The Unexpected Everything

The romance with Clark, a shy fantasy novelist with writer's block, is sweet and slow-burning, but it is only one part of the story. Matson gives equal weight to Andie's close-knit friendships with Palmer, Bri and Toby, and to her tentative reconnection with a father who has always been more politician than parent. The dog-walking scenes add plenty of physical comedy and a few wonderfully characterful dogs.

Andie's need for control comes from a real loss in her past, and Matson handles that grief with care. Watching her slowly learn to accept uncertainty is genuinely moving, and the late-night drives, beach days and friend-group jokes make the book feel like a long summer evening.

At well over five hundred pages it is long for a contemporary novel, and some subplots could have been trimmed. Readers who enjoy spending time with characters will hardly notice. Romance is gentle and suitable for teens. The dialogue is quick and often very funny, and the friends' group chats and running jokes give the book a lived-in, believable texture. About 560 pages in the Simon and Schuster paperback.