Second Chance Summer
   by: Morgan Matson

Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Borrowed
Page Count: 468 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

 

 

I have been wanting to get my hands on this book for some time now, so when I saw my cousin got a copy from her friend, I decided to steal it and read it quickly over break. I'm really glad I did! Second Chance Summer is a book that will absolutely put your heart through the ringer and I can't tell you how many scenes where I teared up. Matson does such a brilliant job of writing beautiful scenes that will move you and leave a lasting impression in your heart.

 

I am such a daddy's girl, so reading this book was especially difficult for me. I can't imagine seeing the strongest man I know deteriorate to a point where he's unable to take care of himself. Taylor is forced to deal with this head on, instead of running away from it all like she wants to. I wouldn't consider it selfishness, but more that she's at a loss as to what to do. How do you sit there and watch your father wither away? She is not looking forward to spending a summer in the place she never wanted to set foot in again, having hurt two people she cared about because she was unable to be honest with them.

 

What starts out as the worst summer ever, slowly evolves into a summer of change. Taylor isn't beyond repairing those friendships she once had, but it will take some work on her part. Henry Crosby is the cute nerdy nature boy whose heart she broke by not defending him against her former best friend Lucy Marino. Lucy ended up liking Henry, but he and Taylor already had something forming and instead of telling her best friend this, she kept it a secret, only to have it blow up in her face later. I liked seeing this play out, as Matson does flashbacks of that fateful summer everything went down. Watching her fall for 12 year old Henry is adorable and I really liked seeing that.

 

Now, at 17, Henry is not the same sweet little boy he once was. In his place is an incredibly hot boy who is not at all thrilled she's back... and his next door neighbor. I am a big fan of second chance romances, so I did like watching Henry and Taylor repair what once was damaged. Their romance also isn't the focal point of the book either. It's there and it's sweet, but there is so much more to the story than the romance. Lucy is also present and she is not very warm to Taylor either. Working together is quite tense, but eventually the two find a way to forgive and move on.

 

The scenes with Taylor's dad were what really got me. As the summer goes on, Taylor finds herself wanting to spend more time with him, learning about his life, and reliving his favorite movies, music, etc with him. The scene where she plays Casablanca at the movie night she's forced to organize? Oh cue the waterworks. I was a mess. He imparts her with some valuable wisdom and what he does for her at the end? Oh my goodness.

 

Taylor's second chance story at the lake house isn't perfect. She may be reconciling with Henry and Lucy, but she still makes mistakes and runs away from people she should be running TO because she thinks she's doing the right thing. Really, she's just scared and doesn't know how to handle everything that is happening. She feels guilt for enjoying herself and blames herself for things beyond her control simply because she's not there. Her guilt is misplaced and she makes a choice that will really hurt the person she has worked so hard to not let down again.

 

A beautiful story of love, family, and friendship- Second Chance Summer is one of those books that will stay in your heart long after you've finished.

Since You've Been Gone
   by: Morgan Matson

Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genre: Contemporary
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Received physical copy from BEA.
Page Count: 449 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The Pre-Sloane Emily didn't go to parties, she barely talked to guys, she didn't do anything crazy. Enter Sloane, social tornado and the best kind of best friend—the one who yanks you out of your shell. But right before what should have been an epic summer, Sloane just... disappears. No note. No calls. No texts. No Sloane. There’s just a random to-do list. On it, thirteen Sloane-selected-definitely-bizarre-tasks that Emily would never try... unless they could lead back to her best friend. Apple Picking at Night? Ok, easy enough. Dance until Dawn? Sure. Why not? Kiss a Stranger? Wait... what?

Getting through Sloane’s list would mean a lot of firsts. But Emily has this whole unexpected summer ahead of her, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected) to check things off. Who knows what she’ll find?

Go Skinny Dipping? Um...

 

 

Being 3rd in line to snag this book and the snazzy heart-shaped sunglasses Morgan Matson only had 20 of? SO worth the wait! I really enjoyed Morgan's Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, so naturally I was excited to get my hands on this one! I love the idea of the whole 'Summer To-Do List' and it really helped shape Emily into her own person, and I loved seeing that development from her.

 

Pacing: Overall, I thought the pacing went well. There were a few points in the beginning where my ADD kicked in and I felt myself eager to push forward so I could get to what was next.... ok, fine. I just wanted to see more of Frank and Emily together. They are too adorable and I loved how awkward Emily is in the beginning. Seeing her come out of her shell and begin to create a new identity separate from her best friend Sloane is one of my favorite parts in this book.

 

Storyline: Starting off the summer without Sloane is NOT part of Emily's plan. I felt really bad for Emily because it's clear that her and Sloane do everything together. I can't imagine how I'd feel if all of a sudden my best friend just disappeared without any notice. Emily's parents are about to begin a new play and her and her brother will be left to their own devices this summer. Emily's only contact with Sloane comes in the form of a summer to-do list of all things that will bring Emily out of her comfort zone, which she really needs. The list has some pretty challenging things for Emily, but she is determined to get through them and hopefully when she's done will be able to get in touch with her best friend.

 

Characters: I liked Emily a lot. She has always been associated as Sloane's best friend and never just Emily. However, this all begins to change this summer. By doing Sloane's tasks on the list, Emily finds herself pushing her own limits as to what she's comfortable with and I have to give the girl props for sticking out some of the situations she finds herself in because I would have chickened out. Losing her best friend, Emily really has no other friends to spend time with, until she unexpectedly runs into Frank Porter, who certainly knows who she is. It's really endearing that he knows who SHE is and constantly corrects his best friend when he slips up on her name. At first, Emily thinks it's weird that Frank would want to hang out with her, considering he's the school's golden boy who has a serious girlfriend. Their unlikely friendship is one that drew me in and I was happy that Emily didn't have to spend all of her time alone. She ends up telling Frank about the list and he wants to help her complete it.

 

Frank is a good guy through and through. His and Emily's relationship progressed naturally and I like that they became friends first because that's what Emily really needed in the beginning. They just seem to click once they get past their initial awkwardness. The fact that he had a girlfriend was definitely frustrating because I wanted them to see what was right in front of them!

 

Even though Sloane has disappeared, we do get to see her character in the flashbacks Matson provides for us throughout the novel. Here, we get a better understanding of the girls' friendship- how it began, how they handled boys and relationships, etc. I liked Sloane's outgoing personality and how quickly she accepted and befriended Emily. However, Sloane is a teenager and let's be real: teens are very egocentric. I don't think Sloane intentionally tried to make Emily feel like a third wheel once she got a boyfriend, but Emily couldn't help but feel that way. While I don't agree with Sloane leaving the way she did, I do feel it really helped Emily in the long run.

 

Final Thoughts: I really did enjoy this one. It was the perfect summer read and I like Matson's writing style a lot. I feel she does a great job writing realistic contemporary fiction and her playlists that she sprinkles throughout her books are incredible. These ones especially are worth checking out! She has included so many bands that aren't really well known and I was squealing over my love of them while reading. For a cute summer read- this is definitely one to pick up.