Book Review: Along for the Ride by Rachel Meinke

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My Review

This book has a special place in my heart because it was written by one of my favourite authors, whose novels I read often when I was younger. I initially read this novel on Wattpad, so I pre-ordered it within minutes when I found out it was being published. It was fascinating to observe the differences from the original Wattpad book.

The plot revolves around Katelyn Jackson, the football-mad sister of the world-famous pop star, Connor Jackson. Connor is embarking on his first tour, resulting in Katelyn being forced to give up her summer of football to follow him around the United States. When Katelyn meets the mysterious lead singer of the band Skyline, Zach, her summer is instantly made brighter.

Both main characters, Katelyn and Zach, are likeable. Katelyn is a strong female lead who makes mistakes and isn’t without faults, but she admits when she’s wrong and cares for things with her whole heart. She shows growth throughout the book by slowly opening up and breaking down the walls she’s built around herself. Zach is charming, moody, and a very passionate person. It was very easy to love his character because he always fights for what’s right, showing that he is the perfect love interest.

Zach has epilepsy, and while most books romanticise illness, this one did not; it was handled straightforwardly and courteously. There were not very many sequences regarding Zach’s epilepsy, and I would have liked to see more, as it would have been nice had there been more to learn about its impact on him at an individual level. I thought the novel to be quite fast-paced, and I wish that there was more of a build-up to develop the romance between Zach and Katelyn, since this would have brought depth to their relationship.

While I enjoyed reading the differences between the original book, there were a few of my favourite scenes from the original Wattpad book that didn’t make it into the published book that I wish had. One thing, in particular, was that in the original book, there were a lot more scenes between Connor and Katelyn that showed how close they were and highlighted the growth in their relationship. There were still heartwarming moments that showcased their sibling bond, but I liked the growth the original book showcased. Regardless, I liked seeing the changes Rachel made to improve the book from its early days on Wattpad, and I can’t say I was disappointed.

The characters, along with Rachel’s unique way of writing, are what make this book so special. Along for the Ride is light and fluffy, and the easy-to-follow writing style makes it perfect to read in one sitting or to get you out of any reading slump.

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