The book Lock and Key was written by Sarah Dessen. She has written nine other novels, and has sold over seven million copies. Her books have received great reviews, and many awards. She currently lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina with her husband and daughter.

Lock and Key is a teen fiction novel that takes place in present time North Carolina. The main characters of the book are classmates and neighbors Ruby and Nate. The two ride to school every morning together. While Nate is giving his best efforts to become friends, Ruby just keeps pushing him away.

Ruby has always had a hard life. She grew up with her protective older sister and her alcohol abusing mother. When Cora, her older sister, leaves for college, she is left all alone with her mother. They moved from place to place and worked many dead- end jobs. Ruby was struggling. Cora had never contacted Ruby after she left. Ruby was left with only herself to depend on.

One day Ruby’s mom goes missing and ruby is forced to live on her own. She is seventeen, only a few more months until it would be legal for her to live alone. Well, that doesn’t happen. The landlord comes by to check on the dryer and realizes Ruby is alone. Child protective services step in and she is forced to live with her sister and brother-in-law. Her entire world is flipped upside down.

Cora and Jaime live in a cookie cutter house in a cookie cutter neighborhood. Jaime, her new brother-in-law, welcomes her with open arms. Ruby hates this. She tries to leave at night but is caught by Jaime while she is jumping the fence. On the other side of the fence was Nate, her next door neighbor. Nate covers for Ruby, but Jaime finds out what she was doing. He never confronts her about it. Ruby feels guilty and she decides to stay.

Ruby is enrolled to Perkins Day high school, which is a prep school and she absolutely hates it. She is forced to ride to school with Nate every morning because they won’t allow her to take the bus. He tries really hard to befriend Ruby, but Ruby still isn’t ready to let people in. Nate and Ruby eventually become great friends.

During Thanksgiving Ruby goes over to Nate’s house to put pies in the oven. She hears banging in the garage and decides to go take a look. She sees Nate’s father hitting him. She realizes Nate goes through struggles just like she had. She leaves and doesn’t tell anyone. Ruby confronts Nate about it but they don’t stay on the topic. Nate and Ruby eventually date, but it doesn’t last.

Ruby finds out that Cora was trying to contact her, but her mother was stopping her from seeing her. Ruby eventually decides to apply for Perkins Day University and she is accepted, as well as Nate. Ruby’s life has finally fallen in to place after all of those years.

Lock and Key was a very enjoyable novel. It is filled with drama, plot twists, and heartache. It was very well written and easy to follow. It did have boring parts, and the characters weren’t well described and were bland. Most of the book kept me turning the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good love story.