Review: Past Perfect

Title: Past Perfect
Author: Leila Sales
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Pages: 322
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Format: eGalley via Simon & Schuster Galley Grab

All Chelsea wants to do this summer is hang out with her best friend, hone her talents as an ice cream connoisseur, and finally get over Ezra, the boy who broke her heart. But when Chelsea shows up for her summer job at Essex Historical Colonial Village (yes, really), it turns out Ezra’s working there too. Which makes moving on and forgetting Ezra a lot more complicated…even when Chelsea starts falling for someone new.

Maybe Chelsea should have known better than to think that a historical reenactment village could help her escape her past. But with Ezra all too present, and her new crush seeming all too off limits, all Chelsea knows is that she’s got a lot to figure out about love. Because those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat it….—Goodreads

THIS BOOK IS SO STINKIN' GOOD. 

It honestly might be the most perfect YA contemp I've ever read. It's silly and girly and rings very true to a typical teenage girl's experiences. And it is just SO MUCH FUN to read. 

Now, I will be honest. I was apparently pre-destined to like this book because it is mostly set in a historic colonial village à la Colonial Williamsburg. I have an undergrad degree in American History and before that, DEEPLY IDENTIFIED with Felicity from the American Girl series. Now, I do realize that I am not unique in this—there are many, many girls my age who loved Felicity and hold American History degrees. And all of those girls need to read this book. Because they will love it as much as I do. 

So, ok, you probs want to know why I like this practically perfect little book so much, right? Leila Sales just does such a good job creating characters, especially the main character, Chelsea, that are just likable. Chelsea seems very, very real and very, very normal and the situations she finds herself in are also very, very real and normal. She's nursing a pouty heart, and around the time that she thinks she can FINALLY get away from her ex (aka, summer break), she realizes he's taken a job at the historical reenactment village where her parents work full-time, and where she works every summer. Because boys are awful. 

And if that weren't enough, it turns out that there is a Civil War reenactment village DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET from the colonial village (I know, hilarious, right?!), and the teens who work there wage prank wars on each other every summer. It is AWESOME and HILARIOUS. OMG, y'all, my  geeky, history-loving heart adored this part of the book so dad-gum much. I read this book on a plane and kept giggling and squealing in delight, and I'm pretty sure my seat mates thought I was bonkers. But I did not CARE because I was having so much fun with this book. Anyway, it turns out that there's a very cute guy who works at the Civil War place, and of course my girl Chelsea finds herself attracted to him. 

Now, one might think that this would breed a love triangle type situation. But it didn't!!!!!! Sure, Chelsea was still getting over her ex and started having feelings for someone else, but it never became a soul-crushing, OMG THIS IS LIFE OR DEATH kind of thing. And it definitely wasn't the only thing Chelsea thought about throughout the book. Because she isn't crazy.  

Overall, the beauty in this book is that it is honest and realistic in its depiction of being a teenage girl who has been hurt and is trying to move on. No matter who you are or what your age is or whether or not you even like history, you should pick this book up. It will make you laugh and cheer and smile and want to hug your best friend and maybe want to ask Miss Leila Sales to be your best friend. Or maybe that's just me. Regardless, Past Perfect is a book I definitely have a crush on. And NOT because of the boys. 

But don't take just my word for it! Check out these other reviews from awesome bloggers:

Anna at Anna Reads

April at Good Books and Good Wine

Ginger at GReadsBooks

Melanie at Reclusive Bibliophile

Review: Fury

Title: Fury

Author: Elizabeth Miles

Publisher: Simon Pulse

Pages: 352

Release Date: August 30, 2011

It’s winter break in Ascension, Maine. The snow is falling and everything looks pristine and peaceful. But not all is as it seems...

Between cozy traditions and parties with her friends, Emily loves the holidays. And this year’s even better—the guy she’s been into for months is finally noticing her. But Em knows if she starts things with him, there’s no turning back. Because his girlfriend is Em’s best friend.

On the other side of town, Chase is having problems of his own. The stress of his home life is starting to take its toll, and his social life is unraveling. But that’s nothing compared to what’s really haunting him. Chase has done something cruel...something the perfect guy he pretends to be would never do. And it’s only a matter of time before he’s exposed.

In Ascension, mistakes can be deadly. And three girls—three beautiful, mysterious girls—are here to choose who will pay.

Em and Chase have been chosen.—Goodreads 

When I started Fury, I was totally into it. It's dark and creepy and mysterious. I was hoping the book would be a pleasurable romp through the revenge the Furies take on the teenagers in the town of Ascension, Maine, but instead I got a story of what happens when two teenagers make mistakes—one seemingly more serious than the other—and, though they try to atone for their mistakes, they just . . . can't. It was a bit of a hard pill to swallow. 

The two teenagers in question are Em, a popular girl from a well-to-do family who is harboring a crush on Zach, her best friend's boyfriend, and Chase, the popular quarterback raised by a widowed mother who works at a gas station, who is harboring a lot of angst and anger toward most people at his high school.

Though I liked both Em and Chase well enough, what makes them interesting main characters is that they are flawed and mostly unlikeable. They both do things that they seriously regret, but instead of being able to apologize and move on, they are targeted by the Furies, the three women of Greek mythology who have the power to claim mortal lives so as to take revenge for sins committed against other mortals. And the Furies are hell-bent on claiming Em and Chase. 

What makes the book sort of weird is the tone of it all—it's bleak not only in theme, but in setting as well. That's not to say that Fury is a book without hope. There are light moments and characters that help  with comic and romantic relief (J.D.!!!! <3). But, ultimately, the story isn't happy. However, the last page is incredibly satisfying for the reader. Like, in the same way the credits of Jennifer's Body are satisfying. *grins*

In a way, Fury is a cautionary tale for teenagers. At the heart of the story is the fact that humans aren't perfect and that actions, even those made as a teenager, have consequences. Miles does a great job of harnessing the type of tragedy found in the Greek epics and weaving it into her story—all of the characters change and learn lessons, but the change comes with a price and the lessons are ones that suck to learn.  

I'll admit that toward the middle of the novel I got a little discouraged in my reading, but, luckily, that didn't last. Overall, I really liked Fury even though it wasn't the let's-have-fun-with-revenge romp I was hoping it would be. Miles does a fantastic job creating a modern Greek tragedy that isn't so tragic it's depressing. And you'll definitely find yourself gasping at situations and yelling at Em and Chase throughout this book. That part is actually fun. So if you're in the market for a mysterious, not-so-happy novel where the author masterfully applies the idea of Greek tragedy to modern life, then pick up Fury.