You Have A Match – Emma Lord – Wednesday Books – Published 12 January 2021

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Synopsis

When Abby signs up for a DNA service, it’s mainly to give her friend and secret love interest, Leo, a nudge. After all, she knows who she is already: Avid photographer. Injury-prone tree climber. Best friend to Leo and Connie…although ever since the B.E.I. (Big Embarrassing Incident) with Leo, things have been awkward on that front.

But she didn’t know she’s a younger sister.

When the DNA service reveals Abby has a secret sister, shimmery-haired Instagram star Savannah Tully, it’s hard to believe they’re from the same planet, never mind the same parents—especially considering Savannah, queen of green smoothies, is only a year and a half older than Abby herself.

The logical course of action? Meet up at summer camp (obviously) and figure out why Abby’s parents gave Savvy up for adoption. But there are complications: Savvy is a rigid rule-follower and total narc. Leo is the camp’s co-chef, putting Abby’s growing feelings for him on blast. And her parents have a secret that threatens to unravel everything.

My thoughts

I thought this might have some deep, family drama but You Have A Match is a light, fun, summery romance with a focus on sisterly relationships. 

When Abby signs up to a DNA match service along with her best friend Leo, she is shocked to discover she has a match – a slightly older sister. Determined to get to know her sister and discover how her parents kept such a massive secret from her and why, Abby ends up at a summer camp, along with her sister and Leo. 

The summer camp setting makes this book perfect for reading on a warm summer day sitting on a beach towel, enjoying the sun and sand. Or perhaps when you are dreaming of being able to do all those things. 

Abby describes herself as accident prone and adventurous, ready to jump into anything – often without thinking. Savvy is the opposite, completely put together and a rule follower. Savvy is an Instagram star around fitness and health, while Abby prefers to be behind the camera and is excellent at photography. Yet despite their differences, they share many similarities and others are quick to point out how much they look alike. They butt heads a few times at camp. Abby bends the rules a little and Savvy is a camp counsellor so she has to pull her back into line. It’s not the greatest start to their new sibling relationship. 

Along with Abby exploring her new relationship with her sister, a large part of the book is about her almost, maybe, might happen romance with her best friend Leo. It is complicated thanks to an awkward kiss, denial of feelings and stumbling around their feelings.

There is also a secondary best-friend romance, thanks to Savvy’s relationship with her best friend Mickey.

Abby does confront her family around the secret, but it has a fairly uncomplicated resolution, so everything stays pretty light. As well as the romance and exploration of being sisters, You Have A Match raises the concept of social media, online personas and managing your online presence. 

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

More information

Category: Young adult fiction

Genre: Contemporary

Themes: Family, sisters, DNA tests, romance, best friends, photography, summer camps.

Reading age guide: Ages 12 and up.

Advisory: Coarse language, f*** (21), sh** (56), bi*** (3), pi** (9), sl** (1). Sexual references.

Published: 12 January 2021 by Wednesday Books

Format: Hardcover, ebook, audiobooks. 320 pages.

ISBN: 9781250237309

Find it on Goodreads