Early Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage
by Lindsey Leavitt
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Publication date: March 26, 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary
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ARC provided in exchange for unbiased review
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When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat with computer avatars). The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary

2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree

3. Sew a dress for Homecoming

4. Find a steady

5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club presient–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

When I saw the cover and read the synopsis for Going Vintage I knew I had to read it. This is a young adult contemporary about a teenage girl who tries to live exactly as her grandmother did in 1962 during her junior year of high school. She sets up a list of goals and ditches her cell phone and computer.  This was sweet, had depth, humor and a cute guy or two.

The tale begins when we meet Mallory. She and her boyfriend are making out in his bedroom and she is making up excuses to slow him down, again! Today’s excuse is hunger, so while he is downstairs making chips and dip, she decides to start on her  his term paper. When Jeremy's Facebook pops-up on the computer she accidentally discovers Jeremy has cheated on her with an online girlfriend. Heartbroken and inspired by a list of goals she finds written by her grandmother in 1962, Mallory decides to go vintage and complete her grandmother's list. She turns off her phone, computer and iPod. The tale that unfolded was funny, and chock full of lessons and insight.  

Mallory was unique, funny, quirky and determined. I found her level-headed and loved that she constantly tried new fashion trends. She is still finding herself and this challenge helped her grow.  Both she and her sister are hilarious and I enjoyed that their parents were present throughout the tale. Jeremy is the boyfriend who messed up, and the direction the author took with his thread was solid. Oliver is Jeremy's cousin and his story-line and interaction with Mallory was sweet and spicy. He also marches to his own drum and such a nice change from the bad boys of YA. Both he and Mallory were refreshing, bright, and just downright good kids.  Mallory’s grandmother was funny and helpful. The author gave us a good sense of the characters, and the dynamics of Mallory’s family.

I am not sure I would want to live in 1962 just like I am not sure I want to relive my childhood of thirteen TV channels, no Internet and ping-pong Atari but I loved the questions this tale raised. The author addresses social media, first love, and cheating. Her approach to these subjects was original and as she raised subtle questions and directly related them to Mallory’s issues. Mallory is a list maker; she makes lists for everything and they were hilarious at times. They usually appear at the beginning of chapters and offer additional insight into her character. I appreciated the flowing pace and author's show not tell writing style. There really isn’t a romance, although there are some sweet moments, some uncertainty and a promise of things to come. It was tender, and felt genuine. Overall the tale is original, sweet and funny and it ended on a high note.  

Going Vintage was a delightful, funny well paced contemporary with characters I easily connected with. I think fans of contemporary issues, and chick lit will enjoy this. I look forward to reading more books by Lindsey Leavitt.

Three and half cups of percolated coffee out of five