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Paradise Pawn: A Novel
Not yet published
Expected 14 Jul 26A dazzling debut novel about best friends, adolescent longing, and the Florida pawn shop that promises to make their dreams come true—if it doesn’t break them apart first.
Teenage best friends Jackie and Kayla can sell anything. Alongside their fathers, they work at a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida, handling everything from luxury jewelry to chainsaws and more. When the girls learn that Kayla’s family can’t afford a private school opportunity that Jackie’s can, Jackie becomes distraught about losing her best friend. With their sharp minds but youthful lack of foresight, they scheme a way to embezzle money from the pawn shop. As the hot Florida summer unfolds, the girls steal thousands of dollars from the shop. But when their heist is discovered, Jackie is faced with a situation that no amount of negotiating or charisma can fix.
With incredible heart and wit, and based on Richardson’s own experience working behind the counter of a pawn shop, Paradise Pawn navigates current-day themes of trust, familial love, female friendship, and class differences, and asks us how far we would go to protect the ones we love most.
Teenage best friends Jackie and Kayla can sell anything. Alongside their fathers, they work at a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida, handling everything from luxury jewelry to chainsaws and more. When the girls learn that Kayla’s family can’t afford a private school opportunity that Jackie’s can, Jackie becomes distraught about losing her best friend. With their sharp minds but youthful lack of foresight, they scheme a way to embezzle money from the pawn shop. As the hot Florida summer unfolds, the girls steal thousands of dollars from the shop. But when their heist is discovered, Jackie is faced with a situation that no amount of negotiating or charisma can fix.
With incredible heart and wit, and based on Richardson’s own experience working behind the counter of a pawn shop, Paradise Pawn navigates current-day themes of trust, familial love, female friendship, and class differences, and asks us how far we would go to protect the ones we love most.
Kindle Edition
Expected publication July 14, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 7, 2026
This little novel was simply perfect, not one word extra, missing, or out of place. It’s a realistic, sad, funny, sweet, edgy portrait of an adolescent’s growing pains and coming of age process, further complicated by the gender and class dynamics she witnesses within her incredibly vivid Florida beach town pawn shop setting.
Protagonist Jackie and her best friend Kayla are at the younger and older edges of 14 respectively, both in terms of chronological age and emotional maturity. The girls have an intense sister-like connection, having known each other since infancy and having grown up working alongside one another at the Paradise Pawn franchise managed by their dads. Kayla comes from a family that struggles to make ends meet, but is large, warm, and loving, while Jackie, who never knew her now-deceased mother, is being shepherded through adolescence (with increasing trepidation, but to the best of his ability) by her heartbreakingly devoted single dad, Devon.
The girls are each somewhat worldly wise in their own way from growing up working at the pawn shop, which has essentially served as a front row seat in Human Psych 101 and is also positioned directly at the social and economic intersections of a Florida beach town: the richer tourists, the less-rich tourists, the rich locals, and the poorer locals, who mostly work in the tourism economy. The book opens the summer before the girls are meant to start high school, which they hope will be at St. Bridget’s, the fanciest option and a beacon representing the type of wealthy, secure future they crave after witnessing years of the financial desperation that draws so many customers to Paradise Pawn.
All of the characters in this book are fantastically drawn and again, incredibly realistic. Jackie is a young teen that many of us have known: sensitive, passionate, opinionated, loving, loyal, a bit needy, a bit insecure, at times frustrated and frustrating, and both excited by and fearful of changes that are in process or yet to come. She gives very Scout Finch, Laura Ingalls, teenage Ramona Quimby vibes. I think the portrayal of Devon and his relationship with Jackie is one of the best depictions I’ve seen of single dad parenting. The author also fully maximizes the evocative pawn shop and beach town setting; there is lots of sensory detail, and it’s all incredibly interesting, integrated with, and relevant to the story. This novel is economical in length and scope, but I feel like it really took me on a coming of age journey.
This is one of those books it’s really hard to imagine someone not liking — like, I might have been a little personally worried about my soul if I hadn’t liked it. I rarely get to enjoy something so moving without also feeling it’s too saccharine, but this book has sass and edge aplenty, and there are tensions and stakes that carry you through. I should certainly hope that this book will be set out on the front table of all Florida and beach town bookstores. (I don’t actually know if pawn shops sell books!) Who is this new author Meg Richardson? — I want more from her! Highly recommended. Loved it.
My huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Zando/Tin House for the ARC. Paradise Pawn is expected on July 14, 2026.
Protagonist Jackie and her best friend Kayla are at the younger and older edges of 14 respectively, both in terms of chronological age and emotional maturity. The girls have an intense sister-like connection, having known each other since infancy and having grown up working alongside one another at the Paradise Pawn franchise managed by their dads. Kayla comes from a family that struggles to make ends meet, but is large, warm, and loving, while Jackie, who never knew her now-deceased mother, is being shepherded through adolescence (with increasing trepidation, but to the best of his ability) by her heartbreakingly devoted single dad, Devon.
The girls are each somewhat worldly wise in their own way from growing up working at the pawn shop, which has essentially served as a front row seat in Human Psych 101 and is also positioned directly at the social and economic intersections of a Florida beach town: the richer tourists, the less-rich tourists, the rich locals, and the poorer locals, who mostly work in the tourism economy. The book opens the summer before the girls are meant to start high school, which they hope will be at St. Bridget’s, the fanciest option and a beacon representing the type of wealthy, secure future they crave after witnessing years of the financial desperation that draws so many customers to Paradise Pawn.
All of the characters in this book are fantastically drawn and again, incredibly realistic. Jackie is a young teen that many of us have known: sensitive, passionate, opinionated, loving, loyal, a bit needy, a bit insecure, at times frustrated and frustrating, and both excited by and fearful of changes that are in process or yet to come. She gives very Scout Finch, Laura Ingalls, teenage Ramona Quimby vibes. I think the portrayal of Devon and his relationship with Jackie is one of the best depictions I’ve seen of single dad parenting. The author also fully maximizes the evocative pawn shop and beach town setting; there is lots of sensory detail, and it’s all incredibly interesting, integrated with, and relevant to the story. This novel is economical in length and scope, but I feel like it really took me on a coming of age journey.
This is one of those books it’s really hard to imagine someone not liking — like, I might have been a little personally worried about my soul if I hadn’t liked it. I rarely get to enjoy something so moving without also feeling it’s too saccharine, but this book has sass and edge aplenty, and there are tensions and stakes that carry you through. I should certainly hope that this book will be set out on the front table of all Florida and beach town bookstores. (I don’t actually know if pawn shops sell books!) Who is this new author Meg Richardson? — I want more from her! Highly recommended. Loved it.
My huge thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Zando/Tin House for the ARC. Paradise Pawn is expected on July 14, 2026.
Read
December 9, 2025Ha ha ha why am I crying so hard???? I loved it.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This debut YA book set primarily in a Florida pawnshop and featuring two 14 year old, long time best friends, Kayla and Jackie, who are just trying to find a way to navigate the working class life and find a way to be more successful than their families have been has strong pros and cons:
Pros:
*an enduring, supportive friendship that has weathered its ups and downs successfully but is battling the damage that diverging paths can create
*a look at class differences and the lack of understanding and kindness on both sides of the “railroad tracks”
*a single dad who has done all that he could to love and raise his daughter to work hard and be the best she can be
*lots of lessons learned about people, the good and the bad
*a look into the world of pawnshop, how they make money and the people who frequent them-sad stories, bargain hunters, desperate people and plenty of scammers
Cons:
*The book starts with Kayla and Jackie handling a pawn by an old man who must sell a dearly loved doll, the kind men use as a sex toy, plenty of description of all her body parts and some about how they are used as the girls read her accompany user manual. The author even has the old man sharing pictures on his phone of him holding his beloved “Cheri” and then going to his car after the pawn and crying over his loss.
*A girl from Jackie’s school shares a very vivid and instructional lesson about how to masturbate using an electric toothbrush with Kayla as the two are in the orthodontist’s office.
*Jackie’s near obsession with the size of not only her slowly developing breasts and Kayla’s more fully developed figure and an extreme overuse of the word “boobs.”
*A very offensive adult male in a position of authority makes frequent suggestive comments to the girls, stares at the chests and even manhandles Jackie’s behind with no consequences and, in fact, Kayla and Jackie’s fathers continually remind them that they must treat him with respect, laugh when he laughs and tolerate anything he says or does. Kayla does support her friend’s anger and feeling of violation and encourages her to yell about it and take out her anger on an orange but does not help her tell anyone.
*The book summary implies that dealing with the consequences of the girls’ theft from the store will be a large part of the plot but in actual execution, the discovery and the immediate firing of their dads from the pawn shop and the change in both families’ living situations all happen in only a handful of pages.
*The scenario of two 14 year olds handling large cash transactions, evaluating jewelry and making decisions about objects’ value without any adult supervision is highly UNrealistic and this is supposed to be a realistic fiction plot line.
-Profanity: none except for after Rob sexually assaults Jackie and the girls yell, “F- - - Rob” repeatedly as they express their anger privately.
-Sexual content: all that is included in the above cons section plus Jackie’s dad beginning to have sex with a date until that activity is disrupted
-Violence: much of regional manager Rob’s behavior towards customers as well as Jackie and Kayla
-Representation: the haves and the have nots are clearly separated in nearly all ways except for in the case of Jackie’s new friendship with rich girl/fellow St Bridget’s classmate; race or skin tone is not often included but enough is there for Kayla and Jackie’s families that they are likely White; varied family configurations-Jackie lives with her dad and her mother, who wanted to give Jackie up for adoption to another family, died when she was 8 but had little relationship with her prior to her death, Kayla with with mom & dad plus 2 brothers and a sister will be born soon
-LBGTQ+: none
There will be an audience for this book among high school readers, but I will look for other choices for our Teen or Realistic Fiction sections.
Thanks for sending me a print ARC, Tin House/Penguin Random House.
Pros:
*an enduring, supportive friendship that has weathered its ups and downs successfully but is battling the damage that diverging paths can create
*a look at class differences and the lack of understanding and kindness on both sides of the “railroad tracks”
*a single dad who has done all that he could to love and raise his daughter to work hard and be the best she can be
*lots of lessons learned about people, the good and the bad
*a look into the world of pawnshop, how they make money and the people who frequent them-sad stories, bargain hunters, desperate people and plenty of scammers
Cons:
*The book starts with Kayla and Jackie handling a pawn by an old man who must sell a dearly loved doll, the kind men use as a sex toy, plenty of description of all her body parts and some about how they are used as the girls read her accompany user manual. The author even has the old man sharing pictures on his phone of him holding his beloved “Cheri” and then going to his car after the pawn and crying over his loss.
*A girl from Jackie’s school shares a very vivid and instructional lesson about how to masturbate using an electric toothbrush with Kayla as the two are in the orthodontist’s office.
*Jackie’s near obsession with the size of not only her slowly developing breasts and Kayla’s more fully developed figure and an extreme overuse of the word “boobs.”
*A very offensive adult male in a position of authority makes frequent suggestive comments to the girls, stares at the chests and even manhandles Jackie’s behind with no consequences and, in fact, Kayla and Jackie’s fathers continually remind them that they must treat him with respect, laugh when he laughs and tolerate anything he says or does. Kayla does support her friend’s anger and feeling of violation and encourages her to yell about it and take out her anger on an orange but does not help her tell anyone.
*The book summary implies that dealing with the consequences of the girls’ theft from the store will be a large part of the plot but in actual execution, the discovery and the immediate firing of their dads from the pawn shop and the change in both families’ living situations all happen in only a handful of pages.
*The scenario of two 14 year olds handling large cash transactions, evaluating jewelry and making decisions about objects’ value without any adult supervision is highly UNrealistic and this is supposed to be a realistic fiction plot line.
-Profanity: none except for after Rob sexually assaults Jackie and the girls yell, “F- - - Rob” repeatedly as they express their anger privately.
-Sexual content: all that is included in the above cons section plus Jackie’s dad beginning to have sex with a date until that activity is disrupted
-Violence: much of regional manager Rob’s behavior towards customers as well as Jackie and Kayla
-Representation: the haves and the have nots are clearly separated in nearly all ways except for in the case of Jackie’s new friendship with rich girl/fellow St Bridget’s classmate; race or skin tone is not often included but enough is there for Kayla and Jackie’s families that they are likely White; varied family configurations-Jackie lives with her dad and her mother, who wanted to give Jackie up for adoption to another family, died when she was 8 but had little relationship with her prior to her death, Kayla with with mom & dad plus 2 brothers and a sister will be born soon
-LBGTQ+: none
There will be an audience for this book among high school readers, but I will look for other choices for our Teen or Realistic Fiction sections.
Thanks for sending me a print ARC, Tin House/Penguin Random House.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
PARADISE PAWN is an excellent debut novel by Meg Richardson. The story is told through the perspective of teenage Jackie whose mother died when she was young. Jackie's beloved dad manages Paradise Pawn, a pawn shop in Cherry Beach, Florida. The father of Kayla, Jackie's long-time best friend, also works at the pawn shop. Jackie loves the people in her world, including Kayla's mother, her town, and Paradise Pawn. She is also enamored with the private school she'll be starting in the fall. Jackie's love for all these things--especially her love for Kayla and wanting to remain inseparable from her--that fuels her determination for Kayla to attend private school with her. Jackie's determination leads her to take huge, often naive risks, which includes embezzling thousands of dollars from Paradise Pawn.
Author Meg Richardson is true to Jackie's perspective while also giving her readers enough information that we can peek around Jackie and see what she can't, including the fact that Kayla might feel differently about some things than Jackie. This creates some great tension in the story and also delivers an unexpected groundedness despite having such a naive main character. Richardson does not spare her characters from consequences, including some that feel emotional shocking. Jackie's insistence that Kayla attend private school with her and the choices she makes in her quest delivers significant impact for everyone, including Kayla and her family.
Even the characters who show up briefly in the novel--such as Paradise Pawn regulars--are richly written and compelling (or, in the case of the pawn shop owner richly written and repulsive). I finished the book in March and it has stayed with me ever since. Jackie and the people in her world feel like they live beyond the events in the novel and I find myself wondering what's next for them.
PARADISE PAWN is a great example of characters making very bad decisions while convinced they are dong the right thing--and then suffering the consequences, both those expected and those that shock. I look forward to discussing this novel with my creative writing students.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando/ Tin House imprint for the galley.
Author Meg Richardson is true to Jackie's perspective while also giving her readers enough information that we can peek around Jackie and see what she can't, including the fact that Kayla might feel differently about some things than Jackie. This creates some great tension in the story and also delivers an unexpected groundedness despite having such a naive main character. Richardson does not spare her characters from consequences, including some that feel emotional shocking. Jackie's insistence that Kayla attend private school with her and the choices she makes in her quest delivers significant impact for everyone, including Kayla and her family.
Even the characters who show up briefly in the novel--such as Paradise Pawn regulars--are richly written and compelling (or, in the case of the pawn shop owner richly written and repulsive). I finished the book in March and it has stayed with me ever since. Jackie and the people in her world feel like they live beyond the events in the novel and I find myself wondering what's next for them.
PARADISE PAWN is a great example of characters making very bad decisions while convinced they are dong the right thing--and then suffering the consequences, both those expected and those that shock. I look forward to discussing this novel with my creative writing students.
Thank you to NetGalley and Zando/ Tin House imprint for the galley.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.75 stars
Bo Burnham’s Eighth Grade meets Sean Baker’s The Florida Project in this portrait of an adolescent girl’s painful initiation into maturity.
Jackie is fourteen and spends most of her time working in the pawn shop her father manages with her best friend, Kayla. Jackie can’t imagine doing anything without Kayla, but finds herself in crisis when Kayla cannot afford tuition to the exclusive high school Jackie will be attending in the fall. The two concoct a plan to skim money from the pawn shop sales to raise money for Kayla’s tuition.
Richardson perfectly captures the excruciating nature of being a fourteen-year-old girl. Jackie’s existence consists of alternate flashes of adult insight and childlike innocence amidst a smothering of insecurity and confusion. We watch with bated breath as she navigates life’s challenges and inequities—will she learn from her mistakes or settle into a pattern of maladaptive coping mechanisms? At times you want to envelop Jackie into a warm hug, and at others you want to shake her by the shoulders and tell her to get a grip.
Paradise Pawn also explores themes of class and gender through its setting. Jackie is surrounded by an extreme wealth disparity; many of the sellers to the pawn shop are desperately poor, but the area is filled with wealthy vacationers and magnates. Class shapes her relationship with Kayla, who is quite poor, while Jackie herself is lower-middle-class due to her father’s regional manager position. Meanwhile, the girls see how women are treated as they encounter customers and their wives/girlfriends/mistresses in the pawnshop. They experience varying degrees of creepy sexual attention from men based on their perceived physical development and attractiveness.
Everything about this book is so well done, and I recommend it to all literary fiction readers. Because it takes place from a fourteen-year-old’s perspective, I think it could be a valuable reading experience for adolescent readers even though it’s marketed for adults—provided they have a trusted adult who could read it alongside them and be willing to discuss its themes/events with them.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to @ZandoProjects and @tin_house for the advanced reader copy via #NetGalley! (Out July 14).
I absolutely loved this novel about 14 year old Jackie who spends the summer before high school working with her best friend, Kayla, at the Central Florida pawn shop their dads manage. When Kayla’s scholarship to the private school they both plan to attend in September falls through, Jackie comes up with a crazy plan to get the tuition money by stealing from the store. Hijinks ensue.
I loved pretty much everything about this book. The details about what it’s like to work at or do business at a pawn shop are fascinating. The clients are described and treated respectfully despite often being at the worst moments of their lives. Jackie’s struggle with leaving the safety and happiness of childhood behind are touching and relatable. The issues of money and class as seen through the eyes of an adolescent are so well done. Jackie makes some truly horrible decisions along the way that were terribly painful to read but this was utterly propulsive and I could not put it down - I read it in two sittings. This reminded me a lot of Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett - the tone is very similar. Only knocked off half a star because it felt a bit too short and wrapped up a little too abruptly but overall this was a delight. And how great is that cover!? 4.5 stars
I absolutely loved this novel about 14 year old Jackie who spends the summer before high school working with her best friend, Kayla, at the Central Florida pawn shop their dads manage. When Kayla’s scholarship to the private school they both plan to attend in September falls through, Jackie comes up with a crazy plan to get the tuition money by stealing from the store. Hijinks ensue.
I loved pretty much everything about this book. The details about what it’s like to work at or do business at a pawn shop are fascinating. The clients are described and treated respectfully despite often being at the worst moments of their lives. Jackie’s struggle with leaving the safety and happiness of childhood behind are touching and relatable. The issues of money and class as seen through the eyes of an adolescent are so well done. Jackie makes some truly horrible decisions along the way that were terribly painful to read but this was utterly propulsive and I could not put it down - I read it in two sittings. This reminded me a lot of Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett - the tone is very similar. Only knocked off half a star because it felt a bit too short and wrapped up a little too abruptly but overall this was a delight. And how great is that cover!? 4.5 stars
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Paradise Pawn covers puberty at its finest: friendship, family jobs, Florida sunshine, and way too many laughs to even ponder putting this one down right from the start. We follow Jackie and her friend Kayla, who she considers the hotter and more extroverted version of herself she has known since age three. The two meet after their dads work at a pawn shop together, employed under a ruthless quack named Rob. Paradise Pawn displays its chapters at first into pieces you can buy at the best pawn shops around, and then diverges into two besties trying to figure out teenaged life and going to different schools after spending their lifetimes together. There is just enough glimpse of the parents and families to get a good look at how quirky our imperfect characters are. Despite some obvious holes in the pacing, I thought this one was a hoot and really enjoyed it if you're into coming of age novels. Thank you to Netgalley and Zando/ Tin House for the advanced eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Pen15 meets The Florida Project in this nostalgic coming-of-age novel that tackles one of the hardest things about growing up — our friendships changing as the realities of life set in.
I really enjoyed the setting of this novel, especially knowing it was based on the author's own experience working at a pawn shop. The sticky Florida atmosphere made this feel like a perfect summer read to me. I also really loved the depictions of friendships, both things changing between the main BFF characters as they navigate puberty and changing priorities, and the moments of a new friendship blossoming.
While I appreciated the short and sweet length, I felt like the story ended a bit abruptly after the climax. Maybe this is intentionally written to mimic how these situations can feel sometimes (left intentionally vague to avoid spoilers), but I would have loved to see a tiny bit more of how things played out for our characters!
Overall, a delightful little read if you want to feel nostalgic about navigating friendship in your teenage years.
I really enjoyed the setting of this novel, especially knowing it was based on the author's own experience working at a pawn shop. The sticky Florida atmosphere made this feel like a perfect summer read to me. I also really loved the depictions of friendships, both things changing between the main BFF characters as they navigate puberty and changing priorities, and the moments of a new friendship blossoming.
While I appreciated the short and sweet length, I felt like the story ended a bit abruptly after the climax. Maybe this is intentionally written to mimic how these situations can feel sometimes (left intentionally vague to avoid spoilers), but I would have loved to see a tiny bit more of how things played out for our characters!
Overall, a delightful little read if you want to feel nostalgic about navigating friendship in your teenage years.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Fun debut novel
Two teen girls meet at their dads’ place of work—a pawn shop. Teen girls, a pawn shop, and the hot Florida summer sun… what could go wrong?
The girls are well versed in the pawn shop world. They know which items are likely to be pawned and never reclaimed, and they’re familiar with the customers who come in to buy and sell. In many ways, they can practically run the business themselves.
Like many best friends, they dream of staying close forever. There is just one problem: only one of them can afford the elite private school they want to attend—or can they? The two come up with a scheme that might allow them both to enroll. But if they succeed, will it be everything they imagined?
This novel explores teen friendship, the naivety of youth, class differences, and the challenge of fitting in—or choosing not to. It also touches on some more mature topics.
Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read and a perfect way to kick off summer reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Two teen girls meet at their dads’ place of work—a pawn shop. Teen girls, a pawn shop, and the hot Florida summer sun… what could go wrong?
The girls are well versed in the pawn shop world. They know which items are likely to be pawned and never reclaimed, and they’re familiar with the customers who come in to buy and sell. In many ways, they can practically run the business themselves.
Like many best friends, they dream of staying close forever. There is just one problem: only one of them can afford the elite private school they want to attend—or can they? The two come up with a scheme that might allow them both to enroll. But if they succeed, will it be everything they imagined?
This novel explores teen friendship, the naivety of youth, class differences, and the challenge of fitting in—or choosing not to. It also touches on some more mature topics.
Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read and a perfect way to kick off summer reading.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Paradise Pawn is a fantastic debut novel. Jackie's narration is an incredibly authentic portrayal of what it is to be a girl at fourteen. Some of Jackie's internal thoughts brought back vivid memories of being her age, feeling like an adult but still being a child. I got emotional towards the end of the book especially, but the whole story really tugged on my heartstrings. I got flavors of Aquamarine (2006) and The Princess Diaries but this book is really its own.
I received a free e-ARC of this book and am lucky enough to know the author, but my opinions are my own.
I received a free e-ARC of this book and am lucky enough to know the author, but my opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book has a really interesting setup, following two best friends who work in a Florida pawn shop and make a risky decision when they’re faced with being separated.
The story touches on friendship, family, class differences, and how far people will go for someone they care about. The pawn shop setting also gives it a different feel from a lot of other coming-of-age stories.
This one didn’t totally work for me, but I can see other readers enjoying it more than I did. If you like stories about messy choices, complicated friendships, and characters trying to figure things out, this might be worth picking up.
The story touches on friendship, family, class differences, and how far people will go for someone they care about. The pawn shop setting also gives it a different feel from a lot of other coming-of-age stories.
This one didn’t totally work for me, but I can see other readers enjoying it more than I did. If you like stories about messy choices, complicated friendships, and characters trying to figure things out, this might be worth picking up.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I fell in love with this book and the characters. A coming of age tale on friendship and class and everything that comes with teenage girlhood. This was such a realistic and relatable look at what we do for those we love even if it’s wrong. I absolutely loved Jackie and her innocence but also her wisdom. I loved how easy of a read this was and I truly loved the ending. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A quick sweet book about girlhood, friendship, class and family. I loved the relationships of the dads and daughters as they all worked in the pawn shop together. I ate this up in just a couple hours. The cover art is so much fun too. I guess I'm just unsure of who this book is for-- it doesn't seem to be categorized as YA but perhaps it could be? Regardless, I had a good time reading this and would recommend it to someone looking for a light read.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I really loved Paradise Pawn by Meg Richardson. It covers all the things about growing up and first turning a teenager that seemed necessary, while making sure that the reader feels that they know the character well enough to relate to them. I loved the way that Paradise Pawn felt like another little store in a small town that I have passed through before. I look forward to reading more from Meg Richardson.
Thank you Zando and Netgalley for the advanced review copy of this book.
Thank you Zando and Netgalley for the advanced review copy of this book.
May 23, 2026
coming of age that ultimately fell a bit short for me. synopsis gave anyway too much in my opinion!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First off, let's talk about this cover art. I want this PINK PELICAN on my walls!!!
This was an enjoyable coming of age book about two 14 year old's navigating middle class, gross men, school, work, and the rights and wrongs of the world. MC Jackie and her BFF were such realistic 14 year old's and I truly enjoyed their money making scheme.
This would have been higher rated from me, but the ending fell so short. Everything towards the end happened so suddenly and then it was done. I wish things would have been flushed out a little more.
Read if you're looking for an easy coming of age story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
This was an enjoyable coming of age book about two 14 year old's navigating middle class, gross men, school, work, and the rights and wrongs of the world. MC Jackie and her BFF were such realistic 14 year old's and I truly enjoyed their money making scheme.
This would have been higher rated from me, but the ending fell so short. Everything towards the end happened so suddenly and then it was done. I wish things would have been flushed out a little more.
Read if you're looking for an easy coming of age story.
Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
(4.5 stars) This book took me back…way back (I’m kinda old)…to my early teens, navigating life with my best friend since nursery school in a coastal Florida town. I feel like Meg Richardson has perfectly captured girl-life at 14 – friendships that border on sisterhood, boy crushes, and excitement/trepidations toward high school. In Paradise Pawn, MC Jackie and her bestie Kayla have known each other since they were 3. They grew up together in Paradise Pawn shop, where Jackie’s dad is manager and Kayla’s is an associate. At 14, the girls are seasoned veterans at pawning and selling at the store, easily sizing up customers and making profitable deals. Both girls dream of going to high school at the prestigious St. Bridget’s. The problem is that only Jackie’s family can afford it. The girls come up with a plan to waylay some of the proceeds of the pawn shop into a fund (which they fittingly hide in a box of maxi pads) for Kayla’s tuition.
I not only loved the two girls’ portrayals in this book, but also the supporting characters. Jackie’s dad is such a devoted single father that my heart ached for him when Jackie inevitably began distancing herself. Owner-of-Paradise-Pawns Rob, is such a sleaze that I cringed at every scene he was in. Even the shop’s briefly-seen customers were perfectly drawn. This is a book that succeeds on all fronts. I even liked the ending, which some readers thought was too abrupt. Highly recommended.
I loved being one of the first to review this book. Much thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for allowing me access to an e-ARC. This book publishes on July 14, 2026.
I not only loved the two girls’ portrayals in this book, but also the supporting characters. Jackie’s dad is such a devoted single father that my heart ached for him when Jackie inevitably began distancing herself. Owner-of-Paradise-Pawns Rob, is such a sleaze that I cringed at every scene he was in. Even the shop’s briefly-seen customers were perfectly drawn. This is a book that succeeds on all fronts. I even liked the ending, which some readers thought was too abrupt. Highly recommended.
I loved being one of the first to review this book. Much thanks to NetGalley and Tin House for allowing me access to an e-ARC. This book publishes on July 14, 2026.
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