Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Source: Library
Summary
Andie had it all planned out.
When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future.
Important internship? Check.
Amazing friends? Check.
Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).
But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life.
Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected.
And where’s the fun in that?(courtesy of Goodreads)
Review
I'm a big Morgan Matson fan. I've loved all of her books. Up to this point, Amy and Roger's Epic Detour was my favorite. But I think The Unexpected Everything has taken over the favorite spot! It's not as funny as the former, but I think it's a more solid all-around book.
What I loved about this book:
1. Andie and her friends: Setting aside the rest of the plot, this is a great novel about friendship. Andie and her best friends Palmer, Toby and Brianne (two typical boy names and one typical girl name; coupled with "Andie" is a bit odd, but whatever) go through a series of experiences over the summer. Fun, secrets, betrayal, fights. It's a lot of drama, but I feel like it mirrors the reality of big friend groups - especially as the group gets closer to graduation. I remember multiple forever best friends who "broke up" during the senior year (although this is before that).
2. Andie and her dad: Prior to this summer, Andie doesn't have much of a relationship with her dad. But after a faux scandal benches him for the summer, they're forced to get to know each other again. Neither has really healed from the death of Andie's mother a few years ago. Their relationship grows pretty realistically. They don't just immediately become best buddies, but it does happen steadily. I also liked that while she did have some teenage whininess, she genuinely likes her dad and likes being with him.
3. Andie and Clark: Aww...Brought together by a dog, as all couples should be. Clark is a great character. A homeschooled teen who is both old and young for his age. He loves having a group of friends that he meets through Andie. He's terrified that his writer's block will last forever. He has some family drama. Andie and Clark's relationship is very cute. I love the ongoing story they create. I love that they support each other. I especially love that Clark is a nice guy and their relationship is nice - not overly dramatic, not all-time-epic-love story...a good ol' fashioned teenage romance.
4. The dogs: As an obsessive dog lover, the dog walking element is terrific. It teaches Andie a lot of skills, one of which is that you don't need to have a super internship or academic summer program to grow and prepare for your future. It teaches Andie about herself - what she wants to do, what she values, plus how to care about your job and work hard. And the doggies are adorbs!
I like the sound of this one, but the teen drama and angst has me wary, but since you liked it so much I think I'll give it a go.
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