Charlie Grant wants one last perfect weekend with all four of her older siblings at their family home before it is sold. Her sister Linnie’s wedding serves as the backdrop, but the planned celebration quickly unravels into chaos. Over three days, Charlie navigates a runaway dog, a broken alarm system, a missing tuxedo, and a local vendor crisis. While she attempts to manage these logistical disasters, Charlie discovers that her siblings are hiding major life changes, forcing her to confront the reality that her idealized version of their family dynamic no longer exists.
Readers who enjoy contemporary young adult fiction centered on complicated family structures and sibling bonds will find an honest depiction of growing up. It appeals to those looking for a story where the setting functions as a character and the humor stems from realistic social awkwardness. Someone finishing this book understands that maintaining family connections requires accepting people as they currently are rather than clinging to childhood memories. The narrative provides a clear perspective on the transition from adolescence to independent adulthood within a busy household.
Practical, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
Insights from Save the Date
“I just wanted one more day when we were all together.”
Charlie spends the whole weekend trying to keep her family's house from falling apart. It made me realize how much we cling to physical places when a chapter of life is ending.
The Grant siblings are a total mess of secrets and old grudges. You see how easy it is to treat your family like people they haven't been in ten years.
“We were characters in her story before we were people.”
Linneman's comic strip felt like a heavy shadow over everyone. It's strange how a parent’s version of your life can start to feel more real than the truth.
Rodney the wedding planner is doing his best while the world burns around him. Sometimes the only way to survive a family crisis is to find a stranger who cares about the details.
- Published
- 2018
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- ISBN
- 9781481404570
- Language
- EN
