Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publishing Date: March 26th 2013
Pages: 320
Genre: YA Chic Lit
Series: Stand Alone
Source: Audio

 

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 secretary2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree3. Sew a dress for Homecoming4. Find a steady5. Do something dangerousBut 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 waited a while to finally get to this book. Due to some reviews and ratings, I was a bit afraid that I wouldn't quite enjoy it as much as I had hoped I would. I was wrong. This book was super cute, a bit humorous, and just all around fun. I loved the main character, she had some minor issues, but that was OK for me. I thought the story was cute, and I really enjoyed the writing. 

Mallory's boyfriend is caught cyber cheating. Mallory is crushed and angry and embarrassed. She hides out a couple of days helping her father go through her grandmother's things. She finds a list and decides things were much simpler back when her grandmother was a teenager and decides to go vintage. Live like her grandmother did and complete the same list. She finds out soon that it isn't easy but does't give up. Along the way she finds herself, discovers a family secret, and even falls a bit for a new guy. Oh and she learns a bit about life too.

I thought this book was super cute. I loved the characters, well not all of them but I did love to hate the ones I didn't love. The story was just adorable. The writing was fun, fast, and very entertaining. I can't really say what was the best part for me but there are a few that stand out. I love the idea of going vintage. So the story was really so awesome. I enjoyed all the little details, the clothing, the furniture, the lifestyle. It was so much fun. The details were very well written and it brought the life of another time to the present. 

I really liked the main character too. She was intersting. She was strong but she still needed to find strength. She was always a lot stronger than she thought she was and she proved it to herself in the end. She had a great loyalty to her family, especially to her sister and to her grandmother. She saw things that most people would miss and miss much of what others could see. She was very likable and I had no problem connecting to her. I also really liked her sister, Ginnie, her grandmother, and of course Oliver, her ex's cousin. 

Ginnie was a great addition to the story. The bond between Ginnie and Mallory was one I wish all sisters shared. They were good together, looked out for each other, and of course bickered over stupid stuff and then made up. They laughed together and cried together. They were two years difference in age but they did everything together. I loved it. 

Oliver, the love interest, was pretty much awesome. He was a bit shy on relaying his feelings in obvious ways. Although I thought it was pretty clear that he had a crush on Mallory, she wasn't so in on it. Oliver felt and read like a super good looking geek. Just my type. He was smart, good looking, sweet, and snarky. He wasn't the average love interest in YA books, but he was just right for me. 

The romance was cute and wasn't overbearing. It was building from the very beginning and never really made it past the sweet. The story was about Mallory and coming to terms with herself. It wasn't about the romance, but there was just a tinge of romance in the book. It was just perfect for what I wanted and expected out of this read. 

The narrator was just perfect for this book. I felt she did a wonderful job bringing Mallory and the others to life. She kept me very interested and very invested in the story. 

So much awesome and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present day writer/mom to three (mostly) adorable little girls. She is married to her high school lab partner and lives in Las Vegas. She is the author of the PRINCESS FOR HIRE series (www.princessforhire.com), SEAN GRISWOLD'S HEAD and GOING VINTAGEVisit her on the web at www.lindseyleavitt.com