Set in a New Jersey mall in 1991, this YA book is as cheesy and nostalgic as you would expect. It took me down memory lane with references to KB Toys (which was the best place on earth) and record stores, it definitely put a smile on my face. Also, I really want to go to the mall now.

We follow a 17 year old name Cassandra (Cassie for short) whose dealing with a breakup just weeks before summer ends....She had a plan, THE PLAN. Going off to college with her high school sweetheart, and dreams too big for the small town she lives in. And to top it off, she just got fired from her job at the mall. Cassandra is now determined to find another job at the mall, a cool job. The job everyone wants so she can be part of the social hierarchy. Of course things don’t work exactly how she wants them, and little by little she discovers she’s not the person she was at the beginning of summer, but she’s liking who she’s become.

This book was a fun, easy read for me. It was nice to be nostalgic for a bit with my own mall memories. On the other hand our main character Cassie, was not likeable to me. She is very selfish and bratty. She comes across as condescending to people around her, she sees herself as better since she’s leaving her hometown. Through some drama she does experience some growth, buuuut not enough for me 😂 this was definitely an entertaining novel, if you want to dive headfirst into nostalgia, go for it!

The Mall by Megan McCafferty had all my nostalgia neurons firing. I did not come of age in the 1990s nor did we have a mall in easy driving distance. The closest mall was about an hour away and I actually came of age in the early 2000s. However, being a kid during the 1990s and seeing all the Mall Madness commercials, reading this book really took me back. Personally, I really enjoyed my time with The Mall because I felt like I was reading a story from an older cousin.

The Mall follows Cassie Worthy who is about to start working her mall job at America's Best Cookie after missing out on some major milestones due to mono. She's also ready to give her boyfriend Troy her v-card, finally. Unfortunately, in one fell swoop she is attacked by a cloud of cucumber melon, broken up with by her boyfriend, and loses her job. Down on her luck, Cassie ends up working in the last place in the mall she'd ever expect - Bellarosa's. From there, she embarks on a quest for treasure with her ex best friend and spends the summer learning to be less judgmental.

I think if you go in expecting this book to mirror the Jessica Darling books, you'll be disappointed. If you go in expecting nostalgia for when malls were the place for youth to hang out, you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane. I don't necessarily know how actual youth will feel about The Mall. Personally, I enjoyed my time with this book and read it incredibly fast. It's easily a one sitting read and in these times, I am so here for that.

I love the 90's and anything to do with it. Reminds me of the movies of that time. Thanks for bringing me back to my awesome childhood!

I loved this book! As a 90’s teen it brought back so many memories for me. There is a cute summer romance, but that’s not the heart of the book. It’s really about Cassie growing up and being true to herself, and her female friendships are the real love story here. Loved the 90210 references and The Cabbage Patch treasure hunt was really fun too.

This would make *such* a great movie or TV series. The sets, costuming, characters, scavenger hunt...I want to see it all happen on screen!

Cassie is a great protagonist: she fails spectacularly, yet she keeps getting up and trying again, and you can't help but root for her. Megan McCafferty is great at writing uptight smart girls who think they're different (read: superior?) to everyone else. She's also great at pulling the rug out from under those girls and giving them glamorous best friends with depth and brains to show that book smart isn't the only way to be smart and that it's okay to be trendy/flashy or not, whichever suits you.

The interpersonal stuff in The Mall was great; I loved how a person's summer job and social class were so closely linked. And to put a scavenger hunt on top of that and make it all work? To tie in the hopes and wants and dreams of each employee? To make Cassie manipulate them to get the clues but then start to see those around her as fully-fleshed people...that had to have taken some intense planning, but McCafferty makes it look so smooth. I'm always impressed when someone can do something I know is tough but make it look effortless, and as much as I knew Megan had to be sweating pretty hard behind the scenes, I couldn't see it.

This was a great read: fun, funny, moving, cringe-inducing...I really enjoyed the time I spent with this book.

Note: I received a review copy of this book from NetGalley.

This book doesn’t hit as hard as the sloppy firsts series, but it is a fun jog down memory lane. While the depiction of the mall culture is spot on, the premise of the treasure hunt is a little silly. I wish Drea and Cassie early friendship had been a little more fleshed out, but otherwise enjoyed their summer of fun.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher/ marketing manager who *helped me get this book when it became read now, because I was initially declined*, which I don't hold against the author at all. I was delighted to escape my current reality for the Jersey mall of the early 1990's. The summer of 1991 holds memories for me as well, although I was 15, not 17 like the narrator Cassie Worthy, who has plans to attend Barnard in the fall pre-med. She didn't plan on having mono and missing her prom and graduation, or her boyfriend of 2 years dumping her at her 1st day back at America's Favorite Cookie in the food court. She swiftly looks for another summer job at the Mall. Most of the story takes place there. I could imagine this mall and the quirky 90s characters the author created.

Cassie gets a job as the bookkeeper at an upscale very Jersey clothing boutique, where her former best friend is the salesgirl and her mom owns, Bellarosa. She and Drea start a scavenger hunt of sorts that involve off brand Cabbage Patch Kids, imposters, in search of a possible treasure. It's not clear exactly why Drea and Cassie stopped being best friends but they soon resume their friendship. Cassie is very vocally intent on counting down the weeks until she starts her life in New York. She gets friendly with the guy who works at the music store, and sparks fly for her. It's obvious Troy was never the right guy but I appreciated all the ancient Greek names, Helen, Troy, Cassandra etc.

The ending was a little jarring to me as the girls have a conflict and yet they make up. At times, Cassie wasn't that likeable as a person, but 17-18 year olds can be so sure if themselves. All in all, I enjoyed the book. Fun nod to this time in history, the style, 90210 references I understood and music. (Downplaying how Nirvana would take over the music scene) this book is more for those who were teens in the 90s than teens now.

In this 90’s blast from the past, I found this book full of good bits and pieces. It had me laughing and chuckling at times when the main character Cassie and her former best friend Drea were going back forth with their witty banner. For someone who has worked retail before (thankfully not at the mall. It’s so stressful apparently!), it was interesting to read about the different in and outs of the mall, the food chain of different jobs available. The dream job to the worst job imaginable. The various characters were either questionably likable or you want to hate them. I wanted to kick Troy where the sun didn’t shine, Drea had me laughing at her matter-of-factness but my favorite was “Ghost Girl” and her sneakiness. Boo.

I will be honest, there is a good chance that if you are younger, such as, someone who is a milennial (AKA born in the 1990s & up), some of these references may go over your head and not be as funny as someone who was alive in that decade, lived through it. I read some reviews from other bloggers that suggested that tone, they also fit in that age bracket. I feel that may be why they didn’t get the whole point of the book or that the jokes or references were lost of them. I think the book still carries it self and if you weren’t a part of that decade, you’ll still find it enjoyable. Long live the 90’s!

In my overall opinion, I felt that the book’s theme was that your plan doesn’t always have to be THE plan. Things change and that’s okay. Life will go on and everything will adapt and be okay.

I would like to give a special thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of The Mall in exchange for an honest review. The expected publication date is June 9th 2020 by Wednesday Books.

Megan McCafferty has done it again. What a perfect young adult coming of age novel. Who doesn’t remember 1991, the scrunches, mixtapes, and 90210. The main character Cassie Worth, is stoked to spend the next six weeks working with her boyfriend at the Parkway Center Mall. She is putting “the plan” to work. The plot follows Cassie through friendship, love, and finding herself. Along the way she learns that “the plan” isn’t everything and that’s ok. I felt like Megan brought us back to Mallrats or Empire Records with this book. One of my favorite authors stuns me again. Can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Maybe a reunion of sorts with Jessica Darling and her friends?

Megan McCafferty has been one of my favorite writers and it was fun to go back to a retro read of the 90s with her brand of humor. While it wasn’t as awesome as Sloppy Firsts, I have to just acknowledge that nothing ever will be. A breezy fun read.

I'm not sure where to start with The Mall. The writing style was easy to follow, the dialogue full of quick witted comebacks, and the setting a flashback to my own pubescent years.

My main issue with The Mall was the fact it didn't read as a YA for today's generation. I have a sneaking suspicion that someone between the ages of 13-17 won't know the original cast of 90210 and their ranking of popularity. I know The Mall is a flashback into the past but the references date it in a way that feels like a mom rehashing her glory years.

I loved the fact I could go, "oh my gosh, yes! Sam Goody!? I remember that!" It was fun to reminisce.

I just feel today's YA crowd might not feel as immersed into the world. Just my opinion!

I don't normally read YA, but this was purely escapist fun and I really enjoyed it. The time period was the 1990s and there were sooo many cultural references that I appreciated. Because I grew up during that time period, it was certainly a blast from the past.

This book tells the story of Cassie. It's a coming of age story.. one of the best types of stories! She is spending the summer before college working in Parkway Center Mall. This is a story of friendship, love, and being young.

I only found fault with the writing at times. It got a little choppy. Otherwise, I thoroughly enjoyed this novel!

This just was not the book for me.

The feminism was way too in your face. To the point of justifying some really rude interactions with the main character that just really irritated me. The resolution of the plot threads didnt lend enough weight to the questions these discussions brought up. A huge turn off for me. If anything I almost felt there was negative character building and not in a useful way.

Just not for me.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this ARC in return for my honest review.

When I first saw that Megan McCafferty had a new novel set in the 90s mall scene I was counting down the days until I was able to get my hands on it.

But when I did get my hands on it I still felt like I was missing something. The bones were there and the set up was ready, but it seemed like it just kept falling short of being fully fleshed out. Nonetheless, I did enjoy ready this light fun read.

The Pros:

The setting. There was nothing like the Malls in the Early 90s. And the mall in summertime with the kids on the cusp of leaving. It was a little look back to the times of Zines and mall fashion shows.

The fault in the characters: McCAfferty has a way of creating flawed characters you can’t help but root for. She did that here with the cast of characters. Each character has a flaw.

The Treasure Hunt: this was my favorite thing. I loved the premise of sneaking around the back hideaways of the mall in a search left behind. Though I still wanted more from this

Female friendships: I liked the development of the friendships in the book and females supporting females. (Ghost Girl is the best)

The Cons:

Some of the characters didn’t get a chance to grow out of the cardboard caricatures that they were set up in the social hierarchy of high school.

The pacing: it was a bit all over the place. I wanted some things to develop naturally but some things happened off page and were somehow “resolved” or just not explained. Some of the challenges resolved too quickly just to tie it all up in a rushed ending.

All in all I’ll give this book 2.5/5.

This book felt cheesy and like it was trying too hard. I loved the Jessica Darling series and had high hopes for this but it fell flat for me.

A mall setting in the 90’s with a treasure hunt involving Cabbage Patch Kids-I mean hello-sign me up stat! This was a coming of age story. Cassie’s life takes several major detours over the course of one summer. She must figure out what is most important and at what cost.
Don’t get me wrong-this was a fun read. However, I feel like something was missing that I just can’t put my finger on. But if you are looking for a dose of nostalgia this is a totally awesome book! Thanks so much for the opportunity to read the ARC in return for my honest review.

The Mall by Megan McCafferty is the coming of age tale of Cassie Worthy. The story follows Cassie as her seemingly perfect life - she has a plan - falls apart and she has to figure out how she will find another job at the mall for the summer. By chance her former BFF has an opening at her store. What ensues is a wonderful story about finding yourself, best friends, and of course a treasure hunt.

The story is full of early 90s nostalgia! I have always enjoyed Megan McCafferty's books so I was truly excited to read her newest novel. I was not disappointed. The characters were people I feel like I knew, and I quickly became invested in the treasure hunt! I will certainly be recommending this novel for purchase and be using it for reader advisory at my library when it releases in June!

Having been a big fan of the Jessica Darling series, I was excited to read The Mall! For me, graduating in 1993, this book felt very nostalgic and I loved it! It was a fun read and I was excited to see some familiar characters.

So, I was pretty young in the nineties, but even I remember enough to get pretty nostalgic at this lighthearted teenage throwback about a girl looking to spend one final summer in her favourite place - The Mall.

Right from the start, this book felt special. The voice is that of a young woman growing in confidence and maturity whilst suffering typical teenage problems - heartbreak, a parent's divorce and a forgotten friendship. A gloriously funny plot, with characters I'd love to spend my summer with, The Mall was such a pleasant surprise! Weirdly, I think my favourite part was the fact that there was no Internet to provide easy answers! That said, The Mall is a testament to how the teenage experience hasn't changed all that much, since I regularly forgot it was set in the 90s until a comment (usually about technology) served as a reminder.

If you're looking for a fun flashback, this book is 100% for you.

This review has been posted to Goodreads and will be submitted to Amazon after release.

What a fun read! I really enjoyed this book, set in a New Jersey mall in 1991. All the cultural icons and touchstones are there - the music, the fashions, the stores found in every mall in America.

The main character, Cassie, is a bit of a Cinderella. She returns to mall culture after a bout of mono. After losing her boyfriend, she finds a new job and herself. This book was a wonderful ode to a young woman's process of finding herself and exploring all the possible identities available to girls just graduating from high school and figuring out where to go in life.

The author did an amazing job in setting up The Mall as a self contained world, with some interesting "secret" places and surprises. The treasure hunt the characters go on was a good way for them to explore other sub-cultures and to introduce other characters.