Sarah Dessen has been one of my favorite young adult writers for years. Her books manage to capture the magic of so many "firsts" that are present in YA novels perfectly. Auden isn't a protagonist that everyone in the audience will relate to though because she's a bit stand-offish and used to being around academically inclined adults instead of teenagers wanting to have a good time. The movie adaptation manages to capture Auden's awkwardness, but also her eagerness to be seen as a teenager instead of a miniature version of her own mother. It's a lovely coming-of-age story that helps to showcase that not everyone's teen experiences are exactly the same.