Blog Tour: A Review for Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson + Author Interview

Posted by Donna

Expected Release Date: June 7th, 2012

Finished Date: May 20th, 2012

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK

Source: For Review

Format: Paperback 

Pages: 468
Buy : Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit – everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled – but for the most part, they get along fine. Then they get news that changes everything: Her father has pancreatic cancer, and it's stage four – meaning that there is basically nothing to be done. Her parents decide that the family will spend his last months together at their old summerhouse in the Pocono Mountains. Crammed into a place much smaller and more rustic than they are used to, they begin to get to know each other again. And Taylor discovers that the people she thought she had left behind haven't actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is suddenly around, as is her first boyfriend. . . and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve. As the summer progresses, the Edwards become more of a family, and closer than they've ever been before. But all of them very aware that they're battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance – with family, with friends, and with love.

The Review: Before I start this review I just want to take some time out and admire the book cover which has been published by the awesome Simon & Schuster UK. So, WOW, I love it. I thought they did an amazing job with Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour but they’ve really out done themselves with this.  It’s definitely my favourite book cover of 2012 so far and I love how every little detail from the lake house to the movie reel fits this book so well, and let’s not forget to mention how fun it really looks. Anyway let’s get back to the review.
<
Second Chance Summer is a fun packed emotional rollercoaster – one that is full of hope, love, loss and second chances. It’s the perfect beach read for YA contemporary romance fans and if you don’t know who Morgan Matson is, then I suggest you pick up one of her books now, because they really won’t disappoint. She’s fast becoming one of my favourite YA authors and if anything, I enjoyed this book so much more than Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour.
<
Morgan Matson captivated me from start to finish and has really created a touching and lovable story. I just didn’t expect so much to happen during this book. The emotions that poured out of me were unbelievable. The main character Taylor has a hard time because she runs from everything. She never faces her problems head on but when her Dad get sick, she finally has to deal with it and it won’t be easy.  Reading this story from Taylor’s point of view was completely heart-breaking. Her dad is everything to her and even though she doesn’t know every little detail about him, she makes the effort because she knows this summer is his last. And trying to put myself in her position was just as hard, she may not be the strongest character I’ve read about but I have to admire her because she really does try hard. 
>
Now the relationship between Taylor and Henry was amazing. The relationship they have is very sweet and heart-warming. Henry’s the type of guy that any girl should fall for. He’s sweet, loyal and very handsome and I can really see why Taylor loves him so much. And I also cannot forget the secondary characters like Warren, Wendy, Gelsey & Lucy – they really were all just as lovable too. It was nice to see they all have there own stories that was involved in this book, so it was really interesting reading about them too.
<
All in all, I’m so pleased to have been able to read Second Chance Summer this year and I’d highly recommend it to fans of Jenny Han’s ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty’ Series. It’s not one to miss out on! 
<
A huge thank you to Simon & Schuster UK for giving me the opportunity to review.

Morgan Matson

Author of Amy & Roger's Epic Detour & Second Chance Summer.

Check out her Goodreads Page: HERE

Check out her Website: HERE

<

1) What inspired you to write Second Chance Summer?

The setting of the book is taken from my own life – I used to spend summers as a kid in the mountains of Pennsylvania, at a lake. We stopped going as much when I hit my teen years, and I always wondered about the people I’d left behind…what was going on with them, and what would happen if I happened to see them again.  

I also wanted to tackle another serious subject, but do it from a different angle than Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour.  That book is really about a family splitting up and falling apart after a death.  I wanted to write a book where the family came together before a tragedy.

2) How long did it take to write?

The first draft took me about six months.  But I was writing it in the winter – not the best time to write a summer book! So I made sure to revise it in the summer, to get some of those necessary summer details.

3) Where's your favourite place to write?

When I’m starting a book, I need to write somewhere in public – a library or my favorite local coffee shop.  If I write at home, I end up just eating snacks and wasting time online! But as I get to finishing a book, the only place I want to write is at home, at my desk.

4) Whose your favourite character from the book?

I really liked writing Gelsey, the 12-year-old sister.  She’s obsessed with ballet…just like I was at that age.  It was a lot of fun to write her.

5) Can you give the readers a teaser from Second Chance Summer?

Sure! Here’s just a little peek:

Henry stopped, just a few feet from me, closer than ever, close enough that I could see that there was still a scattering of freckles across his cheeks, but so faint I could almost see each one, and connect them, like constellations.  I could feel my pulse beating harder at the base of my throat, and I suddenly had a flashback to one of our early, tentative make-out sessions five years earlier – one that had, in fact, taken place on this very dock.  I’ve kissed you flashed through my mind before I could stop it.  

6) We featured Second Chance Summer in our weekly US vs UK cover battle a few weeks ago - and the UK won. Which do you prefer? 

That’s such a hard question!  I like how the US cover is evocative, but what I love about the UK covers (Second Chance Summer and Amy & Roger) is all the details from the story that show up in the art. I think it’s fun that readers can get a peek into the story, just from the cover details.

Fun Questions: 

Spring or Summer? Summer!

Pizza or Pasta? Definitely pizza.

Coffee or Tea? Coffee – iced when it’s hot out!

Dog or Cat? Dog.

White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate? Can I please have both?

Paperback or Hardback? Paperback – much better for taking to the beach.

Ice-cream or Ice lolly? Ice cream!

Jeans or Skirt? Jeans – preferably jean shorts in the summer.

High Heeled Shoes or Flat Shoes? Flip-flops!

Thank you Morgan, it's been great having you hear today. =)