Morgan Matson is one of my favorite contemporary YA authors and I’ve read all her books. Sadly, I’ve come to the conclusion that I’m slowly growing out of that age range, especially in the contemporary genre, but since she always used to be an auto-buy author for me, I thought it would be fitting to rank all the Matson novels. I want to make it very clear that this is a subjective list and only my opinion – if you feel differently, that’s cool! In addition to that, I didn’t dislike any of the books, which means even if something was in last place, it wasn’t bad. And lastly, I am a huge proponent of there one day being a Morgan Matson cinematic universe, since I’m really crossing my fingers for someone to finally adapt her novels.
(Also, shout out to My Bookish Universe, who did a ranking as well. At the time of reading their post, I thought we’d match exactly, but I apparently reconsidered since. Check it out here!)
Now, let’s get started on the ranking!
6. Take Me Home Tonight
Take Me Home Tonight is the latest installment in Morgan Matson’s bibliography. Technically, it has all the right ingredients – a strong focus on friendship, a cute dog, sweet love interests – and yet, it just didn’t hit as home as previous books of hers did. Maybe it was the ridiculous Teri-subplot or how everything ended up being just a little bit too convenient, either way, that landed it the lowest ranked spot.
Still, this is the book for you if you enjoy the likes of Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist!
Check out my review here!
5. Second Chance Summer
This book made me bawl my eyes out. In fact, I don’t think I know a single person that didn’t feel some kind of big emotion reading Second Chance Summer. I definitely preferred the family-storyline over the romance one, but most of all, I had read many other Matson books by the time I picked up this one and I could just sense that it was one of her earlier works. I feel like there were tiny flaws in her writing and that she had grown quite a lot since the release.
Check out my review here!
4. Save the Date
I surprised myself with where Save the Date ended up in the ranking. Having the focus be on the family was a smart decision, but I just love how all of Morgan Matson’s stories have familiar elements (the dogs you’d love to adopt, the romance subplots but centering family and friendships for the most part, etc.) and yet makes each book unique. The comic strips were a lovely addition and even in the plot’s predictability, I found humor and drama.
Check out my review here!
3. Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour
This road trip romance almost has it all! I remember it feeling super relatable, charming and heart-warming at the time, but somehow I was missing a clarifying conversation or something of the likes either with Amy’s mother or Charlie. Still, I have such fond memories and just want to go on a road trip thinking about it …
2. The Unexpected Everything
Okay, I just love when writers write about writers! At first, I was a bit put off by the size of this book, because it’s quite long for a contemporary novel, but the longer I think about it, the more I cherish this book. Not only does it have one of my most favorite Matson love interests and even more dogs (yes, this is a recurring plus point for me), but it was her first (to my knowledge) foray into Fantasy and I WAS HERE FOR IT! Even if it was just dribbles here, I’d totally read a Matson Fantasy!
Check out my review here!
1. Since You’ve Been Gone
Since You’ve Been Gone – I love this book with all my heart! Sometimes people really underestimate how tangled up we are in friendships and how friendship-break-ups can be some of the worst experiences. This was the first Morgan Matson novel I read and I immediately fell in love with it. There was no turning back for me after that! (Also, I don’t know a single person who doesn’t get the song stuck in their head because of the title … she truly is the queen of picking catchy titles!)
Life and Other Disasters 
AH okay I LOVE this post and this ranking just as well! Hmmm. Now that I’m really thinking about it, I think The Unexpected Everything might be my favorite, but Since You’ve Been Gone is a close second… same with Amy & Roger. I just feel so nostalgic, when I think of this book, and the road trip vibes, I just love it! I loved Second Chance Summer, but can’t reasonably rank it at the very top. I cried too hard and it broke my heart too much for that hahaha.
Love this!!
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I KNEW this would be something you’d enjoy as well 🙂 ❤ I totally get the love for The Unexpected Everything, it has a special place in my heart too. I think it’s the nostalgia that ultimately wins with Since You’ve Been Gone for me. It’s all very close though haha
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I would probably rate these the same as you but maybe swap 4 & 5. And I still need to read 3 and 6.
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Yay for us sorta matching! As you could see, I wasn’t the biggest fan of Take Me Home Tonight, but I hope you get to read Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour at some point 🙂
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I will put it on my list and check my library, I wanted to read it, but never got to it. I’ll probably skip that new one then.
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Save the Date should be number 1!
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And that’s why I said that the list is my subjective opinion haha
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Oohhh I think my favourite Morgan matson book would have to be unexpected everything!! I really did not like take me home tonight though :(( the whole thing just felt sort of disconnected. And Amy and rogers unexpected detour has been staring at me from my TBR for so long now 😭😭
Adored this post!
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The Unexpected Everything is fantastic! I totally get it 🙂 and I wasn’t the biggest fan of Take Me Home Tonight either … it was just ridiculous sometimes.
I hope you’ll enjoy Amy and Roger when you meet them! Thanks so much for stopping by! ❤
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I had a very mixed relationship with Morgan Matson, I wasn’t a big fan of The Unexpected Everything but I loved Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, I read it last summer and it was great!! 🥰 This list definitely helped me figure out what book of hers to try out next 😄
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Oh, please do tell 👀 which one are you most likely to check out next?
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Maybe Second Chance Summer (though it’s supposed to be so sad) or Since You’ve Been Gone 😄
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Second Chance will make you ball your eyes out! Everyone I know who has read it, cried.
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I haven’t read her most recent releases: Save the Date and Take Me Home Tonight. But my ranking for the other ones would be: 1. Since You’ve Been Gone, 2. Amy & Roger, 3. Second Chance Summer and 4. The Unexpected Everything
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I love how the ranking is different for all of us, but happy to see us match on first place! If you ever do end up reading more of her books, I’d definitely go with Save the Date over Take Me Home Tonight, the latter felt more immature.
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Ah yes I’m slowly growing out of the age range, but I still really like her books (and yes second chance summer absolutely made me cry)
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I like her books too and I’m sure I’ll always like them in some way, but I’m really not as invested as I used to be.
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