This past summer, I was at Barnes and Nobles and I was browsing through the aisles when a book actually fell off the shelf and onto my foot. The book was called “Along for the Ride” and the cover had a teenage girl riding a bike. On the top of the cover, in big bold letters read: Sarah Dessen. For some odd reason, I had an urge to buy the book, just for the fun of it. And so I did — best decision of my life. I couldn’t put it down. I found myself fighting past the 2 a.m. yawns and droopy eyes just so I could find out if *spoiler* and *spoiler* fall in love.

As summer came to an end, so did my obscure knowledge of Dessen — thanks to her 12 books. And in that span of two months, I have come to love everything and anything about her. Here are my five takes:

1. Storyline is relatable

Whether it’s about a girl dealing with her family, struggling to find friends, or even doubting herself, Dessen manages to cover many obstacles that teenage girls face in society and she covers it well.

2. Characters are rare

Never in my life have I read about characters who found adventure in yard sales, catering, or listening to the sound of a car wash. Of course, that was until I stumbled upon Dessen and read about all of those dynamic characters.

3. Dialogue calls for laugh-out-loud moments

I remember specifically when I was reading Just Listen how I laughed so hard that it caused physical pain. If that doesn’t convince you about the hilarity within her books, I don’t know what will. But to me, humor plays a huge role in my life, especially when it comes to the books I read. Thankfully, Sarah Dessen was able to whip out 12 books that caused nonstop laughter.

4. Life lessons are not cliché

Of course, every book has some type of moral to it. It could be the message of being honest or staying positive, but Dessen’s lessons come in a different package compared to many other authors. I mean, you’d never think that delivering pizza would evoke the message of storytelling and imagination, but to Dessen and her readers, it does.

5. It’s Sarah Dessen

To be completely honest, if I had gone my whole life without knowing who Dessen was, I think I’d be missing a huge rite of passage as a teenage girl. Her books not only gave me encouragement, but they also gave me a whole other world to enter. Of all the things I’m grateful for – and it’s a long list – having that book smash my foot in the Barnes and Nobles young adult section is definitely floating at the top of that list. I’m just glad I joined the club.

Chloe Le