Saint Anything (Paperback) by Sarah Dessen

About the Book

Book Synopsis

A new blockbuster from #1 New York Times bestselling author Sarah Dessen now available in paperback!

Sydney's handsome, charismatic older brother, Peyton, has always dominated the family, demanding and receiving the lion's share of their parents' attention. And when Peyton's involvement in a drunk driving episode sends him to jail, Sydney feels increasingly rootless and invisible, worried that her parents are unconcerned about the real victim: the boy Peyton hit and seriously injured. Meanwhile, Sydney becomes friends with the Chathams, a warm, close-knit, eccentric family, and their friendship helps her understand that she is not responsible for Peyton's mistakes. Once again, the hugely popular Sarah Dessen tells an engrossing story of a girl discovering friendship, love, and herself.

This summer I'm looking forward to reading Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen.--John Green

The name Sarah Dessen has become synonymous with Young Adult contemporary fiction.--Entertainment Weekly

Sarah Dessen is the winner of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her contributions to YA literature, as well as the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award.

Books by Sarah Dessen:
That Summer
Someone Like You
Keeping the Moon
Dreamland
This Lullaby
The Truth About Forever
Just Listen
Lock and Key
Along for the Ride
What Happened to Goodbye
The Moon and More
Saint Anything
Once and for All

Review Quotes

Praise for Saint Anything

-A New York Times bestseller
-Kids' Indie Next List Pick (Summer 2015)
- A TIME's Top 10 YA Book of the Year

Saint Anything is a poignant, honest story about how we might suffer the misfortune of someone else's bad choices, how people who love us can become family when we desperately need it, and how starting over might - miraculously - mean taking a solid leap forward. Is there anyone who can write about what matters most to teens as well as Dessen can? I sincerely doubt it. --Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling novelist of Leaving Time and My Sister's Keeper

A quiet marvel --LA Times

The novel's strengths -- how it unpacks the perplexities of guilt, friendships, and family dynamics -- are what readers will remember. --Boston Globe

* Dessen delves deeper than ever into the complex dynamics of families suffering loss and confronting changes that upend everything. Once again, Dessen demonstrates her tremendous skill in evoking powerful emotions through careful, quiet prose, while delivering a satisfying romance. The author's many devotees are sure to enjoy this weighty addition to her canon. --Publishers Weekly, starred review

Taut, tightly structured with well-rounded characters, this novel is sure to please Dessen's many fans and attract new ones. --School Library Journal

A rich emotional landscape . . . A many-layered story told with a light touch. --Kirkus

Another incisive and sensitive character-driven story sure to please her many, many fans. --Booklist

Sarah Dessen is the patron saint of realistic romance. . . we think Saint Anything might be one of her best ever. --Justine Magazine

In Saint Anything, Dessen gives readers a sensitive and touching look at how loss can affect a family and the importance of finding those who support you, no matter what. --Bookish

Saint Anything may seem like a quiet read at first, but remember what is said about still waters. What begins as a somber story, carefully narrated by a polite young woman, builds to a gripping and unexpected climax and a satisfying conclusion. --NY Journal of Books

Clearly any new release from the queen of YA romance is going to be huge. But Saint Anything is exciting in its own right, focusing on the complicated bonds of family, particularly in the wake of tragedy and misfortune. --Bustle

A heartfelt, appealing story. --RT Book Reviews

We love anything Sarah Dessen pens. . . [Saint Anything] explores how sometimes starting over is the best way to move forward. --Glitter Magazine

Dessen is a superstar of young adult literature, and Saint Anything (about finding friendship and finding yourself) has delighted (and added to) her legions of fans. --News & Observer

Dessen's characters are so vividly created--their actions and emotions so genuinely authentic--that it almost seems that Dessen has a psychological advantage in understanding our human condition. --Heroes & Heartbreakers

Praise for Sarah Dessen:

Sarah Dessen is something of a rock star in young adult fiction. Her bestselling coming-of-age novels are warmly written explorations of teens in transition that are, by turns, questioning, humorous and hopeful. --Los Angeles Times

Dessen is as skilled as ever at turning out steady, satisfying stories about teens that are easy to fall for. --Publishers Weekly, starred review for The Moon and More

Readers can count of Dessen; she's a pro at creating characters caught at a nexus of change, who have broken relationships and who need to make decisions. . . Readers will enjoy every minute they spend with her. --Kirkus Reviews on What Happened to Goodbye

Realistic teen dialogue, authentic girl friendships, and a complex underlying question: Can people really change? --Kirkus Reviews on Along for the Ride

Good story, real characters, happy ending. . . another must-read. --VOYA on Lock and Key

The romance which forms the core of the story is everything a romance should be. --Horn Book on Just Listen

About The Author

Dessen's books are frequently chosen for the Teens' Top Ten list and the list of Best Fiction for Young Adults. They have been translated into twenty-five languages. Sarah Dessen is the recipient of the 2017 Margaret A. Edwards Award from the Young Adult division of the American Library Association.

Sarah Dessen graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with highest honors in creative writing. She lives in Chapel Hill with her husband, Jay, and their daughter, Sasha Clementine.

Visit Sarah at sarahdessen.com.