Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson [Sticky Notes Edition + Giveaway]

If you're looking for the book's synopsis or want to read my original review, please click here. This isn't a comprehensive review of the book, just my thoughts as I was reading it (or at least the ones I jotted down).

In case you haven't guessed, I dog-ear my books while reading. I fold the top corner down when I want to mark my spot, and I fold the bottom corner up when I want to refer back to something on a specific page (usually a quote). I also make small marks on the pages (asterisks) to make it easier for me to find what it was that caught my attention, and will occasionally make small notes in the margins. However, there are times when sticky notes are needed to fully convey my thoughts on something I've read, which makes it easier for me to write reviews. I also like using sticky notes when reading library books (can't write in those), or when it's a book I plan on giving away after reading (people really don't like dog-eared pages).

Thus, the Sticky Note Edition was born! I will review a book like normal, then a few days later (when applicable), I will post about the same book using only the things I've scribbled onto sticky notes throughout the pages. They will be posted unaltered and in order, which I think will give people an interesting look at what goes on inside of my head while I'm reading. Normally, I just toss the sticky notes in the trash once I've written my review, but this seems like more fun (just don't judge my spelling and grammar too harshly, haha). I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did posting it!

WARNING: Possible spoilers if you haven't read the book! 

Font style? Love the FRIENDS headings. 

Why does Teri have a subplot? We also know nothing about her - no personality.

Why is this even here? The kids knew she was lying? Wtf? 

Stevie stepped on the train WITH Brad... Brad is w/ Kat next page

Look! Brad is NOT on the train with Stevie.

NVM! Random POV switch. Why isn't it every other? Why wait until 133?

Now she's being mugged??? Why?!

Law & Order?? There's no way this is believable!

Seriously? What the actual fuck is happening RN?

This is not even remotely realistic.

The CIA guy would not order them around w/ a gun.

There's. No. Way. This. Would. Happen.

Top Gun Spoilers!

Why is she so obsessed with this play??

*switched to bigger sticky notes

This is unbelievably random, Also, why would an adult man - especially a CIA agent - be talking to CHILDREN like this? They wouldn't!

HARD EYE ROLL!! x2 x3

How would he know this? She's said maybe three things to him!

How is Dustin "streets ahead" of Ryan? Why is she swooning? Why isn't she calling the police?? Parents?? This stopped being "avoidable" ages ago.

This is so unbelievable I CAN'T EVEN! "Rug rats?" A complete & total stranger just offering assistance?!?!

Please, for the love of God, Make. It. Stop. HARD EYE ROLL x 1 million Who fucking does this?? Ahhhhh!

No one, and I mean - NO - ONE! - does this. FFS!

No server would do this - serve alcohol w/out verifying ID. They could lose their job, be arrested, etc. Not. Believable. Beckett also would've known... Idiots. All. 

Is she serious? Has she been living in a bubble for 18 years? It's BAD - obviously. 

Uh sure. Let's just completely forget that Beckett was trying to say something about his parent's play but kept getting interrupted. 

Are you fucking kidding me? After all of that? He loses ALL of his feelings in a few months and she can just "see it in his eyes?"

Her behavior is unhealthy, and she keeps trying to rationalize things she shouldn't. 

I thought she'd used all of his cash for her ticket? Had $5 left? Definitely not enough for a cab fare...

Why would this famous person trust a child she'd just met? No. Effing. Way. And why does Amy's fiancé seem so dumb?

Please make it stop.

It physically hurts to read at this point. 

Daryl is what? 9? Why is he talking like he has soooo much experience with fucking shadows?

FFS! "We're polite people???" AHHH!!!

Why? Way to inconvenience poor Leo. I'm surprised he didn't check with Stevie's dad first.

Sure you are, Teri. *Rolls eyes* Also, "dillweed?" Who is this guy. so scary. *Rolls eyes AGAIN."

They're minors! They would HAVE to tell everyone's parents. Also, kissing? Now, Teri? Yes, so brave of you.

I thought Leo had to be somewhere at 3? And he still has to drive them back home...

I don't even have words for how fucking ridiculous this is. Gods!

It is too much, Dustin Alberta. 

Yeah, so maybe involve adults? Previous students from the department?

They're just friends with Amy now?

Kat WAS petty though! Making a scene and forcing someone to acknowledge her. 

Giveaway Rules:

This giveaway officially starts on May 6th and ends on May 14th at 12 AM. The winner will be announced on May 12th on this post within the Rafflecopter form, and also notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or I will have Rafflecopter select another winner (read my full giveaway policy here).

International friends -- your giveaway will be a little different! Instead the book mentioned above, you can choose one book (up to $15) from The Book Depository! Just make sure they ship to you, which you can check right here. I know it's not the same thing, but I don't want to leave anyone out! If this happens, I will have Rafflecopter select a second winner for the physical copy shown. Good luck!

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Take Me Home Tonight by Morgan Matson [Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway]

 

Halito! Welcome to the next stop on the Take Me Home Tonight blog tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Thanks for stopping by today, and don't forget to check out the giveaway at the bottom! For the full tour schedule, please visit the Rockstar Book Tours website.

About The Book:
Title: TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT
Author: Morgan Matson
Pub. Date: May 4, 2021
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Pages: 416
Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off meets Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist in this romp through the city that never sleeps from the New York Times bestselling author of Since You’ve Been Gone.

Two girls. One night. Zero phones.

Kat and Stevie—best friends, theater kids, polar opposites—have snuck away from the suburbs to spend a night in New York City. They have it all planned out. They’ll see a play, eat at the city’s hottest restaurant, and have the best. Night. Ever. What could go wrong?

Well. Kind of a lot?

They’re barely off the train before they’re dealing with destroyed phones, family drama, and unexpected Pomeranians. Over the next few hours, they’ll have to grapple with old flames, terrible theater, and unhelpful cab drivers. But there are also cute boys to kiss, parties to crash, dry cleaning to deliver (don’t ask), and the world’s best museum to explore.

Over the course of a wild night in the city that never sleeps, both Kat and Stevie will get a wake-up call about their friendship, their choices…and finally discover what they really want for their future.

That is, assuming they can make it to Grand Central before the clock strikes midnight.

I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

Take Me Home Tonight was my first Morgan Matson book, so I was really excited to dive in! I've heard wonderful things about this author their books, which is why I jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this blog tour. I liked that this story was about Kat and Stevie's friendship, and enjoyed seeing the two of them become closer friends by the end. They had to take different paths, but both needed to learn certain truths about themselves. There were just a few things that irked me about the book, which is why I didn't give it more stars.

I think Kat was a crutch for Stevie and vice versa. Stevie never wanted to feel like a burden, so she always said things were fine even when they weren't. If Kat was around, she wouldn't let Stevie suffer in silence, and oftentimes forcefully took charge of a situation. Stevie's coffee was made wrong? Stevie says it's fine, but Kat ignores her and has the barista remake the drink. When Kat is obsessing over a casting or wanting to run lines for a play, Stevie indulges her instead of telling her she's being insane. I completely understood Kat's dedication, but hated how consumed she was by one thing. She didn't allow herself to have other hobbies or a life outside of theater.

Of the two characters, I preferred Stevie. Her problems were more relatable and she was easier to tolerate. They both were incredibly frustrating characters, and it took the better part of the book for them to grow on me. I think losing each other in the city was a much needed wakeup call for them both. They may have initially jumped to the wrong conclusions, but their experiences helped bring certain aspects of their lives into perspective. 

Unfortunately, I had to suspend my disbelief for this book to work. Everything that happened was either too convenient or too unbelievable. I can understand certain things happening unexpectedly (like running into someone you JUST met at a bodega later on). It wasn't likely to happen, but still possible. However, there were a lot of these moments peppered in throughout the book. Like what happened to Stevie after getting off the subway (super weird and not at all believable), or how they both kept running into people they knew in a city that was as unfamiliar as it was large. The characters were confronted with coincidence after coincidence, and everything seemed to work out for the best. 

I also hated Teri's storyline and wish it didn't exist. We don't know enough about her as a character for her to have this strange subplot. What happens to Teri is totally unexpected and hits you in the face like a foul ball off a broken bat. It was as shocking as it was painful to read. I cringed every time we flashed to what was happening with her while Kat and Stevie were off on their separate life-changing adventures. It made absolutely no sense and wasn't even remotely realistic. I would say more, but I don't want to spoil anything for those of you who want to read the book.

I always struggle with books when I don't like the main character(s) or have trouble relating to them. Kat and Stevie were interesting enough to read about, and I also think the author captured their ages and level of maturity really well, but there was something off-putting about them both. They're still young and figuring themselves out, and I think that's what this book is really about. Kat and Stevie have an authentic high school friendship, one that grows and changes over time. They aren't the same people they were four years ago, but they're also not the same people they were yesterday. They both say things to each other that cut deep, but that are also true and come from a place of love. It's hard to hear sometimes, but I have hope for their friendship after the end of this book. They've both learned so much about themselves in a single night, and hopefully that means certain changes will take place in the future. 

I absolutely loved Cary and all of his various jobs! However, there's a REALLY BIG spoiler for Top Gun, if you haven't seen the movie. I also liked Mateo (Matty) and thought his friends were funny. I would've enjoyed seeing more of them.

Did I absolutely love and swoon over this book? No. Was it an authentic portrayal of teenagers lost in New York City? Eh. Was it fun to read? Mostly. I may not have liked Kat and Stevie, but I do think they are characters people will be able to relate to (especially people around their age). Additionally, the formatting for this book was weird, but you get used to it. The random flashes to Teri (ugh), the fact that we only get Kat's perspective for the first part of the book and then randomly get Stevie's POV (though much needed), made this book feel unorganized and all over the place. Again, you get used to it, but you really have to pay attention the the chapter headers. 

I honestly can't say whether or not I would recommend Take Me Home Tonight, because I don't have strong feelings about it either way. I didn't love or hate it, but did enjoy it enough to keep reading. You should see my copy of the book - so many sticky notes! Maybe I'll post pictures later, haha. If you've liked the author's previous books, you might like this one, but I don't have anything to compare it to. If you've already read this one, I'd love to chat about it. (★★⋆☆☆)

About Morgan:

Morgan Matson is a New York Times bestselling author. She received her MFA in writing for children from the New School and was named a Publishers Weekly Flying Start author for her first book, Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour, which was also recognized as an ALA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults. Her second book, Second Chance Summer, won the California State Book Award. She lives in Los Angeles. Visit her at MorganMatson.com.

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Giveaway Details:

4 winners will receive a finished copy of TAKE ME HOME TONIGHT, US Only.

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