This was so utterly delightful, it has completely made my year. (Along with Taylor Swift dropping a cottagecore album less than a year after Lover, but that's a story for a different day.)

I am SUCH a huge fan of Emma Lord, her sense of humour and writing and characters and relationships and banter and and and EVERYTHING is amazing. I would read at least seventeen more books by her, place and thank you.
I really loved the story, the characters, the relationships, friendships, family dynamics, everything was so well done and so well thought out and so well executed. Leo and Mickey are my beautiful food baby angels, Savvy and Abby felt like sisters STRAIGHTAWAY HOW. and I loved the Phoenix cabin girls, and Finn, that precious weirdo. I wanted to see a little more of Connie, but I still loved the resolution between her and Abby.

I cannot wait to get my hands on a finished copy (2021 cannot come soon enough).

HUGEST BIGGEST thank you to Wednesday Books (YOU ABSOLUTE LEGENDS) and Netgalley for the eARC.

This was a lighthearted YA book about a girl who discovers by accident that she has a full biological sister. What follows is a Parent Trap-esque story with some humor and angst. The writing feels very current, with lots of terms and slang that are used right now but will feel very dated 10 years from now. Same with the references to social media platforms and current trends. But teens would enjoy this; the main character is likable and relatable. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an early copy of this book.

𝐻𝑢𝑔𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘𝑠 𝑡𝑜 𝑁𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑
𝑊𝑒𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑑𝑎𝑦 𝐵𝑜𝑜𝑘𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑚𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑒-𝑎𝑟𝑐 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑙𝑦 𝑖𝑛𝑐𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑏𝑜𝑜𝑘!

If I were reading the physical edition of this, instead of an e-arc, I would be hugging it right now. I fear I won’t be able to adequately convey how this book made me feel, but I will most certainly try, because this book deserves all the love!

This book you guys. I was expecting to love it, but I wasn’t expecting to completely and utterly ADORE it! I was not prepared for all the feels in this story.

I know I absolutely love a book when I’m thinking of all the gushing things I can say in a review before I’ve even finished it. I want to bask in the glory of this gorgeously crafted novel. I want to go to Camp Reynolds and interact with all these characters and breathe the fresh air and experience firsthand the love that is near to bursting there.

But this book isn’t all love and happy feelings. No, there is Drama with a capital D. This book is is like 180 degrees different than Tweet Cute, which I also absolutely adored. You Have a Match is deeper, more meaningful, more raw. It will have you feeling all the things, and then some.

My heart kept aching for Abby and everything she’s trying so hard to handle and understand. There’s Drama with her parents, with her secret sister, with the boy she loves. She feels inadequate when faced with all of these relationships, but that does not stop her from working so hard to make things work. I love this girl so much, her bravery, her awkwardness, her inability to truly see herself, her love for family and friends and potential family and friends.

Even though the Drama seemed a little over the top (do things like that even happen? I suppose they probably do.) all of the characters were full of such authenticity. I could imagine each of these people being real.

I don’t want to say anything about the plot or anything, because this story needs to be experienced and not told. You need to go into this book knowing nothing but the book synopsis so that you can be surprised by the depth and beauty portrayed in this expertly written story.

Oh, the writing. This is what gave all this beauty the ability to shine. There are SO MANY memorable quotes that I want to write down and share and live. But this is the arc and I’m not supposed to share quotes from here because things can change before it’s done being edited. But darn it things had better not change! (Expect maybe the over-used variations of the usage of “there was a beat” and “she deadpans.”) The writing was just so beautiful and near lyrical but not so poetic that people who don’t like that writing style wont like it.

Have I convinced you to read this book yet? What more will it take? I know, how about knowing how much this book made me smile stupidly, and cry in happiness, and my heart warm with every sentence and every thought Abby has. READ THIS BOOK! If you love YA contemporary, READ THIS BOOK! If you love deep, meaningful stories of love and hope, READ THIS BOOK! If you love being happy, READ THIS BOOK!

Did I mention that The Parent Trap was my favorite movie for the longest time when I was younger? No? Well this book makes me want to rewatch it again.

You Have a Match follows the journey of two teenage girls who live very close to each other, how they try and understand their history together, and diving into complicated territory with their parents while they have their personal and relationship drama.

Emma Lord's writing of YA is really refreshing, and I'm so glad I was able to read this work of hers! I think I liked Tweet Cute for its uniqueness and the development of the main pairing, but this book felt more full in the way that the characters got to know each other through their shared experiences.

The vast majority of the characters were so likable, which made me more inclined to get invested in their storylines, big or small. I loved that the pacing was so good as well. There was always something happening, either directly or behind-the-scenes, and I never found myself checking the clock or my reading progress because I just liked the writing so much.

What's probably less traditional of YA is the lack of complete emphasis on the romantic aspirations of both of the sisters. It's definitely a theme for both of them throughout the novel, but the family-centered issues and the getting-to-know you parts were much more consistently in focus.

Even still, I found the romantic relationships to be really cute! Predictability in general was off-the-charts, but there's just something about the wholesomeness of someone getting an ending that is so satisfying for them. The chemistry in general between all of the major characters was very vibrant as well, so infinite points there.

My one complaint would probably just be the whole "big reveal" moment. I felt like it was lacking in emotion, just kind of like an information dump that the author had been building up to but didn't necessarily explore the full extent of. Oh, that and the exaggeration of Instagram culture. It was out of touch, almost, in the way that some of the side characters in particular treated the app.

But this solidifies my hope in Emma Lord! Will be keeping an eye out for her further works, and I'm so thankful to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the lovely ARC!

I really liked this book, for me it was a very fun summer read. So, if you loved tweet cute then we will like Emma Lord’s newest release. I thought it was a very fun read and if you are a fan of a good coming of age with a mix of romance and the heart of family then this one is for you.

Abby takes a DNA test on a whim when her best friends Leo and Connie take them. Leo is adopted and was hoping to find out more about his birth family. But Abby is the one who gets a shock. She gets contacted by someone named Savannah who is her full blooded sister and is only 18 to Abby’s 16. Savvy knew she was adopted but Abby never knew that she had a sister. When Savvy asks to meet Abby, they find that they live very close to each other.

Savvy is somewhat famous on Instagram. Abby loves taking pictures.

Abby is in love with her best friend Leo but has never told him because her friend Connie told her that he doesn’t have feelings for Abby. Things have been awkward between them since and Abby doesn’t know how to act around him right now.

After meeting Savvy, the two girls decide to meet up at a summer camp. Savvy is someone working for the camp and Abby will go for SAT prep. Abby’s parents don’t even question why she wants to go, they’re just thrilled that she’s taking academics so seriously.

The two decide to spend the summer getting to the bottom of the story. Why did Abby never know about Savvy? Why was Savvy even put up for adoption? Savvy was told that her biological parents broke up before she was born. But they had Abby very shortly after giving her up.

And on top of everything else, it’s somehow slipped Abby’s mind that this camp is the very same camp that Leo works at every summer.

Things are about to get interesting!

I only recently read this author’s book Tweet Cute, so I was quite excited to find this on NetGalley and to get a chance to read it.

I really enjoyed it.
I think the way the adoption mystery was explained was great. I liked the characters and their journeys and I enjoyed the way the story wrapped up.

"I just took a DNA test, turns out I 100% have an older sister."
Well, that's the Lizzo-style review, but there is a lot to unpack when one discovers their parents have been hiding a gigantic secret in the shape of an older, influencer sister who knows your best friend from camp. So what do you do? You get yourself to that camp, even if it means on bailing on mandatory summer school. But then your parents find out. So they show up at camp. But only when confrontation happens can the healing begin. And facing things head-on, once you take this approach, can make all the pieces fall into place.

Super cute and fun read that is perfect for the summer! Loved Tweet Cute by Emma Lord, and might love You Have a Match even more. Loved the story, loved the characters and loved the easy flow of this cute story.
Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Emma Lord now has a brand of romcoms: adorable flirtatiousness among total and complete dorks. With delicious food. And snark.

I loved Tweet Cute, and I love You Have a Match. When teen photographer Abby takes a DNA test and finds out she has a secret sister who lives 30 minutes away, her whole world is turned upside down. Why did her parents hide this from her? Why is she now hiding it from Leo, her best friend who she is totally in love with? And why does her new sister seem like her polar opposite in every way?

This story is full of scheming, pranks, secret crushes, passion for hobbies, and legitimately great friendships. Teens are going to eat this up.

This is a fun, romantic, quick read that young adults and adults will enjoy.
The story line is engaging, dealing with relationships and family.
Readers will love it.

Yup, I definitely love Emma Lord novels! This was just as good as Tweet Cute, but brought a few tears to my eye at the end. The whole Parent Trap with a twist was a good plot device, better than I was worried it would be. And I loved the LGBTQ representation she threw in totally casually as well as the diversity of the characters! So well done, because they weren’t in your face; just normal characters who happened to be Asian or gay!!!

This book gave me Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix vibes, purely based on the level of angst. So. MUCH. ANGST. I have read a lot of YA and teenagers have many feelings - but in the case of You Have A Match, it made it hard for me to enjoy the story thoroughly. The novel follows 16 year-old Abby, who is very bad at school and very good at injuring herself and taking photos. Abby discovers she has an older sister after taking a DNA test, which her parents (the biological parents of both) have never mentioned. Savannah (Savvy), an instagram obsessed, type A personality, was raised only miles away from Abby. The girls end up going to camp to connect and figure out why their parents hid this from them (cue: The Parent Trap references), and hijinks ensue.

There are several other characters, including Leo, an adopted Filipino boy who was trying to find his bioparents - it doesn't happen for him (not a spoiler, happens in the first few pages), but it's a great foil for the white protag to find MORE family. Abby and Leo may have almost had a moment, and are trying to navigate their friendship amidst being together at camp and figuring out the mystery that is her family (he is also constantly cooking delicious sounding food). The will-they-or-won't-they is very drawn out, so if you don't like to be held in suspense, this might not be the romcom for you.

I'm not sure if Lord's background involves adoption (mine does not), but there was something about this that made me a little uneasy. I think it was the fact that the story is told from the one character that grew up with her biological parents, while we don't directly hear from the two adopted characters in the book. Both of their family lives appear to be much simpler in comparison to Abby, who is constantly doubting her place in her family (as I suspect, many teenagers do!). The ending reveal of why the girls were kept from each other didn't seem realistic nor earned, but maybe I'm overthinking it!

This book was not for me but I do think it has lots of aspects that could appeal to other readers, including queer rep, a cute camp setting, challenging family dynamics, and teenage romance. Thanks to NetGalley for the early review copy, all opinions are my own.

Based on the cover and title, I thought this was going to be a camping/tinder love story. But no, it's a modern take on The Parent Trap; a preposterous and evil story if you think about it for more than two seconds.

This didn't work for me. It was Abby lying to her friends, her parents, herself, her newly found sister, and again to her friends and family. (And I count lies of omission as lies as everyone should). The whole book is Abby lying. I wanted bad things to happen to her to make right all the lies. This might be the root of The Parent Trap story, forcing characters to lie to one another in order for this drama to work. It just didn't sit well with me.

Trying to fit The Parent Trap narrative made a few plot points feel forced, like Savy and Abby fighting at camp, or them not doing the blatantly obvious thing: ask their parents what happened! Why do they go sooooooooo long not asking the people who could easily answer the question? This isn't a spoiler if you've seen The Parent Trap, it's the crux of the story.

BUT, if you are still thinking of reading the book, just know the supporting characters are amazing and the descriptions of food will make you want to cook lasagna balls (whatever those are).

3.5 stars. High schooler Abby takes a DNA test on a whim, and is surprised to get a message from a girl that the DNA site says is her full sister. Abby and Savannah meet up and realize that their parents--birth and adoptive--have been keeping some pretty big secrets for their whole lives. The two decide to investigate and find out the truth, while also spending the summer together at camp. Coincidentally, also the camp where Abby's best friend and secret crush, Leo, will be working as a cook.

This was an interesting premise, but I definitely have some lingering questions after reading. No spoilers, but the truth turns out to be kind of far-fetched, and the behavior of all adults in this story is questionable.

The summer camp story has a nostalgic vibe, and the Seattle setting is evocative for anyone who's been there.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review.

I absolutely adored this book. After reading Tweet Cute last year, I had to request an ARC of this and I absolutely loved it. Savvy & Abby’s relationship, Maggie & Pietra’s relationship, the Leo storyline, the heart wrenching Poppy storyline. It was amazing. Will tell everyone to read it! Thanks for the opportunity to read!!

Perfect for fans of The Parent Trap! This is my first book by Emma Lord and I am ordering Tweet Cute immediately. Abby signs up for a DNA service only to shockingly discover that she has a secret older sister. Savannah is the opposite of Abby, a control freak who must always have everything in order. Abby follows Savannah to summer camp to discover who she ended up being put up for adoption.

You Have A Match is about family, friends and romance. It’s a sweet young adult novel with a summer camp backdrop. I am a sucker for a summer camp setting so this book was perfect for me. My favorite storyline was about the sisters and the way they were able to connect over the summer. The romance took a back seat in this novel but there was a cute slow burn romance between friends. I especially loved the satisfying ending! During her time at camp, Abby establishes strong friendships and really evolves as an individual. You Have a Match was filled with all the best things about summer camp in your teen years. I couldn’t stop smiling while reading this and highly recommend to fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Dessen and Jenn Bennett.

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

Our story begins with three lifelong friends: Leo, Abby, and Connie, who agree to all take a DNA test. The set up is silly and fun as you can gather from the books description—a long lost sister and a summer camp romance.

Abby is our narrator, and the book is written in first person which was fun because I realized I haven’t read a fiction book from a first person perspective in a while. I also haven’t read any YA books that are “rom coms” since I was a teenager—I usually stick to fantasy when I dabble in YA fiction. It was so fun to be in the head of a modern 16 year old because she is dealing with a lot of the same worries and concerns (making out and passing the SATs) I dealt with at sixteen but with the addition of social media.

I think the positive spin this book puts on how teens can utilize Instagram in a healthy was really nice, as were the sweet camp friendships Abby builds. I also love that it normalizes romantic relationships between girls, I could have used a lot more of that in my books as a teenager.

The main romance was a little contrived at first for me. There were a lot of highs and lows in it that didn’t quite create the sweet magic of a summer romance at first, but it totally warmed up. I was much more interested in the friendships and family relationships in the novel, and loved how Abby grew as a character.

This book has some swearing in it which I guess I forgot you were allowed to do in YA books even though I definitely dropped the f-bomb at 16 too. I personally love some well placed curse words and I would recommend this for an older teenage crowd. I imagine myself at sixteen totally loving this book.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As soon as I saw that Emma Lord had a new release, I knew that I had to read it. As someone with a background in biology, I loved that genetic testing played a huge role in kickstarting the secret sister portion of the plot - it definitely leant a more modernized feeling to the Parent Trap parallels. And unlike The Parent Trap, the sibling plotline felt very realistic: it was messy and filled with tension, and I loved watching both Savvy and Abby's relationship and their relationships with their parents grow and change.

You Have a Match also excelled at its romantic relationships. They were slow-burn and filled with yearning, and the payoff was incredibly sweet. Finding the courage to tell any crush that you like them is tough, and doubly-so when they're your best friend; Emma Lord perfectly captured the earnestness, care, and awkwardness that comes with this.

I was lucky enough to go to summer camp as a teen, and You Have a Match made me very nostalgic for those days: the strong but seasonal friendships, adjusting from camper to counsellor, and all the pranks. It was such a fun setting, and the perfect place for a summer of discovery.

As expected, You Have a Match delivered on the tasty-sounding food front. Secret additions of cinnamon to lasagna balls and lots of Cheetos made for intriguing meals, and I wish recipes were included so that I could try them all.

Overall, You Have a Match solidified Emma Lord as an auto-buy author for me. It was so sweet, and I can't wait to reread it while consuming all the cinnamon-flavoured snacks.

This was a delightful read! I enjoyed the bit of suspense in figuring out the true story behind the separation/adoption. The relationship between Abby and Leo played out nicely over the course of the book and the addition of the supporting characters added to the story. I felt like the end of the book wrapped together nicely but did leave me hoping for a sequel to hear more!

4.5 stars. This was so cute and heartfelt. It’s so crazy to me the ways different contemporary authors utilize their ~300 pages. All the characters felt so fleshed out, and there were a lot!

I love books about family, and about found family, and this book is about both PLUS a found family who is actually family. I like how the author made this book equally about romance and about family - it didn’t feel like either side of the story was skimped on to make it work.

This is just a story about a messy girl who has a messy summer and makes great friends and gets to know her sister and herself. There’s great open communication, even if it was long overdue, between Abby and her parents. Abby’s best friend, who isn’t even at the summer camp the story takes place at, is still a fleshed-out character. I think there’s a lot of authenticity in this story and it makes it really fun.

I wish this story was more racially diverse. Not quite everyone was white, but nearly everyone was (I honestly could have missed it in people’s descriptions though - that’s one of my weak spots.) There was wlw representation, though, and a *possibly* asexual character.

My other gripe is HARRY POTTER REFERENCES IN MODERN YA. Please, for the love of god. There are other books that exist. There were Shakespeare references in here that were WAY more fun than the old Harry Potter ones. I’ve seen Gen Z ruthlessly mock millennials on tiktok for obsessing over Harry Potter and we still can’t go 300 pages in a book FOR THEM without mentioning it?

Culmination of my constantly mounting Harry Potter disdain aside, I really enjoyed this story and the main character’s growth and development over her summer at camp, and I’m already looking forward to the next Emma Lord story.