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A Sweet Tale of Sisterhood, and Family Dynamics
You Have a Match
Teen & YA Fiction
Wednesday Books
January 12, 2021
ebook, hardcover, audiobook
309
A new love, a secret sister, and a summer she'll never forget.
From the beloved author of Tweet Cute comes Emma Lord's You Have a Match, a hilarious and heartfelt novel of romance, sisterhood, and friendship...
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.
“That sense of pushing off something solid, leaving something behind and thinking, No going back now.”—You Have a Match
Just the second novel from new author Emma Lord, You Have a Match is a heartfelt read for all ages. Babies of the Parent Trap generation will adore this sweet tale of sisterhood and friendship.
Emma Lord has some serious writing skills. Starting with a unique and truly of the times premise, the question of what would you do if you found out that you had a full-blood sibling is something not everyone would handle gracefully. For teenager Abby Day, that very question rocks her world.
There is an overarching mystery in You Have a Match, which I adored because it brought sisters Savannah Tully and Abby Day closer together. If their parents knew each other prior to Savvy’s birth, then what happened to cause the abrupt end to their friendships? It’s one of those wonders of life when a child realizes that their parents are real people who make real mistakes, and watching Abby and Savannah come to grips with the consequences of their parent’s decisions make this a truly memorable read.
It’s not just how parents and children navigate relationships in You Have a Match. Savvy and Abby learn how to become sisters to each other, as well as friends. They each have their own personal relationships to contend with as well. One aspect that I applaud is the normalization that Savvy has a girlfriend. There isn’t any drama to a same sex teenage couple, and honestly why should there be? Abby also faces the challenge of coming to terms with her feelings for her best friend, Leo. She alludes many times to the BEI (Big Embarrassing Incident), and yet Leo’s relationship with Abby is one of the most poignant.
I highly recommend reading You Have a Match. Emma Lord has crafted a story that is perfect for any age, and for parents, siblings, and friends. A memorable read from start to finish, You Have a Match will be a highlight on your reading list for sure.
Jes is a self-proclaimed bookworm, who recently moved from the PNW back to the Midwest. When her nose isn’t in a book, she’s spending time with her husband, two kids, and her three fur babies, or exploring the globe. She also firmly believes that you should start the day with coffee, and end the day in bed with a good book.
