Score: 3/5 Bookmarks

Thank you to Wednesday Books for gifting me a review copy of You Have a Match by Emma Lord. 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. The first half of the book draggggged, and then the last few chapters had ALL the action! There was family drama, romance, friendship, sisterhood, grief, and a bit of coming of age. Plus, you could be forgiven for thinking You Have a Match, with the cute kayaking cover would be about a dating app. It isn’t. It’s about adoption and genetic testing (mainly…but like I said, there is a lot going on).

Also, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen it, and it’s becoming a pet peeve—but if you’re going to call out a social media handle in a book and actually set up accounts, at least populate them with the specific photos that are mentioned in the book. Abby’s Instagram account is @SavingTheAbbyDay and her sister Savvy’s account is @HowToStaySavvy. Otherwise, why not just mention their generic ‘Instagram account’ in the book and call it a day, why do things by halves?

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. Like I said, not a terrible book, but I had particularly high expectations heading into this one, because I loved Tweet Cute so much.

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.