Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: March 26th 2013
My rating: 3.5 stars
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 presient–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.
Going Vintage was cute, funny and sweet. It was an easy read one you could get through
fairly quickly.
When Mallory finds out her boyfriend of over a year has been
cyber cheating on her, she feels betrayed not only by her boyfriend, but by
technology. If there were no such things
as “Friendspace” or “Authentic Life” her boyfriend wouldn’t have been betraying
her with a girl named “BubbleYum” his cyber wife. When Mallory finds a list her Grandma made
back in 1962, when she was sixteen, she decides to ditch modern: cell phones,
computers, internet, and go vintage.
Mallory decides to fulfill the goals spelled out on the list. She wants to get back to a simpler life where
girls only had to worry about sewing their homecoming dress or starting a pep
club. Sticking to authentic 1962 proves to be more difficult than Mallory
imagined, but she’s determined to get her life focused on the more important
things in life.
“Find a steady,” number four on the list may not be a hard acquisition
since Oliver, Jeremy’s cousin has stepped in to join her pep club. Oliver gets Mallory more than Jeremy ever
did. Should Mallory move on when she’s so
recently out of a long-term relationship? Often times these things are not our choice.
He pauses. “You’re not going to
homecoming?”
“I am. But not with Jeremy.”
“That’s the thing. It shouldn’t matter. Nothing you do
should matter to me. Not like it does.”
Oliver holds out his hand and yanks me off the float with surprising
force. His grip is possessively tight…..*
I’ll let your imagination fill in the rest.
This was a cute and funny novel dealing with heartbreak and
moving on. There’s a sweet romance that’s
slow to develop, as well. Ms. Leavitt
did a wonderful job with the wisecracking and witty humor. Although, I must say that best lines and
jokes were delivered by Ginny, Mallory’s younger sister. She got to say things like this:
“Did you find
pictures of Grandma's hidden lover, Eduardo? And if so, is he atop a horse? How many buttons are undone on his shirt?” *
She was pure spunk and fun.
While I liked Mallory, she was a little distant to me and some of her
decisions I couldn’t quite relate to. I
wish she spoke up for herself a little more or maybe we saw a little more
character growth. Also, Mallory’s mother
left a bad taste in my mouth and I felt she got off way too easy in the end. Still, this story and the supporting
characters made for a fun and easy novel to read.
When reading this I was struck by how reliant we are on
technology. If I forget my cell phone at
home when going to work, I just about have a panic attack and feel so naked
without it. It’s a wonder that we all
got by without one. Remembering the
information I was limited to for school reports was brought back to mind when
Mallory had to write a school report on the Industrial Revolution just by going
to the library. We are so spoiled by
immediate access to vast amounts of research and information at the tip of our
fingers. Yet, we still managed. Do all parts of technology better our lives? It’s something to think about. Face to face interaction is becoming more of
a rarity nowadays, with online communication becoming the norm.
*Quotes are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.
*Quotes are taken from an uncorrected proof and may change in the final copy.
All in all, Going
Vintage was a fast and fun read that had me laughing throughout.
I’ve decided to give
away my ARC copy of Going Vintage. Fill out the rafflcopter below for a
chance to win. The giveaway is INTERNATIONAL with the only
requirement being that you follow the blog. Good luck and thanks for
stopping by!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
22 comments:
This one sounds so good! I love the idea of making someone elses to do list into your own. And finding one from a different time would make it pretty darn awesome! This was a great review!
I've seen this book around but this is the first review I'm reading. Even though from the blurb it doesn't sound like something I might like...well I should think twice. Sounds really like a nice read for sunny day :) Great review Rachel :)
thanks for the giveaway. Really good review btw. and I love the design of your blog. new?
This does sound quite sweet Rachel. And I agree, I couldn't live without my cell phone. And I don't think I could allow my son to go anywhere without me being able to contact him. But technology does have it's bad side too, cyber bullying for instance :( But great review, and I loved your first quote :)
This sounds like a lot of fun, and I like the idea of exploring living with no modern technology (even though I am very reliant on mine!).
thanks for the giveawaw!! ^-^
I thought this book was a lot of fun too! I loved Oliver! He was so cute and totally swoon-worthy!
I honestly don't know what I would do without technology! Can you imagine not having e-readers? I would die! >.<
Oh a book already in my TBR! Love it!
Jenna_bearden_10152005(at)yahoo.com
I've seen my bloging friend read and review this and I'm so happy I can have a chance at reading it now! >___< Thaanks for the giveaway! ^^
Wasn't this so cute Rachel?! I absolutely adored Ginny as well, she had me laughing every time she appeared on the page. Hilarious:) I remember over the summer when our power was out for a full week - I thought I would die. I felt so cut off without internet or TV, and I realized just how much I relied on them. I didn't know what to do with myself without my computer. I'd be cut off from the world of blogging! *sobs at the thought*
I have a great feeling about this one, Rachel! I just know I'll like it. Like you, I get apoplexy if I happen to forget my phone, and I never ever leave the house without Ferguson, my Kindle.
If both you and Jenny say it's hilarious, then I know this is the book for me.
Fantastic review and thank you for the giveaway.
This one does sound very cute. I may have to give this one a shot when I'm in the mood for something light. :)
And I'll tell you what.. my cell croaked on me a few weeks ago and I've been without a phone since and I've been going NUTTY. lol I keep thinking I'll get used to it but I'm not. Now if I didn't have the internet either? I don't know what I'd do with myself.
I agree that a lot of Mallory’s decisions didn’t make much sense. Her logic was seriously flawed and I couldn’t connect with her in the way I did with most of the other characters. I did really like how Leavitt portrayed family, though, especially in regards to Mallory’s mom. Like you, Rachel, I thought this book was fast and fun to read.
This sounds like it's a lot of fun, when I first saw it I was sure I would like it and I think as a book with spunk I would definitely enjoy this one.
Great review, Rachel and thanks again for another awesome giveaway! :-)
This sounds like a really cute read! Thanks for the giveaway and review Rachel :) I'm looking forward to this one.
It surely didn't seem like an easy thing to accomplish every task on the list. I think I'll enjoy reading the dialogue between Oliver and Mallory. Thanks for sharing!
Great review, Rachel! Like you, I thought this was very cute but a little forgettable at the end of the day. Still, I loved the attention to technology and Oliver completely won me over! ESPECIALLY the realistic conclusion of their relationship! :D Wonderful review, dear!(:
Sounds like a really cute read. Nice that it deals with moving on from a breakup. There is in fact life after :)
Brandi @ Blkosiner’s Book Blog
Have I told you how much I LOVE you Rachel? I seriously do! You recommend the most amazing books & host the best giveaways ever!! This sounds like such a cute read!! *Fingers crossed I win a copy. I REALLY WANT TO READ IT<3*
Nice review, Rachel. This does sound like a cute read. I can't imagine JUST going to the library to do research these days. It was easier to do in high school, though (when I actually had to) but college is a different story. :)
Even though I'm not brilliant with technology, I rely on it all the time, too! Panic attacks are the norm when I'm separated from my phone or ereader. ;) This sounds like a pretty good read overall, though I wasn't too interested in at first. Great review, Rachel!
Aw, this sounds adorable! I like that it's about a break-up--I enjoyed Abby Macdonald's GETTING OVER GARRETT DELANEY last year, and this sounds sort of similar. I also love vintage, so...this review sold me. :)
And I am totally entering this contest. Thanks for both the review and giveaway, ladies!
Wendy @ The Midnight Garden
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