Sarah Dessen

When she is abandoned by her alcoholic mother, Ruby winds up living with Cora, the sister she has not seen for ten years, and learns about Cora's new life, what makes a family, and that she too has something to offer others.

Lock and Key

chrissyl

Lacy W

More of a 3.5. I really can't decide what to rate it, to be honest. 

When I started this book, I was worried that I had finally outgrown Sarah Dessen. I used to read her books constantly when I was younger. They spoke to me because they were about problems that teenagers dealt with. I felt like I could relate to them. And in a way, I did. Even if the teenagers were whiny and cried a lot. I was a whiny teenager that cried a lot so I felt like I had a lot in common. 

But I wondered, would I be able to relate to Sarah Dessen now that I am 24 years old?

In some ways, yes, I have outgrown Sarah Dessen. But in other ways, no. This book didn't really help me decide but I enjoyed it anyway. But I wasn't super wowed by it. I'll explain further. 

What I really liked about this book is the character growth. That is what really sucked me in. Every single character, whether it was a side character or a main one, had some sort of growth. And I love that. I hate it when characters are stagnant in a book. How can they accomplish anything if they don't grow? 

Ruby, I think, had the most amount of growth. She had been sent to live with her sister after her landlords found out that she was living alone, underage. Her flaky mother took off and left Ruby to fend for herself. Ruby had a bit of bad relationship with Cora, her sister, at first. She accused Cora of leaving her in the mess and abandoning her and her mom. But the truth slowly comes out and suddenly Ruby's world isn't the same. She had to learn what it meant to have a family.

The growth that Ruby had was incredible. She started out as a teenager so angry and sad for being left and completely set on being independent. Ruby's mother instilled a lot of really bad thoughts in Ruby and it took her a long time to get over that. She viewed help as a sign of weakness and vowed to never left anybody help her. Slowly, through the help of Jamie (her brother in law), Cora, Nate, and others, she learned that help isn't so bad and that family can mean more than one thing. 

Nate was a good side character and a good love interest. I wasn't totally wowed by him but he had charm and was good for Ruby. He made Ruby question a lot of her decisions in life and that was good for her. Nate essentially forced Ruby to rethink what it means to have friends and people that care about you. In turn, Ruby taught Nate that help is okay and it's okay to talk about what is going on in your life. 

Overall, this was a good book. I was surprised to find that I liked it as much as I did. I think the reason I only gave it 3.5 stars instead of 4 was I wasn't super emotionally involved. It took me way longer than it should have to finish this book and I think it was just because I didn't connect with the plot very well. In all honesty, there really wasn't a plot and the plot I did find, kind of plodded along slowly. Maybe it would have helped if I didn't read  Harry Potter  during this book but probably not. Overall, not a bad piece of work by Sarah Dessen.

Jeannette Ordas

Another Sarah Dessen novel but it's been over a week since I read it and I can barely remember what it was about. I'm sure I enjoyed reading it at the time, but it didn't pack any punches or leave any scars.

Anna Campbell

surprisingly great! thought it would be a vapid lovestory, but had heard great things about it. but I ended up being so engrossed, I finished it in less than two days, and loved the whole thing! will be reading more by Dessen as soon as I can

Myla Larsen

Jessica Guht

I'm not sure why the last 50 or so pages are making me so emotional, but I'm just going to go with it. As with all her other books Sarah Dessen has created a beautiful story that really examines what makes a family, and the way that one person can impact tour life.

Nadine 

#audiobook good YA about different ways of control and self protection in difficult family situations

Kaley Catron

I enjoyed this book a little more than I was expecting too. Personally, I loved the fact that it was a 'romance' book set in OCTOBER-FEBRUARY mainly. That was quite a nice change from most romances that ALWAYS happen in the middle of July. The ending was kind of abrupt, but overall I felt like the story kind of played itself out in a way that seems closer to a real life situation then some others.

it was unnecessary to include the part of her smoking pot that’s where i ended it

Michelle Boyea

I don't think it's possible for Sarah Dessen to not write an incredible book.

Pallavi Tirkey

A SOLID 4.5 Stars

 This Was My First Sarah Dessen Book as I Heard A Lot About Her And Thought Of Giving it A Try And As I Read The Book I Can Say That This First Book Of Hers' Didn't Disappoint Me It Was Quite A Good Read.
 Lock and Key is about a seventeen year old girl named Ruby.She has been living on her own for the past two months since her mother left And Her Sister Cora Was Also Not There For Her As she Left Her And Her Mom Already 10 Years Ago For College And Haven't Stayed In touch Since.She Was Living On Her Own Peacefully At The Yellow House Until Her Landlords Caught Her Staying Alone In The House With NO Trace OF Her Mother.Then She Is Sent To Live with Cora, Who She Founds Out,Have A Husband Jamie(Who Is Very Sweet And Adorable) He Is A CEO In A Social Networking Site There's A Sweet And Cute Boy Next Door, Nate.He Has Some Secrets Of His Own That HE Doesn't Want Ruby To Know.She Faces Many Difficulties In Adjusting From Her Old Life To The New One That Was So Much Better And At The End She Realized It. She Went To A Private School Rather Than A Public School,Lived In A Big House Rather Than A Small One Bedroom Apartment Or A Small House
 I felt Like The Conclusion Was Incomplete And Left So Many Questions Unanswered Which Left You Imagining But The Verdict -The Plot Was Beautiful ,I Loved Every Character In This Book ,The Book Was Very Well Written And It's Was All Written In Details And I Absolutely Loved The Story.

Alisha E Tucker

I got to go out and buy a lock and key necklace now 😊

Zoe Smolen

This wasn't my favorite Sarah Dessesn book I've ever read (I was hoping for more romance), but as someone who used to have a hard time excepting help - especially on am emotional level, I have to say that I do think this book teaches an important lesson. That being said, the book is also pretty addicting and I read it in just a few days, reading almost all of it in one day.

Megan Leprich

Another great book by Sarah Dessen that I could not put down. I love that all her books deal with family or personal problems that a lot of people in the world can relate to but maybe aren't sure with how to deal with. Great book that I will read again!

Kaele Perkins 

** spoiler alert **
           Second favorite Sarah Dessen book. I love Just Listen so much, but this one was good. So much character evolution in this book. The difference in Ruby was crazy. I LOVED CORA AND JAMIE. His family was hilarious. I hated Nates dad. Gervais was a good character and I really like him and her friend. We’ll see what happens there. Loved the key necklace being the focal point of the story and her letting go of her past and the key at the end was perfect. And her going out and finding Nate and help him was perfect. I loved this one! 😍

Kenna Armstrong

This is one of those books where, you really have to pay attention to what you are reading. Dessen books never fail to amaze me and sweep me off my feet. The only part of the book was the fact that Miss Dessen kept intermixing the past with the present which kind of got confusing. I loved the ending. If she kept things in order completely, then it would be an undoubtably 5/5 :)

Elad Schulman

Sarah Dessen is known for her slow, but very good novels. However, this one was a little slower than all the rest. That didn't bother me as much as the fact that the novel was building up to this huge point, and the book didn't quite reach that. All these important points were made, but they weren't cleared up at the end of the book. It was like the end of the book wasn't really the end.

Sara 

I read one of Sarah Dessen's books, and loved her writing right away. This one was good, but the Truth About Forever will always be my favorite novel that she wrote!!

Erin 

This was my first Sarah Dessen novel, and I'll be honest, the only one that I can remember I've actually read, since all her books have the exact same plot. There is still a special place in my heart for this one however, and I have read it multiple times.

Farah Khaled 

I've been struggling with this book for more than 3 weeks...I read 2 or 3 chapters then get bored and start reading a new book, I've read 5 books and now I'm not motivated AT ALL to read "Lock&Key" anymore.

Sarah Campbell

Kristle Saneewong

Ruby Cooper likes to expect the worst. That way, she's never disappointed. Abandoned by her mother and forced to leave the house she calls home, ruby is facing too many changes. Her world has been transformed into a life of luxury by her long-lost sister, but all Ruby wants to do is leave - she can make it on her own. Even Nate, the gorgeous boy next door, can't seem to change her mind. Will Ruby realise first impressions don't always count? And sometimes, people can surprise you, so it's OK to let the closest one in . .. . . 'A compelling story and beautifully written' - Time Out 'Unputdownable' -Mizz Visit betweenthelines.com.au- the destination for Young Adult books.

Lock and Key

Reviews

Highlights