I Read Every Sarah Dessen Book and Ranked Them From Worst to Best

Which books by the best-selling YA author are worth it?

Sarah Dessen introduced me to young adult books as a teenager.

When I was fourteen, I found her books at my local bookstore with my mom. I picked up one of them, read it, and immediately fell in love. I read the other ten in about two weeks. Since then, every time a new Dessen book comes out, I always read it right away. And I reread some of her books every few years.

Sarah Dessen has fourteen books out currently. Her timeless coming-of-age stories follow young girls navigating family, friends, and romance. Dessen’s writing style is thoughtful. Her books are slower-paced as the main character develops over the course of the novel. She also explores serious issues in her stories, such as addition and grief.

I recommend Sarah Dessen if you want to read great young adult contemporary stories. But with so many books, it can be hard to know where to start. So, I’ve made a ranking of my personal favorites.

Here are all of Sarah Dessen’s books, ordered from worst to best:

14. That Summer (1996) — Life is changing too quickly for 15-year-old Haven. With both her father and sister wrapped up in wedding planning, Haven wishes life could go back to the way things were. Then, her sister’s ex-boyfriend Summer returns, and Haven realizes the past wasn’t always as perfect as she remembered.

That Summer is Sarah Dessen’s first book. As a result, it’s not as good as her later books. I found it slow and boring. There is a lot of telling in the book, and you don’t get to know the characters on a deep level. The premise is promising, but the book didn’t captivate me. I recommend you read it only if you’re a super fan and you want to see how far her writing has come.

13. The Moon and More (2013) — In the summer after high school, Emaline starts to wonder if her college plans and ‘perfect’ boyfriend Luke are actually right for her. Then, she meets Theo, a filmmaker who encourages Emaline to explore a life outside her small town Colby.

The Moon and More is Dessen’s only book with a love triangle (which is not my favorite trope). I didn’t get invested in the story or attached to either of the love interests. There were also some pacing issues throughout the book.

12. Someone Like You (1998) — Halley and Scarlett are best friends. When Scarlett learns that her boyfriend has been killed in an accident and she is pregnant with his baby, Scarlett leans on Halley to help her through her devastation.

Someone Like You focuses on female friendship instead of romance, which is a nice change from other young adult books. However, it is only Dessen’s second novel, so some parts are clunky and slow.

11. Dreamland (2000) — Caitlin was used to living in the shadow of her sister until Rogerson started paying attention to her. As they start dating, Caitlin falls under his magnetic and dangerous spell.

Dreamland addresses an important and serious subject: abusive and unhealthy relationships. It was eye-opening and heartbreaking to read about. The story is different from Dessen’s other books but it is very valuable for young people to read.

10. Keeping the Moon (1999) — While her mother is in Europe, Collie is sent to spend the summer with her eccentric aunt Mira. Collie has no friends at home, and she expects this summer to be the same. But, then she starts working as a waitress at a cafe and learns to see herself in a new way.

Keeping the Moon was a great novel about learning how to be confident in yourself. But, ultimately, the book is not as memorable as some of Dessen’s others.

9. Once and For All (2017) —Louna is the daughter of a wedding planner, but she does not believe in happily-ever-afters, especially after the tragedy that ended her first love. Then, Louna meets Ambrose. And despite trying to keep her distance, she can’t help being charmed.

I read Once and For All in a day when it came out, and I enjoyed nearly everything about it. The emotional tragedy of Lou’s past love was hard to read about. Dessen balanced it well with a lighter, more uplifting plot of wedding planning and meeting Ambrose in the present. My only issue with the book was the idea that people are happiest when they are in a romantic relationship (which I don’t think is true).

8. Along for the Ride (2009) — Auden has been an insomniac ever since her parent’s divorce. When she stays with her dad and his new family for the summer, she meets fellow insomniac Eli, who takes her on nightly adventures to live out the carefree teenage life she never had.

Even though this is a lot of people’s favorite Dessen book, Along for the Ride is a middle-of-the-road book for me.

I liked reading from Auden’s perspective and watching the slow development of her relationship with Eli. But, I felt there was something missing for me to fall in love with the story completely. After seeing the recent Netflix movie though, I have a new appreciation for the book.

7. The Rest of the Story (2019) — Emma doesn’t remember much about her mother who passed away when she was ten, except for the stories of summers spent on North Lake. When Emma’s summer plans fall through, Emma finds herself spending the summer with her grandmother and cousins and finds out some secrets about her mother’s past.

The Rest of the Story was so enjoyable to read. I swooned over the love interest Roo, and I really enjoyed reading about Saylor’s family. The lake setting was immersive; I felt like I was there with the main character for the summer. The book also explores the theme of class in an interesting and thoughtful way.

6. Saint Anything (2015) — Sydney was never the center of attention in her family. After her brother, Peyton, ends up in jail for a drunk-driving accident, Sydney starts to question her place in the family. Then, she meets the Chatam family who accepts her completely and helps her think about the world (and herself) in a new way.

I was so excited for the release of Saint Anything that I left early from school to go to a book signing at my local bookstore. There, I heard Dessen read from the book, answer questions, and got my book signed. When I met her, I actually froze up and couldn’t speak because I was so overwhelmed. Thankfully, my mom and little brother were there so it wasn’t completely awkward. I treasure my personalized signed copy of the book.

I know Saint Anything didn’t connect with some people, but I really enjoyed it. It is heavy. But, I love the Chatham family and their relationship with Sydney. I also think Sydney works through the complicated feelings about her brother in a realistic way.

5. What Happened to Goodbye (2011) — Since her parent’s divorce, McLean has been on the move with her dad. With each new move, McLean becomes a different person. But since she’s landed in Lakeview, she’s found genuine friends and started discovering who she really is. Now, she doesn’t want to leave.

I’ve reread What Happened to Goodbye quite a few times and it always brings me a lot of comfort. I love that the story explores the idea of moving around a lot in your youth and trying to reinvent yourself. I also really enjoyed the love interest Dave. I understand why this book doesn’t work for everybody; McLean is a vague character because she doesn’t know who she is (and keeps changing herself). But, I still think it is great.

4. Lock and Key (2008) — When Ruby’s addict mother can no longer take care of her, Ruby must stay with her older sister whom she hasn’t seen in ten years, Cora. Adjusting to Cora’s luxury life with private schools and a new wardrobe is difficult for Ruby who grew up much differently. Through living with Cora and meeting the boy next door, Ruby learns about trust and discovers that family can mean many things.

Lock and Key is sentimental to me because it was the first book I read from Sarah Dessen. I remember getting a key necklace as a gift from my mom because of how much I loved this book (if you read the book, you would understand how it connects).

But, even without the nostalgia I have attached to this book, I still think it is an amazing story. I love reading from an independent character like Ruby and seeing her slowly let people into her life. Cora and Ruby’s sister relationship is so fun to see. The characters are layered and the plot develops naturally. It is one of Sarah Dessen’s best.

3. This Lullaby (2002) — Remy usually gives the guys she dates “the speech” right before things get too serious. But, when she meets Dexter, she can’t seem to break it off. And she doesn’t know why. Maybe, her rules for love, which she learned from her divorced mother, aren’t the ones she should follow anymore?

This Lullaby is a very memorable book for me. It has one of the best Dessen romances and makes me laugh every time I reread it. I love Remy and Dexter together; they balance each other out so well. Remy is also a fun character to read from because she is different from a lot of Dessen’s other main characters; she is sassy, smart, and jaded.

2. The Truth About Forever (2004) — Reeling from the death of her father and being dumped by her boyfriend, Macy applies for a summer job at a catering company. There, she forms a friendship with her coworkers, especially Wes, who teach her about the messy, chaotic beauty of life.

If you’re new to Sarah Dessen, I usually suggest starting with The Truth About Forever. This book is so sweet and tackles the theme of grief in an uplifting way. Macy finds a second family with her coworkers. She learns to embrace the unexpected, move on from the past, and still keep her father’s memory alive. Plus, Wes and Macy are so great together. It is one of Dessen’s best books to reread.

1. Just Listen (2006) — Annabel might seem like the “girl who has everything”, but her life is not as perfect and carefree as her model career would make it seem. Her best friend dumped her, her older sister is struggling with an eating disorder, and Annabel is struggling with the aftermath of a traumatic experience. Then, she meets fellow outcast Owen Armstrong, who helps her face what happened that night and heal some of her relationships.

“Don’t think or judge, just listen.” — Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Considering I routinely say Just Listen is my favorite book of all time, no other book could go in the number one spot except this one. I could write an entire article about it. I’ll give you a short version: This is the book I have reread the most in my life. Every time I pick it up, I notice something new.

One central theme of the book is the fact that there is always more to someone than what you perceive about them at first glance. Every single character changes over the course of the novel. I love that Annabel and Owen’s relationship develops slowly over time from a strong friendship. One of my favorite scenes of all time is when Annabel and Owen go through the car wash together; I always get excited every time I get to that moment in the book.

It’s more serious than Dessen’s other books, so if you’re looking for a happier one I would go for The Truth About Forever or This Lullaby. But, I absolutely love Just Listen and can’t recommend it enough.

“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you’d better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you’ll never understand what it’s saying.” — Just Listen

Besides my top three and bottom three, I wasn’t sure about the order for a lot of these. Overall, I love Dessen’s writing style and characters. Most of her books connect in some way, whether it be with the setting or small cameos from the characters, which are always fun to spot.

I’m due for a reread of a lot of these books very soon.

Have you read any Sarah Dessen books? Do you agree with my ranking?

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