ARC Review | You Have a Match by Emma Lord

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.

But part of life is showing up, leaning in, and learning to fit all your awkward pieces together. Because sometimes, the hardest things can also be the best ones.

Tweet Cute was one of my favourite 2020 reads, so as soon as I saw that Emma Lord had a new release, I knew that I had to read it. As someone with a background in biology, I loved that genetic testing played a huge role in kickstarting the secret sister portion of the plot – it definitely lent a more modernized feeling to the Parent Trap parallels. And unlike The Parent Trap, the sibling plotline felt very realistic: it was messy and filled with tension, and I loved watching both Savvy and Abby’s relationship and their relationships with their parents grow and change.

You Have a Match also excelled at its romantic relationships. They were slow-burn and filled with yearning, and the payoff was incredibly sweet. Finding the courage to tell any crush that you like them is tough, and doubly-so when they’re your best friend; Emma Lord perfectly captured the earnestness, care, and awkwardness that comes with this.

I was lucky enough to go to summer camp as a teen, and You Have a Match made me very nostalgic for those days: the strong but seasonal friendships, adjusting from camper to counsellor, and all the pranks. It was such a fun setting, and the perfect place for a summer of discovery.

As expected, You Have a Match delivered on the tasty-sounding food front. Secret additions of cinnamon to lasagna balls and lots of Cheetos made for intriguing meals, and I wish recipes were included so that I could try them all.

Overall, You Have a Match solidified Emma Lord as an auto-buy author for me. It was so sweet, and I can’t wait to reread it while consuming all the cinnamon-flavoured snacks.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.