This is excellent contemporary YA, a partway Parent Trap with a nice cast of characters, a very sweet romance, and writing which easily encompasses the challenges and emotions being portrayed. Abby felt particularly well-developed, including flaws and vulnerabilities and talent and wit all in balance. I also appreciated that there were multiple storylines which made the world feel more complete, and that each got appropriate time and resolution. The story stretched credulity in some places (the families live basically the next town over from each other and the girls apparently look similar - no one thought that they might run into each other? Then again, Leo has been around both for years and apparently never noticed the similarity) and the parents' side of things felt too deeply filled with hurt for things to heal as neatly as the plot portrays them doing, but overall a very nice read.

What an adorable YA story. I liked all of the characters story lines and thought it was a great read. I enjoyed the focus on family and that the main focus was two sisters rather than a love interest. Definitely recommend to any YA lovers.

Abby is a normal teen girl, secretly in love with her best friend, when she takes a DNA test and finds out she has a full sibling that her parents have told her nothing about. After getting in touch with the girl who is one year older than her, they plan to go to summer camp together to uncover their parents' secrets. This YA is a rom com but more about two girls than the romance. It had some farfetched moments and I didn't always love or believe the storyline, but it was fun, with some substance.
I did like this unconventional story that felt a little Parent Trap-like. It wasn't the perfect book for me, but I think many teens or lovers of YA will like this book. It's my second book to read by Emma Lord and I will keep enjoying her books. 3.75 stars

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy.

This book just wasn't for me. It seems that the author is young herself, but writes her teen characters as 50 year olds. I work with teens and they simply don't speak this way. I have never heard a 16 yo say "Way to bury the lead".

The pacing was also quite slow. And I just cannot express how tired I am of books shaming "Social Media Influencers". It feels very of the moment to make everyone who makes money from Instagram a vapid, self obsessed, shallow, idiot.

It seems I just struggle to connect with this author's writing.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Much like Emma Lord's first novel, I couldn't get enough of this. I in no way meet the demographics for a 17 year old junior who finds a surprise sibling and goes off to summer camp. I still flew through this so fast.

I am always so impressed with the DNA match stories. The successful finds, the possible lawsuits, and the happily ever afters they can create for many families.

I loved that this story provided that, and much more. We were able to see how a family can grow immensely when true communication and honesty is presented.

This was simply wonderdul. Also, a little romance never hurt any story.

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this story in exchange for my honest opinions.

One of the most talked about YA books of 2020 was Emma Lord’s Tweet Cute. I read it and enjoyed it, but it was a little too cheesy for me, pun intended. But when I saw that her next book was going to be a camp romance, I knew I needed to read it.

Take this review with a grain of salt because unfortunately, I just don’t think I vibe with Lord’s storytelling. It’s a me thing as a reader not the book or writer’s fault.

Synopsis: “When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it's mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie...although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front. But she didn't know she's a younger sister. When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it's hard to believe they're from the same planet, never mind the same parents ― especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself. The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby's parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp's co-chef, putting Abby's growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything. But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.”

What I Liked:

The Setting—I chose to read this book because of the setting. I love camp stories and YA romance so I thought this would be a fun one to break up the dark winter.

The Intricate Family Web—While I didn’t love the plot of this book, I did think the family’s dynamic and relationship was fun to explore. It’s like a modern day parent trap.

The Idea of Finding “You”—Adoption plays a huge roll in this story as does following your passions. I loved that Abby had such a desire to be a photographer and slowly discovered that she didn’t need to be afraid of that desire. I also loved how Savannah was proud of the brand she created because a lot of people think being an ~ influencer ~ is easy.

What I Didn’t Like:

The Pacing—It just moved a bit too slow for me.

The Plot—I mentioned that it’s a modern day Parent Trap which was cool but I just wasn’t very invested.

The Influencer lingo/shaming—I am kind of exhausted of books that feature influencers and include characters shaming them. I’ve read way too many and I’m just tired of it.

TW/CW: adoption, strained familial relationships

Character Authenticity: 3/5 Steam Rating: 0/5 Overall Rating: 3/5

Overall, I know I wasn’t the target audience for this book. Some YA I think can be universal and others it definitely is meant to be read by teens. I loved that we had a main character who was a lesbian and not all the characters were white. I think the target demographic will greatly enjoy this book!

Thank you Wednesday Books for my copy of You Have a Match! All thoughts are my own.

When Leo convinces Abby to sign up for a DNA service, neither of them expected to find much. But Abby doesn’t just discover a distant relative, she finds out she has an older sister named Savannah, Savvy for short. Wanting to get to know each other better, they plan to meet at the same summer camp. Savvy works there as a counselor and Abby’s controlling parents enroll her in the camp’s SAT prep classes, none the wiser. Their plan is simple, get to know each other and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up. But both find more than they bargained for as secrets start to be uncovered.

You Have a Match is told entirely in the first-person from Abby’s perspective. Abby is a great character. Unlike most traditional YA protagonists she is not the model student or daughter. I loved that because it made her all the more relatable. In direct contrast, Abby’s new sister Savvy is the picture of perfection. Instagram influencer, model student, and perfect camp counselor, there’s not much Savvy can’t do. Lord does an exemplary job of juxtaposing the two personalities, but in a way that highlights what they bring out in each other.

I loved the “Parent Trap” feel of You Have a Match. The plot mix of teen fun and drama and the over-arching mystery of Savvy’s beginnings balance themselves out perfectly. What I felt did not fit into that plot was the main love story. To me, it felt out of place.

Fans of the Parent Trap and similar family and teen dramas will love You Have A Match!

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the review copy! All opinions are my own.

~ Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with an early copy of this in exchange for an honest review! Release date: January 12 ~

When I was offered the chance to read Emma Lord's upcoming release early, I jumped at the chance! I mean, how could I not when Tweet Cute was such a great debut? While I didn't enjoy this one quite as much, I still appreciated several aspects about it and will continue to read future books from Emma Lord.

I considered giving this book 4 stars because of how compulsively readable it is, but the faults I found within it were too strong to ignore to that extent.

The aspect that I enjoyed the most in this book is the growth between these newly discovered sisters, Abby and Savvy. I really loved that part of the story, so it's good that that's the main focus of this novel. However, that leads me to my first question: Why is Leo on the cover instead of Savvy? I feel like it's evident that the publisher wanted to market this book as a romance (maybe to match Emma Lord's reputation based on her debut), but I think that ultimately harms one's enjoyment of the book. I honestly feel like the romance was completely unnecessary in this book, and there were hardly any actual scenes of it to begin with.

The only thing that I felt the romance may have been contributing to was the overarching theme of Abby learning to confront her issues rather than repress them. Unfortunately, I think this definitely could have been achieved through other means that are already within the book. The way she handled her feelings for Leo was so unbearably frustrating I really had to take a couple of moments to step back and breathe so I could keep myself from hating her. I understand that her decisions are supposed to be seen as stupid, because she eventually grows from them and recognizes the same, but oh my god, I wanted to tear my hair out half the time. Nearly every conflict in this book could have been solved if she just vocalized any semblance of her thoughts. And while she does learn that in the end, the added layer of how she handled her romantic life really sent me over the edge of being annoyed by her.

All that being said, I didn't actually hate Abby. I just hated how she acted sometimes, and the romance was an excessive layer. If that wasn't part of the story, I think I would have been able to swallow her poor decision making sooner.

Regarding secondary characters, they were all decent enough, but I don't really think any of them were developed fully. They all had interesting premises, but we didn't get to spend enough time with any of them to actually get to know them. Once again, I think getting rid of the romance could have solved this issue. With trying to fit in scenes with Leo, we didn't get to fully know Mickey, Connie, or especially Finn. I found him to be the most interesting, but his story ended so randomly! It seemed like he would matter a lot more than he did.

One thing I did really like in here was how casual the LGBTQ+ rep was. Savvy has relationships with girls and not once does anyone even refers to this in any way other than usual teenage love. On the flipside however, the potential aro/ace rep was a bit odd. It's implied that Connie is aromantic but she plays into the trope of the aro/ace character being jealous of the crushes their friends have. So, that was a bit problematic, but I'd like to hope that the author had no ill intent here. It just came across as odd, especially when it was just thrown in the end on a character that also had barely been developed.

Ultimately, while I found several faults in here, it was an easy read and I am interested in reading from Emma Lord in the future.

You Have A Match by Emma Lord was my first book of 2021 and it was a great one to start off the year. I went into the book fairly blind, but based off the cover alone, I just assumed the "Match" referenced in the title was a love interest. I was pleasantly surprised when I realized the plotline was completely unexpected to me. The main protagonist, Abby, is a bit of an outlier amongst her high school crowd as she is finishing up her junior year, but doesn't have a college plan in mind yet. She has two best friends, Connie and Leo, who have been her ride-or-die friends forever, but she has lately developed some romantic feelings for Leo, confusing her about the dynamic of their trio. The three of them do a DNA profile test mainly to support Leo, who is adopted and interested in finding more about his Philippine roots. To Abby's surprise, she learns she has a full biological sister she never knew about. Savvy is a year and a half older than Abby, and definitely has her stuff together, making herself impossible to live up to for slightly directionless Abby. They decide to go to the same summer camp together to get to know each other better and research what must have happened between their biological parents and Savvy's adopted parents. They, of course, do not tell their parents that they have learned of each other's existence.

In a not-quite-surprising twist, the camp the girls attend is the same one Leo has been attending each summer for years, so he is there, too. Abby makes tons of new friends, (Finn being the main one, and he is very loveable), examines her feelings for Leo, fights with, then bonds with her new-found sister, and just basically blossoms at camp. Then the parents find out that the girls have learned of each other. This is when the story got so interesting to me. I spent the entire first half of the book trying to figure out how in the world this plotline was going to play out in a way that would make sense of how Abby's parents, who are still happily married, have a daughter together who was put up for adoption. As the explanation unfolds, I was moved. It was pretty believable, too.

As I am not always a big fan of YA novels, I really enjoy ones that do more than the teen angsty love story. That is here in You Have A Match, but it is not the main plot. It is just a sweet side plot to the main one about the sisters. I loved Abby, her family, her new and old friends. The book, on the whole, was a feel-good one. Bonus points for it managing that tone while also exploring a topic outside the usual romance trope.

Tweet Cute was such a cute YA read and I loved the dynamics and relationships of the main characters. I loved the premise of You Have a Match - the main character, Abby finds she has a fully-blooded sibling, Savvy from a DNA site. Her parents are still together and have three other children together as well. Savvy, is Abby's complete opposite, and they decide to get to know each other at a summer camp, away from their parents. I did find one big plot point to be incredibly unrealistic which bothered me from really enjoying the book. However, I did like so many parts of this story and uncovering the relationship between the parents and and sisters.

Tweet Cute was one of my favorite reads of 2019 (released early 2020). I was so engrossed in the relationship and dynamics. So I have been stalking Emma Lord on Goodreads for any information to release for any upcoming books. When You Have a Match was listed, I was on it. The premise had me on the edge of my seat. DNA companies have become really popular and the idea of finding a full-blooded sibling is so interesting. Especially considering that Abby's parents are still together.

I honestly don't know where to start in describing this book and how I felt about it. I'll start with Abby and Leo. They're 2/3 of a best friend trio. There was an almost kiss and things have been awkward between them since. Abby tries to stuff her feelings but she just can't move on. Truthfully, I find this frustrating in real life, but I expect it in fiction. Abby and Leo are expecting to spend the summer apart, but end up at camp together and are forced into contact so frequently.

Abby and Savvy. Well first I need to address Savvy. She's an Instagram star who focuses on health and fitness. She's all about her image, on the internet and in real life. She was a bit stuck up at times. And I was frustrated to see that Emma Lord chose to make the sibling gay in this novel the same as in her debut. Abby and Savvy have a complicated situation to navigate and I felt like Emma Lord did so well in writing a of the twists and turns to their relationship. I teared up a few times through their journeys.

Favorite quotes:
-I never know what the right word is when it comes to my feelings about Leo— it’s equal parts hopeful and disappointed, these mismatched moments where I’m so certain he might want me too that are punctured in an instant by the ones where I’m sure he doesn’t.

-This is the person you are to me; these are the things I feel safe to tell you because of it.

I wasn't sure what the story was going to end up being between the parents and Savvy's adoption. I do think
Emma Lord worked this in a way that I was okay with. I didn't attempt to poke at the story too much. But man it also kind of broke my heart at the same time.

You Have a Match was a good follow up novel to Emma Lord's debut, Tweet Cute. I think I loved Tweet Cute more, but You Have a Match was intense at moments and my heart hurt through multiple scenes. I felt like the decision with Savvy mimicking Eric (I think that was the brother's name) was a disappointment. But ultimately, I truly enjoyed this story. You Have a Match gets 4 Stars. Have you read You Have a Match? What did you think? Let me know!

Starting the year with a book by Emma Lord again was so nice! I did it last year with <i>Tweet Cute</i> and now this year with <i>You Have a Match</i>.

In <i>You Have a Match</i> Abby's friend (and secret crush) Leo wants to do a DNA test to find out more about his biological parents in the Philippines. Abby does one as well to support him. But little do they know that Abby is the one who finds out about a secret sister, Savvy. Abby and Savvy decide to find out more about each other and their parents behind their parents' backs. After their first meet-up, they decide to go to the same summer camp and hijinks ensue.

I really enjoyed this story. Savvy and Abby are almost polar opposites but they really grew into their role as being each other's sister over the course of the book. The mystery of what could have happened that let to Savvy's adoption and the relation between their parents was very nicely done. I liked that the story is set at summer camp since I have never been to summer camp. The characters were so well developed. I love Abby and Savvy and the rest of the cast. I'm very curious what Emma Lord will write next.

Abby decides to take a DNA test so maybe her best friend (and secret love) Leo will finally take one too. Leo has always dreamed of finding his biological family members and Abby is just trying to be the push he needs. But Abby is shocked when its her and not Leo who has a secret sister. How will they get along and why did her parents give her up for adoption?

I was a little worried at how well this story was going to be executed when I read the synopsis for this one. But I didn’t need to be worried because @dilemmalord did a great job with it! This was such a cute YA read about love, family, and learning about who you are. I enjoyed the characters and the summer camp setting added an element of fun. This one gets 4 stars and definitely recommend to YA lovers!

You Have A Match • @wednesdaybooks @netgalley #gifted • Pub Date: Jan 12, 2021

After taking a DNA test on a whim, Abby discovers she has a sister, Savvy, and sets off to summer camp where she can get to know her better - and try to find out why their parents gave Savvy up for adoption. And don’t forget that Abby’s best friend and crush, Leo, will also be at camp and has known Savvy for years.

I loved Emma Lord’s debut, Tweet Cute, and was so excited to read her next book. Once again, it was a perfect example of what I love in a solid YA story with big feelings in every direction. Abby was such a fun character to get to know and root for. I really enjoyed the developing romance between Abby and Leo, but either wanted more, or not have it be part of the story at all. As it was, it just felt a bit too hurried in the midst of the rest of the book.

4.5/5 stars

3.5

This was a cute and thoroughly enjoyable read. But I do have to admit that I did not enjoy this one as much as Tweet Cute.

Some things I loved about Tweet Cute, like humor and fun writing, were still great in this book. But there was still just something about it that I didn't love. The plot felt like a stretch to me, though it was still interesting and fun to read. But the subplots didn't seem as fully developed.

For example, with the focus on the sister relationship and family drama in this book, it was hard for me to get on board with the romance. For me, it would have worked better for Leo to be more of a flirty friend, maybe we actually like each other type of thing for Abby. Rather than a full love interest.

Overall, a cute, very parent-trappy story. Great for a quick, mindless read.

Whilst I haven't read Tweet Cute, I had seen it garner many positive reviews, so I jumped on the opportunity to read You Have a Match when I was looking for a fun easy read - and it proved to be just that. The story of Abby, a teenage girl who takes a DNA test and finds out she has an older sister, Savvy; keen to get to know each other, they arrange to meet at summer camp to try where they try and get to the truth of what happened. Also working at summer camp is Leo, Abby's friend and secret crush.

Its a book about family and friendship with some romance thrown in - whilst the focus is on Abby and Savvy's developing relationship, there is also the budding romance between Abby and Leo. With a fun cast of supporting characters, an enjoyable camp setting and an interesting foodie aspect, its an entertaining, heartwarming book that will make you smile.

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This cute YA novel is about family, friendships, and the very real struggles of being a teen. Emma Lord captures these teens perfectly.
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Abby does a DNA test when her best friend/major crush seeks to find out more about his background. Abby does not expect the test results to reveal that she has a sister just a little older than her. A sister who is a well known Instagram influencer and living only a few miles away. After meeting her sister Savannah (Savvy) they hatch a plan to figure out just what happened and how they are related. The only problem is that Savvy is headed to summer camp. Abby easily convinces her parents she too should attend summer camp.
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So begins a summer at camp, a summer of self-discovery, family discovery, love, and figuring out who you are and where you come from. This book is truly delightful.

After reading, and adoring, the author’s previous book Tweet Cute (it made my Top Five YA books of 2020) I could not wait to get my hands on this one.

Unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. There were just so many storylines and characters that seemed like they were going to be pivotal to the story, but then weren’t. And with so many different threads it felt frenetic. Plus I felt the pacing was way off, with the majority of the action right at the very end. There was family drama, romance, friendship, sisterhood, grief, and a bit of coming of age.

Don’t get me wrong, I still really enjoyed aspects of the book, but overall the story just didn’t feel like it hung together well, and while it is marketed as young adult it felt even younger than that to me.

Basically, Abby signs up for a DNA test after her best bud (who is adopted) gets one to learn more about his own background. What she doesn’t expect is to find a sister. They get in contact and agree to meet up at summer camp to learn more about each other and figure out what happened (rather than straight-up asking their parents).

The whole summer-camp, sister thing has a very Parent Trap vibe, which I did really enjoy. Plus this book is set in and just outside of Seattle and you know I’m always here for a local book. I think it hurt my reading experience because I had particularly high expectations heading into this one (because I loved Tweet Cute so much) so it may have been a case of anticipointment.

Rating: 3.5 ⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have to admit, this wasn’t my favourite of Emma Lord’s novels. I much preferred Tweet Cute.

This books was very family oriented and dealt with heavy subjects but I felt disconnected from the main characters. I’m not a huge fan of the “long lost sibling” trope so I think that’s why this wasn’t my cup of tea. I would of liked to see more of Savvy’s life rather than just getting Abby’s life. It might’ve added to the story more. I also wasn’t a fan of the romance between Leo and Abby. It almost felt forced because they started out as friends they have to become a couple. This trope is a hit or miss and I this was a miss. There was no chemistry between the characters. They were all just sort of present in the story. They didn’t serve any purpose to the story in my eyes.

It wasn’t a horrible book, it just wasn’t my thing.

What a romp! This YA romance and coming-of-age story had plot twists galore, and I loved the summer camp setting. I really enjoyed the author’s debut, Tweet Cute, and this second book is perhaps even better. I appreciated the specificity of her characters personalities and interests — they felt very real to me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.