Review will be posted on Forever Young Adult blog on 5/6/24,

Cover Story: Color-Blocking

This is definitely a departure from all of the photo-realistic covers that have graced Matson’s past books (cartoon people strike again!). The bright colors are eye-catching, and the big heart certainly warns you “this is a romance!” Beyond that, I don’t have any strong feelings one way or the other.

The Deal:

I could have warned Darcy that going to a music festival as an introvert would not be A Good Time, but, alas, I didn’t know Darcy until she was already on her return trip, stranded at a Nevada bus stop and depressed that in just over 24 hours she’d be on a plane to college in Connecticut. With her phone dead, Darcy has to do the impossible: talk to a real human. Luckily for her, that human turns out to be similarly stranded and winsome Russell, a fellow LA teen whom she clicks with immediately.

The book follows them over the next twenty-four hours through quite a lot of revelations and emotions, and while it was clearly obvious what was going “on”, I’ll let the book reveal its secrets to you at its own pace (about 30% of the way in, if you’re feeling impatient as you’re reading).

BFF Charm: Eventually

BFF Charm with a sweatband on
I’ve met multiple Matson heroines, and they all tend to remind me of the same person with different details sprinkled in, so it’s no wonder that I both equally liked and found Darcy quite frustrating. Each girl usually has a “fatal flaw” she needs to work on, so there’s always measured character growth, which I appreciate, but there’s also moments I desperately want to shake the character by the shoulders until they finally Get It. Darcy has a self-proclaimed “black and white” sense of morality that makes her quite unyielding. It IS a very real teenage thing to have such a rigid moral code until it’s tempered by real life experiences, but once she learned the importance of “nuance” I think we could totally hang.

It’s another instance where I vibed most with Matson’s male lead, as she tends to write great, well-adjusted and thoughtful book boyfriends! Sa-woon!

Swoonworthy Scale: 6

Russell and Darcy have an instant connection, the kind that only seems to exist in movies, which Darcy is WELL aware of. She’s at once super into it and also on edge, waiting for the other shoe to drop. As a non-fan of insta-love, this shouldn’t be my jam, but Matson made me believe, and everything was juuuust charming enough that even if it felt a bit too good to be true, I was entertained enough to go with it.

Talky Talk: Classic Morgan Matson

Every time I open a Morgan Matson contemporary, I (an Old) begin to think, have I finally aged out of these thoughtful yet still light-hearted coming-of-age romances? They tend to start off feeling very innocent and fresh in a Sarah Dessen-y, early 2000s way that doesn’t quite feel “realistic” for our 2020s hellscape (or the scathing nihilism of Gen Z).

Soapbox time: Sometimes I do question if these YA books, many of which are being written by fellow Millennials—Matson is 42 per the Goog—ARE actually resonating with current 16- to 18-year-olds? Maybe these long-established YA authors ARE out of touch now, in a way they didn’t used to be in the early 2010s. On the flip side, I’m sure when I was a teen I was reading plenty of “older” authors’ perspectives, people who wouldn’t have related to me anymore, and yet I still found value in their opinions and they opened my worldview, so…I guess, ultimately, maybe it doesn’t really matter, and some things are universally cyclical…

All that to say, once I settled into Darcy’s story, I found Matson’s soothing, straightforward contemporary writing a refreshing balm to the dark romantasies and villain origin stories that seem to be “in” right now, and it reminded me of why, sometimes, you need a guaranteed lighter read with a happy ending!

Bonus Factor: Dogs
It wouldn’t be a Matson book without an adorable, loveable hound or two roaming about! One in particular, a Great Dane who is able to open doors and gets offended when you won’t sleep with him, was my favorite. Andy the escape artist would simply stress me out.

Bonus Factor: Celebrities
I’m torn, because #eattherich, but it IS fun to fantasize about what you’d do if you had access to practically unlimited funds and a fancy-ass compound.

Bonus Factor: Blended Families
One of Matson’s strengths is writing chaotic and often complicated familial bonds. As an only child, I related to Darcy’s quieter existence with her single dad and the kind of yearning she felt at seeing such a wildly different (and extroverted) family dynamic.

Bonus Factor: Musical Theater
Russell is a boy after my own musical-loving heart, although I gotta admit he was pulling out titles I haven’t seen or listened to (I’d consider myself a musical enthusiast but I am not a Theater Kid). Russell’s even trying to write his own musical, though he may be lacking some inspiration (…OR IS HE?).

Relationship Status: Let Me Sing Along (From Afar)

I’d be lying if I said I’d brave a music festival to stand at the front row of your concert and watch you play, Book. That just ain’t me. But if you want to wander around a small town holding hands and eating tacos, then I’m your girl.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. The Ballad of Darcy and Russell is available May 7, 2024.

I just couldn’t get into this one. The insta-love was super quick but lacked chemistry, everything was happening so fast, and the whole thing with Darcy having full conversations with friends that weren’t really there (just in her head) was a bit strange. Just wasn’t for me.

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

This was lovely.

I will say I wasn't feeling this book too much for the first quarter. It just seemed like a teen "Before Sunrise" and although the couple was cute, I wasn't sure how this premise was going to sustain itself for a whole book.

Thankfully there is a big shift around the 30% mark and then the book became great. More characters were introduced (including two dogs I LOVED) and we delved into deeper layers of this relationship. Thankfully due to a number of contrivances, we watch this couple go on multiple "dates" all in 24 hours.

I thought the author did a great job of capturing the complicated relationships young adults have with their parents right before they leave for college, how fraught the college search can be (it helped that my kid just did her own a year ago. I remember the angst well!) and how tempting it can be to fall for old romance tropes. Everyone wants their "meet cute" to be 100% magic, when there's always some mess in there under the surface.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was like an 80s/late 90s/early 00s teen romcom in a book form. In other words, this was a YA book that YA-ed so hard, and I just loved it. It was the feels from one of those throwback (eek, I cannot believe I just used that word for movies of my youth) that I loved.

Darcy and Russell meet each other at a bus station after a music festival. They're trying to make their way home with no phones, no money, and no idea what they should do next. So, they pair up, and a night of adventure begins. They find a unique connection as they go through the night. I don't want to say too much because so much of the fun of this one is what happens along the way, but y'all, trust me, that it's just delightful.

This was just such an enjoyable read and now has me wanting to go back and watch so many of my favorite romcoms to build on the energy of this book. Thanks to NetGalley for the early look at this May 2024 release!

I absolutely loved this young adult rom-com! Though it very predictable, I loved the Darcy and Russell’s relationship and how it evolved from a basic meet-cute to an everlasting love. Thanks to @simonandschuster and @morgamat for this wonderful ARC!!

I absolutely adored this one! It was such a cute read and I thought the twist was a lot of fun! The Ballad Of Darcy and Russell is a perfect book to pick up this summer!

I would highly recommend to anyone that’s a fan of Lynn Painters “Better than the Movies”

This was the perfect YA romance. It was sweet with a little angst, awesome supporting characters, and made me smile.

Morgan Matson could do no wrong I love her books endlessly! Darcy and Russell were so fun and I really liked their development! The few hours concept was interesting

An overall sweet story. Darcy and Russell are fun and Matson explores complicated family dynamics well.

Darcy believes in love at first sight. I, on the other hand, don’t. At all. Which is why I went into this with a bit of trepidation.

The book follows Darcy, who suddenly finds herself stranded at the bus station after a music festival. While trying to find an iPhone charger, she runs into Russell. He’s cute, he’s funny, he’s everything she could ever ask for, and the two of them spend a single, whirlwind day together — which makes Darcy feel like she’s finally living the rom-com life she’s wanted for so long. Until everything comes crashing down.

I was pretty lukewarm on this at the start because it really does start off as a pretty uneventful insta-love type of romance. I found it difficult to become emotionally attached to Darcy and Russell’s story when it seemed their relationship was little more than light-hearted banter.

And then. And then!!! We get to the 30% mark, and EVERYTHING changed. The twist is something I surprisingly didn’t see coming (I wasn’t thinking that much lol) but it completely changed the course of the book in a very good way. Suddenly, Darcy and Russell’s relationship felt much more high-stakes and real, and it became extremely clear: This is not a “love at first sight is real” type of book — it’s so much more than that. And I love a book that flips a trope on its head.

When the plot got interesting, so did the characters. Russell became much more than a manic pixie dream boy, and Darcy also seemed to become much more than the typical quirky female lead. I really enjoyed how much depth were added to the characters. The family theme is also really touching, and it manages to insert some well-timed humor and chaos while we’re at it. In the end I was pretty impressed at how mature the story was.

Overall, although it kind of had a slow start, I ended up really enjoying this one, and I think any other chick-lit or YA contemporary romance lover will too.

This book was so much fun to read. It's filled with everything you'd want in a YA romance: crazy adventure, adorable meet-cute, friendship, and dogs. Morgan Matson is brilliant at weaving in elements of family trauma and healing as well as making the transition between one stage of life for the next. If you liked Morgan's other books then you're sure to enjoy this one as well.

3.5/5 - I’ll be honest, I almost quit this one. I feel like I’m in a place in my life when instalove just doesn’t hit—especially between teenagers. But I made myself go until at least 25% to make sure I gave it a fair shot (and because I’ve really loved some of Matson’s other books). And I’m glad I did. The book took a turn that, while predictable, helped to move the story in another direction.

Darcy was fine as a main character. She seemed just very, very normal which I honestly appreciate way more than quirky/incredibly introverted/proudly geeky characters that have become more common. I didn’t love how her best friends have a running commentary in her head the whole time, but I understand their purpose.

Plotwise, it felt incredibly unrealistic that any parent would allow their child to attend a music festival on their own mere days before they’re supposed to fly across the world for college. And how did her dad not take time off to take her to college? But if any of those details were different, we would have no story and no ticking clock to create tension I suppose. It just felt like a very unrealistic situation all around.

Overall, I liked this book more than I thought I would based on the beginning. Matson always does a good job of creating fun groups of characters. Wylie is Steven Tyler and you can’t tell me differently.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

While I still really liked this one because, well, Morgan Matson, this one definitely is not my favorite.

Darcy is essentially stranded at a bus station after spectacularly failing at the end of a music festival. She has barely any money, her phone is dead, and no way to get back to LA in time to finish packing for college. For which she leaves the next day. A perfect storm. Enter Russel and a symphony of chaos.

Honestly, while I loved it because Morgan Matson, it felt too much like a Frankenstein's monster version of a lot of her previous books. No phones? Take Me Home Tonight. Russel wants to write musicals? Too much like the parents in Since You've Been Gone. Epic travel shenanigans? Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. No complaints per se, mostly an observation.

Thanks, NetGalley!

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC! I have enjoyed some her Matson books and decided to see how this one went and am happy to say I enjoyed it. Whole I think they both made some reckless choices in their whirlwind romance, I did enjoy the journey. Don’t we all want the romance we see in books and movies? I connected to Darcy in that way. Once we got to see Russell’s true self and his family, I think that sucked me in more. What almost ruined it for me was Darcy’s weird internal dialogue with her two best friends. It was just so bizarre and in there way too much. She had entire conversations with them, and I just didn’t feel like that even needed to be in there bc it made Darcy less of a strong character. I liked the connection she had with her dad and with Russell, and I thought their college stories played out and related well as well as their family dynamics. I always need characters I like and am rooting for, so I’m glad that played out. I love music, so that was also a nice addition. Not sure i found all of the ending realistic, but that wasn’t a deal-breaker for me. I think teens will enjoy the book as well. I read it pretty quickly bc I liked the adventure and wanted to see where it went. Overall, it’s a decent YA with some good messages. FYI some talk of sex and some profanity but not too much to turn people who are more conservative off, I don’t think. I would feel comfortable recommending it to my students.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of The Ballad of Darcy and Russell. As always, I fell in love with Morgan Matson's characters. This is a love story, but it's so much more than that. No one writes family dynamics and the growth, change, and nuance that comes with them quite like Morgan Matson, and I think that's what makes her books perennial favorites of mine. Though there was a bit of a lull for me in the middle, I think I have a definite subset of students who will be crazy for this book as well.

PS: I definitely need a soundtrack for this book.

First, let me just say that I was quite disappointed by the Disney-affiliated Promchanted that Matson released a month ago, as I felt as though it lacked her usual voice and tone. Therefore, I was worried the same would ring true for The Ballad of Darcy and Russell (which would have crushed me, as I have been reading her YA (and middle-grade) work since 2010). However, my worries were all for naught, as this is a fantastic addition to her works.

I am a sucker for road trips, unexpected adventures, and first love tales and The Ballad of Darcy and Russell has all of that and more. Even though I am well into adulthood, I never become frustrated with Matson’s characters, as the tweens and teens seem timeless, much less the experiences they have. I loved Darcy’s emotional journey and easily saw a part of my past self in her too. Matson’s writing is incredibly relatable and her ability to weave adventure and romance into a plot that also touches on human nature, flaws, familial relationships, and personal connections is simply put, continuously inspiring.

I cannot wait for her next entry.

Darcy decided to go on an adventure before heading off to college. She thought having a lousy time at a music festival was it, but really it doesn’t start until she is stranded a bus station with a dead phone and a cute boy. As a romantic, she has always believed in first sight, but never thought it would happen to her until now. She and Russell instantly click and conversation feels easier than it ever has. But of course, something has to go wrong!
I liked this love story and all the complex characters and their familial relationships. Too bad we didn’t get to know Darcy’s dad! The only thing that bothered me was the role of her twin best friends playing angel and devil on my shoulder in her head. Luckily, by the end of the story, Darcy realizes that this was not a good thing, too.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for this DRC.
#TheBalladofDarcy&Russell #NetGalley

Thank you Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Ballad of Darcy and Russell" by Morgan Matson is a heartwarming YA contemporary romance filled with themes of love, self-discovery, and the magic of chance encounters. The story immerses you into the characters’ lives and while the focus is on the romance, you also get to experience the complicated family dynamics of the different characters, making this book full of emotion and relatability. YA readers will definitely enjoy this book, especially older YA readers who may be able to relate to Darcy and Russell; fans of Sarah Dessen will also enjoy this book.

Darcy, a steadfast believer in love at first sight, finds herself stranded at a bus station on the eve of her college departure. It's here that she meets Russell, a charming stranger who challenges her beliefs and opens her eyes to new possibilities. As they spend a transformative 24 hours together, Darcy and Russell navigate the complexities of young love and the uncertainty of the future.

While I knew what I was getting into from reading the summary of the book (it literally mentions love at first sight and how the relationship between the two characters develops within 24 hours), I still didn’t really enjoy the insta-love at the very beginning. It just felt a bit cliché as the insta-love component had some cheesy moments that almost pulled me away from reading the book. Despite how the story may start off a bit rocky, it ultimately evolves into a heartwarming and engaging read and I found myself becoming more and more invested in the two characters’ relationship. I actually found myself enjoying the other drama in the book more than the actual romance. Matson's exploration of unconventional family dynamics adds depth to the story, grounding it in a sense of reality that you might find yourself relating to as you read the book, especially since you get to experience a medley of different family dynamics with both Darcy and Russell.

Despite the whirlwind romance, the characters' struggles and growth feel authentic and compelling, and I think that is because of Matson’s experienced storytelling. Matson's storytelling prowess shines through, capturing the essence of young love and the power of unexpected connections. I really enjoyed the ending of the book and how everything came together. While this isn’t one of my favorites from Matson, I still thoroughly enjoyed this reading experience.

Overall, "The Ballad of Darcy and Russell" is a well-developed YA romance that will leave you feeling uplifted and hopeful and maybe a little more believing in love at first sight, even if you are a skeptic. If you're in the mood for a YA romance with depth and heart, this book is definitely worth checking out.

I struggled a little bit in the beginning because I didn't really like Darcy. She didn't seem to be grounded in reality. Her fantasy of "true romance" and her unrealistic life expectations were hard to get through for me. But that changed pretty quickly. The beginning of the story set the stage to show her growth and maturity as she had to deal with things in life in new and different ways. It still retained it's romantic story line but it added a fresh dimension on learning how to make personal choices as you move on in life.
This was definitely a page turner and I really enjoyed all the relationships between the family members.
Enjoy!

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

As a near-lifelong fan of Sarah Dessen, this sort of thing would have been right up my alley when I was in middle or high school. It's a very sweet, nuanced coming-of-age story that ends on a high note. What's not to love?

I think older young adults will really enjoy this one. The specificity of the characters' interest and dialogue was a fun time. It felt very reminiscent of another soon-to-be YA classic, Eleanor & Park.

Darcy is looking to have one last hurrah at a music festival before she sets off to start her freshman year of college. In a failed attempt to reconnect with an old classmate, she ends up stranded at a bus stop with no money or way to charge her phone. As fun as it was to see the song she was named after performed live, it feels like her impulsive decision to attend this concert was a bad idea. Until she meets Russell, someone her age who happens to be stuck in the exact same situation she is.

Together, they embark on an adventurous 24 hours together, in which they both begin to question the validity of love at first sight.

For me, the whole "insta-love" aspect of this was its biggest weakness. There was a lot of physical chemistry represented in the first part (which would be best read by the more mature end of the YA-audience). However, once the story shifted away from that and the characters began actually getting to know each other, it was a much more interesting read. I especially appreciated reading about the complex family dynamics both characters came from, as I imagine that would be very relatable to this generation of readers.

All in all, this was a fun read that was paced well. Definitely reminiscent of both Rainbow Rowell and Sarah Dessen's work.