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blurrypetals's review
5.0
Wow. Just...yeah. Wow.
Morgan Matson understands me as a person. Between Charlie here in this book and Emily in Since You've Been Gone, you could basically write the way I think if you based it on those two girls. The cool thing, though, is that Charlie and Emily are two completely different characters who go through two different characters arcs, and I still relate entirely to the both of them, 'cause Matson's got range.
Charlie's struggle with expectation versus reality when it comes to her family is one of the most relatable things I've ever read. I am constantly planning things out in my head, expecting things to go perfectly according to the schedule I laid out, then finding life doesn't quite work that way. Of course, I don't bend over as far backwards as Charlie does, nor do I find things going even nearly as bad as everything Charlie touches does, but the sentiment remains.
I think the "too real to deal" aspect of this for me, the one I related far too much to, though, was Charlie clinging to the past, her unwillingness to change, to let the future run its course. Her journey of watching her siblings grow and change, while also getting nostalgic and wishing for a time when things were simpler and sweeter, is something I've constantly found myself grappling with. I had a panic attack when my parents remodeled our living room; I don't know what I would do (or will do) if they ever sold it.
So I got really emotional a whole dang lot during this super great book and connected to it on a level I was't ready to connect to it on. I was ready for a cutesy romp where everything in the wedding went wrong, which I got. I was ready for a little bit of romance with a cute wedding planner, which I got. I wasn't ready for it to give me the nagging feeling to call my family and tell them all how much I love them. This was a really special experience and I'd be hard-pressed to name another book that's made me feel quite the same way because it was so personal to me. This won't be everyone's favorite thing, but this was touching, sweet, and heartwarming in a way I wasn't expecting one bit. Check it out if you like weddings, family drama, and feel-good fun.
Unrelated addendum: Whoever designed the cover for this needs to get some sort of book cover designing award or something because Jesus Christ it's fucking perfect. It's somehow better than Since You've Been Gone's cover, and that's saying something.
Morgan Matson understands me as a person. Between Charlie here in this book and Emily in Since You've Been Gone, you could basically write the way I think if you based it on those two girls. The cool thing, though, is that Charlie and Emily are two completely different characters who go through two different characters arcs, and I still relate entirely to the both of them, 'cause Matson's got range.
Charlie's struggle with expectation versus reality when it comes to her family is one of the most relatable things I've ever read. I am constantly planning things out in my head, expecting things to go perfectly according to the schedule I laid out, then finding life doesn't quite work that way. Of course, I don't bend over as far backwards as Charlie does, nor do I find things going even nearly as bad as everything Charlie touches does, but the sentiment remains.
I think the "too real to deal" aspect of this for me, the one I related far too much to, though, was Charlie clinging to the past, her unwillingness to change, to let the future run its course. Her journey of watching her siblings grow and change, while also getting nostalgic and wishing for a time when things were simpler and sweeter, is something I've constantly found myself grappling with. I had a panic attack when my parents remodeled our living room; I don't know what I would do (or will do) if they ever sold it.
So I got really emotional a whole dang lot during this super great book and connected to it on a level I was't ready to connect to it on. I was ready for a cutesy romp where everything in the wedding went wrong, which I got. I was ready for a little bit of romance with a cute wedding planner, which I got. I wasn't ready for it to give me the nagging feeling to call my family and tell them all how much I love them. This was a really special experience and I'd be hard-pressed to name another book that's made me feel quite the same way because it was so personal to me. This won't be everyone's favorite thing, but this was touching, sweet, and heartwarming in a way I wasn't expecting one bit. Check it out if you like weddings, family drama, and feel-good fun.
Unrelated addendum: Whoever designed the cover for this needs to get some sort of book cover designing award or something because Jesus Christ it's fucking perfect. It's somehow better than Since You've Been Gone's cover, and that's saying something.
lilo23's review
3.0
3.75. This was really cute and I love the family dynamics but I was expecting more romance. This would make a great movie tho.
ladygodivas's review
2.0
reading this book was like going to an unwanted vacation. i'm in an entirely different place, with people i don't like, and my comfort zone way out of reach.
the story was okay and was wrapped out nicely, but the whole thing was a mess in the middle. i personally felt anxious while reading because of how it was written. too fast-paced and leaves no room at all to breathe. too much drama were piled on top of each other for the sake of being dramatic. it all just ended up being ridiculously cliché.
the protagonist was a little too annoying and immature for my taste, and the rest of the Grant family came off as mannerless to me.
i was genuinely hoping that this book would give me warm feelings and smiles, but it gave me the opposite. i'm sad to say that i was very much disappointed. i had expected to like this as much as i liked The Unexpected Everything, but you can't win them all.
i give this a 2, for the poor dog Waffles.
the story was okay and was wrapped out nicely, but the whole thing was a mess in the middle. i personally felt anxious while reading because of how it was written. too fast-paced and leaves no room at all to breathe. too much drama were piled on top of each other for the sake of being dramatic. it all just ended up being ridiculously cliché.
the protagonist was a little too annoying and immature for my taste, and the rest of the Grant family came off as mannerless to me.
i was genuinely hoping that this book would give me warm feelings and smiles, but it gave me the opposite. i'm sad to say that i was very much disappointed. i had expected to like this as much as i liked The Unexpected Everything, but you can't win them all.
i give this a 2, for the poor dog Waffles.
priscillvrooij's review
challenging
funny
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
gracegooglymoogly's review
funny
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This book was such a breath of fresh air! Great characters who don't feel one-dimensional, and jam-packed with dialogue, great comedy, and excellent scenes.
This was so family-oriented, and such a great lesson in rolling with changes, even when you don't want to. It is a YA novel, so the lesson-teaching is absolutely there, but I feel it wasn't so heavy-handed with it as other YA novels are, which made the flow so much easier to enjoy. Parts of it were predictable, but Morgan Matson still got a few gasps out of me, even when my predictions were correct.
Lovely book about personal growth, family dynamics, and facing hilarious challenges.
Excellent book!
This was so family-oriented, and such a great lesson in rolling with changes, even when you don't want to. It is a YA novel, so the lesson-teaching is absolutely there, but I feel it wasn't so heavy-handed with it as other YA novels are, which made the flow so much easier to enjoy. Parts of it were predictable, but Morgan Matson still got a few gasps out of me, even when my predictions were correct.
Lovely book about personal growth, family dynamics, and facing hilarious challenges.
Excellent book!
sklus's review
4.0
Good for a contemporary. The family dynamic was really cute and kinda reminded me of my family. Mostly the dysfunctional parts and the brothers (which are the same thing, am I right?). Felt like the romance part was a little unnecessary. It only partially helped developed the theme of Charlie growing up and accepting change, which was the major theme of the book.
lilaezz's review against another edition
3.0
3,5 stars
I liked the familyaspect but I didnât really care about the romance.
I liked the familyaspect but I didnât really care about the romance.