Review: You Have a Match by Emma Lord
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.