Along for the Ride by Sarah Dessen

Along for the Ride begins with the start of Auden's summer. Auden has been raised by two academic parents who expected more of a little adult than a child. They have since divorced and Auden has come to terms with that.

When her father and his new wife, Heidi, call her and invite her to their beach side town for the summer, she decides to go for a visit. Immediately, Auden can tell that things aren't at all as they should be. Her father has immersed himself in writing leaving Heidi to raise the baby for herself. Heidi is at the end of her rope, she is very obviously crying out for help. Auden sees that, and she steps in to offer what she can from time to time. It becomes clear to her, however, that the problems are a little bit more than her experience level. She has been around this block before with her father and she has a lot to say about what is going on, but she can't figure out how to put it.

Auden also has trouble sleeping at night. In the past she has used that time to sneak away and study at an all night diner. Things in this small town are different, and she hasn't found the right spot yet, but her wanderings have led her to a boy named Eli. Eli shares Auden's insomnia problem, but he offers her some unique places to wait out her dreams.

While Auden and Eli share things about their past, Eli proposes that Auden begin a quest...everyone needs a quest. Since Auden's parents brought up a miniature adult, she hasn't had typical experiences (like learning to ride a bike).

In the meantime, stuff at home is out of control. Auden offers to take over the accounting aspects of Heidi's business while Heidi deals with the baby. Heidi has three teenage girls working for her, and as the summer progresses, Auden is befriended by these girls, making the first friends in her life.

Let me just say that Dessen is a fantastic author. She has the subtleties of being a teenager down. She does an excellent job of exploring frustrations and elations that accompany relationships of all kinds. This is summer reading at it's finest!!