Book Review: Save The Date by Morgan Matson

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publish Date: June 5th, 2018
Series: Stand alone
Source: ARC / e-galley from Netgalley in exchange for honest review

Goodreads 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. 

My Review:

Save The Date is a perfect summer read! I've said this before about another Morgan Matson read, Since You've Been Gone. But it's true, there is something summery and flirty about these books, like they need to be read outside on a warm, bright, sunny day. I had a lot of fun reading this book, and I was able to paint the picture in my head so clearly. With the playful banter between the family and the running around on the wedding day, it played out like a movie in my head. The only (minor) thing that I didn't love about Save The Date was it's predictability. There were so many obvious things about to go wrong, and each and everything that could, did. I'm not sure if Morgan Matson did this on purpose, or not, but I found that to get a little boring after the first few incidents.

Charlie is a fun, helpful and eager to please kind of girl. She would do whatever it takes to make the wedding weekend perfect, and to make sure things are running as smoothly as she can make them. And with everything going on in the upcoming days to the wedding, this keeps her extremely busy, almost too busy for her best friend Siobhan (who didn't play a huge part in the book and we could have done without her as the BFF, in my opinion). But along the way she learns that not everyone is as they seem, and sometimes you find friendship in the strangest of times. 

Overall, Save The Date is a fun read, especially if you have a big family (extended in my case) because you can so easily relate to this family - the lame jokes from one person (J.J), the b/f or g/f brought into all the inside jokes etc (Brooke), the noisy kitchen (everyone!!), the fun and exciting games (capture the flag) - it's all there. Though if you are planning your wedding this summer, maybe don't read this one right now, you don't want to start thinking that EVERYTHING can (and will) go wrong!

Book Review: Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson

Publish Date: May 6th, 2014
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781442435001
Pages: 448
Series: None 
Source: From publisher for honest review

Goodreads Synopsis:

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...
My Review:

*Cue Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone - as that is all I can think about when I say the title of this book.*

Sloane is missing from her best friends life. She just vanished one day with nothing, no goodbye note, no phone call. She isn't even answering her phone calls.One day a list shows up in the mail, a list of things for Emily to do, written in Sloanes' usual girlie writing. Only when Emily is certain that her best friend is no where to be found does Emily start the unusual and scary tasks on the list, hoping that it will lead her to Sloane.

Since You've Been Gone is a perfect light summer read. It's entertaining, and it will remind you of lazy summer days hanging out with your friends. The friendships that Emily is able to form over this list are warming and familiar. Dawn, Frank and Collins will fill the void in Emily's summer and help her in so many ways.

What I really liked about this book was though it started out centered around finding Sloane, as the novel progressed it was focused about Emily finding herself first. She realized that she could make friends herself, and talk to strangers -though it took some work. I liked the way the book turned it's focus. Though the hunt for Sloane never ends, Emily comes to some realizations and her self-esteem increases immensely.

Morgan Matson is a brilliant writer. The book was everything - comforting, funny, honest. We read through flashbacks of Sloane and Emily throughout their friendship which was a nice little touch. It really added depth the both Emily and Sloane. Also, the running playlists, while not necessary, was a nice add-on throughout the novel. Not only did it open my eyes up to new music, but it was fun to see the playful banter between Emily and Frank regarding the music.

After reading Since You've Been Gone, I'm really looking forward to reading more summer reads by Matson. On a nice sunny day like today (only a few degrees warmer), you'll want to lounge outside and devour this one!