This is a wonderful book...full of rich and dynamic characters. I love how the "prom" means something different to each and every person. So many different characters are invested for so many different reasons. This is a great read for anyone who loves the angst of high school and the drama surrounding prom!

This book made me feel very nostalgic of my own high school experiences, particularly prom season. I would definitely recommend to high school readers.

Try as I might, I couldn't get into this book. It wasn't necessarily bad, but I just don't think I cared enough about the trivialities of high school prom to really enjoy it. I probably should have known better since I didn't care about prom even when I was in high school, but I wanted to give it a try because I adore contemporaries and this one sounded cute! And granted, there were a few cute moments, but overall it just wasn't my cup of tea.

This book follows several high school seniors as they plan and prepare for their prom, as well as their life after high school. These students are all connected one way or another, and the book explores their relationships as they deal with difficulties and circumstances beyond their control. When things don't go as planned, they will all have to band together in order to make the night a success and to help each other iron out their relationship issues.
This book reminded me a little of the Disney movie Prom. It follows several different storylines, but in the end all of them intersect and are resolved one way or another. I enjoyed the book overall, and I especially enjoyed the stories about Lizzy and Cameron. As the book progressed, I found myself caring more about the characters and the way their stories would end. I didn't care for the profanity, and I also didn't really like the obvious political correctness that was weaved into the story. In my humble opinion, I'd rather not read about it in books I've gone to for a break from politics. That being said, I did enjoy it overall and would recommend it for those who enjoy YA fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not required, and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I received this e-galley from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Wonderful YA novel with a diverse group of characters. Look forward to reading more from this author, as this was my first exposure to her work. #APromtoRemember

Yet another swoon-worthy YA contemporary novel by Sandy Hall! There were a LOT of POVs, so it took awhile for me to remember who everyone was, but they do all interact with each other. It took me forever to connect Landon with being Cameron's stepbrother (I just thought of him as Kelsey's ex). I appreciated the LGBQ representation. I did find Otis' parent's to be unrealistically strict (I can't see anyone in real life being that strict, but I guess it is possible.....poor kids). Cute, light, and positive book!

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Heidi's review May 03, 2018 · edit
really liked it
bookshelves: audiobooks

Four stars: A light, fluffy feel good read that shares all the ups and downs of prom from seven different perspectives.

It is almost prom season, and feelings are running high. For seven different seniors, the thought of prom brings about a whole slew of emotions. As the big dance nears, these seven individuals find themselves grappling with date issues, complex emotions and anxiety that the thought of prom brings up. Will prom be all they hope and want or will it be a disaster? Sit back and find out if this will indeed be a prom to remember.

What I Liked:
*A Prom To Remember turned out to be a delightful and unexpected read. Do away with you preconceived notions of prom as this book takes seven unique voices and explores all the emotions that prom brings. I loved that the seven characters weren’t the popular kids that you would expect. Instead you get a variety of voices. So much fun. This was an adorable read.
*Speaking of the seven characters, I loved getting to know them all. Even though seven characters was a tad difficult to navigate at first, once I got to know them, I enjoyed each and every perspective. There is: Cora who is beginning to think that her perfect boyfriend Jamie, whom she has been dating since seventh grade, might not be perfect for her, but how do you break up with the perfect guy? Paisley thinks prom is ridiculous and she wants nothing to do with it, until she accidentally nominates her best friend with social anxiety issues. Henry is Paisley’s best friend and he is horrified when he finds out he is nominated for prom king. Henry does not do social situations. It gets worse when the most popular girl in school asks me to prom. He needs help stat! Otis is cute, charming and openly gay. He has the best boyfriend and he is excited about prom until his boyfriend tells him he got a hotel room. Otis is terrified at the thought of what a hotel room entails, but how does he tell his boyfriend? Lizzie is shy. Somehow she finds herself going to prom with a mysterious boy she has been communicating anonymously with all year. Cameron is Lizzie’s anonymous friend. It has been a hard year for him, and he has become a loner. Laptop Girl’s notes have been the only bright spot. Finally there is is Jacinta, the quiet girl who feels like she has spent all of high school being a secondary extra character. She wants to shine, but how? I loved that there was such a variety. You had shy, quiet kids, some with anxieties and issues as well as some LBTGQ kids. Great cast!
*I loved that this wasn’t all about prom. Instead it delves into all the issues the kids are facing as they prepare to take those first tentative steps into adulthood. Some are anxious, uptight, while others take what is coming. I so loved exploring the issues and the emotions that the characters felt.
*This book made me giggle and laugh. There were some really funny scenes. I adored Henry with all of his social hang ups. He was too adorable. Then there was Otis with his smelly car. The scene when Otis discusses sex with his straight friend was priceless. Worth the price of admission.
*The romance... There are many different types of relationships in this one. My favorite was the cute romance that took place between Mystery Boy and Laptop Girl. It was a You Got Mail type of relationship, which are always my favorite.
*I loved that so many of the parents were active participants in the story, and they were all supportive. Big props for involved parenting!
*The ending is perfect. It wraps the story as neatly as it can. I was content and happy with the way it all turned out. It was just right.
And The Not So Much:
*I am not going to lie. Adjusting to seven different voices was tough, especially when listening to the audiobook. It is hard enough to keep track of seven characters in a print book, but listening made it harder. I did love each and every character, but it took awhile to settle in and learn their personalities. If you aren’t a fan of multiple points of view, you will struggle with this one.
*The narrator, Em Eldridge, did a good job, but I thought that there should have bene two narrators, one to do the female characters and then one for the male voices. It would have been so much better to have a male doing the male characters.
*One thing that bothered me was in the very beginning, there is this discussion on not doing the traditional prom queen and king voting, and I was led to believe this was going to be an important part of the story. It isn’t, the whole prom voting thing seemed like the same old same old, what happened to the merit thing?
*My other little niggle with the book was Cora’s character. I was left wanting more development with her character. There were hints that she was struggling with her sexual identity, but it wasn’t thoroughly explored, I wish her view point was more developed.

A Prom To Remember was a charming read. I loved the characters, the emotions and the issues that were presented. This is not a book all about going to prom, instead it is a book that explores the issues, anxieties and situations that prom presents. The good, bad and ugly all on display. It was cute, real and so much fun. I really had fun with this one!

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

I loved this book. Great story with wonderful high school characters. Too often high school novels are stereotypical and this does not fall into that, Its so funny and well written. I’ve enjoyed Sandy Halls previous novels and A Prom to Remember is now one of my favorites of hers. Would recommend to everyone who wants a little prom romance back in their lives.

At first I wasn't sure if a book being told from seven different POVs would be too much, but the author really figured out how to do this smoothly. It was clear everytime the POV changed and they didn't change out of the blue. In the end the author managed to bring all of the characters together in some way and it just worked. Prom is a time a lot of teenagers are looking forward to, but it can also be stressful. I loved how the author took many different things a teenager can be dealing with: changes in the family that are hard to deal with, not feeling heard and trying to find their voice, their sexuality and how to deal with it, finding social situations difficult to deal with and trying to be perfect and maybe taking on just a bit too much. Besides being serious, there were a lot of funny moments and romantic gestures. The whole 'promposal' was used here in this book and it gave us some funny situations. While I read this book I had a smile on my face and was hoping that all the characters would get their happily ever after, even if only on prom night! Especially when the night goes differently than expected for everyone.

The story is told from the points of view of seven different characters who are diverse in background, physical type, and sexuality. We follow Cora, Paisley, Jacinta, Cameron, Henry, Lizzie, and Otis as they navigate the weeks before prom. They deal with the usual teenage issues such as finding a date and the perfect outfit, but they also deal with deeper issues such as sexuality, anxiety, and step-families. Initially, it’s difficult to remember who’s who, and it’s hard to see how all the characters’ stories will intersect or why some of them are even relevant. But it all comes together in the end. And at least it’s told in the third person, so you can’t forget whose story you’re reading.

I love how Jacinta, who considers herself a bit-player in her own life, ends up bringing everyone together but also gets her own happy ending. Ironically, she also has the most mentions in the book, so I would consider her the main character. Strangely, this is the second young adult book in a row that I have read featuring platonic male-female relationships and bisexual teens (and I’ve only read two of the latter).

A light and fluffy feel-good read, perfect for the prom season.

Warnings: mild coarse language, underage drinking (but not drunkenness), LGBTQ themes, M/M sex talk (not explicit).

A Prom to Remember is Sandy Hall’s fourth novel, and it’s just as cute and character filled as her previous books!

While so many characters can be confusing at times, I love the way Hall intertwines their stories and creates distinct personalities. Even though the POVs focus on Cora, Paisley, Henry, Jacinta, Otis, Lizzie, and Cameron, the secondary characters are just as much a part of the story as the main characters and I enjoyed seeing the friendships overlap. Once I diagramed who each of the seven main POVs were interacting with, I was better able to keep their stories straight, which is why I transferred my diagram over to an online version for others to use. Disclaimer, not all of the relationships are connected as there is a lot of overlap, but I tried to show as many of them as possible.

What I love so much about Hall’s books (and why I keep coming back for more) are fluffiness of them. A Prom to Remember is a delight to read and I adored how cute it was. I could not tell you which POV I liked best as it changed each time it switched. The switches happened frequently, so just as I was getting into one storyline, it would switch over to a different character and I would get caught up in their story. With summer coming up, this is the perfect beach read for anyone looking for a fun, contemporary YA filled with friendships and fluffy relationships.

Overall, A Prom to Remember is another hit by Sandy Hall! Fans of her previous books will love this fun, end-of-senior-year-prom-filled novel!

3.5 - DELIGHTFULLY CUTE, FUN, AND ADORABLE

With realistic situations that will take you down memory lane, diverse characters you can’t help but love, and adorable friendships that will make your heart melt, A PROM TO REMEMBER was a pleasantly entertaining read.

This book was delightfully cute, fun and made me smile… but I do have to mention that I had a difficult time keeping track of the characters in the beginning. I actually almost wanted to DNF at one point, but I decided against it since the characters were really interesting. There were just way too many POVs for my liking or what I’m used to. The plot also moved pretty fast, so I hard trouble remembering who was who, who liked who, who was best friends with who, and so on. It definitely took some time to get used to the multiple POVs, but I did get there. Once I was able to remember the characters and make connections, I found myself enjoying the story more.

The characters were all AWESOME in their own ways and I absolutely adored them. I found it quite easy to relate with them and what they were going through. I even saw bits and pieces of teenage me in most of them. They were charming, quirky, driven, realistic, and so darn lovable! They did make some mistakes here and there — they’re teenagers after all… BUT there was something so real and genuine in this crazy fun group of high school seniors that I just couldn’t help but root for them. My favorites were definitely Paisley and Henry. I loved their playful bantering and their frienship was totally cute and heartwarming. I really liked how they challenged and supported each other. They were #bestfriendsgoals and I couldn’t get enough. Of course the others were really great too — Lizzie, Jacinta, Cora, Otis, Cameron, Luke, Madison and yes even the other side characters who seemed annoying at first.

This book wasn’t heavily focused on romance, but don’t worry… there were plenty of swoony and sweet moments between the couples. There may be even one or two romantic grand gestures that will totally make you aww. Honestly though, the different and amazing relationships were what really made this a wonderfully entertaining story. The romance was just a delicious added bonus and I’m certainly glad for it!

Overall, A PROM TO REMEMBER by Sandy Hall was a quick, fluffy, and cute read. I did have a minor issue with the multiple POVs, but I still had a great time reading this book. I really liked the fun friendships, charming characters, cute couples, diverse representation and lighthearted teen drama. The story also wrapped up in an adorable, sweet and memorable way that made my heart full of happy. So, if you’re looking for everything I just described in my review, then take a risk and add this on your TBR.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from Xpressobooktours and Swoon Reads via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

*Visit me at https://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/*
This was a very cute, incredibly fast YA contemporary read dealing with teens of varying backgrounds (lots of diversity here, be it race or sexual identity) all dealing with different kinds of life issues, choices, hopes- and the driving force is the Prom. As a side note, this book was not really about the prom at all, but more about the stress that life has for teens and how they chose to cope with it- I mean seriously, the prom was only the last few(ish) chapters of the book and not really even described (or attended by some of the main characters anyway).

I love that "promposal" is a word (at least in regards to the US and our craziness) and that it is used in this story. Being from a different age range, the big over the top asking to the dance thing was not even an idea- you want to go to the dance, you talk in person to your potential future date. Bam, that's it! But now, the asking to the dance is way more epic and intense than the actual dance happens to be. Blows my mind, but I love that the author showcases it and how important the grandiose is to teens now. Beware the promposal!

The story is narrated from all seven perspectives as they get ready for and dread the upcoming big event. I love stories told from multiple perspective and this one was quite the ensemble cast, with so many character and the dynamics between them, I at times felt like I needed a diagram to keep everything in order when I first started the story. Here is my own version of a a cheat sheet:

1.Cora, leader of the Prom Committee, the girl who is so put together, leads all the clubs and has been with her perfect, cute boyfriend for years- the boyfriend who she really wants to break up with
​2. Paisley, the distant (at times hostile/rude/snarky, but I loved her the most!) feminist who doesn't care about prom even a little bit even though she is on the committee (for college applications only) and inadvertently nominated her best friend Henry for Prom court
3. Henry, suffers from terrible social (actually all kinds) anxiety, prefers to be left alone and not touched regardless of his mom trying to play match maker for him and his classmate Jacinta
4. Jacinta, the cute, quiet girl who is finally ready to live her life and not be a side character in it, secretly dreams of her own promposal, and feels like prom is the perfect place to take charge- if only she had a date
5. Otis has only recently come to terms with his sexuality and really enjoys his time with his boyfriend Luke, but when he finds out Luke got a hotel room for prom he feels like he might be in over his head and not ready to take that step
6. Cameron has been talking for months with his anonymous laptop-pen pal appropriately referenced as "laptop girl" and he would love nothing more but to meet her in person, which prom seems like the best excuse for that
7. Lizzie, the insecure girl with a heart of gold, able to keep Paisley in check (which is a feat!) and would love to meet her pen pal, but has some serious doubt he will be in to her.
​
​Each character was completely unique with their own voice and personality, view alternating at chapters​, to help give the reader a peak into their anxieties and concerns- life is not all roses for teens.

​Overall this was a cute read, I personally would have loved for actual prom drama, but the point of the story about teens finding themselves was made very clear. The relationships between all the teens, especially the friendships, are what really make this story. This is a perfect lazy day read for those who love their YA contemporaries. ​

​I am voluntarily reviewing an advance, complimentary copy of this book.

Rating 4.5 out of 5

One of the main reasons I like to read young adult books as an adult is I like stories that take me back to that age and the time in my life A PROM TO REMEMBER does just that and it’s probably why I liked it so much. A PROM TO REMEMBER is fun and sweet and endearing.

I decided to read A PROM TO REMEMBER because I wanted to read a story about prom during “prom season”. This book is more about what happens leading up to the prom, but it was exactly what I wanted. And while I do like a story told from multiple perspectives, it took me a little while to get all of the characters straight in my head and remember their friends and how all of the side characters were connected. (Honestly I think this was more about the e-book format than anything else). And the characters are distinct enough with their own personalities that they become memorable.

As someone who went to the prom the last 3 years of high school (I was invited my freshman year, but my date stood me up, so yeah that happened) the characters’ experiences were relatable - the excitement and the anxiety and the idea that it is a rite of passage. Each experience was different for me as it was for Cora, Paisley, Henry, Otis, Lizzie, Cameron, and Jacinta, but I could identify with almost every one of them - especially Lizzie and Jacinta.

I loved the humor and the friendships and the interconnectedness of the characters. For some, prom is everything - the highlight of high school, but for others it’s just a good time to be with your friends. And I like the idea of everyone going to have a good time and making memories and celebrating the most.

A PROM TO REMEMBER is a good time. It was an amusing read and a fun way to reminisce.

This is another story that I feel is perfect for the teens of today. While this is my first book I've actually read by this author, I've had one sitting on my TBR shelf, and now I'm excited to get around to reading it. This story had such an amazing range of characters and situations. It reminded me a little of the recent movie Blockers. It also is a book I will recommend at the bookstore, and to my students, for anyone who enjoyed Simon Vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. Right off the bat, I personally connected with Jacinta. In high school, I was Unnamed Nerd Girl #3. I don't know how anyone in high school, other than the few people I hung out with remember me enough to friend me on Facebook these days. I don't feel like I got the type of end of the year/prom experience that Jacinta ends up with in the conclusion of the story. Then, there was a story that I think Paisley told, about why women are called "chicks". Now, I googled it. I don't find a story anywhere like what she told, but if it's true, I can't use that anymore. Finally, both the movie Blockers, and Love, Simon really got me started thinking about the things we don't think about with gay teens. Like for instance, the whole hotel room after prom is something I remember the drama of when I was watching shows like Beverly Hills 90210 (the original). And how it meant sex, the first time for the girl usually. It was touched on in Blockers as well. But you, well, me, I guess I just didn't ever think about how the first time for sex for gay teens is going to be just as scary as it is for hetero. I'm sorry if that is wrong, but that is how my brain worked. I've now got a clue, and my mind is getting more and more open about just how things are basically the same for all teens on those types of aspects, it is just how they are treated by other people. So Otis and Luke's story really was one that I appreciated reading. And boy, I really did love Luke. I also loved Henry. It's rare I think, that we get such a story about a teen who has the social anxiety that Henry has, where to most people, they seem pretty normal. Usually when we have stories about teens like that, everyone tends to know or think that they are weird. So for Henry to be like he was, well, it was good. I loved the friendship between him and Paisley as well. I loved Paisley's prom shirt that she made when she got asked to prom.

This story just made me smile. I loved it, can't wait to order it for my school library!

A Prom to Remember
Sandy Hall
Swoon Reads, April 2018
ISBN 978-1-250-11914-8
Hardcover

From the publisher—

Cora: Dating Perfect Boyfriend Jamie. Has NO IDEA how to break up with him…

Paisley: Anti-prom. Somehow nominated her anxiety-ridden best friend for prom king…

Henry: Hates social situations. Invited to prom by the most popular girl in school. SEND HELP!

Otis: Half of one of the cutest couples in his class. Not quite ready for a post-prom hotel room…

Lizzie: Shy. Excited to go to prom. With a boy. Whose name she doesn’t know.

Cameron: Loner. Over high school. Just wants to meet the mysterious girl who’s been leaving him notes…

Jacinta: Unnamed Nerd Girl #3. Determined to become the star of her own life, starting with prom…

Back in the very long ago day, prom wasn’t a big thing in my life. In my junior year, I was dating an R.O.T.C. cadet from another school and we went to his Ring Dance the same night. I don’t remember what I was doing in my senior year but, for whatever reason, I didn’t go to prom. Still, that particular school dance was a big deal and, judging by the kids I see in their fancy dress having dinner, limos waiting, it still reigns supreme in high school today.

What I haven’t forgotten in all these years is all the angst and excitement and hopes and dreams that go along with prom and A Prom to Remember brought it all back with a look at seven kids and all their expectations. I came to love every one of these teens for one reason or another and would not have minded spending more time with them. This was a really fun read and I turned the last page grinning to beat the band…a good way to end a book, I think 😉

Reviewed by Lelia Taylor, April 2018.

So, I'm going to be totally honest when I say that I haven't read A Little Something Different yet (cue the gasps in disbelief). I bought it at Barnes and Noble ages ago (after having completely fallen in love with the beautiful pink cover), and I did try to start it at one point, but there was just something about it that didn't click for me. (maybe it was the perspectives from the squirrel and bench?) Needless to say that this did not happen for me with A Prom to Remember :)

Okay, so my number one fear going into this book was that there was going to be a complete *overload* of characters. The synopsis literally lists seven, and that's not even taking into account each of the character's friends, family, teachers, etc. And I will admit that at first, it was a little bit of a challenge. But as I continued reading, it got significantly easier. Each character's life overlapped with another, and it made it much easier for me to connect with them on a more personal basis. And by the end of the book, I felt like I knew each of them like they were my own friends.

My only issue with this book was a lack of sexual diversity. Usually I'm not too critical on this front, but with there being seven perspectives, I guess I expected a little more. I mean, out of all of the entire cast of characters, only *one* of them falls into the LGBTQIA+ category. I just feel like even if the author had added one other gay/lesbian/other character, that would've been really nice.

Other than that, though, it was a really good read! I definitely enjoyed it much more than I thought I would, and I think the timing of this book is great (what with prom season coming up!) Overall, I would give this book a solid four stars, and would highly recommend this for anyone looking for a super-cute and all-around awesome novel!

This was cute. I enjoyed seeing how the main characters dealt with their senior year and life in general. each one changed over the period of the book.

The book centered around Cora, Paisley, Henry, Otis, Lizzie, Cameron and Jacinta. Their thoughts, feelings and prom. For Cora she was confused about herself and what she was doing in the future. She had the perfect guy but for someone reason he drove her nuts. It wasn’t that she didn’t love him she did but she was sure of who she was and knew she needed to spread her wings. What made her story fun was that her conflicting emotions we all can relate to-her confusion about her future and how we don’t want to be in a rut. Paisley was trying to figure out if she cared about things. She didn’t care for prom and yet she nominates her best friend as prom king. She isn’t sure where her feelings stand on anything. In the end we learn that Paisley may care but doesn’t acknowledge her feelings for things. I loved how she helped Henry and pushes him out of his comfort zone. Henry is antisocial. He is smart and kind but just doesn’t like to be with people or let’s rephrase social settings. He speaks in a matter of fact way and when placed in a setting that overwhelms him you can see he doesn’t deal. this happened with Amanda and prom. Poor guy. I loved the story of how he realized he can go out and when he has had his fill he can go. I also loved his story with Cameron and how it helped him realize how to be a better friend. Otis was adorable. He had the relationship with Luke and they are awesome together. Only Otis is scared to go to prom because Luke has done what typical guys going to prom do-got a hotel room. This has Otis questioning himself and if he is ready for that and scared of what will go on. Instead of talking to Luke he does some crazy things and we see Luke feel sad and scared of where his relationship with Otis is going. Their ending was adorable and sweet. Loved those two so much. Lizzie was the girl you rooted to get the guy. She was kind and sweet. But didn’t really see herself as one guys care for. I loved her story with mystery boy and that ending for them was just precious. Her story didn’t disappoint. Cameron was the one you felt the most for. He was going through so much and to deal he became a hermit. So much emotion was bottled inside him and his only bright side was the girl on the computer. Over time he does realize that shutting down didn’t help him but have him feel more lost and I enjoyed how he came out of this funk but also how he and Henry started to find their friendship again. Jacinta was just trying to be seen. She wanted others to know who she was. She didn’t want to be in the background anymore. She was smart, funny, sweet and adorable. I loved watching her come out of her shell and her prom experience was just cute.

the story was refreshing and sweet. There wasn’t the angst and drama of relationships but the very real feelings many have in their senior year about to go off. We got to see the lives of different characters play out and what they thought and felt leading up to prom and after. the characters were ones you just can’t help but love. Their friendships were precious and you can see how those friendships helped them and grounded them as well. Watching them figure themselves out and their feelings was engaging and sucks you in. A truly fun adorable book.

This type of book - YA, contemporary - isn't my typical kind of book but I was drawn to it firstly by the cover and then secondly by the awesome blurb so I jumped at the chance to take part in the blog tour, and expand my horizons, and I'm glad that I did!

A Prom to Remember is a light entertaining read all about the life of a group of teenagers on the build-up to their senior prom.
This was cool for me seeing as proms aren't really that big of a deal in the UK - or they weren't ten years ago! - but due to TV and movies, they've always been a fascinating topic.

The story is told from multiple pov which I initially struggled with. Keeping all the names straight and deciphering their connections to one another, was more than my poor brain could handle for when I say multiple pov, I mean a lot of pov!
We're not talking two or three or even four here!
Thankfully, it got easier as the book went on and I was able to settle into the realistic snapshot of these kids lives and just enjoy the teenage shenanigans, insecurities, and self-discovery.

This wasn't a book that I'm likely to read again - as I said, it's not my typical read - but I'm so glad that I read it for it made me smile and helped me escape a miserable week.
I'll definitely be recommending it to my teenaged niece.