A New York Times bestsellerUnlock your heart and the rest will follow. Ruby is used to taking care of herself. But now that she’s living with her sister, she’s got her own room, she’s going to a good school, and her future looks bright. Plus there’s the adorable boy next door. Can Ruby learn to open her heart and let him in? “All the Dessen trademarks here” —Publishers Weekly, starred review Also … the Dessen trademarks here” —Publishers Weekly, starred review
Also by Sarah Dessen:
Along for the Ride
Dreamland
Just Listen
Keeping the Moon
The Moon and More
Someone Like You
That Summer
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
What Happened to Goodbye
more
This is by far one of my favorite books Ive ever read! Not lying…I just loved it and it was cute!
amazing amazing amazing. you think it’s just another messed up girl next door meets popular boy until it isn’t. the messed up histories of these characters, i couldn’t put it down.
I can’t even say how much I LOVED this book. Sarah Dessen is my favorite author, and that’s saying something if you know me, and this is the best one!
Ruby has been living alone for the past few months after her acholic mother up and left her. As long as she can make it to her 18 birthday where she can live alone legally, she doesn’t mind that she has no electricity or only running water in the kitchen. But when the dryer breaks down and she has to hang her clothes to dry the old-fashion way, well, that’s when she gets caught.
Now, Rub’s living with her older sister, Cora, and her husband, Jamie, in their mansion in their wealthy neighborhood. Ruby has new clothes, a new school, even a new future that Ruby didn’t think was possible. But, is this what she really wants? Then she meets Nate, the boy who lives behind Cora. Nate is popular, nice and seems to get Ruby. Maybe that’s because he has some secrets of his own.
Will Ruby be able to learn how to ask and receive help?
This book was a bit different than others by this author that I’ve read. I wasn’t prepared for the female MC to be so flawed. And I certainly wasn’t prepared for the male MC to have the problem that he did. Possible trigger in that story.
I really like how Ruby was so determined to not put down any roots, not to open herself up and not to make friends and how she inevitably did. I like how she was there for Nate in the end, no matter what it meant for them. There is a definite and tangible growth in her character from the beginning of the book to the end.
It was Nate I related to the most though, having my own history of a situation similar to his. Again, trigger warning for those who are triggered by abusive situations. That was hard for me to read, but everything is pretty much “off screen” in that.
Cora was a confusing character to me, but I loved her husband Jamie, he seemed very genuine and I think that was a refreshing change and something that Ruby desperately needed in her life. Almost as much as she needed Nate’s optimism.
I like that there is a possibility of a HEA, but it’s not painted out in clear and definite lines, so we can sort of let our imagination tell us what will happen next for these characters.
I liked how this story focuses on Ruby and the relationships around her. Ranging from her mother, her older sister Cora and Cora’s husband, Jamie. As well as the friendships with Nate, Harriet, Olivia, Reggie and Gervais. Learning to open up, letting people in and what it means to have them in your life. Which is something Ruby isn’t use to, being independent and all. Coming from one less than ideal living situation to one where things are better and brighter. Where having a future is a possibility. It’s a big transition.
I liked realism of the story where not everything needed to be resolved. It was left to interpretation. That being said, I would like to think that this isn’t over for Ruby and Nate, that there is always a possibility that they will meet again. Whether thats in a romantic setting or not. They will always be connected. They will always share what no one else will. With the time they had, they became friends and a little something more. What I loved about Ruby was that she wasn’t selfish when it came to Nate. She wanted what was best for him as he was someone she cared for and considered family.
And the same can be said about her relationship with her mom. Who knows what the future holds for them. But at least Ruby can say she took that first step. When Ruby reaches a place of understanding and embraces her new life, it’s a beautiful yet a bittersweet moment. And to clarify…yes I did cry.