Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
The summer before college, Auden meets the mysterious Eli, a fellow insomniac. While the seaside town of Colby sleeps, the two embark on nightly quests to help Auden experience the fun, carefree teen life she never knew she wanted.
Along for the Ride is a competent YA romance adaptation that hits familiar beats of summer healing and self-discovery without distinguishing itself from the crowded genre. The plot follows a predictable arc—guarded protagonist, mysterious love interest, emotional unfolding—lifted somewhat by genuine warmth and a few earnest character moments. Acting is serviceable and occasionally charming but rarely transcendent. Cinematography makes pleasant use of the coastal setting with soft lighting and dreamy aesthetics fitting the tone, though nothing visually inventive. Novelty is low as the premise and execution are firmly within YA romance formula with little to set it apart. The ending resolves too neatly and quickly, feeling emotionally unearned given the trauma threads woven throughout.