Dessen has done it again! I loved this book, never wanting to put it down. It's about Ruby who lived with her mom in a yellow farmhouse when one day Ruby's mom just never comes back. Sort of "runs away". Ruby stays there, not telling anyone that her moms gone, waiting out the months until she turns 18. But then the landlords bust her and she is sent to live with her sister, Cora, who left her and her mother when she went to college. It pretty much centers around Nate, her neighbor and her realtionship with Cora. I loved it! It really was sad seeing how mislead everyone was. I also loved how Rogerson was included in the book and Kiki Sparks! I love how Dessen does that. I haven't read all of Dessen's books but out of the ones I have read this is my favorite!

I loved this story overall. It had really good traits, and aspects, and the main idea behind it was rather enjoyable, as are all of Dessen's plots. I'd definitely recommend this to others.

My only problem with this story, as well as a couple of her other novels, is how sexually promiscuous the main characters always seem to be =/. Or, at the very least...how..well, not 'loose' but ...the manner in which many of the female characters in her novels don't hold any morality (or, for some, dont' really care at all about it) as far as having sex at such a young age goes.

It'd be nice if such were otherwise - considering how quickly morality in today's society is disappearing. Girls, especially 'young adult' females reading novels today, need something to look up to other than a lack of modesty. That's my only issue with this novel.

I'll admit, however, Dessen's ability to present sexual scenes (not kissing or loving scenes, but... scenes with actual sex being hinted at) without being at all graphic is quite relieving. And I commend her for such. That's another reason why her stories are so enjoyable - things like that don't obstruct the reader's path towards the story's main idea. Once more, I liked this story, and think it deserves 4 stars, at the very least.

Dysfunctional familes reach an all-time high is this latest novel, along with another I'm thinking of Michelle Kane's CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL. Feeling like you are one in the same family is Dessen's appeal. Read this book and feel not-so-alone.Confessions of a Catholic Schoolgirl

Ive read every one of Sarah Dessen's books and loved them all. There is just something about them that gets me so interested. When I herd that she was coming out with Lock and Key I couldn't wait. The day it came out i went to the store and bought it and ended up finishing it the next day. I was a little disappointed. I just couldn't find myself getting as into the book as I had her others. Maybe I had expected too much, I'm not really sure. I still liked it but it definetly wasn't my favorite.

Item was in great condition and I am currently reading the book right now. It is a really good book and I can't wait to finish it. I recommend this book to everyone who loves to read.

This book was not her best by a long shot, but still pretty excellent overall. It's about a teen named Ruby who goes through a variety of traumatic times living with her alcoholic mother before child services comes in and reunites Ruby with her sister Cora whom she has not seen since she left for college 10 years ago. I don't want to spoil anything, but it's definitely a good read and a pretty quick one too. I read it in about 2 1/2 hours.

Ruby has always lived with her mother and while it wasn't the happiest or easiest life, Ruby could deal with it. Until her mother leaves. Ruby expects her to come back but when she doesn't, she finds herself pretending that her mother is still there, working her job, and doing everything she can to keep the landlords from finding out. But they do find out and soon the social workers have contacted Ruby's sister Cora, whom she hasn't seen in years, and is forcing Ruby to go live with her. Cora now lives in a fancy house in a fancy town with her rich husband that Ruby has never met. As Ruby struggles with everyone's decision to force her there, even though she'll be eighteen in just a few short months, she finds herself trying to escape the first night and meeting Nate, her hot neighbor. Nate, while he seems to have everything, may be exactly what Ruby need to be happy with her new life.


Out of all of Sarah Dessen's books, Lock and Key ranks in my Top Three. The characters, Ruby and Nate in particular, are so real and they have so many sides to them, that you can always relate to one of them. The plot is so believable that you feel as if you're right there in Lakeview, going to Perkins Day, and facing the same struggles as Ruby. Though all of Sarah's books are remarkable, Lock and Key seems to be the most mature and creative. It definitely showcases Sarah's true talent well and I recommend it to everyone, whether you've read any of Sarah's previous work or not.

with such a talant for writing, readers will find that Dessen has once again created a book in which readers will find it difficult to put down.
Dessen ties in all of our favorite characters from previous books while keeping the storyline in place. Readers will find that Dessen has once again demonstrated her fine skill in the art of maticulous writing.

Even though I am 22 years old and well out of my teenage/high school years, this novel spoke to me in a way I could still relate to. Who hasn't questioned the meaning of family and relationships or felt compelled to help someone who didn't want it? How about feeling like an outsider in a new and foreign place?

This little gem, Dessen's eighth novel, tells the story of Ruby: A seventeen-year-old girl who has been raised by a neglectful mother for the past ten years, alone. When her mother finally leaves one day and doesn't return, Ruby is forced to live with her long lost sister Cora, who is wealthy, married, and trying to get pregnant.

Despite her resistant attitude, Ruby is forced to switch schools, make friends with the cute boy-next-door Nate, and spend time with her brother-in-law Jamie, an overly-optimistic entrepreuner. Ruby's relationship with Nate unfolds as they commute to school together each day, providing the fundamental romance element in Dessen's story. We also learn that Nate has a dark secret, something that Ruby has trouble responding to throughout the novel.

"Lock and Key" is both heart-warming and raw; unique and believable. Every character has his or her own quirks, adding humor and playfulness throughout the plot. Gervais is the obnoxious twelve-year-old whiz kid in high school; Harriet is Ruby's coffee-downing, control freak of an employer; and Olivia is Ruby's talkative and outspoken classmate at her new private school.

As Ruby warms up to the new people in her life she begins to reexamine the meaning of family, and rethink the one thing she's always desired most: Complete independence.

What I love about this novel is the natural progression of Ruby's metamorphasis from troubled independent bad-girl, to mature young adult. Dessen has always had such a strong gift for creating genuine characters; I feel as if I could look up Ruby's name in a phone book and find her living still today.

I definitely recommend "Lock and Key" to teens and adults alike. Contrary to other current YA novels on today's market, "Lock and Key" -- along with Dessen's other books -- will undoubtedly become a timeless classic that I someday hope to share with my own children.

Even though I am 22 years old and well out of my teenage/high school years, this novel spoke to me in a way I could still relate to. Who hasn't questioned the meaning of family and relationships or felt compelled to help someone who didn't want it? How about feeling like an outsider in a new and foreign place?

This little gem, Dessen's eighth novel, tells the story of Ruby: A seventeen-year-old girl who has been raised by a neglectful mother for the past ten years, alone. When her mother finally leaves one day and doesn't return, Ruby is forced to live with her long lost sister Cora, who is wealthy, married, and trying to get pregnant.

Despite her resistant attitude, Ruby is forced to switch schools, make friends with the cute boy-next-door Nate, and spend time with her brother-in-law Jamie, an overly-optimistic entrepreuner. Ruby's relationship with Nate unfolds as they commute to school together each day, providing the fundamental romance element in Dessen's story. We also learn that Nate has a dark secret, something that Ruby has trouble responding to throughout the novel.

"Lock and Key" is both heart-warming and raw; unique and believable. Every character has his or her own quirks, adding humor and playfulness throughout the plot. Gervais is the obnoxious twelve-year-old whiz kid in high school; Harriet is Ruby's coffee-downing, control freak of an employer; and Olivia is Ruby's talkative and outspoken classmate at her new private school.

As Ruby warms up to the new people in her life she begins to reexamine the meaning of family, and rethink the one thing she's always desired most: Complete independence.

What I love about this novel is the natural progression of Ruby's metamorphasis from troubled independent bad-girl, to mature young adult. Dessen has always had such a strong gift for creating genuine characters; I feel as if I could look up Ruby's name in a phone book and find her living still today.

I definitely recommend "Lock and Key" to teens and adults alike.

If you are a Sarah Dessen fan this book will not let you down. It is a great read, highly recomended!

Ruby doesn't think too much of it when her mom takes off, leaving her to live alone in their small yellow house. She knows that she's just better off that way anyhow, and if she can keep up on rent and her job for the next few months, she can live alone, unbothered, until she hits her eighteenth birthday. But then the dryer breaks down, and her landlords poke their noses into her business, and before she really realizes it, she's sent to live with her sister Cora and her husband. Cora, who is almost as strange to her as an attentive mother, who left her 10 years earlier to go start her own life, and acts as if Ruby is a flaw in her perfectly laid out life. Ruby wants nothing more than to run away from her sister and become self sufficient, but then again, we can't always get what we want...

Lock and Key is a very vivid, honest, and poignant book. Each scene and situation is realistically portrayed, and moves at a good, steady clip. Dessen's trademark style of gathering scattered bits and pieces from the character's life and deftly weaving them together to create a seamless, beautiful novel shines radiantly through in Lock and Key. But it is the characters that define this book: quirky, puzzling, humorous, endearing, and completely and totally enjoyable. Dessen has succeeded in creating a protagonist that, though she is very different and unique, becomes intimately familiar to the writer throughout the course of the story, while at the same time never letting the plot become predictable. Lock and Key is sure to captivate readers again and again.

Ruby and her mother lived together, moving periodically when they could no longer pay the bills. Long ago Ruby's older sister tired of the life and left for college. Now Ruby's mom has left as well and she's barely managing on her own (not that she will admit it). However, she cannot keep it secret forever and her landlords discover the truth. Cora, her older sister, and Jaime, Cora's husband, take her in. Turns out they're well off since Jaime founded [...].

Ruby slowly adjusts to her new life. She makes friends with Olivia, another girl at her new school from the wrong side of the tracks. She works for the neurotic Harriet, whose business is just beginning to take off. And really, she's just friends with her next door neighbor Nate. Really. As Ruby accepts that her life has changed for the better, she also realizes the Nate could use a few changes in his. But like her he does not want help.

Dessen's books are not packed with action or vampires. There's humor, but they aren't funny books. She writes quiet stories of normal teens struggling with their lives. Well, maybe `slightly glamorous' would be a more accurate description than `normal.' Despite this, her best books are never dull. They are interesting, lived in, and pass for quicker than their 400+ page count would indicate. Dessen delivers solid novels that appeal strongly to teens and somewhat to their parents. (My mom hasn't read LOCK AND KEY yet, so I do not know her verdict on this one.)

I think my favorite part of LOCK AND KEY is Olivia. She's prickly, but she has a good heart, as evidenced by her relationships with Ruby and Gervais. She delivers some of the best lines in the book and every scene containing her is especially lively. I liked her even more after Gervais's surprising announcement to Ruby. (It surprised me more than the revelation about Nate. I saw that coming from a mile away.) I also like Cora and Jaime's relationship - not perfect, but their fights weren't overly done. It seemed like a happy, lasting marriage, but a real one rather than Disney-style.

Excerpted from In Bed With Books

I always like reading Sarah Dessen because i always finish them feeling good and like it was brought to a nice complete conclusion and was looking forward to lock and key but i just wasnt feeling it for some reason.I feel like it lacked that certain flare she has.It wasnt altogether bad but for me just not as good as her other stuff.

It's been a quite a long time that I found myself sitting up until three in the morning, wanting desperately to finish a story. But that is exactly where I found myself the other night with LOCK AND KEY in my hands. I was so engrossed in Ruby and her story that I had to find out how it ended.

Ruby Cooper has always looked out for Number One. When Ruby was eight, her sister Cora left for university and never looked back. It was always Ruby and her mother, moving from one place to another. Her mother's excuse was to avoid creditors and landlords. Ruby slowly comes to find out that this is the version her mother wanted her to hear.

Early on in her senior year of high school, Ruby's mom does a runner. Leaving Ruby all alone in the rented yellow house, Ruby does what she can to survive. She will be eighteen in less than a year, and if she can hide the fact that she's alone until then, the authorities won't be able to touch her. But when the dryer fails at her rented house and the landlords notice a clothes line strung throughout the kitchen, Ruby's life is forever changed.

Custody of Ruby is given over to her older sister, Cora. Cora and her husband, Jamie, live in a wealthy community and live a life totally foreign to everything Ruby has ever known. Not trusting Cora and Jamie's intentions, Ruby plots an escape her first night in her new home. Making a break over the fence in the back yard, her escape is foiled by one rambunctious dog, Roscoe. Roscoe's barking brings a curious "Hello?" from the other side of the fence. Here she meets her next door neighbor, Nate. Nate's outlook on life is upbeat and infectious. But Ruby does everything she can to keep him at bay, as well.

Slowly, Ruby learns to adjust the new life she has been given, and develop friendships in the most unlikely places. Ruby has always kept on the fringes and avoided being indebted to anyone. But as she grows and evolves, she realizes that maybe others need her just as much as she needs them. With a class assignment to define "Family," Ruby understands that the word has many meanings, and most of them don't necessarily mean blood relations.

Sarah Dessen writes another amazing novel for young adults. LOCK AND KEY is wonderful, heartfelt story. All of the characters draw you in and make you feel like you are part of their lives. Jamie's naiveté is endearing. Cora's infertility struggles hit you in the heart. Olivia's tough girl exterior has cracks you get to see through. Harriett is just as harried as her name implies. And the perfect-seeming Nate has secrets all his own.

My only regret with this book is that I failed to move it to the top of my To Be Read pile as soon as it arrived for review. So if you have this one sitting around at home, make it the next one you read. And if you've picked it up at the book store, considering purchasing it, definitely do so the next time you are there. You won't regret it!

Reviewed by: Jaglvr

I've been a huge fan of Sarah Dessen and have read every single one of her books, so I was really excited to hear that she was coming out with a new book.

Lock and Key is the story of a girl, Ruby, whose mother is addicted to alcohol. One day, her mother leaves, and Ruby is left living by herself in her yellow house until social services turns up. Ruby is then sent to live with her sister Cora, who she hasn't had contact with in over ten years. Ruby feels out of place in her sister's perfect life - the perfect house, perfect job, and fun and loving husband Jamie. So the first night Ruby stays with her sister, Ruby tries to escape, but meets Nate, the boy next door.

Nate is sweet and nice and is always there for Ruby, even when she least expects it. As her friendship with Nate progresses, she learns that there is more than meets the eye. Through Nate, she learns to understand herself better and realize how to open herself to others.

As Ruby struggles with her new life with her sister, Nate, and her new school, she learns what the true meaning of friendship and family is.
Lock and Key is a well written novel with excellently developed characters. There are layers to Ruby that Dessen skillfully unravels that help the readers understand what Ruby is going through. Nate becomes more than just a popular jock, but a boy who has his own problems and troubles.

While I really enjoyed this book, I agree with another reviewer, that it seemed a little bit rushed at the end. The whole book built up so much momentum and then just ended, when so much more could've been said. But overall, Lock and Key was an excellent book that all Dessen fans should go pick up and read.

I swear to you I'll probably never be asked to babysit again because I got so into this book one night, that I didn't even play with the 3 kids I was with. I cooked dinner, gave baths, and than I read! I loved this book soooo much. It was really amazing and I finished it in one night. I went straight through this 430 page book head first. I cannot wait until more of her books come out. I have only been a fan of Just Listen and Someone Like You and tried others of hers but couldn't get into it. Than I saw this book and fell in love. This is one of the most amazing books I have read. I would suggest it to anyone who is looking for a relaxing and laid back book to read.

Awesome book! I love all her books. If you like any of her other books you'll like this one.

I think Lock and Key overall was just good. Don't get me wrong, this book is definitely worth reading. Through the first 70 pages it's mostly background knowledge, and you really need to know how Ruby grew up to understand her story. After about page 75 its starts to get good and then by page 200 or so it starts to get amazing. The ending however, is a little disappointing(not bad)to some people, but necessary. Give Lock and Key a chance!!

If you've ever read any of Dessen's other books you won't be dissapointed by this one, and you'll love the way she sneaks in refernces to characters from previous novels. You don't have to read the other ones to understand this, though. Even if this is you first Dessen novel you will love it and all her other books are great

I just could not get into this book. I'm a huge fan of Just Listen so I was expecting a lot from this book. The story seemed to drag, but then tied together a little to quickly in the end. I never truly felt any sympathy for Ruby and I didn't understand why there wasn't really any sort of ending.

I've read every other Sarah Dessen book and while I may not be fond of them all this was just one I will never read again.

So a lot of people are complaining that this novel is different than many of Sarah Dessen's other works. This statement is true but it doesn't make the book bad, it's just different. Ruby just feels a little different than many of Dessens other main characters. It's funny because if you look at some of Ruby's qualities they are very similar to other main characters, but there is something about her that just feels different from the rest. At first you feel like the other characters in the book towards her, a little cautious, guarded, but hopeful. Luckily in the end the book is satisfying and you get that Sarah Dessen feel. As always she isn't afraid to tackle issues, abuse, neglect, even a little drug use. This always makes for realness to her books. All in all a little different from her previous novels but as always Dessens delivers.

Lock And Key... Hm. Well, I've read a number of Mrs. Dessen's books. This Lullaby, Just Listen, The Truth About Forever, etc, and while I dearly enjoyed those book, I agree with what others said about Lock And Key. It lacked Mrs. Dessen's spark.

There were also a number of grammar/sentence structure mistakes in this book, which made me wonder who edited it.

I also have a question for those who read the book. Did anyone else catch the HUGE mistake at the end? When Ruby gives Nate the neckless, and then somehow she magically has it again at the end and throws it in the pond? I know she could have somehow gotten a hold of it, but it even says "I looked down at the key to the yellow house, the same key I hadn't worn since Nate left". Am I the only one that noticed that?

Sarah Dessen creates such a realistic view on life in this novel. She brings together heart break, drama, and romance into a perfect combination. Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down. This novel addresses real life issues that many girls face each and every day. But the greatest thing is that it shows that those issues can be overcome and have great results. This is the first book I've read by Sarah Dessen, and it definitely won't be my last. I absolutely loved it. I can't wait to get my hands on another book by her! Get this book. It will definitely be worth it!

I've really of Sarah Dessen's book. And I've loved most of them, actually, I've loved all but two of them (That Summer and Someone Like You). While Lock and Key isn't going to fall into the favorite category (Just Listen and This Lullaby and The Truth About Forever) it will fall into the love category (Dreamland and Keeping the Moon).

Ever since I heard about SD coming out with a new book I was eagerly awaiting the release date. I devoured all of SD's book within a month and it had been awhile since then. While I can't say I was disappointed by Lock and key, I will say that the book was a bit of a let down.

The main reason I disliked the book was that I felt like SD was losing her touch. We've heard all of this before. The abused boyfriend (Rogerson is hit by his Dad in Dreamland), the distant mother (uh, take your pic), the new town/new friends motif (Keeping the Moon comes to mind). And while, yeah, these are typical things to write about, I felt that it was just too familiar because with SD's writing it's all intertwined. Rogerson has a fair sized part in the book, Kristy and Wes's brother show up, Annabel and Owen are both mentioned, Barbara Starr shows up.(Dreamland, The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, This Lullaby, respectively.) SD's books would make for a very short game of 6 degrees and while I'm not saying all their plot lines are original, I think that it's important to keep every different in order to, well differentiate the books.

While I thought with the story lines SD was losing her touch, she still shines through with being able to weave multiple story lines together. Not a lot of authors manage the many subplots of life and hit it on target. I wish the story line with Ruby's dad had been closed up, rather than the story line with her mother. To me, it should have ended with her running away. For me, that was enough. But, I felt like her Dad might have actually wanted a relationship with her or some sort.

Ultimately, I liked the book, I just wish it hadn't felt so familiar.

To start off this review, I will admit to two things. One, this my very first time reading a book from Ms. Sarah Dessen and two, I didn't read the whole entire book, so I am not so sure if this review will be any helpful to you but anyways.

For years I have heard all the praises of Ms. Dessen's books that contain realistic characters and even more, orginial and believable plots and multiple times I went to the local library and the school library but all of her books were checked out, and I just considered as a sign. But as of two days ago while I was in my school library, I saw her book perched up with an interesting cover and new, crisp pages meaning it was brand spanking new. So I took this as a sign and checked it out. The beginning was interesting to say the least but I was just waiting for something exciting to happen! But it never did and the pace of the book went on the point where the main character kept droning on and on until I really got annoyed and threw it down onto the ground.

The concept was interesting overall but in my opinion, Dessen failed to deliver. The text seemed forced which is a no, no. So, I won't say that I won't ever read from this author again but I will say that I will be reading her previous books. In doses of course because I just really don't know what to expect from this author but I will give her credit.

I've always loved Sarah Dessen books. I'm a teenager myself, and I've always felt that she knew exactly what she was talking about. With Lock and Key, however, it felt like something was missing. Maybe the book lacked the satisfying climax and resolution that most of her other books did, maybe it just felt like Ruby's problems with her mother were resolved a little too quickly. Or maybe it was that the relationship between Nate and Ruby was never really...fleshed-out. Either way, it's a nice book to read, but I would probably wait for the paperback.

I have to agree with the other reviewer who says she can see how Sarah has grown as a writer. One of the things I absolutely love about Sarah is how she weaves elements of nature (koi, monitor lizards, herons, fragrant gardens on a summer's night, dogs) and everyday activities (running, Zen-mode calculus, the temperature of a swimming pool) into such seemingly effortless metaphors that have taken my breath away on more than one occasion. I should mention at this point that I'm 34, a faithful adult fan of Dessen's since the release of This Lullaby in 2002 (?). I loved The Truth About Forever, was iffy on Just Listen but read it more than once, nonetheless and was absolutely enchanted by Lock and Key. It is true that the symbolism of the lock and key was a mite overexposed (as one reviewer said) but that is totally forgivable. There was so much meat and possibility and nuanced writing here that my only *major* complaint is that the book felt hurried in its conclusion. Almost like Sarah had a lot more to say but the bell was about to ring.

The surprises in Nate's parallel story are fantastic as far as character development goes. He seems, of course, to be the total opposite of Ruby in the beginning but it's a real pleasure as a reader to watch their story arcs reveal a place of true resonance. Sarah dealt with some tough, heart-breaking issues: abuse, neglect, abandonment, drug culture, destructive and consistent deception and in all honesty, I really felt Ruby's pain. Having none of her experiences as a child and teen, I still felt her circumstances were written expertly. I found myself actually worrying about her and another character (don't want to give away too much- it is certainly a big part of what makes the book such a good read.) Anyway, I'm totally babbling here. With the exception of a hasty ending that felt a bit like a rip-off (and ultimately this is a compliment to Dessen since it just left you wanting more) this book is a gem (Ha, Ruby.)

I believe Dessen has a solid base of adult readers because she has never been a pink-bubble-gum writer with shallowly developed characters and equally empty-calorie plot lines. Highly recommend; love the image of the cat's eye pupil dilating and constricting as it takes in Nate and Ruby's two steps forward, two steps back dance at Sabrina's house; really liked Reggie as a character (what a sweetheart); looking forward to watching Sarah's ability to weave poetry into prose, substance into a growing populace of beloved characters and little and embedded points of identification as you tread to the deeper end of the pool. High five, Sarah.

I truly love Sarah Dessen's work. Though I found I could not connect with many of the characters in her earlier works, her more recent books have been rich, dynamic, and real, at times heart-breaking; I can see how she has really grown as a writer. I'm 22 years old, yet I still find myself sneaking back to the young adult section every time I hear one of her books has come out, and I know I will continue to do so.

I also love the subtle bringing in of past characters, which she used A LOT in this book. I find it amazing how she has created a whole mini fiction world in which all of her characters and their lives are somehow connected. It gives me a warm fuzzy feeling to hear about Annabel, still working at the radio station, and even, to my surprise, Rogerson. He was such a dark and intriguing character in Dreamland, and I found myself wondering what (if anything) happened to him after that book ended. I admire Dessen's ability to make her characters real people, real people who I wonder about after I am finished with a book, real people who I am happy to see resurface, like an old friend, to find out what is going on in their lives.

I won't bother with the plot-synopsis, since I don't want to give anything away. Just expect a novel that is typical of Sarah Dessen: heart-warming, funny, clever, engaging, and above all, real.

Happy reading.

What is family? That is the question posed to seventeen year old Ruby Cooper on her first day at the exclusive Perkins Day School. Sent to live with her estranged older sister and her husband after it is discovered her mother disappeared two months earlier, Ruby's life is turned upside down. Ruby has lived an almost transient lifestyle with her mother, believing that her older sister, Cora, abandoned her without a second glance ten years earlier. Now that she has been reunited with Cora, Ruby is forced to face some truths about their past and their biological family. Along the way, she also learns that a person can have many families over time.

At the heart of nearly every Sarah Dessen novel is the story of a girl and a boy, and in Lock and Key, that boy is Nate Cross. Nate is the next-door neighbor of Cora and her husband Jamie, and the night that Ruby moves in, Nate hides the fact that Ruby was trying to run away from Jamie. As the novel develops, so does the relationship between Nate and Ruby, though Dessen shares the emotional connection rather than the physical. And while Nate rescues Ruby a few times at the beginning of the novel, his life falls apart while hers begins to come together. In the end, it is Ruby and Cora who must rescue Nate.

It is not plot, but characters, that drive Dessen's novels. Her gift is in creating characters that the reader can identify with. This is certainly true of Ruby, who feels out of place in the perfect life her sister has created, and more at home in the large, anonymous crowds at her previous high school. Teens struggling to find their place in the world will relate to Ruby's desire to control even one aspect of her life. On the whole, I found this to be a satisfying, engaging read, with the quality Dessen fans have come to expect.

First off, I should say that I'm a huge Sarah Dessen fan. I love all her books for different reasons. So I was one of the many readers eagerly waiting for this book to come out. And I got super-lucky by winning an advanced copy.

Well, I have mixed feelings about Lock and Key.

The Pros:

1. This book is completely different from anything Sarah Dessen's done before. It's a mix of a light-hearted story and a darker story. The plot is more complex. It's something new.
2. Lots of older characters make some interesting cameos in Lock and Key. I spotted Owen and Annabel (from Just Listen), a bigger appearance by Rogerson (Dreamland), Bert and Kristy (from The Truth About Forever), Barbara Starr (from This Lullaby), Kiki Sparks (from Keeping the Moon) and quite a few more characters.
3. I loved the relationships in this book, and the characters all won me over.
4. As usual, this book is so quotable. Nearly every sentence is beautiful and made me want to highlight it and stick it into my brain.
5. It's written by Sarah Dessen. I knew I would be satisfied.

The Cons:

1. At first, it's a bit slow-moving.
2. The ending felt so bittersweet.
3. Sarah Dessen is capable of so much more.

All in all, though, this book is well-written, funny, thought-provoking, and great. I wanted to know what happened to all the characters. Sarah Dessen is a brilliant writer and this book is yet more proof of that. But Lock and Key isn't "better" than some of her other books. Still, I recommend it.

Dessen's latest novel retains much of what I've loved about her previous novels - a common setting, cameos by favorite characters, true-to-life dilemmas - but seems to have lost most of what made me fall in love with her work.

The novel opens as seventeen-year-old Ruby finds herself abandoned by her alcoholic mother in a little rented farmhouse. When she falls behind on the rent and utilities, her landlords out her, and she is sent to live with her long-absent sister, Cora, whose husband is the computer genius behind Lakeview's myspace-esque communication webpage. Ruby's new posh lifestyle requires much adjustment with the help of a colorful cast of characters - mysterious, handsome Nate; frantic, nervous Harriet; and bitter-yet-endearing Olivia. In the end, Ruby learns that while staying may be harder than running away, it reaps greater rewards.

Armed with this generic synopsis, I eagerly awaited this novel, but was sadly disappointed. What had first attracted me to Dessen's work was her divine ability to make her characters feel real. She has a skill lost to many contemporary YA writers in that her characters have never, in the past, felt irrelevant to or distant from the reader. While they all had their quirks, they were always wholly lovable and truly enjoyable.

This book's characters lack that realism. Ruby's turnabout seems abrupt and unrealistic. Harriet, who could have been a valuable asset to Ruby's development, is marginalized and only surfaces when needed to advance a stalling plot. Nate's predicament, while heart-rending, seems contrived and unnatural - designed specifically to help Ruby learn about life. In her previous novels, the lesson her heroines learn have always evolved naturally, and have never felt as forced as in this book.

Finally, Dessen is a master of the extended metaphor. Each of her books has a detail, a theme, or an object that carries through the story; an item to which the characters' lives is easily compared and which makes their problems seem accessible and understandable. In this novel, Dessen tries to achieve the same feat with Ruby's key. Unfortunately, the metaphor of the lock and key has been employed to the point of overuse, and its frequent appearance in this book makes it seem corny and unrealistic.

The silver lining to this book is Cora's struggle to become pregnant. Perhaps Dessen's own joy over being a new mom shines through in these scenes in a way that makes them believable, exciting, and emotional.

Overall, while I remain a tried and true fan of Dessen's YA work, I found myself closing this book disappointedly at its conclusion. While not every novel can have the sparkle, wit, and honesty of "The Truth About Forever" and "Just Listen," I expect more from one as accomplished as Dessen and hope that her future novels exceed this latest.

I would recommend this book to adolescent girls looking for a fun and meaningful read, but not before recommending all of her previous novels so that a reader can truly gauge the clarity and poignancy of Dessen's better works.

So I think every bibliophile has one or two authors that can do no wrong. Sarah Dessen is one of my two, and Lock & Key didn't disappoint. Ruby is a typical Dessen character. She thinks she can handle everything on her own. She doesn't need her mother. It's not like her Mom has ever been all that reliable anyway. She just needs to remain cool until she turns 18 and is legally an adult. Of course, Ruby doesn't count on the pipes bursting at the kitchen sink or the dryer breaking, forcing her to hang a clothesline in the kitchen where her nosy landlords, the Honeycutts, can see it. The Honeycutts turn her in and big sister Cora is suddenly back in her life after 10 years. A lot has changed for Cora in 10 years. She's graduated from college, is a public defender, and is married to a wealthy internet entrepreneur named Jamie. Ruby can't believe this is Cora's life, and she wants no part of it. But then she meets Nate, the friendly, dependable boy next door, and her brother-in-law is just so nice. Her new private school isn't as bad as she thought, and she even manages to find a job at the mall that she likes. Soon Ruby learns that it's nice to be needed, and it's okay for her to need someone every once in a while too. Now if only we could all be so wise at 17 and learn those most important life lessons. I think that's what I love about Dessen's characters. They're not perfect. They don't all wear designer clothes, have great popularity, have the best boyfriends or even the best grades, but they are certainly all smart. As teenagers they somehow manage to learn lessons that a lot of adults never comprehend, and by extension, all of Dessen's young readers learn the lessons too.

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Sarah Dessen has 8 books published, and as a true Dessen fan, I've read them all. I sort of separate her books into two categories, though. In one category, there's Keeping the Moon, This Lullaby, The Truth About Forever, and Just Listen. In the other one I place That Summer, Someone Like You, Dreamland, and Lock and Key. What's the difference between these two groups? I'll try to explain...

The first category I mentioned are the feel-good books. The protagonists are messed up in a certain way, certainly, but there is a spark of happiness and fun and really satisfyingly content endings where relationships and situations are tied up in a happily-ever-after knot. These books are kind of a break from reality, in a way, because who ever meets guys as wonderfully unique and vivid as Norman, Dexter, Wes, and Owen? I mean, I wish!

The second category, are the books where Dessen really explores dark places. And even though things end on good notes, the problem resolved... there's not the magical right-ness and the sparkly feeling. It's weird because in these books, the girl is usually with the guy in a relationship, like, mid-way in the book, and there's not the wonderful sealed-with-the-first-kiss ending. Instead, things get sour... Macon, Rogerson.

So GET LOCK AND KEY! Even if it's the darker category, it's still written by SARAH DESSEN. And that means it's awesome, just because she wrote it. But let me tell you right now. It's not The Truth About Forever. It is NOT Just Listen. It's the book that we read because it's by Sarah Dessen and we're fans so we read anything she writes... but we know the real reason we're fans in the first place is because of the happier books.

So some little bits of info as a closer...

Ruby is independant, wary, and determined. She's at her core a sweet person who, over time, has built up many walls.

Surprisingly big cameo by Rogerson... he's still scarier than Hades.

Actually, a WHOLE lot of cameos -- WAY more than in any other of her books. We see Mallory, mention of Owen and Annabel, Remy's mom, Denise and Charlotte, Kristy and Burt... and maybe even more I can't remember!

To be totally honest- I wasn't very impressed by this book at all.
Which is sucky because I love S.D. and all her other books.
However, Lock and Key didn't do anything for me. It felt distant and disconnected.

The reasons:
Ruby was boring and bland. I personally (which is my right) found her to be one dimensional which was not my expectation at all considering S.D.'s past characters who I loved. She had little humor and just didn't have the Dessen magic I expected. Though I'm sure a lot of people can relate to Ruby. She wasn't that complex as some reviews are raving in my opinion. I thought she was stubborn and immature and the fall back of having a mom that was abusive and ducked out on her was a weak excuse for her behavior. If you want to read a book about an interesting victim of abuse, I wouldn't necessarily suggest this book because Ruby was too transparent.

The Lock&Key motif was too redundant. It's just not a strong enough theme in my opinion to have been played on so much.

The story moved too quickly and predictably. Not to say there is anything wrong with predictability, but in this case the actual story was not interesting enough for me to want to hang on and see the ending through. (I did though.) The friendships between Ruby and the other Jackson student didn't seem genuine or really as friendly as the story tried to say it was.

Jamie was annoyingly perfect to me. I mean there's nothing wrong with a family man, and I think some of the things he did for Ruby and Cora were really sweet and unique. It's just it felt corny, and forced. Perhaps it was because it was through Ruby's eyes but I felt Cora and Jamie's relationship could have been touched on more deeply and genuinely instead of the distant way Ruby showed it.

Nate was really interesting though, I really enjoyed him.
Cora was pretty cool too, though I didn't really like the end of the book.

Redeeming qualities:
Though I personally wanted more of this, I'm glad Dessen introduced other people who could be considered villains in this novel. It showed that even if you put space between you and your own demons doesn't mean that the bad in the world is gone.

Had some really sweet moments- I thought the pool hopping bit was hysterical. Gervais (sp) was really interesting too.

Anyways, I'm still a fan of Dessen but I personally feel this wasn't her best. Hopefully everyone will understand this is my opinion and not bash me for it.

Ask twenty people to define "family," and you'll get twenty different definitions. Ruby's definition of family is about to change, and she's not quite sure what that means.

For years, Ruby and her mother moved from apartment to apartment. They lived in random places and cramped spaces above other people's garages. Finally, they find a little yellow house to rent. Ruby's mother, preferring to drown her sorrows in alcohol than deal with them head-on, made her daughter give her excuses to visitors, landlords, and bosses.

The older Ruby got, the more her mother depended on her - and on substances. Ruby became used to her mom disappearing for a few days now and then. When a week turned into two, then three, then a month, Ruby knew her mom wasn't coming back. She went to work and school and lived alone for months before her landlords realized what was going on.

With Ruby seven months away from her eighteenth birthday, child services stepped in. She is sent to live with her older sister, who hasn't seen her in ten years. Cora left for college and, according to their mother, never looked back. Now Cora has a successful career, a husband who is equally successful, and a gorgeous home, with a spunky little dog to boot. How can Ruby fit into this household, let alone into a new school that's posh and private? She's so sure that this could never be her home, her life, that she prepares to run away that very first night and go back to the little yellow house. Fate has other plans for her, and so does Nate, the boy next door.

Though Ruby consents to stay put for the time being, she keeps the key to the little yellow house on a chain around her neck. At first, the key is the only thing she permits to fall close to her heart, interpreting her sister's clipped responses as lack of interest. She is unsure how to take her perpetually upbeat brother-in-law, Jamie. How can this complete stranger welcome her with open arms?

Nate also reaches out to her. Whether she likes the attention or not, he means well. He's genuine, and she's not used to that. Carpooling with him to and from school gives her insight into this grinning, popular boy. There's more there than meets the eye. Though he's friendly, not flirtatious, she's hesitant to open up to him. She'd rather keep her heart under lock and key than risk getting hurt again.

Ruby is a strong girl, but she's not a saint. She has done plenty of things she's not proud of, and she has a stubborn streak a mile wide. She is determined to do things on her own and her refuses to let others assist her because she doesn't want to "owe" them anything.

Ruby's constantly tempted to leave, to make things easier for everyone, herself included. The easy way out is never as easy as it seems. It just leads her back to bad things, bad people. The road back to her sister's house is promising, but there are bumps along the way. Ruby's new school is far ahead of her previous school, and she struggles to keep up her grades. She has to write a report about "family" for class, and she doesn't know where to begin. Jamie tries to be helpful while Cora remains distant. Nate keeps reaching out, and Ruby repeatedly deflects his concern until she realizes that he may need some help too.

There are plenty of supporting characters in Ruby's new world. Roscoe, the dog, provides comic relief as well as unconditional love right from the start. Gervais, a kid who skipped multiple grades in school, rides in her carpool with Nate. There's Harriet, the high-strung jewelry designer with a mall kiosk who gets inspiration from an unexpected place, and Olivia, her talkative classmate who isn't afraid to tell it like it is. Nate's father seems pleasant and polished, but a scratch on that surface lets his true colors shine through. Ruby's old friends factor in as well, clashing loudly with her new life.

With Lock and Key, Sarah Dessen has created something extremely poignant - which is not to say that she hasn't before. All of Dessen's novels are extremely readable and enjoyable, and each is distinctive. The narrative of Lock and Key, which is told in first person from Ruby's point of view, infuses past events with the present day. Things that occurred a year ago, three months ago, or even earlier the same day are revealed when they relate to happenings in the current time frame. This storytelling method fits the feel of the story, allowing it to move forward as Ruby lives day by day but still clings to her past.

Ruby doesn't think of herself as lost, but she is - and she deserves to be found. Pick up Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen and give it a home on your bookshelf.

"And the rest is history," I said.

"Nah." He shook his head. "The rest is now."