Sarah Dessen

“Next thing you know she'll be on the bus and selling T-shirts in the parking lot, showing off her boobs to get in the stage door.""At least she has boobs to show," Jess said."I have boobs," Chloe said, pointing to her chest. "Just because they're not weighing me down doesn't mean they're not substantial.""Okay, B cup," Jess said, taking a sip of her drink."I have boobs!" Chloe said again, a bit too loudly--she'd already had a couple of minibottles at the Spot. "My boobs are great, goddammit. You know that? They're fantastic! My boobs are amazing.”

“Plus the fact that the window I was now facing opened up to the part of the lot where people picked up their brand-new cars. Every few minutes, one of the salesmen would walk someone right to the center of the window, hand them their shiny new keys, and then smile benevolently as they drove off into the sunset, just like in the commercials. What a bunch of shit.”

“Now, now," my father said. "Let's just get the bags."This was typical. My father, the lone male in our estrogen-heavy household, had always dealt with any kind of emotional situation or conflict by doing something concrete and specific. Discussion of cramps and heavy flow at the breakfast table? He was up and out the door to change oil on one of our cars. Coming home in tears for reasons you just didn't want to discuss? He'd go make you a grilled cheese, which he'd probably end up eating. Family crisis brewing in a public place? Bags. Get the bags.”

“There comes a time in every life when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your heart.”

“I am coming to terms with the fact that loving someone requires a leap of faith, and that a soft landing is never guaranteed.”

“Wherever you will go, I will let you down, But this lullaby goes on.”

“Life is an awful, ugly place to not have a best friend.”

“There is never a time or place for true love. It happens accidentally, in a heartbeat, in a single flashing, throbbing moment.”

“Don't think or judge, just listen.”