I had a theory... that love was about paying attention
Due to a series of unforeseen and serendipitous events, high school seniors Kat and Stevie find themselves alone in the Big City - minus two phones, plus one dog, and with more than enough room for further chaos and hijinks to occur. With the cast list of their school's upcoming performance, and convoluted personal relationships aplenty hanging over them the night quickly turns from innocent fun to an unforgettable adventure. Kat and Stevie have to face both the changes that are looming in their near futures, as well as unspoken or unseen realities right in front of them. Through a beautiful balance of fun, sweet, endearing, and heartwarming, Matson spins a tale of a night of freedom that shifts the futures of many of the characters.
Morgan Matson's sixth novel takes loyal readers beyond the now-familiar Stanwich, Connecticut, a train ride away into New York City. This provides a setting and environment unique from her other novels, three of which happen in the same small suburban town (and the remaining two having Stanwich as either the starting or ending point). Although big cities have very little draw for me personally, I feel it was a great decision for Matson to try this out. She has created this beautiful and exciting little town but for readers of all of her books, some may feel there is more to explore outside of it as well. Take Me Home Tonight grants that adventure, while keeping familiar nods to the home base we (or at least I) have come to love. On a similar note, Matson also strays from her summertime exploits and takes on a late-fall/early-winter escapade. This shifts the feel of the book when compared to her others, and gives it a refreshing nature. Matson's beautiful talent for unconventional but endlessly entertaining twists and details (enter the masked chainsaw wielder from Amy and Roger's Epic Detour and the Australian-themed birthday party from Save the Date) really shines given this enigmatic new platform.
The characters were, to be blunt, not my favorite. I had a difficult time connecting to Kat. For the majority of the book, I found her too selfish to be sympathetic with. Stevie fell a bit flat, not even just by comparison to Kat. It felt like trying to get a clear picture of someone by their reflection in water or a warped mirror. And Teri, though entertaining, had me questioning her sanity. I could see her fitting better at Wayside School or possibly alongside Corporal Klinger from M*A*S*H* than in a Morgan Matson novel.
For Cary and Stevie's step-siblings, my only complaint is that I wanted more of them! Shown against the three narrators they were quirky, lovable, and stood out each in their own way. On the positive side for Kat and Stevie, I felt their both underwent believable and positive growth throughout their escapades. For character-driven stories, this hits one of the major points. I loved seeing the changes each girl made in her life. This is something that Matson always does well, making sure that her characters get more out of the story than some frivolous fun and a summer romance.
I have to say, I do not subconsciously make predictions very often. It makes reading mysteries more enjoyable, in my opinion. But I saw Teri's twist coming. Furthermore, the chapters from her perspective felt quite out of place. Teri could absolutely take on her own story, so maybe between Kat and Stevie was not the best outlet.
Another twist that I will do my best to talk about without giving it away, was Mr. Campbell's. I can certainly appreciate moments of surprise, and when a book pulls the rug out from under you it can be the most delightful and gratifying feeling. But when things change with Mr. Campbell I truly would have appreciated some hints leading up to it. Perhaps when I read this book again I will see some of the signs but it took me a bit to wrap my head around the fact that oh that's actually what's going on here.
A continuous piece of praise for Matson's books is the hints of past characters and details. It is so thrilling and adorable to get to say hi to old friends and see how this world she has created comes with so many stories to tell. Without giving it away, there was a callback to Amy and Roger's Epic Detour, giving at least one of the characters a furthered plotline. I was at first in a little bit of shock but eventually warmed up to the development quite well.
As with all of her other books, I was impressed at the level of thoroughness with which Matson writes. It is abundantly clear that she puts ample research, if not real experiences, into her books. The chances for returning to reality for Kat and Stevie were thwarted in ways that I could truly believe, even given today's standards. And although I myself have never been to New York City, all the details and setting up of the scenes felt accurate and engaging.
Although this was not my favorite of Matson's books, it was absolutely enjoyable and I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed her writing in the past, or anyone else who likes YA fiction/romance. It delivers several heartfelt scenes while not getting too bogged down by intense emotion and keeping up the page-turning fun.
As a final note, the quote at the start of this post was a moment that I had to pause, reread, and just take a few minutes to let sink in. It is a beautiful sentiment that I 1000% agree with. This is a notion that I have felt true with many relationships with friends and family members but have not been able to put into words so accurately and concisely. Lines like this are one of the reasons I love Matson's writing so much. She does a wonderful job of weaving together sweet impactful thoughts with fun and exciting antics.
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