Thursday, February 14, 2013

Going Vintage

by Lindsey Leavitt
Read: January 12, 2013
Published: March 26, 2013 by Bloomsbury
Source: NetGallery*
Category: Contemporary Young Adult


1) This is a book about a girl named Mallory who discovers that her boyfriend and first love, Jeremy has been cheating on her with an online girlfriend. She is not happy.

2) Mallory decides that technology is the root of all her problems, and that life was easier before cell phones, the internet and social media. In her mind that means the 1960s, when her grandmother was a teen. 

3) Mallory finds a list her grandmother wrote when she was in high school, and sets out to complete it, because things were so much simpler back then - run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. 

4) This is a book about a girl who grows up because she looses her first love. 

5) A sweet romance develops in this book. However, it is in no means the center of the story, because Going Vintage is about Mallory finding herself. 

When I started Going Vintage, I was immediately worried about Mallory's relationship with Jeremy. They didn't appear to communicate with anything besides their lips (I don't mean talking), Jeremy kept trying to push Mallory's physical boundaries, and Mallory was doing Jeremy's homework for him (this a huge pet peeve of mine). But though I saw numerous red flags right away, everything was subtle enough that I could easily imagine it being overlooked by a young girl in love for the first time. 

Thankfully, Mallory does not overlook the fact that, for months, Jeremy has been having a relationship with a girl he met playing a virtual game. When Mallory's break-up with Jeremy blows up online, she decides that technology is the reason everything has gotten so out of control for her. After finding a list that her grandmother made when she was a teen, Mallory decides that life was much easier in the early 1960s so she cuts out technology, changes her wardrobe and recreates that 'better' time. The only thing is that Mallory doesn't really think through what this will mean practically. 

Although it is clear to the reader that Mallory's blame is a tad misplaced, I love that Mallory is not afraid to commit to something she believes in. It was actually fun to watch her attempt to avoid cell phones, computers and digital alarm clocks, while navigating school work, family and friends. And of course, Mallory begin to figure out that perhaps, it's not technology at all that has caused all of her problems. 

Mallory is extremely likable. She is earnest and dedicated to getting over Jeremy and making her life better. I love that she goes a little overboard in the process, because that makes her both flawed and relatable. She has a normal family, parents and a sister with their own problems, who all play a role in her life. There are no mean girls or clichés in this story. 

It is only when Mallory looses Jeremy that she begins to see how much her life was wrapped up in their relationship, and how unhealthy that was. When Jeremy is gone, Mallory realizes that she has no hobbies, is not involved in extra curricular activities, and doesn't have any close girl friends. She has really done nothing for herself since she started high school. 

Mallory also discovers that there are better guys out there. One of the sweetest parts of Going Vintage is Oliver, the boy with whom Mallory builds a new relationship that is very different from what she had with Jeremy. I love that the process is slow and that both Oliver and Mallory make a few mistakes along the way. Although I would have liked even more between them, I think the amount that we get is just right for this book, which is really about Mallory finding herself and not about Mallory finding a new boyfriend. 

One reason why I loved Going Vintage so much is because this is exactly the kind of book that I wish I could have read as a younger teen (or even in late middle school), especially if I was that age in today's world. This story has some really great messages about family, friends and what it means to be in a healthy relationship, as well as about technology and figuring out what kind of person you want to be. These characters have normal, messy lives, and I found them to be relatable and engaging, especially because they were all a little silly at times.  

However, I do wish that we'd seen Mallory develop some closer female friendships. I know this book is about Mallory working on herself, but deep friendships are also an important and necessary part of life. Even at the end when Mallory has come to a better understanding of herself and her family, she seemed a bit lonely of that bond. I hope it's something she puts on her next list! 

Love Triangle Factor: Mild
Cliffhanger Scale: Standalone

Don't miss Sean Griswold's Head, also by Lindsey Leavitt

*Received from NetGallery in exchange for a honest review.

15 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you enjoyed this one, Lauren! Like you, I adored the romance and growth that was so prevalent in this story, but I found it to be rather forgettable. It was a fun read, but nothing earth-shattering for me, which was a shame. Looking for Alibrandi is a much stronger version of a similar tale of growing up, only without the hilarious element of banning technology. Instead, LfA has much stronger relationships and ties between family, which is why this didn't compare as much. Fantastic review, though! :)

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    1. I'll have to go and look at your review for this book now. I haven't read Looking for Alibrandi yet so I cannot compare the two, but it's interesting that you saw this book as so much of a family drama. I think that is certainly part of it, but not really why I enjoyed this story so much. However, I do wish that Mallory had formed some stronger relationships. She does fix some of the problems with her family, but that doesn't make them much closer. And she doesn't really have any friends besides Oliver. I agree that he is a fantastic addition to this plot! I saw this as a fun, light book. Sorry you didn't enjoy it more. If you ever get around to Sean Griswold's Head, I'm interested in whether you enjoy it more. That book deals with a heavier topic than this one, and I was very emotionally tied to that heroine.

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  2. Going Vintage sounds like a really well-rounded book, Lauren. I like that the focus is more about bettering yourself through actions (as opposed to boys) and the whole "there are no mean girls or clichés in this story." Young girls should be reading about relatable experiences like first love and finding yourself instead of Prada bags and gossipy teen queens. And I have to agree with you, it would've been nice to see Mallory develop some quality girl to girl relationships because there's enough b*tchiness in the world and us ladies need to support one another! Granted, I do think her choice in actions was a bit melodramatic, but I like that her heart's in the right place so its easy to forgive.

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    1. I agree! This is a great book about a girl learning about who she is and what it means to have a healthy relationship, both very important messages for young teens. Yeah. I found Mallory's no technology rule to be amusing, because it was silly and over the top. I think it made the book more endearing over all. But I agree that solid girl friendships are important too. It may have been a lot to add that into this story, though.

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  3. Crap! I have to get to this galley, it's out next month!

    What I like most about this book, based on your review, is that it addresses the problem of the young woman who is so wrapped up in the boy she's dating that she has lost her identity in a way. I LOVE books that feature this, for the very reason you mentioned: it looks at a having a healthy relationship and STAYING TRUE TO YOURSELF. Such an important message for young girls, and really women of any age. Love it when a book tackles this.


    And I'm not gonna lie. That cover ROCKS. :)

    So, of the two, which did you prefer more: Going Vintage or Sean Griswold's Head? I have heard great things about the latter but haven't yet read it .

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    1. I think you will like this one Heather. And I think you described my point about this book better than I did. It IS a fantastic cover as well!

      That is a great question. This one is more fun and a little lighter, with some great messages about life. Sean Griswold's Head has the same humor and great family dynamics, but the MC is dealing with a bit more serious of an issue (her dad was just diagnosed with MS). I read them so far apart that It's hard for me to pick a favorite. They're both really great. I think I like Oliver the love interest in this book better though. But Sean is pretty great too. He's a cyclist.

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  4. Hooray for books about healthy relationships! Although, I agree, deep meaningful friendships are so essential to one's emotional well being—some female friendships would be nice to add in. I already wanted to pick this one up for that fab cover, and now I'm really glad to hear there is substance behind it. Wonderful review!

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    1. I hope you enjoy this one too! It is a lot of fun, but with great messages as I said. And yes, a fantastic cover.

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  5. I love this premise! It is a perhaps bit far-fetched, but that sounds like part of its charm. That is frustrating when we find ourselves reading books we wish we could have read as I teen - I totally feel that way too sometimes - but I guess that's just part of the risk associated with reading YA lit when we're no longer quite in that age range. I'm glad you had such a positive experience reading this book! :)

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    1. I think this book is more endearing because the premise is a bit far fetched and Mallory goes a tad overboard. She's so overzealous it's sweet. You're right, the YA market is so big now that there a lot of books I wish I read as a teen. BUT there are also many books I'm glad I waited until now to read. I hope you enjoy this one, Amanda.

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  6. Oh wow! Your review makes this book sound so much better than the summary does. I glanced over it because I didn't care for the cover (haha that Heather and I are opposites on the cover) and because I just didn't click with the summary. It sounds like a great one to read though. It's interesting that you point out that the MC had her identity wrapped up in her boyfriend - that was ME back when I was in school, so I could probably relate to her on that level. Giving up on so much of the current techology, that I wouldn't be able to relate to. I'm not the most tech-savvy, but I'm not the quickest to cope either. Ha!

    This sounds like a great one for younger YA/older MG readers, just like you mention.

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    1. You and your covers! I'm with Heather on that one. It's also perfect for this story about a girl who tries to live life like it was back in the 1960s. I think Mallory portrays a lot of girls in high school, but she is so smart about how she handles the loss of her boyfriend, even if her decisions are a bit silly. She doesn't wallow and go on to the next guy who comes along. She becomes determined, which I really liked. This is definitely a book I'd want my daughter to read if she were in that age range. And I don't think you'd have to worry about the tech savvy thing. Anyone glued to their phone/kindle/computer would be able to relate to this book. She has to write a paper and doesn't want to use the computer so she has to figure out how to do that.

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  7. I think I'm in love with you. You have a Love Triangle Factor in your rating and in your blog title!!

    I NEED this rating as I hate love triangles lol

    And I've been wanting to read this book. Great review.

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    1. I am always excited to find a fellow Love Triangle Disliker! I can't stand them either. I am glad that I can be of service in screening them for you. I always appreciate being warned as well. Hope you like this book, it is super sweet!

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  8. I am definitely going to pick this up after reading your review. Your reflection on it makes it sound much more fun (but also semi-serious) than the blurb did. Great review, Lauren! :)

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