For many people, family is a safety net. Being with family is comfortable and predictable. After years of history, there aren’t really any surprises. But in the audio edition of You Have a Match by author Emma Lord, a teenage girl is shocked to uncover a huge family secret.
The story follows 16-year-old Abby Day through a life-changing summer. When her best friend and secret crush, Leo, signed her up for a DNA service, she agreed because she knew that Leo needed the support as he searched for his birth family. She wasn’t expecting to find a match—and definitely not a secret older sister. Abby and Savannah couldn’t be more different, but they’re determined to get to know each other and figure out their story. So Abby ends up at summer camp with Savvy and Leo—and a whole lot of unresolved issues.
Once Abby gets to camp, she realizes just how messy things are. Registering for camp was an impulsive move—nothing new for Abby—but it meant lying to her parents about the mandatory summer school that she was supposed to attend. When she realizes that her camp is the same one where Leo is working in the kitchen, she realizes that she’ll have to spend a month trying to bury her feelings for Leo. And she soon finds out that rule-following junior counselor Savvy isn’t going to go easy on her just because they’re sisters.
Of course, the direction in which the story’s heading isn’t really a big surprise. In fact, Abby and Leo’s feelings are pretty obvious—and, after a while, their insecurities and misunderstandings, their close calls and their refusal to admit how they’re really feeling, can be maddening. Fortunately, though, there are other storylines here, too—especially the mystery of Savvy’s birth and adoption. At times, this storyline does fade into the background while Abby gets caught up in the rest of the camp experience, but the mystery of it all will keep readers coming back for more, wondering how it will come together in the end. So while some of the story is predictable, the story of these two secret sisters—along with their summer camp shenanigans—makes for a light and easygoing summer novel.
It may have a whole lot of misunderstandings and not a lot of surprises, but You Have a Match is a charming young adult story. If you’re hanging out by the pool this summer, it could be worth a listen.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.
Kristin Dreyer Kramer has been writing in some form or another (usually when she was supposed to be doing something else) since the ripe old age of ten—when she, her cousin, and their two Cabbage Patch Dolls formed the Poo Authors’ Club. After a short career in advertising, Kristin got sick of always saying nice things about stuff that didn’t deserve it—so now she spends her days criticizing things, and she’s much happier for it.
Since creating NightsAndWeekends.com in February of 2002, Kristin has spent her life surrounded by piles and piles of books and movies—so many that her office has become a kind of entertainment obstacle course.
As if her writing and editing responsibilities for N&W.com weren’t enough to keep her out of trouble, Kristin also hosts a number of weekly radio shows: Reel Discovery, Shelf Discovery, and On the Marquee. She’s also a proud member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (CriticsChoice.com), the Central Ohio Film Critics Association (COFCA.org), the Online Film Critics Society (OFCS.org), and the Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC.Wordpress.com).
Kristin lives in Columbus, Ohio, with her husband, Paul, and their daughter, Anna. She welcomes questions, comments, and fan mail at kdk@nightsandweekends.com.