This was a highly enjoyable and quick read! The premise was interesting and a great set-up for some interesting character studies. The relationship between the two sisters was highly believable in its complexities and how it developed.

Overall, it is a nice follow-up to the author's previous book.. Highly recommended!

was surprised how much I ended up loving this book. At times Savannah and Abby's relationship annoyed me, but there were so many heartwarming moments in this story that I got over that. The way that everything ended was just perfect and hit me right in the feels.
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Also, I wanted the tension between Leo and Abby injected right into my veins. I absolutely loved the drama of it. It gave me life. And Abby's a better person than me because I would have had beef with Connie for a long time.
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Overall, this was a fun story, and I would give it a read if you love camp settings and secrets that blow up.

I really enjoyed You have a match much more than Tweet Cute. There was some romance but I liked how it wasn’t the main feature of the story. There was more stuff about the siblings and their relationships more and I really liked that.

You Have a Match definitely had Parent Trap vibes except it was more modern. I loved that it gave me those vibes, it also struck me a bit unique because of that.

You Have a Match was a four star rating. Thank you publishers and Netgalley for giving me the chance to read and review this. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

After taking a DNA test, Abby discovers she has an Instagram-famous sister. They agree to meet without telling their parents and end up going to summer camp to spend more time together. Unbeknownst to Abby, her best friend (and crush) Leo is there as a chef.⁣
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If you’re looking for a character-driven contemporary dealing with family issues and a little bit of romance, this could be for you!⁣
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WHAT WORKED FOR ME⁣
Lord’s characters are so influenced by their hobbies (photography for Abby and cooking for Leo), but they are also more than just that. We see their different sides from the grief and internal struggles they face. The summer camp setting was perfect—the sneaking away, the pranks, all your typical shenanigans!⁣
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WHAT DIDN’T WORK FOR ME⁣
With the plot, I felt like there were too many big things going on all at once. We have Abby and Savannah’s new-found sister relationship, the family drama between their parents, the “will-they-won’t-they” between Abby and Leo, and more—all of these different subplots fought for my attention and none of them end up fully satisfying. (I found that this happened with Tweet Cute, Lord’s debut novel, too.)⁣
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Even so, I still want to read everything else Lord writes in the future!⁣

Rating: 3.5 stars
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Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review You Have a Match.

Is it too early to claim a favourite book of 2021? Because I've found an absolute winner in this delightful twist on The Parent Trap!

Recently I've come to the understanding that I don't dislike YA contemporary ... I'm just picky. The voice, the characters, the story as a whole and broken down into its components--everything needs to work for me or else I can't get into it. Emma Lord snuck into my heart with her laugh-out-loud funny debut Tweet Cute and now she's taken it over with her sophomore novel, making it clear she's one of the best contemporary writers out there right now.

You Have a Match is an absolute joy to read from start to finish. It is somehow both hilarious and heart-breaking and contains so much depth and love and teenage relevancy to make it an instant classic. As a big fan of the film The Parent Trap growing up, I was enchanted by the parallels in this book. Abby takes one of those DNA/ancestry tests on something of a dare, but as the oldest of four, the last thing she expects to learn is she has an older sister living a few neighbourhoods over! What ensues is a tale of friendship and sisterhood as these two try to figure out why Savvy was adopted by the best friends of Abby's parents. And yes, it's exactly as interesting, endearing and shocking as you could hope.

Abby and Savvy are polar opposites of each other, and yet have been on the fringes of each other's lives the entire time. Abby is a daredevil of a kid, constantly hurting herself in skateboarding or climbing trees. She enjoys photography, but is too shy to share her photos with her loved ones. School has been rough since Abby's grandfather died, and all the tutoring she's being forced into doesn't help either. Savvy, on the other hand, is Instagram perfect. She is a big social media wellness influencer who grew up with hypochondriacs as parents. Rules are not meant to be broken, and they keep Savvy well put together at all times. They are a year and a half apart and the way they knock heads as they try to figure the other out felt so ... sisterly. It truly reminded me of myself and my own sister, since we are so similar and yet agree on so little in terms of life choices and tastes. And yet despite their differences, there's always been a connection between Abby and Savvy in Leo, Abby's wonderful best friend and unrequited crush.

This may be Abby's first year coming to Camp Reynolds, but Savvy and Leo have been coming every single summer. Only this time, Savvy is a junior counsellor and Leo is working in the kitchens, and both make things complicated for Abby as she tries to navigate the summer. I adored the setting for this book. I went to the same camp for six years growing up so it was easy to piece this place together with the fond memories I have. It made this book so much more accessible and difficult to put down, because it felt like a tiny piece of my own teenage self.

Without a doubt, I will now read anything and everything Emma Lord publishes (and the next one looks like a Mamma Mia retelling?!) She has such a knack of writing such relatable characters in a modern age, and she appears to do so effortlessly.

You Have a Match is about a group of friends: Abby, Connie and Leo, who take a DNA test to analyze more information about their backgrounds, but get this - Abby has a full biological sister, Savannah. This book revolves about Abby working through her new relationship with her sister, her crush on Leo, her grades - all while attending summer camp.

I loved this book because Emma Lord brings in such relatable topics, feelings and situations a YA would go through. The chapters were easy to read, and I found myself laughing out loud at many parts.

If anyone is looking for a quick, nice, fun-to-read novel, this is the one!

This book was so, so adorable! I flew through it and I really enjoyed Savvy, Abby, Leo, Connie, and the rest of the summer camp gang. Lord has created really lovable characters in this Parent Trap-ish style - and everyone knows the best part of the Parent Trap is the summer camp scenes! I loved that the love story between Abby and Leo was developing alongside Abby and Savvy's discoveries about their families, and while the parents in this book infuriated me occasionally, it was a highly adorable story.

Sister stories FTW. This was such a delight to read, Emma Lord has cemented herself as a go-to contemporary author for me. Lord continues to craft witty dialogue and clever relationships that feel so real, you can't help but fall in love with the characters. Abby and Savvy's unexpected relationship was a joy to follow - the whole complicated mess is a bunch of ups and downs that keep you turning the pages. And I really loved the camp setting - it screamed summer and made me miss the outdoors (#QuarantineLive). If you're looking for a book to give you some major Parent Trap vibes - and let's be real, who isn't - then look no further.


I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

The story itself was boring, but worse than that was the representation of adoption. The representation that it's okay to pressure birth parents into relinquishing their rights and then mistreat them and block them from having a role in their child's life is outdated, unethical, and should have no place in YA fiction. This book would have benefitted from a sensitivity read from an adoptee or birth mother.

This is a young adult book that has some teen angst, family drama, romance and summer camp. I had not read this author before and I did like the characters she created. There were some typical characters and also some fresh ideas for characters as well. Some of the characters seemed like placeholders and didn't help the story move along. It took place at summer camp which is something I like to read about. The story started a little slow, but picked up about a third of the way in. There were a few different storylines, but I thought the family drama surrounding the DNA testing was the most developed. It was a good book, but I am probably not in the target audience. Young adults or people who have young adult as their favorite genre would probably like this one even more!

Abby only signs up for a DNA test to help her friend (and secret crush) Leo. But when the results come back, it's not Leo who gets a surprise, it's Abby. Apparently, she has an older sister. And not a half sister, but a full-fledged sister. A sister who just happens to be beautiful, polished, Instagram star, Savannah "Savvy" Tully, who is only a year and half older than Abby. Neither Abby or Savvy can figure out how this happened, so they hatch a plan. They'll both attend summer camp at Camp Reynolds, where they can learn more about their parents and each other. But they quickly learn that they are very different: Savvy is a rule follower who is addicted to her Instagram and follower count. Abby is more go-with-the-flow. And, of course, there's Leo, who turns up at the same camp. How on earth will Abby negotiate her newfound sister, her secret crush--oh, and the fact that her parents will soon realize she lied about going to camp?

"Normal isn't having a big, stupid, ridiculous crush on one of my best friends, especially when he most certainly doesn't have one on me."

So, this is a good book, but I have to admit that I was disappointed because it wasn't the same as TWEET CUTE. I absolutely loved that YA romance, and while this is an interesting read, it just didn't have the romantic twang of TWEET CUTE. It's probably not fair to compare the two, but I couldn't help it. MATCH focuses less on romantic chemistry and more on Abby finding her way/coming of age and meeting Savvy, her "new" sister.

I actually liked the sister piece overall. The DNA twist is different (rarely do we get full siblings!) and there's also a nice LGBTQIA relationship thrown in. But, I never felt like Abby and Leo's relationship fully gelled. It just didn't feel as fun and flirty as I wanted. And, much of the book's plot is propelled by misunderstandings. At some point, it got to be too much: if some characters had just spoken up, so much could have been avoided! There's so much going on--the sister aspect, romance, secrets, etc. At times, it feels like the plot is struggling to contain them all.

Still, there's a lot to enjoy about this story. Don't get me wrong at all. The camp setting is a lot of fun, and Abby and Savvy are both great characters. Watching Abby develop is rewarding, and there are plenty of humorous and tender scenes as the sisters get to know each other. Even though MATCH didn't meet my TWEET CUTE expectations, it's an enjoyable read. (I judge romances on whether I'll get a copy for my SIL and this one passes the test.) 3.5 stars.

I almost dnfd because of the first half. I was just not liking the characters and I didn’t feel like the writing flowed well. But I persevered and ended up really enjoying the second half. The characters were better and the plot really progressed I ended up devouring the second half I was addicted

I am glad that I picked this one to read right now. It was a very quick read but had some real depth to it. Abby takes a ancestry test and finds out she has a full blooded sister in the world, an older sister she didn't know existed. While still reeling from the loss of her grandfather and a little incident with her best friend and heartthrob Leo, she meets up with Savannah. Savvy, as she is called and also on her Instagram page where she is quite popular, tells her to go to the camp that she is counseling at. Abby lies and wriggles her way in and things go completely off the rails. Leo cooks at the same camp so she is dealing with that. She is dealing with how Savvy acts at camp but she also finds herself blossoming. Then the parents find out.....

I really liked how Abby changed and figured herself out as time went by. There were a few times her attitude and anger were a little too much. She did realize it herself though. I loved the friendships between all the teens and I also had a lot of emotions (i.e. tears) when all was said and done. A very enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's for a copy of this book.

Emma Lord writes with a fantastic, authentic teen voice—I loved that aspect of Tweet Cute and it remained one of my favorite parts of You Have A Match! This was such a fun, fresh story. I loved the summer camp setting, and the mix of a poignant family story with a romance. It beautifully captured a lot of the complex feelings of being young and figuring out who you are and how you relate to others. I loved it and look forward to more from Lord!

It’s no surprise that after the delicious success of Emma Lord’s Tweet Cute, that her sophomore novel would be highly, highly anticipated with several expectations among readers. Following teenage protagonist Abby, the story is sort of a Parent Trap-esque situation complete with a summer camp setting and pulling the wool over their parents’ eyes. While I overall enjoyed the long lost sister and unearthing a troubling past elements of the story, they did feel a bit clumsily handled at times, crowded in among more juvenile situations and writing.

There were so many compelling, excellent, and almost hard to read moments in You Have a Match that kept me eagerly turning the pages. It’s so surreal to think about how technology and DNA testing can unearth family secrets that just a few decades ago would have stayed long buried, and Abby goes through exactly this situation when she discovers she has a full biological sister (Savvy) who’s only a little over a year older than her. Chipping away at the layers of the mystery was simultaneously satisfying and heartbreaking, from seeing the hurt and agony the situation caused both sets of parents to Savvy and Abby having to reconcile how their lives both could have turned out so incredibly different if their parents had made different decisions. The truth was unveiled slowly but Lord took some wild twists and turns in the story that were very compelling.

However, aside from the family drama I found the book to not hold the same charm or compulsive readability that Tweet Cute had. Abby felt immature and read more like a pre-teen to me than anything else, and her juxtaposition with Savvy’s compulsive “perfection” made both characters feel a bit like caricatures. While Lord deftly integrated social media use as in her previous novel (this time Instagram instead of Twitter) and even went so far as to have Savvy be a huge Instagram star (with more than 1 million followers, which is quite large for a social media/wellness influencer who was not previously a celebrity) I felt like it was a missed opportunity to delve into the nuances and darker side of influencer life. I also wanted more of Abby’s friendships to be more fleshed out, especially since the catalyst for the book is her friend Leo, who is adopted, wanting to find potential relatives since he feels so disconnected from his Filipino heritage. Yet after an initial conversation about his feelings at the beginning of the book, it’s never addressed in much depth again.

Overall: You Have a Match has a compelling premise with a deep and emotional family story. It also showcases Emma Lord’s ability to translate current technology and generational trends seamlessly into a novel without feeling cringey or forced. However, I often found the characters frustrating and the execution felt lackluster compared to Tweet Cute. I will definitely continue reading Lord’s novels (and am curious to see what social media platform she features next!) but Tweet Cute is still my favorite by far.

Emma Lord writes another heart-warming, fast-paced, Young Adult novel with lovable characters and complex family relationships. Fans of Tweet Cute will enjoy this unexpected story. It kept me guessing and I genuinely loved the story. It wasn't the book I was expected when I read the blurb, it was more. This novel goes deep into identity and family relationships, with a sprinkle of a love story. In YA, I find it a fine balance between having the romance dominate the story in an overpowering way, this book doesn't do this. If you liked Tweet Cute, I think you'll also enjoy this one. Emma Lord is becoming a new favorite in YA.

Many, many thanks for the NetGalley ARC 'cause this one threw in some favorite, familiar but well loved plots and somehow found a way to make it all fresh, charming and yes, romantic.
No matter how often it's used in books, who can resist a a 'best friends you just know are destined to become a true couple' story? Which is what you have here with Abby and Leo.
That story line in itself would normally take up an entire book, but "You Have A Match" has soooo many other things on its mind.......for example, tracking your ancestry through DNA.....
The DNA part leads to a whole summer camp experience, which I don't think I've seen done since watching both versions of "The Parent Trap. And in true up-to-date fashion, Abby's there at summer camp with her previously unknown long lost sister, who's a celebrity social media influencer.
And all the bases you want touched get absolutely covered.....unrequired love, a clash of sisterly personalities, all the the heartfelt stuff you'd expect.
And summer camp! What more could you want? Had a fine time with this one....I could even picture myself re-reading when summer finally roles around. All around enjoyable.

I was really into Tweet Cute and was surprised that this book didn't appear to have much in common, to a point I eventually forgot it was by the same writer.

3+.

The summary is quite straightforward. Abby ends up joining her friends on a genealogy test and what was just something turns up with finding a lost sister. And not from some affair one of her parents may have had—Savvy is just a year older and daughter of both her parents'. But how? Why? When Savvy invites her so they get to know each other better, Abby decides to escape summer school and join the same camp as her newly-found sister, unknowing to her (their?) parents.

The book starts with Abby in love with her best friend Leo, the same boy who came up with the idea for the test, and when she finds him in the same camp she went with Savvy, I thought this would focus on the romance. But to be honest, this from a big YA romance fan, it was probably the book's weakness. Not only is it barely important to the plot, but it was also unwelcome distraction. It was funny to see all the coincidences, how Abby and Savvy indirectly knew each other through Leo but no one ever noticed they were almost twins so different their personalities. However, this could have been attained any other way.

Don't get this wrong, because Leo is cute. Total book boyfriend. But every time Abby started complaining about her unrequited loved, I'd roll my eyes and drop the book for a later time. It was just not what was calling to me. (Though I also liked Finn, I'm glad he wasn't her romantic interest either, considering his borderline-suicidal behavior).

Since I'm on topic, the characters are great. Out of the most featured, there wasn't one I didn't like (I'm telling you, I liked Leo, I just didn't like all the drama between the two). I liked how each had their stories and how they actually wrapped by the end.

I also liked how things were explained and how it all concluded. In fact, it was only while reading the story that I saw more and more from the author of Tweet Cute. Indeed, the romance isn't as... cute? Or entertaining, but the book in general is perfect for anyone who liked its predecessor. I'd start from Tweet Cute, which I found that didn't drag like this one. But if you're not into romances, this is a great coming of age with a pint of mystery.

I absolutely adored Emma Lord's debut, Tweet Cute so when I saw that she had another YA Rom-Com, I knew I had to have it on my list. Her characters are well-developed and the swoon factor is off the charts.

With Match, Lord explored the family aspect a lot more, when Abby and Leo sent off a DNA kit in hopes for find more information about Leo's biological family. Abby is knocked off her feet when she discovers that she has a match, a sister that no one in her family has ever talked about. Abby and the sister, Savannah make plans for her to attend a summer camp where Savvy (and Leo) will be working.

This isn't strictly a story about family as Leo, who is Abby's best friend, is also the object of her unrequited love. She is hoping this time at camp will give her a chance to explore her feelings for him and either move on or finally find the nerve to tell him how she feels.

You Have a Match is full of the typical YA ups and downs and misunderstandings and the camp ensures that the parents have very little interference. However, Abby's parents discover that she lied about failing a class at school and make a trip to the camp there they run into Savannah and her adopted parents, their one-time close friends.

The story is cute and I loved exploring the family drama, but there were several times of suspended belief. Of course, this is something that occurs often in fiction, it just seemed a little larger with this story. Also, the very beginning of the book seems separate from the rest of the story. I know there had to be a setup, some background info, but the tone is totally different, and felt disconnected.

Overall, You Have a Match was a cute, fun story and a quick read. I laughed, I swooned, I re-evaluated my relationship with my family. Definitely add this one to your TBR.

This is Emma Lord's second novel and it was even better than her first. I loved her debut novel, Tweet Cute, so I was very excited to receive a copy of this one from Wednesday Books. I was a little hesitant because most YA novels don't work for me, as I find I have a hard time connecting to the characters and the story, but this wasn't the case for this book.

Abby signs up for a DNA test on a whim because her friends are doing it too. She never in her wildest dreams imagined she'd find out she has a secret sister, who isn't that much older than her. Obviously the best plan of action here is to keep the secret that she knows from her parents and join her secret sister as a summer camp to get to know one another. What's one more surprise when she finds out her best friend and secret love is also at that summer camp. What could go wrong?

When I was a kid, I ADORED the movie Parent Trap. As the only child in my family, I was totally convinced I had a twin that lived in England and no one told me. This book brought back all of those fun, hopeful emotions from my childhood and left me in a feel good mood. Although this was a book about 17 year olds finding their way and figuring out their lives, I felt it was easy to connect with the story and the inner workings of family life, communication and figuring life out. The characters were all very likeable, easy to love and feel hopeful for them. The added touch of a bit of romance was a nice addition, didn't feel like it took away from the story or was just thrown in to make it more interesting. I absolutely adored this book, Emma Lord's writing is so impeccable I can't get enough.