Book Review & Discussion: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

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I’m slowly (more like quickly) 17838528.jpgbecoming a contemporary loving marshmallow, and this book has topped the list of my contemporary faves. 💖

The Unexpected Everything is honestly everything you could wish for in a fluffy summertime read. The characters are genuinely loveable. The family relationship is realistic and has so much growth, and the friendships are so fun that I wish I could join their little gang!

Spoiler-free Summary: 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?

I give this book 5/5 stars. 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This is honestly a big deal coming from me because I used to hate reading contemporaries. However, this book was truly a fun and heartwarming read. Even though summer is coming to an end, I would still highly recommend this book to lift your spirits and brighten your day!

WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD

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Writing

The writing was A++ . I have zero complaints. The humor was genuinely funny and the pacing was close to perfect. 💖 In a way, this book is more character driven than plot driven, and while I am a reader who typically prefers plot driven books, the writing style made it easy to read without feeling overly simplistic. I will warn you though that this book is 500+ pages, so it is pretty long for a contemporary. 🤷‍♀️giphy (1)

Characters

Ahhh!! I love these characters so much because everyone is so wonderful!! 😍

Andie. I related to her so much. 💕 She’s someone who is super ambitious and organized, and she had planned out her summer plans months ahead of time for college applications. I remember having the same feelings when I was in high school. I loved seeing her learn to relax and not plan every single aspect of her life—her character development was so genuine and fun to watch.

Clark. If I had to describe Clark in one word, it would be adorkable. I absolutely love that he’s an author, and it was so fun to read the scenes when others realized and started to fangirl over him. 😂 His own internal struggle throughout the book was his writer’s block, and like Andie, his character development touched my heart. As a writer, he doesn’t live a normal college-aged student’s life, so he didn’t get the typical teen social interactions. I loved seeing him become a part of Andie’s friend group and how it helped his writing. 💓 Their friendships were as heartwarming and sweet as a batch of cinnamon rolls. Clark and Tom’s friendship was the cutest thing ever, and they need to be friends forever. giphyThe only character I didn’t really like was Toby, one of Andie’s friends, who has an intense crush on another character, Wyatt. When Wyatt and Bri (another friend) start secretly dating and Toby finds out, she gets extremely butthurt and angry at Bri. I can completely understand the need to be honest and girl code, but she was getting angry at her best friend over a guy she never dated. 😒

Plot

This could be a movie?? and it would do SO FREAKING WELL. I would watch the heck out of it. 😍 It has family development, friendship struggles that were very natural, and cutesy romance that makes you go “Awwww!” giphy (4)The entire book unfolded like a movie, and every scene had me well entertained. 🌟 I loved watching Andie and her dad navigate a relationship from almost strangers to becoming father and daughter. One of my favorite scenes was when he helped them cheat the scavenger hunt by driving them around.

Romance

I LMAO’d so hard when Andie read Clark’s book for the first time and was mad at him because of the ending. 😂🤣 It was so cute and such an organic way to genuinely add humor to their relationship. A++! I’m writing this section a month after I actually read the book, but I just remember loving the romance development, especially with the addition of a doggo friend. 🐶giphyThe other love interest in this story is Toph. He and Andie bonded over being a politician’s kid, and while he’s supposedly Clark’s “rival” in this story, I still liked his character. He was genuinely a good guy to Andie, but they just weren’t meant to be. It’s really great that Morgan Matson didn’t write him as an antagonist or horrible guy because that’s not always representative of relationships. 🤷‍♀️ Your ex-boyfriend doesn’t always have to be the evil villain in your love story.

In Conclusion

Read this book!! If you’ve already read it, fangirl with me. 😉 This is a book that I know I will reread in the future when I want some cinnamon roll-y sweetness in my life. Netflix needs to get on this ASAP and buy the rights for a movie because, in my opinion, it could do just as well as “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.” 10370_1422367431_0

Want to Buy This Book?

If you purchase the paperback or hardback version from Book Depository, I make a small commission which helps keeps my blog running. 🛍️ They have free shipping worldwide, so talk about a win-win solution!

HAVE YOU READ The Unexpected Everything? WHAT WERE YOUR THOUGHTS? LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! 💕

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28 thoughts on “Book Review & Discussion: The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson”

  3. So happy you enjoyed this book, Tiffany! I’ve read this last year and enjoyed it. Morgan Matson is one of those contemporary authors who writes a total package of romance, friendship and family. She always leaves a fruitful lesson. It’s indeed a chunky book but I never feel impatient. I love the father-daughter relationship and the romance (Clark is awkwardly adorable. He’s so cute!) the most. Plus the dogs. ❤ 🙂

    The friendship here was bittersweet. We all have that one friend and as time goes by you drifted apart for a reason. I never liked Bri at all. She's too obsessed with the guy. I second with you on the film. This would make a great family movie. It's gonna be heartwarming 🙂 Wonderful review by the way. 😀

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    1. Beatrice, every time you comment on my blog posts I get so happy, and my heart is literally filled with so much warmth ❤ You put it so perfectly that Morgan Matson writes a total package. I love that we see these multifaceted aspects of the character's life and not just solely the romance. That's usually my issue with contemporary novels, but this was just so wonderful and, like you said, awkwardly adorable. ^_^

      I never noticed how representative Bri's friendship was like those that drift apart. It makes so much more sense now :O It sucks that it turned out that way, but I didn't think her anger was justified.

      I really really hope we can see this book turn into a movie one day 🙂 Thank you so much for your sweet words! ❤ *hugs*

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  4. i read this book last year, and while i love the family relationship and the romance (clark is definitely swoony <3), i still thought it was too long. there's a lot of things that happen in that book and it was hard for me to keep track xD i still like it though! anyway, lovely review, tiffany ❤

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  5. Ahh I am so, so happy to hear you loved this book so much and even more that you are becoming a contemporary lover, ahhhhhhh ❤ I love all of Morgan Matson's books so, very much, they are my favorites of all times and The Unexpected Everything made me so happy. I loved the relationship and how it grew and the sweet friendships were amazing, too ❤ and yay the family relationship, too!! I loved how that one grew and changed ❤ ❤ SO Happy you loved this! 😀

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    1. Haha I have been on such a contemporary roll ❤ They just make my heart happy ^_^ Morgan Matson books are honestly so great, and I love how they cover not only the romance but also the family and friendship dynamics! Thanks Marie for always the great recs 😀

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  6. Yay! Happy that you loved this book too! Clark issss adorable and the those dogs ahhhhh overloading!

    Also glad that you pointed that one out, about Toph. I liked the way he isn’t that villainous in the novel. Your review makes me want to reread but I will resist for I am preparing for Maas’ books hahaha

    Lovely review Tiffany! 💕💕💕

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    1. OMG Justine!! You have so much to read ❤ Please keep us updated on Maas. I'd love to read some reviews 😉

      I love the dogs and fluffiness (from dogs and romance) in the book 🙂 I really really love Clark, but I also like that we don't make Toph to be an evil villain. We got to see so many different sides of relationships and friendships which is a big reason why I loved this book!

      Thank you so much for reading my review, Justine ❤ *hugs*

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    1. Yes Kat!! I haven’t finished her books yet (still need to read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour and Second Chance Summer), but if her other books are any indication, I know they’ll be great 🙂 These books are just so fluffy and cute that we neeeddddd to see them on the big screen ❤

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      1. Second Chance Summer had me sobbing for days. With the two you still have ahead of you, I feel like it’s noticeable that she has written them earlier on in her career. She got a little more refined with time, but they are still very enjoyable to read.

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  11. I just love how Morgan Matson is always able to create such real and non- static characters! And her plots are always packed with events and details. But most importantly, I love how she is able to incorporate humor in her books. Just like you mentioned, these points made The Unexpected Everything so wonderful! The Andie and Clark reference in Save the Date made me so happy 🙂

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    1. Yes!! I remember squealing when I saw the reference, and it makes me so happy when authors make references like that 🙂 I can’t wait to continue reading her books because this one was just so fun! Please let me know if you have any recommendations Sissi ❤

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