Sarah Dessen Books in Order: From That Summer to Change of Plans
Sarah Dessen is one of the best-known writers of contemporary young adult fiction, with novels that often center on relationships, family changes, friendship, grief, growing up, and finding your own identity. Her first novel, That Summer, was published in 1996, and she has continued writing YA fiction for three decades.
One interesting thing about Dessen’s bibliography is that her books are mostly standalone novels, but they are not completely isolated from one another. Characters, restaurants, towns, bands, and other details sometimes reappear, creating a loose shared world that longtime readers can enjoy spotting.
Sarah Dessen Books in Publication Order
Here is Sarah Dessen’s reading order based on the original publication of her major fiction works:
| # | Book | Year | Type |
| 1 | That Summer | 1996 | Novel |
| 2 | Someone Like You | 1998 | Novel |
| 3 | Keeping the Moon | 1999 | Novel |
| 4 | Dreamland | 2000 | Novel |
| 5 | This Lullaby | 2002 | Novel |
| 6 | The Truth About Forever | 2004 | Novel |
| 7 | Just Listen | 2006 | Novel |
| 8 | Lock and Key | 2008 | Novel |
| 9 | Along for the Ride | 2009 | Novel |
| 10 | Infinity | 2010 | Novella |
| 11 | What Happened to Goodbye | 2011 | Novel |
| 12 | The Moon and More | 2013 | Novel |
| 13 | Saint Anything | 2015 | Novel |
| 14 | Once and for All | 2017 | Novel |
| 15 | The Rest of the Story | 2019 | Novel |
| 16 | Change of Plans | 2026 | Novel |
Dessen’s official website lists her major novels, while bibliographic sources place them in this publication sequence. Infinity is generally treated separately because it is a novella rather than one of her full-length novels.
1. That Summer (1996)
That Summer is Sarah Dessen’s debut novel and the natural starting point for readers who want to follow her career from the beginning.
The story follows fifteen-year-old Haven, whose life is changing quickly as her father prepares to remarry and her older sister plans her own wedding. When her sister’s former boyfriend reappears, Haven begins looking back at the past while trying to understand what is happening in her family and in her own life.
The novel introduced several themes that would become familiar in Dessen’s later work: family changes, complicated relationships, adolescence, and the uncomfortable process of growing up.
2. Someone Like You (1998)
Someone Like You centers on best friends Halley and Scarlett.
Their friendship is tested after Scarlett’s boyfriend is killed in a motorcycle accident and she discovers that she is pregnant. Halley, who is quieter and more cautious, finds herself trying to support her friend while dealing with the complicated emotions surrounding everything that is happening.
This is also an important book in Dessen’s bibliography because Someone Like You and That Summer were later adapted together into the 2003 film How to Deal.
3. Keeping the Moon (1999)
Keeping the Moon follows Colie, a teenage girl who spends the summer with her aunt Mira in the coastal town of Colby, North Carolina.
Colie arrives with plenty of insecurity but gradually forms friendships with people who help her see herself differently. Isabel and Morgan become important parts of her summer, while her relationship with Norman adds another dimension to the story.
This book is particularly important for readers who want to explore Dessen’s interconnected fictional world because Colby later appears in several other novels.
4. Dreamland (2000)
Dreamland takes a darker direction than some of Dessen’s earlier books.
The story follows Caitlin, whose older sister runs away from home. As Caitlin tries to cope with the upheaval in her family, she becomes involved with Rogerson, a relationship that gradually becomes increasingly troubling.
The novel explores difficult subjects including family relationships, emotional dependence, and abuse. It also became one of the books associated with Dessen’s later recognition for her contribution to young adult literature.
5. This Lullaby (2002)
This Lullaby follows Remy, a teenager who has developed a set of rules designed to keep relationships from becoming too serious.
Then she meets Dexter, a musician who doesn’t fit those rules.
Their relationship forces Remy to reconsider some of the assumptions she has made about love, commitment, and what she wants from other people. The novel combines romance with the larger question of how people learn to let others into their lives.
6. The Truth About Forever (2004)
In The Truth About Forever, Macy has carefully planned her summer.
She expects to spend her days working at the library and preparing for the SATs while helping her mother with a major project. Those plans change when she takes a job with Wish Catering and meets a group of new friends, including Wes.
The novel deals with grief, family relationships, friendship, and the possibility of moving forward after a devastating loss.
It is also one of the books that connects to Dessen’s fictional Colby universe.
7. Just Listen (2006)
Just Listen follows Annabel, a teenage model whose apparently perfect life hides problems that other people don’t see.
After an incident involving her former best friend, Annabel becomes increasingly isolated. Meeting Owen, a boy who encourages her to be honest, gives her an opportunity to confront what happened and begin rebuilding her relationships.
The novel places particular emphasis on communication, secrets, friendship, and the idea that sometimes listening is the first step toward understanding another person.
8. Lock and Key (2008)
Lock and Key follows Ruby, who is forced to move in with her older sister after a major change in her home life.
Ruby initially struggles with the idea of relying on someone else. As she gets to know her sister, Cora, and the people around her, she begins to reconsider what family and trust really mean.
Like many Dessen novels, the romantic storyline is only one part of the book. Family, independence, friendship, and rebuilding a life after difficult circumstances are equally important.
9. Along for the Ride (2009)
Along for the Ride takes readers back to Colby, the coastal town that first appeared in Keeping the Moon.
Auden arrives in Colby to spend the summer with her father and his new family. She meets Eli, another teenager who has trouble sleeping, and the two begin exploring the town together during the late-night hours.
The novel is especially interesting for longtime Dessen readers because familiar characters and locations from earlier books appear again. Penguin Random House’s listing identifies the novel as a 2009 publication.
10. Infinity (2010)
Infinity is a novella, rather than one of Dessen’s full-length novels.
Because of its shorter format, it is sometimes left out of lists of Sarah Dessen novels. However, readers looking for a complete chronological list of her original fiction should include it between Along for the Ride and What Happened to Goodbye.
It also contains connections to the broader world of Dessen’s novels, including references and locations that appear elsewhere.
11. What Happened to Goodbye (2011)
What Happened to Goodbye follows McLean, a teenager who has moved repeatedly with her father following her parents’ divorce.
Because she has spent years changing identities whenever they move, McLean has become accustomed to keeping people at a distance. Her latest move to Lakeview gives her a chance to try something different.
The novel also brings readers back into Dessen’s interconnected world, with Colby and other familiar locations appearing in the story.
12. The Moon and More (2013)
The Moon and More returns to Colby and follows Emaline during the summer before she leaves for college.
Emaline has spent her entire life in Colby, working at her family’s business and preparing for the next stage of her life. A filmmaker who comes to town to make a documentary introduces her to a different perspective on her community.
This book contains several connections to earlier Dessen novels. Characters and locations from Along for the Ride, The Truth About Forever, What Happened to Goodbye, and Keeping the Moon are referenced or appear in various ways.
13. Saint Anything (2015)
Saint Anything shifts away from the Colby-centered stories.
Sydney’s life changes dramatically after her older brother, Peyton, is responsible for a serious incident that leaves another teenager hospitalized. Sydney finds herself living in the shadow of her brother’s actions and feeling increasingly invisible within her own family.
Her friendship with Layla gives her a new support system and helps her begin building a life that feels like her own.
The novel was published in May 2015, and the publisher describes it as a story about family, friendship, guilt, and starting over.
14. Once and for All (2017)
Once and for All brings romance and wedding planning into the center of the story.
Louna works with her mother in the wedding industry and has become skeptical about happily-ever-after stories after experiencing heartbreak herself. Her summer becomes much more complicated when she meets Ambrose, whose attitude toward relationships is very different from hers.
The novel was published in June 2017 and explores love, grief, change, and the difficulty of moving forward after loss.
15. The Rest of the Story (2019)
The Rest of the Story follows Emma Saylor, who spends a summer with family members she barely knows after being separated from her mother’s side of the family for years.
The change gives Emma an opportunity to learn more about her mother’s past and about a part of her own identity that she has never fully understood.
It was published in 2019 and became Dessen’s first novel after Once and for All. Her official biography identifies it as her latest novel before the eventual release of Change of Plans.
16. Change of Plans (2026)
Change of Plans is Sarah Dessen’s newest novel as of September 2026.
The story follows Finley, a teenager who has become accustomed to living in the shadow of her charismatic boyfriend, Colin. A sudden trip with her mother takes Finley to a family lake house she did not know existed, where she meets relatives she barely knows and a group of young people working at her aunt’s diner.
When Colin breaks up with her, Finley’s carefully planned future suddenly disappears. The summer becomes an opportunity for her to understand her family, develop new friendships, and figure out who she is without simply following someone else’s plans.
The book was published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 5, 2026, making it Dessen’s first new novel since The Rest of the Story in 2019.
Are Sarah Dessen Books Connected?
Yes—but only loosely.
Sarah Dessen’s books are generally standalone novels, meaning you do not need to read one before another to understand the main story. However, she has created a shared fictional world in which certain characters, places, businesses, and other details reappear.
This is one of the more interesting aspects of reading Dessen’s books in publication order.
The Colby, North Carolina Books
Five Dessen novels are particularly associated with the fictional town of Colby, North Carolina:
- Keeping the Moon — 1999
- The Truth About Forever — 2004
- Along for the Ride — 2009
- What Happened to Goodbye — 2011
- The Moon and More — 2013
These books are sometimes grouped as the Colby, North Carolina series, although they are not a traditional series with one continuing protagonist.
The connection is mainly through the setting and recurring characters.
For example, Colie from Keeping the Moon is later mentioned or appears in Along for the Ride and The Moon and More. Other characters, restaurants, businesses, and locations also cross between the books.
Should You Read the Colby Books Together?
If you’re interested in spotting connections, reading these five books in publication order is useful:
Keeping the Moon → The Truth About Forever → Along for the Ride → What Happened to Goodbye → The Moon and More
However, they can still be read independently because each has its own protagonist and story.
Do Sarah Dessen Books Need to Be Read in Order?
No, not for story continuity.
Unlike a fantasy or mystery series, Sarah Dessen’s books do not follow one continuing storyline. Each novel introduces a new main character and a different personal conflict.
Publication order is still useful if you want to see how Dessen’s writing developed or if you enjoy finding references to earlier books.
For a first-time reader, you can also simply choose a book based on its subject. Someone interested in family and grief might approach the books differently from someone looking primarily for romance, friendship, or a coming-of-age story.
Sarah Dessen Books by Reading Experience
Instead of treating the bibliography as one long series, it can be helpful to look at the books according to their major themes.
For Family and Personal Change
Consider:
- That Summer
- The Truth About Forever
- Lock and Key
- What Happened to Goodbye
- The Rest of the Story
- Change of Plans
These books place considerable emphasis on family circumstances, identity, transitions, and figuring out where you belong.
For Romance and Relationships
Consider:
- Keeping the Moon
- This Lullaby
- Along for the Ride
- Once and for All
- Change of Plans
Romance is present in many Dessen books, but the relationships generally sit alongside broader coming-of-age stories rather than existing as the only focus.
For More Difficult Subject Matter
Some Dessen novels deal with heavier issues.
Dreamland explores an abusive relationship, while Just Listen deals with secrets, isolation, and the consequences of not talking about painful experiences. Saint Anything examines the effects of a family member’s harmful actions and the process of rebuilding one’s own identity.
These books may be better approached with an awareness of their more serious themes.
Which Sarah Dessen Book Should You Read First?
If you want to understand Sarah Dessen’s career from the beginning, start with That Summer, her first novel.
If you are more interested in the interconnected Colby setting, start with Keeping the Moon and then continue through the other Colby books.
If you want to experience her newer writing, The Rest of the Story and Change of Plans represent her later period, with Change of Plans being her newest novel as of 2026.
There is no requirement to begin with Book 1, though. Since the novels are largely standalone, readers can choose based on the story that interests them most.
Sarah Dessen Books in Order: Quick List
For easy reference, here is the complete chronological list again:
- That Summer — 1996
- Someone Like You — 1998
- Keeping the Moon — 1999
- Dreamland — 2000
- This Lullaby — 2002
- The Truth About Forever — 2004
- Just Listen — 2006
- Lock and Key — 2008
- Along for the Ride — 2009
- Infinity — 2010 — novella
- What Happened to Goodbye — 2011
- The Moon and More — 2013
- Saint Anything — 2015
- Once and for All — 2017
- The Rest of the Story — 2019
- Change of Plans — 2026
The publication years are supported by Dessen’s official bibliography and independent bibliographic listings, with Change of Plans confirmed by its publisher as a May 5, 2026 release.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sarah Dessen Books
How many Sarah Dessen books are there?
Sarah Dessen has 15 full-length novels as of September 2026, from That Summer through Change of Plans. She has also published Infinity, a 2010 novella, as well as contributed to other publications.
What was Sarah Dessen’s first book?
Her first novel was That Summer, published in 1996. It introduced the themes of family changes and adolescence that would appear throughout much of her later work.
What is the newest Sarah Dessen book?
Change of Plans is her newest novel. It was published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 5, 2026.
Are Sarah Dessen books a series?
Most are standalone novels. However, several books share the fictional town of Colby, North Carolina, and recurring characters and locations connect some of the stories.
What are the Colby books by Sarah Dessen?
The five books commonly grouped around Colby are Keeping the Moon, The Truth About Forever, Along for the Ride, What Happened to Goodbye, and The Moon and More.
Is Infinity a full-length Sarah Dessen novel?
No. Infinity is generally classified as a novella published in 2010, which is why some lists of Dessen’s novels leave it out. It can nevertheless be included when creating a chronological list of her fiction.
Are That Summer and Someone Like You connected?
They are connected in an unusual way: both novels were adapted into the 2003 film How to Deal. They remain separate novels rather than being two parts of a single continuing series.
What genre are Sarah Dessen’s books?
Dessen is primarily known for young adult contemporary fiction, often combining coming-of-age stories with romance, family relationships, friendship, and social issues. Publisher listings for books such as The Truth About Forever, Just Listen, and Change of Plans place them within YA fiction and related contemporary categories.
Final Thoughts
Sarah Dessen’s books are easy to explore because you don’t have to commit to one long series or a single protagonist. Reading them in publication order—from That Summer through Change of Plans—lets you follow the development of her writing while also catching the recurring places and characters scattered throughout her fictional world. For readers who particularly enjoy those connections, the five Colby books offer an especially interesting thread running through her bibliography.
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