You Have a Match is the happily ever after we all need in 2021!

My full review will be posted on FreshFiction.com, and I will be sure to update with the link once it goes live.

book review. ⠀
You Have A Match • Emma Lord⠀
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What a good way to start 2021 with a cute read! I went into this book without knowledge on what it was about but I was sooo pleasantly surprised! It was the perfect feel good story about two girls finding out they are sisters. The characters melted my heart and I will totally be checking out other books from this author! This one is hitting bookstores on Jan 12th so keep your eye out! Thanks to @netgalley for the ARC ✨⠀
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synopsis • Abby has signed up for a DNA service after best friends Connie and Leo (and her secret crush) convince her to. She does not expect a secret revealed about her family, that she has an older sister. Her secret, and insta famous, sister Savannah and her meet up without telling their parents. Savannah convinces Abby to join her at camp for the summer, partially because they want to find out why Abby’s parents would put Savannah up for adoption. The summer has ups and downs when camp is not what she expected, Savannah has strict rules that Abby pushes against, and the unexpected surprises that arrive at camp.

3.5 stars

Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Because of a DNA test, Abby Day learns she has a sister. Not a half sister...a full fledged older sister named Savvy. Abby is shocked and freaked out that her parents have kept this from her. The girls meet up and Savvy invites Abby to a four week summer camp that she is working at this summer. Even though she is supposed to be in summer school, Abby hacks into all the electronic ways that the school can contact her parents about it (not too believable, but impressive) and goes to summer camp. Leo, her secret crush, is also working at the camp as a cook.

Can the two girls figure out what happened for Savvy to be adopted? Will Abby ever reveal her crush?

I enjoyed this young adult book, though I would have liked more emphasis on her relationship with Leo. It is heavily based on the two sister's bonding and their friendship. I read Tweet Cute and gave it a 3.5 rating, too. I think I enjoyed this book a little less and I don't think it will leave a lasting impact on me. It has a more serious undertone than Tweet Cute, though there were some fun moments at the camp with her new friend, Finn. Those who read YA a lot will most likely enjoy this more than I did.

YOU HAVE A MATCH is a beautifully written YA contemporary about family, summer, forgiveness, and best friend crushes. Abby is the oldest of four, and she bears the weight of her parents' dreams, which includes lots of tutoring and no free time. Abby is still grieving the loss of her grandfather who helped to raise her and introduced her to a love of photography. When her friends agree to send away for a DNA test, Abby agrees to participate to be a good sport.

However, what she finds is that she has a full sister that she had never heard of - one born a year and a half before her. Knowing that her parents have been keeping this secret for a long time and not sure how much she wants to rock the boat, Abby finds a way to meet her. Savvy has the perfect life, complete with being a wellness guru and instagram famous. To attempt to know each other more, and learn why their parents have kept this secret from them, Savvy asks Abby to come to the camp where she'll be working.

As they spend the summer together, they will try to get to the bottom of the secrets their parents have been hiding and connect with the sister they had never known that they had.

What I loved: This was an intriguing coming-of-age story with some important themes. Abby is trying to find her way in the world between what her parents want for her and what she wants for herself. She feels disconnected from herself and her family. Meeting Savvy is changing the way she looks at the people around her, particularly her parents, her place in the family, and the ways she interacts with the world. Abby experiences a lot of growth and self-realizations throughout the book.

Abby also has a huge crush on her BFF, but she knows he does not feel the same way. Ever since the big embarrassing event, she has felt cast adrift from him. This romance is a delightful secondary plot, and I loved watching their interactions and feeling Abby's yearning for the more she is missing. Savvy also has her own thing going, and without giving spoilers, I loved watching that one too.

One of my favorite themes of the book is about forgiveness. Pretty much every character makes mistakes and does things they regret - which felt so real. The way that each of these is handled with grace, love, and forgiveness is really lovely. I appreciated seeing characters with flaws, who make mistakes, reflect upon them, and atone for them, being treated in return with acceptance (realistically, not always immediate).

As DNA tests become more common, more people are finding family they did not know they had. This twist is an interesting impetus to figuring out who you are and what you want, connecting with family, and living your own truths. As another small note, I also appreciated that the main character struggles with academics, and her future shows a path that does not require academic intensity - this is something shown less often in YA, so the inclusion of this smaller theme was great.

Final verdict: YOU HAVE A MATCH is a charming YA contemporary about family, friends, and love. Highly recommend for fans of MEET ME AT MIDNIGHT, JUST A BOY AND A GIRL IN A LITTLE CANOE, and THE SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS.

Please note that I received an ARC from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

As soon as I read the synopsis of this book about a YA romance set at a summer camp, I knew that I would enjoy it. I was right! Abby signs up for a DNA test with her two best friends as part of a class project. She never expects the results to tell her that she has a sister living just miles away. Once she and Savvy meet up, they concoct a plan to go together to summer camps and explore this mystery with their families more in depth. They are opposite in many ways but still manage to forge a strong bond at camp. Surprisingly, Abby best friend (who she happens to have a huge crush on) is at camp too.

The relationships between the characters and the situations between the sisters unfold very authentically. You find yourself rooting for everyone involved for different reasons. I also appreciated the way the author explained what happened between the families that resulted in their separation. It felt realistic and not overly dramatic. Overall this is a very quick, sweet, and engaging book. I have loved all of the books I have read by Emma Lord and I would recommend them to young and adult readers alike.

Thanks to Emma Lord, St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Initial Thoughts

I was so excited to get an ARC of this book. I loved Emma Lord’s debut novel, Tweet Cute, so I was super excited to see what her next book was all about.

Some Things I Liked

Parent Trap vibes. I loved that this story felt like the classic summer movie. I also really enjoyed the modern updates with the DNA service as the way they found each other.
Instagram and photography themes. I really liked that both sisters enjoyed photography in different ways and I loved that so many of the characters were on the cusp of entrepreneurship at such a young age.
Romances. I loved the different romance plots that each sister had. They each had problems that paralleled each other but yet were very different. I loved seeing their bonding moments where they tried to help each other.

One Thing I Wasn’t Crazy About

The parent trap reveal got a little dark. The themes in this book were heavier than I was expecting. Abby feeling like a replacement seemed like it was glossed over. I guess my criticism is that some of the heavy themes were not fully explained or addressed.

Series Value

I’d read more of Abby and Savvy’s adventures but, I feel like this story is complete. I would revisit the world, but would also be satisfied if this was a standalone story.

This is my second Emma Lord book and I’d keep reading her books.

Final Thoughts

I liked this book. Emma set the bar high with Tweet Cute and I don’t think this book topped that. But, it was a solid story that gave me all kind of Parent Trap vibes and I enjoyed it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Recommendations for Further Reading

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord – if you enjoyed the writing and humor in this novel, try Emma’s debut novel from last year, it was phenomenal.
Beach Read by Emily Henry – if you are looking for an adult rom-com with similar themes of family secrets and finding your place in the world, try this 2020 debut.

When Abby takes a genetic background test with her friends, she never expects she’ll find a full-blooded sister that she never knows about. She follows her sister to an academic summer camp to try to piece together their parents’ story and background before confronting them.

I think most reviews are going to mention that this is similar to a modern Parent Trap, so I’ll skip that. One of my fondest memories is searching the Young Adult section of my public library as a kid, so I still have a place in my heart for the genre. I felt like You Have a Match may cater towards a younger young adult audience. It wasn’t quite as mature as some that I’ve read. The friend or more than friend drama was not really my favorite part, but did add some romance to the plot. I loved the whole idea of finding a missing sister through a genetic website. I recently found a relative I wasn’t aware of and did some research about how sites such as 23 and me can really cause some serious family drama! I liked how the book highlighted this. I know a lot of you love a good camp story, but I tend to find them a bit.. campy (haha, sorry). I think the camp setting may be part of the reason why it felt a bit young to me, but overall I still enjoyed reading it.

“I’ve never once in my life felt like something was missing, but if I left right now, I’d be leaving a part of me here with her.”

You Have a Match comes out 1/12.

3.5 stars. This was a cute and easy to read book for sure, but it felt really cluttered. There were way too many storylines happening that weren’t all handled with the same amount of care, and I ended up not caring about a lot of the secondary characters (it felt like Connie & Finn were particularly underdeveloped). Also the making Leo put cinnamon in everything thing was weird & unnecessary? Overall, just liked & didn’t love this one.

Where do I even start with this book? You might as well grab your snacks now, because you're in for a long review. I loved this book so so much. After reading Emma Lord's debut novel, Tweet Cute, I've been eagerly waiting for her next novel... and this didn't disappoint. You Have a Match was everything I wanted and more. It had secret sisters, cinnamon, pb&j cinnamon rolls (not related to the previous cinnamon), friends-to-lovers romance, and summer camp. Lord returns with her sophomore novel in an incredible way; It's full of heart, feelings, and humor that will keep you reading.

First of all, I adored the plot. The secret sister storyline was written perfectly and I fell in love with Savvy and Abby instantly. Their relationship development, and individual developments, were so fun to watch! I was beyond attached to them, they made my heart warm.

They also weren't the only characters that made me all warm and fuzzy. Leo. Connie. The side characters. Lord has a talent for writing a world that feels complete in the all the details, characters included. All of the characters felt authentic, developed, and real. Abby's friendship with Leo and Connie was everything, and that angsty friends-to-lovers was SO GOOD. It's been a minute since I've read this trope and now I need more now.

In classic Lord fashion, the food in this book was drool worthy. I have an intense need for Leo's cooking, and obviously pb&j cinnamon rolls. I need to spend a day recreating all of these iconic dishes (from both books) so that I can live my YA protagonist dreams while consuming lots of sugar.

P.S. Speaking of my YA protagonist dreams, I would love to go to this summer camp. The setting was atmospheric and genuinely made me wish I had some summer camp life experience!

Overall, I absolutely loved this book. Emma Lord has easily cemented herself as a favorite author of mine, and I'm already beyond excited for her future books. So freaking excited!

Emma Lord has done it again. After reading Tweet Cute and absolutely loving the story and characters, I couldn't imagine where she'd go in a new novel but yet, You Have a Match is entirely it's own story and is fully amazing.

The story is focuses on Abby Day - a high school student who is basically treading water; she's barely keeping her head above the water actually. Her grandpa, Poppy, passed away last year and he was her rock. Then, there was a Big Embarrassing Incident (BEI for short), that happened around Thanksgiving Break. Now she's getting tutored on all subjects and being talked into an academic-geared summer camp.

Oh, that, and she just found out she has a secret, fully-biological sister.

This book has layers. There's Abby's relationships with her best friends, and the way she's managed to make lifelong friendships awkward since the BEI. Her relationship with her parents, where she isn't saying so many things. Her relationship with her grandpa that she misses every waking minute. And now a new sister to throw into the mix.

Abby and Savvy are trying to piece together what happened between their parents and navigate a new and uncomfortable... friendship?

Abby has so many balls she's juggling over the summer. Lies to her parents, avoiding her best friend, figuring out her feelings, and of course, Savvy.

Lord's writing is so engaging and captivating and her characters are so relatable and realistic. It was so easy to recall all the feelings of adolescence, crushes, and the anguish of questioning if someone likes you too or if you're imagining it. Lord took a situation that could shatter someone and figured it out in an entertaining yet raw way.

I will continue to devour the books Ms. Lord publishes. With her two novels, she's proven her writing will keep me whipping through the pages. I'd recommend this to people who like YA or family drama. I think this transcends the YA genre rather well and I hope more people will consider You Have a Match as more than a YA novel. I know I'll be singing it's praises.

I read Tweet Cute last fall and loved it so I knew I wanted to read Lord’s next novel. YA is not my usual genre but I really enjoyed Lord’s writing style

Abby finds out she has a sister she doesn’t know existed through an ancestry kit. When Abby meets Savvy, they hatch a plan to get to know each other at a summer camp Savvy usually spends her summer at.

You Have a Match gave me major The Parent Trap vibes...with a twist. I really enjoyed this one. Abby, the main character, is so complex for being such a young character. She is dealing with life changing news and although she doesn't make all the right decisions, she is learning so much from this experience. Other than Abby, this story has a full cast of characters that include Abby's best friend Leo, who she happens to be in love with, and a fun group of campers. A summer camp was the perfect setting for this. 

If you would love a fun YA with a lot of heart then pick this up

3.75 stars
Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for this digital ARC!
Tweet Cute was one of the cutest YA books I read last year. It honestly might have been the last book I physically read before my brain could only handle audiobooks. So what better way to try to get back in the habit of physically reading by starting out with another Emma Lord book?
Abby takes a DNA test as a bet with her friend Connie to see who is more Irish after their best friend Leo mentions wanting to try it. Besides winning the little bet, she discovers she has a full-blooded sister she never knew about and she's contacted her. After they meet, they're determined to find out what happened and summer camp is the best place to do it. Turns out, her best friend (and crush) Leo just happens to have a job there as well. What ensues is a sisterly bonding, mixed signals, and a huge amount of family drama.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters in it. Abby is an interesting character with a love of photography that makes me wish I could have seen her pictures. Leo is an aspiring chef and I wanted to eat everything they mentioned. They have clear crushes on each other but their other best friend Connie unintentionally sabotages things because she doesn't want things to change. I loved Abby and Leo's friendship and the angst between them for not communicating their obvious feelings for each other. They've been friends since they were kids and I could feel that closeness between them but also clearly see that Leo cared for her a lot more than she realized.
The drama between Abby and her sister was really interesting and original. The parents should have told the girls something a lot sooner because it really explodes into some Jerry Springer kind of drama at the summer camp itself.
Emma Lord has done it again in writing interesting but flawed characters with a unique storyline and pulling you into the story very quickly. I read this book in less than a day and was hooked. If you were a fan of Tweet Cute or really, any YA contemporary romance, I would give this one a shot.

I fell in love with Tweet Cute last year and was really excited to read Emma Lord's next book, You Have a Match, and it did not disappoint. I am obsessed with her writing. It is witty, charming, and entirely relatable. She creates such vibrant and individual characters who when mixed together create complex and realistic relationships. Abby was an endearing narrator and her arc throughout the story was wonderful. Her relationship with her newfound secret sister, Savvy, was understandably strained, and watching them navigate their way through it made for an engrossing plot. Add to that her best friend-turned crush, Leo, and I was hooked. They had a fantastic dynamic and I loved the way their friendship progressed to something more. There was a great mix of supporting characters too, with diverse personalities that added a lot of depth to the world. I appreciated all of the LGBTQ+ rep, and it was refreshing that it was just a part of who these people were and not their entire identities. Lord has an incredible way of capturing teenage emotions that feels so authentic and personal, and never feels over the top or cheesy. I absolutely loved this book, and cannot wait to see what Emma Lord comes out with next. I am such a fan.

Firstly, so many thanks to Wednesday Books, St. Martin's Press, Emma Lord, and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my second book by Emma Lord. Her debut novel, Tweet Cute, was so fun and wonderful- I thoroughly enjoyed it, even when I had to seek help to understand some of the young kids pop culture references, lol. So when St. Martin reached out about the arc for Emma Lord's upcoming book, You Have a Match, I knew I had to jump on it.

This book follows Abby Day, who after taking an ancestry DNA test finds out she has a biological sister who essentially lives down the block from her. The plot that unfolds remind me much of The Parent Trap as the sisters try to uncover the story while in summer camp.

Full non-spoiler review is on the blog (Www.acourtofbooksandbrews.com), so head on over to see what this book is all about!! All in all, I'd highly recommend this to any YA contemporary enthusiasts or if you're in the market for a heartwarming, sweet and quick YA read. What a great book to jumpstart my year with!

Excerpt from review: Emma Lord's debut novel, Tweet Cute, was one of my unexpectedly favorite reads of last year. So I was thrilled to receive her follow-up, You Have A Match, from NetGalley, and found it equally as charming and relatable, even if it is YA and I'm far from that target age group.

A modern day Parent Trap with a twist, I highly recommend You Have A Match and look forward to the next novel Emma Lord has in store.

Came for the cover, stuck around for the story.

Did I know this was YA? Nope - but I love YA so that’s not a problem. I thought it would be heavy on the romance but it was actually more of a story about two sisters who find each other through a DNA matching website and start to get to know one another. Abby and Savvy couldn’t be more different. Abby is quirky, awkward, and anxious while Savvy is a social media influencer with thousands of followers. Savvy convinces Abby to join her at a summer camp where she is a camp counselor so that they can spend some more time together to get to know each other. When their parents catch wind that the girls have found each other and are in the same place - chaos ensues. The girls are determined to find out the truth of what happened to have them grow up in separate households.

The diverse representation in this one was also amazing - from her sister who has a girlfriend to her Filipino best friend. For a YA novel, there was so much depth and real life issues that were covered throughout the story that at times I forgot that I was reading about two teenagers. Lord’s writing is amazing and really brings you into the story as if you’re one of the girls friends.

Abby signed up for a DNA test to support Leo, her unrequited love and best friend, as he searched for a connection to his biological family. Little did she know she would find a match. Abby and her new sister were determined to get to the bottom of this "situation" and figure out the whole story before their parents figured out what they were up to.

Lord's debut, Tweet Cute, was a tremendous hit for me, and I was chomping at the bit to read more from her. Needless to say, she once again delighted me, and here are some of the things I loved about You Have a Match.

The setting was one of my favorites! Sadly, I didn't get to attend sleep away camp as a kid, but I adore a camp setting. There's just something about being outdoors, enjoying nature, and let me tell you, Lord had our cast get into some fine messes as they tackled the great outdoors. This setting also lends itself to fun camp hijinks, and yep, you guessed it, there was some of that too.

I thought Lord assembled a rather fantastic cast as well. They each had something unique and interesting about them, and the dialog between them was top notch. The banter was so snappy and witty. I just couldn't get enough of it. Lots of smiling, snickering, and laughter from me.

I won't lie, I was really eager to find out why Abby's parents gave Savvy up for adoption. The whole truth of the situation came out slowly, and parts were really heartbreaking. But, it was beautiful seeing all parties involved trying to build something from this "reunion". I especially liked seeing Savanah and Abby bond. It was not an easy road to understanding each other, as they seemed like polar opposites, but the summer was one of learning and growing for all, especially Abby. She gained a new perspective, which even extended to how she saw herself, and I felt that it really propelled her forward.

The heart of this story was the bond that formed between these two new sisters, but it was also about family, friendship, and more. A lively cast of characters combined with a multitude of fun and touching moments PLUS a fabulous ending left me with a warm heart and a big stupid grin on my face.

After a "23 and Me"-like DNA test reveals Abby has an older sister, Savvy, there's only one course of action but for the two to meet up at summer camp! While Abby and Savvy are dealing with the complications of why their biological parents gave Savvy up for adoption, they're also both getting to know one another and sorting out their complicated love life.

I really enjoyed the characters, Lord's witty writing, and her continued focus on food (I now want a lasagna ball)! I loved Tweet Cute and the interplay of the characters there, so this was always going to be a hard follow-up and it didn't quite live up to my markedly-high expectations. This was also not aided by the use of a miscommunication by two of the characters. Miscommunication is not a favorite of mine--so take this with a grain of salt--and here, it was slightly ameliorated by the fact that this is YA and the characters are young, and the fact the miscommunication was spurned on by a third party.

Overall, this was a very cute start to the New Year! 3.5 stars from me, and I can't wait to see what Lord does next!

I received a free copy of this book from @NetGalley in exchange for my review.

You Have a Match is my second Emma Lord's book, and I'm glad to say that I enjoyed it as much as her first one, Tweet Cute!

You Have a Match follows Abby Day, who found out she has a secret sister after she took a DNA test with her friends. To uncover the secrets that her and Savvy's parents have been hiding for years, they decide to meet up at summer camp where Savvy works. As it turns out, uncovering a secret that's been buried for years is no easy feat, especially when Abby and Savvy are basically a complete opposite.

Adoption and family are the main themes in this book. It's also the reason why I end up liking this book. Abby and Savvy's family problems are messy--and it took almost the entire book for it to be resolved--but it's what made them real. I also really love how the parents are in a big part of this book, just as big as the characters themselves.

Other things that I love from this book is the friendship. This book is set in a summer camp, and I like the friendship Abby made throughout her stay in there. And of course, the romance is pretty cute as well. The friendship and romance might not be as prominent as the family relationship in here, but it made the book more fun!

All in all, You Have a Match is a heartwarming story about family and acceptance. I definitely recommend it <3

I started this book this evening about 10 percent in. I binge read the rest of it in about two hours. I don't think I left my spot the entire time because once I got into the book, I was invested. I was a little worried it wouldn't measure up to her last book, Tweet Cute. I shouldn't have been. This book covers grief in a smooth way yet doesn't fail to have plenty of happy, fluffy moments (and a new romance I absolutely loved). Everyone from the main to the side characters had arcs and personalities. What a great way to start off the new year!