4.25

I am genuinely surprised by how much I liked this book!

That's not a fair assessment really but YA contemporary and I are not always the best of friends so I wasn't 100% sure how I was going to feel about it. - ALSO I got an ARC of this, and it came out this past July so like, your girl completely lost her mind. I thought it was for July 2021! I am the worst.

This book was A) a love story, B) a mystery/treasure hunt (maps included!) C) about self discovery and D) all about friendship!!!

I loved the friendship aspect of this. So much so that the end actually had me in tears.

Cassie is at times kind of a hateful narcissist but she does have a lot of character growth throughout this novel. I really enjoyed getting to see her grow into a full adult and hope that her future is full of more happiness.

This is one of those books where I really feel like a need a post-college epilogue. If I could get that, I'd be dang happy.

Also, I didn't even mention the '90s aspect! This book, along with Rebel Girls by Elizabeth Keenan (that I also had an ARC of last year) just goes to show how much us modern-day women really owe it to the feminists from the '90s (and earlier too!). Where would we be without the rebel girls from the past?

That all being said, there were a few aspects that I didn't 100% love or feel like I got the conclusion I was looking for, and that mostly revolved around Cassie's parents. There was a conclusion for their relationship, but I don't feel like there was any coming together of her and each parent individually - if that makes sense?

Anyway, a really good book, enjoyed it. Recommend it for anyone who enjoys the '90s and books about finding yourself and/or friendship.

Cover 4; Characters 4; Plot 4; Pace 4; Writing 4; Enjoyment 4; Cry *

I loved this author’s previous work so it was an automatic request for me! I wish this book existed when I was in high school. Loved the story and characters.

This book definitely has that 1990s vibe which I LOVE.
The cover and synopsis are what drew me in initially (as it should, of course). There were plenty of lovely 90s references for me, someone who grew up in the 90s, to get and love.
There were just, unfortunately, some parts that I didn't love so much, which is why it gets a 2.5 from me - rounded up to 3 for the sake of this review.

This was so good and exactly what I needed, yet again. My reading mojo was really off for a few months in the beginning of the year, so I decided to read what was calling to me: THE MALL. I enjoyed the Jessica Darling series enough and was so curious to read more by Megan McCafferty. This book was exactly what I wanted it to be; it felt like all the best parts of the JD books.

I was born in 1991 when this book takes place so others who were teens around this time may relate to the mall culture even more, but it still made me super nostalgic. It’s weird to classify this as “historical fiction” but hey, it’s not contemporary technically! I used to enjoy the mall when I was in middle school through some of high school, so I can definitely relate to all those feels overall. It made for a really fun read.

I don’t want to say too much about the plot because the synopsis of the book is extremely limited to basically what happens in the first two chapters… This book is super focused on friendship with light romance and a whole lot of ~finding yourself~ without feeling cheesy. Cassie thought she had her summer and life all planned out, but everything goes to hell on her first day working at the mall after a six-week quarantine from having mono (a little too close to home when I was reading this in early April…). She definitely makes some classic teen mistakes in this one, which made her easy to relate to and frustrating in equal measures. I LOVED Drea, her old best friend from childhood, and the scavenger hunt they went on together. Like I said, the romance element was light, but super enjoyable.

Overall, I really loved this and could not put it down. It was what I needed once my reading got back on target and it was fun to lose myself in the 90s mall culture that I remember so fondly.

3.5 stars

The Mall was a book that brought back a lot of memories. I was only 3 in 1991, but a lot of the references were around during my childhood. I loved reading the references about different TV shows, products (mix tapes, cabbage patch dolls) and stores I haven't thought about in years. This book really really made me feel some nostalgia for my visits to the mall as a teenager in the early 2000s. Going to the mall with friends was often a highlight of the week. I do wonder if the generation this book is meant for will get all of the pop culture references, but I think it will be a fun read for them as well.

This book is more than just pop culture references and a walk down memory lane. The main character Cassie isn't having the summer she's expecting. Working at the mall with her boyfriend of two years was the plan. That changed when she got mono and later found out Troy was cheating on her. Showing her face in the mall isn't something she can do now. I loved listening to Cassie's brainstorming on what she would do now that plans changed. I definitely laughed out loud a few times.

In many ways The Mall is a story of self discovery for Cassie. Her life is about to change in a big way, because she's off to college at the end of the summer. Other things in her life start to change and this really makes her think. Cassie makes mistakes, discovers new things about the people in her life and herself. Things don't go right off the bat, but she learns from it and it gives readers a laugh here and there. Seeing her transform during the summer was a really interesting aspect of this story.

The Mall is also cheesy in many ways, but definitely in a good way. I loved all the drama in the mall and how at times it was completely over the top. At first I didn't really understand the treasure hunt aspect in this story, but it definitely added some fun moments. Add some interesting side characters and a little romance and this turned out to be a fun summer read!

Nostalgic vibes, such a great book! Amazing character development. Really felt like I was living the story as I was reading.

Thanks NetGalley for the preview!

I loved this throwback to the 90's! I always wished as a teenager that I could work at the mall and undercover all of the cool innerworkings. This book totally fulfilled that fantasy! I loved reading about how the back rooms connected and that somehow someone hid clues all around. Cassie was a funny narrator but annoying at times-I was glad that she made things right after hurting Drea. Troy was the absolute worst!!!

When I was in 8th grade, I discovered the Jessica Darling series by Megan McCafferty. It was the first time I saw the inside of my mind on the page. My anxiety, my stream-of-consciousness, & my utter confusion as to who I was or who I would become. Megan’s writing is so fast-paced & beyond witty & I cherished every bit of the Darling series. So imagine my delight when, years later, I received an ARC of her brand-new novel, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙡, which is out today!⁣
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Set in South Jersey in 1991 (hello my childhood!!), Cassie Worthy is psyched to spend the summer after graduation working at the mall with her boyfriend...their final⁣
summer before starting college in NYC together, and follow “the plan” they’ve had set for 2 years. Bet you can guess what happens next...in 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙡, Cassie finds friendship, love, and ultimately herself in the most unexpected of places, while navigating all of the new changes in her life. Filled with scrunchies, mixtapes, & 90210 references, 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙡 is an addictive nostalgic trip (with, of course, a mystery!). ⁣
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What can I say?! I read this in less than 24⁣ hours! This novel was just as quick-witted as I hoped, and honestly, if you can’t keep up, it might be a turnoff for you. But if you can keep up with Cassie’s whirlwind story, you will earn the moments when McCafferty slows down & peels back the layers to reveal that, beneath the 90’s consumerism & nostalgia is a heartfelt story of a young woman, becoming the best possible version of herself.⁣
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Thank you to @wednesdaybooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review #partner I highly recommend 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙖𝙡𝙡 for anyone who loves a coming-of-age story in the eleventh hour of high school, one that prioritizes friendships over relationships. You’ll tear through this faster than eating a Cinnabon in a food court. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What a quirky book! I found myself knowing very few of the references, and I blame that on having been born in the 90s and growing up in the 00s. For that reason, I think this book may not connect with a lot of the kids these days. That being said, I think the coming-of-age story about a girl trying to find her way after a bad breakup the summer before she leaves for college was good, and the setting of the mall made it all the more interesting. Had me reminiscing on the times I spent in the mall with my friends and family growing up. Malls haven't really been the same since 2008. So this book brought back all the nostalgia for me.

I think my favorite part of this book was when Cassie threw the stapler at her ex-boyfriend's head. There's something about that image in my head that really resonated with me and made me laugh. I think Cassie was a compelling character with a lot to love about her. Drea too. As I mentioned before, I wasn't privvy to a lot of the pop culture, but I was still able to enjoy it.

3.5/5 stars

The hype was real for this one! It is perfect. Exactly what a YA book should be about. The writing is phenomenal and I truly felt like I was living in the USA and could jump in my car and ride to a mall!

I’m starting to feel like books set in the nineties are a miss for me. I appreciate the pop culture references, and this was a wildly weird coming of age in a mall YA.

I really liked that one. It was a fast-paced story of a teenager whose summer is going is NOT going like she planned... She tries to feel good about it, having everything planned for her entire life... but it is not going well at all.

I was 8 years old in 1991, but I do remember a lot of things that were mentioned in the book. It was fun to read about them and remember them all over again. It feels so long ago... (I am totally nostalgic right now)

I really loved the humour touches. It made me snort a couple of times.

The only somewhat negative comment I have is for Cassie. Though she learned about her mistakes, she wasn't that supportive about her friend Drea. And it made me sad. Everyone should have their chance in life, and Cassie was hyper judgmental about Drea, like she couldn't get out of the case she put her in... But Drea is a fierce one. Let's just say that Cassie learned that the hard way, and it served her well.

Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for the complimentary e-copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Mall is a novel set in the summer of 1991 at a shopping mall. We follow Cassie who has just recovered from mono and plans to spend the rest of her summer working with her boyfriend at the mall. The plan quickly falls apart and Cassie must team up with her estranged best friend Drea to save the summer.

I loved that the mall culture was an element of this book. As someone who grew up in the '90s and spent many Saturdays at the mall and worked at a mall in college, it felt so nostalgic. I enjoyed the treasure hunt element and the legend that a secret treasure hunt map is somewhere in the mall.

I thought the book tried to do too much and cover too many topics but not all of them were completely fleshed out. I didn't like how Cassie is supposed to be a feminist but looked down on other girls by making derogatory comments, backstabbing Dres, and calling her ex's new girlfriend ugly.

Overall, this book felt like a movie and made me feel nostalgic. Read it for the 90's vibes.

I really wanted to love this book.
All the 90s references made it fun but that’s as far as it got for me.

I was not a fan of the characters.
I need to at least like the characters for me to enjoy a book but I found them all annoying.

Also I feel like this book was pointless.
I didn’t feel like this didn’t have a real plot to keep you interested.

Thank you netgalley for the copy of this book.

This was such a good read! I was a young adult when I first started reading Megan McCafferty. I saw a new book by her on here and I just had to ask for it! This book was super fun and kept my interested. I liked how the whole book was set in the mall. While I didn't get all of the '90's references, it was a fun touch for the book. Seriously, I would read a sequel about what happens when Cassie goes to college!

*Quick Take*

The mall. First love. First jobs. Cabbage Patch Kids. Cassette tapes. 90s fashion. 90210. Video games. This was a fun nostalgic story. This is Cassie’s last summer home before going off to college. She has everything planned that is until her boyfriend breaks up with her. Now she is lost... fortunately an old friends mom steps in to help her out. This leads to a rekindled friendship and an epic treasure hunt. A story about learning that sometimes the best parts of life aren’t planned. I grew up in the 80s and was in my 20s in the 90s and found this thoroughly enjoyable, brought back many a good memory! A fun story with some girl power, a little romance, and a lot of pop culture references.

*** Big thank you to Wednesday Books for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***

I was so excited for this book! I was born in '91 so the 1990s were my childhood. I'm talking VCRs, see-through house phones, and AOL interest discs. I was expecting nostalgia to the max and an awesome story. I felt the nostalgia a little, but the story completely fell flat. I didn't really feel there was a plot and Cassie came off kind of woe is me and unlikeable. The best characters were the side characters and it made me feel like even though it was set in my time, it wasn't really meant for me.

This book was so nostalgic and I loved it. It's definitely a palate cleanser book, and was perfect after some of the more heavy reads I've had recently. It was so relatable as a tale of first love, first heartbreak, first friendship, and first time leaving the house. I feel like this book is a must for any 17-18 year old on the verge of monumental change, and anyone in adulthood looking to relive some of the "glory days."

Okay so I'll just come out and say it, I'm a very late 90's baby (1998) so I didn't necessarily grow up with all the wonderfulness that existed with the 80s and 90s, but I definitely feel like that's where my heart belongs and because of this I was extremely excited to live vicariously through this book. I might've grown up in the 2000s, but I still have spent A LOT of free time at the mall, whether that consisted of perusing Hot Topic and Aeropostale or eating an unhealthy amount of Chinese in the food court, so I love that this is the setting of this book.

It's the summer of 1991 and Cassie Worthy couldn't be more excited to spend her last summer before college working at America's Best Cookie with her boyfriend of two years, Troy. She just spent weeks hidden away from the world due to a horrific case of Mono that caused her to not only miss prom but also her graduation ceremony, and she's ready to get her life back on track, until absolutely everything that could go wrong does. On what is supposed to be her first day at her new job, she loses her boyfriend and her job, and eventually her home life goes hay-wire. After scouring the mall looking for places that are hiring that are considered acceptable according to her 90210 character rankings, she unexpectedly gets a job at the store owned by her ex-bestfriend's mom. From there, she goes on a crazy treasure hunt throughout the mall that involves Cabbage Patch Kids, meets a cute boy at Sam Goody, and learns a lot about herself and the kind of person she really wants to be.

This was a fun and fast read that had fairly short chapters, which I love. Although I didn't grow up in the 90s, a lot of the things talked about throughout the book still existed when I was growing up so I got to experience some of the nostalgia, as well as a little bit of jealousy for some of the things I missed out on for simply not being born yet. Cassie wasn't always my favorite character, and neither was her ex-best friend Drea, but I do feel that they both had some character growth throughout the story and I'm glad they found their way back to one another. I do wish though that they both tried harder to treat each other better throughout the story, and that they actually addressed why their friendship ended in the past. Cassie briefly mentions it occassioanly, but I would have liked to hear Drea's side of the story. Other than that, I liked how quick and easy this was to read, I loved when they went exploring through the different stores for the treasure hunt, and it was so funny how Cappage Patch Kids played such a big part into the treasure hunt.

All in all, this was a cute story about how so much can happen and change within the span of the summer and although sometimes change can be bad, a lot of good can come from it too.

Thank you so much to St. Martins Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book!

Going in I only really knew that The Mall was about, well, a mall, so I was pleasantly surprised to discover a tale of female empowerment, friendship and… Cabbage Patch Dolls?

Within a couple of chapters of this story Cassie’s Plan gets horrendously derailed when she is dumped by her boyfriend, Troy. Before she knows it she’s left her job at America’s Best Cookie to escape from him and has managed to find employment at Bellarosa, her ex-best friend’s family boutique.

Drea Bellarosa is a whirlwind, and she quickly gets Cassie tangled up in a legendary treasure hunt throughout the mall. Both believing that there’s a fortune to be had, the girls rely on their smarts and sexuality to coerce and con various other mall employees to cough up the clues concealed in their stores.

Meanwhile, Cassie seems to be adding a new name to the list of people she’s avoiding every single day. Will the girls be able to find the treasure before Cassie has to avoid the mall for the rest of her life?

While reading The Mall I felt simultaneously too young and too old to enjoy it properly, which is probably the most confusing feeling I’ve had while reading anything this year. Being born in the mid-90s means that although I understood most of the references in this novel (a few were lost in translation from US -> UK) I didn’t feel any overt sense of nostalgia towards them. It did start some pretty fun conversations between me and my partner, though: “Oh my god, do you remember when you could buy cassettes in shops?” “Did you ever watch the 90210 reboot?”. I think if I’d been a couple of years older this might have ended up being a new favourite, but as it was it just made me have a bit of an existential crisis at the fact that YA set in the 90s is now being bandied about as ‘historical’…

That being said, I had a pleasant time reading this. The pace was a bit slow at times and I got frustrated that the treasure hunt kept taking a backseat – I’m a sucker for a treasure hunt! – but I could understand why because Cassie was dealing with a LOT of stuff. Even though this story deals with a teen character going to work every day there is a distinct lack of mundanity.

I liked the developing relationship between Cassie and music store employee Sam Cooke – as a big music fan I always like it when characters bond over their music tastes – but the shining point of this story is the friendship between Drea and Cassie. On the surface they couldn’t be more different: Cassie is buttoned-up and serious while Drea is footloose and fancy free, but throughout the course of the novel we discover different sides of the two characters and they become very realistic. Just because you’re the firecracker daughter of a boutique owner it doesn’t mean you’re an airhead, and just because you’re a serious student it doesn’t mean you can’t live on the wild side (occasionally!).

I ended up giving The Mall a high three stars. As I said earlier, I do think it could have been a new favourite if I’d been a little bit older, so if you were born in the late 80s or very early 90s I’d definitely recommend picking this one up. On the other hand, it’s great for the teens of today: if you wish you’d been born in the era of Nirvana and Robin Sparkles is your favourite How I Met Your Mother character then you will adore this book.