Second Chance Summer [Kindle Edition]

When I first picked up and read the first few chapters of this book I expected it to be a quick and easy summer book that lasts for a day and stays in your head for that long but as soon as I got into it, it was clear to me it was not. Not at all - and believe me I got into it!
The novel begins like any other book, we are introduced to Taylor Edwards and her family, Warren - the genius big brother, Gelsey - the ballerina little sister and Taylor's always organised mother. To be honest this didn't amaze me seen as there are so many other books with similar families, even Taylor's critically ill father (why is everyone dying in books, lately?) wasn't drastically new.
Then I got to their holiday destination and was totally captured by Taylor's beautiful narrative, catching glimpses of her past - at Lake Phoenix with her ex best friend, Lucy and old childhood sweetheart, Henry and how Taylor's knee-jerk reaction of running from things that scare her caused her to push them away. Her present - coming back to find the people she loved the most distant from her and what she must to do to regain their trust and friendship And finally her future - the heart wrenching fact that she will soon be fatherless and how her family will deal with their worlds being torn apart.
This book is a sublime journey of self-discovery, despite my doubts every character had many dimensions and no detail was spared, in a fast paced way.

I cried, I laughed and loved. I cursed Taylor's stupid decisions and applauded her brave ones but most of all, I read an amazing book.

I loved this book, with its ups and downs it really felt like you were part of the story and made you feel a sadness when Rob(in) died. I really couldn't put the book down, which is a bad thing as I am meant to be revising! :)

I loved Morgan Matson's other book, Amy & Roger's Epic Detour and I couldn't wait to this one, although I didn't have it in the summer when it was released. Instead, I got bought it as a Christmas present and read it soon after New Year. Let me start by saving DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY THE COVER! Yes, it looks like a happy, summer book but it is more than that and you won't be expecting what is inside.

Main character Taylor has a habit of running away whenever things get tough. When he Dad gets some bad news and the family decide to go away for the summer, back to their old summer house in the mountains, she definitely doesn't want to go. Things happened five years ago at the summer house and with everything going on with her Dad, it's more than she can handle. I really enjoyed getting to watch Taylor grow and deal with the harder things in her life.

It was really good to see a slightly different family dynamic throughout this book. Taylor isn't incredibly close to her Mum, younger sister or older brother although she does have a special relationship with her Dad. This family was slightly different because they weren't perfect and they didn't get along all of the time, which made them a real family in my eyes. Having her family around though made it possible to get to know them although not quite as well as we get to know Taylor herself.

While at the summer house, Taylor is reminded of what happened there years ago. She has to try to rekindle her friendships with old friends Lucy and first boyfriend Henry. I really liked these two as characters and thought that they made great additions to the book. Lucy is mad at Taylor for whatever it is what happened (this is revealed throughout the book) and refuses to talk to her while Henry is shy, quiet and doesn't really know how to react to Taylor being back. The tension and awkwardness between the characters was fantastic and really gave this book that something extra. Henry is the love interest of the book although it isn't the main theme of the story. It was nice to have a little bit of romance without it consuming the whole book.

Second Chance Summer is more about love and loss. Taylor's Dad is terminally ill and the family's idea was to spend one last summer away together. It was heart-breaking to see Taylor's Dad slowly get worse and worse and become less like himself. This aspect of the story is drawn out right through to the very end. I was sat on a train reading this book, tears absolutely streaming down my face and me thinking; `I thought this was a happy summer book?!'. It is not! However, Second Chance Summer is sad in the best possible way because it has a story which makes you feel and characters who really make you feel for them.

While this was not the book I was expecting to read, it was wonderfully written, heart-breaking and lovely all at the same time.