If you love summertime, stories, and strong female friendships, you’re likely a Sarah Dessen fan. A long-time resident of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, Dessen’s novels also take place in the romantic Southern state. She’s written 12 novels, some of which reached The New York Times Best Seller list, while the 2003 Mandy Moore film How to Deal was based on two of her books. YA fans are serious about their love for the genre, so Sarah keeps up with them on tour and on Twitter. She also offers sneak peeks into her conversations with her own BFFs and isn’t afraid to go into deeper issues online.