The Unexpected Everything

Morgan Matson proves once again that she's the queen of summer romances with this charming tale of a type-A teen who discovers the joys of first love after straying from her strictly planned path. Although the book is slightly longer than you'd expect from a perfect beach read, it's still engaging. Andie is a compelling protagonist with a strong squad of three best friends, and the four of them almost always put their enduring friendships above boy issues. It's refreshing to read about girls who make the boyfriends move over once their BFFs arrive at their signature diner. That's not to say there isn't boy drama, but for the bulk of the book, the girls remind one another that their relationships don't need to take a backseat just because they find significant others. Fans of Matson's other books will enjoy a couple of references to her past books, including the picturesque Connecticut setting and the mention of a title mentioned in Since You've Been Gone.

As always, Matson's character development focuses on three things: Andie's relationship with her widowed father; her navigating the changes in her friendships; and her opening up to a serious relationship. Thanks to an early meet-cute, the love interest is obvious from the first time he's introduced. That's fine, though, because except for his "hot nerd" looks, he's not your ordinary YA boyfriend. In fact, he's basically a cross between Christopher Paolini and George R.R. Martin. Clark isn't just interested in a summer fling or a quick hookup; he wants to get to know the real Andie, and that's an aspirational message for teens. Matson scores with another winning romance filled with positive messages and memorable characters.