Slight, silly, and nostalgic. If you grew up in the late 80s or early-to-mid 90s, this will hit a pleasant nerve for you and remind you of your preteen or teen years spending every available minute at the local mall. While the story, itself, is pulled in far too many directions and never fully fleshes out any of its characters, The Mall is a fun escape back to the days of Sam Goody, Orange Julius, and arcades, even if it never lives up to what it could be.

Early 90s YA set in a mall? Sign me UP!!!
I mean, I was 5 in 1991, but I still have fond memories of NKOTB and going to the mall when it was still full of shops and people, like the cute boy at the music store that my mom would never let me go into. The KayBee toys with the robot puppies. Perfume stores. Giant cookies. (All things mentioned in the book too, but these are MY memories)
In "The Mall," we meet Cassie Worthy, recently graduated, and working at the giant cookie store with her boyfriend as they save up college money for THE PLAN (go to college, get straight As, get into medical school, succeed, get married, have babies, etc.)
But, you know how plans work.
15 minutes after her first shift back from having an illness that kept her from even attending her prom and graduation, Cassie is without a boyfriend, or a job. Until a figure from the past swoops in with possibilities aplenty.
"The Mall" is not my first experience with McCafferty. I grew up right alongside Jessica Darling, so I knew going into this one that it was going to be fun and have some heavy moments."The Mall" did too. And there was also a treasure hunt.
"The Mall" may not hit current teens the way it hit me since they didn't grow up with the same mall experience. They may not even know Mark Wahlberg used to be a shitty rapper convicted of a hate crime. But the themes of friendship, teen drinking spots, and being unsure about your future when it's about to become the present are themes that will never be out of touch.
I 100% enjoyed this book. 5/5
*I received a copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my review.

This was a really quick and fun read and it felt so easy to travel back in time and get lost in the teenage angst, drama and love McCafferty spun in this story. The plot centers around Cassies last summer before college and it felt like you were right alongside her as she experienced the craziness of that summer in life. This would be a great read to have for the beach, sitting by the pool or for a quick trip. It was easy to pick up and hard to put down.

Sadly, this book fell extremely short for me.

The relationship between Cassie and Drea felt so forced and flat. They both acted terribly towards each other and in the end, I couldn't see how they would still be considered friends. Drea never apologized for cutting Cassie out of her life in middle school, and she became friends with Cassie again for selfish reasons. It made their entire friendship throughout the book feel so unreal.

The only part I was happy about was when Cassie never felt like getting back with her ex. She immediately left that guy on the curb and never looked back.

Overall, this book just felt incomplete. The characters were all very flat and I didn't care what happened to any of them. All the relationships were just surface-level relationships and because of that, I didn't feel like much had changed from the beginning to the end.

I had very high expectations going into this book and I'm not sure why. The story really intrigued me with it being set in the '90s over the summer and primarily at a mall. It all sounded like fun and games and I was ready for a light and fluffy read. The problem that I found with this book is that it was so clique and when it tried to tackle bigger issues, the author did not really focus on them but instead just threw them in. The writing was also a little weird. I found that there was an overuse of caps lock and name dropping things in attempt to give off 90s nostalgia.

Cassie Worthy has summer and her NYC college career all planned out. All the Summer 1991( one year before I was born haha) plans come crashing down when she discovers her boyfriend was seeing someone else when she was busy finishing her high school career. Cassie also gets fired. WTF? This won't stop her, heck no.Cassie as she finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself.

I disliked this book. It was decently written, but felt like a bare bones movie script instead of a novel. It meandered and many scenes would work better as movie montages. This is historical fiction (gasps) but I didn't have any connection to Cassie. She's your standard privileged white girl. Just say already what's wrong dont lie to your parents. They'll get used to it .The faking and misunderstandings weren't cute ,maybe it would have worked better in a romcom. We live capitalistic hellhole, we do our best to survive. I luckily never had nostalgia for the mall, it exists in Suriname but not the enormity like the US. YOU might like it if you have fun memories working in the mall. I might've liked it if it was a movie. Who knows maybe it will. I'm not interested in any other McCafferty book in the future that is certain

It's 1991, and Cassie is excited to work the summer at the Parkway Center Mall with her boyfriend, Troy. In just a few short months, they'll be off to college together in New York City. Everything is going according to plan, but on her first day at America's Best Cookie, she discovers that Troy has a new girlfriend with a homicidal streak. Heartbroken and jobless, she finds work at Bellarosa Boutique, a high-end fashion store that Cassie would never, ever shop in, and just happens to be owned by the mother of her former best friend, Drea. Drea tells her about a fortune secretly hidden in one of the mall's stores, and together they set off to find clues, flirt with boys, and discover friendship in unlikely places. I received a free e-ARC through NetGalley from the publishers at St. Martin's Press and an invitation to join the blog tour. Trigger warnings: sexual harassment, slut-shaming (mostly countered on-page, or at least hilariously avenged), divorce, cheating.

I'm honored to be asked to read this book, since I'm not sure it's one I would have requested on my own. Its title doesn't do it justice. The Mall makes it sound like it's a story about vapid, Clueless-era mallrats--no hate, I adore Clueless and I'm fond of malls, but this story is far more charming than the title lets on. First of all, it's a love letter to the 90s. If the mall of the 90s was your natural habitat as a teenager, then you're sure to enjoy all the nostalgic references to stores that are no longer around, like Kay-Bee Toys, Orange Julius, and Sam Goody. It really took me back to days of hanging at the mall with my friends, stocking up on 10 for $10 jewelry at Claire's and searching for clearance band/horror movie t-shirts at Sam Goody, Suncoast, and Media Play before there ever was such a thing as a Hot Topic at my mall. I love that McCafferty set her story in this time period, and it's sure to resonate with readers slightly older than the average YA audience.

It's also fun for anyone who's ever worked in a mall, since they develop their own weird inner cultures. Cassie has Kool-Aid and Everclear and a Cabbage Patch Kids treasure hunt; I had urban legends about cursed objects and The Buckle challenge, wherein employees of other stores try to make it to the back wall of The Buckle without being pounced on by another retailer. The treasure hunting plot is fun, not unlike the teenagers trying to crack Russian codes in Stranger Things (without the guns and monsters). It gets enough attention to keep the plot moving, but as in life, it's not always the obvious things that end up having the most impact. The treasure hunt turns out to be secondary to the real plot development of the novel, which is Cassie's self-discovery and her friendship with Drea. It's a funny, moving coming-of-age story that handles its issues with humor and just the right amount of heart.

I like Cassie; she's my people. She's a straight-A student and an over-achiever, and her brand of know-it-all humor is just my style. McCafferty manages to capture that purely teenage arrogance that comes from being one of the smart kids without making Cassie wholly unlikable. She obviously thinks she's too good to work in a clothing store, and the mall is just a holdover until her real life starts in New York. Yet the book pushes her (not always gently) toward a more adult perspective that there are all kinds of worthwhile jobs in the world and that being a snob to people who earn their living in a mall isn't acceptable. I enjoyed her conquering her fears of her ex-boyfriend and discovering new sides of her personality, her cute new summer romance with "Sam Goody", and most of all her friendship with Drea. They're opposite poles, with Drea being the popular, sophisticated friend with panache, and I like how the book allows them both to be vulnerable in different ways. Cassie is far from a perfect person, and she doesn't give Drea's dreams the respect they deserve but, as with the best characters, she tries hard to learn from her mistakes. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I review regularly at https://brightbeautifulthings.tumblr.com.

This book was packed with early 90s nostalgia and I was there for it! I was 11 in 1991 and loved following the characters in the book as they went on adventures through the mall, which was THE place to be in the 90s! This was the kind of book that is good to read when you need a smile...not a ton of substance to the plot but a lot of fun to read. Very atmospheric and full of pop culture references, I highly recommend this one to my fellow 90s kids!

I received an e-arc of this book from St. Martin's Press and NetGalley to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book gives me all the feels and vibes from my high school time. Full of nostalgia and hope, The Mall is everything I want in a summer read - summer jobs, teenage hookups, fashion, and a treasure hunt. Other people may not be fully on board with giving this a rating as high as I have, but I would totally read this book again. I MIGHT read this book every summer…..

Hopefully, you guys will read this book and let me know if you felt about it how I did.

You can see my video review here:
https://youtu.be/8CcI6IkBTus

The cover caught my eye. Yes I love pretty book covers! Then I read the story took place in the 80's!! OH MY!! I love the 80's!! While the story had some pretty awesome throwbacks in there, it just didn't quite lift off for me. I tried again after a couple of days and still the same feeling. I am bummed because this book seemed totally up my alley.

3.5 stars I read this book as a buddy read with my friend Sarah from the YouTube channel Sarah’s Nightstand https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBVf70DmzIEP4MCMz5MvJaQ

We both received this in exchange for an honest review and decided it would be fun to read together. Set in the stereotypical 1991 mall backdrop, Cassie is a young high school graduate about to set off to college with her boyfriend. They have a plan to work for the summer to pay for textbooks and living expenses but very quickly, Cassie’s life starts to unravel and those plans are about to self destruct.

This book was full of nostalgic references and allowed Sarah and I to talk about and relive the 90’s. That aspect of it was a ton of fun. Remembering the stores and layout of our local malls and the popular culture of that time allowed me to enjoy the book. However, Cassie, as a teenager was a bit immature and her actions were questionable for her age. She made some decisions that were thought out and some that were straight up hurtful. Yes, she was young but she should’ve been smarter than she was portrayed.

The other issue that both Sarah and I had was the intended audience for this book. It is a YA read that would not translate well for that audience. My daughter is 20 years old and she would not get any of the references or humor. If the YA genre is geared for 13- 18 year olds, this book would fall flat for them. I found that is was a “fun” read for me and I’m 40 years old.

For these reasons, I am giving this book 3.5 crowns.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Cassandra and Troy have been dating for two years and have a plan. The plan didn't involve Cassie getting the worst case of mono in medical history, missing prom and graduation or Troy dumping her for a "foaming-at-the-mouth mallrodent who tried to spritz her to death." On top of that Cassie loses her job and her parents decide to separate after 25 years of orthodontic/marital bliss.

No, things definitely aren't going to plan. What does ensue however is a summer of life in the mall; a new job, new friends, new love interests and a treasure hunt involving Cabbage Patch Dolls.

I mostly enjoyed this homage to 90's New Jersey, even if being born in 1988 Britain put me at a disadvantage with a lot of the references. I found Cassie funny although not always that likeable and the same goes for most of the side characters. I'd have liked to see more of the mall employees but we seemed to spend so much time in Cassie's head that there wasn't alot of other character development. There wasn't really enough of anything for me...I wanted more treasure hunt, more family, and more friendship building but I feel like it was all rushed and half-done. Despite this, it was an enjoyable read and a solid three stars from me.

I was really looking forward to this! I was born in the 80s and grew up in the early 90s, where this book takes place. It was said to have a ton of 90s references and nostalgia. And there was some small references to nostalgic items I completely remember from being a kid, but this entire book fell a bit flat for me on the nostalgic factor.

Besides the mention of scrunchies, teased bangs, and Cabbage Patch Dolls, plus a few other minor fashion statements, I did not FEEL like this book took place in the 90s. I was looking forward to a descriptive feeling throwing me back to that time period, but it just didn't. I kept picturing current threads and trends in my head, until a mention item would remind me that it was supposed to be taking place 30 years ago.

The story was simplistic and unbelievable. And I feel like the main character was all over the place, as far as her emotions and convictions. I didn't really like the main character, or her co-worker friend (the two main characters of the book). They seemed overly dramatic, and I didn't care for some of Cassie's decisions, when this book is geared towards teenagers, and writing and plot feels more along the lines for younger teens, at that.

However, all the aside, I still enjoyed the scavenger hunt aspect of this story, and that it was spurred along by means of Cabbage Patch Dolls. I wish there had been more focus on that plotline, than the rest, honestly. I liked the story, but wish there was more depth and detail.

In book TWs: attempted sexual assault, mentioned rape, slut shaming, weight loss and gain

I've loved going to the mall my entire life, and spent my teens running around it with my friends doing weird stuff to stave off our boredom, so I was really curious about The Mall when I read it's premise. It was a quick read, and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, if for no other reason than the surprising amount of topics it tackled and for the cute love interest (he loved music and had good hair). I was definitely younger than the targeted audience though, since I only understood part of the pop culture references, I doubt teens would get them all. That's not to say that they won't enjoy this (they will), but it's more on the nineties kid nostalgia side of things.

The Mall is set in the nineties and follows Cassie, a teen spending her last summer working at the mall, before she follows her plan to go to New York for college. Her plan soon falls apart as her long term boyfriend breaks up with her and she finds out she's fired, eventually working with her ex-best friend, Drea. The two go on a treasure hunt through the mall as they rekindle their friendship and Cassie learns to step outside of her plans. I really appreciated that at the heart of the book was Cassie's friendship with Drea, and that it wasn't overshadowed by her dating life like I thought it might be.

Cassie herself was a bit difficult to sympathize with at times though. She was overly judgemental and downright mean at times, and she tended to just use her problems as an excuse for most of it. Some of it was just her being a teenager, but there were parts of it that I felt went a little too far and it made it hard to relate to her. I love characters that aren't necessarily nice people, but I usually need more of a reason to like them first, not just pity over their situation. Drea had the same sort of meanness going for her as well, where she'd push the boundaries of things a bit too far. With her though, there was more of an enigma of why she was doing it, and her enthusiasm and laughter made me easily like her despite her sharp edges. In general I did genuinely like both of them, but I'm still not sure what they saw in each other.

As much as I liked the friendship centric aspect of The Mall, I felt like I wasn't entirely sure why Cassie and Drea were friends, both past and present. I wish there had been more chemistry between the two of them, to make their friendship more believable. I also wish that we had gotten to see more of their previous friendship before it fell apart the first time. Throughout the book, I had expected to find out what had driven the two apart, but it never came up, leaving an uncomfortable loose end.

McCafferty tried to make her novel more than just a fun book about the complexities of friendship, giving it a feminist twist. We watch Cassie grow into who she wants to be, the challenges in her life forcing her to decide. I loved the female solidarity, and how she learned to outgrow her aggression towards other girls. I enjoyed the sex positive parts of the book too, though I wish the slut shaming towards Drea had been addressed a bit more. Most of all I loved Zoe, who teen me wanted so desperately to be. My only critiques of her are that it felt like she had been written as white (especially descriptively) and then had the last name "Gomez" slapped behind her name to add some diversity. It also made me uncomfortable that the only woman of color was a survivor of sexual assault, while the white character who was almost assaulted sort of just breezes past it. I know people handle things differently, but it felt more like trying to skim over that scene to lower the word count than anything else.

Overall, The Mall was a whirlwind of a read, pulling readers in with it's fun plot and setting, while tackling feminism in the nineties. It had me reminiscing and melancholy for my teens and grinning along with whatever Drea was doing. While it's not something I'll be re-reading anytime soon, I think people will love it's swoony love interest, friendship and feminist message.

It was a quick read but I don't feel like much really happened. I was actually hoping it would be a bit campier and really go for the 90s nostalgia fun but I was left feeling a bit bored.

The Mall was a cute and funny novel. I loved the flashbacks to the 80’s and 90’s and it brought me back to when I was a teenager during those years. Hearing about Marky Mark (I grew up and live in the Boston area), acid washed jeans, Orange Julius, mile high hair, and, of course, Cabbage Patch Kids, brought back so many memories and it was so fun! It was a very light and easy read, I flew through it. Though told from a YA POV, I wonder if it would have the same affect if you couldn’t relate to all of the nostalgic mentions? I would think it would be best suited for readers like me who were also teens during those years.

Like many people my age, I was a HUGE fan of the Jessica Darling series. However, it feels like the author has decided that her books outside that series aren't as successful and is trying to recapture what the series had, but it just didn't work in this case. There was a lot of filler and dropped/unimportant plot points, and then a million 90s references. It was like reading a list of "things 90s kids will get!" and thinking, "Oh yeah! I remember that!" but in a novel form. It just didn't really work for me.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book was fantastic. It so perfectly encapsulates early '90s malling. The dialogue crackles and the characters are great.

Definitely had more than a few throwback feels reading it!

This was a surprisingly quick read. It in no means is the best book I have ever read but it is a very enjoyable read. The 90's setting wasn't really a big thing in this book. With a couple of small changes it could have perfectly been set in modern day. What I'm trying to say is that I wish this had more of a distinct 90's feel. Either way I liked that friendship was the main focus of this book. Yes, there's some romance involved into this story but most of the book resolves around a great friendship. The ending conflict felt a bit too dramatic, but honestly that made this book feel like an early 2000's teen girl movie (honestly this whole book just feels like that movie genre in book form). I liked how the characters were pretty flawed in this book and the narrative made them acknowledge those flaws. I liked the treasure hunting side plot, reminded me a lot of the rollerworld money storyline from On My Block (which is a show I love and that storyline was amazing).

This book was by no means perfect, it wasn't particularly serious, but it was fun! it was a good summer read, funny and heartwarming. There was some cheesy parts, some cliche parts, but it was fun. As someone who is from New Jersey and knows that mall culture, and is also a Barnard student, I vibed with Cassie in a lot of ways. I think my main complaints are that the treasure hunt always felt a bit unnecessary and secondary to the main plot, and I also thought it was weird that [ she had sex with sam goody/george but didn't know his name? she went on and on about how into him she was, and got more intimate with him in the span of like a few weeks than she did with her boyfriend of two years, but didn't bother to ask his name? it felt a bit off, and made sam goody/george feel kind of like he was really just there to be a love interest and had very little beyond that. (hide spoiler)] I loved the relationship between Cassie and Drea and almost wished there'd been even more of them. I'm not sure how much the 90's setting added as well, besides some music references and cabbage patch dolls, but I guess I would also complain if it relied too heavily on nostalgia, which I don't think this book did. It definitely critiques the 90's a bit, which helps as well.

This was a fun, light book that I would recommend for anyone looking for a funny beach read!