The Unexpected Everything

The Unexpected Everything
Written by Morgan Matson
Contemporary, Romance
Published May 2016
496 Pages
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia
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★★★★★
Andie has a plan. And she always sticks to her plan.

Future? A top tier medical school. Dad? Avoid him as much as possible, which isn’t that hard considering he’s a Congressman and he’s never around. Friends? Palmer, Bri, and Toby, pretty much the most awesome people on the planet, who needs anyone else? Relationships? No one’s worth more than three weeks.

So it’s no surprise that Andie’s got her summer all planned out too.

Until a political scandal costs Andie her summer premed internship, and lands both she and Dad back in the same house together for the first time in years. Suddenly she’s doing things that aren’t Andie at all, working as a dog walker, doing an epic scavenger hunt with her dad, and maybe, just maybe, letting the super cute Clark get closer than she expected. Palmer, Bri, and Toby tell her to embrace all the chaos, but can she really let go of her control?
Andie lives her life shielding away from the media spotlight. She's been watched, monitored and her life has been scripted with thanks to being the only child of a single father, who's also a congressman. Having lost her mother five years ago to ovarian cancer, now seventeen year old Andie is back in the spotlight as her father voluntarily steps down from office pending an investigation over misused funds, leaving Andie without her summer internship.

Having been raised by advisors, Andie's father is now home for the summer and trying to reconnect with his teen daughter who desperately wants to escape. So after a chance meeting and an obscure advertisement, Andie now finds herself with summer job. Meet Andie Walker, dog walker. A girl who is about to have the summer of her life.

Kelly's Thoughts

The Unexpected Everything was an incredible story of firsts and finding your own feet. Andie seemingly has it all, a wonderful group of friends, living in a beautiful home, intelligent, beautiful but unpretentious. But five years ago, Andie lost both of her parents. Her mother to ovarian cancer, while her father campaigned for the community, a congressman who left nannies and advisors to raise his grieving teen daughter. Now he's home pending the corruption investigation and for Andie, it's too little too late. One of the loveliest aspects of The Unexpected Everything was the relationship between Andie and her father. Slowly and through perseverance, they begin to repair their tentative relationship and help one another through the grief they both share. It felt so lovingly written and realistic, leaving me reflecting on my own life and a father who refused to relate to his own daughters.

Andie's circle of friends were hilarious. Each incredibly well developed with their own quirks and personalities. They are supportive on not only Andie, but also one another. So when Andie stumbles upon Clark, quite literally, there's no jealousy or backhanded compliments, just genuine support for their friend. It was so incredibly refreshing. Lately it seems that so many young adult novels enjoy creating toxic friendships between it's female characters, which I know during your teen years is realistic but also needs to be balanced by positive female friendships and The Unexpected Everything is a wonderful example.

Clark although slightly older than Andie, was the epitome of a book boyfriend. He's not described as a vision of physical perfection, he's often painfully shy and although not having completed his education, is a young and acclaimed author who has landed in Andie's in the hope of braving his writers block. Oh how I loved Clark. He and his placid yet monstrous companion in Bertie seemed to be a calming influence in Andie's life, and for the first time Andie also believes in the possibility of falling in love.

Morgan Matson has crafted an incredibly and light hearted contemporary that also touches on real issues, such as absent or working parents, the scrutiny that teens face and the friendships that bind one another. It was not only sex positive with Andie and Clark having discussed the physical aspects of their relationship, but menstruation. It's rare to find a young adult title that mentions it beyond a tampon spilling from a characters handbag, and even then it's painted as a horrifying experience. I adored the romance. Not only between Andie and Clark, but also Andie's best friend Palmer and her long term boyfriend Tom. I loved the group dynamics and friend Toby who was forced to spend the summer unable to text, but rather could only communicate through emoji images. I had no clue what she was saying, but it added a sense of fun throughout the storyline.

The Final Verdict

The Unexpected Everything is wonderfully written with humour and charm, making it one of the loveliest young adult contemporaries this year. You know that feeling when you sleep in on a rainy Sunday morning. Cookies where the chocolate chips are still warm. When you spend a cold winters day reading and drinking tea or one of those bone crushing bear bugs to let you know you've been missed?

The Unexpected Everything is that feeling and I adored each and every moment. And the dogs. Don't forget the dogs.

18 comments

  1. Gah. I need to stop procrastinating. I need to buckle down and not let things distract me. I've been trying to read this book for daysssss. I'm glad you loved it, Kelly. It seems the perfect summer read (summer for us, not so much for you - lol).

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    1. The weathers turned bitterly cold in the last few days, which is perfect for warm and fuzzy contemporaries, quite literally. I love books with dogs, so I would have picked this up based on the cover alone but it's so damn cute Joy, so charming and lovely. I can't wait to see what you think of it!

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  2. YES IT WAS SO GOOD. The friendship break-up towards the end was kind of annoying but I lovvvvvved the relationship between Andie and her dad, and also Clark, and also the friendships. Morgan Matson is a goddess.

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    1. Yeah, that saddened me too, but it needed that little bit of imperfection to be more true to life, I remember the fights over who liked who when I was a teen. I've bought a few of her other titles and waiting for them to arrive. She's magnificent!

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  3. I love Morgan Matson, so I am super excited for this one too Kelly! I really liked her other book Since You've Been Gone so I'm crossing my fingers this one is just as good (although, from your review, it sounds like I won't be disappointed). Thanks for sharing and, as always, fabulous review! ♥

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    1. Thanks Zoe and it really was the perfect mix of moments and swoon. I loved it and looking forward to her other titles arriving soon so I can crack those open.

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  4. THIS SOUNDS WONDERFUL. The talk about sex, the talk on menstruation, Clark sounds heavenly, and so does Andie. She sounds SO unique compared to other MCs I've read about in contemporaries.

    I have never read anything by Morgan Matson, but you are seriously making me want to reconsider that decision. NEED THIS BOOK NOW.

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    1. She's not without her issues, but I think that's what makes her so likable. This was my first Morgan Matson book too and I can't believe I waited so long. It was beautiful!

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  5. Morgan is one of my faves! Have you read Amy & Roger's Epic Detour? GIRL so freaking good. I think I'll start this one next week. I was going to make this my next read, but Colleen's new title was calling my name and won lol. I'm sure I'll enjoy this one as much as you, Morgan is amazing at giving us a nice summer read, with just a little more beneath the surface. Amazing review dumpling!

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    1. I haven't yet! I ordered it online and just waiting for it to arrive actually. I'm in luuuuurve with her writing. I haven't felt this giddy about contemporary romances in young adult since the fluffy Anna and The french Kiss actually. And thank you pork chop.

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  6. I'm SO looking forward to reading this. It has so many positive elements that have me excited.

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    1. It's a wonderful read Christy, looking forward to seeing what you think of it!

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  7. I got a copy of this yesti and am now super pumped to read it!! Awesomesauce Kelly!!!

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    1. YES! Read it Sarah, you definitely won't be disappointed. Can't WAIT to see what you think of it!

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  8. Eeep, you've made me want to read this book asap! :D

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  9. I'm so happy you gave this one a try despite you being scared of its length. It's one of my favorite books this year, all for the reasons you mentioned. I loved Clark and Bertie too. They were so adorable. And I liked that Clark wasn't the perfect male-specimen. He was swoony without being arrogant and without a hot bod. The friendships were definitely my favorite part of the book. I was jealous of them! :)
    Great review, Kells!

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  10. See and you wanted to skip this one! I really ended up liking this one too but wish it was a bit shorter. It was a really good book though. I still get emotional when I think of the mom buying her daughter pads and tampons in bulk before she died :(

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  11. This sounds great - I love the idea of the father / daughter reconnection and a life unexpectedly lived.

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