Book Review: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

The Unexpected Everything
Author: Morgan Matson
Release Date: May 3, 2016
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Get it Here: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

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?

Thank you Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for providing a review copy!

If you know me, you know that I’m not the biggest fan of contemporaries. They’re cute and light and fluffy but sometimes I can just get so exasperated with the characters and drama one way or another. But this book? Wow, uh, it really brought out a lot of emotions. The Unexpected Everything made me smile so wide my cheeks hurt, giggle like someone was tickling me, and brought tears to my eyes. I just fell completely in love with the characters and all their antics. Also, yay for the Since You’ve Been Gone cameos!

I think the thing that hit closest to home is Andie’s relationship with her father, who is a big shot politician. In the beginning of the book, he’s taking a break from his campaign and we can tell that he’s not a big aspect of Andie’s life. They’re not close, even though she’s always watching what she does so no consequences will befall his political career. I mean, the girl’s heading for a summer program at John Hopkin’s even. Well, those plans fall through and she finds herself, from the unlikeliest of events: dog-walking.

The beginning of this book was a little slow as we get to know Andie’s world, including her friends: Bri, Toby, and Palmer as well as the other characters that shape her life. I really can’t get over how realistic their friendship is, and how reminiscent they are of my own life. There’s definitely a butt load of good times, and there are also not-so-good times. We find that people change, and others just drift even though a group has been together for years. And honestly, that’s something that happened not recently to a group of friends in my own circle of acquaintances. I laughed with them, my heart ached for them in all the best ways, and these characters will definitely stick with me for quite a while.

As Andie’s father takes a break from his job, they also become closer. And wow, reading about them really pulled at my heartstrings. In the beginning they’re really awkward with each other, but they slowly discover things about each other that they never knew before. All it takes is the time to talk it out sometimes, you know?

“You have to take your chances. Go and attempt and see what happens. And even if you fail – especially if you fail – come back with your experience and your hard-won knowledge and a story you can tell.”

The romance just filled my heart so much. Clark’s character is really interesting and he’s just so awkward and adorable and ERGH I want one in my own life. He’s extremely compatible with Andie, and they just strengthen each other. It’s also interesting to read about his own struggles as a famous writer in the story. Let’s just say that their relationship gave me all the feels and you’ll have to read the book to fully experience it.

Overall, all this contributed to the growth of Andie’s character. I loved reading about the changes happening to her and comparing her actions in the beginning of the book to those in the end. I mean, I liked her character from the beginning, with her controlling Type-A personality and drive to accomplish things. Throughout the story though, she realizes that sometimes you don’t need a plan to get to the final point.

“So have adventures. Go exploring. Drive around at midnight. Feel the wind running through your hair. Life is so short, my darling, And there’s no day like today.”

Reading this book was like the first bite of sherbet ice cream in the middle of summer – it’s packed with flavor and provides a delicious and refreshing story in the midst of an idle season. The moment I finished reading the last sentence (well, after several times of rereading it to savor the words), I went to preorder it. I recommend this book to all readers, no matter what type of genre you prefer, and can only hope that it touches your heart the way it did mine.