3.5 stars

With the popularity of ancestry DNA testing kits, some test takers have gotten unexpected results. I like how the author incorporated that into a story as the main character in this book finds out she matched with a sibling she didn't know existed. And of course learning something that big is going to have an impact on her life and seeing how the situation played out is what I loved most about the story.

Abby signs up for a DNA testing service mainly because her best friend, aka her secret crush, Leo, is doing it as well. Big shocker when the results indicate she has a sister named Savannah. This sister she never knew about goes by the name Savvy and is a semi-famous Instagrammer. So why was Savvy put up for adoption? Well, neither girl is quite ready to ask the biological parents or the adoptive parents all the details so they hatch a plan to spend time together at a summer camp to try and figure it out. And it just so happens Leo works as a chef at this same summer camp as well. What a coincidence.

I read the author's other book, Tweet Cute, and I ended up giving this book the same star rating although each book had different strengths and weaknesses. While I liked the romance in Tweet Cute, I thought this book lacked proper development when it came to her love life. I actually would have preferred if the story focused only on the relationship of the sisters and the family drama.

Normally I'm game for a summer camp setting (shoutout to The Baby-Sitters Club: Super Special #2!) but it didn't work for me in this book. There were minor characters and storylines at the camp that seemed pointless because they weren't fully fleshed out. Not to sound like a broken record but the family stuff in the story was great, but just about everything else needed some fine tuning.

Overall, I did enjoy this one even though it wasn't a perfect read. With romance not being the number one plot, I think the book best fits in the young adult fiction genre.

I think it’s safe to say that, with her sophomore release, Emma Lord has firmly established herself as a must read YA contemporary author. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Wednesday Books for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love all things YA, but, in truth, contemporary is just a tiny corner of my shelf. But authors like Emma Lord have me itching to grow that section of my library. She has an amazing ability to balance real life with a bit of just slightly far-fetched whimsy. And I love that her characters are multi-faceted and flawed. There was no unattainable perfection in her first book and You Have a Match is no different.

In You Have a Match, we follow Abby Day about to enter the summer before senior year. The past year has been rough following the death of her grandfather. Her grades have been slipping, her friendships are strained, and she might be falling in love with one of her best friends. But nothing could have prepared her for the massive curve ball that came with taking a DNA test on a whim. She has an older sister. An older sister her parents have never told her about. And Abby’s newfound older sister, Savvy, wants to meet.

I loved the premise of this book from the start, but it did take a solid third of the book before the story really started to take off. And then from about the halfway point on, I couldn’t put it down. There wasn’t a single character I didn’t love and several definitely pulled at my heartstrings in that “I remember what being 17 feels like” way. To me, a 36 year old with 4 kids, that’s huge part of what makes a YA contemporary good… making me remember what it felt like to be their age. Oddly, the thing I had the most issue with was the parents. The story behind Savvy’s adoption and the relationship between Abby and Savvy’s parents is the big secret of the book and in the vast overallness of it, I was fully behind that storyline. My issue was in the details. And I know that’s something that some readers won’t ever think about, but as the story started coming out I was just left with so many timeline questions that I couldn’t seem to reconcile in my head. That’s just a thing that bugs me. I couldn’t place how old everyone was and when the major events would have happened to match up with present day.

But, we’re really here for Abby and her journey to define herself, her family, and her future. It’s hard to break out of the normal we create for ourselves and grow into a new normal, a stronger normal, and You Have a Match really highlights that. I truly enjoyed taking that journey with Abby and her friends, through the ups and downs, the laughter and tears, the fights and love. Because all those things are real life and no story is complete with showing us a life with all of them. And a little bit of Parent Trap. Yeah… I said it (and loved it).

Great book for young adults who love realistic fiction! Brings up topics like belonging and identity that many can relate to.

If you like the movie the Parent Trap, then you will like this book. After reading about the camp, it makes me want to join.
This book follows two sisters that do a DNA test and find they are sisters and decide to do some more digging on why their parents never told them, there a year and a half age difference. Amazing book title, right?
Abby is a talented photographer, but she doesn’t share her work because the camera that she got was from her grandpa who died recently.
I read the authors previous book Tweet cute and thought that it was adorable. This was no different. This author made the perfect second book.
This book was more about family and friends rather then romance which was a nice break from the other books that I have been reading.

I enjoyed reading this book. It's a cute story with a really intriguing premise, and I love stories that have are part romance but also part interesting family drama. And family drama doesn't get more interesting than finding out you have a secret sister! This book is told from Abby's point of view, and overall I found her an interesting and relatable character. She's working through a lot of self-doubt and anxiety throughout the book, which is always a mood, but she's also sassy and creative and sometimes into pulling reckless but fun stunts. It puts her at some interesting odds with her newfound sister, Savvy, as the two are complete opposites in personality. Overall I love how genuine the characters in this story feel. Conversations and feel like the real people conversations and banter that we all have with our closest friends, and there is a fun energy about the book. It's got a bit of a Parent Trap vibe to it, which I enjoyed. There are very many pranks. Overall it's a fun time, and I enjoy Emma Lord's writing style.

At times I wished some things would have felt a little more dramatic than they ended up being. A lot of the stuff with romance in the book felt a little too convenient and didn't have enough drama in it to make me as excited about those moments, though there were also sweet moments that were enjoyable to read. As well, there was a lot of buildup around these family secrets and why Abby never knew she had a sister, but the reveal didn't end up feeling as big as I expected it to. Was it a believable situation? Yes. Did it feel like the families involved had made it a little overblown and were behaving out of proportion to the situation, a bit yes. It was still an enjoyable read, but I think I wanted a little more drama than I felt like I got.

That being said, I did like watching Abby and Savvy's relationship grow. It's interesting to think about how you would react if you discovered a secret sibling. Would you want to try and be friends? Would you feel hurt and betrayed? Would this feel like a cool new adventure? It's cool to see how one sister would handle this crazy situation, and if nothing else, it's a a cute, comedic and heartwarming read that will bring a little summer into your winter days. 3.75/5

When her best friend Leo asks Abby to take a DNA test like him, she agrees without thought. But when the results come back and show she has a full-blooded sister that she never knew about, Abby's summer is turned upside down. This was a cute read that reminded me of the camp part of Parent Trap in all the best ways. I loved Tweet Cute by Emma Lord and her follow up is just as fun. She's quickly becoming a go to YA author for me. (And I really want the recipe for lasagna balls- they sound delish!)

I loved the combination of romance and family stories that come through in this book—the setting is evocative, the sister relationship is nuanced and feels true to life, and the love story is sweet. Another great read from Emma Lord!

I enjoyed Tweet Cute and was eager to read Emma Lord's sophomore book. I'm happy to report that You Have a Match does not disappoint. It has the same fun, snappy tone as her first hit. Her characters feel relevant and relatable. The story centers around two girls who realize they share parents, but they have now known about each other their entire lives. At summer camp, they plan to figure out why.

Lord, Emma always makes me feel gooey.

Thank you thank you hold your applause, there will be more puns before this review is over. Emma writes inter-character relationships like no-one’s business. To quote myself: “There are some very complicated relationships going on.”These relationships are the ideal versions of themselves. Even when they’re messy, they’re an ideal sort of messy, everything wrapping up neatly and tied into a bow. But that’s not a bad thing! Sometimes you want a book that’s going to rip out your heart and stomp on it. Sometimes you want a book that’s going to sit you down at the kitchen table and tell you a story while you eat fresh cookies. You Have A Match is definitely the second kind.

So campy (in the literal summer camp sense) and fun! It’s got some parent trap vibes with a mystery twist and relationship drama, all with a dash of “haha I’m a young adult now, what am I gonna do with my life?” (which is a perpetual mood).

I’ll admit, I wasn’t as engaged in this romantic relationship as I was in Tweet Cute. The kids are adorable, but figuring out the whole ‘new sister’ thing took main stage (as it should), and I felt like the LI was a bit conveniently busy/complicated. When he was there though… phew. My heart. But again! The focus of this book is meant to be on the relationship between the two sisters and that is well developed.

As I consult the notes I took while I was reading… apparently I cried six? times? I honestly can’t remember why so much but I think it was just a lot of high emotion scenes that got me RIGHT in the tear ducts.

3.5 stars

This was a cute YA book that deals with secrets, friendships and forgiveness. A trio of friends, (Abby, Leo & Connie) are about to enter their summer and they all have plans - Leo will go be a chef at a summer camp; Connie is going to Europe with her ultra rich family; and it looks like Abby is going to summer school to make up for failing English.

Leo is adopted and desperately wants to find his family so he takes a DNA test. He convinces Abby & Connie to take it also to settle a bet between the two of them over which is more Irish. Leo finds no family members, but Abby does find out that she has a 100% biological sister that is only 1.5 years older than her. Her parents have never mentioned having an older child (they already have Abby plus her three younger brothers). When the sister reaches out to Abby to see if they want to meet, Abby is surprised that Savvy lives so close to Abby and also that she looks exactly like Abby. Savvy & Abby decide to not ask their parents about it, but to investigate this summer to receive answers to questions regarding their relationship.

What happens next is cute - it is funny at times, sweet at times and made me reminisce about my own teenage years.

Cute YA story - worth reading.

I was provided an ARC in exchange for an honest review. The opinions stated above are mine without biases.

This is coming out in January, so make sure you pick up a copy because this book was fabulous. Usually I go for straight up contemporary love, but this was so much more. This was about friendship, family and love. There were so many wonderful story lines with the main character. I feel like this was a really coming into yourself type of book.

It's hard to give a review where so much happens and you don't want to give anything away to future readers, just know that through this book I felt joy, happiness, anticipation, sadness, excitement and just so many feels that you truly feel like you've grown with the main character throughout her life experiences.

I really enjoyed getting to know Abby and Savvy. The two of them couldn't be more different but more the same. Also all their friends at camp the new ones, the old ones, all coming together it was fun watching their budding friendships. Camp, how fun does that sound? With all the camp adventures and hijinks.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters, the setting, the plot. It was all a really interesting read, something different but the same but still entertaining. Emma Lord, I appreciate your work and thank you and net galley for letting me experience them.

P.s. I heart Leo, he's adorable to the next level. So dedicated it's endearing.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved Emma Lord's 'Tweet Cute', so the minute I saw that she had another book, I had to request it.
'You Have a Match" doesn't disappoint. Abby Day has been spiraling from losing her grandfather, and, along with him, a photography partner, a friend, and his cafe. When her best (male) friend takes a DNA test, and convinces her to take one as well, she discovers an eighteen year secret that her parents have kept quiet-Abby has a biological sister-one who happened to take the same DNA test. After a meeting in the park, the girls decide that Abby will attend the camp where her sister, Savvy, is a counselor. Some hijinks ensue-but also tons of wonderful character filled moments for both girls-and some of their friends.

High School Best Friends Connie, Leo and Abby all get DNA tests together since Leo is adopted and is trying to connect with any biological family he might find. While Leo doesn’t get any hits, Abby ends up with a message from this girl named Savvy Tully who turns out to be her older sister that she didn’t know anything about. Savvy is a year ½ older than Abby and Instagram famous with a ton of followers. They meet up secretly the first time to just talk and get to know one another and realize after Savvy shows her a picture of her parents that Abby recognizes Savvy’s Mom from her parents wedding picture as a guest. They agree to meet up at Camp Reynolds over the summer so they can get to the bottom of why her parents never mentioned they had another kid and how they knew Savvy’s parents and what happened between them.

I really loved this book and it was a real fast great read. I really loved Tweet Cute and was so excited to request this book. I really loved how the different relationships were fleshed out at the camp and how much Leo/Abby were at odds with the misunderstanding they both were under about how much they actually liked each other. How much Savvy needed to let go and be more herself and less an Instagram robot and start actually engaging with her friends instead of being concentrating on Instagram building her “brand”. Abby finally realizing how much her photography means to her and showing her parents how serious she is about it and it wasn’t just something she did with her grandfather as a hobby. All in all, just a really great story and I really enjoyed reading it.

Thanks to St. Martins Press and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.

3 stars

_Tweet Cute_ is #socute, so I was thrilled to be approved for Lord's second book, _You Have a Match_. I expected to like this one even more since - along with the YA romance component - there's the addition of a fascinating sibling storyline. That is my jam.

The central situation here is that the main character - in support of a friend/potential love interest - connects with a DNA service. She finds out that she has a sister, and this comes as a *huge* surprise for a number of reasons.

The setup seems awesome: DNA service, surprise sister, potential love interest, summer camp and outdoor fun, and an author I already know I like. BUT, I found this so slow. Also, the sister plot is so much more interesting than the love story. I felt like my attention was unfortunately divided rather than that the ideas were complementary.

I will be really excited to read so much more from Emma Lord, but this one did not do it for me.

You Have a Match by Emma Lord is a surprising twist of events for two teenagers. Abby goes for a DNA test because her best friend and crush wants to see if he can find his biological parents. Only it has disastrous results. Abby finds out she has a biological sister she never heard of and her crush finds he has no matches in the DNA system. Both are bummed with the news. However, Abby's world at home is turning inside out and upside down and it's about to get a lot worse. I enjoy the quirky characters. They pop off the pages. Then, there's the humor. It's everywhere in this book which I like. Last, there a lot of action-pack scenes to keep my full attention. This YA novel by Emma Lord is my first book I read by her. I am impressed. There are some topics I don't like to explore but they were not overbearing and it worked out fine. Other than that, You Have a Match was a good read.

There are some nice surprises in this rom-com, beginning with the title. No, it’s not online dating, but the results of a DNA test that set the plot in motion. High school best friends Abby, Leo, and Cassie all get DNA tests together. Adopted from the Philippines, Leo is hoping the test might connect him with some biological family, but it is Abby who gets the real surprise. She has a full sister that her parents have never mentioned to her.

Sister Savvy is just a little older than Abby and lives nearby. Their secret first meeting leaves Abby feeling confused, inadequate, and full of questions. Savvy shows Abby a photo of her adoptive mother and Abby recognizes her from photos at a guest at her parents’ wedding. In order to get to know each other better, Abby manages to get her parents to send her to the academic prep summer camp where Savvy is a junior counselor.

Abby has been crushing on Leo but Connie has told her that Leo doesn’t feel the same way, so it’s a blessing and a curse to find him working at the camp - there was a camp name change so Abby didn’t realize they’d be together for the summer.

A main character who struggles with academics is an unusual twist; Savvy’s high achievement and confidence make it hard for the sisters to bond, and Abby continues to run hot and cold with Leo, but she becomes braver about sharing her beloved photographs and works with Savvy to bring family secrets to light. A satisfying romance.

A broken friendship, sisters separated.

A tight threesome childhood friendship gets messed up when Abby shows her feelings for one of them, a moment that instantly turns awkward. In an effort to return to the easy friendship they all shared, Abby makes every effort to pretend that nothing happened. That it's over and forgotten. Between that incident, normal high school drama, educational & parental pressures, Abby suddenly discovers that she has an older sister. When her sister contacts her through the DNA site, they decide to work together to find out what made their biological parents give up Savvy for adoption.

As exciting as it is to find a new sister, building an ongoing relationship with someone who is simultaneously so similar and so different from oneself is a disaster. Abby and Savvy's relationship feels so real. From the first awkward moments when they originally meet to the multiple times they end up standing on each other's toes and hate each other's guts, to the times they share the same hobbies and can laugh together like real sisters, their relationship is a journey of mixed emotions and occasional fun revengeful camp pranks.

There's no immediate happy family huggy reunion. There are major issues to work out between everyone's relationships. Not just the sisters learning to work and live together, but also their secret crushes, their own respective friendships, and of course, their parents' broken relationships. The multiple relationship issues combined with normal senior year finding oneself-ness were amazingly very well written and developed.

The story is also relevant for modern teens, particularly the subtheme of learning how to balance a public life on social media with taking the time to actually live in the moment. And Abby's personal journey, learning to speak up for herself, and taking the time to consider which direction she wants her life to go after high school. All told in a very engaging read.

And yes, this book is totally for fans of The Parent Trap movie.

I received a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was definitely a cute, light-hearted book. It leans more to young adult family drama versus YA romance in my opinion, and because of that I enjoyed her first book Tweet Cute better. It was harder for me to relate to the family drama that Abby was going through - losing her beloved grandfather, her parents becoming overbearing, and 3 crazy younger brothers, then throw into the mix finding a 100% related sister through DNA matching = lots of drama!

The writing isn't my favorite for a contemporary, but it was lighthearted. This book would make a good beach read. I would recommend.

Emma Lord is phenomenal at including current technology in the way she tells her stories. Tweet Cute highlighted Twitter, while You Have a Match takes a deep look at how teens are using Instagram, and even the affect DNA test results can have on our lives and the perception of ourselves.

You Have a Match is a great crossover between the Parent Trap and a YA summer romance! It does a wonderful job of telling Abby’s whole story by including all aspects of her life including family drama, love life, professional life, and how she perceives herself.

I am fast becoming an Emma Lord stan, and I cannot wait for more from her.