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Lock and Key

by Sarah Dessen (Goodreads Author)

4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 · rating details · 63,558 ratings · 3,139 reviews

Ruby can take care of herself.
She's used to counting on no one and answering to nobody. But all of that changes when her mother vanishes and Ruby is sent to live with her older sister, Cora. Now Ruby's got her own room in a fabulous new house, she's going to private school, and—for the first time—feeling as if she has a future. Plus, there's the adorable and sweet boy next...more

Paperback, 422 pages

Published May 14th 2009 by Speak (first published April 22nd 2008)

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May 07, 2008 Runa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. That was a shock. Definitely nowhere near as good as I expected it to be. I mean, maybe Just Listen heightened my expectations, but hey, this was not even comparable to her earlier books. *sigh* Where to begin... -Ruby gets absolutely no resolution, IMO. It's great that she and Cora get along, but what about the potential Dad search? And her mother's not any better. What happens to the yellow house? -The key. You don't do that. That's not how you tie loose ends up. She needed to have kept that k...more

17 likes · like · see review

Jan 25, 2010 Adrienne rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-loan

This was my second book by Sarah Dessen and it didn't disappoint. In this story we meet:~
Ruby who is trying to find, and come to terms with a new life away from her 'loving' but negligent mother. Only having ever been told one side of the story by a woman embittered by her feelings for Rubys father, Rubys view on life and living has been tainted.

Nate, (Rubys next door neighbour) who's a great guy who seems to have it all but does he? Ruby soon finds out things she doesn't want to know and whils...more

28 likes · like · see review

Nov 08, 2012 Jennifer Wardrip rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: trt-posted-reviews, trt-gold-star-award-winner

Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

It's been a quite a long time that I found myself sitting up until three in the morning, wanting desperately to finish a story. But that is exactly where I found myself the other night with LOCK AND KEY in my hands. I was so engrossed in Ruby and her story that I had to find out how it ended.

Ruby Cooper has always looked out for Number One. When Ruby was eight, her sister Cora left for university and never looked back. It was always Ruby and her mother, mo...more Reviewed by Jaglvr for TeensReadToo.com

It's been a quite a long time that I found myself sitting up until three in the morning, wanting desperately to finish a story. But that is exactly where I found myself the other night with LOCK AND KEY in my hands. I was so engrossed in Ruby and her story that I had to find out how it ended.

Ruby Cooper has always looked out for Number One. When Ruby was eight, her sister Cora left for university and never looked back. It was always Ruby and her mother, moving from one place to another. Her mother's excuse was to avoid creditors and landlords. Ruby slowly comes to find out that this is the version her mother wanted her to hear.

Early on in her senior year of high school, Ruby's mom does a runner. Leaving Ruby all alone in the rented yellow house, Ruby does what she can to survive. She will be eighteen in less than a year, and if she can hide the fact that she's alone until then, the authorities won't be able to touch her. But when the dryer fails at her rented house and the landlords notice a clothes line strung throughout the kitchen, Ruby's life is forever changed.

Custody of Ruby is given over to her older sister, Cora. Cora and her husband, Jamie, live in a wealthy community and live a life totally foreign to everything Ruby has ever known. Not trusting Cora and Jamie's intentions, Ruby plots an escape her first night in her new home. Making a break over the fence in the back yard, her escape is foiled by one rambunctious dog, Roscoe. Roscoe's barking brings a curious "Hello?" from the other side of the fence. Here she meets her next door neighbor, Nate. Nate's outlook on life is upbeat and infectious. But Ruby does everything she can to keep him at bay, as well.

Slowly, Ruby learns to adjust the new life she has been given, and develop friendships in the most unlikely places. Ruby has always kept on the fringes and avoided being indebted to anyone. But as she grows and evolves, she realizes that maybe others need her just as much as she needs them. With a class assignment to define "Family," Ruby understands that the word has many meanings, and most of them don't necessarily mean blood relations.

Sarah Dessen writes another amazing novel for young adults. LOCK AND KEY is wonderful, heartfelt story. All of the characters draw you in and make you feel like you are part of their lives. Jamie's naiveté is endearing. Cora's infertility struggles hit you in the heart. Olivia's tough girl exterior has cracks you get to see through. Harriett is just as harried as her name implies. And the perfect-seeming Nate has secrets all his own.

My only regret with this book is that I failed to move it to the top of my To Be Read pile as soon as it arrived for review. So if you have this one sitting around at home, make it the next one you read. And if you've picked it up at the book store, considering purchasing it, definitely do so the next time you are there. You won't regret it! (less)

9 likes · like · see review

Oct 25, 2009 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: Teen Fiction Lovers

Shelves: young-adult

This was my first book that I've read by Sarah Dessen. I've heard quite a few good things about her so I was fairly willing to give her books a try even though I don't typically read teen fiction.

Lock and Key is about a seventeen year old girl named Ruby. Ruby's had a tough childhood: from her father and sister abandoning her at a young age (so she thinks) to her mother abandoning her at seventeen she's never really been settled in one place. For the first part of the novel Ruby's in a sort of...more

13 likes · like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 ♥Rachel♥ rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

"What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed there, regardless."

Seventeen-year old Ruby has been living on her own for the past two months since her mother left. She has no idea where her mother went, and hasn't heard from her since. Ruby has been getting by, just barely but this is about to change when the landlords of the tiny house they've been renting, discover she's alone. They alert the authoriti...more "What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed there, regardless."

Seventeen-year old Ruby has been living on her own for the past two months since her mother left. She has no idea where her mother went, and hasn't heard from her since. Ruby has been getting by, just barely but this is about to change when the landlords of the tiny house they've been renting, discover she's alone. They alert the authorities, and suddenly Ruby is taken in by her sister Cora. Things were different when Ruby's sister Cora still lived at home, she sort of made it her job to care for Ruby and protect her from their mother. However, Cora's been gone for ten years, left when she went off to college, and Ruby's heard little from her since. This does not make for a happy reunion because Ruby doesn't want to let anyone in, let anyone close. She certainly doesn't welcome her sister's assistance. Ruby would rather just rely on herself, that way she has no one else to let her down. So she makes a plan to just stick it out at her sister's until she turns eighteen, then she's out of there.

This story progresses nicely and I was seriously hooked watching the slow transformation of Ruby, seeing her thaw gradually. Helping with this is Jamie, Cora's sweet, generous, and very welcoming husband. You can't help but love him, he takes Ruby in with no questions or judgments made, always looking for the good, first, in people. Then there is Nate *sigh*. He is just the all-around popular, nice, HOT, next-door neighbor that takes to Ruby immediately, even with her reluctance. I didn't warm up to Cora at first, but then we learn some things about her, and I couldn't help but love her too.

A Sarah Dessen novel would not be complete without her collection of quirky secondary characters. She always amasses these unique individuals that just grow on you. Gervais, the twelve-year old genius who rides along with Nate and Ruby everyday to school. Quote on Gervais: "Gervais also lacked maturity, which meant he found things like burps and farts hysterical, and even funnier when they were his own. Put him in a small, enclosed space with two people every morning and there was no end to the potential for hilarity." (Yes, I was cracking up!) Olivia, a fellow student at Perkins Day, always talking on her phone in her free-time, but somehow becomes friends with Ruby. Then there's Harriet the caffeine-addict, and Reggie the vitamin seller. Even Roscoe, Cora and Jamie's dog, manages to get into Ruby's heart.

While, The Truth About Forever and Just Listen, are my favorite Sarah Dessen novels, this one is very good, too. A definite recommend for any contemporary romance/YA lover.

Just Listen (less)

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Apr 04, 2011 Mia Queen rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: cerita-cinta, ebook, young-adult

Memang baru dua buku karangan Sarah Dessen yang saya baca, namun keduanya sudah cukup membuat saya menargetkan akan membaca semua buku karangan doi. Sarah Dessen cukup piawai membuai pembaca dengan kisah yang sederhana namun melekat di hati.

Rubby, tokoh utama Lock and Key adalah seorang gadis remaja yang mandiri. Ia terbiasa melakukan apapun sendiri karena ibunya yang sering berpindah tempat kerja, mabuk-mabukan bahkan yang paling parah Rubby sering kali harus berhadapan langsung dengan debt col...more Memang baru dua buku karangan Sarah Dessen yang saya baca, namun keduanya sudah cukup membuat saya menargetkan akan membaca semua buku karangan doi. Sarah Dessen cukup piawai membuai pembaca dengan kisah yang sederhana namun melekat di hati.

Rubby, tokoh utama Lock and Key adalah seorang gadis remaja yang mandiri. Ia terbiasa melakukan apapun sendiri karena ibunya yang sering berpindah tempat kerja, mabuk-mabukan bahkan yang paling parah Rubby sering kali harus berhadapan langsung dengan debt collector.

Kehidupan Rubby berubah total saat ia harus meninggalkan apartment dan hidup bersama Cora, saudara satu-satunya yang sudah tak pernah berhubungan lagi dengannya sejak Rubby berumur 8 tahun. Cora sendiri sudah menikah dengan Jamie seorang pengusaha kaya dan tinggal di rumah mewah. Terbiasa di lingkungan yang ‘kumuh’ tiba-tiba Rubby juga harus sekolah di sekolah elit tentu saja Rubby mengalami culture shock.

Saya mengerti perasaan Rubby yang senantiasa menutup diri bagaimana tidak seumur hidupnya senantiasa dikecewakan, ia tidak ingin membuka hatinya karena takut sakit dan kecewa untuk kesekian kalinya, selama bisa dikerjakan sendiri ia mengerjakan apapun sendiri. Teman pun ia tak punya, hanya sebatas hubungan simbiosis mutualisme. Sampai ia berkenalan dengan Nate, tetangga yang karakternya beda jauh dengan Rubby. Nate sosok pria yang menyenangkan, ramah dan ingin selalu membahagiakan orang, padahal ia sendiri juga memiliki masalah besar dengan orang tuanya. Mampukah Nate merubah karakter Rubby?

Lock and Key bukan hanya berkisah tentang remaja yang memiliki masalah cinta, buku ini menceritakan pentingnya keluarga. Apakah arti sebenarnya memiliki keluarga? Siapa saja yang dapat kita sebut sebagai keluarga. Ayah dan ibu? Saudara kita? Bahkan teman yang sebelumnya sama sekali kita tidak kenal malah tidak memiliki hubungan darah, bisa menjadi saudara.

Mungkin paragraf akhir Lock and Key bisa mencerminkan arti keluarga : What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, inparts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed in there,regardless. It wasn’t just about blood relations or shared chromosomes, but something wider, bigger. Cora was right—we had many families over time.Our family of origin, thefamily we created, as well as the groups you movedthrough while all of this was happening: friends, lovers, sometimes evenstrangers. None of them were perfect, and we couldn’t expect them to be.You couldn’t make any one person your world. The trick was to take whateach could give you and build a world from it.

Nice!(less)

4 likes · like · see review

Aug 06, 2009 Shannon (Giraffe Days) rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: book-club, fiction, ya, 2009, cover-love

When Ruby's mother never comes home, leaving her to take care of the small rented house, keep their job bringing lost airport luggage to people, and making it to school all on her own for about three months, Ruby thinks she's handling things fine. When the landlords discover she's been living like this, she's quickly taken away and given over to the care of her sister Cora, who, ten years older, married to a man who co-founded a Facebook-type online community, and a lawyer herself, hasn't been s...more When Ruby's mother never comes home, leaving her to take care of the small rented house, keep their job bringing lost airport luggage to people, and making it to school all on her own for about three months, Ruby thinks she's handling things fine. When the landlords discover she's been living like this, she's quickly taken away and given over to the care of her sister Cora, who, ten years older, married to a man who co-founded a Facebook-type online community, and a lawyer herself, hasn't been seen or heard from by Ruby since Cora left for university.

Estranged from a sister she was once incredibly close to and even dependent on, Ruby's determined to make it on her own. After all, she'll be turning eighteen soon and then no one can hold her. Sent to the expensive, elite private school Cora's husband used to attend, she's also determined not to make any friends. It's all temporary, she doesn't fit in. But her good-looking neighbour Nate slowly draws her into a real friendship - until she realises he's just like her, refusing to let anyone help when it really matters, and Ruby has to decide whether she really wants to be like her mother, running from those who need her, or like Cora, protective and compassionate.

I have mixed feelings about this book. The writing is fine enough, the pacing steady, and so on, but there was a very formulaic feel to the novel. It was like watching a typical Hollywood drama, or a Danielle Steele telemovie. It was just so neat. So tidy. Even when Ruby was visiting her old drug-dealer friend and on/off lover, there was no real grit. It wasn't that Ruby's story wasn't believable, but that Dessen herself had packaged it so nicely. I don't know anything about the author, but it felt like she was writing about something she didn't really understand.

Other aspects of the story, like the story arc itself, were horribly conventional and predictable. Sadly, there's nothing original here - unless you count the 'orrible gaff of saying "Organic free-trade" instead of "Organic Fair Trade" (p.133) - there's a BIG difference! (and you don't say something's Free Trade; it's the default, the whole idea is that Free Trade exploits people and Fair doesn't, therefore it's a selling point). The characters were clichés, even Ruby, who struggled to exude any kind of charisma, and I'm wondering whether there are any teen books out there that aren't about beautiful rich people. Why did Cora and her husband Jamie need to be so incredibly wealthy? Simply to provide the opposite extreme to Ruby's previous life? It came across as garish and insensitive. Why doesn't anyone write stories about the middle class? Or maybe I should say, why doesn't anyone want to read them?

Lock and Key is a terribly safe story. It attempts to examine issues of the heart, growing up, dealing with extremes - but other than making an effort to "show" rather than constantly "tell", it's heavy-handed and often boring.

Having beaten the book down so much, I do have to add that it was a pleasant read, fairly intriguing, and I did feel sympathetic for Ruby, Cora and Jamie at times - but I'm not terribly interested in reading more of Dessen's books. But I have little doubt that as a young teenager I would have really enjoyed this book, so it's probably an age thing.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

Oct 29, 2007 Chelsea rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: advance, own, youngadult, 2007, contemporaryfiction, fiction

This is the first Sarah Dessen I've read, after much prompting. Her plots always seemed cheesy and melodramatic to me (based entirely on wildly varying reviews I've read and, you know, the back of the books), the young adult version of Jodi Piccoult (another author I am judging without ever having read her, shame on me). And, well... I don't see myself seeking out any of her others. I finished it off in about three hours, and... The beginning was mostly me rolling my eyes and going "oh, please",...more

14 likes · like · see review

Sep 20, 2011 Anna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, romance, i-own, i-love-to-death, favorites

Lock and Key probably is one of my new favorites from Sarah Dessen, next to Just Listen. Well, I love every single book from her and that's 'nuff said! But Lock and Key is different from her other books for the face that this is not the typical summer setting she usually do. But it takes place during the middle of the school year where Ruby transfers from Jackson, a public highschool, to Perkins Day, a private school, after she was sent to live with her sister Cora with her husband Jamie when he...more

7 likes · like · see review

Jul 21, 2011 Isamlq rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Recommended to Isamlq by: Milly

I can see why Sarah Dessen is so popular. HOWEVER, Lock and Key isn’t her formulaic one girl, one boy and one summer story line. I’m probably making a broad/sweeping generalization by saying Dessen girls are trouble or have trouble in their lives, at least the ones I’ve encountered are and do. And Dessen boys? They are typically the good boys, or at least the good boys who help in the formers’ saving/reformation. But here things aren’t so simple, and I can see why it’s Milly’s favorite (it could...more

3 likes · like · see review

Jun 11, 2013 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, chick-lit

When I started reading Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen I was really wowed by her writing style. It was beautiful, flowy, and the descriptive passages were to die for. Now that I've finished it, I don't like it quite as much as I did at the beginning.

Reasons:

1. The plot took awhile to really get going. I was going to overlook this as I really loved the characters and the subjects of abuse and alcoholism, but then things started to head downhill so it's just another reason on the pile. I felt like i...more

5 likes · like · see review

Jan 03, 2009 Amber rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2009, young-adult

I chose to read this book after hearing great things about this author from my friend Jessica. I had high hopes going in to this and this book did not disappoint. As I've heard, Dessen's novels focus on teenage girls and coming of age moments/situations. This holds true for Lock and Key with the focus of this book on family, what it means to different people and what it means to be independent or to rely on others. There were parts of this book that had me in tears not only because of the theme,...more

6 likes · like · see review

Apr 28, 2013 Aleeshas2 rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: why-did-you-make-me-cry, fun-enjoyable-read, drama, cute

Short Review. 3.5 stars
I must say the characters In this book were extremely well developed and I found myself falling in love with each and every one of them .( It was actually crazy how much I enjoyed the characters) The story was really descriptive and detail, which was a pleasure to read. The plot was beautiful. However sometimes it would get a little too tedious and stretch out parts, which was slightly boring. Even though it was detailed, it shocked me of the lack of conclusion the book s...more

3 likes · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Martha rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, romance, drama, kindle

4.5 stars

Typical of Sarah Dessen's novels, this book deals with a number of issues, mostly of abandonment and abuse. Yet, again, it is executed in such a brilliant way that it never made me feel too depressed, but more optimistic as the characters pull through these problems, usually thanks to the help of others.

This book centres around Ruby Cooper, whose mother has abandoned her. Her sister (who she has not seen or spoke to for 10 years) and her sister's husband, Jamie (who I found adorable),...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 15, 2009 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009-read

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. What an amazing book with outstanding lessons!

The teenager in this story named Ruby Cooper really touched my heart. I sympathized with her, rooted for her, wanted to hold her hand and point her in the right direction, and then I was amazed by her strength of spirit.

Ruby's mother was a messed up person who was totally unfit to be a mother. Ruby's sister Cora, who was ten years older than her, left home for college and Ruby didn't see or hear from her again for ten years. Ruby's mother finally cra...more What an amazing book with outstanding lessons!

The teenager in this story named Ruby Cooper really touched my heart. I sympathized with her, rooted for her, wanted to hold her hand and point her in the right direction, and then I was amazed by her strength of spirit.

Ruby's mother was a messed up person who was totally unfit to be a mother. Ruby's sister Cora, who was ten years older than her, left home for college and Ruby didn't see or hear from her again for ten years. Ruby's mother finally cracked up completely and took off. Ruby was left in a dirty, rundown, rental house with no money or support. She was discovered by the landlady and was sent to live with her estranged sister, who by this time had graduated from college, was financially well off, and married to a very successful businessman named Jamie. From the first introduction to Ruby's sister, it was easy to dislike her. I found myself wondering how an older sister could just leave Ruby behind with their insane mother, but all was not as it seemed!
Cora finally told Ruby that she had tried through the years to remain in contact and help, but their mother resorted to moving all the time and renting homes under fake names so that they couldn't be found. All the while her mother lied about it and told her that Cora didn't care about them, "It's just you and me", which only reinforced her hold on Ruby.
When Ruby found out the truth it was very difficult for her to believe that Cora had never abandoned her and that their mother had lied all those years. Ruby skipped school, found her old friends, got drunk and high, passed out in the woods and was rescued by Nate, her hunky next door neighbor who had problems of his own.

This book was packed full of lessons on serious issues including financial problems, addiction problems, child abuse, and the true definition of family. The ways in which the characters in this book worked through all of the issues made me anxious to continue reading. I originally purchased this book for my 13 year old cousin, but I'm so glad I read it first. I'm not sure that I consider it suitable for a 13 year old merely because of some of the questionable activities that took place in the beginning of the book. However, Ruby and the other characters ultimately worked through all the issues presented.

I am giving this book 4 stars and will be watching for other books by this accomplished and talented author! (less)

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Dec 03, 2008 Ying rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was seriously an amazing stories. I've read a lot of good books, and this ranked somewhere near the top in the neverending list. Another of Sarah Dessen's best, this story is really about a girl who discovers herself and her past and what could have been when her mother abandons her, even though she has been an individual most of her life. I'd naturally expected the pairings in the end (I don't want to give spoilers :]) but was still surprised when it happened. Some parts surprised me about...more

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Dec 13, 2008 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought that this book was amazing. And I am now reading it again. It is about a 17 year old girl whose mother just leaves. They are struggling to get by, but they are managing. Then, the mother leaves, and the girl, Ruby, is left to fend for herself. One day, her landlords find her and turn her in to child protection services. She is sent to live with her now married sister whom she hasn't seen for 10 years. She is thrown into a high-end world with a new school. She denies that any people tha...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2013 Mei rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: chick-lit, contemporary, badass-covers, realistic-fiction, young-adult, 2013, on-my-ereader, hand-me-a-copy-please, favourite

Since her dad left her when she was 5 years old, 17-year old Ruby Cooper finds herself living alone in the yellow house, without running water or thermal heat because her alcoholic mother just disappeared and abandoned her without explanation. She decides that since she's almost eighteen, she'll just live her life the way she wants it to, all by herself. Until the Honeycutts, her landlords, found out about her situation and sent her to Poplar House for social services, not for long will she make...more Since her dad left her when she was 5 years old, 17-year old Ruby Cooper finds herself living alone in the yellow house, without running water or thermal heat because her alcoholic mother just disappeared and abandoned her without explanation. She decides that since she's almost eighteen, she'll just live her life the way she wants it to, all by herself. Until the Honeycutts, her landlords, found out about her situation and sent her to Poplar House for social services, not for long will she make her plans to not go to college. Her sister Cora Hunter, whom she hasn't seen in 10 years to go to college and never had a chance to keep in touch, takes her and settles her in her luxurious mansion with her husband Jamie Hunter, founder of a social networking website.

“We can't expect everybody to be there for us, all at once. So it's a lucky thing that really, all you need is someone. ”

Cora and Jamie tries to give her every thing she need - a room of her own, sent her to Jamie's alma mater, a preppy private school called Perkins Day, along with helping her with her college applications and a big amount of money to buy new clothes and start fresh. Apparently, she's too stubborn and reluctant to accept all their offers. She tells them that she hates owing someone, that this is just temporary (she hasn't even unloaded and unpacked her bags yet!), she's almost eighteen and she'll live her life on her own, that she won't go to college anyway since she's no brainy. She refuses to make friends, since she knows it's temporary, getting all reserved. More so, refuses to take a car ride to school with her neighbor Nate Cross, and prefers to take bus rides. Eventually, she was convinced to take all the help people are giving her unconditionally.

“The further you go, the more you have to be proud of. At the same time, in order to come a long way, you have to be behind to begin with. IN the end, though maybe it's not how you reach a place that matters. Just that you get there at all.”

Unlike any Sarah Dessen books, this is no romance, if that's what you're expecting to find. Sure, Ruby and Nate got interested with each other, but it wasn't for long and didn't last because Ruby wants to help him, but he refuses. The oh-so-perfect image of the good boy next door, the friendly, admirable, hardworking, optimistic, never asks anything in return, helpful and popular Nate, was, well. . .not so perfect. Ruby finds out that his father Blake Cross abuses him, because of his temperamental and easily-angered attitude. They've been busy keeping up with their business about running errands for people, and when Nate fails, that's when the bruises and pale side of him starts showing up.

Honestly, once reading this review you'll probably end up getting annoyed with Ruby for her denial and always-refusing attitude. I've been there, too. I mean, with all those things - a nice house, new clothes, college, a great school - shouldn't she be so thankful for all those? After all, average teenage girls wouldn't do what she did, but then again she's not the average. I guess she's just so pushy and determined to live her life alone and independently, even without a family, when the family she wasn't asking or searching for are already laid out in front of her, reaching out. This is a really nice and perfectly well-written story of family - whether the dysfunctional, orphans, divorced parents, or whatever-it-is related matters enter the scene. That family is not just the blood and those chromosomes.

“What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed in there, regardless. It wasn't just about blood relations or shared chromosomes, but something wider, bigger. We had many families over time. Our family of origin, the family we created, and the groups you moved through while all of this was happening: friends, lovers, sometimes even strangers. None of them perfect, and we couldn't expect them to be. You can't make any one person your world. The trick was to take what each could give you and build your world from it.”

By now, I'm convinced that though I have only read three novels from Sarah Dessen, I am deeply in love with her writing.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Oct 16, 2012 Lydia rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: monthly-reading-challenge-with-onka, romance

Many thoughts in my head, right now, minutes after I finished this book.
Did I love it? No. Did I like it? Some parts of it. I'm going to try and organize my thoughts a bit bellow.

We have Ruby as a storyteller, we see everything from her point of view. She is a teenager, maybe we can call her "troubled". She has some family issues going on and she comes to live with her older sister, whom she hasn't seen for 10 years. She goes to new school, doesn't want to make friends etc. The same old story, w...more

1 like · like · see review

Feb 14, 2013 Bella Grace rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fav-books, kick-ass-heroine, childhood-memories, heaven-on-earth, swoon-worthy-hero, makes-me-smile, romance-y, young-adult, own-it, author-lovin, gorgeous-cover-lust, nighttime-reads, sobbed-waterfalls

4.5 Stars My first, and thankfully not my last, Sarah Dessen original.

This is my favorite SD book - not because I own it and it was the first one I ever read of hers, but because of the pure, raw truth of Dessen's words in this book.

I still remember it; me, as usual, lazily reading a book at the mall while my parents shopped when a group of teenage girls came into my section of the bookstore. Moving aside, I watched as they excitedly skimmed to SD's books and started raving about how utterly a...more

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Jul 25, 2011 (´*•.¸ღBexღ¸.•*´) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ruby is having a hard time adjusting to her new life. She's not used to not having to worry about the bare necessities such as food and clothing. She's not accustomed to all the money. She's not used to living with her family.

It wasn't too long ago that Ruby's mother left her for good. No one besides Ruby knew, and she was planning to keep it that way until she turned eighteen and was legally an adult. But someone found out, and now Ruby has to live with her sister and brother-in-law. But Ruby...more

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May 24, 2011 Danae rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Ruby Cooper lives a pretty messed up life, moving every couple of months, living with an alcoholic, abusive mother who can barely keep a job. She's grown to be dependent on no one, that is until she has to go and live with her sister Cora and brother-in-law Jamie, it's more than she can stand. Spending their money taking up their time and space, she doesn't understand why they want to help her. Along with other things she's having trouble figuring out like calculus, her old life and her friendly...more

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Jan 05, 2012 Andi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: own, would-recommend

Dessen, Dessen, Dessen! She has managed to do it again! This is like my fourth book by her and all I can say is that she gets it. She knows what a reader wants whether a teenager or a 30 something year old like myself and she delivers exactly that. She gives you family drama and relationship angst and quirky friends and outs them all into an exquisitely written story of finding out who you are.

Lock and Key is the story of a girl that is plain lost. Her father abandoned her as a baby, her sister...more Dessen, Dessen, Dessen! She has managed to do it again! This is like my fourth book by her and all I can say is that she gets it. She knows what a reader wants whether a teenager or a 30 something year old like myself and she delivers exactly that. She gives you family drama and relationship angst and quirky friends and outs them all into an exquisitely written story of finding out who you are.

Lock and Key is the story of a girl that is plain lost. Her father abandoned her as a baby, her sister left her when she was a child and her mother disappeared when she was a young adult. Having been living on her own for a few months Ruby thinks she is fine and can manage until graduation. Sadly that isn't the case. Forced to move in with her estranged sister and her husband Ruby is out of sorts living in a world that is everything she isn't. She is sent to a fancy school, given money to buy fancy clothes and is living in a fancy house. Every instinct Ruby has is to run and never look back. But as time progresses and things change Ruby starts to grow and form relationships. She makes friends, involves herself in a romance and patches things up with her sister Cora. She realizes that it is okay to need people, okay to want people in your life.

Watching this transformation was truly uplifting for me. In the beginning I wasn't crazy about Ruby. I got that she got the short end of the stick, but I didn't understand why she was shying away from all the opportunities that were laid out in front of her. Jaime, her sister's husband, welcomed her with opened arms. Nate, the adorable boy next door, let her in and was a friend to her even when he was going through things on his own. And Cora took her sister with no questions asked and gave her a home even though she had mixed feelings herself. To me the fact that Ruby shunned all this made her seem like a spoiled brat and nothing would be good enough for her. But she surprised me. Instead of closing herself off, locking herself away, she slowly let people in, let people love her. And because of that she became truly likable. I found myself actually caring about what happened to her.

Typical Dessen this book was filled with little hints and interwoven things from her other novels that makes you feel at home. Whether it is the mention on UMe, or the fancy college in DC or a sleepy beach town, she makes you feel like you never left her world and I am truly grateful for that. I look forward to reading more from this amazing author.(less)

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Oct 19, 2011 JD Switz rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Truthfully, some parts of this book lagged in a way that I almost quit reading it. I guess I was looking for it to pick up somewhere or to say something within the first one hundred pages...and it really didn't for me. I only really found myself a bit excited within those hundred pages when one of the characters from another book was mentioned...Rogerson Biscoe(a character whose story I would love to hear all on its own),who I actually was thrilled to see in this book.

After those first hundred p...more

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Mar 08, 2011 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, own-finished-copy

I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about Sarah Dessen’s writing. Even if the story were lacking, I would probably love it anyways, just because her writing is so incredibly beautiful. And Lock and Key showed me again why Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors. Actually, now that I think about it, if I had to choose only one favorite author, it would probably be her.

What I love most about Sarah Dessen’s books, along with the absolutely beautiful writing, are her characters. T...more I don’t know what it is, but there’s just something about Sarah Dessen’s writing. Even if the story were lacking, I would probably love it anyways, just because her writing is so incredibly beautiful. And Lock and Key showed me again why Sarah Dessen is one of my favorite authors. Actually, now that I think about it, if I had to choose only one favorite author, it would probably be her.

What I love most about Sarah Dessen’s books, along with the absolutely beautiful writing, are her characters. The main characters are always so relatable and normal, without ever being boring. That was the case with Ruby, too. While I don’t agree with her negative way of thinking at all, it was effortless for me to relate to her, and I understood each of her thoughts and decisions. I liked some of the other main characters from Sarah Dessen's other books better, though, just because they were more similar to me and therefore even easier to relate to.

The other characters were great, too – Sarah Dessen always manages to make each of her characters, even the minor ones, so deep and complex. I liked Nate and thought his storyline was very well-done. I also thought Cora and her relationship with Ruby were realistic, and I loved Jamie – he’s just so cute, possibly even more so than Nate, which is kind of strange. The Harriet-subplot and the parallels between her character and Ruby I liked as well, along with the scenes at the jewelry store.

Another thing I love about Sarah Dessen’s books is how they’re all somehow connected and how characters from other stories reappear – I love finding out what happens to them after we leave their story. For example, Cora, Jamie and Nate live in Wildflower Ridge, the neighborhood Macy’s mom from The Truth About Forever designed, and Ruby’s sort-of-boyfriend’s roommate is Rogerson from Dreamland. There were more, of course, which I can’t remember right now, but I love finding those connections. The imagery was great, too, like always – I loved the story to the key, the fish, Laney’s run, etc.

I had a problem with the storyline of the family, though, which was a big part of the plot. While I liked hearing all those different definitions for Ruby’s project, I thought Ruby’s mom’s character was underdeveloped. The reader never got to know why a mother would lie to and abandon her daughter like that, which made that part of the novel hard for me to understand. The idea to look for their father was never elaborated, either.
I was a bit disappointed by the ending - I don't want to spoil it to anyone, but it lacked explanation, in my opinion. I would have liked to read more about Nate's new life and about Ruby's decision.

All in all, this book is definitely worth reading, just like all of Sarah Dessen’s novels. The writing and the characters are amazing, even if the mother is underdeveloped. My favorite Dessen-novel remains The Truth About Forever, but that might just be because I sort of possibly maybe have a literary crush on Wes, who is, well, the perfect guy. Anyways, I recommend this book for any fan of Sarah Dessen, but if you haven't read any of her other books yet, I'd recommend reading some of her other ones first.

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...(less)

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Nov 19, 2010 ayyitskianaa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 7th-grade-shelf

The book is very interesting right now. I like how Ruby is telling the past of before she ended up living with her sister. Why did her mother leave her all alone? Nate is so nice, i wonder if he has a big secret, thats why he acts like that?

I love the quote that Ruby used to say how far her sister was because she misses her, " Usually it was late at night, when I coudln't sleep, and I'd try to picture her in her dorm room forty-odd miles and a world away." -page 62

This book was amazing. Sarah De...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Lucy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, contemporary, young-adult

Another heart-warming story of love, friendship and family from Sarah Dessen. I can't say what it is about Dessen's writing that draws me in - no other non-fantasy author has ever managed to do so. Perhaps simply because her characters are so complex, so human, that it's impossible not to feel for them. Of course, the beautiful way she strings words together helps too.

What I love most about Dessen's characters is that in each story, no matter how different her protagonists are, they're all flawe...more

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Oct 08, 2010 Hayley rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Lock and Key
By: Sarah Dessen
Lock and Key is about a girl, Ruby, who lives with her mother alone in an old, rundown farm house. Ruby’s mother randomly leaves, without warning, and makes Ruby live on her own. She is later found and taken to her older sister, Cora’s, house to start a new life. Ruby has many challenges in her life. Some other characters are Cora’s husband Jamie, and her neighbor Nate. I would compare this book to the other book I read, Dreamland. They both deal with important fami...more

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Apr 13, 2010 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: 12-18 anyone looking for a coming-of-age novel

Shelves: ya-romance, modern-life, books-i-own

This was the first Sarah Dessen novel that i have read, and with all the reiviews about her that i had been reading i carried with me expectations that the novel was going to be like Meg Cabot or Jodi Picoult which thankful in hindsight, i am glad she is not. Sarah Dessen has a authentic and relatable style that is both hypnotic and entrancing without the allure of being too constructed.

I read the book slower than i usually read books. It took me 10 days to read compared to my averge 6 days, ho...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, teen, teen-drama, teen-fav

If you've read a Sarah Dessen novel before, you can quite easily guess the plot of her other novels. But this is not necessarily a bad thing. Dessen explores different themes each time and she is a lovely writer.

I really like this book. I finished this book in one sitting and was completely absorbed with the story. It was very easy to connect with the story and the characters. The book is not just about falling in love; it raises important issues which are perfect for book club discussion or in...more

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topics	posts	views	last activity
Ending... What you think? ( Spoiler)	15	75	Jun 13, 2013 02:21pm
Nate or not?	30	208	Jun 05, 2013 01:06pm
YA Buddy Readers'...: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen / Start date: May 1	22	16	May 05, 2013 07:41am
The Filipino Group: Lock and Key by Sarah Dessen (Maria, Cary, Biena, Lynai, Tricia, Joanna, Rio; EAVESDROPPER: Tina) Start date: May 1	5	39	May 02, 2013 07:10am
what is family to you	5	15	Feb 24, 2013 07:09pm
who thinks this book is good	8	21	Feb 23, 2013 08:05am

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Quotes from Lock and Key

“It's a lot easier to be lost than found. It's the reason we're always searching and rarely discovered--so many locks not enough keys.” — 3,265 people liked it

“What is family? They were the people who claimed you. In good, in bad, in parts or in whole, they were the ones who showed up, who stayed in there, regardless. It wasn't just about blood relations or shared chromosomes, but something wider, bigger. We had many families over time. Our family of origin, the family we created, and the groups you moved through while all of this was happening: friends, lovers, sometimes even strangers. None of them perfect, and we couldn't expect them to be. You can't make any one person your world. The trick was to take what each could give you and build your world from it.” — 2,248 people liked it

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