Title: The Unexpected Everything
Author: Morgan Matson
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pub Date: May 3, 2016
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 517
Source: Purchased
Genre(s): YA, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: ★★★
Goodreads || Buy on Amazon

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Synopsis from Goodreads:

Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that?

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My review:

“Theoretical crushes could remain perfect and flawless, because you never actually had to find out what that person was really like or deal with the weird way they chewed or anything.”

This book was everything I expected it to be, but I was not expecting much.

Unlike the book, this review is going to be short and sweet (but probably not). At least a couple hundred pages of this book were unnecessary, although I wouldn’t have minded so much if it focused more on the romance. And by “romance”, I mean the guy.

How often is the potential love interest a cute “geek” who writes bestselling fantasy novels? If I gave awards to potential book boyfriends, Clark would definitely collect some medals. He would also win for having the least annoying name in this book, despite the fact that several lines were used to poke fun at his name. Why? This was ridiculous considering the fact that everyone and their dog had a nickname that was unnecessary. I mean, seriously, I would never call someone “Topher” if there name was Christopher. How is that even a thing?

Anyways, I thought this was my first book by Morgan Matson but it turns out that she is also Katie Finn (author of Broken Hearts, Fences, and Other Things to Mend). So I suppose this the second book I’ve read by her. It all makes sense now. Both books are filled with teen angst, immature protagonists, cute romances, and friendships that collapse on lies. All the ingredients for the perfect summer read.

The plot moved incredibly slowly for me, and my main incentive to finish was the romance between Andie and Clark. Their conversations were deliciously awkward. The secondhand-embarrassment was strong. I loved every minute of it. It’s just everything else before and after their interactions that seemed irrelevant. Although, I must say, I did appreciate the insight and development in Andie’s relationship with her father. It just wasn’t the main focus for me.

If you ignore all of the hype and go into this book with low expectations, I’m sure you will enjoy it more than I did.

*3.5/5 stars