Sarah Dessen
AUTHOR

Sarah Dessen

I've been writing, in one way or another, for as long as I can remember. I was always a big reader, mostly because my parents were. I used to get frustrated with my mom because she bought me books for Christmas when what I really wanted were the gifts my friends got, things like sweaters and jewelry. But I did love to read. When I was eight or nine my parents gave me an old manual typewriter and a little desk in the corner of our den, and I'd sit there and type up my stories. I was the kind of kid that people always sighed over and said, "She has such a wild imagination," which usually meant "I wish Sarah would try to stick to the truth." I have a tendency to embellish: I think it's just a weakness of fiction writers. Once you learn how to make a story better, it's hard not to do it all the time."The books I read when I was teenager, the good ones anyway, have stuck more in my mind than anything since. I still love books, but while I couldn't tell you complete plots of novels I read even six months ago, I do remember even the smallest descriptive details from Lois Lowry's A Summer to Die or Judy Blume's Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I think it was because back then books were still somewhat new to me, and when I found an author who seemed to say just what I was feeling, it really struck me and resonated. I hope that my books do that for the people who read them: I think it's the best thing to which any writer can aspire. "As far as my other life, my non-writing life, I live in the country with my husband, some lizards, and two dogs who are completely spoiled and rule me completely. I like to work in my garden---although I have not yet perfected the art of keeping everything alive----and, in my weaker moments, shop. I have a bit of an addiction to the Gap clearance rack, to be honest. I have this strange need to buy huge quantities of black pants. How many pairs of black pants does one person need? (Obviously for me, the answer is 11 and counting. But I digress.) What else can I tell you? I love Starbucks mochas but they make me way hyper. I subscribe to too many magazines. I make a mean bean salad. I could go on, but the truth is, my books are much more exciting than I am, and that's a good thing. It's always more fun to make stuff up anyway."

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Best Sellers

    • Once and for All

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Karissa Vacker
    • Length: 10 hrs and 41 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 337
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 306
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 306

    Is it really better to have loved and lost? Louna's summer job is to help brides plan their perfect days, even though she stopped believing in happily ever after....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • A classic Dessen novel

    • By lyss on 06-10-17

    Regular price: $42.00

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Just Listen

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Jennifer Ikeda
    • Length: 11 hrs and 52 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 280
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 226
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 229

    Sara Dessen delivers the bittersweet story of a dissatisfied model and the offbeat guy who teaches her that only truth can set her free....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • Amazing book.

    • By Karly on 04-13-16

    Regular price: $32.87

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Saint Anything

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Taylor Meskimen
    • Length: 12 hrs and 41 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 429
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 374
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 379

    Peyton, Sydney's charismatic older brother, has always been the star of the family, receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention and - lately - concern....

    • 3 out of 5 stars

    • Not my favorite.

    • By Emily on 05-25-15

    Regular price: $38.50

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Dreamland

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Elizabeth Morton
    • Length: 8 hrs and 27 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 81
    • Performance
      4 out of 5 stars 68
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 67

    Caitlin can't afford to leave this dreamland, this half-sleeping state where everything and everyone can be kept at arm's length....

    • 3 out of 5 stars

    • narrarator very bland

    • By Dani on 02-25-16

    Regular price: $32.20

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Lock and Key

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Rebecca Soler
    • Length: 11 hrs and 14 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 148
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 112
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 111

    Best-selling author Sarah Dessen explores the heart of a gutsy, complex girl dealing with unforeseen circumstances and learning to trust again....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • GREAT book

    • By Elizabeth on 05-16-11

    Regular price: $35.00

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • The Truth About Forever

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
    • Length: 12 hrs and 14 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 357
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 245
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 246

    In The Truth About Forever, Dessen depicts a young woman coming to terms with the tragic death of her father....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • Sarah's Best

    • By Lisa on 09-13-06

    Regular price: $29.95

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • The Moon and More

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Allie Gallerani
    • Length: 11 hrs and 25 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4 out of 5 stars 118
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 104
    • Story
      4 out of 5 stars 104

    Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going? Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story....

    • 2 out of 5 stars

    • dissappointed since its sarah dessen

    • By Doha on 10-15-13

    Regular price: $35.00

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • What Happened to Goodbye

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Meredith Hagner
    • Length: 10 hrs and 8 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4 out of 5 stars 183
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 136
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 141

    Since her parents' bitter divorce, Mclean and her dad, a restaurant consultant, have been on the move - four towns in two years....

    • 4 out of 5 stars

    • Be Prepared for a Great Book!

    • By Melodi on 12-03-12

    Regular price: $35.00

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Keeping the Moon

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Stina Nielsen
    • Length: 6 hrs and 34 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4 out of 5 stars 62
    • Performance
      4 out of 5 stars 43
    • Story
      4 out of 5 stars 43

    While her mother, aerobics queen Kiki Sparks, spends the summer touring Europe, 15-year-old Colie Sparks is stuck in sleepy Colby, North Carolina. But she's not complaining....

    • 1 out of 5 stars

    • Incomplete

    • By Jennifer on 07-18-11

    Regular price: $41.93

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • This Lullaby

    • By: Sarah Dessen
    • Narrated by: Ali Ahn
    • Length: 10 hrs and 30 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 160
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 130
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 126

    Remy always knows the perfect time to give a boyfriend "The Speech" telling him it's over - after the initial romantic whirl, but before the reality of an actual relationship hits....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • I couldn't stop listening

    • By Kathryn on 10-14-12

    Regular price: $35.00

    Free with 30-day Trial

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