Sarah Dessen is the author of more than a dozen novels and novellas for young adults. Her work is known for its realistic portrayal of young adult experiences as her protagonists explore romantic and platonic relationships, identity, and the complexities of growing up. As in Someone Like You, Dessen does not shy away from writing about complex and challenging experiences that young adults go through, such as teen pregnancy and the pitfalls of first love.

Dessen’s characters are often praised for their relatability. She stated in an interview that she strives to write characters that are realistic and that do not fall into what she calls the myth of “effortless perfection”: “You’re supposed to be an amazing student, and an incredible friend, and look great, and have it all together, and it’s just supposed to look really easy. Nobody can do that” (Gragert, Anna. “I Interviewed Author Sarah Dessen, the Woman Who Made Me Want to Read and Write.” HelloGiggles, 7 June 2017). Her characters do not always make the right decisions and sometimes experience hardship as a direct result of their own actions. This is evidenced in Someone Like You when Halley makes the choice to continue dating Macon despite her loved ones’ concerns, ultimately ending up in a car accident after lying to her parents about her whereabouts.