DNA services, such as Ancestry or 23andMe, have become almost commonplace for most people as many are anxious to find out more about where they came from and to see how they connect to various distant relations, either known or unknown. I’ve done one myself and it’s nice to see which countries/areas all my ancestors came from with a few surprise ones thrown in. This book sets out to see what happens after the main character and her friends take their own tests. This is actually my first book by this author as I never got around to reading her other novel, Tweet Cute, yet.

Our main character Abby Day takes a DNA test as her best friend, Leo, who is also her long-time crush, wants to take one to find out where he came from. There is a discount if you buy multiple tests so Leo also asked Connie, the third member of their best friend group. Abby is fully motivated to take the test as it is Leo who asked her, which fits a more stereotypical need of a younger teenager who wants to do something to please their crush. Leo’s reasoning for doing the test is more personal as he and his full-sister, Carla, were adopted by white parents and they are from the Philippines. Connie agrees to take the test as she forms a bet with Abby about who has a higher percentage of Irish heritage found.

Sure enough, Abby finds that her percentage is higher than Connie’s, but she wasn’t expecting a certain surprise. It turns out that Abby has a full-blood sister named Savannah Tully. Unfortunately, Leo does not find a match for his search for his family. Although Abby feels bad for him, she becomes wrapped up in the idea that she has a surprise sibling that is only a little over a year older than her 16-year-old self. Although it’s expected that the reader’s focus is pulled to Abby’s situation (the story is written from her point of view), it seems to gloss over Leo’s situation a lot. There’s no mention that maybe his ancestors didn’t take this test, have access to this test, or maybe something in the algorithm didn’t match them together. Abby acknowledges Leo’s sadness over the results, but she’s very selfish in this situation considering her massive crush on him. Of course, the news of a surprise sibling is overwhelming, but you’d think that she would also be more aware of what’s going on with one of her best friends and take a minute to solely focus on his needs before returning to dealing with her own situation.

We continue to the main part of the story as Abby receives a message from Savannah (“Savvy”) who wants to the meet-up. This kicks off the adventure of the two of them getting together to know only get to know the other, but also to figure out the mystery of why they were separated and never knew about the other. Savvy invites Abby to the summer camp where she will work over the summer. As it turns out, Leo also works at the camp and has been friends with Savvy for a long time. This plot point weaves together Abby’s two stories where she not only has to balance her feelings for Leo while also being with Savvy. Abby’s character as she does everything well, but has extremely low confidence in her. She’s an avid photographer that is fearful her work isn’t good enough, yet every single person who comes across it tells her that it’s good enough to sell or be museum-quality work. Although natural talent exists, it just seemed way too ideal that Abby is a perfect photographer without any training to hone her skills. Also, I need to buy a camera like Abby’s ASAP as the equipment is hit against objects, falls to the ground, among other incidents, and comes away unscathed.

Not only does Abby get to spend some time with Leo and Savvy during her time at camp, but she also makes new friends, including those she shares a cabin with. As this camp is a mix of academic (SAT prep) and fun, Abby is slightly frustrated by the situation as she’s exhausted from her parents’ expectations. Again, Abby is a very smart person, but her lower confidence affects her ability to express herself to her parents to let them know that all this extra academic work is not for her. Essentially, this adds a third story to our novel. Our first is the main focus for Abby’s discovery of her secret sister. The second is her dealing with her feelings for Leo and the confusion if they are meant to be just friends or if there’s the possibility of more. Our third is Abby’s confidence itself, whether it’s her photography or her ability to express herself to her parents. The three stories become muddled at times as the focus continues to shift between the three pieces so the details can get lost. There was a lot of potential in this novel, but it doesn’t quite make the mark with me.

Overall, I’ve read many YA books with teenage characters and they can be both mature and immature as you would expect of this age group. Abby, to me, just felt immature, yet those around her were more mature. However, both Savvy and Abby’s parents were all beyond immature and I have no idea how they got by when they lacked a lot of common sense at times. I didn’t agree with their backstory so it soured what was turning out to be a decent tale. I think if I were a teenager reading this story, I would’ve breezed past any negatives as the concept is fantastic. However, as an adult who enjoys reading some YA, it just doesn’t quite meet my expectations. The writing is still very humorous and it flows, albite a little fast at times, but it was a very enjoyable read that is light-hearted with some great heart behind it. Even though I’ve expressed critiques, I’m still thrilled that I read this story and I’m very curious to read more work by this author!

**I give a special thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for the ARC to read and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.**

This was a sweet book. Abby, the teenage narrator, takes a DNA test and finds out she has a sister, surprise! Of course, this raises difficult questions about adoption and family. Her sister is internet famous and wealthy and Abby is not sure how to deal with everything happening to her. It’s a quick read, 3.5 stars.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Loved this YA read that’s a modern-day take on The Parent Trap with added layers of changing and evolving friendships, teenage love interests and even social media influencers. The beginning read a little surface level, but as soon as the girls got to camp it picked up and turned into a YA book that has depth and was fun, fast and interesting to read. Also brought up some interesting conversation starters that would be great for a book club. It was a fun escape and if you love a good YA, I would recommend!

This is definitely a cute coming of age story about Abby who, after taking a DNA test finds out she has a full blood sister she never knew about. There was a fair amount happening: family - new and old, friendships - new and old and teen love. I enjoyed Abby's story and seeing her grow up, I enjoyed Savvy letting her hair down and how they got to know and respect each other. The rest of the characters were written well too - and my heart warmed at all the friends Abby made during her time at the camp. The story was fairly predictable but it was a nice easy read.

This is a wonderful YA about love, family, loyalty and allll of the teenage feelings. It's especially timely with the DNA testing theme, and explores the issues related to that very nicely. I think the author did a great job in writing these characters, and wove the parents in seamlessly. I thought it was a bit long in some places, but overall I highly recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the advance digital copy!

When Abby signs up for those of those DNA kits, it’s only in support of her friend Leo. The last thing she expects is to find out she has an older sister. Savannah is an instagram influencer whose super into being healthy and gaining followers. And she’s Abby’s sister? Instead of confronting their parents, they decide to figure it out at summer camp.

Do you ever read a book and find yourself crying through the entire epilogue because you’re just so happy for the characters? Yep, that was me. It’s hard to even explain why other than the fact that I felt so connected to these characters and fell completely in love with them.

Emma Lord’s writing style is exactly what I’ve always wanted from YA. The quirky characters, the cheesy jokes, the emphasis on food and cooking, the relationships between characters. She also loves to pay homage to old movies. This time it’s the Parent Trap. The nostalgic feeling I get from this book can’t be beaten.

Although there is a small bit of romance involved, I wouldn’t consider this book a romance. It’s more about growing a sisterly bond, uncovering secrets from the past, and healing what’s been broken. I loved the backstory of the parents just as much as the moments among the teens.

If you like the summer camp setting, you’re in for a treat in that aspect as well. There are plenty of fun campers and adults as well as camp activities and pranks.

So if you’re looking for a sweet YA book filled with family drama, sisterly bonds, and summer camp fun, look no further!

I haven't read a YA book in what seems like forever and this book just made me question why I'm not reading them more.

Abby decides to do a DNA test, but what she's not expecting is to find out that she had a sister. She decides to go to the summer camp to meet her sister Savvy.

I enjoyed this book. It was different because it explored so many topics that is relevant to today's world. I loved the summer camp setting and the fact that it reminded of The Parent Trap which is one of my favorite movie.

If you haven't read a YA book in a long time or this is your first book, read this because it's great.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The book dragged a little in the middle and got a little chaotic but everything was settled nicely in the end.

Overall it was a cute story and I loved the camp setting! Would recommend for fans of The Parent Trap!

I received an arc of this book for review from NetGalley!

✨ The Title/Cover Draw:
I adored Tweet Cute so when the opportunity came to read this one, I was very excited. Thank you to @netgalley and #wednesdaybooks for the opportunity to experience this book.
💜 What I liked:
The location was wonderful. Seattle and a camp 2 things I just love. The characters are amazing also and I felt like I got to know them so deeply, sympathizing with them. It is an easy read and full of teen drama so if you like that kind of thing, look no further.
What I didn’t like:
It was slow to build and frantic in the end trying to tie everything up. The pacing lagged a bit in the middle, where the characters thoughts and scene descriptions were thorough and almost repetitive. This did not ruin my enjoyment of the book, however, just something to keep in mind.
The Characters:
Abby and her best friends Connie and Leo take DNA tests and Abby finds she has a FULL sister she didn’t know about named Savvy. Savvy, her friends Mickey and Finn, as well as Abby and Leo all join up at camp (for various reasons) and start to discover why the sisters were a secret.
The Ending:
It was cute and ended very well. All loose ends were tied up nicely and satisfyingly. I really do love Emma Lord’s writing style and will read anything of hers in the future.
Consider if you like:
If you read Tweet Cute and loved it, or are a fan of Princess Diaries or the Parent Trap in vibe, this one is for you!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Received from Netgalley.

3.5-4 stars, An overall cute read! I really enjoyed the way Emma wrote about dreams and the fear of pursuing them, It almost seems “easy”, when you’re good at something that you also enjoy, In fact, many might even say that the road should be smooth sailing from there. But I like how Abby, despite how great she is at photography, still possesses a level of uncertainty. It’s realistic! I also liked the romance in this one. There’s a palpable longing and an undeniable tension between Abby and her LI (will refrain from saying who just in case it’s a spoiler) and I just wanted them to get together immediately. I’ve never been a big fan of stories centered around sibling relationships but I enjoyed reading the growth between Abby and Savvy. It wasn’t by any means a perfect relationship (what is?) and it definitely took... Some work, but I think I liked it better that way. The camp setting was a great opportunity for all these relationships to progress too.

All in all, I enjoyed this book! I’ve had Tweet Cute on my shelf forever so I hope I can get to it soon.

Abby's been enamored with Leo for quite some time, so when he gets his DNA tested, she naturally follows suit. What she never expected was to find out that she has a long-lost sister named Savannah, and for some reason Savannah lives with another family. While Abby likes to climb trees and take beautiful photographs, Savannah is all about the rules and staying out of the muck. Abby doesn't really understand this new sister of hers, and things with Leo aren't the same after an awkward incident. She hopes that at summer camp she'll figure all of this out. Unfortunately for her, Savannah doesn't want to engage in the sort of fun she's interested in, and Leo is busy making food at camp. The worst part of all is that her parents have been keeping a dangerous secret for years, and that secret could change their family's life forever.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
This was a really cute book! The ethical conundrums of DNA testing kits aside, it was really sweet to see two sisters learning about each other, navigating adolescence, and dealing with family secrets. Because each sister is so different, it creates an interesting dynamic between them as they partake in summer camp and try to navigate their own feelings. Abby's crush on Leo was also cute if a bit maddening. I would have liked a bit more discussion in the book about the pros and cons of DNA testing, and what can be done with that information for good and bad, though I recognize it's not always easy to organically write a discussion like that into a story. You Have a Match is a fun, sweet story from Emma Lord, and just as I had a lot of fun with Tweet Cute, I had a lot of fun with Abby, Savannah, Leo, and Connie. This one could be a match for you, too!⁣⁣

Really enjoyed this one. I finished it right after watching a ton of news on the events that took place the first week in january at the Capitol Building and it was a great relief from real life happenings. I loved how this one not only focused on a love story but was also building a new found sisterly bond. Really enjoyed it, I think I liked Tweet Cute a little more. I do love how Emma Lord creates female characters that are strong self-starters.

Imagine taking a DNA test on a lark and discovering that you have a sister that you knew nothing about.  Or spending a summer at camp with a boy who has been your best friend for years and you are secretly in love with but don’t have the guts to tell him.  Add finding out that your parents have been lying to you your entire life.  All of these things and more come together to make a splendid story in the book You Have A Match by Emma Lord.

 

Abby Day is a regular teenager with loving parents and three younger, pesky brothers.  She enjoys photography and spending time with her two best friends, Leo and Connie.  Abby struggles a little with insecurities and isn’t the best of students.  She also has quite a crush on Leo, which could complicate their friendship.  After taking a DNA test to support Leo’s search for info about his own genealogy, Abby discovers that she has a full-blood sister named Savvy whom she has never heard of. 

 

Abby and Savvy meet and then the drama follows!  They decide to get together at summer camp so they can get to know each other and try to sort out what happened in the past between their sets of parents.   But surprise!  Leo is attending the same camp.  Also, Leo has been coming to this camp for a while, so he knows Savvy and her other friends.  Abby wants to get to know her sister, but all kinds of things seem to keep getting in the way, including their parents finding out that the sisters are together at camp. 

 

I enjoyed this book!  It had tons teenage torment and relationship issues and was very entertaining.  I thought that all of the characters were very well-rounded and complete.  You could get a real sense of who they were and what they felt.   I was rooting for Abby throughout her journey and adored the relationships she developed on her path to finding her sister as well as herself.  This is definitely a thoughtful and twisty book that you can dive into and lose yourself for a while.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC!

Really cute YA book where two girls find out they’re sisters through an ancestry DNA site. All the characters were so darn cute and likeable, and I liked the summer camp setting and themes of found family and coming into your own.

A good choice if you’re looking for something light to read. Thank you Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the arc.

On a whim, Abby sends her DNA off to get tested to see what % Irish she is. This sets off a series of events that leads her to spending a month at a summer camp with the sister she never knew she had. Also at camp is her friend Leo, who she has a crush on. If you enjoyed Emma Lord's recent book, Tweet Cute, you will also enjoy You Have a Match. Perfect read for a snowy or lazy winter weekend.

I received an advanced reader copy via NetGalley.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord is a captivating young adult romance. The characters are well-written, genuine, and realistic, making them easily relatable. A sweet romance that is sure to leave you wanting more.

I love Emma Lord's first novel, Tweet Cute. You Have a Match was just as good! The characters were instantly loveable. That mixed with a summer camp setting and a bit of mystery makes for a quick, delightful read. I would recommend reading You Have a Match!

Put quite simply: this is just a great book! It’s emotional, it’s funny, it’s heartfelt, it’s deep, it’s silly, and it makes you appreciate the friends and family you have in your life.

When her friend (who she possibly wants to be more than friends with) Leo wants to take a DNA test to find out about his family, Abby takes one as well to support him, not thinking she’ll discover anything other than the percentage of Irish she is. But it turns out she has a secret sister, Savannah! Abby and her new older sister meet up at summer camp to get to the bottom of what happened and discover things about themselves along the way.

I love how Abby and Savvy’s relationship changes over time! This book is all about the bonds between siblings, even if that sibling starts off as a stranger. It’s fascinating how their relationship starts off in this gray area — not friends yet not entirely strangers since they have a friend in common, Leo. They see similarities in each other and form a unique connection despite — they think — being so different.

Family overall is important to both Abby and Savvy. Their parents play a big role in the story (unlike some YA where parents are way, way in the background), and not just because they’re the catalyst for what happened but because they’re important to Abby and Savvy. It’s our parents, siblings, and grandparents who help define who we are and who we want to be and what we find important in our lives.

The bonds between friends is also strong in this book. Despite not seeing much of Connie physically in the book, we get a strong sense of who she is and the unbreakable friendship between her and Abby. Love the pros and Connies list idea so much! Mickey is just so awesome and sassy and funny and the type of person who would go to the end of the world for the people she cares about.

I love how hobbies and interests are so important! There is nothing so much that defines you as a teen than what you love to do in your spare time. I love that Abby loves photography, that Savvy is into spreading the knowledge of health and wellness, that both Leo and Mickey love cooking and trying new dishes.

I don’t want to give too much about about the romances, but I will say: YES I LOVE IT ALL SO MUCH! So much drama and cuteness with a dash of teen angst. Love me an adorable straight and gay romance!

You Have A Match will hit you right in the feels. It will make you want to go hug your family. It will make you appreciate the hobbies you enjoy. It will make you want to hug the book to your chest and never let go.

*Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Loved it! I didn't think Emma Lord would be able to match Tweet Cute, but, wow, she really did. Great characters. Lots of good layering in the history and relationships of the characters, too. I felt like I was in on all the inside jokes by the end, like I had grown up with these people.

I also appreciated how positive the relationships between friends and between family members were. Her books are exactly what I want my kids to read. I read this quote recently, and it reminded me of both You Have a Match and Tweet Cute:

I’m going to do everything in my power to give [my kids] the tools to love themselves deeply so that they are empowered to walk away from toxic belief systems.

You could substitute "relationships" for "systems," too, honestly. But yeah, I just love how empowering Lord's books are. Five enthusiastic stars from me.

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to settle a bet with her best friend Connie regarding who is more Irish. But when the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, her life is thrown upside down … especially considering that Savannah, her new big sis, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The two connect and decide to attend the same summer camp and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. What could go wrong? You guessed it -- only everything.

I didn’t dislike this book … but overall, there was way too much miscommunication and misunderstandings for me to really enjoy it. Abby was just so indecisive – she couldn’t confront her parents, her best friend, her crush, or even be completely honest with Savvy. I know this book is meant for teenagers, and the teenage years are a confusing time, but it was just too much for me. Teens might relate to it more.

I really liked the author's debut, Tweet Cute. I gave that one four stars. This one was three stars for me.