{Audiobook} Review: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen

Title: Lock and Key
Author: Sarah Dessen
Narrator: Rebecca Soler
Series: n/a
Publisher: Penguin Audio
Publication Date: January 9th, 2009
Source: purchased audio
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Ruby, where is your mother?

Ruby knows that the game is up. For the past few months, she's been on her own in the yellow house, managing somehow, knowing that her mother will probably never return.

That's how she comes to live with Cora, the sister she hasn't seen in ten years, and Cora's husband Jamie, whose down-to-earth demeanor makes it hard for Ruby to believe he founded the most popular networking Web site around. A luxurious house, fancy private school, a new wardrobe, the promise of college and a future; it's a dream come true. So why is Ruby such a reluctant Cinderella, wary and defensive? And why is Nate, the genial boy next door with some secrets of his own, unable to accept the help that Ruby is just learning to give?

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

Oh my gosh, Lock and Key was good. *End Review*

If only it was that easy right? I’d be caught up and scheduled ahead for months, but I guess I’ll tell you a little about it. Just Listen was the first Dessen book I’ve listened to in Audio, and I loved it, so I had to stick with the theme and listen to another. I decided to go with Lock and Key, and I’m so glad I did.

Books like these, kids coming from bad homes, they grab at me. I think its because things weren’t perfect for me growing up. I like to read stories about kids getting a second chance, being pulled from these situations and living a better life.

Ruby has pretty much been abandoned by her piece of shit mother. But she’s 17 and quickly approaching adulthood so she does her best to survive on her own. She's failing fast, and fortunately the landlords figure it all out.

This brings us to Cora, Ruby’s older sister who steps in to take custody. They haven’t seen each other for 10 years. There is so much between these two, and the tears were flowing, let me tell you. Not necessarily sad tears, a lot of them were happy, but their relationship was complicated, and listening to them sort through it all was just.. *sigh* So many feelings.

Cora does well for herself, so Ruby is thrust into a life of luxury you could say. At least when compared to what Ruby is used too. She now has a nice room, goes to a nice school, lives in a beautiful house and has options for a future she never pictured having. It’s an adjustment for sure.

Ahh, then there is Nate, the boy next door. I loved him and I liked the relationship that grows between the two. He has his own issues to deal with, but their growing romance was sweet. It was no where near the main focus though and much of Lock and Key is about the family. I loved that. I was so wrapped up in Ruby and Cora's relationship that I cared about little else.

It’s just such a great book and the Audio was good to. It took me a bit to get used to the narrators voice, but once I did, I was sucked right in!

About the author:

Sarah Dessen grew up in Chapel Hill, North Carolina and attended UNC-Chapel Hill, graduating with highest honors in Creative Writing. She is the author of several novels, including Someone Like You, Just Listen and Along for the Ride. A motion picture based on her first two books, entitled How to Deal, was released in 2003. Her eleventh novel, The Moon and More, will be published in June 2013. She lives in North Carolina.

Find Sarah:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Labels: contemporary, lock and key, penguin audio, reviews, sarah dessen, sisters