Sarah Dessen

Sarah Dessen (born June 6, 1970) is an American novelist known for contemporary young adult fiction. Raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, she attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later earned an MFA from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dessen published her first novel, *That Summer*, in 1996, and has since written numerous bestselling YA books that often explore friendship, family dynamics, romance, and coming-of-age themes. Notable titles include *Someone Like You*, *Just Listen*, and *Along for the Ride*. Several of her novels have been adapted for screen, including *Along for the Ride* (2022).