If you were the type of reader in the 80's or 90's that devoured book titles as fast as your local bookstore or library could carry them, and if to do this day you can still remember by name almost every single child the babysitters club ever looked after, then Gabrielle Moss' Paperback Crush is the book you've been waiting for.

I really enjoyed this blast from the past that highlights so many beloved books from my teen years, a lot of which I'd honestly forgotten all about. And while this book may start out as tribute to the many, many titles that were published for teen and tween girls in the late eighties and early nineties, it goes a step further in addressing many of the social issues that were solely lacking from so much of the literature aimed at teens during this time period.

Gabrielle Moss had me laughing out loud right from the introduction, and also had me wanting to scour ebay till all hours of the night to find many of the beloved books that she highlights throughout, like the lovely Sleepover Friends. While I may not have always had the same opinions as she does on the many books she talks about, and I did end up wishing that more of my favorite series had been included, I really did love this trip down memory lane. I came out of it with a deeper appreciation of these beloved books, and the many strides that has been made in the young adult market in the days sense.

I also loved the random tidbits of information thrown in for good measure, like the interview with the gentlemen that designed the covers for the original Baby Sitters Club books, and I still can't believe that the BSC was only originally contracted as a four book series.

Gabrielle Moss has provided a fun, snarky way of remembering fondly the many series of ya's past, and recognizes how so many of these books provided an escape for teen girls who weren't quite yet prepared for the many challenges that adulthood would bring with it. While my favorite chapter was definitely the one on friendship, I honestly enjoyed it from start to finish, and I can't recommend it enough. I will definitely be picking up a physical copy of it once it releases, as I can't wait to see the full color pages of the many amazing covers featured throughout.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐


Thanks so much to Quirk Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to advance read this!


I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I was not required to give a positive review.

This book was a lot of fun! Although I can see why it's marketed towards women who grew up back then, it's not all about the Sweet Valley Highs and love stories...there's major sections that appeals to guys who grew up reading back then, as well, Seeing the old covers and remembering the thriller books I read growing up was a fun flashback to the old Scholastic Book Ordering system I remembered felt like a lifetime to get my books in! There were many titles I forgot about, many titles I remember seeing in those pamphlets, and several that I still own to this day. Thanks for the stroll down memory lane, Gabrielle Moss! I WILL be recommending this book when it hits the shelves later this month!

Somewhere between the YA ‘problem’ novels of the 1970s and the record breaking premiere of Harry Potter, publishers targeted tweens with a very specific kind of book. They were often short paperbacks with flashy covers and sometimes ridiculous plots. In Paperback Crush, author Gabrielle Moss has written a beautiful celebration and critique of these massively popular tween paperback series.

It should be noted that though this book is detailed, it isn’t encyclopedic. There are simply too many books from this time to devote serious discussion, and readers should be aware that their personal favorites might not be included. However, Moss deserves an award for the sheer volume of works she’s able to thoughtfully examine. Obviously, she has her own favorites, and her many references to Sweet Valley High will please a lot of fans. But her look at many less popular series, including The B.Y. Times and The Girls of Canby Hall, is spot-on.

Moss’s success rests on two facts. One, her analysis of these series is interesting. She approaches it from a sociological perspective, considering these books within the context they were written and how they related to tweens. She doesn’t shy away from the more problematic themes in many books, especially race, and these moments are particularly poignant. Two, Moss is just funny. There were multiple times I had to pause and share a section to someone because I was laughing so much.

One of the biggest problems with books about other books is they always add to my to-be-read pile. Paperback Crush is no exception. Some I remembered, some I didn’t, and many I had never heard of before. Gabrielle Moss, for good or bad, makes them all sound like fun.

This is a super fun book for any woman who was a boy-crazy girl in the 80's & 90's. So much Sweet Valley High and Babysitter's Club memories! Book covers have really come a long way. Perfect read for a pop culture aficionado wanting to relive her high school days!

For any thirtysomething woman wanting to regain their youth then this book is worth a read. It'll remind you of all the teenage angst we went through by sharing stories from the likes of Judy Blume. A humorous and enjoyable read.

I loved this book! So I wasn’t expecting it to be anything like it was. All the facts of how YA books came about and the different genres that driven it, and the companies that brought them to life. Definitely brought back so much nostalgia for me since I read a good chunk in my early pre-teen years.

This book was the sassy research paper I never knew I wanted! In all honesty, I was hoping for a jaunt down memory lane and it delivered but it also taught me about the problems and business of 80s and 90s teen books that I hadn’t thought about. I was reminded of authors I had loved and forgotten (Hello Cherie Bennet!) and looked at formerly beloved authors in a new light, yes I see you Lurlene McDaniels. While calling this an extended research paper may make you step away, reconsider. Moss’ writing interjects enough current vernacular and topics along with her ability to laugh at herself and the rest of us who read through these decades make this an immensely enjoyable read.

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was a huge fan of BSC, Thoroughbred, and The Gymnasts, so that hit of nostalgia was great. I may be a tad too young to fully appreciate the sections on “problem novels,” etc., but still really enjoyed the book overall.

loved this! moss won me over in the intro by making me laugh out loud. i also loved that she referred to reading these books in your 30s as a form of self-care. (i agree, it's surprisingly relaxing.) with how much i absolutely love the teen creeps podcast (which gets a shout out, yay!) it's no surprise that i thoroughly enjoyed this book. i will be buying a physical copy of this as well.

I enjoyed this book - but as a reader from Britain there were a lot of series here that I hadn't come across and obviously a lot of series that were integral to my childhood in the same era that weren't included. But it was nice to be able to revisit and learn more about the US series that I had loved so much - and I liked the author's loving but irreverant tone.

Fun.

Pretty much everything I wanted. It's s fun pop cultural dive into the history of Teen/Tween fiction from Nancy Drew to the Wakefield Twins.

The format is fun, lively and perfect to pick up and put down in between running for class prez and prom Queen and baby-sitter of the year and fending off an ancient curse brought on by your family's inability to be decent human beings for one second.

While th majority of the coverage is for the 80s/90s, Moss goes into the history of these books (primarily a female audience) as cultural stand ins for young girls to get an idea of being a not quite adult.

This is not meant to be a dictionary of every single series or author to write in the category since the earliest days. This gives a very broad overview, often discussing well known titles and authors, of the category with some lesser known variables.

I am disappointed there wasn't a section devoted to fantasy/sci-fi, but then these were much less common. Still wanted to see the Secret of the Unciorn Queen books mentioned tho. But I could name at least a dozen series that weren't mentioned here because again this is a broad overview not a comprehensive compendium. (I would so buy that though, can we kickstart it?).

Lots of fun for the nostalgia and even more for the laughs. Moss is witty and snarky, while still maintaining an academic tone.

As a former teen who went through both a Babysitter's Club and the One Last Wish phases, I enjoyed the trip down memory lane in Paperback Crush. Author Gabrielle Moss gives modern insight into these books that helped shape our lives. Moss writes like the best friend we all wish we had growing up: she's funny, wise and smart. Get this in the hands of those in their 30s and 40s who spent a lot of time in the paperback aisles at the library!

I have been looking forward to this book for quite some time! It truly did not disappoint! This book was a giggle fueled journey through the books that made me love reading. What a fun book!

Enjoyed this read about Teen books from my younger years. Funny, nostalgic, I enjoyed this flashback to the books of my past.

Holy nostalgia, Batman! Being a tween/teen girl in the 1980s/90s was seriously the best. All the angsty music, poor fashion choices that seemed so rad at the time, and of course, teen girl YA lit! Moss takes you on a hilarious tour through all of the highlights of this amazing genre. Babysitters and twins, streets full of fear and books with girls dying tragically, if it could happen, it did in late 20th century teen schlock. And even if it literally could not ever happen, it still did. All girls my age (mid-30s) need to pick this up and take trip down memory lane. Or Fear Street. Or a little jaunt to Stoneybrook. Or to New York which, as we all learned, is a personality type more than a city (looking at you, Stacey...)

This was a blast from the past and I couldn’t stop reading it. No matter where I was, I found myself pulling out my phone to read this. I laughed, I cringed, I remembered how old I was, and then I laughed some more.

I remember reading some of these books when I was a kid. It was definitely a perk from being a 90’s kid. Some of these titles I have never heard of and they were instantly added to my forever growing tbr. Some of them should be coming in through request at work and I can’t wait to see the look on my coworkers faces. They already know how weird I am.

Each chapter brings something new and hilarious to the table. Gabrielle has a way of making you want to read a book and laugh hysterically at the same time. It was pure genius.

I really enjoyed this book. Her wittiness and that nostalgia feeling is definitely a force to be reckoned with. I’m glad someone else shares my love for these amazing titles, which can now be found at your local thrift store for cents.

And always remember that "Teenagers and romantic love go together like a drunk person and a six day old piece of pizza: it’s a pairing destined to lead only to pain, but you try to keep them apart."

Worth reading for the comprehensive selection of paperback cover pictures alone. A thoughtful, good-humoured reflection on the history of YA with nostalgic, informative focus on the 80s and 90s.

I've always been a fast reader which meant that even as a kid I made my way through book after book. Looking back at my childhood memories of going to the bookstore, the school library, and the community library are still very vivid. That is why when I came across Paperback Crush, I couldn't wait to read it. This was my heyday of reading. Just the sight of an Apple Paperback gets me giddy. I'm ridiculously in love with the Retro Reads Instagram account. I knew this book was going to be perfect for me.

And it was. When I think back on what I read as a kid, I think of the Sweet Valley books, Baby-Sitters Club, R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. These were all covered in this book and it also brought to mind many other books and authors I had forgotten about including Paula Danziger, Lois Duncan, Eve Bunting, the Nancy Drew Files, Lois Lowry's Anastasia Krupnik series.

The book is divided into 7 sections covering the dominating theme of YA books of the time - Love, Friends, Family, School, Jobs, Danger, and Terror and through these topics covers a multitude of books. This book is the ultimate throwback, the most fun, and the perfect weekend read for every reader who came of age in the 80s and 90s

I spent a significant amount of time as a teen at the library and at various Borders/Waldenbooks. I may not have read all of these books but I read many of them and the others I recognized the covers. How many hours I whiled away on the Fear Street books, how I made sure my name was on the top of the waiting list at my local library for Christopher Pike’s or Richie Tankersley Cusick. I read BSC, the spin-offs, I had shelves of V.C. Andrews. Of course there was the book where the girl dumps her boring blonde jock boyfriend for the brooding dark haired new boy who was also a werewolf you know that book. This book is a reminder of my teenage reading habits, so many hours on horror novels. I did have a Sweet Valley phase as well. I devoured this book in a day I absolutely could not help myself. This book brought back many great memories of all the books I have loved before.

This book was a lot of fun to read. It seemed very well researched and brought back some memories for me. A lot of the books that were discussed were before my time (70s and 80s), but it was fun to read about the various themes in YA books. I think I need to go back and revisit some authors/book series!