Pretty in Punxsutawney

by Laurie Boyle Crompton

The only thing worse than the first day of senior year at a new high school is reliving it over, and over again. This Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup has Andie using all of her film knowledge to find out how to break the curse. Could it be true love's first kiss? Or is it reconciling with her own misconceptions? Only time will tell.

Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say … after it’s too late to say it. In a disastrous first day full of mishap at her new high school in Punxsutawney, PA, she just wants to disappear. Her passion and knowledge of movies — from rom coms to suspense and everything in between — made her think a fresh start would be easy, and maybe lead to her first kiss. When she wakes up caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, Andie decides to take matters into her own hands and find a way to stop the time loop — whatever it takes.  

Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques—from the jocks to the nerds to the misfits—to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Time Travel, High School, Young Adult Contemporary

304 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 15, 2019

Reviews

[Ivana - Diary of Difference · Rating 3 out of 5]

What happens when you get stuck in time, re-living the first day in your new school?

Andie is a teenage girl, who loves movies. She is the type of person that knows exactly what to say… after it’s too late to say it. She is quirky, cutishly nerdy, and adorable in a silly way. And when she moves to Punxsutawney (I don’t think I’ll ever pronounce this town correctly), on the first day in her new school, she gets caught up in an endless loop of having to re-live those 24 hours again and again.

As in the movies, she is convinced that the curse can be broken with a true love’s kiss, she goes on a mission to get the boy. But is he the right one? And is true love what breaks the curse?

Not knowing how to end the loop, Andie tries to get first kiss with a guy she thinks is her true love, and when that doesn’t work, she suddenly tries to make the different types of people hang out together and realise that it doesn’t matter how you look like, to be a good person.

I really loved the idea of the loop in a high-school theme, and that was the main reason that I wanted to read this book really badly. I also loved that the main idea of this book was that looks don’t matter, and don’t judge a book by its cover, but I think that the author took this meaning way too far into the book, and it became too unrealistic, that it was laughable.

I enjoyed the layout of the different types of kids in the school, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the goths, the school-paper girls, the nerds. They were all described very realistically, and I enjoyed the times when we would realise that prejudice doesn’t matter. I can relate to a lot of this, because I was hanging out with both nerds and jocks in my high-school times, being a sports person and being a ‘’weirdo’’ that wants to read at the same time.

I also somehow managed to like the movie references, even though at moments, they are too overwhelming, and sometimes completely unrelated to the plot in place.

What I didn’t like, is how Andie kept changing in order to fit, how her behaviour changed, and her mindset during different days. I did not like this at all. I think that a person should always keep being themselves, no matter who they talk to. Doing the thinks she kept doing, only to be liked by one guy was miserable. Ladies – you are beautiful, no matter what you wear or how you do your hair. If that guy really likes you, he wouldn’t care about all these things and he would see within.

In retrospective, this was an enjoyable read. I am glad I read it, but somehow I think I might’ve been too old to read it now. But for you guys that are still in high-school, or love reading about high-school, this one is definitely worth your time.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blink, for providing me a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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[Kelly (and the Book Boar) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

2.5 Stars

If the Super Bowl confirmed one thing, it’s that Bill Murray is truly a national treasure. Twenty-seven years later and this commercial was everything . . . .



It’s no wonder I immediately had to snag this from the library as soon as I heard about it late last year. As the title suggests, Pretty in Punxsatawney is a mash-up of . . . .



And . . . .



The leading lady is even named Andie and she gets mad props for pointing out the one glaring fault of Pretty in Pink . . . .

I realize Andie made this prom outfit all by herself, and she was combining two very different styles, but the dress Iona gave her looked sort of cool on its own. This thing looks like it was sewn together by an ape.

Well, that and the fact that DUCKIE should have been picked at the end, but in my head I have just rewritten that part of history. However, with respect to the aforementioned quote I can only say: THANK. YOU. ANDIE.

The premise here is that Andie finds herself on a loop repeating the same day over and over again during her Senior year in high school. She believes she won’t be able to move on until she experiences “true love’s first kiss” but along the way she also finds herself helping her fellow students blur the lines of her oh-so-very-John-Hughes-movie-sorts-of-stereotype-high-school.

I’m obviously not the target demographic for this one, so I’m going to stick to a middle-of-the-road type of rating and round up to a three. As a mom I absolutely hated Andie’s mother and would like to give her negative eleventy trillion stars and I also didn’t like the idea that Andie started each day by attempting to be someone new. Young girls don’t need more of that message – just stay true to who you are and eventually you’ll find your people. And now I’ll excuse myself so you can all say what needs to be said behind my back – things like . . . .

[Samantha (WLABB) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a fun mix of Groundhog Day and classic teen rom-coms, which kept a smile on my face from beginning to end.

Things I Loved:

• 80s teen movies own me, because I was actually a teen in the 80s. So, obviously, I loved all the movie references and discussions that popped up in the story.

• It was fun seeing how Andie would relive her day. She learned new skills, did some body alterations, dropped truth bombs, made friends and enemies -- she took risks, because she knew the day would reset, and there were some really amusing and thoughtful moments in some of those days.

• Andie grew a lot over the course of the book. She learned quite a bit about herself and those around her, and she started seeing things and people through a new lens. It was really great to see her using the experience to become a better version of herself.

• There were some great themes explored about looking past the surface to see how we are the same and avoiding labels.

• Andie's parents were maybe a little quirky, but they were present and supportive, and gave her space to explore who she wanted to be.

• This was a light and fun story with a rom-com feel, and I laughed and smiled a lot.

Yes, I had a lot of fun reading this, but there was one things I wish there had been more of - Tom. I loved him, and would have liked to have seen a bit more of him, especially at the end.

Overall: A witty Groundhog-esque story about looking beyond the labels, which was filled with friendships, many amusing antics, and an adorable romance.

*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

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[Scrill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviews like this can also be found on my blog, Vicariously & Voraciously

ARC from Netgalley for a fair review.


Movie loving Andie is fresh to Punxsutawney but has managed to encounter romance with her own meet-cute. When she finds herself reliving the first day of her new high school she immediately thinks she is living out her Ground Hog's Day so she can have the perfect day with the boy she likes. She ends up breaking barriers with a number of people and learning that though they may seem cliche on the surface they reveal surprising personalities once given the chance to show them.


The Story-
This book was perfect for me. It hit all my needs for a light and just angsty-enough ya contemporary. Though entirely predictable, I enjoyed every minute. As Andie is reliving each day, Laurie did a wonderful job making the story not feel like the same thing happening over and over (even though it sort of was). Just when I thought I was going to get tired of hearing how she adjusted each day, we started to get the shortened versions.

Though it is honed as a Pretty in Pink meets Ground Hog's Day, John Hughes' films play a big role throughout the entirety of the book with many references to other movies such as The Breakfast Club and 16 Candles. There have been other times wen I thought an author was asserting their own likes for JH films or 80's stuff, but Laurie does well by incorporating the appreciation for the decade through her mom, while still allowing her to have her own opinions and interests.

I think this is a winner for anyone who loves light YA contemporary, and I personally cannot wait to discover more of her books. In fact this ended up being my favorite book for January, 2019. So freaking cute and left me feeling so good.

The Characters-
As much as characters being classified into a JH cliche cache, I thoroughly enjoyed the exploration of people. Major cliques were explored and while still keeping the traits that tend to separate the kids, the each had redeeming personalities that made them each stand out. I don't think a lot of people really enjoy the whole clique groupings, but they exist for a reason, most people just want to find where they fit in. I enjoyed how each character was able to break out of the invisible barrier that social standards and expectations set on them.

My favorite was of course our Duckie character (in reference to Pretty in Pink). My favorite part was that despite how differently Andie acted that one person stayed true to the way they treated her. It didn't change much from what she was wearing or acting.

[Galleywampus - · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general, as a cis-straight-white-guy in my late thirties, I enjoyed this one. As someone who grew up with Groundhogs Day and Pretty in Pink, it was interesting to see a spin on those films. The protagonist here is self-aware to a degree and notes some of the cringey moments from PiP as cringey, which is good.

But the book itself isn't very diverse, and I'd love to have seen a John Hughes-like concept (like this is) address that particular 80s issue by applying today's perspectives on diversity to the book itself. There are a number of social issues that I appreciated seeing here, but most of them would fit pretty perfectly in a book or movie written thirty years ago. That may have been the point, but I'd love to have seen this book transcend the concept. I think there is a phenomenal set of bones buried in this largely by-the-numbers 80s-in-the-2010s-retread.

As a librarian, I see the market for this book. But for the most part, that market isn't in my diverse high school library. It's primarily for a segment of adults (those who graduated high school in the late-eighties to late-nineties) who currently read YA books for a variety of reasons, and tangentially for a few quirky high schoolers with parents my age or a little older who shared these films (and the others noted in the book, like Breakfast Club or Ferris Bueller's Day Off) with their children.

In other words, Andie's mom would totally buy this book. And maybe Andie would, too. And they'd both enjoy it just fine.

I received this book from the publisher in the hope that I'd write a review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Pretty in Punxsutawney is a contemporary young adult novel scheduled for release in early 2019. This is a fast read and although it is theoretically for teens I think that only younger readers (10, maybe?) who are aware of and fascinated in the 1980s films of John Hughes would be interested. Primarily, I can see this appealing to readers who remember and love John Hughes films and want a read featuring a narrator who is hyperaware of them. (In other words, not teenagers!)

Pretty in Punxsutawney did not work for me. The over reliance on movies from three plus decades ago coupled with the fact that Andie is about as much of a teenager as I am (I was a teen when the big Hughes films were out) and the corny plot, down to the "lessons learned" box ticked, makes this one feel and read like a throwback/away ya novel from the 1980s.

[Kristi Housman Confessions of a YA Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC for blog tour in January.

Thank you to the publisher for my copy.

[Tressa (Wishful Endings) · Rating 4 out of 5]

PRETTY IN PUNXSUTAWNEY is a fun mix of 80s nostalgic movies, high school, and Groundhog Day (a day that repeats over and over). The characters are likable and the story is plenty entertaining, with plenty of movie references and a sweet ending. An overall fun YA romance.

The protagonist's (Andie) voice was spot on in this story. I even had to laugh when she went full-on teenager, with plenty of angst and tantrum throwing. The high school cliques were also pretty much spot on, with everyone labeling everyone else and the usual manipulation and jealousies surrounding the hottest guys and the girls who are trying to snag them. It was fun seeing how Andie's wardrobe influenced perceptions, as well as who she hung out with. I also really enjoyed Andie's parents and seeing her find friends in all the different cliques at school. I could almost tell from the start who she should be pursuing as a romantic interest, but it was still fun seeing it all play out. There were some things a bit overdone and a little too pushy in the point the author was trying to make. You also probably should have seen the 80s movies that play roles in this story to get some of the references. Otherwise, this was a blast to read.

In the end, was it what I wished for? This story has cute, quirky, fun, and a little magic as the protagonist tries to figure out how to stop reliving her first day of school and wake up to the next one. There are fun friendships and family relationships, as well as a sweet romance. An entertaining story for contemporary YA readers who also love 80s movies or movies in general.

Content: Clean
Source: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, which did not require a positive review nor affect it in any way.

[Lisa Mandina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book started out really sweet, and continued in the same manner all the way through. As someone who was a teenager in the 80s and still loves all things 80s, especially the movies from that time period. Sixteen Candles and Weird Science, as well as Ferris Bueller's Day Off, were staples from my middle and high school years. The movies that I watched over and over. While I did watch The Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink, the first I enjoyed more when I got older, and the second, well, I'm not actually the biggest fan of that movie. So the fact that the main character in this book, Andie, isn't as thrilled with it either, won me over to her right away. Not to mention her thoughts on the prom dress that Molly Ringwald's character remade in the movie Pretty in Pink totally mirror my own. Of course the awkwardness of Andie's "meet-cute" with Colton, and Tom, is something that sounds like my kind of luck as well.

I also am a fan of the movie Groundhog Day, and I loved that this one was a teen version. The references to movies that Andie pulls to try to help with her experiences is so me, and something I would do, or something my family would do. So to me, this was a perfect story. I liked how she learned that different cliques weren't always the way we stereotype them, and that she kind of started with a group that is almost always vilified, the cheerleaders. The fact that they were such a great bunch of girls really, and the whole Maya house thing, that was awesome! I enjoyed how she seemed to try different groups at first. When she figured out that she wasn't maybe meant to be what she'd originally wanted, or that was at least not the way to get out of her time loop, she went to the goths. And I love that she chose a costume from Beetlejuice! Again, the movie nerd in me loved it. In theh end, the way that she finally ended up breaking the cycle was perfect. It wasn't too easy, or simple, and it took a lot to really get it the right way. A lot of things that she thought that didn't work out the way she planned and led into the perfect night, or ending you might say.

Now, I do wonder if really she would have caught on and tried for a different type of ending earlier, before going with the goths, but if she had, that would have led to a much shorter story, or at least she wouldn't have learned quite all that she did about the different groups. That leads me to another point. I loved how she ended up realizing that the group of people who didn't quite fit into any group, was just as bad, or worse at times, at stereotyping the others. I've seen that. The people that felt picked on, but all I ever saw was them making fun of, or picking on the very people that they said acted that way to them.

I really hope or guess I could say that I would LOVE to see this as a movie. If only John Hughes was still around, because he'd be perfect to make this one.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty in Punxsutawney from Laurie Boyle Crompton and Blink YA Books is a highly entertaining YA novel. Combining the quirks of Groundhog Day and Pretty in Pink, Andie relives the first day of her senior year in a new school again and again. It's romantic and cute and fun as she searches for a place to belong and learns to look past appearances. Definitely an enjoyable read for a YA-fiction lover.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three and a half stars: A cute, quirky book with a Groundhog’s Day theme that relies heavily on eighties pop culture, but the ending is a miss.

Andie has spent the entire summer flirting with golden boy Colton at the local theater in Punxsutawney, PA. Now it is the night before her first day of her senior year in a brand new school. Andie isn’t looking forward to being the new girl, but at least Colton is driving her to school and showing her around, and hopefully he will finally be her boyfriend. The night before, Andie and her mom watch the classic film: Pretty in Pink. Andie falls asleep watching the movie, and wakes up rattled. Then her first day turns into a disaster. Then something inexplicable happens, Andie wakes up to find herself reliving the same day. Maybe she can make her second first day of school better, but then it keeps happening. Andie continually relives that first day of school over and over and over, but why?
What I Liked:
*Pretty in Punxsutawney is a book that is supposed to appeal to teens, but in all honesty, I see this book appealing more to the older crowd, those who grew up in the eighties watching the classic movies mentioned in the book. It was fun to see the Ground Hog Day theme mashed with eighties movies. A fun read.
*What surprised me the most about this book was that the author tried to make a point about stereotypes and labels. As Andie continues to relive the same day over and over, she starts to try on different looks and she attempts to fit in with different groups at school. Over time, she learns to see beyond the stereotypes and labels to the people underneath, and she makes it her mission to see if she can get others to see that way too. I enjoyed the commentary on looking beyond cliques, groups, stereotypes and labels. Refreshing!
*If you grew up in the eighties or if you are a fan of eighties teen movies, you get a nice dose of nostalgia with this one. There are plenty of references to some classic teen eighties movies. Blast from the past.
*I enjoyed the whole Ground Hog Day theme. It was entertaining to watch Andie constantly relive the same day, making new mistakes and learning new things each and every day. I liked drawing comparisons to the original while reading.
*There is a romance, and it was cute. I liked seeing it unfold.
*I loved seeing the teenagers interacting with the folks living in the retirement home. The scenes with Tom’s Meemaw were so fun.
*I appreciated that Andie had two involved, supportive parents.
And The Not So Much:
*For me, the ending missed the mark. I won’t go into too many details to avoid spoilers, but I will say it was a big letdown. There was all that buildup, and I kept wondering what would break the curse, and when it is broken, I was left perplexed. What was the whole point???? I could see the curse being broken on the second to last day, but the day it finally broke? Didn’t make sense. I also felt like the ending was too abrupt. I was left curious about how everything played out for Andie after her last first day. I finished feeling a little bit cheated. I wanted to know if anything she did actually left an impression or made a change.
*If you have never seen the original movie: Ground Hog Day, this book may not make a lot of sense or appeal to you. I would highly recommend seeing that movie before wading into this one. You also might be a little lost without having seen Pretty in Pink since that was always an important part to this story.
*The romance after all was said and done was lacking. It was apparent rather early on who Andie should really be with, and I kept expecting buildup and swoony moments, but they just aren’t there. I didn’t get all the feels I wanted.
*I guess after all everything, I didn’t like that the reason for Andie reliving the day over and over wasn’t easy to pick out like in the movie. Again, the ending was a miss in my opinion.
*I was disappointed that the setting of Punxsutawney didn’t play a role in the story. In fact, there was really nothing, except one quick visit early on to see the famous groundhog that set the story in the small town. Otherwise, the story felt like it was set in any town in the U.S.
Pretty in Punxsutawney was a cute and quirky little read with plenty of eighties nostalgia and a fun

Groundhog’s Day theme. I especially enjoyed that the author tried to make a point about labels, cliques and stereotypes. Unfortunately, the ending was a disappointment as it was abrupt and it left too many questions hanging. I also wish the romance had been more detailed. Still this was a fun book, if you are a fan of the Groundhog Day theme give this a go.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

[Becky Van Daniker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review is for Instagram purposes. A more thorough one will be coming soon, probably after Christmas and New Years pass.

When I first learned that "Pretty in Punxsutawney" was a Groundhog Day and a Pretty in Pink mash-up, I was already won over. If you are a fan of Molly Ringwald and books filled with romance and 80's themed references, then this is for you. This was a sweet, cute, and fun read that teaches youth about looking for the good in everyone, breaking down the social walls, being yourself, and fitting in. I can't wait for the book to release (which releases on January 22nd - my 27th birthday!)

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

UPDATE:

When I first learned that Laurie Boyle Crompton’s “Pretty in Punxsutawney” was a mashup of Groundhog Day and Pretty in Pink, I knew I had to check this one out. If you are a fan of either of those movies, especially anything Molly Ringwald, then you’ll definitely want to check this one out.

This is a super cute and fun story that’ll keep the pages turning as readers go on the journey with Andie as she relives her first day of school on a repeated basis. This is one of those stories where the main character learns that there is more to each clique and that they each have something in common. If you want a book that teaches about breaking down the social barriers, in a Breakfast Club sort of way, then this one that I’d highly recommend. Oh, and did I mention that it is dedicated to Molly Ringwald? How cool is that?!

While this isn’t Christian fiction, it is clean for the most part. However, it does contain some references to partying, alcohol, a bit heavy on the crushing on boys although that is normal for a girl her age, one of the boys tries to take advantage of Andie in a sexual way, some cursing, and quite a bit of flirting. I would recommend discretion depending on the maturity of your preteen or teenager.

Overall, it is one that I’d recommend, especially if you’re in the mood for a good fun romantic comedy.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Karen_RunwrightReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

My review here: https://wp.me/p4cJzL-3UJ

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I heard the pitch for this book, I knew I had to read it. I mean Ground Hog Day meets Pretty in Pink! Yes, the story is cute and funny. This is a quirky teen read. And when I say teen, I mean teen. The main character is a classic teenager that you want to shake as she makes choice after questionable choice.. That fact actually made it really hard for me to get through the first half of the book, but the second half was worth pushing through. It was just such a cute storyline, with some important themes tied in. I think the moral of the story is worth the read!

***Thank you so much to Blink YA and NetGalley for the chance to read this early by giving me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review!***

[Stay Fetters · Rating 2 out of 5]

"And speaking of isolation, it is almost too much fun to stand by watching people who can’t see past stereotypes, and who make snap judgments about others they’ve never even spoken to based solely on labels and cliques and clothing.”

Eighties movies are one of my favorite things to watch. They are quirky, cute, and that time era was the best. So, when they mentioned two great films in the synopsis of this book, I jumped at the chance to read this. But I think the mention of those films took too much away from the story.

Could you imagine reliving the first day of attending a brand new school? It would be like living in Freddy’s Nightmare. Something that you could never escape. And reliving that nightmare is where we meet Andie.

Andie is excited for Colton to pick her up and take her to school. She spent the entirety of the summer at the local movie theater to watch movies (duh) and to flirt with Colton. Now is here chance to win his heart for good. But as all things go, the start to her first day doesn't go as planned. She makes it home from school, lays on the couch and falls asleep. She wakes up just like yesterday started. The movie menu from Pretty in Pink is playing, shes sprawled out on the couch wearing that pink polka-dotted dress and her dad walking into the living room whistling. This can't be happening.

As Andie relives her day hoping that Colton will win her heart, another day goes down the drain of her hopes being flushed. As she wakes up the next day, the same thing plays out again and she swears that she is losing her mind. Now Andie must figure out how to survive this non-stop first day of school and make it to the second. But she has to find the right combination of things to make it go on. Will Andie figure this out before it's too late?

The excitement for this book took a lot away from the story. Meaning that the storyline drove me crazy because I disliked the main character. She tried too hard to win something that wasn't hers, to begin with, and maybe that's why Colton turned out the way that he did. I felt as if Andie was so blinded by a handsome face that she didn't really see what was in front of her. Her character just didn't do it for me and that really didn't help the story from turning into a snoozefest.

Living the same day over has been done many times before and nothing about that is new here. Figuring it out isn't new and her thought process sure as hell has been done before. I think her ego was too big to fit into this book. The best thing about this book was the movie references and the side characters. Can we get a freaking book just about Tom?

Pretty in Punxsutawney was two thumbs down. Kapow! Truth bomb!

[Candyce Kirk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty in Punxsutawney was my first read of 2019 and it was a great book to start off with. Our main character, Andie, just moved to Punxsutawney and spends her summer at the movie theater. It's fun reading about her love for movies and how she describes them. She has found a new crush and hopes to have her first kiss with her true love.

That's when things get tricky, Andie starts the first day of her senior year and it doesn't go as planned. Only to wake up and start the day all over again. She's stuck in a loop and is convinced she will be stuck until she finds her true love.

I loved the concept of this book. My mother is a big fan of 80's movies and I grew up watching almost all the movies mentioned in this book. It's so sweet that she shares these moments with her mother and how excited they can get. After watching Pretty in Pink, she feels that something is off. Did the main character end with her true love?

It's interesting seeing Andie stuck on the same day over and over again. I can't imagine how frustrating that is though. Having the feeling you're never going to get to go on with your life. It has advantages though. Andie learns that even though there are cliques at school, everyone is a lot more alike than they realize. You just need to give people a chance.

I think for me the looping went on a bit too long though. I get that for the whole learning experience, Andie had to go through a lot. In the end she's been stuck on the same day for months. I think it would've been just a bit better if the author shortened that and dived into a couple of the loop days with a bit more detail. I say this because I loved some of the things she was realizing about the other students at school. I would've loved to have read more about that!

Even though Andie's true love isn't who she expected in the beginning, she learns a lot about herself in her time of the constant repeating of her first day of senior year. She realizes what she really wants and that not everything is as it seems. Andie learns to give people a chance before judging them! Apparently movies can teach us quite a lot!

If you want to know if Andie finds her true love, I guess you'll have to pick up the book and find out!

[Silvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3.5*

I was provided with a digital ARC of this book by NetGalley and the publishing house, Blink, in exchange for an honest review

"Pretty In Punxsutawney" is a lovely modern day YA-contemporary-romance story that is heavily influenced by the 80s' culture and movies.
I have to say I'm not so into the 80s, but I found this book to be entertaining and nostalgic nevertheless.
Andie, our main character, is a teenage girl who has to start a new year at a new high school - and in a new town, Punxsutawney. Except that she will have to live that first day over and over and over, forced in a loop that she surely didn't want and didn't ask for. But why does this day have to relive itself over and over? That's what Andy is trying to find out.

I was pretty excited with the plot of this book, and like I said it was really entertaining. I just think that the loop could have ended a way lot sooner, and then we could have seen Andy dealing with a normal day. The second part was kind of borning, becuase we already knew all of the main plot twists and what was going to happen. And one thing I couldn't stand where some sexist jokes. I get why they were there, cause the author was trying to depict a "stereotypical high school" with all the cliques and the various "roles". But I feel like that this kind of thing is just slowly disappearing right now. I don't know if this was done to highlight this kind of phenomena or was just a blink at the 80s and "The Breakfast Club" situation. And sorry, but the sexist jokes just were not for me.

But I liked the main romance, it was cute and funny and fluffy, and I LOVE the underdog who gets the girl trope/situation, so I was over the moon. The final chapter was JUST. SO. SWEET. Period.
And all the cute cinematographic references. Oh my heart. I am just sad though, cause poor Andy will have to deal with a whole lot at school right now, the ones who have read the book will understand.
In conclusion, I was very happy I got to read this book, I had fun.
Thanks again to NetGalley and Blink!

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog

*I received this book for free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

'I've always loved the way the city is surrounded by three rivers that make a Y where the  Monongahela  and the Allegheny become the Ohio River, forcing the city into a point.'

'Sometimes, we're simply enjoying whatever day we happen to be in.'

'Being a girl is not a competition.'

Andie moves to Punxsutawney P.A. before the beginning of her senior year. When she falls asleep watching 'Pretty in Pink', before her first day of school, everything goes south.  The next day she wakes up to the same day she just finished. Andie must figure out how to get out of her perpetual first day of school in order to move on. To do this she must first learn about herself, life, and 1980's movies.

A YA novel with a time loop and a large dose of 1980's movies, Yes Please!  Having recently loved the '7 1/2 Lives of Evelyn Hardcastle,' I just knew 'Pretty in Punxsutawney', was for me. (Also, you know the having experienced high school in the 1980's thing).

The character of Andie, I loved. She is clumsy, and quirky, and awkward, and really funny. Her mom, who is stuck in the 1980's herself (and wants everyone else to be) is also amazingly fun. The rest of the supporting characters were a really good balance to Andie's and her mom's slapstick personality.

The storyline has so much potential and the author really works with it. Andie demonstrates that she can either let the perpetual time loop get her down or she can use it to her advantage. (The middle did lag a bit but I loved seeing so many angles of Andie's day).

By far my favorite part of this book is the 1980's movie tie-in's. It really made for great comedy when Andie relives bits and pieces of different John Hughs movies.  I could have used more references to 1980's clothing, hair styles, and slang but the movie's references were more than enough.

Also, this story has one of the best endings I read in a while. It just tied everything up nicely and really gave me the feels.

 I want to add that the whole point of 'Pretty in Punxsutawney' is not to be a realistic representative of today's high school students . It's meant to be a parody of 1980's movies, complete with their clicks, dialog, and stereotypical characters.

I really hope Laurie Boyle Crompton writes another book full of 1980's pop culture. I need more 1980's YA in my life

This review was originally posted on [The Book Return Blog]

[Grace {Rebel Mommy Book Blog} · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty in Punxsutawney had the best premise - Pretty in Pink combined with Groundhog's Day. I mean how cool is that! My love for 80's movies and the groundhog day trope totally got me. There was a lot to like. I thought Andy had great character growth throughout the book. She really started to get things she might have been doing wrong, or where her motivations might have not been the best and started to really see the best in people. Again the 80's references here were on point and loved it. Her quirky parents were present, supportive and fun. There were some really good characters sprinkled in. Plus the groundhog day thing was enjoyable. I did have issues with it though. I felt like some of the "lessons" were gone through in a really heavy handed way. Especially the cliques and stuff - which I think was on purpose but still. Also, as much as I liked the reliving the same day over and over sometimes it got repetitive. The last thing was I needed more of the romantic interest. I feel like it took too long to really get enough of him. Still super cute, quick read good for anyone that the concept speaks to.

I received this book for free from Publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.This review was originally posted on Rebel Mommy Book Blog

[Heather Rochon · Rating 1 out of 5]

While Pretty in Punxsutawney had a cute premise of being a mix between “Groundhogs Day” (who doesn’t love a good Bill Murray reference?) and “Pretty in Pink” but the execution was weak. Andie, the main character (named after Molly Ringwald’s character in the film), is 80’s movie obsessed and is anticipating her first day in a new school. She wants her crush on cute and popular Colton to play out like any John Hughes movie. But, of course, this immediately blows up in her face. So, she’s thrilled to get a re-do of her first day of school. And then another. And then another.

Andie spends more than half the book using her repeats to try to win Colton’s heart in new ways, but any reader can see from the first chapter that Colton is a dull jerk and not worth her time. And we can all see that he slightly nerdy Tom is more her speed. But we still have to endure because Andie is convinced he’s “the one.”

What’s more frustrating than Andie fawning over Colton for far too long is that no one in this book, especially Andie, feels like an authentic high schooler. The way they talk and act is over-dramatized for the sake of pushing the cliques trope, but it feels insincere and forced upon the reader. I was ready to put this book down on multiple occasions just over the dialogue.

The ending, while entirely expected, fell flat. I actually flipped the last page and was like, “Oh, okay. So that was the end then?” Any work that Andie had done to destroy the clique mentality over her three months of repeat days was entirely invalid. Instead of trying to take steps to merge the cliques or retaliate against stereotypes, Andie spends her last day of repeats having multiple temper tantrums. And then the book just ends. There’s no going past the repeating day, except to say that the repeats were over. Sure, she gets a guy (but not boring old Colton, of course), but we see nothing of the work Andie did to develop herself and make friends.

1/5 Stars.

I received a free e-ARC of Pretty in Punxsutawney from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Firstly I would like to thank NetGalley for providing me with an eARC of this book. All the opinions and views discussed are my own.

I have to be honest – the first two thirds of this book I was ready to scream – I wanted to thrown this ebook out of the window and never lay eyes on it again. I made many a note about this book just ranting about it, and getting so angry about the plot. I was already forming this review in my head. AND THEN the last third of the book happened, and it honestly changed my opinion. Not enough that it erased my almost hatred for the first two thirds of his book, but enough that I didn’t DNF it. I’m also not saying I loved everything about the last third of the book because I honestly didn’t but aspects of it redeemed the book for me.

I think this book tried too hard to be something it isn’t. It wanted to have a ‘The Breakfast Club’ moment but it just wasn’t anywhere near that level. I think the issue is that this is a YA book stacked with references from the 80’s; I know a lot of teens may have watched these films but there’s also going to be a large proportion that wouldn’t have.

Okay, so lets start with the first two thirds. The plot of this book is glaringly obvious from the get-go, it’s clear that Andie is going to end up with the ‘under-dog’ character and not Colton. Even though Tom isn’t an under-dog; he is clearly very happy and content in himself and isn’t trying to be something he isn’t. Unlike Andie. The character of Andie drove me absolutely bananas. She honestly acts like an obsessed stalker from the beginning of the book; she seems to believe that she has some claim over him and it’s honestly just creepy. I highlighted many notes from this book where she acts like a stalker and everything is just so cliche it had me rolling my eyes.

I also feel that this book tried too hard initially to make Kaia seem like a mean girl; it’s stated so clearly that Kaia and Colton have had this tension going on for some time so of course she’s gonna be pissed that some new girl has suddenly appeared and is throwing herself over him. I honestly think that if this book had been done the other way around; with a male character reliving the day and acting like Andie did towards Colton people would have had an issue with it. I also really didn’t like the fact that she constantly constantly changed herself just to get Colton’s attention. It’s just such a toxic message; especially when it’s clear that Andie doesn’t really know anything about Colton and as soon a she gets his attention she realises she’s not actually that interested in him. Honestly the moment when Andie snapped her mum’s favourite DVD really pushed me over the edge with this character – how are we meant to root for her when there’s honestly not that much likeable about her in the first two thirds.

As soon as Andie stopped vying for Colton’s attention is when this book started to improve. I still didn’t like the fact that she changed herself so much each day – how she dressed/how she talked, just to try and fit in with people but I think it was much more interesting to explore all these different groups of people. Although it annoyed me that the characters were quite stereotypical, I liked the fact that she didn’t portray all the other groups other than Jocks as nice – one of the worst characters in this book is one of the “nerd girls” who tries to control her friends love life and is just generally not a nice person.

I think my favourite part of this book is the part near the end where she just goes into school and drops all these “truth bombs” honestly found this bit hilarious. I also like watching her learn all these new skills and actually use her time to better herself and not just obsess over men. I do feel that this book dragged on a bit too long and then the ending of the book was rushed; there was so much in the middle parts of the book that could have just been skipped and given us a proper conclusion instead.

Overall i’m giving this book three stars; hated the first parts but the later third redeemed it enough for me not to rate it any lower. I just think there are some slightly problematic aspects to this book and given that its a YA book does worry me a bit. Not one i’d be purchasing for myself.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

am not the demographic for YA fiction (by a few years...cough...) but I like to dabble in it occasionally, especially when it ties in to movies I love. I have expressed before my fondness for John Hughes teen films and rom-coms and Pretty in Punxsutawny makes the most of them. Andie's mom is a Hughes fanatic, leaning to the movies as part of her parenting, pulling them out to bond with Andie, and make a life point when necessary. Andie's name even comes from her mom's favorite, Pretty in Pink, although like me, Andie prefers The Breakfast Club and doesn't like the way Pretty in Pink ended.

Anyway, Andie's parents have moved the family to the busier Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania so her psychologist dad can have more patients. Forced to start over at a new high school in her senior year, Andie spends the summer hanging out at the local movie theater crushing on handsome Colton and plotting how their "meet-cute" can turn into a romance and her first kiss. Unfortunately the first day of school has Colton falling for the resident mean girl and Andie happy the day is over with...but then it isn't. Punxsutawney's magic seems to have left the movie screen when Andie must relive her first day at school again and again, with no end in sight. Andie hopes that a kiss with her true love will start the time clock moving and starts trying different things to make it happen.

I enjoyed the fun, humor, and sweetness of the story, even though I identify more with Andie's parents than Andie. Still, it's not hard to be taken back to the days of teenage angst and remember it all--the high points and the horrors of high school. Andie is a great character and I loved the balance of her awkwardness and snarky humor. It's not just the eighties and John Hughes movies that show up, there are classic movie mentions as well as other popular movie mentions. One of my favorite moments is Andie calling on Drew Barrymore's short-term memory plot points from Fifty First Dates (2004) as an excuse for her awkward behavior with some new friends. This book works well today for a YA reader, but is also great for the movie buff and those of us that were in high school in the eighties. It definitely put me in the mood for a classic rom-com movie binge and I'd recommend it if you want a light, enjoyable escape.

You can read my review and see a recipe inspired by the book here: http://kahakaikitchen.blogspot.com/20...

Note: A review copy of "Pretty in Punxsutawney" was provided to me by the author and the publisher via TLC Book Tours. I was not compensated for this review and as always, my thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this was such a fun book. I loved it! Andie is wonderful, she is so much fun. She is all teenager at times. I enjoyed her many moods and her adventures through her repeating day. The lines in the book are clever and well timed. The things that run through Andie's head at times had me laughing out loud. Mom and Dad are sweet, attentive parents, and both are very funny at times. Andie's journey through time was quite the learning experience for her. As a child of the 80s, I loved all of the awesome movies that were mentioned and referenced. I appreciated Andie's growth and how she genuinely tried to help others. Yes, she was trying to figure out how to end her looped day, but she learned so much about others and herself. The last few chapters were especially wonderful. Without revealing anything, one character's struggle was very touching, and how Andie helped her was awesome. I love a good, clean book I can pass to my daughters, and this is one of them.


5 out of 5 stars. There is some teenage drinking at a party, but the main character does not participate in it.

[Nicole M. Hewitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

Fans of eighties movies will love this mash-up of Pretty in Pink and Groundhog Day! Actually, my family just watched the latter the other day, and now I’m handing this book off to my daughter while the movie’s still fresh—I’m guessing she’ll love all the parallels! Just like poor Phil, Andie finds herself reliving one disastrous day over and over and over again. For Andie, it’s the first day of school, which does not go well the first time.

I thought this was a really interesting take on the concept of reliving a single day. The things Andie chooses to do with her “extra” days are at first sort of shallow (she wants to get the attention of a boy and figures becoming a cheerleader will help her do that), but they get more and more selfless as the books goes on. It made me think a lot about how hard someone might be willing to work toward a specific goal. Andie perfects MANY skills (cheerleading, playing the bass, applying makeup—lots of other things), but she’d still have to work extremely hard at them, just the same as if she’d lived a regular life. The only difference is that no one else sees the work she puts into them. It made me wonder if I’d be so industrious or if I’d be just as lazy with a repeating day as I am in regular life!

Like Pretty in Pink, this book highlights the disparities of social groups in high school and shows how they artificially divide people. Andie thinks it might be her duty to help everyone come together—but that’s tough to do when the world keeps resetting and any progress she’s made is lost. She befriends people from nearly every group, though, which I loved. And I was definitely a fan of the direction that the romance took! Overall, this was a really cute read, and I recommend it to anyone who’s looking for a light, breezy read (something we can all use right now).

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher for review purposes (but then ended up listening to the audiobook from the library). No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley for the chance to read early and provide an honest review.

I was fully expecting to dislike this book because I haven't seen any of the movies mentioned (except Ferris Bueller) and at the beginning Andie was very annoying.

Also I pin-pointed very early who she was going to end up with and was annoyed when she was treating him like crap for the first part of the book.

About halfway through when she stopped doing things for herself and started doing things for others, I was hooked. I liked how she infiltrated the cliques, and found the real people. The characters she met were surprisingly fleshed out. And I loved her interactions with Tom.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

We've all had 'if only I could be a fly on the wall' fantasies. Now, imagine how eye-opening it would be to sample each of high school's cliques from the inside. Andie gets that chance and learns a lot about herself, and her assumptions, along the way. Like Laurie Boyle Crompton's other books, this one is super fun and romantic. Much like the John Hughes films to which this story pays homage.

[Rissi]

Pretty in Punxsutawney by Laurie Boyle Crompton | Book Review

STORY | For three months, Andie has been busy falling in love. She’s spent almost the entirety of these days hanging out with Colton, the perfect boy of her romantic-comedy movie dreams. As the new kid in Punxsutawney, Andie knows no one apart from Colton, and Colton’s annoyingly strict boss, Tom. You see, it’s at the movie theater where Colton works, and therefore, is the place Andie's movie-perfect-romance dreams blossom.

As the new girl on the first day of senior year, Andie has everything going down as perfect. Colton is going to pick her up, and together, this last first day of school will be a dream. But then reality invades and the next day, Andie wakes to find she is trapped in the same first day of school. Determined to find love and a way out of this loop, Andie uses her favorite 80s films, and the school cliques, as guides.

REVIEW | Prior to receiving this one in the mail, I really hadn’t heard about this novel. Unusual since I do really like its publishing house (Blink Books). But then a book friend talked about it, and soon after, I kindly received a copy of the book from the publisher. Stories that have some form of “repeat” plot aren’t my favorite (I DNF’d Before I Fall), but with its cute cover, I had to give ‘Pretty’ a chance.

This story is as adorable as its cover art suggests. Inside these pages we meet an eager, likable heroine who experiences ups and downs. This is true of both her emotional, internal state (she does get a bit salty at times) and her attitude. Given the fact that she lives in a time loop that doesn’t seem to end, it’s easy for the reader to sympathize with her. Her experience makes life go from exciting and full of promise to drudgery and despair. Her common thought process changes from the possibility of new friend and first kisses to will this day ever end?

What I like about this story is that every day Andie is inside this loop, the day is a little different. I like that the majority of the story sees her trying to make the best of this unfortunate situation. Instead of “sleep walking” through the day, she makes the attempt to change something. I like the relationships she inspires between people, and the way she challenges herself. That said, I also feel like the end is a little bittersweet in the sense of where she is mentally. SPOILER She doesn’t believe she’ll be welcome given how she decides to end her repeated time loop. I kind of like to think positively, and feel like she will be accepted versus’ shunned.

If you enjoy Groundhog Day-esque stories or “classic” romantic movies (complete with an understanding of the meet-cute), then you will likely enjoy Pretty in Punxsutawney. It’s full of cute moments, and endless possibilities for its heroine.

Sincere thanks to the publisher for providing a complementary ARC copy of this novel for review; all opinions are my own.This review was originally posted on Finding Wonderland

[Betwixt the Pages · Rating 3 out of 5]

A mashup of Groundhog Day and Pretty in Pink, the book stars a senior who is forced to relive the first day at her new school in an endless loop. Andie is convinced she needs true love's kiss to break the curse, but instead discovers how a high school filled with cliques and misfits can find common ground despite everyone's differences. Publication is set for January 2019.

Rating: 3.75/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: frustrating, slow-to-start beginning; the twist on the love interest was easy to see coming, but fun; there was a LOT of focus on romance and not much focus on fully developing Andie's character arc; some of the characters felt a bit contrived, or made only to fit into certain plot points/roles

HUGE thanks to Laurie Boyle Crompton, Blink Publishing, and Netgalley for shooting a complimentary egalley of this title my way in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.

So what if I can't clap in time to save my life? I have the greatest power of all in my possession. I own time. I've got time handcuffed in my closet and I can do anything I want. I tune in just as one of the girls is asking if I plan on making practice for cheerleader tryouts later. It feels like fate when I answer her with a wide smile. "What time and where?"

I had SO much fun reading this book, Penguins! The time-loop shenanigans that ensue, particularly those that occur when Andie reaches her breaking point and believes she's never going to be set free, were deliciously entertaining and heart-wrenchingly poignant in turn. I'll admit, though--pretty early on in the read, I became worried that I was in for just another "girl meets cute boy, girl falls for cute boy for no actual substantial reason, girl wins cute boy and everyone lives happily ever after" journey. I needn't have worried, though--Laurie Boyle Crompton bucked the system (almost) entirely and took the read in a much more relatable way.

Of course, that doesn't mean this read didn't have its faults. I felt as if some of the characters were brought into this merely to drive the plot forward or fill in/complete missing chunks of the story. While the scene during which Andie drops, like, a BILLION truth bombs on her unsuspecting (and in some instances totally innocent) classmates was fun, certain characters fell flat outside of the roles they were written to play. Even the core characters, at times, read a bit too stiff for me to fully believe their motivations. There are some super awesome character growth moments sprinkled throughout this read, and while some of them were handled in gorgeously compelling ways, I feel like others didn't quite achieve the desired result. These characters were all SUPER judgmental, as well--some of the things Andie thought were, to me, unbelievable. And while I understood the overall point that Laurie Boyle Crompton was attempting to make...I feel like Andie's initial romantic obsession bordered just a bit on the psychotic. #sorrynotsorry

As much as I don't want this tie with Tom to end, I'm losing the fight to stay awake.

"Some roller-coaster ride, huh?" Tom says, and I wonder how many times he had to repeat this before I heard him.

"Yeah," I say, my throat dry and hoarse. "Some ride."

I softly smile as I close my eyes and finally, unwillingly, submit to sleep.

Regardless, this title was intriguing from the start, filled to the brim with so much wit, teenage angst, and snark that my little Penguin heart almost couldn't handle it! While I could see where Laurie Boyle Crompton was leading pretty early on, I still thoroughly enjoyed the journey. I'd recommend this to lovers of time-loops, teenage drama, and reckless shenanigans. If YOU were stuck doing the same thing over and over, what would you change?

[Gili · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book had a lot going for it. I enjoy a good time loop storyline (in fact I am currently trying to read them all) and first day at a new school + a ton of 80s teen movie references + the concept of getting to know the different clicks and generally playing around with first impressions was pretty fun, and for the most part, this book is fun. I really enjoyed watching the main character fail and try again and again, those were some of the best parts.

It fell apart a little for me in the details and with the ending. I know it's a reference to the original Groundhog Day, but I don't love "falling in love" or "first kiss" as an ending for a time loop story, especially the magical kind (as opposed to the sci fi kind). It just paints the character as a bit silly.

I was born in the late 80s so I don't personally have that much nostalgia for 80s teen movies, though I think I've watched most of the movies mentioned in the book. This might be a hot take, but I thought that neither of the potential love interests in Pretty in Pink were particularly great, and so I couldn't really buy into the young main character in the book being that torn up about not ending up with her "Duckie".

I don't want to spoil the last day in the loop, but it felt like a bit of a cop out.

Also any scene with the mom made me want to die of cringe.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this Groundhog Day/Pretty in Pink mashup, but I did not like it as much as I thought I would.

I spent the first half of the book hating Andie. She was annoying, and whiny, and self-absorbed, and chasing around after a guy who so clearly liked someone else. All the while complaining that that someone else was trying to steal her man, I was like “no sweetie you are the other woman here!”

It wasn’t until the 50% mark when she realised that the dude was not for her and began testing out the other cliques, that I began to warm up to her. This systematic breaking down of stereotypes was well done, and I would have liked to have seen more of that, and less pining for Colton.

One thing I will commend about this story is that while Andie was quite frustrating at times, she was never really outrightly mean. And she tried to circumvent meanness in others (ie deleting Kaia’s photo) and trying to get her peers to pull down the proverbial walls that keep the cliques segregated and engage and interact with each other. This story may have been a little better if that awesome day had been the final one, because at last, she showed a spark of altruism and doing something for others instead of focusing on herself. Although the truth bomb tantrum did make for entertaining reading...

Overall the 80s references were fun, and made me want to rewatch all those movies, and I definitely had a few laugh out loud moments. I especially appreciated the messages of ‘be true to yourself’, ‘don’t judge someone based on their appearance’ and ‘don’t be ashamed to ask for help if you need it’ more stories in this genre need messages like these.