The Mall was a quick and entertaining book to read. Set in the 90s, readers get a blast from the past as they venture into the lives of the main characters summer adventures.Though I didn't necessarily get into the story as much as I would have liked (as it felt a bit too superficial), it was still a enjoyable story to read. If you are a fan of romance, friendship, and contemporary reads then I suggest checking this one out.

The Mall is about star-student, Cassie Worthy, who alongside her boyfriend has a huge plan for the summer - to work in a mall and afterwards set off to New York for a new adventure. However, things did not go according to plan…

Overall, I am slightly disappointed by the book. I expected a lot more from it, but it was still fun to read. The plot read like a lacklustre movie, with no substance or depth to it. Granted, the treasure hunt aspect was super fun and I loved the 90s setting in a mall, but that did not cut it for me. Everything was very surface level with no underlying depth.

The writing was a bit cringy and juvenile as if it was trying too hard to be relatable. However, it was still punchy and gripping nonetheless because I could not stop reading.

In terms of the characters, I only liked Drea and Sam Goody - the side characters. Otherwise, everyone else were cliches and stereotypical teenage tropes. This was disappointing because I expected more nuanced characters.

Now, for Cassie. Cassie Cassie Cassie… I did not like her. She was so difficult to relate to because she was constantly rude to everyone around her and was overly judgmental and condescending. She only ever cared about herself. To add, her characterisation was so contradictory. She claimed that she was a feminist, but her inner thoughts suggested otherwise. She was constantly degrading other girls’ appearances before actually trying to get to know them. I lost a lot of respect for her there. Fortunately, Cassie does develop towards the end of the book, but it was a little too late.

Overall, it was a fun and easy read. I enjoyed the treasure hunt aspect of it but otherwise, it was pretty forgettable with an unlikeable protagonist.

Great set up, shallow execution. I've never read Megan McCafferty's work before, though I've heard from several women a few years my junior that her Jessica Darling series was formative for them. Perhaps this is why The Mall didn't grab me—because McCafferty's work is rooted in an earlier era of YA literature, and her target audience tends toward younger teens. This is wonderful—we certainly need more YA for the under-16 set—but it isn't what I expected when I picked this one up. My lack of interest in The Mall is clearly a case of misplaced expectations. This will be a great pick for readers who love YA in the vein of Kasie West, Morgan Madsen, or Sarah Dessen, but less so for those who prefer YA like that of Brandy Colbert or Deb Caletti.

quite a fun read! not a lot actually happens, i guess? it's more of a "hangout" book. you're just hanging out w these characters at the mall in 1991. and you know what? i really enjoyed it. seeing cassie's growth throughout the book was great, and i just appreciate the overall fluffy, nostalgic escapism that i so desperately need right now.

This is such a fun nostalgic story! I loved the 90's settings, and all the little nod's to the 90's, really brought me back to my teenage years. I also adored the treasure hunt aspect of the story. The characters were well done and I enjoyed reading about them. Overall this was just a really great really fun read that I recommend to anyone who enjoys YA and/or was a teen in the 90's!

Once upon a time, life revolved around the mall. It was the center of our style, our entertainment, and our social lives. It’s where we went to shop, to eat pizza with friends in the food court, and to pretend not to notice the cute boys in the arcade. And Megan McCafferty’s The Mall returns to those days with a frustrated teen...

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com and aired on Shelf Discovery

After Cassie's summer plans are nixed by her now-former boyfriend, she begins to find her own way. Now reconnected with her childhood best friend, Drea, Cassie will find herself in a whole new light. Drea is on a treasure hunt in the mall that leads them to new people and new discoveries. As they get through the summer, teenage angst, disagreements, and boys get in their way, but both plug through the dredge. Cassie finds that helping Drea, also helps herself. This book brought me back to the days of walking through the mall, Orange Julius, and record shops. Like the banter between Cassie and Drea just as friends should. Enjoyed this read of finding yourself while helping others along the way. Thank you to Ms. McCafferty, (Wednesday Books) St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I just finished season 3 of Stranger Things, so I decided that this book would be a good followup to finishing the series. There were a lot of things that I enjoyed about this book. The hunt for the treasure was a particular highlight. However, the main character was super annoying and made several super dumb choices. I am not a prude by any stretch but the sexual choices that she made seemed really out of character. But I guess I'm not really the target audience here? I don't know..

This book was a cute diversion as I head back to the trenches for a school year where I sincerely have no idea what is going on.

This is a layered ride, a roller coaster of fun and mystery, but also a story of a girl coming to terms with her own prejudices and selfishness. The literal quest for treasure involving cabbage patch dolls and a snarky ex best friend who dumped our MC for cooler buds back in elementary school, is a reflection of Cassie’s inner quest to reconcile all her different personas – girlfriend of domineering Troy, high achieving honor roll student, judger of anyone not planning to attend college, daughter of Frank and Kathy, not so much life partners now, as dentists and business partners, and girl with no car license.

Cassie has big plans but getting mononucleosis was not one of them. After four months recovery, she returns to her life, assuming all with be the same: she’ll finally ‘do it’ with Troy, they’ll work together over summer at the America’s Best Cookies franchise at the local Mall, and sail away to New York together for their happy ever after.
Well, actually, no. It’s not hard to predict that everything falls out of her reach. The first few chapters are devastating to read as Cassie sees her whole life disintegrate. McCafferty does an excellent job of making this privileged brainy tunnel-visioned character a person of sympathy. But as we get to know her, we see how many ways she can be a better person. It’s a gambit to make Cassie unlikeable, but by the time we understand her flaws, we’ve also seen her generosity, her stubborn will and her slow realisation of how selfish and condescending she can be. Her attempts to make amends are welcome and that it’s full of laughter and fun, only serves to make it more of a delight to read.

I haven’t mentioned a huge part of the story – it’s set in the ‘90s. So we have the Mall as the main place for bored teenagers, the video arcades, the cinema, the food court. McCafferty recreates the time and place with nostalgic affection, and her characters fit seamlessly into the space. The use of the treasure hunt to send Cassie and Drea all over the Mall to locate clues allows us to meet a bunch of quirky retailers and shops, as well as a potential new romance for Cassie. The musical soundtrack is perfect, of course, as is the pop cultural references (Beverley Hills 90210 anyone?) and the descriptions of fashion and hairstyles.
Despite the inner turmoil and identity crisis Cassie faces, McCafferty keeps its mostly light and witty. It’s so much fun to read. I hope 2020 kids pick it up and love it as much as I do.

Thanks to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the advanced copy. It’s out in the US on July 28, and I hope Australia will see sometime in the future. Highly recommended who love their teen angst strong and snarky, who love to see their protagonists have to face a cold splash of reality, but who can also admit their failings and work to be better. The boys here a mix (as is true of real life) – some big hearted and respectful, others not so much! The friendship battles with Drea are good times. Cassie’s parental woes are worked through the plot in a clever way, and the mystery of the treasure hunt is solved satisfactorily (sort of).

While this book certainly had a promising premise and interesting character development, it simply didn't work for me.

Meet Cassie Worthy. She's just recovered from mono and is ready to start summer the year before college, with her boyfriend, Troy. Until, he dumps her, along with their "plan". Cassie gets a job at Bellarosa Boutique, where she makes friends and new adventures, while being the best version of herself - the way she wants, not how others do.

I... strongly disliked Cassie. She was quite annoying and acted like a "drama queen" a lot. It was nice to see how she grew as a character (this book is a coming-of-age story, after all), and the growth that took place throughout the story.

The romance is a relatively small part of this book, and it felt like to me that the friendship that she had with Drea was more significant in the story. The treasure hunt she went on with Drea was a major way she was able to get out of her comfort zone while also finding herself. The way she was able to reconcile with Helen and show Troy that she wasn't going to allow anyone to just use and throw her was also enjoyable.

This book also has a bad habit of
breaking
down
sentences
to
bring
drama.
Which I have and will always hate.

The setting of this book is in the 90s, and while I didn't know many of the pop culture references that were being made (and read many Wikipedia articles as a result), I still somewhat got the feel of being in that time. I think this book would be thoroughly enjoyable for people with nostalgia for the 90s.

Overall, this book has a good coming-of-age arc, but it doesn't do much plotwise. I would recommend it to people who want to read a story rife with character development (if they can handle the annoying MC) rather than action, or who just want to relive (in a way) the times.

First up a big BIG thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to review this book + be part of the tour. Sadly.. the book wasn't a success for me. The MC just wasn't my kind of girl and I wasn't happy with some of her thoughts. Then there is her BF who just went cheating on her WHILE SHE WAS SICK. Sorry, but that is something that makes me want to just stop reading a book. I am already against cheating (having experienced it twice) and it is a dealbreaker for me. But it is just low that you don't even step up about it and tell her honestly BEFORE SHE GOES TO WORK where the girl in question is. There were some other things. But this just wasn't for me, which made me sad as I was looking forward to it. Sure, most of the references would go over my head because I am in the Netherlands, but that is nothing new. That is what Google is for. :P

Observe my thoughts on this 90’s-vibe, mall-culture, friendship novel in the style of bullet points!!1!1

- I was first drawn to this title because of the cover. I don’t know if it felt exactly 90’s, but the description promised it, and being a 90’s kid myself really sealed the deal! Neon colors are a bonus when it comes to, well, everything. And thus, I went click-happy on NetGalley.
- Cassie Worthy, our illustrious main character, just recovered from mono and is ready to take on her role as a new employee at the Parkway Center Mall’s very own America’s Best Cookie… right alongside her boyfriend of two years! She and Troy are all about “the plan” – at the end of summer, they’re moving to NYC to go to their respective colleges, graduating with degree that compliment each other, and then obviously get married and live happily ever after… WRONG!
- Her hopes and dreams and the plan she was riding on comes crashing down when she gets simultaneously dumped and fired one her first day. Determined to find another job in the mall, one kind of… falls in her lap. Only, it’s run by her ex-best friend and her mom!
- Drea Bellarosa used to be Cassie’s best friend, but then Drea dubbed her “too uncool” for her to bother with. Now they are paired together again and their friendship is rekindled as Drea drags her into a treasure hunt of sorts involving Cabbage Patch dolls and really badly hand-drawn maps.
- I loved the treasure hunt in a mall plot device, and really enjoyed how the journey brought them to different parts of the mall, thus introducing an array of different and unique characters. Each new clue led to a new person who seemed to have some type of tie with Drea, who is basically the equivalent of mall royalty.
- Through this little adventure, Cassie is on her own personal quest to discover who she is, to ultimately find fulfillment and transforming into the best possible version of herself while working with the Bellarosa’s.
- This book was just so enjoyable. Despite all the things that went wrong through her summer, Cassie learns some valuable lessons after a summer of some narcissism, slight revenge, and a run through the rumor mill – and the enticing treasure hunt to boot!
- And I found myself wanting to get to the bottom of the Cabbage Patch treasure hunt. It was an oddly satisfying end.
- I enjoyed the characters and the 90’s pop culture references, and the lessons at the end. Highly recommended to read this coming summer!

From the first sentence I could picture the world Megan McCafferty was creating for me. The 1990s mall scene and the equal parts teenage angst and excitement are palpable in McCafferty latest YA novel. The cultural references are on point as well. Fun read, even if I am older than the target audience!

This book was so much fun! It takes place entirely at a mall in New Jersey in the summer of 1991. It’s totally an ode to being a teenager in the early 1990s and I am here for it! I loved that the main focus of the story was on the renewed friendship between Cassie and Drea, and the importance of friendship and being there for your friends.

BOOK REPORT for The Mall by Megan McCafferty

Cover Story: Retro Neon
BFF Charm: Yay x 2
Swoonworthy Scale: 5
Talky Talk: Megan McCaffertastic
Bonus Factors: '90s Mall, Pineville, Scavenger Hunt
Relationship Status: High School Reunion Fling

Cover Story: Retro Neon

This cover is simple yet eye-catching, and the neon definitely reminds me of the mall arcade, though IMO the girl at the bottom strikes more of an '80s vibe (to be fair, the book is set in 1991, so a late '80s overlap makes sense). Also, that gal looks way too cool to be the main character (sorry, Cassie), so it's a bit misleading, but for most of us, all that matters is seeing "Megan McCafferty" on the cover, which means I'm just quibbling at this point.

The Deal

Cassie Worthy ended her senior year with a major case of mono, so now that she's back in action, she's determined to make the summer of 1991 count--which means maximizing time with her boyfriend, Troy, by working side-by-side at the America's Best Cookie store at the mall before they both head to NYC for college. Unfortunately, her plans are pulverized when Troy dumps her, and she's forced to find another job, landing her at Bellarosa Boutique, where her ex-childhood-bestie, Drea, works. Cassie finds herself adrift for the first time in her life and just wants to fast forward to the fall, but the world of the mall proves to be a surprising disruptor, challenging her to examine herself while providing a different kind of retail therapy.

BFF Charm: Yay x 2

It's impossible not to see shades of Jessica Darling in Cassie: her "Girl Most Likely to Succeed" award; her judgy attitude; her biting sense of humor; her stubborn nature. And if those qualities sound negative to you, trust me, they're all a part of Cassie's charm. She's flawed in such a relatable way, particularly because her most exasperating moments spring from insecurity, and even as I rolled my eyes at her hyper self-analysis, I was rooting for Cassie to take a chance on herself, to understand her potential and strive to reach it.

While Cassie reminds me of myself in high school, Drea Bellarosa reminds me of the opposite. She's freaking FABULOUS, y'all. From her fierce fashion sense (Claudia Kishi meets Dynasty) to her no-nonsense attitude, Drea is fearless, and I love how much she challenges Cassie. The only thing bigger than her personality is her hair, as it should be.

Swoonworthy Scale: 5

It's obvious to everyone (except Cassie) that Troy suuuuucks--dude has a real Len Levy vibe--so when she has a meet-antagonism-cute with a boy who works at Sam Goody, I wiggled my fingers together with glee. For better or worse, Megan McCafferty really dates the look of her love interests, so while Marcus Flutie has white-boy-dreads (a fact I aggressively ignore), Sam* is an Asian guy with a pompadour and rockabilly boots. Mmmkay? He's far and away the best guy in the mall, and it's frustrating that it takes Cassie so long to realize that, although I like the slow percolation of their romance. With that said, I didn't feel their chemistry so much as read it, and given McCafferty's talents in this area, I found the lack of sparks disappointing.

*He and Cassie don't exchange names when they meet, so Cassie refers to him by the name of the store where he works.

Talky Talk: Megan McCaffertastic

This is 10000% a Megan McCafferty joint, LET US REJOICE! Every element of her trademark style is in full effect. Engagingly familiar tone? Check. Breezy dialogue that crackles with life? Check. Dynamically vivid characters? Check. Humor that runs the gamut from sarcastic to cartoonish? Check. Authentic adolescent emotions that make you feel simultaneously embarrassed and totally seen? Check check check! In the time that's passed since her last YA novel, McCafferty has lost none of her flair, and I was both relieved and overjoyed to savor her voice wrapped in a new story.

Bonus Factor: '90s Mall

The Parkway Center Mall is a mecca of nostalgic consumerism, with stores like Spencer Gifts, Bath & Body Works, Sam Goody (grab a CD from Color Me Badd or Wilson Phillips!), Kay-Bee Toys, Orange Julius, and more. And if that wasn't '90s enough for you, wait until you read Cassie's "90210 Scale of Parkway Center Mall Employment Awesomeness," with the easiest jobs in the coolest stores landing, natch, in the Dylan McKay tier. I had a blast exploring the mall's ecosystem, from the senior citizen aerobic dance troupe performances in the food court to the teen employee parties in the second basement, known as "The Cabbage Patch."

Bonus Factor: Pineville

Oh, did I mention that this book is set in Pineville, NJ?!! Jessica Darling and Cassie Worthy might hate it, but I was over the moon to be back. There's some great easter eggs, including a few references to Seaside Heights and the interesting story of Tommy and Vince D'Abruzzi, more on that below. But you guys! It gets even better! BETHANY DARLING IS IN THIS BOOK! She works at Surf*Snow*Skate (it's in the Dylan McKay category, obvs) and is in the prime of her tanned high school glory. Bethany, ILU.

Bonus Factor: Scavenger Hunt

Sure, it's a little out of left field, but who doesn't love a search for treasure, complete with mysterious clues? Drea enlists Cassie to help her find money allegedly stashed somewhere in the mall by Tommy D'Abruzzi before his untimely death, and while it's not the most complicated of puzzles, it does involve Cabbage Patch Kids, so major points for originality.

Relationship Status: High School Reunion Fling

When I saw this book across the room, it triggered so many great flashbacks to my '90s adolescence. I was able to escape, for one night, to a world I miss dearly, and while it will never replace my epic YA romance with the Jessica Darling series, The Mall took me on a lively romp down memory lane (and left me itching for a Cinnabon).

I loved this book from the beginning. It’s a very quick and easy read. The authors writing style pulled me in and didn’t let me go. It was very nostalgic and fun. The perfect carefree entertainment that we all need right now. We can’t go to the mall right now so you can read about it 🤪 I highly recommend this book! I need to read more by this author.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC

This was a book I was really looking forward to reading. I grow up going to the mall all the time and I felt like it would bring many memories back. While it did that, I felt like there was a lot going on at the same time. The different plotlines got a bit confusing at times and trying to keep up with everyone. I felt like the Cassie just had a terrible attitude about everything because it was going her way. The ending was also just rushed and felt to put together. While I enjoyed seeing the old mall culture again, I felt like many other parts of the book fell flat for me.

4 STARS

"You know what feminists really love? [...] When men tell us how to be good feminists!"

What a journey!

I have thoroughly enjoyed this YA novel set in the early 90s. I have surely travelled back to my childhood!
Friendship, family, personal growth, feminism (go grrrl!), mystery and a little bit of romance are all the winning elements of this book set entirely in a mall where basically all the teens work during summer break.

I loved the characters, especially the protagonist. I have read her growth and truly enjoyed her self-discovery journey.
And I really enjoyed all the 90s culture references.

This novel is really funny and fast-paced, I've never gotten bored and I have read it super fast.

All in all, this is a perfect summer read! One that I absolutely recommend to you.

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending me the arc in exchange for an honest review

This book is a fun throw back to the mall hangouts of my middle and high school years in the 1990s. But, that’s about where the fun ends. The setting is great but the plot is super strange and takes some weird turns. It’s not a book to be frustrated by but it definitely felt like a bit of lost time was spent reading it. Perhaps I wasn’t in the right mindset for the flashback, but can’t say I’m in a hurry to recommend this one.

Thank you to the publisher for providing an ARC through Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

Content warnings: there are mentions of sex and revenge sex in the book.

This retro-set book weas a light, easy read for someone who was born in the '90s, but doesn't remember any of it. This book drew me into the era, full of teens NOT on iPhones and Cabbage Patch Kids still being a memorable aspect of childhood.

I enjoyed reading about Cassandra, and I felt like she was a stubborn character, just like the daughter of

the fashion shop's owner that hires her to 'fix' the books when she lost her summer job at America's Best Cookie. The mention of the cookie shop made me SUPER hungry and I craved cookies throughout reading this one.

The mystery (or treasure hunt) the girls went on was actually a pretty good way to show the differences in character growth, and made me feel a stronger connection to Cassie than I thought I'd have. The introduction of several other side characters during this hunt definitely gave me a neighbourhood shopping centre vibe that I really enjoyed.

Also, I love the subtle hint to mythology with the names- Troy, Helena, and Cassandra. That was cheeky, and I loved it.

Rating: 4/5