lizpatanders

Even though Second Chance Summer got rave reviews from bloggers that I trust, I was wary of it. Some books that deal with terminal illnesses do an exceptional job, whereas others make me want to throw breakable objects. When I saw Jordyn with a copy at ALA and she pointed out that Morgan Matson was signing less than five feet away from me, I knew it was time for me to buy the book. About a week before I graduated, I decided that I needed to pick up a summer book and selected Second Chance Summer. Matson wrote a touching, human story that I stayed up until 2 a.m. while crammed in my small bathroom to finish.It’s hard to pin down exactly what makes Second Chance Summer such a great book. While I suspected I might like this one, I failed to see how quickly I would connect with it. Matson wrote an exceptional story, and it’s part of what compelled me to read late into the night.If you haven’t already figured it out, Matson’s sophomore novel left me feeling tight-chested and teary-eyed. I can see where some readers might not connect with Taylor, but I empathized with her, as well as the entire Edwards family. When she was making her decisions, I couldn’t help but think, “I would probably do the exact same thing. And it would hurt.”I can’t adequately express how much I loved this book. It was precisely what I wanted when I read it and blew me out of the water. Even if this book sounds too sad or too much like a Sarah Dessen novel for your tastes, give it a shot. Second Chance Summer confirms that Morgan Matson is a brilliant writer, and I’ll be picking up Amy and Roger’s Epic Detour soon, not to mention all future works.