I’ve always been a sucker for a good contemporary book. I sometimes feel like fantasy and supernatural are overdone (but that’s not to say that I don’t relish a good book about either). But here’s the thing about contemporary books that I love – I can actually relate to something.
I feel like I could be that person and to be honest, everyone needs to be taken out of their lives.
I’ve always been a fan of Morgan Matson’s and loved her writing. She’s like a Jenny Han for me – reaches into my soul and makes me smile. If you aren’t familiar with her books, you need to pick one up ASAP. Might I suggest her latest, Save The Date.
Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.
The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.
There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.
There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.
Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.
Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future.
The thing I love about this book is the complexity and simplicity of it all. We’re all looking from the outside in and we think that life is perfect for others and sometimes when we’re on the inside looking out we think that nothing can get better than our lives. We want happiness, sadness, struggle, and everything in between. We don’t want to always see the moments for what we want them to be and not what they are to others.
Matson examines both sides of the family relationship effortlessly. She makes us feel for every character – sometimes like, sometimes love, and sometimes sorrow. But that’s the beauty of Matson’s writing – she’s able to make you understand everyone and feel like you are watching your friends lives unfold. It’s the outside looking in on their secret moments.
And every moment is beautiful.
The pages of Matson’s book unfold effortlessly. It’s hilarious and serious and it’s fun. But the best thing about the book is that it’s relatable. It’s a TV movie unfolding in front of your eyes with every word.
Definitely a fun summer read!
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