A review by groundedwanderlust
Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys by Kate Brian

3.0

I didn’t like this book, then I liked it, then I didn’t like it. It started out bad for me. I don’t know if it is my own experience as an Army Brat that kind of ruined this book for me, but it was hard to get past my expectations for how I thought Megan should act in the case of an unexpected PCS and/or separation from her family. I fully realize that not all Army brats would react the same way, but the overwhelming majority of my friends, myself included, would have been ecstatic to go to Korea. The book was also very generic. It immediately brought to mind movies like ‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ and ‘Yours, Mine, and Ours’. Then, it got good. There was the right amount of tension between Megan and the boys, the boys and their parents, and Megan and the school. I thought it was perfect how everything culminated in Megan deciding to return to Korea. But then, that ending happened. Oh that ending. I wish Megan had not forgiven them so easily. They were mean to her. I think she should have been a little more hurt about the whole situation, especially the bit where the guy she likes seems to ‘freeze her out’. I really think the ending would have been better if it were longer. The whole process of falling out and forgiving each other just felt way too rushed compared to the pace of the rest of the story. It might even have been better to leave the ending for a sequel, stopping the first book where Megan is at the airport about to get on the flight and spreading out the week she decides to leave to fill the space left. And then, the last page, it was confusing and very much like a cliff hanger. Does Evan have romantic feelings for Megan? Did he have them all along and was only holding back because of Hailey? Overall, this book was worth the read but underwhelming and a little disappointing.