwing caution to the wind bring ultimate happiness, or is it better to stay grounded in what you know? Then, in Just Listen, you will follow a girl who seems to have it all together on the outside, but is hiding deep secrets on the inside. It takes the help of a brutally honest boy obsessed with music to help her face the truth. These two captivating novels explore the thrill of first love, the courage it takes to give free reign to your emotions, and the power of rising above everyone else's expectations to find your true self.

When it comes to dating, do you have a strict set of rules to protect your heart? Remy certainly does. She has everything completely figured out. Her rules are simple: never get too serious, never let a guy break your heart, and absolutely never, ever date a musician. Having seen her romance-novelist mother go through multiple failed marriages, Remy knows better than to believe in happily-ever-afters. She keeps her emotions locked down tight and her relationships casual. But then Dexter crashes into her life. He is messy, persistent, and, worst of all, he plays in a band. By all of Remy's careful calculations, Dexter is the exact type of guy she should avoid at all costs. Yet, for some reason, her strict rules suddenly do not seem to apply anymore. As Dexter slowly chips away at her carefully built walls, Remy is forced to wonder if she has been wrong about love all along. Could it be that she is finally starting to understand what all those sappy love songs are actually about? Dive into a hilarious and heartwarming story about letting go of control and taking a chance on the unexpected.

How do you learn to rely on others when you have spent your entire life taking care of yourself? For the past few months, Ruby has been living entirely on her own in a yellow house, managing to survive while knowing her mother is probably never coming back. But when her secret is finally discovered, Ruby's independent world is shattered. She is sent to live with Cora, the older sister she has not seen in ten years, and Cora's wealthy, tech-entrepreneur husband, Jamie. Suddenly, Ruby is thrust into a life of luxury, complete with a massive house, a fancy private school, and the promise of a bright future. It sounds like a dream come true, but Ruby feels like a reluctant Cinderella. She remains wary, defensive, and determined to keep her walls up. Then there is Nate, the friendly and genial boy next door. He seems to have it all together, but he is hiding dark secrets of his own. As Ruby slowly learns to open up, she realizes that accepting help might be the bravest thing she can do. This is a powerful story about family, forgiveness, and finding the courage to trust again.

Your junior year of high school is supposed to be unforgettable, but what do you do when it becomes memorable for all the wrong reasons? Halley is bracing herself for a year of massive, overwhelming changes. Her parents are going through a bitter divorce, her father is already preparing to remarry, and her sister is completely consumed by planning her own wedding. Amidst all this family chaos, Halley has always relied on her best friend, Scarlett, as her ultimate anchor. But when tragedy strikes and Scarlett's boyfriend suddenly passes away, the girls are faced with an even more shocking revelation: Scarlett is pregnant. Suddenly, Halley is forced to navigate a whirlwind of adult problems while trying to figure out her own complicated first relationship. As the summer unfolds, she must find the strength to support her best friend, deal with her fractured family, and discover her own voice. This deeply emotional and relatable story captures the messy, heartbreaking, and beautiful reality of growing up and learning how to deal with whatever life throws your way.

Is it really better to have loved and lost, or is it safer to never fall in love at all? Louna has seen every possible type of wedding. From elegant historic mansions to casual beach ceremonies, she spends her summer working alongside her mother, helping brides plan their perfect happily-ever-afters. The irony? Louna completely stopped believing in true love after her own first romance ended in a sudden, devastating tragedy. She is determined to keep her heart safely guarded and her summer strictly professional. Then she meets Ambrose. He is charming, happy-go-lucky, and a notorious serial dater who seems to treat relationships like a game. Louna is quick to hold him at arm's length, certain he is exactly the kind of heartbreak she needs to avoid. But Ambrose is not easily discouraged, especially now that he has finally met the one girl he genuinely wants to be with. As they work together through chaotic wedding disasters and long summer days, Louna must decide if she is willing to take a second chance on love. This is a richly satisfying, humorous, and deeply romantic story about healing your heart.

What happens when the truth is too painful to speak, but keeping quiet is destroying your life? To the rest of the world, sixteen-year-old Annabel looks like the girl who has everything. She is a model, she is beautiful, and she seems to live a picture-perfect life. But the reality is far darker. After a devastating incident at an end-of-the-year party, Annabel is completely isolated. Her best friend has turned against her, her classmates believe the worst, and she is entirely alone, carrying a heavy secret she is too terrified to share. Then she meets Owen. Owen is intense, obsessed with music, and completely dedicated to telling the truth, no matter what. He does not care about high school drama or what other people think. As Annabel and Owen form an unlikely alliance, his passion for music and his unwavering honesty begin to break through her carefully constructed walls. With Owen's support, Annabel must find the courage to face what really happened that night and finally use her voice. This is a powerful, emotional story about healing, speaking up, and the incredible power of being heard.

If you could reinvent yourself in every new town, who would you choose to be? Ever since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her father have been constantly on the move. With every new town comes a brand new persona. Mclean has been the peppy cheerleader, the edgy drama girl, and the quiet student. She has spent the past few years pretending to be so many different people that she hardly remembers who the real Mclean actually is. It is easier to play a part than to deal with the painful reality of her fractured family. But when she arrives in her latest town, something shifts. For the first time, Mclean does not want to put on a mask. She wants to stay. And the adorable, genuine guy next door might be exactly the reason she needs to stop running. As she begins to put down roots and build real friendships, Mclean must finally confront the pain of her past. This is a beautiful, heartfelt story about discovering your true identity and learning that it is okay to finally stay in one place.

The summer before college is supposed to be a time of endless possibilities, but it can also be the hardest time to figure out who you really are. Emaline has spent her entire life in the cozy, predictable beach town of Colby. She has a loving family, a great group of friends, and a perfectly steady boyfriend named Luke. Her future seems entirely mapped out. But during her last summer at home, everything begins to shift. Enter Theo, an ambitious and sophisticated assistant documentary filmmaker who is in town from New York to make a movie. Theo is everything Luke is not: worldly, intellectual, and completely unpredictable. As Emaline is swept up in a whirlwind romance with Theo, she begins to question everything she thought she wanted. Is she meant to stay in the comforting familiarity of her hometown, or is she destined for a bigger, more complicated life far away? As the summer fades, Emaline must navigate the delicate balance between holding on to her roots and reaching for the moon. This is a captivating story about first loves, shifting dreams, and finding your own path.

Sometimes the biggest, most daunting changes are exactly what you need to finally move forward. It is incredibly easy to become jaded and close yourself off when life does not go your way. But in this special two-book collection from bestselling author Sarah Dessen, you will discover that the things you expect the least are often the things you need the most. In The Truth About Forever, you will follow a girl who has her entire summer perfectly planned out, only to find her world beautifully disrupted by a chaotic catering job and a boy who helps her face her hidden grief. Then, in Lock and Key, you will meet a fiercely independent girl who is forced to move in with her estranged sister, slowly learning that letting her guard down and accepting help is the bravest thing she can do. Whether it is saying goodbye to old habits or saying hello to found family and unexpected romance, these two deeply emotional novels explore the power of embracing change. Dive into a journey of forgiving the past, exploring your heart, and learning to trust again.

Have you ever felt like you are stuck carrying the weight of your past, no matter how much you try to change? Colie has always been the target of cruel jokes and relentless bullying. Even though she has recently lost a significant amount of weight and completely transformed her appearance, she still feels like the same insecure, awkward girl on the inside. When she is sent to spend the summer with her eccentric Aunt Mira in a sleepy beach town, Colie expects nothing more than a lonely, miserable few months. But she certainly did not count on meeting Morgan and Isabel. These two confident, outspoken waitresses take Colie under their wing and refuse to let her hide in the shadows. Through their fierce and unwavering friendship, Colie slowly begins to see herself in a brand new light. She learns what it means to truly accept herself, flaws and all, and starts to realize her own incredible potential. And as she builds her confidence, she might just open the door to her very first chance at love. This is a heartwarming story about body positivity, the power of friendship, and finding your inner strength.

Are you ready to fall in love with some of the most unforgettable characters in young adult fiction? If you have ever felt lost, heartbroken, or unsure of where you belong, there is a story waiting for you here. This special sampler is the ultimate introduction to the highly acclaimed, bestselling world of Sarah Dessen. Inside, you will find captivating excerpts from four of her most beloved novels. Get a taste of the emotional journey in Lock and Key, where a fiercely independent girl learns to trust her estranged family. Feel the power of finding your voice in Just Listen. Experience the magic of endless summer nights in Along for the Ride, and explore the search for true identity in What Happened to Goodbye. This collection offers a perfect glimpse into the trademark graceful writing, complex relationships, and deeply relatable high school drama that have made these books modern classics. Dive into these beautifully crafted previews and discover why millions of readers have found a piece of themselves in these pages. You will read her once and be hooked forever.

Have you ever wished you could just hit pause on your life when everything starts changing too fast? For fifteen-year-old Haven, there is simply too much going on. Her once-stable world is completely shifting beneath her feet. Her parents have gone through a bitter divorce, her father is already preparing to remarry a woman Haven cannot stand, and her older sister is consumed by the chaos of planning her own wedding. Haven feels entirely lost in the shuffle, unsure of where she fits into this strange new family dynamic. She finds herself desperately longing for the past, back when she was a child and everything felt perfect and safe. Then her sister's old boyfriend suddenly shows up in town, sparking a wave of nostalgia for a happier time. But as the summer unfolds and tensions rise, Haven begins to realize that clinging to the past might be holding her back. Through unexpected friendships and hard lessons, she learns that while change is terrifying, it can also be exactly what you need to grow. This is a beautifully observant story about letting go and finding yourself.

How do you keep moving forward when your world has suddenly stopped making sense? Ever since the sudden death of her father, Macy has kept her life under strict, perfect control. She has her entire summer carefully mapped out: she will work a quiet job at the library, study for her SATs, and wait patiently for her brainy, demanding boyfriend to return from camp. It is a safe, predictable plan designed to keep her grief safely locked away. But her rigid schedule is completely thrown off course when she unexpectedly takes a job at Wish Catering. Suddenly, Macy is thrust into a chaotic, messy, and vibrant world filled with unpredictable disasters and a lively crew of coworkers. Among them is Wes, an artistic and perceptive boy who seems to see right through Macy's perfect facade. As she spends her days navigating catering emergencies and her nights talking with Wes, Macy slowly realizes that the things you expect the least are often the things you need the most. This is a deeply moving story about facing your pain, embracing the messiness of life, and finding love when you least expect it.

When the rest of the world goes to sleep, what do you do with the quiet hours of the night? For as long as she can remember, nights have always been Auden's time. While her parents fight and her peers navigate the messy drama of high school, Auden stays awake, using the dark hours as a chance to escape her demanding, high-pressure life. She has spent her entire teenage years being the perfect, studious daughter, completely missing out on the carefree fun of growing up. But when she decides to spend the summer before college in a picturesque beach town with her father and his new family, everything changes. There, she meets Eli, a fellow insomniac who is carrying his own heavy burdens. Eli quickly becomes her nocturnal tour guide, taking her on midnight adventures to experience all the childhood milestones she missed out on. With an endless supply of summer nights stretching out between them, Auden begins to let her guard down. This is a beautifully written story about second chances, healing past wounds, and the magic that can happen when you finally allow yourself to just be a kid.

How far would you go to escape the shadow of someone else's expectations? Caitlin has always lived in the background, quietly existing in the massive shadow of her beautiful, perfect older sister, Cass. But when Cass suddenly runs away from home on the morning of her eighteenth birthday, Caitlin's world is thrown into total chaos. Feeling completely lost and desperate to carve out an identity of her own, Caitlin decides she needs to make a major change. That is when she meets Rogerson. He is mysterious, rebellious, brilliant, and entirely different from anyone she has ever known. When Caitlin is with Rogerson, the painful reality of her fractured family fades away. But what starts as a thrilling escape quickly turns into a dark and dangerous reality. Rogerson's unpredictable temper begins to surface, and Caitlin finds herself trapped in an abusive relationship, isolated from the people who truly care about her. This is a gripping, incredibly honest, and powerful story about losing yourself, finding the courage to speak up, and the difficult journey back to the light.

Dive into the world of Halley and Scarlett, two best friends navigating the ups and downs of high school life. This story explores how friendships change and grow when big things happen, like dealing with loss, discovering unexpected family news, and experiencing first loves. You'll see how Halley learns to support her best friend through tough times and discovers new feelings about herself and others. This book gently explores emotional challenges and the journey of growing up. Because it handles mature topics like grief, difficult life choices, and serious relationships that teenagers often face, 'Someone Like You' is best suited for older readers, typically young adults, who are ready to explore these deeper experiences.

What if half of your family history was a complete mystery, waiting for you to uncover it? Emma Saylor does not remember much about her mother, who tragically passed away when Emma was just ten years old. What she does hold onto are the vivid stories her mom used to tell about a magical, sprawling lake with cold, clear water and mossy trees. For years, it has just been Emma and her dad, living a safe, predictable life. But when her summer plans unexpectedly fall through, Emma is sent to spend the season at North Lake with her mother's family—a grandmother and cousins she has not seen since she was a little girl. Upon arriving, Emma quickly discovers that North Lake is divided into two very different worlds. As she navigates her working-class relatives and the wealthy resort town her father knew, she feels torn between two identities. Then she reconnects with Roo, her childhood best friend, who holds the key to her family's hidden past. As Roo helps her piece together the history she never knew, Emma finds herself falling under the spell of the lake—and of Roo himself. This is a sweeping, big-hearted novel about family, identity, and unforgettable summer magic.