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Going Vintage
Going Vintage
Going Vintage
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Going Vintage

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

3.5/5

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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.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 26, 2013
ISBN9781599909844
Going Vintage
Author

Lindsey Leavitt

Lindsey Leavitt is a former elementary school teacher and present-day writer/mom/party animal (not to be confused with her spirit animal, which is a lion). She lives with her family in the Utah mountains. She is the author of the Commander in Cheese series, The Pages Between Us series (co-written with Robin Mellom), Sean Griswold’s Head, Going Vintage, The Chapel Wars, and the Princess for Hire series.

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Reviews for Going Vintage

Rating: 3.717742008870968 out of 5 stars
3.5/5

124 ratings25 reviews

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  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I found this difficult to get into, perhaps because I didn't realise it was a teen book until I started it. It became more engaging as it went on. It's a nice, light read. It's not as profound as it could have been, however.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I was initially drawn to this YA book because of its title. Vintage is something I like to shop, buy, and hold on to, so the story's premise intrigued me. Mallory, a junior in high school, swears off all technology and breaks with her over-a-year boyfriend, Jeremy, after discovering (by cyber snooping) that he has an avatar wife in a computer game and that Jeremy's inbox is filled with his cyber wife's messages. The very next day Mallory -- while helping her father pack up Grandma Vivian's house because the widow has recently moved to a retirement community -- finds an old notebook of Grandma Vivian's that contains a five-item to-do list from 1962 when Vivian started her junior year in high school. With # 1 on the list being "Run for pep squad secretary" Mallory's mission of trying to live as if back in the early '60s commences. But Mallory's school has no pep squad and so she must start one. Naturally, this brings on complications.The story unfolds with such humor early on that I expected it to be all light and breezy about teen angst. I admit to being mistaken in thinking that the book's title and premise would make it just one of those fun and entertaining YA reads. It was so much more. Mallory's sister, Ginnie, her Grandma Vivian, her new friend, Oliver, and Mallory's parents too, are all richly drawn supporting characters. And I have a fondness for a humorous story that has hidden serious layers. Plus, this book so skillfully shows how easy it is to mistake a past era as a simpler time when comparing it with today's technology-driven world. Suffering a broken heart, searching for self-identity, makes GOING VINTAGE, with all its layers, one exceptional read.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    LOVED IT!!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    An easy sweet read...a nice diversion. Would be good partnered with Maya Wagenin's Popular (not sure if I've got the author's name right).
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    This book was so horrible that I could not force myself to finish it.The main character, Mallory, is dating a "wonderful" guy who makes fun of how much she eats and makes her do his homework for him. Oh, and he's also cheating on her online. Instead of completely blaming her boyfriend for his cheating ways, she instead blames technology, because it is the facilitator for his online cheating. Obviously, if there was no technology, Jeremy never would have cheated on her! (She apparently doesn't realize that cheating is NOT an invention of the digital age. She is also the type who would blame the other woman for luring her man away instead of actually blaming the cheater. Figures.)So Mallory, who comes off as a petulant, self-absorbed, whiny, spoiled brat, decides that she has to cut out all technology that wasn't available in 1962. Except she's rather selective about it, because her sister has to take away her alarm clock and cordless phone to make the experience more authentic for Mallory.Throw in a half-baked love triangle between the "wonderful" cheating boyfriend and his cousin Oliver, a hipster (ugggggggggggh, did this book really need to get worse?), and that's the book.Still, I probably could have forced myself to finish this vapid waste of time...until I came to this lovely passage.Ginnie [her sister] hops out of her seat. "I hope you're not romanticizing this too much. That prefeminist movement crap is scary.""What do you know about the feminist movement?" Um, what did I know? I'd meant to read some books on that too, but when I thought of old feminists, I thought of armpit hair and bra burning and lots of angry, political yelling, which is not nearly as fun as party dresses and school clubs. [emphasis mine] "So what if women cared about their families and cleaned a lot? That's probably why Grandma ended up so great."There is so much fail in those two paragraphs. So.much.freaking.fail.Equal rights? Fair pay? Access to birth control? Being promoted fairly at work? Who cares? Those things are not as much fun as parties and clubs, dang it!Seriously, what in the hell. Can I reach into this book and slap the everloving crap out of Mallory? Because she needs a serious awakening here.Oh, and by the way, her grandmother met her grandfather at a Berkeley peace rally and was at the helm of a non-profit she founded before retiring. Hate to break it to you, Mallory the Vapid and Clueless, but your grandmother was one of those angry, yelling, braless, and potentially hairy women! Oh noes! And you know what? If women want to shave their body hair, that is their choice. And if women don't want to shave their body hair, that is ALSO their choice. It's all about choice. Ugh.That's it; I'm done with this stupid book and its equally stupid main character.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Ooh, Going Vintage was much better than I expected! Before I read the book I would have bet I'd give it 3 bookcases. No, this is worth at least 4! (And you know I'm a tough rater) Lindsey Leavitt tells us a witty and sweet story with characters worth cheering for.

    Okay, to start out, this book is filled with fab lists! And they are not annoying at all. Just stuff that made me laugh like, really hard! Also, Mallory and the lists go in hand in hand. Mallory is just a lot of fun. She also says some really cool weird and random things.

    Oliver, Mallory's ex's cousin, is now one of my favorite male characters in the contemporary genre! Totally. He is funny, and witty, and unique! And, most awesome of all, he laughs at the random things Mallory says. Another epic character is Mallory's sister, Ginny. I love the bond they have.

    The family plots are cute. Mallory's mom is hiding something, and so is her grandma. These are added bonuses to the story.

    I was surprised the "no technology thing" was as small as it was. I mean, sure, that was part of the book, and generated some fun scenes, but there was much more to Going Vintage than just "no more phones for me." I liked that.

    Overall, Going Vintage has awesome characters and epic lists. Whatcha all waiting for? Read it!

    4/5 bookcases
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Going Vintage was a super-cute story. I really liked the characters and just felt myself pulled into their lives. The romance was very natural and sweet. I did laugh a lot and had a big smile on my face most of the time I was reading it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This was an okay read, but not what I was expecting. I'd imagine that some teens would be horrified by the thought of giving up today's technology, but some might be interested in Mallory's experiment.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    After Mallory discovers her long-time boyfriend Jeremy in an online gaming relationship, she ditches him along with her ties to modern day communcation. Mallory loves to make lists, and after discovering one her own grandma made back when she was in high school, Mallory decides to take the plunge and unplug. With the awesome support of her sister Ginnie (who even hides the bobble heads in Mallory's collection that weren't playing in 1962), Mallory manages to start a pep club, decorate a float for homecoming, host a soiree and catch the eye of a unique senior. It was great to see how Mallory coped without her cellphone and Friendspace, and how hard it was to do a research paper at a library that didn't even still have a card catalog.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    'Going Vintage' by Lindsey Leavitt is a Scholastic Teen publication and is about sixteen year old Mallory. After finding out that her beloved boyfriend has been cheating on her online, she decides to go vintage, taking inspiration from a list written by her grandmother in 1962.

    As the blurb on the book describes basically what happens in the first two chapters, I had no idea where this story was going, but I really enjoyed where it went.

    Each chapter in this book starts with a list, usually introducing the theme of the chapter to come, drawing you into the next chapter. I really liked the beautiful writing style which slowed the pace down more than in a usual contemporary fiction book like this but I think that the slow pace fit the story well and it gave the characters time to develop fully.

    With regards to characters, I think that they were all interesting, and the fact that there were a lot of secrets made them more developed than I was expecting. I particularly liked Ginnie who, despite being only fourteen years old, seems to be the wisest person in her family and the parental role that she takes on is hilarious at points. Oliver, Mallory's ex's cousin, as a love interest was strange at first but I think that this was addressed in the novel.

    I am extremely happy with the way this book ended. It wasn't the fairytale ending that I expected and I am glad that Mallory had developed and was a stronger person by the end.

    Overall, I loved the themes in this book. It really made me think about the problems that technology cause in relationships nowadays, but also, it made me wonder if I could do what Mallory does, and not use any technology at all. I would recommend this book as I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is a thought-provoking and enjoyable plot.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The concept of a teen quitting her cell phone, computer and social networks in the interest of hearkening to a simpler time, is intriguing but most of the book is about the fallout of her breakup with Jeremy. I couldn't get into her middle-class teen angst but this book will appeal to most romance-loving teens.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Mallory discovers her boyfriend is cheating on her online, so she dumps him - and all technology. She decides to go retro when she finds a list her grandmother made when she was 16. So now Mallory’s goals are to sew a dress for homecoming, be in the pep club, and find a steady, among others. It’s hard for her to do when all of her friends still use technology, and there are some wild rumors flying around the internet about Mallory and her ex! This book had a lot of potential, but I felt like Mallory wasn’t too well-developed. A lot of stuff gets thrown at the reader close to the end as well, and it’s never really delved into or resolved. If the concept of this book interests you, I HIGHLY recommend Maya Van Wagenen’s memoir Popular, in which she takes advice from a style book from the ‘50s.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This book was amazing and funny and I love the author, I'm looking forward to reading more of her books!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Loved Mallory's lists! (Review to come)**************My Fast and Furious Take: Lindsey Leavitt’s YA contemporary Going Vintage is perfect for those times when you are looking to relax with a quick, light read. Featuring an earnest but slightly clueless protagonist in Mallory, who decides that going back to a simpler time – namely 1962 – will solve all her modern-day problems, Going Vintage keeps the focus on fun and fluffy while skimming some weightier topics that help anchor the story. If you want cute and engaging, Going Vintage is for you.Digging Into the Details: So right off the bat I’m going to say this book is ADORABLE! Fluffy, fun, every kind of light and happy adjective there is. Going Vintage was my first Lindsey Leavitt book and it turns out she is an author after my own heart – one who creates cute characters, throws in plenty of humor, and still manages to make a point underneath the fluff.First up – the List. Or, really, “lists” because Mallory lives her life by them. Every chapter starts off with a quick list of four or five bits of information about various topics – everything from “Top Five Favorite Bobblehead Dolls” to “Tidbits About The Industrial Revolution” (which was informative and had me laughing out loud with its final bulletpoint). I loved Mallory’s lists because they were all over the place – just like Mallory. They showed a sense of humor and a person striving for organization, but whenever Mallory took center stage I realized she was actually a bit of a flake who couldn’t see the forest for the trees.Pep club was the perfect example. The number one item on the list she was living her life by was her grandmother’s 1962 goal to become pep club secretary. Only problem? No pep club at school. So Mallory decides to start a pep club, JUST TO BE SECRETARY! Forget president, or even vice-president, the goal was secretary so that’s the role she wants to play. Mallory is full of good intentions; it’s just her follow-through that needs work. Thankfully, she actually grows a little bit as she starts to realize that just because she’s “gone back to a simpler time” that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily happier. Her grandmother is distracted, mom is keeping a secret, and Mallory is starting to notice that there is more to her ex’s cousin Oliver than she thought. She soon discovers there are always going to be problems no matter what era you live in.Mallory is a pretty fluffy character most of the time and she definitely has some flaws, but I liked that about her. Everything was right there on the surface, no dark depths in sight, which I think is kind of nice once in a while. Readers who prefer more realistic fiction, however, may find Mallory a little too insubstantial for their taste.Helping Mallory on her journey to 1962 was her sister Ginnie. I loved how confident Ginnie was and how she was Mallory’s support system, even though she was younger. Frankly, she was probably the most mature person in the entire family! Athletic, outgoing, determined to get everyone to eat healthier, but with a sense of humor backing it all up, Ginnie was a great character. I LOVED the sibling relationship between Mallory and Ginnie. They knew each other inside and out and had each other’s back in the midst of family dramas and shenanigans. When one of them brought up her worries, the other was there as a shoulder to cry on. It was so nice to see two sisters who loved each other so much and didn’t have any problems showing it!Assisting Mallory with her pep club goal was her ex-boyfriend’s cousin, Oliver, who was very much like Ginnie (minus the athleticism) – confident, supportive, and with a great sense of humor. I adored Oliver, who wasn’t into the whole social networking scene like Mallory and his cousin Jeremy and instead was focused on the real world around him. I liked that he wasn’t afraid of being different, and that he obviously had a bit of a crush on Mallory even while he worried about her status as his cousin’s ex. Just like Ginnie, Oliver had Mallory’s back – even when she wasn’t sure she wanted him there.Ginnie and Oliver created a wonderful balance for Mallory. While Mallory talked a good game and needed to work on follow-through, they were the ones actually following through and helping her achieve her goals.Buried beneath the fun and cuteness of Going Vintage were a couple serious issues, and the biggest involved Mallory’s grandmother. I was actually a bit surprised by what was happening with her, because my suspicions ran in a completely different direction (I’m absolutely terrible at picking up on clues). I liked how this story thread helped underline Mallory’s discovery that the problems people have today are really nothing new, and I loved the way Mallory responded to her grandmother’s issue; in fact, it was probably her whole family’s finest hour as the story wound to a close.There was also a bit of commentary about how people can sometimes let their virtual lives become a substitute for their real lives. This is obviously touched upon with cyber-cheater Jeremy, but also had a surprising relevance to the secret Mallory’s mom was carrying. Although Mallory goes a little overboard in her reaction to Jeremy’s online life, I thought her reaction to her mom’s secret was pretty realistic (if it was my mom I would have had a MUCH stronger response).While the issues involving Mallory’s grandmother, mom, and ex-boyfriend are not explored in much depth, they do add a little weight to the story to help anchor it.Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt is a quick, light read that gently skims the surface of a couple of serious issues with the assistance of a slightly scattered protagonist, some great supporting characters, several entertaining lists, and plenty of humor. It is the perfect “popcorn read” for those times when you want to relax and take a breather from darker dramas and suspense-thrillers. It’s just plain old-fashioned fun!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Going Vintage had a premise that I thought would be fun to read, and I was certainly right. Could I really do without my cell phone, no internet? I would like to say that I could, but who am I fooling? All though, there are days I would love the kick my internet. Anyway, this is exactly what Mallory does.

    Mallory is just a 16 year young girl. Goes to school, she’s pretty, seems to have a strong personality, has a boyfriend. And that is where the trouble begins. Her boyfriend, Jeremy and her have had a horrible break up, and now it is all over the internet and in texts. Mallory is a typical teenager, she makes some choices that aren’t great ones, which we all have probably done growing up. She was pretty easy to relate to.

    She came from a good family, she lived with both parents, and had one feisty sister. The secondary characters were great. One particular, was a new budding romance. Oliver, who happens to be Jeremy’s (the Ex) cousin. He was really adorable, I mean, how could not like him.
    This has a cute and fun story. It was about giving up all the technologies, learning who you really are and growing up. While going her Grandmother belongings, she found a list of things she had wanted to do. Mallory was one determined to girl to follow list and watching her go through all of this was enjoyable and fun. She learned a lot about herself and about those around her too. Sure there is heart break along the way, but that is part of growing up too. And Mallory did a lot of growing up and I have to give her that. Deciding to give up all of her gadgets and go back to a time before all of these things we think we need, was probably the best things she did.

    Going Vintage was a light and refreshing read with relatable characters, humor, and a sweet romance. I have to say that I really did enjoy this one and would certainly say pick this one up.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Thanks to a shocking online discovery, Mallory leaves behind the trappings of the 21st century to live like it’s 1962. No cellphone, no computer, no iPod. . . why would a girl do this to herself? No digital alarm clock, no backpack, no hoodies. . . could a bad break-up be behind all of this? You bet! Since Mallory and Jeremy have been together longer than most celebrity marriages, she’s feeling more than just betrayed. No longer part of a couple, she suddenly has to redefine herself and connect with friends and family in a way that doesn’t involve texting, instant messages or updates.
    Discovering a wish list her grandmother wrote when she was in high school, Mallory decides to tackle the list the way her grandmother would, sort of. It seems that living like it’s 1962 was easier back in 1962—and now Mallory’s going to need a lot of help if she hopes to sew a homecoming dress, throw a dinner party and become pep club secretary. Luckily, she has her talented, though distracted, grandmother; her younger sister, Ginnie, who’s perhaps a little too enthusiastic; and Oliver, the hip and popular man about campus who’s the new pep club president and unfortunately, cousin to ex-boyfriend Jeremy.
    Going Vintage doesn’t merely explore the after effects of a romantic relationship and the possibilities of a new one, but Mallory’s family relationships as well: her conflicts with her mom, her similarities with her dad, her changing relationship with her grandmother, and the rock solid bond she shares with her sister. In spite of her pain, Mallory’s voice is humorous and engaging and while she manages to flub up a few times, she remains a likeable and forgivable character.
    The family dramas and post break-up angst are handled with a gentle touch and the California city of Orange provides a delightfully nostalgic hometown setting. A sweet, thoughtful study on first love, loss and how to heal a broken heart, Going Vintage shows that across generations the stress of growing up remains the same, “the only things that change are the stage props.”
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A cute read about a teenage girl who wants to try to recreate the 60's because she thought time was simpler when her grandmother was a teenager.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I requested this from Netgalley because I was interested in the premise of a girl who decides that social media is the problem with the world today and wants to emulate her grandmother who was a teenager in the 60s. I thought that the premise was better than the execution. Mallory is a likable character but naive at times. Really? You thought that everything was perfect before the advent of the internet? Maybe because I am old enough to remember high school before the internet (yes I am getting old) but that just irritated me.

    Overall though it is a cute YA contemp. So if that is your kind of book then absolutely read it when it comes out in March.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Ok I absolutley adored this book, Lindsey Leavitt can do no wrong in my eyes. Her writing is so real and relatible and her characters draw you into the story in such a capitivating way. The main character Mallory find out that her boyfriend Jeremy has been cheating on her with an online girlfriend under the sudonym BubbleYum, and therefore decides to "go vintage" or use things that were around in the 1960's therefore getting rid of all current technology. I loved the concept of this book, as well as the classic, vintage feel of it. It was exactaly what I was hoping for, and this book was so close to 5-star rating for me but i'm giving it a solid 4.5 strictly due to the fact that the ending let me down!!! (**SPOILER ALERT** skip this is you haven't read it, but come on why not be with Oliver, freakin A man) It fustrated me!! That being said, other then that choice that Mallory made, I loved everything else about this book!!! I cannot get enough of Lindsey Leavitt's books, they are always a nice, light read, but with some heartfelt, real issues, and sometimes that's exactaly what you need from a book! Lindsay Leavitt is definitely now an auto-buy author for me, meaning I will purchase and read anything she writes. Do yourself a favor and if you haven't read this or Sean Griswold's head, GO OUT AND BUY THEM AND READ THEM ASAP!!! I have a feeling this book despite not being 5-stars for me, will probably be in my top books of 2013!!!! P.S. Totally have a literary crush on Oliver!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Mallory is the storyteller in this novel and she doesn't disappoint, telling the story with a fairly unbiased point of view. As an girl would do when she finds out her boyfriend is cheating on her with a cyber girlfriend, she goes to his friendspace page and declares him a TOOL! He is. Really, as you see him through the novel, he's one of those guys that needs to have a girl to define himself. He doesn't really know how to be without a girlfriend. Mallory, on the other hand takes her time to digest what happen and figure out what she was to Jeremy. And in order to get away from all the texts and phone calls, she disconnects from the world. And to carry it a step further, she goes vintage, grandma style. She feels grandma lived in a simpler time and that if she can connect to grandma's life back then, she'll have a happy junior year. Or at the very least get over Jeremy.I did very much love the friendship between Mallory and Ginnie her younger sister. Ginnie almost seemed to be the older sister at times, but the two had a secret language almost. They knew how to get their parents to stop fighting. They shared the list. Ginnie even went along on a date because someone had to have a steady and it wasn't going to be Mallory. They are two years apart in age and I don't know if that makes the difference because they seemed so close.I liked Mallory's wit and her observations about herself and life and other people. She was funny without trying to be. She made many that made me laugh out loud, but one in particular stood out because the Harry Potter Movies have been showing. Each new chapter begins with a title and then a list of things that go with that title. One chapter is titled "Other merit badges Oliver Kimball could earn:.....6. More Charm. We're talking Charm School. We're talking earning ten charm O.W.L.s at Hogwarts." (Chapter 17 beginning). Now, how could you not love a girl like that? And guy that can earn that many O.W.L.s? Match made in heaven. But this is the part that I really like Leavitt makes it very realistic. Instead of insta love, though their may be feelings between them, there is no insta love. After all, the book takes place over two weeks. Jeremy is hardly cold in his grave so to speak and feelings just don't turn off that easy. Leavitt gives we readers more credit than most and says hey, I know you aren't going to buy the insta love so we'll take it slow.Thanks for that. Slow and flirty is always much more fun than insta love.This novel has a little more depth and bite to it than a usual contemporary romance. First it's a breakup novel. And there are family issues, not big ones, but some that shake things up a bit. And Leavitt adds a bit of complexity to your typical Rom-Com of a novel. I recommend this one to anyone that loves comteporary romances with a bit of substance to them. Some more mature themes in them.Thanks to Bloomsbury for providing an e-ARC through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own. I was not compensated for my review in any way.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I have this urge to start this blog post with 'In the beginning' or some sort of intense introduction that makes it seem much more epic than my blog posts actually are. But to be honest, I can't deny the fact that this story deserves an awesome introduction simply because it was such an amazing novel. Most of the books I've read are all centered on the paranormal, the fantasy, the unreal, and to finally get to read a book that is real in all the right ways was a relief. This book was the dose of reality I needed and the story that made me see what makes living worth doing and what makes reading books worthwhile in the first place. I connected so well with this entire story that my emotions were a roller coaster and everything the characters' felt, I did. I love this story. There is no 'ifs' or 'buts' about it and I needed to make that clear before I got into the story itself.Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt brings to life the immensely complicated world that is our real one. Mallory's life was perfect, there was nothing in her mind that needed to be changed or fixed. She was never unhappy, in fact most people could agree that she was one of the happiest people they knew. But her tragic flaw is her addiction to technology. Well it was until technology tore her world apart and left nothing but the ashes of a betrayal. Her world is upended. The thing that saved her was a list that her grandma made when she was her age and she is determined to complete it. Maybe this list will be the thing that saves her from the devastating effects this world has left on her. She is going vintage. No technology and definitely no ex-boyfriend who ruined her for technology. Will this be the thing that saves her? Or will she be able to save herself despite the list? Does the list really bring magic or is it just what she thought she needed? All she knows is that she won't touch technology until she's completed the list and gone vintage.Mallory should deserve my pity because of all the things she suffers in this story. But her story didn't bring pity out in me, it brought out a sense of understanding and comradeship. I found myself relating with her in every way possible. In the beginning, I didn't relate to her. Her life seemed perfect. She had the best boyfriend with the happy family and the greatest friends, she got good grades and seemed to fit in with every crowd at school, and no one doubts that she is the type of girl that everyone likes. That was before she found out her boyfriend is having a cyber affair with a girl he's never met. That was before she decided to end their relationship and cut all of the ties she had with him. That was before she found the list that changed her life. That was before she became strong, stubborn, and her own person. Suddenly the people who once admired and loved her hate her for something that isn't even her fault. People mark her as a slut when really it was her boyfriend who was all along. But it was the list that convinced her to cut her ties to the thing that seemed to damage her most. I love the way she grows in the story. I love the person she is by the end of the story. Ginnie is Mallory's younger sister and her greatest support through this drastic change that her sister has suddenly taken on. Even though she refuses to cut out technology and give up the modern day luxuries, she will stand by her sister's side until the world ends. She is what Mallory needs in this process and she seems to be the only true friend that remains once everything goes down. Her parents are difficult people to connect with, they both seem to have secrets that they do not share and their relationship is akin to fire and ice. What did our lovely main character say? Something along the lines of that their fighting was a form of foreplay and somehow it only seemed to make them fonder of each other. Their love and passion definitely has not faded over the years. It makes their relationship a model for parent relationships in young adult novels. A model that is sadly lacking when both parents are typically in the picture. Her grandma is another one of those characters that I adore because she doesn't seem to fit with the stereotypical grandmother. She is a force to reckoned with and she doesn't act like she is planning on slowing down anytime soon. There is an undeniable connection between grandmother-and-granddaughter that I long to have with my grandmas. Sometimes I see how my grandparents are slowing down and becoming less social and wonder if my relationship with them will ever be the same.Jeremy is boyfriend in the beginning of the book. He is what she thinks is perfect for her and it turns out that maybe perfection isn't what she should be looking for. But even then, she doesn't seem as connected to him as she thinks she is from the moment I read the first page and I felt bad that she was so hurt over what he'd done. But Jeremy is a tool and will always be a tool. When he realizes that he had been caught, he tries to grovel and even acts as though everything is perfect though he inspired all of the horrible comments about Mallory in the first place. I think in the end of it all, she handled him the best way she could by avoiding temptation and being who she should be. His cousin, Oliver, is an entirely different story. Unlike Jeremy who you can never tell whether he is genuine or not, Oliver is always straightforward and honest. He is the type of guy that seems to never worry about what everyone else thinks. People ostracize him which limits his socializing skills but he doesn't care. The first person he seems to reach out towards is Mallory and yet all he seems to want from her is friendship. I think in the case of love interests for our beautiful main character, this young man is the perfect one for her. In fact, I wouldn't mind finding a guy like him myself. Someone who isn't afraid to be himself and doesn't care about what people think. I think he is beautiful because he is original and wonderful.Nothing about this story is stereotypical but rather it is completely real. I love, love, love this story. Go read it, buy it, and love it like I did.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When Mallory discovers that her boyfriend is cheating with her via the Internet, she decides to swear off technology for a while. That same weekend, while helping her dad clean out her grandmother's house, she discovers a list in an old notebook, created when her grandmother was her age. If there's anything Mallory loves, it's a good list -- and this one, with its early-1960's simplicity, really appeals to her. Wasn't the world a better place when a 16-year-old girl's to-do list included things like running for Pep Squad secretary and sewing her own homecoming dress? (Never mind that her school doesn't even have a pep squad, and Mallory doesn't know the first thing about sewing.) As she continues in her quest for vintage perfection, Mallory discovers that going without technology is a lot more difficult than she bargained for -- and she learns some things about the 60s, and about her grandmother's list, that don't exactly jive with her romanticized ideas about going vintage.I really enjoyed this story -- it's fluff, but enjoyable, occasionally thought-provoking fluff. The characters and relationships are well-written, and the plot is fun and moves along fairly briskly. Readers who enjoy a light young adult romance should definitely give this a try.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    I hate to damn a book with faint praise, but the only thing that came to my mind upon finishing this novel was: blandly inoffensive? Simple, forgettable, if sometimes charming? There are characters that are sometimes funny, sometimes flat, but they never really approach what I think of as three-dimensional? Underdeveloped and stiff initially, there's a lot of room for growth in that department. They came, they did their thing to various repercussions, but none really interested me worth investing in? A lot of what happened came off as predictable, or just silly, but Going Vintage wasn't bad - it was just sort of there. I liked it enough to continue through to the end, but not enough that I would recommend for a friends or another reader to buy. Borrow? Sure. But to spend that hard-earned cash on a novel that is harmless and so reminiscent of many other YA contemporaries? Not so much.One day and done, and I doubt I'll think back on or even remember this in a month. Going Vintage has its moments - of cuteness, or exasperation, but it's hardly a stand-out effort. Basically, this was 340 pages of fluff. I didn't have to think too hard, pay that much attention, care at all. There is nothing I can point at and say was wrong with it, but neither is there anything I can point out as right or amazing about it. Inoffensive. Yeah, I'm going to have to go with that for my overall impression. The main character isn't too stupid to live, the romance is not the worst I've read - even this month - but I'm hard pressed to find anything about it that was wholly unique. The 'going vintage' aspect might work, but it didn't really pull me into the story all that much, either. I have so little to say about this, that I can't really go on much more. It was minimally engaging, mildly interesting, and all-too-often predictable. This failed to really make a lasting impression, the way really good contemporary YA should, like with anything Melina Marchetta writes. Jellicoe Road left me wrecked emotionally. It took me days to get over that book and start another. With Going Vintage, for me, it was much more of a nonevent when it was all said and done. Cover closed, a few minutes of thought and it was onto the next book. Going Vintage is inoffensive, it's not horrible, but it had opportunities and potential that were just missed. Lindsey Leavitt has some talent as an author, but it wasn't used to her best efforts here, and that is lamentable.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Mallory is completely smitten with her boyfriend Jeremy, but when she discovers he’s been having a long-distance, virtual love affair with some skank-ho with the screen name BubbleYum, she breaks up with him and humiliates him on Friendspace. A few days later, while cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Mallory discovers a list of things her grandmother hoped to accomplish her Junior year of high school. This makes Mallory wonder what it would have been like to live in the 60′s, where things like being Pep Club secretary, making your own dress for homecoming and hosting a fancy dinner party are at the top of your “to-do” list. Mallory decides to find out. She’ll give up all technology (since it was at the root of her heartache anyway), dress in vintage clothing and try and accomplish everything on her grandmother’s list before homecoming. It seems easy enough, but Mallory didn’t plan on Jeremy being so clingy…. or hitting it off with Jeremy’s cousin, Oliver. Is she strong enough to stick to her laurels, or will these boys throw her off course?Mallory was a cute and determined character. She seemed fairly average — not overly popular, but not a loner either. Her best friend is her younger sister, Ginnie, and while she has friends at school, there’s no one she’s especially close to. This is mainly because she’s been making out with Jeremy non-stop for the last year and hasn’t had time for friends.Ginnie was cute and spunky and a lot more direct and outgoing than Mallory. She plays soccer and is good at pretty much everything she tries.The two boys, Jeremy and his cousin Oliver, both serve their purpose to the story, but neither were particularly memorable.The writing perfectly suits the story. Mallory is obsessed with making lists, and the book is peppered with them. Several of them made me laugh. The book is told from Mallory’s POV, and the voice was pitch-perfect. The story was light and cute, and the pace fit the book.All in all, this was a cute book (in case I haven’t used that word enough). There was nothing wrong with it; it just wasn’t for me. It’s light and fluffy, but for me, not overly engaging. I liked the idea of “going vintage”. I don’t think I could do it, even though I did manage to live without cell phones, home PC’s and video games when I was in grade school.Don’t get me wrong. This isn’t a bad book, it just wasn’t my cup of tea. It will definitely appeal to those who like their contemporary reads light, their characters spunky and their romance innocent.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Going Vintage is a sweet, heartfelt story that will leave readers wanting more of Mallory and her lists. Mallory’s life is great. She’s got a great boyfriend and never feels alone. Until she opens Jeremy’s computer to discover that she’s not the only girl in his life. Heartbroken, Mallory swears off technology and pines for the simpler times of 1962 when her grandmother was a teen. Leavitt created a smart and witty character in Mallory. Her voice is refreshing. Unlike some characters, Mallory’s eclectic taste in clothes and even sports bobbleheads give the character more depth than I expected. I really enjoyed her quirks.I also applaud Leavitt for the family dynamic. Mallory’s parents are happily married, and her little sister comes across wise beyond her years. It’s nice to see a novel explore the family in such a way that makes you want to become a part of this group of unique and fun people. The plot flows nicely, and the novel is a quick, entertaining read. Recommendation: Fans of Sarah Dessen and Miranda Kenneally should definitely add this to their must-read list.

Book preview

Going Vintage - Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage

Lindsey Leavitt

To Rachel

Sisters, sisters, there were never such devoted …

(Someday we’ll learn the rest of the lyrics.)

"Losing love is like a window in your heart

Everybody sees you’re blown apart

Everybody sees the wind blow"

—Paul Simon

Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Epilogue

Acknowledgments

Also by Lindsey Leavitt

Chapter 1

Things I say to distract Jeremy so I can take a break from making out:

1. I need to go to the bathroom.

2. Oh, did I tell you … (insert funny thing that happened). It has to be genuinely interesting so he doesn’t know that I’m thinking about anything besides This Moment, even though I obviously am, because it’s not like my brain just turns off when we’re kissing. Well, my mom told me once to be careful because guys turn their brains off and certain body parts on, which was so disgusting I’m sorry I brought it up now.

3. I’m hungry.

4. One time I actually said I needed a break, and Jeremy took it the wrong way, thinking I meant a break from us, when really things were just getting too hot. He knows I have very clear limits and geographical boundaries, no matter how much the kid persists, which is every time we’re together, which is every day. So you can imagine how tiring that gets. Another thing my mom once said was, when you’re with someone, you give pieces of yourself, and they always kept that piece, or at least a piece of the piece. Pieces might have been code for virginity, I’m still not sure.

We finally made up by making out. Which was great, but I actually DID need to use the bathroom, so I had to go back to that excuse as soon as I was sure he didn’t think I was deserting him forever.

This time, I go with Distraction Number 3, partly because I am hungry, but I also used the other excuses twice this week. It seems every week I have to use an excuse more and more to end the kiss-off. And actually, every week I use them less and less.

We’re supposed to be studying in his bedroom. My parents won’t let me have a boy in my bedroom ever, even to study, even if I’m showing off my Major League Baseball bobblehead collection (twenty-three nodding athletes and counting). And they’d issued that rule with parental wisdom, because studying at Jeremy’s is almost always code for making out. Most of the things we say we’re doing are code for making out. It’s not like we’re horndogs—we hang out with his friends some, go to the movies or Anaheim Ducks hockey games, maybe the beach. It’s just that Jeremy seems to really like kissing, and he’s my first bona fide boyfriend, and of the sundry activities I start (and quit), the one that can’t be included on a yearbook page is frankly the most enjoyable. So when we’re alone, we pretty much kiss each other’s faces off.

In a romantic way.

Really? You’re hungry? he asks. Even after Pizza Hut?

That was lunchtime.

You had two slices.

Three. I pat my stomach. You’re right. I should be famished by now.

He swings his legs over the side of his double bed, still covered in a sports comforter from when he was, like, twelve. I sit up and adjust my sweater-vest, purchased at Goodwill last month when I decided my fall wardrobe would be eighties prep, although the itchy argyle and unflatteringly high skirts were making me rethink the collection. Plus, kneesocks did me no favors.

What do you want? he asks.

Chips and salsa with cream cheese, light on the salsa, heavy on the cream cheese. And a glass of milk if you’re using medium or spicier.

Jeremy smoothes down his dark, floppy hair. Action Hair, I call it. No amount of combing or hair product can achieve the adorableness of Action Hair. And no one can get it like that but me. I swear, on the weekends you eat more than the entire wrestling team.

Four days healthy, three days free. Diet plan of the gods.

The gods wouldn’t touch Meat Lover’s pizza. Do you know what’s in a pepperoni?

Are you calling me fat?

Never. He reaches over and pinches some skin on my stomach. You know you’re beautiful. I love every piece of you.

He smiles lazily, and I want to give up all my pieces right then. I kiss him, even though I was the one who needed a break before. He’s the one who is beautiful, and I love days like this, days where there is no one but us, and we don’t need to talk, because we already know what the other thinks.

It’s another five minutes until he gently pushes me away and says, Why don’t you start on our paper?

"You mean your paper, I say. I’m not even in philosophy."

But you’re writing it. So it’s ours now.

I’ve always wanted to share a paper with a boy! I clap my hands. Can we name him Hunter? Hunter the Paper Boy. Or Boy of Paper, so he’s not confused with paperboy paperboys. I’ll knit him a sweater, show embarrassing baby pictures to his dates, and scream at his soccer games.

Jeremy stares at me hard. I love when he gives me that look, like all the staring in the world would never unlock my feminine mysteries. I don’t get you sometimes.

"All the time!" I call after him. So much for feminine mystery.

I hate when I say things that I think are funny but Jeremy doesn’t laugh or understand, and I wonder if something is wrong with me. Sometimes I even text the joke to my little sister, Ginnie, and 84 percent of the time she writes back with a You’re the funniest person on the planet! which is a million characters beyond a simple LOL. But that could be because she’s my sister. Although Jeremy has been my boyfriend for over a year now, so that should at least warrant a courtesy laugh, right?

To test my theory, I write Ginnie about Hunter, and within a minute she confirms my genius. I love instant gratification. It’s been an hour since I’ve checked my phone, so I have to respond to a few texts. There’s not much to say, just that I’ll write more later because right now I’m with Jeremy. I love writing that. It says that I’m his and he’s mine, and between the lines there is belonging, something I didn’t feel at Orange Park High School until we started dating.

I finally settle into his swivel computer chair and spin myself dizzy. I help with his philosophy and chemistry homework, and he teaches me Spanish and history. He gets better grades than me, but that’s probably more due to effort than intelligence. Don’t tell him I said that.

I click onto his computer to look up essays that could tell me what I’m—sorry, Jeremy’s—supposed to think about Kant’s moral philosophy. Jeremy’s Friendspace profile page is open on his computer. I smile at his image, an action shot of Jeremy grabbing my legs. His cousin Oliver is holding my arms and they’re about to throw me in the pool on my sixteenth birthday last March.

I don’t know much about Oliver, but who does? I think that mysterious aloofness is part of his image. He was nice enough to give me a birthday card that night with a twenty-dollar gift card to Outback. Outback? That’s the way to get in good with your cousin’s girl. Jeremy, on the other hand, got me this ruby ring that we saw while I was selling something for my dad to a pawnshop in Santa Ana. I love jewelry with history, even the desperate history of pawns. I run my finger over the ruby, rubbing the memory until it’s warm.

I think about doing something cute—like updating Jeremy’s What’s Happening? section to say, My girlfriend Mallory is a goddess, but Jeremy’s not a big fan of The Cute. I’m about to click off when I see that he was previously active last night at nine.

Which is … huh.

He was supposed to be playing basketball last night at nine.

It’s not like I’m one of those stalker girlfriends who reads all her boyfriend’s texts or combs through his yearbook signatures for hidden meanings. But right now the truth is not hiding; it’s straight up in my face. And unless he was Friendspacing on the free-throw line, he obviously lied to me.

Why?

I know the answer before I asked the question.

Authentic Life.

It’s this game on Friendspace. You create a character that looks like you, then make virtual friends and get a fake job and furnish your pretend house, making sure your imaginary dog doesn’t pee on your couch. There are options for vacation packages, sports teams, and parenthood. Some levels give the user the opportunity to create fantastical worlds, so if you’ve always wanted to be a warrior goblin princess who likes to shop and compete for the Olympic gold in curling, well, here’s your chance.

Authentic Life is probably more fun than that; I’ve just never gotten into it. Jeremy’s not the only one in the community—it’s the new trend with online games, and even celebrities have avatars. Everyone has an Internet vice, so I can understand a few minutes here or there, but Jeremy is on there A Lot. His usage shows up on his Friendspace feed sometimes, and it’s always odd hours—sometimes he’ll slip away when we’re hanging out to go check e-mail, but I know it’s this stupid game.

One back click and I come to Jeremy’s Authentic Life world. Although I know he plays this game, I’ve never actually seen his site. He’s designed his own black-and-silver background, and pictures of other virtual people and places splatter the page. There he is on his pretend trip to Mount Rushmore, there he is sticking an American flag on the moon, there he is … there he is with a girl. In most of the pictures. BubbleYum. Her avatar has curly red hair and a black kind of corset, and she’s holding a golden lacrosse stick.

She’s even next to Jeremy in his profile picture, holding his hand. Jeremy’s avatar is totally Jeremy—the dark hair, muscled frame. He’s wearing a karate robe with a red dragon, and his handle says TheAmazingAsian.

The Asian part is half real, from his dad’s side, but the amazing part I’m starting to doubt. Karate? I don’t think he can even do a judo chop. I have no clue why he’s virtually living in a walk-up in Greenwich Village when he’s always said he wants to leave California for Canada, where people love hockey as much as he does. And who cares where he fake lives when that leather-clad lacrosse cartoon is on his arm?

One word pops out among the list of fake favorites. Married. For a moment, a tiny hopeful second, I’m flattered that he’s carried me over to Bizarro-World. And then I know. BubbleYum is his main squeeze.

My boyfriend is cheating on me with a cyberwife.

Chapter 2

Jeremy’s (Fake) Profile Information

MARRIED

Lives in Greenwich Village, NY

Profession: Professional Portrait Artist and Freelance Graphic Designer

Black Belt in Karate

Favorite movie: Anything martial arts

Favorite music: Techno

Level: Advanced Lifer

I could click around and talk to this BubbleYum person using Jeremy’s avatar, but I’m sidetracked by his in-box, bulging with e-mails from his corseted wife. I pause for a moment before clicking on the messages. Do I want to read this? Of course I don’t. Of course I do.

My hand shakes as I scroll through the trail of words—secrets, confessions, fears. Is this what shock feels like? Like I’ve jumped out of my body and I’m watching this moment happen, but it’s not my moment, it’s not my boyfriend saying those things to another girl. It’s someone else somewhere else, maybe in a movie playing for an entire theater of viewers rolling their eyes because everyone saw this coming. Everyone except that poor girl in front of the computer.

But it is my moment. This is happening to me. It’s real—authentic, so much more so than this stupid game. I read and read, imprinting that earth-shattering moment into my consciousness until a machete can’t even hack it out of my brain.

Bubs,

I missed you today. And your new profile page makes me so happy. I like all the pictures you added of us—we’re a good-looking couple. There was this song at the grocery store. Maybe James Taylor? I don’t know oldies. But the line is And if I’m feeling down and blue, or troubled by some foolish game, she always seems to make me change my mind. Babe, I can’t tell you how much you mean to me. Ha! I know that sounds cheesy, but it’s true.

—AA

Jeremy, I mean, AMAZING,

Sorry about Snoopdoggie! I just can’t tell him no when he gives me that look. And thanks for taking out the trash. You’re the best hubby around.

You know what else makes me think of you? Everything. I wish I could jump into the computer forever.

Love,

Yum

Everything. Everything out there reminds this girl in a wired box about my boyfriend. She’s thinking about him and … he’s thinking about her. How dare they. Both of them.

I don’t read all the messages. There’s too many and not enough time. Besides, what I see is enough to make me ill. The talk isn’t dirty or about sicko fetish fantasies. This is worse. They talk about everything. The day—both the one they had invented together and what was happening in the real world. No mention of Jeremy’s ACTUAL girlfriend, though. I am invisible in this alternative world.

Eating Pizza Hut is suddenly not a good idea. Agreeing to write Jeremy’s paper isn’t a good idea. Being here, in his room, twirling in this chair where Jeremy sits daily to construct his fantasy world that is Mallory-free makes me feel like a freaking idiot.

The big question rushing through my ears: Why did he need this?

And the other question—that harsh, scratchy whisper: Why wasn’t I enough?

And then it’s just a tide, surging along, where every single interaction I’ve ever had, every kiss, every joke, every truth becomes a wobbly question mark.

Do I need to hack into his real e-mail, check all his phone texts?

Who is this girl, moving in on someone in a relationship? Does she even know he’s in a relationship?

Is this make-believe, or is something physical going on?

Does she live nearby? Do they have secret rendezvous?

Eww. Did they cyberconsummate their virtual marriage?

How can some girl, real or unreal, close or far, know Jeremy better than I do? The same boy who I’ve been with for thirteen months, the same boy I was, I am, in love with?

It’s mild salsa. Jeremy’s standing in the doorway, chips under his arm, salsa and a Diet Coke in each hand. And I got you some gum. You know, for after.

Right. Because after, he wants to hook up some more.

Since Jeremy can’t see the screen from where he’s standing, I make a snap decision and shrink the page so all that is visible is a blank Word document. I walk around the desk, still amazed at the out-of-body feeling, like everything’s all floating or slow motion. How can this even be real? When I take the snack from him, I make sure my still-shaking fingers don’t touch his. Thanks, I say. The word is gravel on my tongue.

He flops down on his bed. I bite into a chip but don’t chew, so when I swallow, it pokes at my throat.

Did you start on Herbert? he asks.

Who is Herbert?

Our paper.

"Hunter. I can’t help the shrillness in my voice. You don’t even care enough to remember his name."

Okaaaay. He pushes his hair out of his face. His adorable, floppy Action Hair. I love it. I hate it. I didn’t know you were so attached.

Some people still value loyalty, I say.

Are we still talking about my philosophy paper?

Are we? Now is the time when I should confront him. Ask all the questions pinpricking my skin. And as much as I want to, I also don’t want to hear his rationalization, or see him get annoyed/anxious/defensive. Or worse, calm. What if he’s Mr. Supercalm and Collected, I’m Glad You Know, It’s Best This Way?

I want him to know that I know, but I don’t want to know anything. I don’t want there to be anything to know.

If you don’t want to work on it now, you can e-mail it to me tomorrow when you’re done packing your grandma’s house. My heart drops when he says e-mail, all casual, like e-mails are everyday forms of communication and not vessels for relationship destruction.

Maybe I’ll do that, I say faintly.

In one fluid motion, he yanks me onto the bed with him. My skin, burning with want only minutes ago, is icy from his touch.

So what are we going to do the rest of the afternoon, then? He grins.

I squeeze my nails into the palm of my hand. I’m nauseous from his closeness, disgusted with this stranger. I need milk.

What?

Milk. You didn’t bring me milk.

Jeremy rubs the small of my back. You said you only want milk if it’s hot salsa.

Changed my mind. I squirm away from him.

You’re good at that.

So are you.

He stands. Be right back. Anything else?

I shake my head. Jeremy asking what I want, offering me anything at all, is more fake than his virtual trip to Mount Rushmore. He doesn’t care about me. I’m his warm body. I’m not the one he’s thinking about when a James Taylor song comes on in the unhip (who says hip?) grocery store.

The second he’s gone, I’m back on his computer, feeling another wave of hurt when I see the page. Part of me hoped the information would disappear. I enter his world by zooming in on a little arrow hovering over the map. Fake Jeremy is listening to music in his New York bedroom, lying on a bedspread that I’m guessing his wife picked out. Maybe he’s waiting for her so they can whisper stupid song lyrics to each other.

I click on a book and chuck it at his head. His icon starts to bleed. I laugh. This game is addictive.

But that’s not enough. I want to hurt him like he hurt me.

I click onto his account settings, to the list of applications. Authentic Life has more than one version, and I don’t have time to erase them all. That’s okay. What I really want is for him to know I was here. I want her to know I was here.

I replace his BubbleYum profile picture with the one of Jeremy and me by the pool. I erase the MARRIED part and add CONFUSED. And because confused isn’t accurate enough, because I really want things to hit home, I leave his Authentic Life page for his main Friendspace page—the real Jeremy. Instead of the cute update I’d considered for the What’s Happening? section, I write:

JEREMY MUI IS A LYING TOOL.

Sums it up very well.

The first response comment has already dinged onto his page when I push the swivel chair back and run out of his bedroom. I’m downstairs in a second, brushing past a bewildered Jeremy. I almost grab the glass of milk in his hand and dump it on his face, but go for the more old-fashioned approach by slamming the front door.

The thud still isn’t loud enough to make my point.

Chapter 3

Six things of interest I find while packing up my grandma’s entire life:

1. An old time card of Grandpa’s from when he worked at a grocery store in Oakland.

2. A clunky camera on a leather strap. Doesn’t work, but makes a great accessory.

3. A gorgeous fifties or sixties seersucker housedress. This garment needs a new home. Dress, meet Mallory’s closet.

4. A turquoise ring on a knotted silver chain. Will have to ask Grandma if it’s important to her, because if not, I want.

5. Notebooks filled with lists.

6. One particular notebook filled with one particular list.

Needless to say, I do not work on Jeremy’s philosophy paper Friday night while my dad and I drive up the coast three hours to Grandma’s house in San Luis Obispo. I don’t answer my cell phone any of the ten times my I’m-pretty-sure-he’s-an-ex-boyfriend calls. I also ignore the millions of phone calls from my friends and sister, no doubt in response to my Tool Proclamation. The incident makes me want to detox from the high school gossip loop, at least for the weekend.

On Saturday, I hibernate until eleven, happily wrapped in a dream involving Jeremy’s computer, a hammer, and a Smurf. The Smurf was the one with the hammer. It made sense in the dream.

My dad wakes me up so we can get to work packing up Grandma’s life. She’s already moved into a swanky retirement community in Newport Beach, just twenty minutes away from Orange

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