ARC Review: Going Vintage

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt
4/5 stars
Bloomsbury, 2013
310 pages
YA Contemporary
Scheduled to release March 26

Source: Received an e-ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Lindsey Leavitt is definitely one of my favorite authors-she writes such funny and moving stories, usually with a strong focus on family, something I really appreciate. She's primarily written in the contemporary genre so I was surprised and interested to see that it looked like she was tackling historical with this, her latest release. Except I misunderstood the blurb-this book is very much set in the here and now albeit with homages to the past.

When Mallory discovers her cute boyfriend Jeremy has been cheating on her with some girl online, she reacts very strongly to put it mildly. Beyond dumping him, she decides to behave as if she lived in 1962 and plans to imitate the list her then teenage grandmother made. This includes forming a pep club, sewing a dress, and doing something dangerous. As Mallory drags others into her new obsession, her life becomes increasingly complicated and she starts to doubt her plan.

Remember how I said Leavitt writes good family stories? Well, this one is no exception. Mallory has a younger sister named Ginnie who is an excellent character as well as bickering parents (on the verge of divorce?) and the aforementioned grandmother whose high school years were perhaps not as idyllic as Mallory thinks. I cannot emphasize how much I liked Ginnie-she clearly thinks Mallory has gone a bit overboard but she is mostly enthusiastic in supporting her sister and reaps some great benefits as a result.

There were unfortunately some things I really didn't like though. The first one is probably just because I'm a bit older than Mallory and have survived my teenage years as well as being interested in history, I could tell her that the past is never as perfect as it seems in pictures and memories. Thank goodness Mallory learns this but I got a bit frustrated with her over the course of the novel because of that. The other problem was the timeline. Everything seemed to happen at warp speed, much faster than I would have expected. It just seemed exceptionally unrealistic to me.

Overall: A fun title from Leavitt-I continue to love her writing!

Other Opinions:
Cornucopia of Reviews
Tahleen's Mixed-Up Files

Review: A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt

A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt
4.5/5 stars
Hyperion, 2012
279 pages
Middle-Grade Fantastical
Book 3 in the Princess for Hire trilogy

Source: Received a copy from publisher as support for blog tour.

**Spoilers for the earlier books**

After loving Princess for Hire and The Royal Treatment, I was eagerly anticipating this conclusion to the trilogy. The previous book ended with suspense as Desi confirmed her suspicions that Reed was also a sub in the male branch of Facade.

Through her discussions with Reed and her relationship with her agent Meredith, the world of Facade is vastly expanded. We see more of the other agents and managing staff as well as more about the ultimate designs and purposes. This potentially has some negative outcomes that Desi is determined to thwart while also balancing her new responsibilities as a Level 3 sub. Desi will stop at nothing to uncover and proclaim the truth.

Meanwhile Desi's home life is getting more and more complicated. Her feelings toward Reed are in turmoil, she's fighting with her best friend, and her mother is all of a sudden awfully tired. The former was a bit tiresome but he's really only Desi's second crush and she needs some help negotiating that. It is sometimes hard to remember how old Desi really is because she takes on so much responsibility and is mature beyond her years. Meanwhile the situation with her friend was so rough to read; all Desi wants is to confide but she can't without betraying the confidentiality of Facade. The family storyline is really sweet although it fades a bit in comparison to the other plots.

Unfortunately in the end I wanted a little bit more of Desi using her empathy as a sub instead of investigating the machinations of Facade. I know how the series has been building toward that and if there hadn't been anything about it, I probably would have complained. Still I missed Desi subbing as much. I promise though that there are several satisfying episodes with Desi subbing-they were some of my favorite parts.

Overall: A satisfying conclusion to this princess trilogy-sure to please fans of the previous books. Desi is a great heroine and well worth reading about.

Cover: I love these covers so much! They provide the perfect opening to what these books are like.

Want to read this (or any of the books)? I'm hosting a giveaway of your choice of one of the books in the series. Open internationally!

#Giveaway: Princess for Hire book by @Lindsey_Leavitt

As part of the blog tour for the conclusion to Lindsey Leavitt's Princess for Hire series, I decided to give away one copy of any of the three books. I know everyone hasn't had a chance to read them all yet so this way you can choose which book you need. You can choose from:

Princess for Hire
The Royal Treatment
A Farewell to Charms

Rules:
1. There will be 1 winner, who must have a mailing address in a country where Book Depository ships.
2. You must be 13 years of age or older or use parental information to enter.
3. You do NOT have to follow although I appreciate it; I have a couple of extra entries because I am experimenting with Rafflecopter but all it takes to enter is to input a valid email address.
4. Contest ends July 15 at midnight, EST per Rafflecopter-does any one know how to change the time zone on Rafflecopter?
5. Winner will be contacted via email on July 15 and will have 48 hours to respond with book selection and address or else I will move on to the next person. I pledge to keep your address confidential and to delete it as soon as I have shipped your book.
6. If you have any questions, please leave a comment below or email me at bookworm1858@hotmail.com.

~Blog comments are appreciated but do not count as valid entries~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Stop: A Farewell to Charms by Lindsey Leavitt

I am very pleased to be hosting author Lindsey Leavitt today in support of A Farewell to Charms, the conclusion to her Princess for Hire trilogy. Today she stopped by to answer some questions for me.

photo by Jennie Slade, from author website

Links:
Author Website
Author Blog
Author Twitter
Goodreads

• Name 3 things we can look forward to reading about in A Farewell to Charms.

REED, Façade’s secrets, Desi’s work life and real life finally coming together.

• What was your favorite part to write in this book?

The final two big scenes. I feel like I’ve been writing towards those moments for the last five years. I literally squealed and did a happy dance when I figured out the ending. I think that excitement shows up on the page too.

• In what way is Desi most like you? Least like you?

I was awkward and tall like Desi in junior high, kind of insecure and not sure where I fit. I figured that out more high school, also learned to rely on humor to get me through things. I don’t think I always have Desi’s heart, though I wish I did. She really goes out of her way to help others, regardless of consequence.

• I love the covers for this series. Did you have any say or get to share ideas to guide the process?

The overall concept is all Disney. When they showed me the idea for PRINCESS FOR HIRE, I knew it was a winner. So with each cover, I’ve given some overall thoughts. Like for PRINCESS FOR HIRE, I asked to add the Eiffel Tower key chain. And with THE ROYAL TREATMENT, the girl in the mirror was initially closer up, and with a strapless dress I thought she looked a little naked ☺ With A FAREWELL TO CHARMS, we went back and forth which characters should be in the locket. But really, the credit goes to the designers, who have been able to make each book mirror the content, but also created a lovely trilogy that looks gorgeous lined up on the shelf. (I can attest to that, I love seeing them all lined up together :)

• Like Desi, I love classic films. My favorite Old Hollywood actress is Vivien Leigh. Who is yours and why? 

Oh, I love Vivien Leigh! Girl had that eyebrow raise down to a science. Although I love loads of actresses and movies from the forties, fifties and sixties, I’m an Audrey Hepburn girl, through and through. I grew up watching her movies, and she was just a really elegant and kind person. I admire her so much.

This or That Questions:

• Sweet or salty? Sweet AND salty! Salted caramel hot chocolate with whip cream
• Heels or flats? Flats for everyday, heels for when I’m going for Amazon Woman. I’m 5’10”, so in six-inchers, I’m sometimes the tallest person in the room, which means it’s easier to find my friends.
• Cats or dogs? Oh dogs. Mostly at dog parks, where I take my kids to play with other people’s pets. Because both animals have hair that makes me sneeze/looks bad on my black shirts.
• Early bird or night owl? Night owl. Woo woo.
• The book or the movie? The book. Please. Sometimes the book AND the movie, but if it’s an or choice, words win.



Thank you so much for stopping by Lindsey-t was great to get to know a little bit more about one of my favorite authors! A reminder to readers, I will have a review of A Farewell to Charms up later today as well as a giveaway of one of the books so be sure to check back!

Waiting on Wednesday 20JUN12

Waiting on Wednesday is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine.

This is my first week participating because I'm just so excited about this book, which is the third in the Princess for Hire series. You'll have to be sure to come back on July 3 because author Lindsey Leavitt is making a blog tour stop while I will also be posting a review (and a giveaway!). In the meantime, here's the cover, summary, and relevant links. Lucky for us this comes out in just about a week-see the widget in my sidebar for an up to the second countdown!

Desi Bascomb is a princess substitute prodigy--she's the fastest employee ever to advance to level three in the Facade Agency, and the youngest to ever be a full-time sub. But now with all eyes on Desi, the only thing she wants is a moment alone to talk to Reed, who's a Facade legacy and secretly a sub for princes As Desi trains for her new role, she spies more than a few cracks in Facade's perfect appearance. But uncovering the agency's dark past might require more than a princess sub can handle by herself. Desi is no damsel in distress, but sometimes a girl needs a knight in shining armor.

Author's website :: goodreads page

Due June 26, 2012 

What do you think? What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

The Royal Treatment

The Royal Treatment by Lindsey Leavitt
Hyperion Books, 2011
264 pages
YA; Contemporary; Magic
4.5/5 stars

Source: Library

Spoilers!

After loving Princess for Hire, of course I had to get my hands on a copy of the sequel as soon as I could.  And yet again, Leavitt leaves me smiling after finishing another delightful book authored by her!  Seriously I love her writing so much-Desi seems so real, the snarkiness level is amusing, and the relationships are super sweet.

At the end of Princess for Hire Desi was promoted to Level 2 meaning that she gets to sub for more high profile princesses.  The result is that she only has two sub jobs in this book but the latter is more extended and way more in depth than anything she's ever done before.

This book also adds on more drama by revealing more about Facade, the agency behind the princess subbing program who may have sinister intentions, and putting pressure on Desi in regards to her real-life.  She may have a crush on Karl, the handsome prince from the first book but she also kind of likes Reed, who just happens to be her best friend's crush.  Then she's juggling the role of Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream with her extensive preparations to be the best sub she can be.  Exhausting!  I'm not too sure about the mechanics behind Desi's traveling without time changing at home but I don't really care because I enjoy the story too much.

Besides Desi's life, we learn more about Meredith, her agent and guide through the policy.  Meredith is facing her own conflict between her life in Facade and her love for a prince that almost torpedoed her career early on.  I'm so rooting for her to resolve this and be able to balance both but with her rival Lilith constantly lurking, I'm not sure what will happen.

SPOILER SECTION:
Squee-I was totally predicting that Reed was a sub, in particular the sub for Karl that Desi liked, and I was so happy to be proved right. I cannot wait for the third book but I have to because it's not scheduled for release until next year; it doesn't even have a title at this point.
END SPOILER SECTION

Overall: Loved this! Definitely read Princess for Hire first though in order to understand references.

Princess for Hire

Princess for Hire by Lindsey Leavitt
Hyperion Books, 2010
239 pages
YA; Contemporary
4/5 stars

Source: Library

I loved Leavitt's Sean Griswold's Head so I wanted to check out this series, which looked super adorable! I mean, look at that cover! Princesses, pink, makeup, and candy=super fun.  And that's what this was.

Desi is a teenager in Idaho, feeling like an outcast both among her peers and within her own family.  Thus when she reads an ad that promises her adventures as royalty, she is thrilled.  She jumps right in to her role as a princess substitute, challenging the conventions and attempting to improve the lives of the actual princess.  When she starts to go too far though, the leadership puts her on trial possibly quashing her excitement.

I mostly liked and admired Desi, who works a crappy job at a pet store due to a new law that allows for almost 14-year olds to work.  Her father prosecuted her former best friend's father for his crimes and that friend blames Desi, causing her social life to be nil.  Said ex-friend is also dating Desi's longtime crush.  Her enthusiasm for the job mirrored what mine would be and she took that opportunity not to lounge around but to make an impact.  I appreciated the attempt to make princessing about a larger purpose, whether it's on a local or worldwide level.

There were also tantalizing glimpses of other characters who will probably play a larger role in later books.  Meredith is the woman who recruited Desi; her prickly exterior covers a broken heart and a difficult past.  Karl is a prince whose relationship with a princess entangles Desi more than it ought.

Overall: A delightfully fluffy fast-moving joy to read.

Cover: I love the cover and I find the bright pink very appealing.

Sean Griswold's Head

Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt
Bloomsbury, 2011
274 pages
YA; Contemporary
5/5 stars

Source: Library

I probably wouldn't have read this if it weren't for the Contemps Challenge and if I hadn't read some other reviews that mentioned that the main character was actually female rather than Sean Griswold.

That main character is Payton Gritas, who upon discovering that her father has MS (multiple sclerosis) and that her family has been keeping that from her for about six months, and consequently she is rebelling.  She gives her parents the silent treatment and her guidance counselor suggests that she choose a "Focus Object."  After discarding several options, she chooses Sean Griswold, the boy who has sat in front of her for classes since third grade but to whom she's never given much thought.

Encouraged by her hilarious and outgoing best friend Jac, she starts by investigating Sean's head but she quickly befriends the boy himself, learning some important lessons along the way.  One is about not judging people by their exterior.  While Payton had written people off as being defined by one particular characteristic, Sean helps her to look beyond that.  He also indirectly helps her let go a bit instead of being so tightly wound.

Sean himself is practically perfect.  He's good looking and athletic (a biker who introduces Payton to the sport); he's a decent student; he loves his mother and is a good friend; he's funny, nice, gives good advice, and is forgiving.  He likes "Seinfeld" and has memorized the episode numbers just like Payton has.  He's the perfect first crush-how could anyone not like him?

Additionally this book also features a good family relationship.  Although Payton is angry at her parents and two older brothers for not telling her earlier, there are still hints of the generally strong family unit they have.  Food and traditions play a big role.  It was nice to see a main character with good relationships with her parents, even if they are strained for much of the book by Payton's anger and fear.

Besides the friendship, the cute boy, and the family bonding, this book is hysterical.  I laughed so many times from the way Payton phrased things and from her actions. Luckily I was mostly in my room so no one saw the weird girl laughing at her book.

Overall: A laugh-out-loud delight, touching on first love, family illness, and Seinfeld. Highly recommended!

Cover: I don't really like his sweatshirt and I feel like a whiteboard is more appropriate for school in in this day and age but I like it.

Read for the Contemps Challenge.