Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson
Release Date: May 8, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Source: Purchased
Rating:  
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

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. – Goodreads

Review:
As I recently told a few friends, YA contemporary books are often the ones I’m most critical and particular about. I couldn’t say why, as I have read some fantastic ones, but I find myself overlooking many titles for seemingly sounding too dramatic and being full of cliches. Up until a little over a year ago, I hadn’t read many recent contemps, but Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour was one that I ended up giving into and I absolutely loved it. After finishing it, I knew that Morgan Matson was an author who got it right and I eagerly looked forward to her sophomore novel, Second Chance Summer. The result? I got a beautifully written book that made me feel so much.

If you’re looking for a feel good and cutesy summer read…this is not it. There is a romance, and Henry is all sorts of great, but it’s not the focus in any way. There are great friendships and family relationships, but there’s also plenty of heartbreaking moments to go along with them. Morgan Matson handles the relationships and heartbreak with so much honesty. It would be easy to throw in some angst and have that be it, but Matson allows her characters, Taylor especially, to grow from their difficult moments. While their sadness and pain was definitely palpable, their happiness and triumphs were equally so.

Second Chance Summer deals with rebuilding friendships, family ties, love, and loss, and Morgan Matson incorporates all of these themes seamlessly. There was a balance of emotions, from the highs to the lows, that made this such a heartfelt book. I definitely cried plenty while reading it, but I also laughed and smiled until my face ached.

Morgan Matson crafted a beautiful story in Second Chance Summer and she now has a spot in my must-read author list. I can’t wait to read what she writes next — I know it’s a guaranteed quality read.

Woot, last review of 2010! Happy New Year, everyone!

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson
Release Date: May 4, 2010
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Pages: 352
Source: Personal Copy
Rating:  
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

After Amy’s father dies in a car crash, everything that this California girl took for granted changes overnight. Her twin brother Charlie is shipped off to rehab in North Carolina. Her mother accepts a teaching position in Connecticut, leaving Amy home alone to finish her junior year of high school. Then her mom arranges to get Amy to Connecticut via a cross-country drive with a family friend, 19-year-old Roger. The pair quickly ditches the pre-planned itinerary in favor of more spontaneous detours. Told in traditional narrative as well as scraps from the road—diner napkins, motel receipts, postcards—this is the story of one girl’s journey to find herself. – Goodreads/Amazon

Review:
After Anna, I was left in a mood for another contemporary read. I immediately thought back to a list of recs my friend Katie had given me months ago and decided to give this a go. It sat around for a few days, but once I picked it up, it was impossible to put down.

Set the summer before her senior year, Amy is still suffering over her father’s death, going through the motions on autopilot and not really allowing herself to react or feel. The way Matson wrote about her internal grief made Amy’s pain very tangible and only added to the greatness as she slowly began to break out of her protective shell.

It quickly became obvious that Roger was hiding secrets of his own, and over the course of this road trip, we get to see a great transformation in him as well: he’s finally able to move on on his own terms.

The scrapbook-like format was so much fun, adding more personality to the characters and the story, and the playlists… Oh, the playlists. A strange sound formed in my throat when I saw Interpol’s “Next Exit” on one of them (they’re only my favorite band), followed by further geeking out when other favorites, such as The National, The Knife, Phoenix, Matt Pond PA, etc showed up on ones further in the book. It’s clear that it’s the little things that make me happy and these were welcome additions!

Though Roger and Amy got along right away, I enjoyed the slow progression of their relationship. Sure, there might have been an initial attraction, but there were no declarations of love and they didn’t immediately jump into anything. I thought the last page of the book was perfect and said everything I needed to know. This was a great read and a perfect way for me to end the year.