—l e t ‘ s g o t o 𝘵 𝘩 𝘦 𝘮 𝘢 𝘭 𝘭—⁣
—⁣
The Mall, man, what a trip. I am an 80s baby and a child of the 90s so when I heard about The Mall, I was like “YES. Sign me the F up.” Much of my adolescence was spent at Lenox Square (my local mall) and I couldn’t wait to read a YA 90s nostalgia adventure taking place exclusively in the mall! ⁣
—⁣
This book DELIVERS. First of all, I am a huge fan of Megan McCafferty (loved the Jessica Darling books in high school) and her writing is acerbic, witty, and a breeze to read. The plot is cute - has elements of strong female friendships, coming of age, a bit of mystery and treasure hunting, and a side of romance. The story, while veering into silly territory at times was charming, effusive, and just downright fun and a full blown nostalgia trip. I just dug the book from start to finish - the characters (especially Cassie), the pacing, the wit, the memories. ⁣
—⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞: 𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘴, shopping, 90s nostalgia.⁣
𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡: an orange julius and a cinnabon, duh.⁣
—⁣
4⭐️⁣
—⁣

Why I requested This: Let’s be fair, a good reason that I wanted to check this out is that fine line of 90’s nostalgia written by an author who wrote books in the 90’s. Add in the setting of the mall and well, I am easily persuaded to want to check it out.

Pros:
The setting! Part of the reason I was keen to pick this up was seeing how a 90’s book was written and this is one thing that the author excels at. McCafferty makes the mall feel alive as if it is one of the characters and it is clear there is a reason behind the chosen time-frame for the story.

Cons:
The pacing as seen by our protagonist. It felt that a lot of the story came at Cassie fast and are left seeing how quickly she can adapt.
The dialogue seemed odd. Several pieces of dialogue are written as if you are being screamed, but it’s so randomly placed within the text.

Overall: This is a case of right location, but wrong characters for me.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the gifted copy, all thoughts are my own.

First, the cover is gorgeous! And I loved the 90s references. I did find it difficult trying to connect with the characters, I found a majority of them just never grew on me.

This book does basically take place in one location - The Mall

The main character (Cassie) comes off pretty rude, immature and judgemental. Take this with a grain of salt as she is 17. The age range of the characters is 17-20/1 so the maturity level naturally isn't going to be high.

I found if you take this book with a grain of salt it can be enjoyable. There were some funny and sarcastic parts throughout the book.

If you love 90s references in music, (like Nirvana) or accessories (think scrunchies and hair spray), a quick read or young adult contemporary fiction this book may be for you.

3***

This simple book is going to become one of my "comfort" reads -I kid you not! As a matter of fact, as soon as this book hits the shelves, it is going to become part of my library! What a freakin' fantastic walk down memory lane this was for me./ I loved every minute of it.

This book is geared toward YA as a historical (I think), but it is perfect for anyone who became a teen in the late 80's early 90's. Or even better, for older adults looking for the ideal quick break and a walk into the past.

This book, while humorous for the most part, does hit on some sensitive issues (divorce, friendships, virginity, and self-actualization).

*ARC supplied by the publisher and the autho

The Mall is a young adult contemporary standalone by Megan McCafferty. The Mall is set in a New Jersey Mall in 1991. It takes place over the summer of our main characters senior year, and I knew this would be a nostalgic blast. And I was right. The Mall was so much fun to read! I loved taking a trip down memory lane of a world before smart phones and social media. Plus, all of the 90s pop culture references were fantastic to read.

In The Mall, we meet our main character Cassie who goes to work on her first day at her summer job to get dumped by her boyfriend. Cassie starts out the book having quarantined (ha! who can relate) for 6 weeks because she had mono, and she reemerges to find her whole world has changed while she was away. Determined to not let this ruin her summer, Cassie sets out to find a new job and still have a fun summer. The Mall was a ton of fun to read. It brought back all kinds of nostalgic feelings, and summer teenage angst vibes. I loved that this was part 90s pop culture reference and part coming of age story and one great big trip down memory lane.

I enjoyed getting to know Cassie on her quest to learn about herself, find some new friends (& maybe even a love interest!) and have her coveted great summer. There were times throughout the book that the overall plot progression felt a bit weak, but all in all this book was a blast to read, even if not a whole lot happened at times. This book felt like bottled good ole teenage fun and I enjoyed reading The Mall. It was cheesy and dramatic in the ways I wanted it to be. Overall, this book was a lot of fun!

Cassie has her life all planned out. ‘The plan’ consists of a summer job in the mall with her boyfriend of two years, followed by moving to New York together to attend colleges across the road from one another. ‘The plan’ did not include her getting mono, missing prom and graduation, her boyfriend breaking up with her or losing her job.

Taking place almost exclusively within the mall during the summer of 1991, there are plenty of 90’s references, from 90210 to Nirvana, from big hair to lycra. This was a quick and easy read, and I enjoyed the nostalgia. I adored the cover design and absolutely loved the “90210 Scale of Parkway Center Mall Employment Awesomeness”, where Dylan McKay is obviously the coolest.

“”There’s a fortune hidden somewhere in the mall,” Drea said, “and I’m determined to find it.””

While I liked the concept and was thrilled when the quest for hidden treasure made its way into the story, overall the story fell flat for me. I wanted to get to know two of the characters better, Zoe and Drea, as they had an edge that interested me. Most of the other characters were fairly generic.

Along with the drama of teenage friendships and boys, there’s also slut-shaming, a revenge makeover and a catfight. The list of people Cassie needs to avoid in the mall grows fairly steadily as the story progresses.

Cassie is quite elitist, knowing full well that she’s never going to be one of the mall’s lifers, as she’s destined for bigger and better things in New York. Although she is unarguably book smart, she’s not as mature as she seems to think she is. Often she behaved as though she was closer to 13 than 17.

Something that gave me pause: on the copyright page the author’s name appears after Alloy Entertainment, a book packaging company. It made me wonder how much creative control the author had when they were writing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Wednesday Books, an imprint of St. Martin’s Press, for the opportunity to read this book.

To me, The Mall was a pure delight.
I enjoyed every single page and had a blast the whole time while reading it.

What attracted me the most was Megan McCafferty's writing style.
Her words pulled me in and didn't let go, they enchanted me with the fun and I managed to finish this book in only 4 days.
4 days!!
Yes, I know, it doesn't sound like an accomplishment, but keep in mind I have 5 months old baby, and it takes me 10+ days to finish a book these days (let's hope this is a new normal now, because although I do read, man, I miss reading).

I didn't grow up in a place with the mall, so I can't say that this book woke some memories, but oh my, it reminded me how much I miss good old music shops.
What I'd do to go to one now... :( if only for few minutes...
Someone, better invent time machine already!!

The Mall was an interesting story, narrated by Cassie, an unlikable character if you ask me.
However, even though Cassie wasn't dear to my heart, I still wanted to follow her along and I enjoyed her voice.
I didn't like how superstitious she was, but that is pointed out in the book itself too.

Drea was my favourite character and I think her story could be even more interesting than Cassie's, if McCafferty ever decides to write it.

If you're looking for a perfect summer (and all year long) read that does not involve beach and the sea, look no further.
The enjoyment is guaranteed.

Retro mall vibes galore! A fun book with layers of worldbuilding and character growth. Perfect pairing with some mall food court food and a few movies or shows with a similar setting.

This was a fun, different book. While the story didn't really strike me, McCafferty's writing was fun, quirky and unique. She worked in all sorts of references to previous decades that were a lot of fun to read. Honestly its what kept me reading the book. While the plot development need work, the quirkiness kept me going!

i liked this! i didn't have the greatest first impression reading this based on the writing style, but Cassie, Drea, and Sam certainly grew on me by the end.

firstly, from the synopsis, i had no idea that the plot was going to involve a treasure hunt in the mall?? that was so cool and i wasn't expecting it AT ALL because the synopsis is super vague. i was literally ready to DNF this during the first couple of chapters but then the adventure started and it captured my interest. the writing style felt very "middle-aged woman tries to write teenage characters" and it was so cringey at times. however, i was a late 90's baby, not a teenager in the 90's, so maybe it's just me. but with that, a lot of references to people and other things went completely over my head - not really a complaint about the novel, just a comment.

i adored Cassie and Drea's friendship so much, especially because a lot of it was based on their treasure hunt, but it grew into a genuine friendship toward the end and it was really fun! Sam is such a sweetheart as well, and he was a really nice love interest! especially compared to Troy and Slade, lol

so yeah, this wasn't quite what i was expecting but it was cute!

The Mall is a book that, I kid you not, made me nostalgic for a time period I didn’t even live through. I was born in the mid-90’s, and this book takes place in ’91, but this fun-filled romp through teenage drama and self-discovery resonated with truths that are still relevant today, while seasoning them with a distinct 90s flair that I couldn’t help enjoying. Was it cheesy? Sure. But it was the good kind of cheesy, the sort of fluffy read that is perfect for a summer day.

In my opinion, the publisher’s summary really doesn’t do the plot justice, so let’s start with my brief take on it:

After six months of isolation due to a nasty case of mono, in which she missed, among other things, prom and graduation, Cassie Worthy is more than ready to ace this summer: spending time with her boyfriend, Troy, saving some money, and then moving to NYC for college, getting out of the suburbs and into her dream life. But upon her return, Cassie’s world is upended: Troy has started dating someone else, she can no longer work her intended job with him at America’s Best Cookie, and her new job is pretty much the last place she wants to be. Yet all is not lost–with the help of a possible new romance, an unexpected friendship, and a secret treasure hunt through the depths of the mall, maybe this can still be the best summer ever.

This was a highly enjoyable read for a variety of reasons, but the biggest one to me was Cassie’s character. She’s smart (like, very nerdy and book-smart; she would have been valedictorian, were it not for that case of mono), she’s an independent thinker who wears cool band tees and talks about feminism (granted, it’s 90s feminism, so some of her views could still use some work, but she does try to fight back!), and she is just the right combination of stubbornly confident and an anxious disaster. She walks with her head held high but still stumbles realistically while trying to get her life back on track. In other words, she is a relatable protagonist whose goals and personality would not feel out of place even today. And the side characters–including a gorgeous fashionista, a boy who sells CDs and reads riot grrrl magazines, and a creepy-but-sorta-cool goth girl–throw a variety of lights on Cassie’s facade, illuminating multiple sides of her personality all at once.

Megan McCafferty’s writing style here has a very teenage voice, and it works well in the context of the book. Cassie’s commentary oozes dry sarcasm (for example, when describing a coworker, she remarks, “If sprinting in stilettos were an Olympic sport, Drea Bellarosa would win all the gold medals that she could later turn into earrings and a matching statement necklace“), but the humor is also scaled back and augmented by angst when harder emotions need to be discussed. Cassie is the sort of teen who feels everything very deeply and very personally, and McCafferty makes sure that part of her personality is kept abundantly clear. Once in a while, the narration veers a little too far to the childish side (a weirdly lengthy passage making a dick joke about a store that sells wood–yeah, yeah–comes to mind), but for the most part, the story’s voice is clear and resonant.

Of course, a character is only as good as their overall arc is, and in this respect, the book simultaneously succeeds and flounders. On the one hand, the way Cassie transforms over the course of the book from a straight-laced, straight-A student obsessed with The Plan to a freer, more well-rounded individual is a gratifying process to watch. She never becomes perfect, but she leans into her less-conventional strengths and interests. The people she meets at the mall open her eyes to other possible paths in life–dropping out of elite schools, delaying college plans, or simply enjoying where you are instead of constantly striving to leave–and she, in turn, learns a lot about rolling with the punches and taking life for what it’s worth. Yes, it is a tried-and-true, possibly-overdone theme, but who doesn’t love a coming-of-age story?

On the other hand, though, the plot that gets her to that point is sometimes flimsy. The plot becomes an odd mashup of Cassie trying to solve a secret scavenger hunt of urban legend (which was one of my favorite elements of the book; I won’t spoil anything, but there are Cabbage Patch Dolls involved), her boy drama, and her general anxiety about who she is and what she will be doing in the fall. Separately, each element works, but the juxtaposition of the fun of the treasure hunt and the humorous/ridiculous/sometimes-actually-quite-heartfelt teenage melodrama left something to be desired. In particular, the ending felt a little too neat, a little too abrupt (and yet too slow?), and a lot too corny when compared to the rest of the book. That, combined with some irregular pacing, dragged this book down for me in terms of subjective experience.

As a whole, though, this book was a heck of a lot of fun. Even when it turned too saccharine or too campy for my preference, I still found myself enjoying this quick, sweet, heartfelt read. If you’re looking for something light and fun in these mid-late summer days, this is a great option to pick up.

(P.S. I didn’t really have anywhere that this fit in logically, but this seems like a YA book that is written not just for teens, but also for adults. I think a lot of the adult YA readers, who are now in their 30s or 40s, will read this book with fond nostalgia!)

This was fun! Even though this was set when I was still in elementary school, I definitely got all the references and had a really fun time reading this. I love Megan McCafferty's Jessica Darling series and I have to say that Cassie Worthy is pretty awesome, too! Definitely a fun summer read.

The Mall comes out soon on July 28, 2020, and you can purchase HERE. I really liked this blast from the past and hope that you do, too!

Slade was just so predictable with his handsomeness, the quintessence of every uncreative football-playing, homecoming queen-dating, keg-tapping high school stud stereotype. It's as if he'd enrolled in a master class at the Cobra Kai Academy of Asshole Arts and Sciences but took it pass-fail because he couldn't be be bothered to put in the extra effort required for a unique spin on teenage cockiness.

Thanks to NetGalley and Wednesday Books for providing an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie has her life planned out. She has the perfect summer job at the Mall to spring into her happily ever after with her boyfriend Troy, but then it all falls apart. She finds out that while she was sick with the worst case of mono, Troy met Helen and now she's single and out of a job.

Out of luck and hitting rock bottom, after the guy at Sam Goody mocked her music choices, Cassie finds herself working with an unlikely friend and searching for the mysterious treasure of the Parkway Center Mall. An ode to being a teenager in the 90's with themes that any young adult can appreciate, from falling in love and finding yourself. The Mall is the quintessential summer read.

I really enjoyed how this was part Goonies and part 90210 in the ways of drama. I wasn't really in for a treasure hunt, but I was so here for it when it got started. Cassie and her friend Drea are a hilarious and unlikely duo.

What struck me was the atmosphere. I wasn't a teenager in the 90's, but I was kinda close. There was a completely different vibe from the mall in the mid-late 90's that kind of fell off in the early 00's and it feels like every teen sitcom pushed the youth of America towards the mall as a slice of independence. That was where you hung out.

If you're looking to relive the glory of the early 90's or just learn about it. I can't imagine a better way than to go to The Mall with Megan McCafferty.

Weird but fun trip into somewhat recent (1991) nostalgia taking place in a mall (at a time when most people can not go to indoor malls ironically.)
Our protagonist is going through a tough time after recovering from mono and missing the end of her senior year in high school, including prom and graduation (wow kinda like quarantine 2020 minus the mono!) She also loses her mall job, and her boyfriend dumps her for the girl he was cheating on her with when he couldn't see her due to her mono. Oh, and her parents are splitting up. There's a lot more, including a treasure hunt.
Lots of things going on in this book, making it very amusing and fun light read. Perfect for 2020!

Megan McCafferty is a book goddess, and The Mall proves that she really can do no wrong. If you love the 90's, or even the 80's - or if you remember frequenting the mall when you were young, then this book is for you. Actually scratch that - if you've ever set foot in a Mall. This is for you. So much heart and fun, and it's set in Jersey. Ugh. I cannot.

Reading THE MALL was like taking a stroll into memory lane for me when I used to work in a video store, sitting in the corner rewinding VHS tapes for those returning their rentals not following the sticker that says, “Please Be Kind Rewind”. I was working in a mall next to Sam Goody’s always high over the scents of Cinnamon and Vanilla from Cinnabon’s, and the lotions and candles of Bath and Body works.

Many won’t even relate to rewinding your VHS or Betamax for that matter, but I sure related to this and an homage to my Cabbage Patch dolls sealed the deal. I thought this was a great story about Cassie who was out on a six week quarantine recovering from one of the worst case of Mononucleosis her physician has seen in over forty years. Surviving a swollen ready to burst spleen fared far easier than what the rest of her summer was about to give her. There at the mall, her summer adventure began and what a crazy ride McCafferty delivered!

While at the Mall Cassie rekindles her childhood friendship with Drea while she worked for their clothing store doing the books and inventory. The characters were absolutely a delight to read and oh so funny! I loved the addition of the mall side-adventure treasure hunt and also the side fling. All in all, this was a great coming-of-age story about the summer of 1984 before the pivotal stage of moving into the adult hood, entering the college years.

The book is fast paced, easy to read, and a great summer tome to enjoy in an afternoon. Nostalgic, modern, and absolutely heartwarming story with a strong female character you will love. Read this!

This is a fun, summery read that is filled with early nineties nostalgia. Cassie, struck with mono at the end of her senior year of high school, misses out on the fun of prom and graduation - but is finally feeling better and excited for her last summer before college in NYC in the fall. She and her boyfriend of two years, have stuck to a plan to fulfill their dreams and will be working side-by-side at the cookie shop in the mall. But, quickly, plans fall apart and instead, Cassie spends her summer working alongside her ex-best friend and embarking on a treasure hunt that brings her out of herself and with some bumps along the way, the best possible version of herself before the start of the new school year.

Though this is more or less a YA novel, the time period makes it more appealing to older readers who will remember the many references throughout the narrative. It's fast-paced and while the characters aren't deeply developed, and it really does all take place in and around the mall itself, this is a fun read. It's perfect for bringing up memories of just how magical the mall really felt then. There's romance, friendship and some laugh-out-loud moments. This is my first experience with McCafferty's writing, but I am definitely planning on reading more from her! This had almost a movie-like feel to it in such a classic way - I just had a ton of fun reading it!

Thank you to Wednesday Books for providing me with a copy of The Mall by Megan McCafferty in exchange for an honest review!

The Mall found me at a time when I absolutely needed it. 90’s Nostalgia? Check! Absolute silliness and laughter? Check! An all-around good time that makes you want to stick around The Mall past closing time? Check!

The Mall is absolutely phenomenal and deserves so much praise. When I had time to sit down and read, I was turning page after page. It was fun, it was comical, it was nostalgic, it was adventurous (the main portion of the plot IS A GOSH DARN TREASURE HUNT) and there’s even a cute romance involved.

Of course, I have to address an issue in The Mall. While reading this book, I went back and forth so many times with: wow! Friendship! We love! to wow! This friendship is awful. So, here’s the deal & a bit of back story for you: Cassie and Drea were best friends in their middle school (elementary?) days. But, at one point, they go their separate ways & let’s be real, Drea kinda doesn’t seem that great of a person. However, they reunite & it seems as if they’re finally becoming friends again.

Here’s the kicker: they are young adults preparing for their future & Drea confides in Cassie of what she wants to do with her life. Cassie seems to be there & super supportive, but then it’s realized that she doesn’t really believe in Drea & doesn’t think that she’s’ going to get into her dream school. Basically, this situation really made me give Cassie major side-eye.

With that slight character issue I had, everything else makes up for it. There are mentions of 90210, Sam Goody, Cabbage Patch Kids, and more. Reading The Mall really threw me back in the ’90s and I loved that blast from the past. And the ending — I really appreciated how the story ended. Of course, as usual, no spoilers from me, but in general, the ending of this story felt very realistic.

The Mall really won my heart over and I’m screaming my support for this YA Contemporary from the rooftops. Check it out! You won’t regret it.

A heavy dose of early-’90s nostalgia, "The Mall" takes us back into a time period when six-thousand square feet of stores could provide the setting for a teenager’s entire social life, including work, fun, friends, love, and sometimes, family.

Cassandra always had a plan, that is, until the summer before she's supposed to head off to college in New York City and actually put all that preparation into action. A bad break-up, a new job, and reconnecting with her childhood best-friend spur Cassie into a whole new set of experiences, including a Cabbage Patch Kid party, several questionable fashion experiments, and a hunt across the mall for hidden treasure. Luckily, Cassie has well-developed problem-solving-skills thanks to her years in Odyssey of the Mind to figure things out, at least when it comes to treasure hunting...the life part is a bit more tricky. 

Spurred by a strong narrative voice, and interesting characters and relationships, "The Mall" will be a reminiscent ride for those who can remember the ‘90s and enjoy the references. Although likely less interesting for modern-day teens, younger readers will still be able to engage with the fun friendship dynamics, alt-rock romance, and mystery elements, even without having lived through the era.

A love letter not only to the '90s but to the heyday of malls, the story never steps beyond the parking lot. Luckily, there's plenty of drama to keep things interesting within the tight premise. However, readers will likely end up wondering when these teens get a day off, what they're doing on weekends, and what's going on in the world outside the walls of the mall.  

More frivolous and fun than it is anything serious, the book lightly explores both platonic and romantic relationships, starting anew, and being yourself. But above all else, the book savors its trip down memory lane, and the setting stands starkly at the forefront of the novel, which sometimes makes the characters and their descriptions take a backseat, leaving readers in the dark for far too long on certain aspects...like the appearance of our main character.

A successful snapshot into the time period it portrays, "The Mall" is a light-hearted, lovely, and enjoyable read. And, despite not being particularly suspenseful or deep, it's a difficult one to put down! I rated "The Mall" 3.5 out of 5 stars. 

Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for an early copy and a chance to host a stop on the blog tour!

This book was so much fun, I loved the early 90s and 80s pop culture references. It reminded me of a John Hughes movie. I prefer books that are more focused on friendship than romance, and this was a great story about a girl finding herself after splitting from her lame boyfriend and regaining a best friend. Some reviews said they thought the book lacked conflict, but I actually prefer that in books!

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC.