Sarah Dessen Popular Books

Sarah Dessen Biography & Facts

Sarah Dessen (born June 6, 1970) is an American novelist who lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. Born in Illinois, Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. Her first book, That Summer, was published in 1996. She has since published more than a dozen other novels and novellas. In 2017, Dessen won the Margaret Edwards Award for some of her work. Two of her books were adapted into the 2003 film How to Deal. Early life, education and personal life Dessen was born in Evanston, Illinois, on June 6, 1970, to Alan and Cynthia Dessen, who were both professors at the University of North Carolina, teaching Shakespearean literature and classics.As a teenager, Dessen was very shy and quiet. She became involved with a 21-year-old when she was 15 but cut all contact with him shortly after. In a piece penned for Seventeen, Dessen wrote "for many years afterward, I took total blame for everything that happened between me and T. After all, I was a bad kid. I did drugs, I lied to my mom. You can't just hang out with a guy and not expect him to get ideas, I told myself. You should have known better. But maybe he should have. When I turned 21, I remember making a point, regularly, to look at teens and ask myself whether I'd want to hang out with them, much less date one. The answer was always a flat, immediate no. They were kids. I was an adult. End of story."Dessen attended Greensboro College in Greensboro, North Carolina, but dropped out before the end of the first semester. Upon moving back home she enrolled at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, to take classes in creative writing, resulting in her graduating with highest honors in 1993.Today Dessen lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband Jay and daughter Sasha Clementine. Career Dessen waitressed at the Flying Burrito restaurant in Chapel Hill and was Lee Smith's assistant while launching her writing career. It was Smith who passed one of Dessen's manuscripts to an agent. After the 1996 publication of her first book, That Summer, Dessen continued working at the restaurant. Following the publication of Dreamland, Dessen taught at the University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill. She became a full-time writer before the 2006 release of Just Listen. Dessen's Along for the Ride made the New York Times Best Sellers List in 2009. After its publication, Dessen was referred to as a "best-seller machine". Awards and honors Some of her novels have been among the ALA's "Best Fiction for Young Adults" selections: That Summer (1997), Someone Like You (1999), Keeping the Moon (2000), Dreamland (2001), This Lullaby (2003), Just Listen (2007), and Along for the Ride (2010).Someone Like You was also one of the two winners of the 1999 "School Library Journal Best Book" award, and Keeping the Moon was the sole winner the next year.In 2017, Dessen was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her novels Dreamland (2001), Keeping the Moon (2000), Just Listen (2007), The Truth About Forever (2004), Along for the Ride (2010), What Happened to Goodbye (2011), and This Lullaby (2002). Common Read controversy In November 2019, an Aberdeen News article quoted a comment from 2016 by a Northern State University alumna regarding the University's 'Common Read' program, which identifies books "representing diverse points of view" for undergraduate students to read as part of their curriculum. The student, Brooke Nelson, said she became involved with the program "simply so I could stop them from ever choosing Sarah Dessen." Regarding Dessen's book, Nelson stated, "She’s fine for teen girls, but definitely not up to the level of Common Read."Dessen posted parts of this interview that were critical of her on Twitter, redacting Nelson's name and the institution but stating that the comments were "mean and cruel”. Her post was supported by a number of authors, including Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Weiner, Siobhan Vivian, Roxane Gay, and N. K. Jemisin. Following this, Northern State University issued an apology for the alumna's comments.Dessen subsequently deleted her tweet and apologized for her remarks, acknowledging that it had resulted in her fans connecting her comments with their source to identify and harass Nelson that led to the former student deleting her social media accounts. Dessen stated, "With a platform and a following, I have a responsibility to be aware of what I put out there." Several of the other authors who had supported Dessen initially also apologized to Nelson, noting that they had supported Dessen’s expression of her feelings but did not support the subsequent identification and bullying of Nelson. Themes and writing style In 2017, Dessen was interviewed by Anna Gragert. During the interview, Gragert asked Dessen about the style she uses in some of her books, otherwise known as "effortless perfection". Dessen describes this term as the young girls in her books being able to have friends, look good, be a good student and have one's life together, and to make it look easy. At the start of the book, the reader is supposed to relate with the main characters and throughout their changes in the book, the reader should see that it is okay to not have everything together and not be perfect. Gragert asked Dessen about her anxiety coping mechanisms because writing tends to cause an author to be anxious. Dessen said that she likes to exercise and read in her free time because all writers are going to be anxious, it's part of the process, but it also opens their mind more because they see the world differently than readers. Bibliography 1996 – That Summer 1998 – Someone Like You 1999 – Keeping the Moon (also known as Last Chance) 2000 – Dreamland 2002 – This Lullaby 2004 – The Truth About Forever 2006 – Just Listen 2008 – Lock and Key 2009 – Along for the Ride 2010 – Infinity (novella) 2011 – What Happened to Goodbye 2013 – The Moon and More 2015 – Saint Anything 2017 – Once and for All 2019 –The Rest of the StoryFilm adaptations The 2003 romantic comedy-drama film How to Deal starring Mandy Moore, Allison Janney, Dylan Baker, Peter Gallagher and Trent Ford was based on both That Summer and Someone Like You.On May 30, 2019, it was announced that Netflix had purchased the rights to adapt three of Dessen's books into films: This Lullaby, Along for the Ride, and Once and for All. In June 2021, it was announced The Truth About Forever was added to the Dessen books obtained by Netflix to be adapted into a feature film.Along for the Ride was released on May 6, 2022.In July 2023 Dessen shared on her substack that Netflix was no longer moving forward with other adaptations. References External links Official website Sarah Dessen at IMDb. Discover the Sarah Dessen popular books. Find the top 100 most popular Sarah Dessen books.

Best Seller Sarah Dessen Books of 2024

  • The Queen of Everything synopsis, comments

    The Queen of Everything

    Deb Caletti

    Jordan MacKenzie had a typical teenage life until her father’s affair with a married woman threatens to implode her entire world in this searing and poignant novel from Printz Hono...

  • Mein Leben nebenan synopsis, comments

    Mein Leben nebenan

    Huntley Fitzpatrick

    Alice Garretts Leben besteht aus TodoListen und Verantwortung für ihre jüngeren Geschwister. Nichts passt weniger in ihr Leben als der zu Hause rausgeflogene LoserFreund ihres Brud...

  • Escaping Perfect synopsis, comments

    Escaping Perfect

    Emma Harrison

    Nashville meets The West Wing in this summer read about a girl who runs away from her highprofile past to live the normal life she’s always wanted.Cecilia Montgomery has been Ameri...

  • Sixteenth Summer synopsis, comments

    Sixteenth Summer

    Michelle Dalton

    This sweet summer romance about “the floaty happiness of first love” (BCCB) between a girl living in a beachside island town and a city boy is perfect for fans of Jenny Han and Mor...

  • The Fortunes of Indigo Skye synopsis, comments

    The Fortunes of Indigo Skye

    Deb Caletti

    Eighteenyearold waitress Indigo Skye’s life is upended when a mysterious man leaves her a multimilliondollar tip in this funny and moving novel by Printz Honor medal winner and Nat...

  • Zwei Herzen im Goldfischglas synopsis, comments

    Zwei Herzen im Goldfischglas

    Sally Partridge

    Nathan hat sich noch nie viele Gedanken darüber gemacht, ob er in der Schule zu den coolen Kids gehört. Dabei wäre es für ihn vermutlich ein Leichtes. Schließlich hat Nathan schon ...

  • Swept Away synopsis, comments

    Swept Away

    Michelle Dalton

    Beachfront love blossoms in this refreshing summer romance, in the tradition of Sixteenth Summer and Seventeenth Summer.Mandy Sullivan isn’t exactly looking forward to the summer m...

  • Nothing Like You synopsis, comments

    Nothing Like You

    Lauren Strasnick

    When Holly loses her virginity to Paul, a guy she barely knows, she assumes their encounter is a onenight stand. After all, Paul is too popular to even be speaking to Holly…and he ...

  • In Honor synopsis, comments

    In Honor

    Jessi Kirby

    A devastating loss leads to an unexpected road trip in what Sarah Ockler calls a “beautiful, engaging journey with heart, humor, and just a pinch of Texas sass.”Three days after le...

  • Dark of the Moon synopsis, comments

    Dark of the Moon

    Siobhan Curham

    We Were Liars meets Lost. The newest guilty pleasure! Fans of E.Lockhart, Holly Smale and Zoe Sugg (Zoella) will love this.This time, there’s no fire in the dream. All I see i...

  • Stay synopsis, comments

    Stay

    Deb Caletti

    A dark, romantic novel of love and obsession from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti.Clara’s relationship with Christian is intense from the sta...

  • 25 Roses synopsis, comments

    25 Roses

    Stephanie Faris

    Mia moves from the shadows to the spotlight when her matchmaking plans go awry in this contemporary M!X novel from the author of 30 Days of No Gossip.Mia is used to feeling overloo...

  • Girl, Unframed synopsis, comments

    Girl, Unframed

    Deb Caletti

    Seven starred reviews! “A riveting, meticulously plotted mystery with plenty of drama.” Publishers Weekly (starred review)A teen girl’s summer with her famous mother turns sinister...

  • Fifteenth Summer synopsis, comments

    Fifteenth Summer

    Michelle Dalton

    Love blossoms by the lake in this sweet summer romance, in the tradition of Seventeeth Summer and Sixteenth Summer.Chelsea isn’t looking forward to her summer at the lake. It’s the...

  • Freefall Summer synopsis, comments

    Freefall Summer

    Tracy Barrett

    WHUFFO: Someone who hasn't made a skydive (yet), especially a spectator. Supposedly derived from "What for do you jump out of a perfectly good airplane?"Sixteenyearold Clancy is no...

  • Nature of Jade synopsis, comments

    Nature of Jade

    Deb Caletti

    A girl grappling with Panic Disorder finds comfortand lovewith a boy who is hiding a terrible secret in this poignant and romantic novel from Printz Honor medal winner and National...

  • The Museum of Heartbreak synopsis, comments

    The Museum of Heartbreak

    Meg Leder

    “A charming, tender, and hilarious debut you will want to get lost in.” Gayle Forman, bestselling author of If I Stay and I Was HereIn this ode to all the things we gain and lose a...

  • While You Were Reading synopsis, comments

    While You Were Reading

    Ali Berg & Michelle Kalus

    Words are messy. Love is messier.A hilarious, insightful new novel from the creators of Books on the Rail Meet Beatrix Babbage – 29yearold dogearer of books and accidental destroye...

  • Once and for All synopsis, comments

    Once and for All

    Sarah Dessen

    From Sarah Dessen, the beloved New York Times bestselling author of SAINT ANYTHING and JUST LISTEN, comes a new novel set in the world of wedding planning!...

  • Between Here and Forever synopsis, comments

    Between Here and Forever

    Elizabeth Scott

    A heartbreaking and romantic comingofage novel from the author of Perfect You and Living Dead Girl.“I miss her, but not like I should. I want her to wake up so I don't have to be t...

  • The Year We Fell Apart synopsis, comments

    The Year We Fell Apart

    Emily Martin

    In the tradition of Sarah Dessen, this powerful debut novel is a compelling portrait of a young girl coping with her mother’s cancer as she figures out how to learn fromand fixher ...

  • Ready or Not synopsis, comments

    Ready or Not

    Andi Porretta

    An anxious teen hopes that a summer of adventure and offbeat dares will keep her friend group together after graduation in this luminous comingofage graphic novel with the feelgood...

  • Golden synopsis, comments

    Golden

    Jessi Kirby

    Love, tragedy, and mystery converge in this compelling novel that Booklist called “rich in its characterizations, deep in its reflections about teenage life, and compelling as a my...

  • All My Bests synopsis, comments

    All My Bests

    Britnee Meiser

    In the tradition of Hello, Goodbye, and Everything in Between, this smart and emotional upper middle grade romance told through playlists and memories follows two teens struggling ...

  • The Girl Who Fell synopsis, comments

    The Girl Who Fell

    S.M. Parker

    In this “invaluable addition to any collection” (School Library Journal, starred review) high school senior Zephyr Doyle is swept off her feetand into an intense and volatile relat...

  • Me You Us synopsis, comments

    Me You Us

    Aaron Karo

    In a hilarious comedy of errors that Booklist has dubbed “a good choice for fans of John Green,” high school matchmaker Shane Chambliss is content finding love for his classmatesun...

  • Crushing It synopsis, comments

    Crushing It

    Joanne Levy

    Twelveyearold Kat woos the boy next door on behalf of her best friend, and in the process realizes that true beautyand true confidencecomes from the inside in this hilarious M!X no...

  • Going Too Far synopsis, comments

    Going Too Far

    Jennifer Echols

    HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO? All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her impriso...

  • Skin Deep synopsis, comments

    Skin Deep

    Laura Jarratt

    "I wanted to say this morning, only you ran off … sorry if I was rude.' The boy from the boat grineed, looking straight at me. 'You surprised me, that's all. The scar' – he touched...

  • Not If You Break Up with Me First synopsis, comments

    Not If You Break Up with Me First

    G.F. Miller

    Two friends who have unhappily found themselves in an accidental relationship try to drive the other one to call things off in this tongueincheek middle grade romance.Childhood fri...

  • Fragile Like Us synopsis, comments

    Fragile Like Us

    Sara Barnard

    A pitch perfect novel about friendship and what it takes to break the bonds between friends, “for fans of Morgan Matson and Sarah Dessen” (VOYA).Caddy and Rosie have always been in...

  • Bloom synopsis, comments

    Bloom

    Elizabeth Scott

    There's a difference between falling and letting go. Lauren has a good life: decent grades, great friends, and a boyfriend every girl lusts after. So why is she so unhappy? It ...

  • Virtuosity synopsis, comments

    Virtuosity

    Jessica Martinez

    An intensely romantic, “brilliant debut” (Kirkus Reviews) about a dangerous addiction, a fierce rivalry, and a forbidden love.Now is not the time for Carmen to fall in love. And Je...

  • The Story of Us synopsis, comments

    The Story of Us

    Deb Caletti

    A week of her mother’s wedding chaos brings a new boy and numerous other complications into Cricket’s life in this funny and romantic novel from Printz Honor medal winner and Natio...

  • Something, Maybe synopsis, comments

    Something, Maybe

    Elizabeth Scott

    I wonder what it would be like to do high school things. To go out on the weekends. To kiss a guy. To have a normal life. A real one. Everyone thinks their parents are embarras...

  • The Secret Life of Prince Charming synopsis, comments

    The Secret Life of Prince Charming

    Deb Caletti

    Quinn teams up with the halfsister she’s never met to right their father’s wrongs in this thoughtful, funny, and layered novel by National Book Award finalist and Printz Honor meda...

  • Love Is All You Need synopsis, comments

    Love Is All You Need

    Deb Caletti

    Get a double dose of realistic romance in this collection of two fan favorites from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti.Love may or may not be al...

  • Bittersweet synopsis, comments

    Bittersweet

    Sarah Ockler

    From the author of Twenty Boy Summer, a teen pushes the limits to follow her dreamsand learns there’s a fine line between bitter and sweet....Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly ...

  • Your Destination Is on the Left synopsis, comments

    Your Destination Is on the Left

    Lauren Spieller

    “Emotional and sexy…I loved it!” Miranda Kenneally, bestselling author of Catching Jordan “Dessa is a winning and resilient heroine.” Elizabeth Wein, New York Times bestselling aut...

  • The Unwritten Rule synopsis, comments

    The Unwritten Rule

    Elizabeth Scott

    Sarah and Brianna have always been friends, and it's always gone like this: guys talk to Sarah in order to get closer to Brianna. So even though Sarah met Ryan first, she's not sur...

  • Essential Maps for the Lost synopsis, comments

    Essential Maps for the Lost

    Deb Caletti

    From Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti comes a fresh and luminous novel “about love and loss, mental illness, and taking charge of one’s own fa...

  • The Last Forever synopsis, comments

    The Last Forever

    Deb Caletti

    Beginnings and endings overlap in this soaring novel of love and grief from Printz Honor medal winner and National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti.Nothing lasts forever, and no one...

  • Twenty Boy Summer synopsis, comments

    Twenty Boy Summer

    Sarah Ockler

    For fans of A Thousand Boy Kisses and You've Reached Sam, don't miss this emotional and beautiful novel about love, grief, and making the most of every moment."Don't worry, Anna. I...

  • Dear Dylan synopsis, comments

    Dear Dylan

    Siobhan Curham

    A first crush. An unexpected friendship. A dream come true.The perfect book for teens and fans of Cathy Cassidy, Sarah Dessen or Karen McCombieDear Dylan,Thanks SO much for your em...