Throwback Thursday Mini-Review: Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Title: Going Vintage
By: Lindsey Leavitt
Release Date: March 26, 2016
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Pages: 320 (Hardcover)
Format: Hardcover
Source: Gift

About Going Vintage:

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 president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N |  The Book Depository

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My Rants and Raves of Going Vintage

Warning this review contains some spoilers. 

I went into Going Vintage thinking that the main character was going to be a stereotypical “whiny” teenager, who believes her boyfriend is cheating on her because he created an online avatar that is “married” to another online companion. Although, he wasn’t physically cheating on her, the main character, Mallory, convinces herself that cyber-flirting is a form of cheating–especially when “I love you” emails are involved.

Instead of being a whiny, dramatic teenager, I like that Mallory takes it into her own hands to step away from modern technology–cell phone, computer, internet, and even Friendspace (similar to Facebook or Myspace). Her younger sister helps her accomplish this goal, and throughout the novel Mallory creates lists to help her achieve her goals to change her teenage life and go back to the “simple” things. I love that Mallory challenges herself, and through lists, determination, and an independent will, Mallory is able to forgive those who have hurt her in the past, experience the fashion trends of the 1960s, create new friendships and school-related experiences (like start a pep club), and discover her true self as well discovering and understanding her ever-changing family and friends.

Mallory is a fierce female character and a breath of fresh air. In the end, Mallory proves to herself that it does not matter what time period you were born in, every person goes though heartache and rough times; however, it is up to your own self to change and mold the world around you in order to enjoy life.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Note:   This review was previously posted on my Goodreads account on May 4, 2015, and has been updated for my blog. I received a copy of this book as a gift from a friend.  I was not provided a copy of this book by the author or the publisher as an exchange for a review; I reviewed it at my own discretion.  All statements and opinions in this review are mine.