BOOK REVIEW: Second Chance Summer by Morgan Matson

Taylor Edwards’ family might not be the closest-knit—everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled—but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor’s dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house 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 best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend…and he’s much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve. As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they’re more aware than ever 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.

Excuse me, but if I can't write a coherent review for this book, it's only because the tears are in my way. This book had me ugly crying so hard. 

Taylor and her family decide to spend the summer at their lake house because Taylor's dad has pancreatic cancer and has three months to live. The family used to be at the lake house every summer, but they haven't been back in five hours. Taylor ran away from hurt that she caused to her best friend and the guy she was going out with. When I read this premise, I was afraid the romance would take center stage, but I am so, so glad that is not the case. Taylor and her family are typical in that they never spend enough quality time together. Taylor and her siblings are always off and doing their own thing while their dad spends all his time working. During their stay at the cabin, they are forced to actually talk to each other and slow down. Taylor starts having breakfast with her dad every morning and actually starts getting to know him. All of his stories about his job and his childhood suddenly become precious to her because she is very aware that time is passing all too quickly. The author did a great job of showing the very subtle decrease in her dad's health: it was all in his coloring and energy level and even in how much he ate. 

While all of this is happening with her dad, she reconnects with her former best friend (Lucy) and the boy she liked five years before (Harry). I wasn't super invested in the romance, mainly because the author didn't put it in the forefront. Taylor and Harry had a few random meetings, there were a couple of flashbacks and then they were a couple again. Don't get me wrong: Harry seemed great and I really wanted them to work things out. Taylor had a horrible habit of running away every time things got rough and that's what she did with Harry and Lucy. But the main plot of this story was about Taylor and her family coming to terms with her dad's illness and saying goodbye. I seriously cannot think of some of those scenes without getting teary again. This book was AMAZING. And afterwards, I just had to tell my parents that I loved them. Read this book, have plenty of tissues handy and then tell your family you love them.

Buy/Borrow/Skip: Buy. Buy. BUY!!!