Save the Date

Author: Morgan Matson

 Release Date: June 5, 2018

 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Format: eGalley

Pages:432 pages

Source: Simon & Schuster Canada

 Summary:  Charlie Grant’s older sister is getting married this weekend at their family home, and Charlie can’t wait—for the first time in years, all four of her older siblings will be under one roof. Charlie is desperate for one last perfect weekend, before the house is sold and everything changes. The house will be filled with jokes and games and laughs again. Making decisions about things like what college to attend and reuniting with longstanding crush Jesse Foster—all that can wait. She wants to focus on making the weekend perfect.

The only problem? The weekend is shaping up to be an absolute disaster.

There’s the unexpected dog with a penchant for howling, house alarm that won’t stop going off, and a papergirl with a grudge.

There are the relatives who aren’t speaking, the (awful) girl her favorite brother brought home unannounced, and a missing tuxedo.

Not to mention the neighbor who seems to be bent on sabotage and a storm that is bent on drenching everything. The justice of the peace is missing. The band will only play covers. The guests are all crazy. And the wedding planner’s nephew is unexpectedly, distractingly…cute.

Over the course of three ridiculously chaotic days, Charlie will learn more than she ever expected about the family she thought she knew by heart. And she’ll realize that sometimes, trying to keep everything like it was in the past means missing out on the future. (Goodreads)

*I received an advance copy of this book from Simon & Schuster Canada in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion.*

After The Unexpected Everything, Morgan Matson because synonymous with “best summer reads” for me. She packed so much fun and emotion into one book that it just seemed like the right thing to be reading when the sun was shining and I was rocking my favourite shades.

Save the Date doesn’t take place during the summer but since wedding season is in full swing now (as evidenced by my various social media feeds of friends and their plus ones) it fit right in with the summer feels. Add in shenanigans and the various small adventures Charlie ends up on and you have a recipe for a great time when you’re sitting in the park, by the pool, on your deck…whatever floats your boat!

As usual, all the characters are amazing and I quickly felt like I was a part of the Grant family just as much as any of the siblings. After the impressive cast of dogs in TUE, Morgan delivers just one dog but he’s just as great and just as strong of a character. Okay, and maybe Waffles made me miss the beagle we used to have just a little. So sue me, Morgan made me sentimental 😂

The actual plot was also sooooo good. I’m so here for a hilarious “what else could go wrong?” journey. I cringed and cackled through Save the Date so fast even though it’s a solid 400+ pages. I don’t think there was ever a moment when I wasn’t totally entertained. I’m also here for the character growth that Morgan worked into to the family hijinks. The more serious, emotional moments had me tearing up (thankfully I lucked out and read these parts alone in my apartment) just as much as the funny parts had me laughing in public.

I knew Morgan Matson books would be auto-buys after reading The Unexpected Everything and Save the Date just cements that position. She delivers the 3 Fs – fun, feels, and family – and manages to make 400 pages feel almost too short because you’re invested in the Grants and need to know more. Immediately.

Guest Post

If you could cast one of your books for a TV show or movie, which book would it be and who would you cast for the leading roles?

I get asked this question a lot and it’s always so hard to choose! When you’re writing a book, you’re casting the characters in your head, so you have very firm ideas on who they are and what they look like – so it’s always a bit of a challenge to have to cast them as real actors! And of course, over the years the casting in your head changes as actors get older, and no longer feel right for the parts. 

Of all my books, I think that my first book, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, would actually make the best movie. It’s a road trip story, and I feel they always translate so well to film. I feel like the changing locations, as well as the new characters always popping up, would make for a really fun movie. Most of the rest of my books all take place within the same town of Stanwich, Connecticut. And while that could be a fun location, I think getting to see a huge swath of America is just more inherently cinematic. I feel like there would be a great soundtrack, and fun cameos with the characters they meet along the way. I feel like Amy could be amazing played by any number of great teen actresses – but Katherine Langford and Lana Condor spring to mind immediately. And since most of the story is just Amy and Roger in a car together, you’d definitely want to make sure the lead actors had great chemistry! I would imagine that someone like Tom Holland could be great for Roger – very cute, but also kind and sweet. Now I suddenly really want to watch this imaginary movie! 🙂