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The Mall
New York Times bestselling author Megan McCafferty returns to her roots with this YA coming of age story set in a New Jersey mall.
The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans...
Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.
The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh. Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the Parkway Center Mall. In six weeks, she and her boyfriend head off to college in NYC to fulfill The Plan: higher education and happily ever after.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans...
Set entirely in a classic “monument to consumerism,” the novel follows Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself, in the most unexpected of places. Megan McCafferty, beloved New York Times bestselling author of the Jessica Darling series, takes readers on an epic trip back in time to The Mall.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published July 28, 2020
83 people are currently reading
12289 people want to read
About the author
Megan McCafferty
27 books2,537 followersMegan McCafferty writes fiction for tweens, teens and teens-at-heart of all ages. The author of twelve novels, she’s best known for SLOPPY FIRSTS and four more sequels in the New York Times bestselling Jessica Darling series--available throughout 2021 in updated 20th anniversary editions. She published two new books in 2020: TRUE TO YOUR SELFIE (MG, Scholastic) and THE MALL (YA, Wednesday Books). Described in her first review as “Judy Blume meets Dorothy Parker” (Wall Street Journal), she’s been trying to live up to that high standard ever since.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 949 reviews
July 29, 2020
Hmmm… When somebody told me, why don’t we take an exciting tour to travel around 90’s memory lane so you got the references easily from your childhood and some part of teenage era: I answered myself ( yes, I don’t have an intellectual imaginary friend and I’m not drunk enough so I offered myself a tour and I took it): “Why not!”
Results: Going back to time, Matthew Broderick is still young and dated Jennifer Grey who was playing his sister on the movie: Yes you got it right: Ferris Bueller days or day off. (Later it turned into a show with new cast members and it sucked!) 90210 was still good, the characters were still young, annoying but relatable, they didn’t fire Shannen Doherty yet and we’re still listening mixtapes, singing Madonna’s songs, doing loco-motions with Kylie, watching bad romance between
Maddie and David on Moonlighting (Yes, Bruce Willis had hair once upon a time and he was not a jerk, okay, he was still jerk with adorable lopsided smile) and Marky Mark is still a bad boy/worst rapper who hasn’t made disastrous Transformer movie yet.
So yes, book’s time frame is right. The characters seemed interesting. Some dialogues were smart, snappy. But… yes here comes the irritating BUT part: I felt like watching a movie I gave 5 point at IMDB and wasted my time.
The plot intrigued my attention: taking place in a mall, living inside Cassie Worthy’s head, seeing her making new friends, finding new job, interested in treasure hunt after surviving from a severe disease, living in quarantine, finding her boyfriend cheating on her when she was sick, getting fired from her job and of course let’s add some romantic vibes into this story.
So I impressed with the start but as I resume my reading, I started to get bored with the dialogues trying so hard to be catchy but the words turns into full of clichés, illogical jargons, not so funny phrases. And of course I really wondered why Cassie had to repeat her inner screams, making “arrghhkk” sounds so much. Did she have a problem with her vocal cords or didn’t she have any idea have to express her feelings?
And the characters, well, without enough back stories, it was so hard to relate with them. Maybe this story is not for me and it addresses younger generations ( at least younger than 18) but mostly I found it boring, shallow, flat and a little raw. I think the story needed more work because I felt like I ate tasteless, uncooked meal. It needed more development, work and back stories, not to be released before any rewritings or editing. I think I was expecting more from this author.
So I gave 2.5 stars and for the love of 90’s soul, I rounded up to 3. But that’s it. I love some parts and I only loved the heroine but I have to say this is not my cup of happy hour drink!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books to send me this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. I wish I could like it more.
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Results: Going back to time, Matthew Broderick is still young and dated Jennifer Grey who was playing his sister on the movie: Yes you got it right: Ferris Bueller days or day off. (Later it turned into a show with new cast members and it sucked!) 90210 was still good, the characters were still young, annoying but relatable, they didn’t fire Shannen Doherty yet and we’re still listening mixtapes, singing Madonna’s songs, doing loco-motions with Kylie, watching bad romance between
Maddie and David on Moonlighting (Yes, Bruce Willis had hair once upon a time and he was not a jerk, okay, he was still jerk with adorable lopsided smile) and Marky Mark is still a bad boy/worst rapper who hasn’t made disastrous Transformer movie yet.
So yes, book’s time frame is right. The characters seemed interesting. Some dialogues were smart, snappy. But… yes here comes the irritating BUT part: I felt like watching a movie I gave 5 point at IMDB and wasted my time.
The plot intrigued my attention: taking place in a mall, living inside Cassie Worthy’s head, seeing her making new friends, finding new job, interested in treasure hunt after surviving from a severe disease, living in quarantine, finding her boyfriend cheating on her when she was sick, getting fired from her job and of course let’s add some romantic vibes into this story.
So I impressed with the start but as I resume my reading, I started to get bored with the dialogues trying so hard to be catchy but the words turns into full of clichés, illogical jargons, not so funny phrases. And of course I really wondered why Cassie had to repeat her inner screams, making “arrghhkk” sounds so much. Did she have a problem with her vocal cords or didn’t she have any idea have to express her feelings?
And the characters, well, without enough back stories, it was so hard to relate with them. Maybe this story is not for me and it addresses younger generations ( at least younger than 18) but mostly I found it boring, shallow, flat and a little raw. I think the story needed more work because I felt like I ate tasteless, uncooked meal. It needed more development, work and back stories, not to be released before any rewritings or editing. I think I was expecting more from this author.
So I gave 2.5 stars and for the love of 90’s soul, I rounded up to 3. But that’s it. I love some parts and I only loved the heroine but I have to say this is not my cup of happy hour drink!
Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books to send me this ARC COPY in exchange my honest review. I wish I could like it more.
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August 23, 2020
To me, The Mall was a pure delight.
I enjoyed every single page and had a blast the whole time while reading it.
What attracted me the most was Megan McCafferty's writing style.
Her words pulled me in and didn't let go, they enchanted me with the fun and I managed to finish this book in only 4 days.
4 days!!
Yes, I know, it doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but keep in mind I have 5 months old baby, and it takes me 10+ days to finish a book these days (let's hope this is a new normal now, because although I do read, man, I miss reading).
I didn't grow up in a place with the mall, so I can't say that this book woke some memories, but oh my, it reminded me how much I miss good old music shops.
What I'd do to go to one now... :( if only for few minutes...
Someone, better invent time machine already!!
The Mall was an interesting story, narrated by Cassie, an unlikable character if you ask me.
However, even though Cassie wasn't dear to my heart, I still wanted to follow her along and I enjoyed her voice.
I didn't like how superstitious she was, but that is pointed out in the book itself too.
Drea was my favourite character and I think her story could be even more interesting than Cassie's, if McCafferty ever decides to write it.
If you're looking for a perfect summer (and all year long) read that does not involve beach and the sea, look no further.
The enjoyment is guaranteed.
I enjoyed every single page and had a blast the whole time while reading it.
What attracted me the most was Megan McCafferty's writing style.
Her words pulled me in and didn't let go, they enchanted me with the fun and I managed to finish this book in only 4 days.
4 days!!
Yes, I know, it doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but keep in mind I have 5 months old baby, and it takes me 10+ days to finish a book these days (let's hope this is a new normal now, because although I do read, man, I miss reading).
I didn't grow up in a place with the mall, so I can't say that this book woke some memories, but oh my, it reminded me how much I miss good old music shops.
What I'd do to go to one now... :( if only for few minutes...
Someone, better invent time machine already!!
The Mall was an interesting story, narrated by Cassie, an unlikable character if you ask me.
However, even though Cassie wasn't dear to my heart, I still wanted to follow her along and I enjoyed her voice.
I didn't like how superstitious she was, but that is pointed out in the book itself too.
Drea was my favourite character and I think her story could be even more interesting than Cassie's, if McCafferty ever decides to write it.
If you're looking for a perfect summer (and all year long) read that does not involve beach and the sea, look no further.
The enjoyment is guaranteed.
July 29, 2020
What a weird book this was. If you've been following my reviews for a long time, you may recall that the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty is the book series that I credit to sparking my love for reading way back in the day. With that being said, this book obviously had some big shoes to fill and unfortunately, it really just.. didn't. I can't say that this book was necessarily bad, but it truly just felt kind of pointless and even a little bit cringey. It is set in the 90s and follows our main character Cassandra as she goes on a treasure hunt (like, a for real treasure hunt with a map lol) in a mall and it was just.. not what I wanted it to be. I am big sad. Womp x38472834728934
December 30, 2019
2.5 stars
It took me a long while to understand why I was dragging my feet for WEEKS, failing to finish a 300-page YA novel written by Megan McCafferty. I liked the premise, and McCafferty's wit was there, and yet, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of it. And then I opened the book's copyright page, and everything clicked into place. The Mall is copyrighted to Alloy Entertainment, and then McCafferty, so basically it's unclear how much of this story was written by her, and it shows.
The Mall is a 90s mall culture love letter(?). I am not exactly attached to that time, so the period isn't a big draw for me personally, and, I believe, a huge number of YA readers. But I do like McCafferty's voice, and overall the plot of The Mall is fine.
After months of being sick and confined to her house, Cassie returns back to the world, or specifically, the mall, where she has a summer job to take on and a boyfriend to snuggle with. Unfortunately, nothing goes according to the plan, and Cassie immediately finds herself job- and boyfriend-less and a total wreck. What follows is a summer of finding new friends, job, love and outlook on life. And a treasure hunt.
The problem with The Mall is its shallowness. There is some great dialog, and the plot is sketched out nicely with potentially interesting relationships and characters. However nothing in this world feels lived-in and real, nobody has fully written back stories or complex feelings. (Think Game of Thrones season 7 and 8!) The fact that the novel is set entirely at the mall doesn't help either. Everything is an outline, a shadow of something. The story reads almost like a movie script. Some good acting might be able to add dimension to this very flat book.
And this is where Alloy Entertainment comes in. It's a book packaging company. Their books are team-written and are meant to be movie- or tv-bound IPs, like Gossip Girl or Vampire Diaries. This is where, I think, the shallowness of The Mall stems from. I don't know if McCafferty novelized an already existing book outline, or if other people wrote some of this novel, but The Mall just doesn't feel complete and fully realized. This book doesn't have a beating heart. This kind of properties never work for me, but I bet this book will find some fans. Had I known this was a book packaging project, I wouldn’t have read it.
It took me a long while to understand why I was dragging my feet for WEEKS, failing to finish a 300-page YA novel written by Megan McCafferty. I liked the premise, and McCafferty's wit was there, and yet, I just couldn't bring myself to care about any of it. And then I opened the book's copyright page, and everything clicked into place. The Mall is copyrighted to Alloy Entertainment, and then McCafferty, so basically it's unclear how much of this story was written by her, and it shows.
The Mall is a 90s mall culture love letter(?). I am not exactly attached to that time, so the period isn't a big draw for me personally, and, I believe, a huge number of YA readers. But I do like McCafferty's voice, and overall the plot of The Mall is fine.
After months of being sick and confined to her house, Cassie returns back to the world, or specifically, the mall, where she has a summer job to take on and a boyfriend to snuggle with. Unfortunately, nothing goes according to the plan, and Cassie immediately finds herself job- and boyfriend-less and a total wreck. What follows is a summer of finding new friends, job, love and outlook on life. And a treasure hunt.
The problem with The Mall is its shallowness. There is some great dialog, and the plot is sketched out nicely with potentially interesting relationships and characters. However nothing in this world feels lived-in and real, nobody has fully written back stories or complex feelings. (Think Game of Thrones season 7 and 8!) The fact that the novel is set entirely at the mall doesn't help either. Everything is an outline, a shadow of something. The story reads almost like a movie script. Some good acting might be able to add dimension to this very flat book.
And this is where Alloy Entertainment comes in. It's a book packaging company. Their books are team-written and are meant to be movie- or tv-bound IPs, like Gossip Girl or Vampire Diaries. This is where, I think, the shallowness of The Mall stems from. I don't know if McCafferty novelized an already existing book outline, or if other people wrote some of this novel, but The Mall just doesn't feel complete and fully realized. This book doesn't have a beating heart. This kind of properties never work for me, but I bet this book will find some fans. Had I known this was a book packaging project, I wouldn’t have read it.
July 13, 2020
Ehh I really wanted to love this but sadly didn’t.
March 20, 2020
Giveaway win!
Spring Into Reading A Thon: Book with Pink or Yellow on cover
The Mall is fun and nostalgic. I really really enjoyed this one. It was just the type of carefree entertainment I(really all of us) need at a time like this.
Cassie Worthy is a Type-A to the fullest. She and her boyfriend of 2 years have a plan. They'll go away to college together, major in careers that compliment each other, get married and live upwardly mobile lives.
All that changes when Cassie gets fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend. Now she is forced to make a new plan or better yet just live in the moment.
The Mall is a breezy and funny read and I truly think this book will put a smile on your face.
Since you can't go to The Mall, you might as well read about it!
I highly recommend this one!
Spring Into Reading A Thon: Book with Pink or Yellow on cover
The Mall is fun and nostalgic. I really really enjoyed this one. It was just the type of carefree entertainment I(really all of us) need at a time like this.
Cassie Worthy is a Type-A to the fullest. She and her boyfriend of 2 years have a plan. They'll go away to college together, major in careers that compliment each other, get married and live upwardly mobile lives.
All that changes when Cassie gets fired from her job and dumped by her boyfriend. Now she is forced to make a new plan or better yet just live in the moment.
The Mall is a breezy and funny read and I truly think this book will put a smile on your face.
Since you can't go to The Mall, you might as well read about it!
I highly recommend this one!
July 15, 2020
This book is fast paced and a fun read. I remember when the mall used to be the hangout place for my friends and I on most weekends. I knew some friends worked at Express and Aldo. They were always looking sophisticated and well dressed. I didn't know that there were other jobs at the mall for introverts until reading this book. Cassie was book smart and she worked in finance for a boutique. If I knew this, I could have had the entire mall experience! This story of the mall had a treasure hunt so at times it was an adventurous read. The basement was another thing I didn't see it coming. The Mall was definitely not the only place to shop.
This book was told in the first person point of view following Cassandra (Cassie) as she and her boyfriend of 2 years Troy, both were voted in High School for Most Likely to Succeed, headed to the mall for their summer job. Cassie just recovered from mononucleosis. Then found out that "the plan" with Troy no longer applicable because he cheated. She couldn't possibly work with him all summer. Now no plan, no bf, and no summer job. The title was the central location where the story took place because Cassie lived in a small town and the mall was the only place for anything and everything.
The Mall was an upbeat read. Lots more going on to this mall than the one I went. I like the makeover to look our best selves, though not drastic with stink jacket like Cassie did. The driving lesson was a cute read! That rock climbing equipment Cassie mistaken for serial killer travel kit was hilarious. The story on friendship was good as well as finding oneself amid the compromises when being in a relationship. The diversity of characters was great. I like the reminder that there are layers to everyone and we don't know who they truly are until we take the time to get to know them. An excellent read for a visit down memory lane where the mall was the center universe in the teens' summer break. I recommend this book to everyone.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
This book was told in the first person point of view following Cassandra (Cassie) as she and her boyfriend of 2 years Troy, both were voted in High School for Most Likely to Succeed, headed to the mall for their summer job. Cassie just recovered from mononucleosis. Then found out that "the plan" with Troy no longer applicable because he cheated. She couldn't possibly work with him all summer. Now no plan, no bf, and no summer job. The title was the central location where the story took place because Cassie lived in a small town and the mall was the only place for anything and everything.
The Mall was an upbeat read. Lots more going on to this mall than the one I went. I like the makeover to look our best selves, though not drastic with stink jacket like Cassie did. The driving lesson was a cute read! That rock climbing equipment Cassie mistaken for serial killer travel kit was hilarious. The story on friendship was good as well as finding oneself amid the compromises when being in a relationship. The diversity of characters was great. I like the reminder that there are layers to everyone and we don't know who they truly are until we take the time to get to know them. An excellent read for a visit down memory lane where the mall was the center universe in the teens' summer break. I recommend this book to everyone.
xoxo, Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for more details
I won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.
September 7, 2020
The Mall by Megan McCafferty is a young adult contemporary book that is full of nostalgia. This coming of age tale is set in 1991 and full of reminders of that era including the fact that malls were the teen place to be all over America.
Cassie Worthy is a recent high school graduate that thought she had her life perfectly planned out. However, just as Cassie graduated she came down with what her doctor called the worst case of mono he’d ever seen and Cassie ended up in bed recovering for six weeks.
Now that Cassie is fully healed she’s ready to pick up her plans and start the rest of her life in this last summer before college. First Cassie needs to return to the job she had lined up at Parkway Center Mall with her boyfriend of two years. However, Cassie’s plans start to explode in front of her eyes when she enters the mall and is accosted by a ranting lunatic who claims that Cassie is now with HER man.
Ok, I will admit I’m not the targeted age range for this particular book but that being said I picked this up out of nostalgia for the era and loved it. I think that anyone wanting to hop into a time machine and experience the early 90s again should give this one a try. The characters were spot on with their drama filled teen angst but all done in a fun way that kept me giggling and the whole treasure hunt in the mall was a blast. Definitely a light hearted fun way to pass a few hours reading!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Cassie Worthy is a recent high school graduate that thought she had her life perfectly planned out. However, just as Cassie graduated she came down with what her doctor called the worst case of mono he’d ever seen and Cassie ended up in bed recovering for six weeks.
Now that Cassie is fully healed she’s ready to pick up her plans and start the rest of her life in this last summer before college. First Cassie needs to return to the job she had lined up at Parkway Center Mall with her boyfriend of two years. However, Cassie’s plans start to explode in front of her eyes when she enters the mall and is accosted by a ranting lunatic who claims that Cassie is now with HER man.
Ok, I will admit I’m not the targeted age range for this particular book but that being said I picked this up out of nostalgia for the era and loved it. I think that anyone wanting to hop into a time machine and experience the early 90s again should give this one a try. The characters were spot on with their drama filled teen angst but all done in a fun way that kept me giggling and the whole treasure hunt in the mall was a blast. Definitely a light hearted fun way to pass a few hours reading!
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
August 13, 2020
3.5 stars.
Nothing like a nostalgic trip back to the mall, with Megan McCafferty's new novel, The Mall !!
How’s this for an opening line? “Less than five minutes into my triumphant return to the mall, I was targeted for assassination by a rabid spritzer from Bath & Body Works.” (How many times have you unwittingly gotten sprayed by a perfume- or cologne-wielding ninja?)
It’s 1991. Cassie has her summer planned: she and her boyfriend are going to work at America’s Best Cookie, and then they’re going to head to NYC to attend college—she at Barnard, he at Columbia.
Yet within an hour, she discovers that the best-laid plans never quite work out the way you hope. She must scramble for a new job, and as other surprises and disappointments come her way, she realizes that sometimes the only person you can depend on is yourself.
As the summer flies by, she makes new friends, finds the self-confidence and self-belief she’s been lacking, and also realizes that her attitude could use a little adjustment, too. All of this is set against the backdrop of an early 1990s New Jersey mall.
This book was a fun, nostalgic romp. I actually worked in a mall in 1991 (at Suncoast Motion Picture Company and The Gamekeeper), and I remember the days of Sam Goody stores all too well. (Mall music stores were always so expensive!) Megan McCafferty captured the time period (especially the New Jersey elements), as well as the mall experience, quite well.
Grab your scrunchies and your distressed denim, and pick up The Mall !
I’m grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book. Wednesday Books provided an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
Nothing like a nostalgic trip back to the mall, with Megan McCafferty's new novel, The Mall !!
How’s this for an opening line? “Less than five minutes into my triumphant return to the mall, I was targeted for assassination by a rabid spritzer from Bath & Body Works.” (How many times have you unwittingly gotten sprayed by a perfume- or cologne-wielding ninja?)
It’s 1991. Cassie has her summer planned: she and her boyfriend are going to work at America’s Best Cookie, and then they’re going to head to NYC to attend college—she at Barnard, he at Columbia.
Yet within an hour, she discovers that the best-laid plans never quite work out the way you hope. She must scramble for a new job, and as other surprises and disappointments come her way, she realizes that sometimes the only person you can depend on is yourself.
As the summer flies by, she makes new friends, finds the self-confidence and self-belief she’s been lacking, and also realizes that her attitude could use a little adjustment, too. All of this is set against the backdrop of an early 1990s New Jersey mall.
This book was a fun, nostalgic romp. I actually worked in a mall in 1991 (at Suncoast Motion Picture Company and The Gamekeeper), and I remember the days of Sam Goody stores all too well. (Mall music stores were always so expensive!) Megan McCafferty captured the time period (especially the New Jersey elements), as well as the mall experience, quite well.
Grab your scrunchies and your distressed denim, and pick up The Mall !
I’m grateful to be part of the blog tour for this book. Wednesday Books provided an advance copy in exchange for an unbiased review. Thanks for making it available!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
September 21, 2024
Uuhhh, I remember very clearly that I wrote a review for this book. And it’s just showing me emptiness?
August 25, 2019
The Mall, a just-barely-post-high-school YA novel set entirely in the eponymous mall of the title, is the first realism/realistic YA/NA title I’ve read where I really related to the characters, and was not playing a constant internal game of Incomprehensible Behavior/Unrealistic Dialog/Stupid YA Trope Bingo. Obviously the credit for that goes to author Megan McCafferty, but I suspect that the fact that she’s pretty obviously Generation X, like I am, is the reason I “clicked” so much with these characters and this story. McCafferty writes familiarly and accurately about the Gen X life, world, and worldview when we were young adults in that era.
I’m not really sure that Millennials and Generation Z (who are probably the ones reading most of the YA books these days) actually get how very different we Xers were (and still are) from the Boomers, how we came to realize, somewhere early in our adulthood, that our Boomer parents’ flower-child idealism had turned into too much Wall Street greed by way of the supposed American Dream, thus fucking shit up all over the US and in the world, and how we wanted to do – be – better. Our activism was/is more personal and less radical; although we have come to respect the louder, prouder stance of Millennials while Boomers are poo-pooing it, our hallmark reactivity still involves some sort of nod to snark and irony (whereas Millennials are so gosh darned earnest!). And many of our shortcomings can be traced to wanting to do a better job as parents than our own did: we were so largely latch-key children of divorce who supported ourselves at a young age, so we desperately feared being neglectful and indifferent that we turned into, at worst, enabling helicopter coddlers of entitled brats. But I don’t think we ever really got our time to shine, and now we may never: after a lifetime of trying to make the society we lived in value experiences and relationships more than giant fortunes, reflect equality and fairness, and reverse the march into late-stage capitalism and a ruined environment, we thought we finally had the reins when President Obama, the first Gen X US president, was elected. Now of course we’re back to a Boomer president – and a world far more conservative, depressing, dangerous, and overall just downright worse than anything we ever witnessed. As a generation, sometimes we’re not even remembered anymore, or we get lumped in with the Boomers (ack, please no!). Some have been radicalized into a horrifying “if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em” path, but I think the bulk of us are just kind of fading away, and at least somewhere deep inside, we’re too jaded and exhausted to care.
Okay, that was digressive af. Where was I going with that? Oh yeah: The Mall reminded me of being young, going away to college, discovering my values, and being ready to conquer the world, much like Cassie. I think Gen Xers will most appreciate the nostalgia here: from Orange Julius and sky-high hair; “Silence = Death” pins and the nascent burgeoning of third-wave feminism; the optimism of a post-Cold-War world tempered by the slow dawning of the irreversible damage Reaganomics had wrought and that would most certainly undermine our futures; how we could be so intellectually smart but so interpersonally bone-headed and overly dramatic; our distant relationships with our indecipherable and often divorcing parents; alternative music and how it became the existential soundtrack of our lives; how we used fashion and style as such an important tool in our self-expression; the sometimes obsessive introspection on our fundamental sense of separateness and loneliness that was at once universal and also completely and utterly unique to our generation at that point in history; on down to the facts that we were the first to have and embrace technology in our daily lives – and that no matter where in this good ol’ US of A we grew up, we could not WAIT to get the hell out of there at our earliest opportunity.
I wonder why there are already reviews from people that REALLY disliked this book. I don’t know if the squeaky-clean Millennials or the not-really-squeaky-clean-but-like-to-pretend-they-are Boomers were (and will continue to be) put off by some of the realities of youth (notice I did not say “misspent”!) that McCafferty details without shame or drama: We drank. We smoked (cigarettes, as well as pot). (We did more, if we could afford it.) We were on the Pill at whatever age we felt necessary, because in those halcyon days of yore, we could get that shit for free at Planned Parenthood and not need parental permission or even notification (as it damn well still should be!). We cursed like mother fucking sailors. We had sex, and not necessarily in the context of a loving, long-term relationship. We dated people of ages that would be instantly indicted as statutory rape today. If you think YA novels should not have this type of content, let alone when it is not stigmatized, not indulged only by the antagonists or “bad” characters, doesn’t result in some karmic comeuppance, or – worst perhaps of all! – is generally treated as normal, age-appropriate, and sympathetic, well, consider yourself forewarned.
Lest you think The Mall is one big, long, existential slog through pinings for the proverbial good old days, don’t worry – it’s not! That was just a big takeaway for me, given where I’m at in my life and my relationship to the world. This book is actually a lot of fun, and has enough universal experiences of youth to appeal to any age (assuming you are an older teenager not influenced or offended by the aforementioned content). It is mostly about family, friendship, honesty, loyalty, and the inevitable changes of relationships upon graduating from high school. Romance is a very secondary theme, and all the hated YA love tropes are avoided. It’s also chock full of Easter eggs and pop culture references to the late 80s–early 90s, in the style of Ready Player One (although not contrived by plot, as that book was, and much more diverse in scope of topics). The female characters were wonderfully fleshed out, but unfortunately the men, not so much. In fact, the majority of them were serious douchebags, but it served the plot, which was really mostly about relationships between the women: peers, families, intergenerationally. So even though my review (aside from being unforgivably long) is rather “heavy”, the book is not, but you will likely have your own takeaways from it based on your age, background, and stage of life.
There is one group of people I’d like to specifically recommend this book to (aside from Gen Xers themselves): those whose parents are Generation X. I’m not sure whether it’ll make you approve of us more, or see more commonalities in our and your youthful struggles and how we dealt with them, but I’m pretty sure you’ll understand us more.
Besides, it really is a lot of fun!
4.5 stars.
I received an uncorrected bound manuscript of this book at no cost from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaways, but was otherwise not compensated for my review.
I’m not really sure that Millennials and Generation Z (who are probably the ones reading most of the YA books these days) actually get how very different we Xers were (and still are) from the Boomers, how we came to realize, somewhere early in our adulthood, that our Boomer parents’ flower-child idealism had turned into too much Wall Street greed by way of the supposed American Dream, thus fucking shit up all over the US and in the world, and how we wanted to do – be – better. Our activism was/is more personal and less radical; although we have come to respect the louder, prouder stance of Millennials while Boomers are poo-pooing it, our hallmark reactivity still involves some sort of nod to snark and irony (whereas Millennials are so gosh darned earnest!). And many of our shortcomings can be traced to wanting to do a better job as parents than our own did: we were so largely latch-key children of divorce who supported ourselves at a young age, so we desperately feared being neglectful and indifferent that we turned into, at worst, enabling helicopter coddlers of entitled brats. But I don’t think we ever really got our time to shine, and now we may never: after a lifetime of trying to make the society we lived in value experiences and relationships more than giant fortunes, reflect equality and fairness, and reverse the march into late-stage capitalism and a ruined environment, we thought we finally had the reins when President Obama, the first Gen X US president, was elected. Now of course we’re back to a Boomer president – and a world far more conservative, depressing, dangerous, and overall just downright worse than anything we ever witnessed. As a generation, sometimes we’re not even remembered anymore, or we get lumped in with the Boomers (ack, please no!). Some have been radicalized into a horrifying “if you can’t beat 'em, join 'em” path, but I think the bulk of us are just kind of fading away, and at least somewhere deep inside, we’re too jaded and exhausted to care.
Okay, that was digressive af. Where was I going with that? Oh yeah: The Mall reminded me of being young, going away to college, discovering my values, and being ready to conquer the world, much like Cassie. I think Gen Xers will most appreciate the nostalgia here: from Orange Julius and sky-high hair; “Silence = Death” pins and the nascent burgeoning of third-wave feminism; the optimism of a post-Cold-War world tempered by the slow dawning of the irreversible damage Reaganomics had wrought and that would most certainly undermine our futures; how we could be so intellectually smart but so interpersonally bone-headed and overly dramatic; our distant relationships with our indecipherable and often divorcing parents; alternative music and how it became the existential soundtrack of our lives; how we used fashion and style as such an important tool in our self-expression; the sometimes obsessive introspection on our fundamental sense of separateness and loneliness that was at once universal and also completely and utterly unique to our generation at that point in history; on down to the facts that we were the first to have and embrace technology in our daily lives – and that no matter where in this good ol’ US of A we grew up, we could not WAIT to get the hell out of there at our earliest opportunity.
I wonder why there are already reviews from people that REALLY disliked this book. I don’t know if the squeaky-clean Millennials or the not-really-squeaky-clean-but-like-to-pretend-they-are Boomers were (and will continue to be) put off by some of the realities of youth (notice I did not say “misspent”!) that McCafferty details without shame or drama: We drank. We smoked (cigarettes, as well as pot). (We did more, if we could afford it.) We were on the Pill at whatever age we felt necessary, because in those halcyon days of yore, we could get that shit for free at Planned Parenthood and not need parental permission or even notification (as it damn well still should be!). We cursed like mother fucking sailors. We had sex, and not necessarily in the context of a loving, long-term relationship. We dated people of ages that would be instantly indicted as statutory rape today. If you think YA novels should not have this type of content, let alone when it is not stigmatized, not indulged only by the antagonists or “bad” characters, doesn’t result in some karmic comeuppance, or – worst perhaps of all! – is generally treated as normal, age-appropriate, and sympathetic, well, consider yourself forewarned.
Lest you think The Mall is one big, long, existential slog through pinings for the proverbial good old days, don’t worry – it’s not! That was just a big takeaway for me, given where I’m at in my life and my relationship to the world. This book is actually a lot of fun, and has enough universal experiences of youth to appeal to any age (assuming you are an older teenager not influenced or offended by the aforementioned content). It is mostly about family, friendship, honesty, loyalty, and the inevitable changes of relationships upon graduating from high school. Romance is a very secondary theme, and all the hated YA love tropes are avoided. It’s also chock full of Easter eggs and pop culture references to the late 80s–early 90s, in the style of Ready Player One (although not contrived by plot, as that book was, and much more diverse in scope of topics). The female characters were wonderfully fleshed out, but unfortunately the men, not so much. In fact, the majority of them were serious douchebags, but it served the plot, which was really mostly about relationships between the women: peers, families, intergenerationally. So even though my review (aside from being unforgivably long) is rather “heavy”, the book is not, but you will likely have your own takeaways from it based on your age, background, and stage of life.
There is one group of people I’d like to specifically recommend this book to (aside from Gen Xers themselves): those whose parents are Generation X. I’m not sure whether it’ll make you approve of us more, or see more commonalities in our and your youthful struggles and how we dealt with them, but I’m pretty sure you’ll understand us more.
Besides, it really is a lot of fun!
4.5 stars.
I received an uncorrected bound manuscript of this book at no cost from the publisher via Goodreads Giveaways, but was otherwise not compensated for my review.
July 21, 2020
I had a blast getting trapped in 1991 with Cassie and Drea!
Fantastic characters in a cute story with so much nostalgia (both good & bad lol).
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my DRC.
"The chlorinated waters of the Wishing Well ran black with mascara today."
Fantastic characters in a cute story with so much nostalgia (both good & bad lol).
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my DRC.
"The chlorinated waters of the Wishing Well ran black with mascara today."
December 1, 2019
ARC provided via NetGalley, and I am truly thankful for being given a chance to reunite with my childhood hero, Megan McCafferty.
3.5 stars
I believe I was in the eight grade when I read Jessica Darling series. Or should I say, pretended to be sick so I could stay at home and read it.
Now, did the new Megan McCafferty's book have the same influence on me?
No, no really.
But it was a good story.
Writing amazing as always, characters realistic, and I loved the 90's vibe!
Overall, I did look forward to coming back home from work to read it. It's just that I didn't feel need to call in sick and stay at home all day long, cuddling it.
3.5 stars
I believe I was in the eight grade when I read Jessica Darling series. Or should I say, pretended to be sick so I could stay at home and read it.
Now, did the new Megan McCafferty's book have the same influence on me?
No, no really.
But it was a good story.
Writing amazing as always, characters realistic, and I loved the 90's vibe!
Overall, I did look forward to coming back home from work to read it. It's just that I didn't feel need to call in sick and stay at home all day long, cuddling it.
September 17, 2020
Short but fun YA novel set in the ‘90s. I highly enjoyed the trip down memory lane! The teens reminded me of how important your friends are during such tumultuous times - and then how unimportant their opinions of you are, mere days later.
*Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
*Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for the advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
July 31, 2020
"Drea was right. I was a summer stunner. Now all I had to do was prove it."
📚 Series? No.
📚 Genre? YA .
📚 POV?
📚 Cliffhanger? No.
⚠ Content Warnings:
⚠ Book Tags : 90s. Toooons of pop culture references. Treasure hunt.
The book is about:
Take a trip down to memory lane and drown yourself with all the 90s American culture references with The Mall. This book tells the story of Cassandra (Cassie) Worthy and her last few months working at the mall before heading off to college. She has good grades, loving parents, and a doting boyfriend - but all of that will turn upside down, just when she least expects it. Just as she battles these pains and challenges, she reconnects with an old friend and discover a fun mystery at the mall.
What drew me in:
As a self-confessed cover hoe, I cannot stress enough how striking this cover is. That alone had me dying to get my hands on this book. Also, if you may not know, Filipinos are crazy over going to shopping malls. They serve as our recreational areas.. and everything that you'll ever need can be found there. I don't know how they are treated on the other parts of the globe.. so this book made me want to get a peek.
Characters & connections:
However, here comes the sad part. It was hard for me to connect with the characters. It's not because of their age.. because I'm a fan of YA through and through. It's just that, most of the time, the dialogue was filled with 90s easter eggs, jargon, and a whole lot of catch phrases that got lost on me. And unlike the vibe that I got from the cover, the mind of the main character, Cassie, felt like the mind of a 12 to 14 year old, despite the way she should be about 18, I think..
Everything I liked:
I thought The Mall will just be giving me your usual contemporary, but it gave me a surprise. It was so fun to have a tiny mystery sprinkled within the book, with cool clues, and the promise of (maybe) treasure at the end.
Overall thoughts:
The Mall is a quick and easy read, perfect for readers looking for something light and nostalgic. I was born in the 90s so it was hard for me to relate to some of them, but someone who was a teen in the 90s will have a smiley time after reading this for sure.
☁ THE CRITERIA ☁
🌼 Blurb:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Main Character:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Support Characters:⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Writing Style:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Character Development:⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Romance: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Pacing: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Ending: ⭐⭐⭐☆
🌼 Unputdownability: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
🌼 Book Cover:⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
☁FINAL VERDICT: 3.60/5 ☁
Much thanks to Wednesday Books for this complimentary copy. This review is voluntary and opinions are fully my own. Also, all quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.
📚 Blog ♡ Booktube ♡ Bookstagram ♡ Facebook ♡ Twitter 📚
July 24, 2020
Cassie has her life all planned out. The plan consists of a summer job in the mall with her boyfriend of two years, followed by moving to New York together to attend colleges across the road from one another. The plan did not include her getting mono, missing prom and graduation, her boyfriend breaking up with her or losing her job.
Taking place almost exclusively within the mall during the summer of 1991, there are plenty of 90’s references, from 90210 to Nirvana, from big hair to lycra. This was a quick and easy read, and I enjoyed the nostalgia. I adored the cover design and absolutely loved the “90210 Scale of Parkway Center Mall Employment Awesomeness”, where Dylan McKay is obviously the coolest.
Along with the drama of teenage friendships and boys, there’s also slut-shaming, a revenge makeover and a catfight. The list of people Cassie needs to avoid in the mall grows fairly steadily as the story progresses.
Cassie is quite elitist, knowing full well that she’s never going to be one of the mall’s lifers, as she’s destined for bigger and better things in New York. Although she is unarguably book smart, she’s not as mature as she seems to think she is. Often she behaved as though she was closer to 13 than 17.
Something that gave me pause: on the copyright page the author’s name appears after Alloy Entertainment, a book packaging company. It made me wonder how much creative control the author had when they were writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
Taking place almost exclusively within the mall during the summer of 1991, there are plenty of 90’s references, from 90210 to Nirvana, from big hair to lycra. This was a quick and easy read, and I enjoyed the nostalgia. I adored the cover design and absolutely loved the “90210 Scale of Parkway Center Mall Employment Awesomeness”, where Dylan McKay is obviously the coolest.
“There’s a fortune hidden somewhere in the mall,” Drea said, “and I’m determined to find it.”While I liked the concept and was thrilled when the quest for hidden treasure made its way into the story, overall the story fell flat for me. I wanted to get to know two of the characters better, Zoe and Drea, as they had an edge that interested me. Most of the other characters were fairly generic.
Along with the drama of teenage friendships and boys, there’s also slut-shaming, a revenge makeover and a catfight. The list of people Cassie needs to avoid in the mall grows fairly steadily as the story progresses.
Cassie is quite elitist, knowing full well that she’s never going to be one of the mall’s lifers, as she’s destined for bigger and better things in New York. Although she is unarguably book smart, she’s not as mature as she seems to think she is. Often she behaved as though she was closer to 13 than 17.
Something that gave me pause: on the copyright page the author’s name appears after Alloy Entertainment, a book packaging company. It made me wonder how much creative control the author had when they were writing.
Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this book.
Blog - https://schizanthusnerd.com
September 23, 2020
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
While this book certainly had a promising premise and interesting character development, it simply didn't work for me.
Meet Cassie Worthy. She's just recovered from mono and is ready to start summer the year before college, with her boyfriend, Troy. Until, he dumps her, along with their "plan". Cassie gets a job at Bellarosa Boutique, where she makes friends and new adventures, while being the best version of herself - the way she wants, not how others do.
I... strongly disliked Cassie. She was quite annoying and acted like a "drama queen" a lot. It was nice to see how she grew as a character (this book is a coming-of-age story, after all), and the growth that took place throughout the story.
The romance is a relatively small part of this book, and it felt like to me that the friendship that she had with Drea was more significant in the story. The treasure hunt she went on with Drea was a major way she was able to get out of her comfort zone while also finding herself. The way she was able to reconcile with Helen and show Troy that she wasn't going to allow anyone to just use and throw her was also enjoyable.
This book also has a bad habit of
breaking
down
sentences
to
bring
drama.
Which I have and will always hate.
The setting of this book is in the 90s, and while I didn't know many of the pop culture references that were being made (and read many Wikipedia articles as a result), I still somewhat got the feel of being in that time. I think this book would be thoroughly enjoyable for people with nostalgia for the 90s.
Overall, this book has a good coming-of-age arc, but it doesn't do much plotwise. I would recommend it to people who want to read a story rife with character development (if they can handle the annoying MC) rather than action, or who just want to relive (in a way) the times.
While this book certainly had a promising premise and interesting character development, it simply didn't work for me.
Meet Cassie Worthy. She's just recovered from mono and is ready to start summer the year before college, with her boyfriend, Troy. Until, he dumps her, along with their "plan". Cassie gets a job at Bellarosa Boutique, where she makes friends and new adventures, while being the best version of herself - the way she wants, not how others do.
I... strongly disliked Cassie. She was quite annoying and acted like a "drama queen" a lot. It was nice to see how she grew as a character (this book is a coming-of-age story, after all), and the growth that took place throughout the story.
The romance is a relatively small part of this book, and it felt like to me that the friendship that she had with Drea was more significant in the story. The treasure hunt she went on with Drea was a major way she was able to get out of her comfort zone while also finding herself. The way she was able to reconcile with Helen and show Troy that she wasn't going to allow anyone to just use and throw her was also enjoyable.
This book also has a bad habit of
breaking
down
sentences
to
bring
drama.
Which I have and will always hate.
The setting of this book is in the 90s, and while I didn't know many of the pop culture references that were being made (and read many Wikipedia articles as a result), I still somewhat got the feel of being in that time. I think this book would be thoroughly enjoyable for people with nostalgia for the 90s.
Overall, this book has a good coming-of-age arc, but it doesn't do much plotwise. I would recommend it to people who want to read a story rife with character development (if they can handle the annoying MC) rather than action, or who just want to relive (in a way) the times.
January 30, 2020
SO MUCH LOVE
This was cheesy, over the top, and absolutely where I parked my car. I loved every Aqua Net moment of this.
Frtc
This was cheesy, over the top, and absolutely where I parked my car. I loved every Aqua Net moment of this.
Frtc
June 11, 2020
I really enjoyed this! It's full of nostalgic 90's goodness. I fully remember being in middle school in 1991 and all of the things mentioned in here were very prevalent. The scrunchies, the bands, the back-to-school fashion shows at the mall. Even the stores I remember shopping in. The story was pretty good and I read it very quickly. Fun read!
A couple small issues I had were that I don't think this would appeal to today's young adults as much as people in my age group, who remember the 90's. They won't get the same feelings here. I also didn't like that two of the characters had sex without even knowing each other's first names. I also had an issue with a friendship that went down the lane of "fake encouragement" that involved no intention of actually helping. It was very fake and I thought it was strange for that character to behave that way, when her character seemed to be very truthful and reliable.
*Huge thanks to the publisher for an early review copy!
A couple small issues I had were that I don't think this would appeal to today's young adults as much as people in my age group, who remember the 90's. They won't get the same feelings here. I also didn't like that two of the characters had sex without even knowing each other's first names. I also had an issue with a friendship that went down the lane of "fake encouragement" that involved no intention of actually helping. It was very fake and I thought it was strange for that character to behave that way, when her character seemed to be very truthful and reliable.
*Huge thanks to the publisher for an early review copy!
December 5, 2020
This was 90s nostalgia heaven and the main friendship was enjoyable enough that I never wanted to DNF. But I find McCafferty's particular brand of slut shaming humor too cringeworthy. I picked this up because of the 90s setting and to see if the aforementioned humor has improved since the Jess Darling series, but sadly I don't think it's going anywhere, no matter what decade she writes about.
July 12, 2020
This quite clever young adult novel is set in a mall during the 1990’s when hair was big, makeup was blue eyeshadow, cassettes the only way to listen to music and a jean jacket a must. It’s when the real Beverly Hills 90210 was a hit.
Cassie and her boyfriend Troy who have been together for years and have a life plan for themselves get ready to begin phase two of the so called plan (college). They will spend their last summer together working as planned at the mall at the America’s Best Cookie store. Until Cassie gets mono and has to spend weeks in bed. When she is fully recovered she thinks life will go back to “as planned” the way it should. Until she finds out Troy has dumped her for another girl and she cannot work at the store any longer and now has no job and she can’t tell her parents. She suddenly feels her whole life becoming a series of downward spirals.
As she interviews at other establishments and judges the employees working there (most who went to school with her) as beneath her, she accidently walks into a clothes shop which she finds is owned by the mother of her bestfriend in fifth grade. Although they have not seen each other since, she gets hired as the bookkeeper for the rest of the summer.
Her past bestfriend Drea who is her total opposite, dates whoever, wears whatever and really doesn’t care what other people think begins teaching her about other ways of seeing people and relaxing her rigid objectives. And Drea begins to learn from Cassie’s positive attributes.
During her summer at the mall, Cassie meets quite the cast of characters and she and Drea find themselves obsessed with finding a “legend has it” treasure hidden somewhere in the mall. Cassie begins to learn some valuable lessons. Such as what is on the outside sometimes is not what is on the inside of a person. And looks can be deceiving. Sometimes it’s those quirks that make a person special.
What Cassie learns from others during her last six weeks until going to college is invaluable. True friendships will last forever and don’t judge others. Loyalty and honesty in friends really exists, real friends have each other’s backs even if they unintentionally hurt you and plans can be changed. When her stint at the mall is over, Cassie walks out very differently than when she first walked in.
The Mall is an inspiring story for young girls with strong female characters and an intriguing treasure hunt which keeps the reader fascinated until the end.
Thank you #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #MeganMcCafferty #TheMall for the advanced copy. The book will be out July 28.
Cassie and her boyfriend Troy who have been together for years and have a life plan for themselves get ready to begin phase two of the so called plan (college). They will spend their last summer together working as planned at the mall at the America’s Best Cookie store. Until Cassie gets mono and has to spend weeks in bed. When she is fully recovered she thinks life will go back to “as planned” the way it should. Until she finds out Troy has dumped her for another girl and she cannot work at the store any longer and now has no job and she can’t tell her parents. She suddenly feels her whole life becoming a series of downward spirals.
As she interviews at other establishments and judges the employees working there (most who went to school with her) as beneath her, she accidently walks into a clothes shop which she finds is owned by the mother of her bestfriend in fifth grade. Although they have not seen each other since, she gets hired as the bookkeeper for the rest of the summer.
Her past bestfriend Drea who is her total opposite, dates whoever, wears whatever and really doesn’t care what other people think begins teaching her about other ways of seeing people and relaxing her rigid objectives. And Drea begins to learn from Cassie’s positive attributes.
During her summer at the mall, Cassie meets quite the cast of characters and she and Drea find themselves obsessed with finding a “legend has it” treasure hidden somewhere in the mall. Cassie begins to learn some valuable lessons. Such as what is on the outside sometimes is not what is on the inside of a person. And looks can be deceiving. Sometimes it’s those quirks that make a person special.
What Cassie learns from others during her last six weeks until going to college is invaluable. True friendships will last forever and don’t judge others. Loyalty and honesty in friends really exists, real friends have each other’s backs even if they unintentionally hurt you and plans can be changed. When her stint at the mall is over, Cassie walks out very differently than when she first walked in.
The Mall is an inspiring story for young girls with strong female characters and an intriguing treasure hunt which keeps the reader fascinated until the end.
Thank you #NetGalley #WednesdayBooks #MeganMcCafferty #TheMall for the advanced copy. The book will be out July 28.
February 17, 2023
The Mall is a cute, coming-of-age, YA summer read perfect for young teen readers and readers old enough to remember actually going to the mall in the 90s that want a quick hit of nostalgia.
I spent my teen years practically living in the mall in the late 90s, so I'm the latter audience. If I were the former, I would have probably enjoyed the story even more, because it definitely reads younger YA. That being said, being transported back in time for just a little while still made reading this book a worthwhile experience for me.
While I didn't love everything about the story, there were plenty of tidbits that I think a large portion of women can relate to. We've all had our hearts broken whether that be by a love interest or a friend. Most of us have gone out with at least one boy (or girl) that as an adult we can now see wasn't shit, but back then, we cried over their sorry ass anyway. We've all grown apart from friends, reconnected with some we had written off, or made new ones with people we never would have expected. A good portion of us had summer jobs that we'll never forget. Very few of us had all of our post-high school plans play out exactly the way we imagined they would, and all of us have had experiences in our young life that helped us to find ourselves and/or made us look at our life and the people in it a little bit differently.
If you're in the mood for a fun, light YA read full of 90s nostalgia, this one's for you!
I spent my teen years practically living in the mall in the late 90s, so I'm the latter audience. If I were the former, I would have probably enjoyed the story even more, because it definitely reads younger YA. That being said, being transported back in time for just a little while still made reading this book a worthwhile experience for me.
While I didn't love everything about the story, there were plenty of tidbits that I think a large portion of women can relate to. We've all had our hearts broken whether that be by a love interest or a friend. Most of us have gone out with at least one boy (or girl) that as an adult we can now see wasn't shit, but back then, we cried over their sorry ass anyway. We've all grown apart from friends, reconnected with some we had written off, or made new ones with people we never would have expected. A good portion of us had summer jobs that we'll never forget. Very few of us had all of our post-high school plans play out exactly the way we imagined they would, and all of us have had experiences in our young life that helped us to find ourselves and/or made us look at our life and the people in it a little bit differently.
If you're in the mood for a fun, light YA read full of 90s nostalgia, this one's for you!
September 14, 2020
I really liked that one. It was a fast-paced story of a teenager whose summer is going is NOT going like she planned... She tries to feel good about it, having everything planned for her entire life... but it is not going well at all.
I was 8 years old in 1991, but I do remember a lot of things that were mentioned in the book. It was fun to read about them and remember them all over again. It feels so long ago... (I am totally nostalgic right now)
I really loved the humour touches. It made me snort a couple of times.
The only somewhat negative comment I have is for Cassie. Though she learned about her mistakes, she wasn't that supportive about her friend Drea. And it made me sad. Everyone should have their chance in life, and Cassie was hyper judgmental about Drea, like she couldn't get out of the case she put her in... But Drea is a fierce one. Let's just say that Cassie learned that the hard way, and it served her well.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
I was 8 years old in 1991, but I do remember a lot of things that were mentioned in the book. It was fun to read about them and remember them all over again. It feels so long ago... (I am totally nostalgic right now)
I really loved the humour touches. It made me snort a couple of times.
The only somewhat negative comment I have is for Cassie. Though she learned about her mistakes, she wasn't that supportive about her friend Drea. And it made me sad. Everyone should have their chance in life, and Cassie was hyper judgmental about Drea, like she couldn't get out of the case she put her in... But Drea is a fierce one. Let's just say that Cassie learned that the hard way, and it served her well.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
July 16, 2020
A summer-long treasure hunt with Cabbage Patch Dolls for clues in a 90's shopping mall? Yes, please. This book was a treat to read and filled with quirky characters and 90's nostalgia. So much fun! Cassandra's "perfect plan" boyfriend dumps her on the way to work at America's Best Cookie. Rather than watch her ex work with his new squeeze, Cassie finds a new job -- in a shop filled with clothes she would never wear. Her former BFF Drea is already employed at the shop and they find new common ground to bring back their friendship. Speaking of Drea, did anyone else hear Janice from "Friends" laughing when Drea's signature style was described? This book was smooth and satisfying. Hope you all find it to be worth your time this summer.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2020
1991. Sophomore year in high school. I was fifteen. My favorite place to trek (besides the library) was the mall.
Just the mall. Names never mattered.
In McCafferty's novel, Cassie Worthy spends her summer trying to find her worth via neon, cassingles, and Orange Julius as she deals with an ex-boyfriend, an ex-best friend's advice, and rumors.
I thought this novel was cute. It gave me a slice of nostalgia that I love and I think those living at the moment would love too. If you want a taste of the early 90s (before Nirvana hit the scene), take a gander at this book. It's the bomb! (Yeah, I showed my age!)
4/5
*Special thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this dope novel*
Just the mall. Names never mattered.
In McCafferty's novel, Cassie Worthy spends her summer trying to find her worth via neon, cassingles, and Orange Julius as she deals with an ex-boyfriend, an ex-best friend's advice, and rumors.
I thought this novel was cute. It gave me a slice of nostalgia that I love and I think those living at the moment would love too. If you want a taste of the early 90s (before Nirvana hit the scene), take a gander at this book. It's the bomb! (Yeah, I showed my age!)
4/5
*Special thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this dope novel*
August 7, 2019
This book is so good
I cried
I laughed so hard i cried again
This book is amazing
I cried
I laughed so hard i cried again
This book is amazing
September 30, 2020
*Quick Take*
The mall. First love. First jobs. Cabbage Patch Kids. Cassette tapes. 90s fashion. 90210. Video games. This was a fun nostalgic story. This is Cassie’s last summer home before going off to college. She has everything planned that is until her boyfriend breaks up with her. Now she is lost... fortunately an old friends mom steps in to help her out. This leads to a rekindled friendship and an epic treasure hunt. A story about learning that sometimes the best parts of life aren’t planned. I grew up in the 80s and was in my 20s in the 90s and found this thoroughly enjoyable, brought back many a good memory! A fun story with some girl power, a little romance, and a lot of pop culture references.
*** Big thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
The mall. First love. First jobs. Cabbage Patch Kids. Cassette tapes. 90s fashion. 90210. Video games. This was a fun nostalgic story. This is Cassie’s last summer home before going off to college. She has everything planned that is until her boyfriend breaks up with her. Now she is lost... fortunately an old friends mom steps in to help her out. This leads to a rekindled friendship and an epic treasure hunt. A story about learning that sometimes the best parts of life aren’t planned. I grew up in the 80s and was in my 20s in the 90s and found this thoroughly enjoyable, brought back many a good memory! A fun story with some girl power, a little romance, and a lot of pop culture references.
*** Big thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
July 21, 2020
See my blog post for more information! Thanks to St. Martin's Press for including me in the blog tour!
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It's 1991, and Cassie is excited to work the summer at the Parkway Center Mall with her boyfriend, Troy. In just a few short months, they'll be off to college together in New York City. Everything is going according to plan, but on her first day at America's Best Cookie, she discovers that Troy has a new girlfriend with a homicidal streak. Heartbroken and jobless, she finds work at Bellarosa Boutique, a high-end fashion store that Cassie would never, ever shop in, and just happens to be owned by the mother of her former best friend, Drea. Drea tells her about a fortune secretly hidden in one of the mall's stores, and together they set off to find clues, flirt with boys, and discover friendship in unlikely places. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin's Press and an invitation to join the blog tour. Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, slut-shaming (mostly countered on-page, or at least hilariously avenged), divorce, cheating.
I'm honored to be asked to read this book, since I'm not sure it's one I would have requested on my own. Its title doesn't do it justice. The Mall makes it sound like it's a story about vapid, Clueless-era mallrats--no hate, I adore Clueless and I'm fond of malls, but this story is far more charming than the title lets on. First of all, it's a love letter to the 90s. If the mall of the 90s was your natural habitat as a teenager, then you're sure to enjoy all the nostalgic references to stores that are no longer around, like Kay-Bee Toys, Orange Julius, and Sam Goody. It really took me back to days of hanging at the mall with my friends, stocking up on 10 for $10 jewelry at Claire's, and searching for clearance band/horror movie t-shirts at Sam Goody, Suncoast, and Media Play before there ever was such a thing as a Hot Topic at my mall. I love that McCafferty set her story in this time period, and it's sure to resonate with readers slightly older than the average YA audience.
It's also fun for anyone who's ever worked in a mall, since they develop their own weird inner cultures. Cassie has Kool-Aid and Everclear and a Cabbage Patch Kids treasure hunt; I had urban legends about cursed objects and The Buckle challenge, wherein employees of other stores try to make it to the back wall of The Buckle without being pounced on by another retailer. The treasure hunting plot is fun, not unlike the teenagers trying to crack Russian codes in Stranger Things (without the guns and monsters). It gets enough attention to keep the plot moving, but as in life, it's not always the obvious things that end up having the most impact. The treasure hunt turns out to be secondary to the real plot development of the novel, which is Cassie's self-discovery and her friendship with Drea. It's a funny, moving coming-of-age story that handles its issues with humor and just the right amount of heart.
I like Cassie; she's my people. She's a straight-A student and an over-achiever, and her brand of know-it-all humor is just my style. McCafferty manages to capture that purely teenage arrogance that comes from being one of the smart kids without making Cassie wholly unlikable. She obviously thinks she's too good to work in a clothing store, and the mall is just a holdover until her real life starts in New York. Yet the book pushes her (not always gently) toward a more adult perspective that there are all kinds of worthwhile jobs in the world and that being a snob to people who earn their living in a mall isn't acceptable. I enjoyed her conquering her fears of her ex-boyfriend and discovering new sides of her personality, her cute new summer romance with "Sam Goody", and most of all her friendship with Drea. They're opposite poles, with Drea being the popular, sophisticated friend with panache, and I like how the book allows them both to be vulnerable in different ways. Cassie is far from a perfect person, and she doesn't give Drea's dreams the respect they deserve but, as with the best characters, she tries hard to learn from her mistakes. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I review regularly at http://brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
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It's 1991, and Cassie is excited to work the summer at the Parkway Center Mall with her boyfriend, Troy. In just a few short months, they'll be off to college together in New York City. Everything is going according to plan, but on her first day at America's Best Cookie, she discovers that Troy has a new girlfriend with a homicidal streak. Heartbroken and jobless, she finds work at Bellarosa Boutique, a high-end fashion store that Cassie would never, ever shop in, and just happens to be owned by the mother of her former best friend, Drea. Drea tells her about a fortune secretly hidden in one of the mall's stores, and together they set off to find clues, flirt with boys, and discover friendship in unlikely places. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin's Press and an invitation to join the blog tour. Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, slut-shaming (mostly countered on-page, or at least hilariously avenged), divorce, cheating.
I'm honored to be asked to read this book, since I'm not sure it's one I would have requested on my own. Its title doesn't do it justice. The Mall makes it sound like it's a story about vapid, Clueless-era mallrats--no hate, I adore Clueless and I'm fond of malls, but this story is far more charming than the title lets on. First of all, it's a love letter to the 90s. If the mall of the 90s was your natural habitat as a teenager, then you're sure to enjoy all the nostalgic references to stores that are no longer around, like Kay-Bee Toys, Orange Julius, and Sam Goody. It really took me back to days of hanging at the mall with my friends, stocking up on 10 for $10 jewelry at Claire's, and searching for clearance band/horror movie t-shirts at Sam Goody, Suncoast, and Media Play before there ever was such a thing as a Hot Topic at my mall. I love that McCafferty set her story in this time period, and it's sure to resonate with readers slightly older than the average YA audience.
It's also fun for anyone who's ever worked in a mall, since they develop their own weird inner cultures. Cassie has Kool-Aid and Everclear and a Cabbage Patch Kids treasure hunt; I had urban legends about cursed objects and The Buckle challenge, wherein employees of other stores try to make it to the back wall of The Buckle without being pounced on by another retailer. The treasure hunting plot is fun, not unlike the teenagers trying to crack Russian codes in Stranger Things (without the guns and monsters). It gets enough attention to keep the plot moving, but as in life, it's not always the obvious things that end up having the most impact. The treasure hunt turns out to be secondary to the real plot development of the novel, which is Cassie's self-discovery and her friendship with Drea. It's a funny, moving coming-of-age story that handles its issues with humor and just the right amount of heart.
I like Cassie; she's my people. She's a straight-A student and an over-achiever, and her brand of know-it-all humor is just my style. McCafferty manages to capture that purely teenage arrogance that comes from being one of the smart kids without making Cassie wholly unlikable. She obviously thinks she's too good to work in a clothing store, and the mall is just a holdover until her real life starts in New York. Yet the book pushes her (not always gently) toward a more adult perspective that there are all kinds of worthwhile jobs in the world and that being a snob to people who earn their living in a mall isn't acceptable. I enjoyed her conquering her fears of her ex-boyfriend and discovering new sides of her personality, her cute new summer romance with "Sam Goody", and most of all her friendship with Drea. They're opposite poles, with Drea being the popular, sophisticated friend with panache, and I like how the book allows them both to be vulnerable in different ways. Cassie is far from a perfect person, and she doesn't give Drea's dreams the respect they deserve but, as with the best characters, she tries hard to learn from her mistakes. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I review regularly at http://brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.
August 3, 2020
First of all, apologies to anyone who's upset by hearing that historical fiction is set in the 90s now. Second of all, I read this all in one setting and had a lot of fun with it. Yes, I do think it's something that millennials will enjoy for the nostalgia, but I do think a lot of today's teens are interested in the 90s and will be able to get most of these references. And I think the core story, about a high school overachiever overcoming her snobbishness about fashion and her "not like other girls" attitude, is one that is still relevant to today. I also really loved that Bethany lost a bunch of weight from having mono, briefly experienced life at that weight, and then gained back all the weight but felt better about herself because she was more confident from the next experiences she was trying. Just a nice light summer read!
Read
June 12, 2020This was a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of 90s references to mall stores long gone. It was a hoot to see Bethany Darling show up, and I dug that this was the second YA book I've read this year (first being War and Speech) that the main character worked at the mall cookie shop.
I'm going to disagree with a lot of reviews. I think this is YA, and I think it has teen appeal. Is it more for Gen X/Millennials? Yes. But teens love the 90s, and this is a full-on 90s romp.
Voice is funny and snarky.
I'm going to disagree with a lot of reviews. I think this is YA, and I think it has teen appeal. Is it more for Gen X/Millennials? Yes. But teens love the 90s, and this is a full-on 90s romp.
Voice is funny and snarky.
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