Someone Like You

Reader reviewed by Katrina

Sarah Dessen does it again with another masterpiece. Someone Like You is a story of two girls with a friendship that is soo strong. Then a tragic accident occurs and the two girls are faced with keeping their frienship together. Sarah Dessen is the master of writing great YA literature. This book won't fail readers and please those who are looking for a really good book.

Reader reviewed by Kristen

Anyone seen the movie "How to Deal"? It was partially based on this book, and another by Sarah Dessen called, "That Summer." Scarlett and Micheal went out all summer. Michael dies in a motorcycle accidnet. Soon after, Scarlett finds out she is pregnant after only having sex one time (I still don't understand how "it just slipped off. I dont know how it happened." But I guess that really isnt a big part of the storyline). Haley, her best friend, is there to help her through it, and helps to take care of her, especially during the fights with her mom where they are battling over adoptiong and abortion. Along the way, Haley falls in love with Macon, Micheal's best friend, and gets heartbroken. I was fairly disappointed in the ending. I was expecting a bit more, but I guess not everything can be the same as in the movies, right?

Reader reviewed by Jocelyn

I had heard of Sarah Dessen, but never read one of her books before. My next paycheck is now going to amazon.com, and then I'll be getting a shipment of Sarah Dessen books in the mail. This book was that good!
It's a story about Scarlett and Haley. They have been best friends ever since Scarlett moved in across the street from Haley, and moved over on the steps of her house to make room for Haley to sit down. They've always been there for each other.
Scarlett has always been the strong one, the one that Haley can depend on. Now, though, Scarlett is the one who needs Haley.
Scarlett's boyfriend, Michael, died in a motorcycle accident on a summer day. Haley was at summer camp, but, when called at midnight by Scarlett, rushed home as quickly as she could. There was more to it than that, though.
After Michael's death, Scarlett discovers she is carrying his baby. It was her first time, the day before Michael died, and now she is sixteen and going to be responsible for another life.
She's not going to give the baby up, though, despite her mother's orders. She and Haley, with some help along the way from Michael's best friend and Haley's love interest, Macon, are going to deal with this the best they know how. Weird food cravings, moodiness, and the "pregnancy bible" become part of their daily lives, and no matter what happens, they're going to see this through, together.
This book was brilliantly written. I read it in one sitting; the pages seemed to turn themselves! The hours flew by, seeming like minutes, as I immersed myself in Sarah Dessen's story of two ordinary (or extraordinary) teenage girls, and their not entirely unfamiliar lives, brought to life by an amazing writer. The characters were all so well thought out and well developed, they seemed as real as anyone I know. The plot, while not the most original ever (but, really, are there any original ideas left anymore?), was brought to life by an amazing writer.
I highly reccomend this book to anyone, even if you think it's "not your thing." You'll love it!

Reader reviewed by mh

Someone like you is like all of Sarah Dessen's books a really good book. It's well written and fresh. Someone like you is about friendship and sticking together. About being there for each other when life gets really tough. Scarlett gets pregnant by her boyfriend who died in a car accident. And Halley has to be there for Scarlett to help her through her pregnancy.
It's an emotional rollercoaster but one you can't miss.

Reader reviewed by sara

Sarah dessen is another of my favorite authors so I recommend anything she has wrote but I think this one is her best nad my favorite.it is about a couple of girls that sre totally different but have been best friends since the day they met.one of the girls finds out she is carrying the baby of her boyfriend who was killed in a car accident.now neither one of them knows what to do next.

Reader reviewed by ShamelessConcoctions

I read the book "Someone Like You" by Sarah Dessen. "Someone Like You" is about two girls, Halley and Scarlett. They have been best friends since they met the day that Scarlett moved in across the street. Halley is quiet and Scarlett is braver and more outgoing. Halley always has turned to Scarlett for help when she's having a hard time with something because Scarlett has always known what to do. But one day while Halley is at camp she gets a call in the middle of the night it's Scarlett, she was crying a scared and now Halley had to help her, and didn't know what to do. Scarlett tells Halley that Michael, Scarlett's boyfriend, had died in a motorcycle accident. Then a few weeks later Scarlett starts getting sick in the mornings, only to find out that she is carrying his baby, and Scarlett needs Halley's help more than anything.
I liked this book very much. The book proves to you that "Life is an ugly, awful place to not have a best friend." As quoted from the book, it shows how to give and recieve when people need it most. I learned a lot from this book, on many different things. I would recommend it to any girl.

Reader reviewed by Jenny

This book is amazing. I'm sure every girl/woman can relate to this book one way or another. It catches your attention at the very begining and delivers all the way through. Any book that can bring me to tears is amazing. I love this book, two thumbs way up. You've just gotta read it!

Reader reviewed by Brooke

This book was really good. Someone Like You and That Summer, were both "meshed" together for the creation of the movie How to Deal. If you like the movie, you'll definently like Someone Like You. In my opinion the movie follows this book more than That Summer. The only thing I was dissapointed in was the character Macon. However, I still loved this book and think it is one of many of Sarah Dessen's best novels. (And, yes, I know there can only be one best, but I like all of her books so much.)

Reader reviewed by Amanda

As much as I enjoy the works of Sarah Dessen and as much as Someone Like You has been praised, I believe this story has yet to be finished. The ending is really a mystery to us all.


Halley Cooke is the 16-year-old resident of Lakeview, main character of the story. She has returned from Sisterhood Camp to heal the wounds of her best friend and neighbor, Scarlett Thomas, whose boyfriend of the summer, Michael Sherwood, has died in a motorcycle accident. This is a hard time for them both seeing as Michael was a good friend and the only boy Scarlett loved. Within weeks of Michael’s death, Scarlett learns she is pregnant with Michael’s child. Marion, Scarlett’s mother, forces Scarlett into the idea of abortion, but with the help of Halley and Macon Faulkner, Michael’s friend, the idea and task itself are aborted. Marion thrives on the topic of adoption for months proceeding the incident, but eventually gives up. Throughout, Halley helps Scarlett make the correct decisions and supports her.


The other part of Someone Like You is about love. Halley falls in love with Macon. They go out for quite a few months, but Macon doesn’t feel their relationship is furthering itself. Halley is afraid of making the wrong decision, having an accident, or Macon not being the ONE. She doesn’t want to end up like Scarlett, having a child on mistake through sex. Halley loves her, Halley loves Macon, but she doesn’t want to be pressured.


This is a truly touching and realistic story. There are lessons, yes, but you will enjoy the story and learn them as well. Someone Like You accurately describes pregnancy, teens at school, peer pressures, and that you must take responsibility for your actions.


My favorite part of the story was when Scarlett had the baby and everyone supported her. All her peers from school gathered to see the birth. It didn’t matter who they were.


I recommend Someone Like You for girls ages 13 and up. If you are interested in the story, see the movie, How to Deal, a combination with That Summer.

Reader reviewed by jennifer

Someone Like You is about two girls named Scarlett and Halley who are best friends. Scarlett is popular and Halley has always kind of been her quiet sidekick ever since they met. Scarletts boyfriend, Michael, dies in a motorcycle in a motorcycle crash. Scarlett then finds out that she is pregnant with his baby. Halley has to help her through this. Scarlett decides, against her single mothers advice, to go through with the pregnancy and raise the child. While all of this is happening, Halley finds a relationship with a boy named Macon who was Michaels best friend. Halley doesnt introduce him to her parents and her parents dont like the idea of her going out with some kid who they dont know, but Halley keeps their relationship secret from her family after they tell her she cant see him. Halley thinks she loves Macon, but he wants their relationship to go farther physically, and he is pressuring her into having sex with him. Halley doesnt know if she wants to do it or not. She finally decides to have sex with Macon on New Years Eve, but she doesnt go through with it. On the way home that night, while Macon is driving, they get in a car accident in which Halley is badly hurt and rushed to the hospital. Halley decides to end the relationship when he doesnt come to visit her during her recovery. Meanwhile, Scarlett becomes good friends with a new kid named Cameron. The two of them go to prom together. At the prom, Scarletts water breaks and she has a baby girl.
I loved this book. The characters are all easy to relate to, and the storyline is very realistic. I couldnt put it down. Sarah Dessen is my favorite author without any question. I definitely would recommend this book and any of her other books