“My life is basically a CW drama right now, is all.”

Thank you to Emma Lord, Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the e-ARC of You Have a Match in exchange for an honest review! This was lovearctually’s second discussion book and I can’t wait for our chat on Sunday!

Abby Day signs up for a DNA testing service after her BFF and secret crush Leo asks her to do it in solidarity with him. Leo’s adopted and hoping to finally get some answers about his Filipino heritage. Instead, it’s Abby’s life who is turned upside down when she discovers she has a sister… a full-blooded sister…. that her parents never told her about. The obvious solution to this problem is to secretly meet up with Savannah and then attend summer camp in the San Juan Islands so that they can solve the mystery of their families.

You Have a Match is an ode to The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan version obvs). There is a prank war and a cute lil summer camp romance that made me nostalgic for my teens. While I enjoyed the romance aspect of the book, my favorite part was just watching Abby grow as a human. She struggled with some major identity issues and family drama but her reactions felt true to how a teen would feel.

This book is also a bit of a love letter to my beloved San Juan Islands, specifically Vashon Island. If you have never visited Washington State, then put these beauties on your travel bucket list! They are truly magical.

You Have a Match is full of heart and I can’t wait for you all to get a chance to read it!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CI9CsClgy-I/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3689440718

A pub day post will also be posted on 1/12/21 on Instagram.

I like the story line of this book. I haven’t read any other rom com/YA that have this kind of story line (don’t want to give away too much). The author does a great job developing her characters, and it has a similar feel to her first YA book Tweet Cute. It’s a quick, happy read that would be a perfect escape read for any one right now.

I read Tweet Cute by Emma Lord around this time last year and loved it. So when I received this ARC I was fairly certain that this was going to be a 5 star read for me and it did not disappoint. I am so thankful to Wednesday Books for sending me this one; I received the approval through Netgalley originally and was so so excited and then about had a heart attack when a physical book showed up on my doorstep.

This book has a little bit of everything; sibling dynamic, friendships, parent and child dynamics, old school campy vibes, romance, loss of a loved one, grief, anxiety, conflict avoidance, photography, culinary, arts, coffee... literally almost anything you could ask for in a book this one has.

This book is a roller coaster ride, it makes you feel every emotion possible while also being funny and relevant, and raw. I haven't read a book that brought me to tears several times in years. This book has so much heart and emotion and just hits you right in the feels.

I felt so seen reading this book. I identified so much with the main character Abbey. While she is definitely more of a Dare Devil than I am, her tendency to avoid conflict at all costs really hit home.

I loved the character development in this book and the fact that a good portion of it takes place at a summer camp. This also reminded me so much of The Parent Trap which I found so fun and unique.

My favorite thing about Tweet Cute was how relatable and current it was and Emma continued that trend in her 2nd book. I think at this point it is safe to say that I will pick up any book she writes.

This was absolutely another home run by Emma Lord and I cannot wait to see what else she has in store for us in the future.

Thanks to Partner NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC of Emma Lord’s You Have a Match in exchange for an honest review. The book will be published on Tuesday, January 12.

I missed out on Emma Lord’s first book, Tweet Cute, but I’m definitely going to read it now. I could not have loved this second book, You Have a Match, more. It is such a brilliant YA read, dealing with friendships and romance and parental expectations and grief and identity, all wrapped up in a brilliant narrative that I found myself unable to put down.

As a sign of support, Abby agrees to sign up for a DNA test with her best friend Leo. Leo and his sister were adopted from the Philippines when they were tiny, and he has questions about his biological parents and his heritage. Abby expects that she will be there for Leo in case he discovers something unexpected. What she DOESN’T expect is that she’ll have her own discovery . . . she has a sister.

Abby, who’s the oldest of four children, is skeptical at first, but once she accepts that she has an older sister (Savannah, or Savvy), she can’t figure out what possibly could have happened with her parents.

Enter: Major Teen Angst. Or just Angst in general (because who wouldn’t be feeling that?!).

Abby is a previously successful student whose grades have plummeted since her beloved grandfather died. She has two best friends, Leo and Connie, although that friendship has become complicated after a B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) between her and Leo (clarity about that Incident is peeled back in layers through the novel). Her parents are trying to figure out how to help her, and so they decide to send her to a camp . . . that has an SAT-prep focus. It also just happens to be the camp where Leo and Savvy have been counselors together for years.

I’ll spare you any more spoilers, but there’s a fun, Parent Trap element that emerges as we see Abby and Savvy start to know each other and try to unravel the truth behind their pasts.

This is such a rich, well-told story, and I found Abby—and the secondary characters—to be strong, nuanced, realistic individuals. I just absolutely loved this book.

Title: You Have a Match
Author: Emma Lord
Genre: YA
Rating: 4 out of 5

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

I enjoyed this read quite a bit! It was kind of a riff on The Parent Trap, but only loosely. Abby was a lot of fun to read and the contrast between her and Savannah was sometimes glaring and sometimes funny. I enjoyed Abby’s growth and the friendships in this book were wonderful!

Emma Lord lives in New York City. You Have a Match is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 1/4.)

I enjoyed this! I loved the focus on relationships (not necessarily romantic), and Abby was a very compelling character and was fun to read about. I loved her chaotic approach to things and her passion for photography and her relationships with all her new friends. The characters were all fun and I loved at the beginning where the two halves of Leo's life collide with Abby, who also knows both sides but not how they both related to Leo, in the middle.

I thought the pacing was a bit weird, especially with the timeskips in the second half where we were expected to just understand that relationships had developed without seeing them. However, it wasn't a huge issue for me because I did like the characters and their relationships even if there were incongruities.

My major issue with this book was actually all the Harry Potter references and I hope those will be removed in the finished copy.

I think this was a great sophomore novel by Emma Lord.

I think this novel was as much about Abby & Savvy's relationship as it was about their parents. After a DNA match, Abby & Savvy find out they're sisters and decide to go to summer camp a la The Parent Trap. While at camp antics ensue, but they also learn more about each other. I really enjoyed the other campers, mostly Finn (he's a big marshmallow) and Mickey (I want to eat her cooking). Abby and Savvy also try to dig into what happened, why Savvy was adopted, how do their parents know each other, etc.

I enjoyed journeying with them through the rollercoaster of emotions they went through in the few weeks at camp. I didn't expect the reason behind the adoption or what followed afterwards with the parties involved. I did however guess what happened to the Bean Well and I have to say, I loved the outcome.

The only thing I missed from her first book was the banter between the love interests, but since this isn't enemies to lovers, I can't fault her for that. Speaking of love interests, I was thrilled to see Savvy as openly gay and that she didn't have to hide it from her "fans" on instagram. I also liked story between Leo and Abby. A true tale of miscommunication.

After signing up with her friends for a DNA testing service, Abby discovers she has a full biological sister living close by, just 1.5 years older than her. Together, they hatch a plan to go to the same summer camp together to figure out why Savvy was put up for adoption, and of course when she shows up, Abby discovers her best friend and secret crush Leo will also be spending the summer with her.

This was a really fun, heartwarming and entertaining story about building the bonds of sisterhood with a nice dose of angsty, “will they ever actually communicate?” teenage romance. I love the dynamic between Abby and Savvy and all the other friendships that wove in and out. It also had a really sweet, feel-good ending that I was so in the mood for at the time, and yes, I may have shed a tear or two, but let’s be honest, sappy gets me every time.

I absolutely loved Tweet Cute and this was such a solid second novel from one of my new favorite YA contemporary authors!

A young girl gets her DNA tested only to learn that she has an older sister. The drama that unfolds makes this a very believable story current to our day.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4 stars
This was my first Emma Lord novel and I’m very appreciative to NetGalley and Ms Lord for allowing me to read an advanced copy. You Have a Match is a very well developed, completely YA style coming of age for high school friends. The characters are alive and relatable, the plot is well rounded with drama, fun, flirting, and a mystery to unravel. A wonderful story about love and friendship and how the two really can’t be separated. I highly recommend this to younger readers that are just entering high school, interested in first love, or who just might have a crush on a friend.

5 stars. I am in love.
From the first paragraph, I was completely caught up in the chaotic friendship of Abbie, Leo, and Connie. I loved their dynamic from the start.
I honestly am struggling to find the words to properly articulate how much I enjoyed this book. I laughed, I got mad, I went through almost the entire emotional spectrum following Abby through the crazy summer. In the end I was not disappointed! It had everything- humor, mystery, slow-burn (but not cringey) romance, banter, and pranks. I mean seriously. I could go ON.
I like how all the characters were well developed and each got a spotlight moment that actually contributed to the plot. There were quite a few so I am super happy with the way everything tied up!
Overall, a must-read. This was such a fun journey and I am so thrilled for this to hit shelves in 2021!

This was such a great YA novel. Emma Lord is a fantastic author, and though this is definitely YA, it is written with maturity and grace.

Although there is a romance weaved into this story, it truly is about DISCOVERY. Your place in your family, amongst your friends, and of your self. And the discovery of your own self is so important in seeing how others see you. Sometimes we are blinded by our own inadequacies, too insecure about how we measure up to those around us that we can’t see our own talents.

I appreciated how Lord brought in loss, and the grief that can weigh on you in different aspects of your life. That grief can manifest in a multitude of ways, whether internal or external. And we have to be honest with those feelings or they will continue to eat at us until we are nothing but a shell of who we are meant to be.

I will admit that this book was a bit slow to start. But once I was pulled in, I had to see the end of Abby and Savannah’s story. And I would recommend this for anyone who enjoyed Lord’s previous novel, Tweet Cute, and fans of Emery Lord and Erin Hahn.

I really found this book to be so charming. I really loved how this book tackled parent trap with a twist. I also really liked abby as main character. I also love camp being the setting of this book, it reminds me of my time of working at a summer camp. I also really liked how this book focused on the both new friends but also sisterhood!!! It was a book that was just fun. I really liked the friendships that developed throughout the read. It also really liked leo as main character and all the others characters we meet. I also was invested and in the "Parent trap" Mystery. I loved the one year later last chapter. Def check it out, if you loved parent trap as kid or loved the unexpected everything, get ready to meet a new friendship group!

Enjoyable easy read. I would classify this more towards the middle grade fiction, apart from the language. Story is really predictable, and quite frankly the main character comes off exceptionally dim at some points. I really just wanted to slap her and go "are you really this dumb?" I feel like the whole Secret Sister part of the story got forgotten along the way, then suddenly had to be jammed back in at the last second.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for an opportunity to read You Have A Match

Abby decides to do a DNA test to only find out that she has an older sister. The girls decide to meet and then to solve the mystery their parents have been keeping from the, . They decide to attend a summer camp together ( in secret from their parents of course ), and Abby’s best friend and secret crush is also working for the summer at the camp.

I actually thought this was a YA Romance, just based on the cover and title but it’s much more than that. Yes there is romance, but this is really about Abby and Savvy and their blossoming sisterhood, family secrets and friendships.

A really fun read that was hard to put down .

I absolutely adore this author. Her contemporary voice is hillarious and perfect for the younger generations. A Meg Cabot for Gen Z if you will.

I liked the setup of this story a lot, my only concern was how they would handle the adoption aspects and ultimately I think it went over pretty well. I think a few of the explanations are a bit far fetched but also this is fiction. How can we possibly measure it to realistic?

The characters were lovely, the main character romance was cute and the secondary one was too. It dealt with real issues but in a definite fun rom com vibe. Would highly recommend.

I really loved Tweet Cute, Emma Lord's first book. You Have a Match, her latest YA novel is full of rom-com tropes, most of which hit the mark. I loved the premise, characters, and summer camp setting. This is a really fun book.

What I Liked:

Premise:

Even though sites such as Ancestry and 23 and Me have been great for genealogy, it has also, at times, caused tons of family drama. It's one thing to discover a long lost cousin, but when people get DNA tests, long lost siblings can also be found. When Abby learns she has a full-blooded older sibling, she is full of questions for her parents, and also has a sense of betrayal.

I enjoyed the whole premise of discovering one of your parent's secrets. One of life's milestones is the changing relationship between parents and children. When we discover that our parents are humans, that they make big mistakes and had lives before we came along, we can finally begin to relate to them as adults, and not just parents.

Characters:

Abby and Savvy may be long lost siblings, but they couldn't be more different. Abby is having a difficult year following the death of her grandfather. Her disinterest in school has her parents freaking out. Savvy, on the other hand, is extremely put together. Her whole life seems to be oneamazing Instagram post after another. But her picture perfect life hides anxiety and a need for control over everything. But both sisters feel extreme pressure from their parents. They've got a lot to learn from each other.

I also found Abby's and Savvy's parents to be extremely interesting. Learning about their younger selves and the why and how of Savvy's adoption are what really drive the plot of this book.

Summer Camp:

Who doesn't love a story set at summer camp! Think of every movie about summer camp, and you'll get a notion of what the book has in store for you. There are alliances, antics, camp traditions, and overbearing camp directors. This was so fun! The last part of the book has elements of The Parent Trap as both Abby's and Savvy's parents visit and the story of what happened all those years ago comes to light.

What I Was Mixed About:

Secret Crushes:

Both Abby and Savvy have crushes on their best friends. I don't know why this is such a popular trope. But I found the, "I want to tell them, but I don't want to lose my best friend" angst tiresome. There were a lot of the usual misunderstandings, and near misses leading up to the big reveal of whether or not Abby's and Savvy's crushes are returned.

I was expecting a light summer YA rom-com and came away with a much deeper experience. This book is about growing up and learning hard truths, making new friends, and also a little bit about summertime romance. I enjoyed reading this vaguely "Parent Trap" storyline and definitely felt lots of feelings in the last third of the book. The character growth for Abby is believable and all the characters in the book are relatable and well-fleshed out.

I received this book free from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

You Have A Match is loosely inspired by The Parent Trap... but there is a twist... This was such an incredible read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Abby is a junior in high school, a photographer with a keen eye and tragically and hopelessly in love with her best friend, Leo. When she takes a DNA/heritage test in solidarity with Leo who yearns to connect with his biological family, she is faced with the insane truth that she has a sister that she knew nothing about. A full blooded sister.

So, Abby decides to check this girl out. Savvy is something of an Instagram sensation and just so happens to want to meet up. Abby will attend a summer camp where Savvy is a camp counselor and find out what happened and why her parents gave her older sister up for adoption. She needs answers... Leo being another camp counselor is both a plus and a minus in this situation. She gets to spend more time with him, but it also stings that he knows Savvy so well already.

Savvy is nothing at all like Abby, and the two don't mesh so well at first, since Savvy is a rule follower and type a sort of gal and Abby is absolutely neither of those things. But, Abby soon finds that the camp isn't so bad... her sister isn't so bad and things with Leo maybe aren't what she thought. The cast of fun characters Abby meets at summer camp were great, especially another boy whom she instantly becomes friends with and gets into all sorts of mischief with.

When Savvy's and Abby's parents get wind that both girls are aware of each other and in the very same place, all hell breaks loose. But, at least one thing is for sure... the girls are determined to find out the truth.

This was great because it was so wonderfully full of heart. I loved seeing Abby and Savvy get to know one another. They are so very different, but they prove that means nothing when you are family. And just let me get to my favorite part about this book... Abby and Leo working through the fumbling awkwardness of feelings. The two have been best friends for as long as they can remember. They have always supported each other and been there for one another. But, when B.E.I. (big embarrassing incident) happens it puts their friendship in a weird place. Watching the two of them work through their feelings literally made this book for me.

This was a cute book but holds a lot of impacts.

DNA tests taken because of a camp turns into life changes.
High school age kids. This would be a good one for 15+

Adoption kids, kids with parents with secrets.