The Unexpected Everything

February 8, 2016
Andie Walker’s plan to spend the summer at a young scholars’ program at Johns Hopkins is upended when her father, a U.S. congressman, becomes engulfed in scandal. Suddenly Dad is always around, trying to act like he’s involved in her life, and Andie’s only job option is dog-walking. On the plus side, staying in Connecticut means spending time with her three best friends. Then she meets and falls for Clark, a cute and slightly geeky boy who hires her to walk his dog, breaking her habit of short-term flings she likes to keep “light, fun, not too serious, and nothing more than kissing.” Matson (Since You’ve Been Gone) makes good use of elements common to many of her novels: new romance, friendship struggles, an easy-to-like protagonist with relatable insecurities, and memorably quirky details (an unfinished painting by Andie’s dead mother, a scavenger hunt, movie marathons with her father). Though Andie’s friend and boyfriend complications feel forced and are resolved without much ado, Matson’s fans will enjoy sinking into this immersive summer read. Ages 12–up. Agent: Emily van Beek, Folio Literary Management.

March 1, 2016
Seventeen-year-old Andie Walker's life is planned down to the minute, and she likes it that way. Perhaps it's the byproduct of being the daughter of a prominent Connecticut congressman and knowing that there can be no missteps for fear of damaging his career. Or perhaps it's because with her mother dead and her father spending most of his time in Washington, Andie's virtually lived on her own for years. However, when her father finds himself at the center of a political scandal and forced to stay at home until the investigation is complete, Andie's carefully planned summer runs right off the rails. With her acceptance to a prestigious pre-med summer program suddenly revoked, the white teen unexpectedly finds herself jobless, directionless, and alone in a house with a near stranger who decides he wants to play father. While it takes Andie's Type A tendencies a while to adjust, what unfolds is a touchingly sweet story about friendship, loss, family, and love. How nice it is to also find a book that steers clear of cliched girl drama in favor of portraying long-standing and supportive friendships. Romance fans will find plenty to enjoy, as Andie gradually lets down her guard and risks the messy and unpredictable wonder of first love. A novel best read on a lazy summer day with sand between the toes. (Fiction. 13-18)

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April 1, 2016

Gr 8 Up-Andie Walker had planned to spend her summer in the Young Scholars Program at Johns Hopkins with other aspiring doctors. Unfortunately, when her politician father gets caught up in a minor financial scandal, the campaign contributor who recommended her for the program pulls his support and Andie is left facing a long summer at home in Connecticut. All of the internships and summer jobs that could have helped bolster her college applications have long since been filled, so Andie takes a job walking dogs to fill her days while her friends give tours at the local museum and manage community theater productions. Andie and her dad haven't spent much time together since her artist mother's death, and navigating their new day-to-day routine is difficult for both of them. And though the teen has long had an ironclad rule about keeping relationships with guys under three weeks, cute, awkward Clark has her rethinking it. The most interesting things tend to happen when plans are upended, and Andie's story is no exception. Though the outcomes will hold few surprises for most readers, it's a genuine pleasure to watch Andie explore her relationships with her father, her friends, and Clark (especially once his delightful secret is revealed) and to see her channel her smarts and ambition into new career goals. VERDICT Recommended for libraries where light realistic fiction is popular.-Stephanie Klose, Library Journal

Copyright 2016 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

July 1, 2016
When Andie's Connecticut congressman father becomes involved in a scandal, Andie is dropped from her summer "pre-pre-med-med" program and forced to take a dog-walking job. Romanced by Clark, a handsome, homeschooled writer, she enjoys a carefree summer with her tight-knit group of friends. Breezy rom-com dialogue, text message exchanges, sections from Clark's fantasy novel, and affecting father-daughter dynamics make for an absorbing summer read.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)