You know when emotions run wild while you´re reading and you´re feeling ALL the feelings?
That was me on Saturday night at 2am. I was supposed to be sleeping. Really, I was supposed to try to beat jetlag but that was impossible to do once I got into that story. I even thought of hiding under the covers with a flashlight or in another room if hubby happened to wake up to tell me I really should sleep because of that jetlag thing. Hubby just doesn´t understand when I cannot put a book down…
Summary from Goodreads: 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.
I really really enjoyed Morgan´s debut (yes she doesn´t know we´re on first name basis :D) AMY AND ROGER´s EPIC DETOUR but I loved this one.
Maybe it was because of the family dynamics which were much more present into this book or because Taylor is trying to deal with the illness of her father without really knowing how to or because I came to love the secondary characters so much I wanted to hug them through the pages.
The book includes flashbacks into past summers. Getting a glimpse into Taylor´s life as she was younger such as how her first kiss unfolded was so adorable, cute and at the same time so sad and so hopeful.
The relationship of Taylor and her dad felt real to me, just like the relationship she had with her mother and her siblings. I could hear them and see them. Taylor and her dad made me laugh and made my heart squeeze. So many times in that book, I tried to detach myself but couldn´t because the raw emotions running through me were too real. The gestures Taylor and her dad have for each other, their struggle to find a balance, his reminders to her throughout the book about how much he loves her, the hints she gives him are very powerful.
Taylor and her mom appear to not be as close but she recognizes it is also a result of all the walls she built around herself. I choked up at one thing Taylor says because it just felt so real. Taylor and her siblings pretty much discover each other during the summer and there are parts of this discovery that had me laughing (not too loud because of the sleeping hubby). But at the same time, you wonder just like Taylor if it´s ok to laugh in these moments. And then, there are Henry and Lucy….yes you should dicover yourself about Henry and Lucy. I think we all have a friend like Lucy, the childhood friend who knows you inside and out. And Henry, well…You´ll have to see for yourself.
This book is indeed about family, love, loss, friendship, growing up and about love. After all just like Taylor´s dad explains:
“And I’ve realized that the Beatles got it wrong. Love isn’t all we need—love is all there is.”
So tell me what is the latest book which made you feel ALL the feelings?
Elodie Nowodazkij 
This sounds like a good book. I’m adding it to my very long list. 🙂 Thanks!
No problem 😀 Would love to know what you think about it!
I really want to read this. I absolutely loved Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour. I think I am afraid to read it, though, because I know it’s going to be so sad. Also, I’m really close with my dad and I hate to think of anything bad happening to him. I don’t know if I can handle reading it. But I really do love Morgan Matson’s writing, so I’ll have to read it.
I even thought this book was better than Amy and Rogers 😀 It is sad though, I cried very silently while my hubby was sleeping… If you do read it, please let me know what you think of it.
I loved AMY & ROGER, and this one by Morgan Matson was on my TBR list too. I’m always a little nervous approaching books that I know will make me cry. That’s probably why THE FAULT IN OUR STARS is still sitting on my shelf (from the wonderful Katy U.). I think I maybe just need to suck it up and stop being so afraid of my feelings. I could use a good cry anyway. 🙂
I remember you explaining about THE FAULT IN OUR STARS and why you could not read it…I understand why it must be difficult but maybe it would be cathartic in a way…and both books, if you let them, will definitely make you feel ALL the feelings! Did you read IF I STAY? I just finished it and I also chocked up while reading… All of these books are sad, theres no denial but theres so much beauty, magic and hope in them that theyre really beautiful books… Hugs
Great review, Elodie. Probably not a book I would be drawn to–especially with so many books on my TBR I need to get to, but it’s good that the author made you love even the secondary characters. One of the things I need to work on in my own writing is making my characters believable and likable. The reader needs to feel that connection to the characters so they care what happens next.
Thanks Colin 😀 Maybe youd be surprised 😉 When I can connect and love all characters in the book, it definitely takes the reading experience to another level. Its even harder to let go…
I really liked her first book too so I’m looking forward to this one!
Cant wait to hear your thoughts about it 😀
Oh, this one sounds WONDERFUL!!! Thanks for the recommendation, Elodie!
Hey Alison 😀 (waves all the way from Germany…can you see me? 🙂 This book was really good even though I cried like a baby while reading it 😀 Would love to hear your thoughts on it! How have you been doing? long time no “see” since BMM…Hope youre doing well!
Your review makes me wish I could have a Second Chance Summer with my Dad, who passed away 4 years ago and it was really hard when we could no longer afford to keep our family cottage with so many memories. (I’m tearing up just thinking about it!) Maybe I’ll try to read it when the feelings aren’t still right up front for me! 🙂