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.
Second Chance Summer Review
In keeping with my recent obsession with Morgan Matson, I picked up another one of her books. I’m so glad I read Second Chance Summer, it’s such a heartfelt summer book.
Second Chance Summer follows Taylor as she spends her summer in the Poconos with her family. After receiving life changing news, it’s the perfect opportunity to spend time with family and reunite with old friendships.
The characters in this book are all really enjoyable. Taylor is a great main character but she sometimes frustrates me, mostly because of her decisions. But I thoroughly enjoyed seeing her fix past relationships with friends.
My favourite aspect of this book is Taylor’s family. While the family is going through a really difficult time, they don’t let it affect their time together. It’s a family that makes you laugh but also cry at the same time. They definitely tug at my heartstrings but I absolutely adore them.
Another great thing about this book is how the title is true to the overall theme. Not only does Taylor take the opportunity to fix past mistakes, she also takes any second chance thrown at her. I think the best second chance is the opportunity to spend more time with her family.
Morgan Matson is a really excellent writer and I’ve loved all her books so far. She creates stories and worlds that are enjoyable. But she also makes them realistic and relatable. She is a definite go-to contemporary author for me!
Overall, Second Chance Summer is a great contemporary book that highlights the difficulty of life. But it also shows the ability we have to make things right.
I highly recommend reading this book, especially in the summer. It’ll make you laugh and also cry. But it’s totally worth the read!
Rating: ★★★★★
Favourite Quote
A thousand moments that I had just taken for granted — mostly because I had assumed that there would be a thousand more.
About the Author
Morgan Matson is a New York Times bestselling author of The Unexpected Everything, Since You’ve Been Gone, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, and Second Chance Summer, which was the winner of the California State Book Award. She received her MFA in writing for children from the New School. She lives in Los Angeles.
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Buy Second Chance Summer
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I just bought my first Morgan Matson book!
Ah, which one did you get?! All her books are wonderful!!
Save the Date! I kept seeing it everywhere!
That’s awesome! Enjoy it, I loved it 🙂
Thank you! It looks so good
Aw, lovely review! I’ve never read anything by Morgan Matson, but I own 2 of her books and really want to get to them soon. My goal for this summer was to read both of them at some point, but I ended up with more ARCs and buddy reads than expected!
Thank you!! I honestly love her books! I hope you’ll get to them at some point – they’re quick and fast reads in my opinion! But ARCs and buddy reads are fun too 🙂
Awesome! 🙂 I love contemporaries that are just quick, fun reads. They make for such good palate cleansers!
Absolutely! I tend to love them even more in the summer!
Oh how I adored this book! Even the ugly crying towards the end. Great review!