"The Mall" takes readers back to a time when shopping malls were the beating heart of teenage culture, blending nostalgia with a contemporary coming-of-age story. The novel centers around a group of teenagers navigating their lives, friendships, and relationships in the backdrop of a dying mall. With a blend of humor and heart, McCafferty captures the essence of suburban adolescence, while exploring themes of change, identity, and loss.

The strengths of the novel lie in the sharp dialogue and the author's ability to paint a vivid picture of the mall’s heyday, evoking a sense of familiarity for anyone who grew up during its peak. The characters are interesting enough, though some might feel a bit stereotypical at times. The protagonist, in particular, has moments of depth, but struggles with emotional growth that may leave some readers frustrated.

While the nostalgic setting adds charm, it also feels a bit dated. The themes of consumerism, technology, and the decline of mall culture are relevant but are explored in a somewhat superficial manner. The pacing can drag in parts, particularly when the narrative shifts between characters and moments of introspection.

Overall, "The Mall" is an enjoyable read and those looking for a story that touches on personal growth, friendship, and the complexities of life in an ever-changing world. However, it may not fully resonate with those seeking a deeper, more original take on its themes. A good read, but not a standout.

Megan McCafferty has perfectly hit on the nostalgia here and not just because she's an author that evokes nostalgia for so many readers. The Mall is a fun blend of exploring girlhood in a way that might not exist anymore (do teenage girls flock to the mall the way we did in the 90s and early 00s?).

This book is a great fit for readers who enjoy lighthearted and emotional contemporary young adult novels that explore themes of self-discovery, fashion, and nostalgia, while following a relatable character's journey through a memorable 1990s coming-of-age experience.

This was a YA coming of age novel with lots of nostalgia from the 90’s having to do with the way the mall used to be. I miss those times so much. I just felt that I lacked in the characters for me.

Due to St. Martins Press refusal to address the remarks made by their employee regarding Palestine, I will not be reviewing this book.

This in no way has anything to do with the author. But I refuse to support anything from SMP because of their refusal to address a major issue at hand.

Such a fun and entertaining story delivered by this book. Loved the writing style and the nostalgia that came from reading the story. The characters are very likeable and it would be a perfect book to give to a YA to learn about self discovery and chasing your dreams no matter how impossible it might seem.

Note: I received an copy of this book in exchange for an honest and unbiased review,

mostly sped read this. 90s mall culture meets treasure hunt so one girl can have a personal journey before moving away for college. i think the draw of this book is the 90s aesthetic, which just wasn't enough to hold my attention.

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!

This is not the typical McCafferty writing. It is an ode to the 90's and I am all for it.
There might not have been a lot of depth to the writing but I loved that it was an easy read for me.
The style did not feel like your typical book, it actually felt more linear like a screen play waiting to be put on screen. Which probably has a lot to do with the fact there was only one setting. The Mall.
But it was still a cute read that I Would reccomend for people who are not into big, deep thinking novels.

I am sorry for the inconvenience but I don’t have the time to read this anymore and have lost interest in the concept. I believe that it would benefit your book more if I did not skim your book and write a rushed review. Again, I am sorry for the inconvenience.

This was a fun romp through a mall in the 90s. I was a 90s kid, so Cassie would have been a cool, older teen to young me. It was fun to see the mall and all of the fashion, movies, and music of the decade through the eyes of a teenager getting the full experience.
Aside from the setting, the story was fun and I really enjoyed reading about Cassie and her friends. Cassie had some great character deveolopment throughout the story. Overall this was a very enjoyable read.
Thank you so much to NetGalley & Wednesday Books for the opportunity to read this book!

The Mall is a nostalgic story that sounds perfect for all 90s kids. While reading Cassie’s story I was brought back to my teenage years. It was fun read but parts seemed like it was trying a little too hard to be funny and nostalgic instead of bringing that back in a natural way.

A fun time warp back to the 90s with all the pop culture references that come with it. As someone who grew up in the 90s I loved this book. Beyond that I’m not sure if it will resonate with kids but I enjoyed it.

I was excited to read The Mall because it was set in 1990s. I was a teen in the 90s so was excited for some nostalgia. In The Mall, main character, Cassie, returns to the Mall for her summer job and excited to meet up with her boyfriend after weeks of being out with mono. She's devastated to find out that her boyfriend has left her for a psycho and that the job she had with her boyfriend is no longer an option. In typical teen fashion, Cassie feels like the perfectly planned future she thought she had has completely unraveled. The Mall tells the story of her reconnecting with an old friend to look for hidden treasure as well as avoiding her boyfriend's crazy new girlfriend, and maybe finding a new path for her future. This was a fun read and I enjoyed revisiting the 90s mall scene.

I'm not a huge YA reader, but I DEFINITELY am when it carries this much nostalgia. A novel about mall culture in the 90s? Sign me up. It's hilarious, witty and utterly charming.

I wanted to love this satirical story but it never quite clicked for me. I was drawn to the time frame, but never felt like it was utilized enough to set this story apart.

When I read this book's blurb "The year is 1991. Scrunchies, mixtapes and 90210 are, like, totally fresh.", it caught my attention. Being a 90's kid myself, I wanted to know how things were back in 1991 when I wasn't born yet.
In this novel, most of the story happens in the mall where Cassie works. We get to see her making new friends, adjusting to her new job and also her treasure hunting. This book has a good start but the ending is a bit rushed.
Cassie isn't a character you'd root for. She isn't very likable but you get used to her. Drea and Cassie were best friends once but they don't talk anymore and now Cassie works in Drea's mom's shop. If you ask me, I'd say I like Drea better. The thing is, there isn't much back story to the characters. So I can't get attached to them. I liked the treasure hunt and the friendship between Drea & Cassie. I liked the premise & author's writing style. So it's an okayish fun read for me.
Give this a go if you want a nice summer YA read with 90's vibe.

Definite Ready Player One vibes from this book as the protagonists go on a quest with lots of nostalgia based clues. The Mall was fun, but I'm not sure it would really connect with YA readers since it's so heavily 90s based. That being said, it wasn't written on an adult level either, so I couldn't appreciate it as much as I wanted to. A fun, fast scavenger hunt in the mall, but not much more.

I was a huge Megan McCafferty fan when I was in high school. Her first few novels (Jessica Darling series) I still think about today, so I was looking forward when she came out with "The Mall." This book is set in the early 90s, which of course give you all the nostalgia of growing up. However, I became quickly bored with this book. The dialogue was boring and sometimes became a little too cliché for my liking. If you were a fan of the Jessica Darling books then give this one- however, if not, you can pass it right by.

THE MALL is a fun, nostalgic ride for a 90s kid like me. Where Cassie Worthy is on her way to college in 1991, I was still in elementary school but I do remember our local mall and it had all the same stores that Megan McCafferty sets her story in. I remember the sounds and the scents and the look, and that made it easy to overlook a few bland spots and irritating people in THE MALL and see it as a good, fun read.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest & original review.)