Save the Date by Morgan Matson is a story about love, family, and growing up. Charlie’s life is changing: her big sister is getting married, her mom’s comic strip that has chronicled her family’s adventures is ending, her parents are selling the only home she has ever known, and it’s all happening on the same weekend. Charlie has just a few days with all of her siblings together at home for one last time and needs everything to be perfect, but it seems like everything just keeps going wrong. There’s an embezzling wedding planner, a sabotaging neighbor, a feud with a twelve year old in pigtails, missing tuxedos, and two very cute boys.
Matson masterfully weaves together an incredible story, capturing the wonderful chaos of a big family, the butterflies that come with first loves, and the changes and fear of growing up. From the front cover to chapter titles, every bit of Save the Date is as perfect and quirky as the family it is about. It has quickly made its way to the top of my list of favorite contemporaries. I would definitely recommend it if you are looking for a feel good story that will have you laughing out loud and leave you with a smile on your face – and maybe have you calling up your family to tell them just how much you love them.