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The Ballad of Darcy and Russell
Darcy believes in love at first sight. Even though it’s never happened to her, she’s spent her whole life waiting for that magical moment, hoping that when she meets the right guy, everything will fall into place perfectly.
But right now, her life is anything but perfect. Heading home from a music festival, engine trouble means she’s stranded at a Nevada bus station until morning. Even worse, it’s the day before she leaves for college, her phone is dead, and she has no cash. Darcy’s convinced nothing good can come of this night…but then she meets Russell. Cute, nice, funny, and kind, this is the guy—and the moment—she’s been waiting for. As they walk and talk, the two connect, and Darcy is able to put aside all her fears and doubts about the future to focus on this perfect guy.
Over the course of one fateful night, Darcy and Russell discover things they never imagined about each other and themselves. But can you really know someone after only a handful of hours? Is it possible to fall in love in less than day? Before they part, both their lives will be changed, and Darcy and Russell will have to decide if it’s worth saying hello when you know you’re destined for a goodbye.
But right now, her life is anything but perfect. Heading home from a music festival, engine trouble means she’s stranded at a Nevada bus station until morning. Even worse, it’s the day before she leaves for college, her phone is dead, and she has no cash. Darcy’s convinced nothing good can come of this night…but then she meets Russell. Cute, nice, funny, and kind, this is the guy—and the moment—she’s been waiting for. As they walk and talk, the two connect, and Darcy is able to put aside all her fears and doubts about the future to focus on this perfect guy.
Over the course of one fateful night, Darcy and Russell discover things they never imagined about each other and themselves. But can you really know someone after only a handful of hours? Is it possible to fall in love in less than day? Before they part, both their lives will be changed, and Darcy and Russell will have to decide if it’s worth saying hello when you know you’re destined for a goodbye.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published May 7, 2024
About the author
Morgan Matson
15 books13.3k followersMorgan Matson grew up in New York City and Greenwich, Connecticut. She attended Occidental College in Los Angeles but halfway though a theater degree, she started working in the children's department of Vroman's Bookstore and fell in love with YA literature.
Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize.
In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.
Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Her third book, Since You've Been Gone, was published in 2014.
Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2016.
Following college graduation (and the proud bearer of an incredibly useful theater/English degree) she moved back East to attend the New School, where she received her M.F.A in Writing for Children.
Amy & Roger's Epic Detour, inspired by Morgan's three cross-country road trips, was published in May 2010. It was named an ALA Top Ten Best Book, a PW "Flying Start" book, and was shortlisted for the Waterstone's Book Prize.
In the meantime, Morgan moved back to California, went back to school again and in 2011 received an M.F.A. in Screenwriting from the University of Southern California.
Her second book, Second Chance Summer, was published in May 2012 and draws largely on her experiences spending summers growing up in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.
Her third book, Since You've Been Gone, was published in 2014.
Morgan currently lives in Los Angeles, though she loves to travel and does it whenever she can. She is currently writing another book, to be published in 2016.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
May 7, 2024
picking up a new morgan matson book on a warm day will forever be the most exciting moment of my life.
even better, this had a lot of my favorite morgan matson tropes: road trips, chaotic families, puns, the same set of nice familiar fictional towns (plus some nevada appearances), rom-com-like deals and rules, Personal Growth alongside the love story, a really long book that is so fun and fluffy it melts away.
it's also a little more mature, which is fun!
it was a little more dramatic and a little less friendship-y than my very favorites, but this was such a fun time.
bottom line: i need morgan matson to write 4 books a year.
(thank you to the publisher for the arc!)
even better, this had a lot of my favorite morgan matson tropes: road trips, chaotic families, puns, the same set of nice familiar fictional towns (plus some nevada appearances), rom-com-like deals and rules, Personal Growth alongside the love story, a really long book that is so fun and fluffy it melts away.
it's also a little more mature, which is fun!
it was a little more dramatic and a little less friendship-y than my very favorites, but this was such a fun time.
bottom line: i need morgan matson to write 4 books a year.
(thank you to the publisher for the arc!)
May 10, 2024
3.25 stars.
Morgan Matson wrote a new book? And it's coming out today? And I had zero idea about this?
I've been so away from her books for so many years, she used to be one of my favorite authors when I was younger. I'm willing to read her books again and see if I'll get the same comforting feeling as I used to.
Morgan Matson wrote a new book? And it's coming out today? And I had zero idea about this?
I've been so away from her books for so many years, she used to be one of my favorite authors when I was younger. I'm willing to read her books again and see if I'll get the same comforting feeling as I used to.
Read
May 13, 2024 Dnf 56% in
It is so sad for me to say that I am no longer a Morgan Matson girlie. Which makes sense truly I am almost 34. But the unexpected everything to this day is still
One of my favorite books. Matson has been in a holding pattern her last 3 books where everything takes place over 24 hours or a weekend or something and it is just not something I enjoy. TUE took place over a whole summer where you really got to know the characters.
I feel like it’s time for me to move on from her if she’s going to keep this pattern up I really don’t like the short timeline in her books. Anyway I am sad.
It is so sad for me to say that I am no longer a Morgan Matson girlie. Which makes sense truly I am almost 34. But the unexpected everything to this day is still
One of my favorite books. Matson has been in a holding pattern her last 3 books where everything takes place over 24 hours or a weekend or something and it is just not something I enjoy. TUE took place over a whole summer where you really got to know the characters.
I feel like it’s time for me to move on from her if she’s going to keep this pattern up I really don’t like the short timeline in her books. Anyway I am sad.
April 7, 2024
It was so disappointing. I love morgan Matson but this one was instalove and boring when it was just Darcy and Russell. I loved the interactions between Darcy and Russell's dad and step mom way more. The dialogue between Darcy and Russell seemed also forced and cheesy.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC.
May 22, 2024
may 2024:
this has just become one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors! i’ve been anticipating it for almost three years and it hasn’t disappointed me
in fact, i fell in love with it all. i literally read this at the perfect exact time and place i should have: right between meeting and being with someone on a trip and moving away from the place i consider home.
morgan just gets me.
i loved the family aspect so much, especially russell’s crazy sibling and step moms. loved the fame aspect too, it almost made me feel like i was in a taylor jenkins reid novel. also loved the talk about seeing our parents as people. so real. the story and the characteres are so mature.
i wasn’t surprised by the plot twist but i still loved it how it was done, mainly because i was wondering how the book was going to maintain the rhythm with 400 pages.
thank you for this book, morgan. i’ll happily reread this along with SYBG, TUE, save the date and TMHT!
-
nov 2022:
not me already excited and anxious for a book that’s going to come out in 2024
this has just become one of my favorite books by one of my favorite authors! i’ve been anticipating it for almost three years and it hasn’t disappointed me
in fact, i fell in love with it all. i literally read this at the perfect exact time and place i should have: right between meeting and being with someone on a trip and moving away from the place i consider home.
morgan just gets me.
i loved the family aspect so much, especially russell’s crazy sibling and step moms. loved the fame aspect too, it almost made me feel like i was in a taylor jenkins reid novel. also loved the talk about seeing our parents as people. so real. the story and the characteres are so mature.
i wasn’t surprised by the plot twist but i still loved it how it was done, mainly because i was wondering how the book was going to maintain the rhythm with 400 pages.
thank you for this book, morgan. i’ll happily reread this along with SYBG, TUE, save the date and TMHT!
-
nov 2022:
not me already excited and anxious for a book that’s going to come out in 2024
May 8, 2024
A fantastic 24 hour, insta love, YA roadtrip romcom that sees two teens falling in love over the course of one night until things come crashing down when one is revealed to be the son of a famous rock star. Full of great banter, super swoony moments, family drama and coming of age/high school graduation anxiety angst. I really enjoyed this one that was great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Nick and Norah's infinite playlist or Ferris Bueller's day off. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: kissing only
Steam level: kissing only
September 3, 2024
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ARC provided by Simon & Schuster Canada.
Darcy believes in love at first sight. Even though it has never happened to her, she has spent her whole life waiting for that magical moment, hoping that when she meets the right guy, everything will fall into place perfectly.
But right now, her life is anything but perfect. Heading home from a music festival, engine trouble means she has stranded at a Nevada bus station until morning. Even worse, it is the day before she leaves for college, her phone is dead, and she has no cash. Darcy has convinced nothing good can come of this night but then she meets Russell. Cute, nice, funny, and kind, this is the guy and the moment she has been waiting for. As they walk and talk, the two connect, and Darcy is able to put aside all her fears and doubts about the future to focus on this perfect guy.
Over the course of one fateful night, Darcy and Russell discover things they never imagined about each other and themselves. But can you really know someone after only a handful of hours? Is it possible to fall in love in less than day? Before they part, both their lives will be changed, and Darcy and Russell will have to decide if it is worth saying hello when you know you’re destined for a goodbye.
This was my very first book by Matson and I honestly have no idea what to think. The long chapters did not help at all and the writing was slow at times. I also did not like the insta love in the first part of the book, and is definitely not one of my favourite trope. But after that it did get a bit better and it was interesting to see that the characters actually do start trying to get to know each other. I do think they did lack chemistry. I really appreciated seeing so much of the family dynamic of different generations, which can be so relatable for everyone. If you like chick-lit or YA contemporary romance, you will probably like this one. However, many reviewers said this is not Matson's best book, so I may need to check her backlists and read another to see if I like it more or end up liking the author.
Darcy believes in love at first sight. Even though it has never happened to her, she has spent her whole life waiting for that magical moment, hoping that when she meets the right guy, everything will fall into place perfectly.
But right now, her life is anything but perfect. Heading home from a music festival, engine trouble means she has stranded at a Nevada bus station until morning. Even worse, it is the day before she leaves for college, her phone is dead, and she has no cash. Darcy has convinced nothing good can come of this night but then she meets Russell. Cute, nice, funny, and kind, this is the guy and the moment she has been waiting for. As they walk and talk, the two connect, and Darcy is able to put aside all her fears and doubts about the future to focus on this perfect guy.
Over the course of one fateful night, Darcy and Russell discover things they never imagined about each other and themselves. But can you really know someone after only a handful of hours? Is it possible to fall in love in less than day? Before they part, both their lives will be changed, and Darcy and Russell will have to decide if it is worth saying hello when you know you’re destined for a goodbye.
This was my very first book by Matson and I honestly have no idea what to think. The long chapters did not help at all and the writing was slow at times. I also did not like the insta love in the first part of the book, and is definitely not one of my favourite trope. But after that it did get a bit better and it was interesting to see that the characters actually do start trying to get to know each other. I do think they did lack chemistry. I really appreciated seeing so much of the family dynamic of different generations, which can be so relatable for everyone. If you like chick-lit or YA contemporary romance, you will probably like this one. However, many reviewers said this is not Matson's best book, so I may need to check her backlists and read another to see if I like it more or end up liking the author.
December 5, 2023
This book has everything I love about a Morgan Matson book: swoony romance, a mischievous dog, a big wild family, and wonderful friendships!
May 9, 2024
morgan matson truly never lets me down (real review to come)
May 2, 2024
I am here for all the new Morgan Matson!
Darcy & Russell meet when their bus breaks down while coming home from a music festival. They try to make the best of a bad night by getting to know each other, tacos, and a late night swim. But of course, they’re both hiding some secrets!
Everything about this book is charming. You have a great meet cute, a few twists and a wonderful array of characters. There’s something so comforting about a Morgan Matson book and The Ballad of Darcy & Russell is no different from her others.
This is everything a YA contemporary should be. But just a FYI I would put this at the higher age limit of YA due to some thematic elements and a bit of language.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available May 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Darcy & Russell meet when their bus breaks down while coming home from a music festival. They try to make the best of a bad night by getting to know each other, tacos, and a late night swim. But of course, they’re both hiding some secrets!
Everything about this book is charming. You have a great meet cute, a few twists and a wonderful array of characters. There’s something so comforting about a Morgan Matson book and The Ballad of Darcy & Russell is no different from her others.
This is everything a YA contemporary should be. But just a FYI I would put this at the higher age limit of YA due to some thematic elements and a bit of language.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Available May 7, 2024
Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
May 5, 2024
I just couldn’t get into this one. The insta-love was super quick but lacked chemistry, everything was happening so fast, and the whole thing with Darcy having full conversations with friends that weren’t really there (just in her head) was a bit strange. Just wasn’t for me.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2024
Possibly Morgan’s best since Since You’ve Been Gone.
June 29, 2024
4.5 stars:
Was this Morgan Matson’s best book? No. Was I disappointed that she pushed a little more political agenda and cussing into it? Yes. Was it still incredibly sweet and fun in a way only her books can be? Yes! Did I still love it? Yes!
I don’t care how many YA romance books I read, the moment where the main character realizes that maybe they’ve been seeing life the wrong way and then has an emotional conversation with a family member who they’ve had a broken relationship with get me EVERY FLIPPING TIME. Yes, I did cry, and no, I’m not ashamed.
Also, I’m not normally one to make playlists about books (at least not in reviews), but As It Was by Harry Styles was playing in my head the whole time. It describes the story so well!
Anywho this book has everything that every Morgan Matson book has: road trip, really bad puns, an incredibly beautiful and sweet guy, and a past to present storyline. It was sweet and fun and wholesome and amazing! The fact that I finished it in 3 days should tell you something. If you haven’t read this book, I definitely recommend!
Was this Morgan Matson’s best book? No. Was I disappointed that she pushed a little more political agenda and cussing into it? Yes. Was it still incredibly sweet and fun in a way only her books can be? Yes! Did I still love it? Yes!
I don’t care how many YA romance books I read, the moment where the main character realizes that maybe they’ve been seeing life the wrong way and then has an emotional conversation with a family member who they’ve had a broken relationship with get me EVERY FLIPPING TIME. Yes, I did cry, and no, I’m not ashamed.
Also, I’m not normally one to make playlists about books (at least not in reviews), but As It Was by Harry Styles was playing in my head the whole time. It describes the story so well!
Anywho this book has everything that every Morgan Matson book has: road trip, really bad puns, an incredibly beautiful and sweet guy, and a past to present storyline. It was sweet and fun and wholesome and amazing! The fact that I finished it in 3 days should tell you something. If you haven’t read this book, I definitely recommend!
June 4, 2024
It would take *a lot* for Morgan Matson to get less than 5 stars from me. Sure, I love some more than others, but I will love them all. I fall into them in the best way. Plus, I think SHE has a human being is great and through a series of events, she has a forever fan in me. I mean, she sent me an ARC (which accidentally turned into 2 ARCs, but I shared the wealth!) of this one for free with a personal note inside. I love her.
I think it was easy to see where this was going with Russell in the beginning, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I loved him. I loved his family. I love the adventures over one night. I just love a summery Morgan Matson read. I will admit that I wouldn't be sad to get a book from her that takes place over a longer period of time, but I'm also not sad that this one didn't.
I think it was easy to see where this was going with Russell in the beginning, but I don't think that's a bad thing. I loved him. I loved his family. I love the adventures over one night. I just love a summery Morgan Matson read. I will admit that I wouldn't be sad to get a book from her that takes place over a longer period of time, but I'm also not sad that this one didn't.
April 19, 2024
*Thank you to the publishers and the author for providing me a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*
Actual Rating: 4
Darcy believes in love at first sight. I, on the other hand, don’t. At all. Which is why I went into this with a bit of trepidation.
The book follows Darcy, who suddenly finds herself stranded at the bus station after a music festival. While trying to find an iPhone charger, she runs into Russell. He’s cute, he’s funny, he’s everything she could ever ask for, and the two of them spend a single, whirlwind day together — which makes Darcy feel like she’s finally living the rom-com life she’s wanted for so long. Until everything comes crashing down.
I was pretty lukewarm on this at the start because it really does start off as a pretty uneventful insta-love type of romance. I found it difficult to become emotionally attached to Darcy and Russell’s story when it seemed their relationship was little more than light-hearted banter.
And then. And then. We get to the 30% mark, and everything changed. The twist is something I surprisingly didn’t see coming (I wasn’t thinking that much lol) but it completely changed the course of the book in a very good way. Suddenly, Darcy and Russell’s relationship felt much more high-stakes and real, and it became extremely clear: This is not a “love at first sight is real” type of book — it’s so much more than that. And I love a book that flips a trope on its head.
When the plot got interesting, so did the characters. Russell became much more than a manic pixie dream boy, and Darcy also seemed to become much more than the typical quirky female lead. I really enjoyed how much depth were added to the characters. The family theme is also really touching, and it manages to insert some well-timed humor and chaos while we’re at it. In the end I was pretty impressed at how mature the story was.
Overall, although it kind of had a slow start, I ended up really enjoying this one, and I think any other chick-lit or YA contemporary romance lover will too.
Actual Rating: 4
Darcy believes in love at first sight. I, on the other hand, don’t. At all. Which is why I went into this with a bit of trepidation.
The book follows Darcy, who suddenly finds herself stranded at the bus station after a music festival. While trying to find an iPhone charger, she runs into Russell. He’s cute, he’s funny, he’s everything she could ever ask for, and the two of them spend a single, whirlwind day together — which makes Darcy feel like she’s finally living the rom-com life she’s wanted for so long. Until everything comes crashing down.
I was pretty lukewarm on this at the start because it really does start off as a pretty uneventful insta-love type of romance. I found it difficult to become emotionally attached to Darcy and Russell’s story when it seemed their relationship was little more than light-hearted banter.
And then. And then. We get to the 30% mark, and everything changed. The twist is something I surprisingly didn’t see coming (I wasn’t thinking that much lol) but it completely changed the course of the book in a very good way. Suddenly, Darcy and Russell’s relationship felt much more high-stakes and real, and it became extremely clear: This is not a “love at first sight is real” type of book — it’s so much more than that. And I love a book that flips a trope on its head.
When the plot got interesting, so did the characters. Russell became much more than a manic pixie dream boy, and Darcy also seemed to become much more than the typical quirky female lead. I really enjoyed how much depth were added to the characters. The family theme is also really touching, and it manages to insert some well-timed humor and chaos while we’re at it. In the end I was pretty impressed at how mature the story was.
Overall, although it kind of had a slow start, I ended up really enjoying this one, and I think any other chick-lit or YA contemporary romance lover will too.
May 30, 2024
This is one of those “takes place in 24 hours” books that just works, although it did take me a while to get into it. Russell is the type of character teen me would have instantly fallen in love with. And Darcy was such a relatable character.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for an advanced copy of this book.
June 16, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for providing me an advanced copy of this book to review.
This is a beautiful story for hopeless romantics like myself!! The chemistry between the two main characters was believable, relatable, and I had butterflies in my stomach!
The rest of the characters were fun, lighthearted, and written in a way I feel like I now know them, and will miss learning more about them (maybe a spin off is needed!!).
This is the perfect story for summer and beach reading!!
This is a beautiful story for hopeless romantics like myself!! The chemistry between the two main characters was believable, relatable, and I had butterflies in my stomach!
The rest of the characters were fun, lighthearted, and written in a way I feel like I now know them, and will miss learning more about them (maybe a spin off is needed!!).
This is the perfect story for summer and beach reading!!
Want to read
March 16, 2024my every dream is coming true: a new morgan matson book
Want to read
April 15, 2024Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for the ARC <3
April 28, 2024
This was the perfect YA romance. It was sweet with a little angst, awesome supporting characters, and made me smile. I was provided an advanced copy of this book which had not affected my review.
May 29, 2024
Morgan Matson is always going to be 5 stars for me, this was perfect
July 16, 2024
I don't know, guys, I just really liked this one. It felt good. I got caught up in it. It's what I want from a book honestly.
May 15, 2024
3.5 to 3.75 stars.
While there were some parts of the book that I really enjoyed, overall I found the book to be more times than not... quite sluggish. I also thought Darcy's whole obsession with living life like a rom-com movie during the first third of the book to be... just too much for me. It was awkward to me.
And, while not a huge deal to me, the "twist" or "reveal" midway through the book was super easy to figure out. Like... zero percent surprised about it.
On the plus side, it really is a sweet book and the chapters spent in Vegas (I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil the book) were really the best part. Matson is great at secondary characters and these chapters really shine because of the cast. I wish more time was spent in Vegas honestly.
All in all, it was a good book but definitely not among my favorite Morgan Matson novels. Would recommend The Unexpected Everything instead of this one.
While there were some parts of the book that I really enjoyed, overall I found the book to be more times than not... quite sluggish. I also thought Darcy's whole obsession with living life like a rom-com movie during the first third of the book to be... just too much for me. It was awkward to me.
And, while not a huge deal to me, the "twist" or "reveal" midway through the book was super easy to figure out. Like... zero percent surprised about it.
On the plus side, it really is a sweet book and the chapters spent in Vegas (I'll leave it at that so I don't spoil the book) were really the best part. Matson is great at secondary characters and these chapters really shine because of the cast. I wish more time was spent in Vegas honestly.
All in all, it was a good book but definitely not among my favorite Morgan Matson novels. Would recommend The Unexpected Everything instead of this one.
June 18, 2024
i'm loathe to give any of Matson's books fewer than three stars, but here we are.
what happened to the author of Amy & Roger, Since You've Been Gone, Second Chance Summer, and Save the Date??? Compared to those, The Ballad of Darcy and Russell read as if it'd been written by a young writer trying to manifest her teen rom-com dreams into a fanfic story.
Matson's latest YA venture wasn't my favorite, but this book was far worse. it was unnecessarily long and bogged down with a tiring story that i'd read before by far less talented writers. i hated the insta-love between Darcy + Russell. i couldn't sympathize with Darcy's anger upon discovering Russell's secret--bc duhhhh, you just met this kid like five hours ago. of course you don't know everything about him yet. this is why you need to get to know someone before giving into the physicality of a relationship. urgh!
there was no plot other than that. they go on a short roadtrip at the end, i guess, but considering Matson's A&R already features the BEST roadtrip story, this was a cheap, pale imitation in comparison.
such a disappointment. is it because i'm an adult now and therefore can't relate as much to these teen stories? but i also reread Matson's excellent earlier novels and still love/relate to those. idk. i'm so bummed!
what happened to the author of Amy & Roger, Since You've Been Gone, Second Chance Summer, and Save the Date??? Compared to those, The Ballad of Darcy and Russell read as if it'd been written by a young writer trying to manifest her teen rom-com dreams into a fanfic story.
Matson's latest YA venture wasn't my favorite, but this book was far worse. it was unnecessarily long and bogged down with a tiring story that i'd read before by far less talented writers. i hated the insta-love between Darcy + Russell. i couldn't sympathize with Darcy's anger upon discovering Russell's secret--bc duhhhh, you just met this kid like five hours ago. of course you don't know everything about him yet. this is why you need to get to know someone before giving into the physicality of a relationship. urgh!
there was no plot other than that. they go on a short roadtrip at the end, i guess, but considering Matson's A&R already features the BEST roadtrip story, this was a cheap, pale imitation in comparison.
such a disappointment. is it because i'm an adult now and therefore can't relate as much to these teen stories? but i also reread Matson's excellent earlier novels and still love/relate to those. idk. i'm so bummed!
June 7, 2024
3.5 stars. Morgan Matson is nothing if not consistent at writing book boyfriends I adore.
You can read my full review at Forever Young Adult.
You can read my full review at Forever Young Adult.
May 25, 2024
DNF at 60%. One star up from Take Me Home Tonight. I think I have to give up on Matson. I used to love everything she released, but everything after Save the Date has been a disaster. I'm tired of these 24 hour stories that are either boring or annoying because there's hardly any character development anymore. I'm not a fan of instalove either. But what I hate most is with this book and Take Me home Tonight, Matson really rubs longtime fans face in the fact she broke up Amy & Roger from her debut novel. It hurts and I feel like she no longer cares for the older fans and only what the new generation wants. In times like these, I rely on my faves having their HEA, but now I worry I can't read Amy & Roger the same again. Yes, I know it's YA, and it's no longer meant for someone my age, but I just wish she'd leave her older characters alone.
May 28, 2024
This story takes an interesting approach to love at first sight, which is a genre I haven’t read much of! It was fun to relate to the main character throughout the whole story and I really saw my self in her!
(FAV QUOTE)
“Something was HAPPENING. I could feel it in my bones. It felt like the curtain had just risen on a okay I’ve been waiting my whole life to perform” (loved this quote)
(WHAT I LOVED MOST)
-One thing I’ve always enjoyed about the books written by MM is the interesting family dynamics! I was blown away by how the two different families were written in this story. I’m also a big fan of tons of different characters in books, so big families are always a bonus for me!
-I always enjoy when a book or film incorporates music. Darcy’s connection to music and how it connected her with her parents really resonates with me!
(CHARACTERS)
- a lot of times I’m not a fan of main characters in books, but I couldn’t help but love Darcy even when she made questionable decisions. I think she was an accurate representation of how the young chaotic mind works!
- Darcy’s 2 best friends not actually being in the story, but being implemented by having them be the little devil and angel on her shoulder was such a interesting touch and something I haven’t seen done in that way before!
- Russell is such the perfect guy! His musical theatre passion just made him even better- literally the love of my life💗
- My all time favorite character is Russell’s dad. I will leave it at that!
This story had moments that I THOUGHT would be predictable…but I was always wrong with my predictions!! I love a good plot twist. My second five star read of the year! I’ve been so picky but this story definitely deserves it. Loved the ending!!!
I was anticipating this books release and was so excited to finally read it. I’m so happy it lived up to my expectations! I got my hands on it early at ntt book festival last month and was able to meet the author (so so sweet by the way 🥹 it’s always cool to meet one of your favs)
The ballad of Darcy and Russell is definitely near the top of my list of Morgan Matson books!
All around great story that i highly recommend! For reference i am a teenager so my opinion may differ from someone who finds cheesy romance cringy but i LOVED this story
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
April 24, 2024
“I’ve always believed in love at first sight.”
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
If you're looking for a book that'll put a smile on your face, pick this up! The Ballad of Darcy and Russell is equal parts an adorable rom-com and a journey about family. Both Darcy and Russell are going to college and each has their own struggles they're working through. I loved seeing how they came together and supported one another throughout the book. When they initially meet there is a "love at first sight" moment however, what I enjoyed the most about the romance was what came afterwards. They took time to get to know one another and focused on their self-growth. While the romance was really cute, I also enjoyed the family dynamics of each of the main characters. Both families have their problems and how they deal with them is very different. In terms of side characters, I loved reading about them and wished I could have gotten to know them a bit more. Even though the course of the book took place over a day, the pacing was very well done. It felt like the perfect amount of urgency without being too fast-paced. Speaking of, I actually binge-read this book all in one day 😂. With an adorable meet-cute, intriguing plot twists, and heartfelt moments, The Ballad of Darcy and Russell is the perfect feel-good rom-com to read this summer!
I'd like to thank Simon & Schuster for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
I've also posted this review on Instagram and my blog.
Instagram Post
Blog Post
If you're looking for a book that'll put a smile on your face, pick this up! The Ballad of Darcy and Russell is equal parts an adorable rom-com and a journey about family. Both Darcy and Russell are going to college and each has their own struggles they're working through. I loved seeing how they came together and supported one another throughout the book. When they initially meet there is a "love at first sight" moment however, what I enjoyed the most about the romance was what came afterwards. They took time to get to know one another and focused on their self-growth. While the romance was really cute, I also enjoyed the family dynamics of each of the main characters. Both families have their problems and how they deal with them is very different. In terms of side characters, I loved reading about them and wished I could have gotten to know them a bit more. Even though the course of the book took place over a day, the pacing was very well done. It felt like the perfect amount of urgency without being too fast-paced. Speaking of, I actually binge-read this book all in one day 😂. With an adorable meet-cute, intriguing plot twists, and heartfelt moments, The Ballad of Darcy and Russell is the perfect feel-good rom-com to read this summer!
March 4, 2024
It has been a few years since I last read a Morgan Matson book and so I was excited that to receive an ARC.
This book started off a bit rough. Part one was honestly the weakest part of the whole book and that is mainly due to the insta-love. Look, I am a hopeless romantic just like our protagonist Darcy, but I did not get the feeling that love was in the air. I mean she was stranded in a bus station with a boy she barely knew and her phone was dead. All I kept thinking was DANGER DANGER. I mean this was the perfect situation for a serial killer. With Darcy hearing her friends’ voices in her mind, the thriller vibes were not off… And then you throw in love at first sight and cheesy declarations by Darcy and Russell and it was just not a strong and compelling start to the book for me.
However, once I got past part one, the book really takes off and I enjoyed it so much more. There was a bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming and it got me more invested in the story. I also love how the author expanded on the complicated family dynamics of both Darcy and Russell. MM has always been very good at writing family relationships and it was honestly the most interesting aspect about this book. And the last chapter and the epilogue were also just so adorable!
And so, despite the slow start, I still really liked this book and I would recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a YA romance read.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This book started off a bit rough. Part one was honestly the weakest part of the whole book and that is mainly due to the insta-love. Look, I am a hopeless romantic just like our protagonist Darcy, but I did not get the feeling that love was in the air. I mean she was stranded in a bus station with a boy she barely knew and her phone was dead. All I kept thinking was DANGER DANGER. I mean this was the perfect situation for a serial killer. With Darcy hearing her friends’ voices in her mind, the thriller vibes were not off… And then you throw in love at first sight and cheesy declarations by Darcy and Russell and it was just not a strong and compelling start to the book for me.
However, once I got past part one, the book really takes off and I enjoyed it so much more. There was a bit of a twist that I didn’t see coming and it got me more invested in the story. I also love how the author expanded on the complicated family dynamics of both Darcy and Russell. MM has always been very good at writing family relationships and it was honestly the most interesting aspect about this book. And the last chapter and the epilogue were also just so adorable!
And so, despite the slow start, I still really liked this book and I would recommend checking it out if you’re looking for a YA romance read.
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!
April 30, 2024
Thank you to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy!!
This book and any book by Morgan Matson always feels so special to me. I have been reading her books for 10 years, met her twice and truly look forward to each new release. I feel like I have grown up reading her books. This one was no different. In this Before Sunrise inspired, one night of adventure we follow Darcy and Russel. Two young adults who are about to start college and meet by chance at a bus station. Through fate, somehow these two were brought together and spend a crazy and unexpected 24 hours together. I felt the connection between these two from the start and my favorite parts of the book were their conversations. It felt like they had known each other their whole lives, their conversations and the way they were with each other felt so natural. I loved that Darcy was a romance lover and waiting for that “love at first sight moment”. She got to live that rom com moment when she saw Russell and everything that happened after.
Even though we only saw the two characters for 24 hours, we really saw them deal with struggles and overcome things in their lives. They felt like real 18 year olds just trying to figure out what’s next.
I really enjoyed this one, I couldn’t put it down and just wanted to keep reading about Darcy and Russell’s adventure.
Thanks again to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy!!
This book and any book by Morgan Matson always feels so special to me. I have been reading her books for 10 years, met her twice and truly look forward to each new release. I feel like I have grown up reading her books. This one was no different. In this Before Sunrise inspired, one night of adventure we follow Darcy and Russel. Two young adults who are about to start college and meet by chance at a bus station. Through fate, somehow these two were brought together and spend a crazy and unexpected 24 hours together. I felt the connection between these two from the start and my favorite parts of the book were their conversations. It felt like they had known each other their whole lives, their conversations and the way they were with each other felt so natural. I loved that Darcy was a romance lover and waiting for that “love at first sight moment”. She got to live that rom com moment when she saw Russell and everything that happened after.
Even though we only saw the two characters for 24 hours, we really saw them deal with struggles and overcome things in their lives. They felt like real 18 year olds just trying to figure out what’s next.
I really enjoyed this one, I couldn’t put it down and just wanted to keep reading about Darcy and Russell’s adventure.
Thanks again to Edelweiss and Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy!!
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