“Maybe other writers have perfect first drafts, but I am not one of them. I always try to get the book as tight as I can, but you reach a point as the author where you have lost all perspective.”

American novelist of the late 20th and early 21st centuries, Sarah Dessen writes coming-of-age stories that explore teenage resilience and family dynamics with quiet empathy. Her novels, like *The Green Glass Sea* and *Just Listen*, blend realism with emotional depth, offering nuanced portraits of young women navigating love, loss, and self-discovery.