Tag: Morgan Matson

This Chick Read: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Andie is a planner and knows exactly what she’s doing this summer. When those plans get derailed because of her politician father’s scandal, Andie gets the best job she can and notifies her best friends that she’s available for the summer. Walking dogs may be out of her comfort zone but she makes the best of a bad situation and when one of those dogs gets her closer to a cute boy named Clark she realizes this may be just the distraction she needs to distract her from her suddenly housebound dad. The Unexpected Everything is an unexpected pleasure.

Growing up the daughter of a politician, Andi knows that she’s under constant scrutiny. Her actions can’t cause problems for her Congressman father. When his own scandal derails his career and he’s a housebound father after a five year absence they have a hard time adjusting but not unexpectedly, they find a new path together but not without moments of growing pains. I really loved the father-daughter bonding in this young adult novel. Another great aspect to this story were Andie’s friends- Toby, Bri, and Palmer. Their solid friend group seemed perfectly sound until another secret rocks their world and makes them work to recover that bond they’d always had with each other.

Then there was Clark. A couple of years older but millions of years wiser- or so it seemed. A successful author of a best-selling fantasy novel Clark seems to have it all, but as the story unwinds we realize that there is a lot of depth to his character, a depth that makes Andi a little uneasy since she seems to avoid any kind of conflict in her own life. I enjoyed how being with Clark challenged Andie to think in a more mature manner and take a look at how she has been living her own life.

If I had any criticism it would be that I think this story could have been told in fewer words. The novel did seem to drag a bit and I got impatient to reach the conflict that I knew was coming. It could be because this is a young adult novel and those days are long gone, but I would’ve liked the author to get to the point a little bit quicker than she did. I will say the slower pace didn’t stop me from enjoying the story and investing in all of these interesting characters. ❤️❤️❤️❣️

Click this link to purchase this book!* The Unexpected Everything

Copyright 2023 The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate- of you purchase this book through the above link I’ll receive a small stipend.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

Friday YA: Save the Date by Morgan Matson

Taking place over one weekend, Save the Date explores the relationships of the Grant family as seen through the eyes of the youngest daughter, Charlie. As one of five children, Charlie has really looked forward to her oldest sister Linnea’s wedding at their family home this weekend. It will be the first time her whole family has been together in the last year and a half and she misses them horribly.  Of course, nothing goes as planned and Charlie’s envisioned family reunion does not go as planned.

Charlie’s mother is being honored for the retirement of the comic strip she has created and written through Charlie’s entire life. The antics of the kids in the comic strip mirrored the antics of her own children. This weekend wedding opens up Charlie’s eyes to the fact that some of her own memories are actually memories of things that happened in the comic strip and not exactly as it happened in real life. This awareness of what actually had been changes Charlie’s visions of what her future could be helping her make some decisions that she had been postponing.

I found this novel so refreshing because it was about a whole family. There was such a huge cast of characters to keep track of, but in the center of it all was Charlie, who seemed to be the one that grounded everyone. I don’t mean to give her more importance than her older siblings, but they all had flaws and Charlie’s only flaw seemed to be that she had glorified their family but in my own experience I think seeing everyone for who they are is actually a part of growing up. Even though this novel took place over a weekend, Charlie grew up a lot.

I enjoyed this novel a lot. It was an easy read with a lot of humor. This families antics actually reminded me a bit of my own family and I wonder if everyone who reads it won’t see a bit of themselves in one of these characters. There are a lot to choose from, after all! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click this link to purchase*! Save the Date

Copyright 2018 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

*Amazon Associate

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads2 Comments

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Uppercase Box June’18 Reveal

HI everyone! I am really excited about this months book and can’t wait to show you what it was! However, as you know, we have some other bookish gifts to reveal first.

June Uppercase

First, here’s a look at the bag. Can you guess it? No? Too bad! It was filled to the brim with goodies.

June Uppercase 2

For those of us who love Harry Potter…. from Juniper & Ivy Designs Harry’s owl Hedwig and the envelope with Harry’s submission into Hogwarts!  OK, I’m guessing that’s what’s in the envelope because, well, it doesn’t actually open. Does Harry receive any other envelopes besides that one? Let me know in the comments! It’s been awhile since I’ve read the series.

June Uppercase 3

An Invictus poem bookmark by Ink & Wonder. I love these wooden bookmarks. I believe this is the second one we’ve received in an Uppercase Box, isn’t it? I will definitely use this as I do NOT turn down the corners of pages!  Shame, shame if you do!

You can also see the little note we receive every month from Lisa, the owner (and fellow book blogger) of Uppercase. There’s a hint to the title if you can see it, but not long to wait now!  Drumroll please!

June Uppercase 4

I am loving that the book this month is Save the Date by Morgan Matson. I am in line for it at the library and now have my own signed copy! I also received some Save the Date wedding stickers, which are sweet but will be passed on as a giftee to someone else as I don’t really use stickers…

Save The Date by Morgan Matson (synopsis)

Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.

I can’t wait to read it, look for my review soon!

Until next Sunday,

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads