Book Review: Second Chance Summer By morgan Matson

Title: Second Chance Summer

Author: Morgan Matson
Series: N/A Stand Alone
Publication Date: May 8th 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster 

Length: 468 pages
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult

Links: Goodreads | Amazon UK | Amazon US |The Book depository

Synopsis(Goodreads)

From the Flying Start author of Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, a powerful novel about hope in the face of heartbreak. Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

     Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven’t actually gone anywhere. Her former best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

     As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever that they’re battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance—with family, with friends, and with love.

Review:

This is one of those books which makes you feel everything. While reading this book i felt all the feels. I cried, laughed, smiled, got angry and all within the space of 468 pages. I was a huge fan of Amy and Rogers Epic detour, Morgan's first book, but i was worried that Second Chance Summer wouldn't be as good in comparison or would be ver similar. But i was wrong because this book blew me away.

The Synopsis definitely doesn't do the book justice. It makes it out that Second Chance Summer is just a fluffy, romantic read when its so much more than that, so much deeper. There were so many issues brought up in this book, family, confronting your past, friends, romance and hard devastating news.  

Evan though there were some sad moments Morgan Matson managed to balance these with happy ones. The characters were fun and quirky, individual and complicated in a good way. Creating much more depth to the story and providing interesting relationships. I really liked that a main theme of this book was second chances. About mending mistakes, re-building friendships and re-kindling love. I also loved how Morgan made a point of showing that rebuilding all these relationships would take time and that it wasn't something to happen quickly. 

The character development in this novel was also terrific, there was nothing fake or unbelievable about this book and something i want to emphasis a lot is how well Morgan showed the growth of every character gradually, through baby steps. Each character would progress, slowly to become better people and to learn lots of things about themselves.

It was little things in this book, details, which made it special, like the author had thought out everything about the characters in this book. Down to why Taylor loves her favourite stuffed toy so much, to why she runs away when thing get tough. Everything had been thought out.

It will make you cry, laugh and compel you to tell your family that you love them. I cannot praise it enough, a definite 5 stars.