When life gets hectic, I love to balance things out by reading a lighter type of book. Something a bit fluffy, that leaves me smiling and feeling good. Something that isn’t too terribly dramatic, and something that doesn’t leave my heart pounding in terror or suspense.
“Hectic” certainly describes my life lately. I’m in the middle of moving, and work has been ridiculously busy. So, in order to relax and let go of some of my frustration, I decided to turn to a book.
I had a few options, but the novel I ended up choosing was Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt. It turned out to be a good choice, and left me feeling exactly the way I wanted it to.
Going Vintage introduces us to Mallory, a sixteen-year-old girl who relies on technology as much as most teenagers tend to. Much of her time is spent with her boyfriend, who she loves more than anyone outside of her family. Until she finds out that her boyfriend has been cheating on her with a girl online. To cope with her heartbreak, Mallory ends her relationship with the boy – and technology. She “goes vintage,” giving up everything that didn’t exist in the 1960s.
I found Going Vintage to be a fun, light kind of read. Mallory was a good character to follow; she was funny, sweet, and strong enough to give up a boy she knew was no good for her. She had her flaws, of course, but she was someone I enjoyed reading about.
Overall, I liked the way Going Vintage turned out. Although it did have its dramatic moments, it was mostly sweet, funny, and lighthearted. The ending didn’t turn out quite the way I had expected it to, but it had me smiling nonetheless. And, to be honest, I prefer the ending that Leavitt wrote over the ending that I expected.
So, if you’re looking for something super-serious, then this likely isn’t the book you need. But if you’re in the mood for something fun and a little fluffy, then you should definitely give Going Vintage a shot.
—
Goodreads summary
When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend, Jeremy, is cheating on her with an online girlfriend, she swears off boys. She also swears off modern technology. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory decides to “go vintage” and return to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn’t cheat on you online). She sets out to complete grandma’s list: run for pep club secretary, host a dinner party, sew a homecoming dress, find a steady, do something dangerous. But the list is trickier than it looks. And obviously finding a steady is out . . . no matter how good Oliver (Jeremy’s cousin) smells. But with the help of her sister, she’ll get it done. Somehow. Lindsey Leavitt perfectly pairs heartfelt family moments, laugh-out-loud humor, and a little bit of romance in this delightful contemporary novel.
Miranda Burski 
Leave a Reply