"While waiting in line, a young fan named Sina told PW it was hard to pick her favorite Dessen book. 'I pretty much love all her books because they have real-life situations and I can relate to them.' Izzy, another teen reader, said she likes Dessen because 'She writes about real things, like addiction, and it’s very different from all the really girly stuff that’s out there.' Nan, from a northern suburb of Pittsburgh, was getting books signed for her daughter, who is away at college. 'She’s 22 and still loves them.' Nan said. She also hoped to thank Dessen in person. 'These books got my daughter through high school,' she said, 'because they were so true and real for her.'"

Read more: Shannon Maughan, Publishers Weekly