Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.

This book is such a specific nugget of history, but it is so fun. It really shows that teens are teens in any era, and I'd love to hear what a current teen thinks of this.

There's a lot packed into this fairly short graphic novel.

Not only does Liv have to deal with being the new kid in school, but she's got a front row seat to her parents' crumbling marriage, questions about her own sexuality, and a close relationship with her favorite teacher that may be crossing the line into forbidden territory. This is all handled with sensitivity and a bit of humor. I love that Liv confides in her mother, and that adults are not treated like the enemy. Also, disputes with friends are solved by talking things out. If only real life were like this, eh?

This would make an excellent choice for teens and young adults.

As an adult who spent my weekends as a teen hanging out at the mall, I expected to relate to this story, but I couldn't get into it. The artwork was unappealing, and the beginning dragged on. This story didn't offer anything new or original to the genre, but it may work for teens who haven't read much of this content.

I loved this graphic novel. It had some themes that were very different from what I expected, but I think it was an accurate portrayal of teen life when AIM and going to the mall was the best part of the day. I loved how Liv was apologetically herself, especially after moving to a new place and when being a new person is hard.

There would be a great place for discussion between teens and parents in terms of the inappropriate relationship with her teacher, and what was right in the situation. I appreciated how the situation was handled. I think this was a great look at teen friendship and family, being yourself, and learning to stand up for yourself when things are hard.

i would say this is more of a 3.5, but rounded up to a 4. i really loved the premise of this story, and it was a great interpretation of the teen experience in y2k. the illustration style was really interesting, and it maintained a comfortable pace. i will say, i called the twist with the teacher as soon as he showed a special interest in her, and when he handed her the copy of lolita i knew immediately the direction it was going. sure, it was a predictable story, but it was sweet and well-executed. i did enjoy it, even if there weren't too many twists and turns.

I received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley.

Liv Holmes is a 15 year old bisexual goth who's just moved to a new town with her mom. The suburban shopping mall in her new town offers a refuge as Liz navigates her new terrain.

Story: I did not expect this to be as deep as it is! I went into reading this with the idea that it was going to be a cute little coming-of-age in the aughts read, and then, Leth threw in discussion of grooming behavior and toxic/predatory men and boys. While not what I expected, I really enjoyed the story. Leth did an excellent job balancing the two aspects of the story, and I left feeling like I got to witness Liz's full experience.
I love love loved that Liz went to the safe adults in her life for help. Seeing healthy adult child relationships in YA stories seems rare. I also really liked that the girl characters weren't pitted against one another. That's such a worn-out trope.

Art: I enjoyed the clear lines and colors in this graphic novel. The style was well-balanced between whimsy and seriousness which went really well with the overall story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What I expected to be a funny, nostalgic coming of age romp about being a goth/mall rat in the early 2000s surprisingly evolved into a mature, realistic take on grooming and predatory behavior. Don't get me wrong, that is in no way a complaint on my end, because the story perfectly balances its shifting tones.

Liv deals with all the normal teen problems: longing to find acceptance, working an embarrassing job to get some extra cash, getting wrapped up in all the teenage hormones that come with having a crush, She faces some additional struggles, such as past bullying due to her bisexuality and an absent father, but is still hesitantly open enough to start some new friendships. Building a sturdy support network is a large part of her character journey and I'm so glad that the author included a mix of her friends as well as some trusted adults into that group. It does away with the tired YA cliche of adults being fairly useless and showcases positive teen/adult interactions alongside a more harmful one to denote the differences.

Though I wasn't a teen yet by the time this story takes place, I definitely could feel the nostalgia sinking in when seeing some of the clothes and the general vibe of the mall. Also, noticing all the movie/music posters on Liv's wall (I peeped Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, and of course who could leave out good old Siouxsie?) really did warm my aspiring Goth heart.

Mall Goth is an interesting, recent-past story of a freshmen in high school who knows who she is but is trying to figure out how relationships should work: romantic, friends, parents, teachers, and everything else. Set at the beginning of the 21st century, the protagonist enters her new school going through a lot of what other teenagers go through but with some sadly realistic heightened experiences along the way. Give this to middle schoolers and high schoolers who like a realistic fiction with some quirk that isn't afraid to be fun and serious in equal measure.

A refreshingly authentic young adult graphic novel with three-dimensional characters and fun references in the background for the millennial reader. Big Scott Pilgrim vibe.

A wonderful read! As someone who went to high school right around this same time period, the setting really rang true to me without being overly referential to it being the mid-2000s. I do wish more time had been spent on the aftermath of the issue with the teacher (were there consequences for him?) - but I thought the subject matter was handled well otherwise.

Thanks to NetGalley & Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for the early copy in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic graphic novel! Set in the early 2000s, this follows a bisexual gamer goth finding her place in the world and hoping new friends will accept her for who she is.

"Mall Goth" is a relatable graphic novel that handles dark themes very well. (TW: Child Grooming)

I appreciate how relationships and friendships evolved awkwardly in the book and Liv grew her own support network. My only complaint was how things moved very quickly and some resolutions were brushed over, but still, it was a very strong graphic novel.

Definitely grabbing this for our YA Graphic section! This would pair nicely with "Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe"--a similar YA chapter book that handles sexuality, awkwardness, and goth/nerd aesthetic well too!

MEN ARE JERKS FR
this coming of age graphic novel portrayed the MC's struggle to fit in with her quirky-goth-emo-bisexuality that made her accidentally attracted... jerks. such a powerful message.

A trip down memory lane…

I am loving all the nostalgic 90s and 2000s storylines that are popping up and Mall Goth hit the note! I’m curious to know what the target audience thinks of this time.

Mall Goth encapsulated that early 2000s Mall hangout experience that I think now is not a thing. With major heartache and break vibes all have gone through in those awkward teen years this book felt comforting as well as relatable.

The art in the book is stunning and captures and screams Goth vibes! Loved this one and definitely will be adding to my fav graphic novels to recommend list.