Second Chance Summer - by Morgan Matson (Hardcover)

About the Book

Taylor Edwards' family might not be the closest-knit--everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled--but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor's dad gets devastating news, and her parents decide that the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author Morgan Matson's celebrated novel about hope in the face of heartbreak now has a beautiful new look!

Taylor's family might not be the closest-knit--everyone is a little too busy and overscheduled--but for the most part, they get along just fine. Then Taylor's dad is diagnosed with terminal cancer, and her parents decide the family will spend one last summer all together at their old lake house in the Pocono Mountains.

In addition to her father's illness, Taylor's return to the community where she spent her younger summers is complicated by the past. The people she thought she'd left behind for good haven't actually gone anywhere. Her former summer best friend is still around, as is her first boyfriend...and he's much cuter at seventeen than he was at twelve.

As the summer progresses and the Edwards become more of a family, they're all too aware that they're battling a ticking clock. Sometimes, though, there is just enough time to get a second chance--with family, with friends, and with love.

Review Quotes

*"Matson has blended romance, humor, teen angst, boring summer jobs, and a truly tragic event into a wonderfully readable story, told in a manner that trusts teens' intelligence. Jenny Han's and Sarah Dessen's fans will gobble this up."--SLJ, starred review


*"Matson writes subtly about complex family dynamics, grief, and the impending loss of a parent in a way that is both beautiful and true...Readers who love the work of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will feel intensely for this cast of vulnerable characters who demonstrate integrity, personality, and perseverance as they work to bridge the distances between them."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

*"This is a bittersweet, powerful tale of family devotion, the sustainability of true friendship, and the silent courage of loving someone enough to stay and watch them die."
---Booklist, starred review

"[Second Chance Summer] is a sweet, well written coming-of-age book that pulls at the reader's heartstrings...This is a compelling story that reads fast and grips readers until the very end."
--VOYA

"Warning: tissues recommended."--The Boston Globe

"The exploration of the father-daughter relationship is warm, sensitive, and heartbreaking, with Taylor realizing how much she counts on the man she's going to lose. Between the dreamy romance and the four-hankie family story, this is a satisfyingly emotional summer tale." --BCCB

About the Author

Morgan Matson is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for teens, including Since You've Been Gone and Save the Date. She lives in Los Angeles but spends part of every summer in the Pocono Mountains. Visit her at MorganMatson.com.