Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Pages: 320 pages
Publication Date: March 26th 2013 by Bloomsbury
Source: I won this book from Pink Polka Dot Books
Link: goodreads
When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List: 1. Run for pep club secretary 2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree 3. Sew a dress for Homecoming 4. Find a steady 5. Do something dangerous But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.I have been wanting to read this book for a really really long time. I actually won it last year from another book blogger but never made the time to sit down and read it. I recently had some family health issues and wanted to read something cute and comforting. I remember first learning about this book. A young girl who wants to go back to a simpler time... gets rid of technology and all the stuff we have to deal with today. I thought "YES.. I want this too". So I dove right on into the book.
Let's be honest here.. this is a simple book. There isn't an elaborate story line. It is just a simple story of a teen going through a break-up with a boy. This girl then decides to try to do some things she found on her grandmother's list that she wrote in the 60s. Mallory (the main character) wants to give up social media, cell phones, ext. Trust me I understand this. When I was stressed recently I didn't want to look through facebook. It can be fake. No one posts on there what is really going on.. every one is all smiles. Then on the other side.. I only see negative stuff on the pages I like. Someone was shot and killed, there was a fire, war. So I avoided facebook.
What I really liked is that by the end of the book Mallory realizes that even though there was no technology or texting the same problems existed. You can move yourself into a different time but the problems are still there. You can't just think because there wasn't facebook that people still didn't have issues. There is a semi-love triangle in the book though it wasn't that bad. For once I wasn't grossed out. And there really wasn't that love triangle drama teens books usually have.
This is a cute fluff read... so people will either like it because of that or loathe it because of that. It was perfect for me at this time. I was stressed and didn't want to read something deep. I sometimes want to go back to a time without technology. One thing I would miss though is texting. My mom, dad, sister and I text each other daily. DAILY. I love them for that. I can talk about the most boring things with them. But otherwise... sometimes I do need a break. Check this book out if you just want something feel good.
The crystal ball says:
Sun is shinning!!! Great day to go outside and read this book.
I would definitely mix texting - it's so convenient! I'd also miss being able to find directions to places while I'm already out since my sense of direction is basically non-existant. This sounds like a cute read. I love when you find a book that exactly hits what you want for your mood. I had that happen with a book this summer and I enjoyed that book so much!
ReplyDeleteI felt the same way! I loved how fun and fluffy it was because sometimes that's just what you want to read. Great review :)
ReplyDeleteI agree it's a fluffy but fun read. I think I was expecting a little more complexity when I read it and felt a bit unsatisfied. But it has a charm to it and I loved the lists!
ReplyDeleteThis does sound really cute. I think it would be a nice read in between more intense books or when you just want to relax a bit.
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I was thinking of reading this too, but now that I know it's more of a fluff read, I will wait til I'm in the mood. I think it has a great message though, that technology is not always the problem - it's really how it's used. (But Facebook is so annoying sometimes! heh)
ReplyDeleteI agree... it was perfect and just what I was looking for.
ReplyDeleteIt barely has a plot. I hate to say that but it's true. The plot is a girl just trying to make a 60's dress and let go of technology. Really the goodreads description is exactly what the book is about. There are no surprises or anything. I did like it though. I had tried to read Inferno right before because that is a book I own and have been meaning to read but it was just too exciting. I needed a relaxing read.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a fun book and the plot of going back to simpler things sounds interesting. Although I can't imagine living without tehcnology it certainly does have some advantages. And I agree facebook seems so fake sometimes. I just wish people would say what's really going on. It also seems easier for conversations to escalate into drama on facebook, in real life it's easier to really explain what you mean.
ReplyDeleteTechnology also can be very handy in daily life, like how I can skype with my mom while she lives far away. And I would miss blogging as well.
I saw this one a while back and was curious. It sounds like a nice read. I have definitely had that feeling before with all the technology and how dependent you can be on it and just needing to check out for a while. Glad it turned out to be a good one for ya!
ReplyDeleteThis does sound like a delightful read...and these "vintage" days were something some of us lived in our youth. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI would love to live in a time without all this social media sometimes. But other times it keeps me busy and connected. It has given me a hobby that I enjoy (blogging and reading) so I don't know how I would feel without it now.
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