Book Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

12/7/2017

SYNOPSIS

Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that?

Synopsis from Goodreads.com

PERSONAL REVIEW

Since reading Since You've Been Gone, I've been a big Morgan Matson fan. I love how she creates real characters that are easy to connect with. These are light reads with characters facing challenges that are pretty easy to overcome, but definitely push them outside their comfort zone. I definitely felt that The Unexpected Everything did the same thing, with Andie having to completely reassess her life after a scandal shifts everything for her, but we get to see her grow up because of it.

What I Liked:

Different Storylines: I like when a contemporary book has more then one character storyline; it just makes it a more interesting and relatable read because we're getting to see into the lives of so many characters. Andie, Clark, and all her friends have real relationships and troubles and it means so much more that we get to learn about them instead of simply reading about only Andie. I really liked Clark's story and what he was going through; although I'm not a writer, I can imagine the pressure that he would be under to write and finish his next book and the family relationships that he has felt very honest (and heartbreaking).
Real and Relatable Characters: All of these characters are flawed and make mistakes, which makes them so much more human. Andie snapping at Clark, Tobe's reaction to finding out about Wyatt, how these friendships and relationships are affected and changed throughout the book are why these characters seem so real to us. Clark is definitely my favourite characters; I love seeing how excited he is in watching the relationship between Andie and her friends. We really get so many personalities in this book (Andie is a control-freak and very Type A, Clark is a bit awkward but totally lovable, etc) and it's so fun to see how everyone interacts!
Relationships are the Key to This Book: This book isn't just about Andie and Clark's relationship (although that is adorable) but it's also largely about the friendship between Andie and her best friends. I absolutely loved that Matson created such a strong bond between these four women and we get to see how that relationship affects them all. Do I agree with how Andie and Bryce decided to lie to their friends? No. Can I understand why? Yes.

The fallout from these lies, and many of the decisions that Andie makes, are what make this book so good. We get to see how so many relationships are affected: Andie and Clark, Andie and her friends, and Andie and her father! I think the best part of this book is that not everything is perfect at the end. Some decisions will result in big changes, so it's great that Matson didn't try to wrap up everything in a tidy bow for us; it's so much more believable the way she ended it and I love her writing for that reason.

Overall, this was an expectably great read. I always wish that Matson would write sequels to her books because I always want to know what happens next with the characters! But it's probably for the best that these are all stand-alones so that characters are left in a good (and realistic) place and we can iamgine their futures however we want.

If you're looking for a fun, realistic, and adorable read, give The Unexpected Everything a try. And then let me know what you think!!

FINAL RATING: 4/5