I’ve been a fan of Morgan Matson’s books for years. Every time I find out a new book is released, I’m really excited to read it. When I found out there wasn’t one new Morgan Matson book but two going to be released in 2024, I was really excited! The first one is called Promchanted and is published by Disney Hyperion. The second is The Ballad of Darcy & Russell and is published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers.
I purchased both books, but the book I decided to read first is the Ballad of Darcy and Russell. I had some time to sit down and read it in May, so I dedicated a weekend and a couple of weekdays to reading it and write a review post about it. After reading it, I didn’t feel ready to write a review about it. After reading reviews of the book on Amazon, I felt like I was in the minority about my opinions about this book. It is different than other books Morgan has wrote, and it isn’t one I enjoyed.
Since I felt my opinions about the book is contradictory to what the reviews on Amazon said, I decided to delay publishing my review post for a month or so. I hopefully gave enough time to allow others write reviews online (And on Amazon) before anyone reads my own.
The book’s blurb from Amazon is…
Darcy believes in love at first sight.
Even though it’s never happened to her, she’s spent her whole life waiting for that perfect, magical moment. But right now, her life is anything but perfect. In the aftermath of a music festival, she’s stranded at a bus station until morning—the day before she leaves for college. Her phone is dead, she has no cash, and she’s convinced nothing good can come of this night…but then she meets Russell.
Russell. Cute and nice, funny, and kind. She knows this is the moment—and the guy—she’s been waiting for. And they have until sunrise to walk and talk and connect.
Over the course of this one fateful night—filled with football field picnics, night swimming, and escape-artist dogs—Darcy and Russell’s lives will change forever. They’ll discover things they never imagined about each other…and about themselves.
But can you really know someone after only a handful of hours? Is it possible to fall in love in just one day?
And is it worth saying hello…when you know you’re destined for a goodbye?
Ok, to be honest, it wasn’t my favorite book Morgan wrote. In fact, it is my least favorite book she ever wrote. I have come to expect her books to be high quality, light hearted, and clean novels about teenage girls and plenty of adventure. This book does fit into it, except it isn’t as light hearted as the other books. Prior to the publishing of The Ballad of Darcy and Russell, I would say the least light hearted book Morgan has written is Take Me Home Tonight. Even then I would still consider it to be light hearted and clean.
As for The Ballad of Darcy and Russell, it doesn’t fit in with the other books Morgan wrote nor does it fit into the category of books I have come to expect from her. There is plenty of adventure. There is a teen girl and a boy she falls in love with. The problem is it isn’t as clean as I hoped it would be. There are curse words in it, including the F-bomb, which is said five or so times in the book. (I remember five times it was said but I lost count after that) All those times are said before the halfway point of the book. It also goes into Darcy and Russell’s relationship escalating very quickly over the course of the night, including skinny dipping and nearly having sex before actually having sex at the end of the book. Even though the book does not go into details about the sex they had and it is more of a closed door sex (Especially if I compare it to other romance novels out there) yet it is still there.
I was really surprised by things that happen in the book. It isn’t a book I expected from Morgan nor is it something I would’ve picked up and read had I known what was in it. What I also wasn’t expecting was the additional mention of celebrity gossip in the book. Like many novels I’ve been reading that were published since the end of 2022, it draws inspiration from a lot of real life celebrity gossip as inspiration or mentioned in them. The fact this book is published during a frame of time when so many novels targeting young adults have some clear inspiration from whatever was going on in 2023 made me sad. Since I’m reading so many young adult books that have this in them, it makes me wonder why it needed to be included in the first place. It also made me feel like it will become dated in a few years time while other books written by Morgan won’t.
Even though I can go on and on about what I don’t like in this book, I want to focus on some parts I really liked. The idea of two teens meeting at a bus stop and falling in love as they get to know each other is a really cute idea. The twist halfway through the book about who Russell’s father is was something I wasn’t expecting, yet it made sense. Further more, the scenes when Darcy meets Russell’s father and family is something really sweet. The family’s interaction with each other isn’t what many would call normal, but, just like it is pointed out in the book, it works for them. The pacing is pretty good and the way the story develops keeps a reader focused on the book. (After all, I did finish reading the book in less than four days!) And, just like all other books Morgan wrote, it does include a happily ever after.
So, would I recommend this book? It depends on who I am recommending it to. If someone wants an edgier young adult romance from Morgan Matson, this is the book. If someone doesn’t mind the F-boom in a book or a teenager having sex, then this is a good book. It could also be a good book for an older teen that wants to read a romance novel that is more grown up, yet doesn’t want to read a book that clearly will have open door sex scenes in it (For an example, Fifty Sades of Grey) then this book would also be a great for them to read. Yet, if someone is expecting Morgan’s older style of books or doesn’t involve cursing or a one night stand with someone a teenager has just met, then this isn’t the book for them. As for me, I still am curious to read more books by Morgan. Just not this one.
That’s all for now! Thank you for reading!