PAST PERFECT by Leila Sales
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….
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….
MY THOUGHTS:
Stable, but iffy.
Past Perfect is the longer, drawn-out version of your favorite cutesy teen romance read. It's got the Romeo & Juliet knock-offs, complete with star-crossed lovers and feuding families. The aspect that's entirely different is that it takes place in a Colonial Village tourist attraction. The details of Chelsea's surroundings really help paint the picture; you get a clear sense of the area in which she reenacts. Another good thing? This doesn't take place during the school year. So no locker-slamming, bathroom-crying drama!
I love the concept of the War that happens between the feuding attractions, but I wish it'd gotten more attention. It starts off strong, then moves into the background, then comes to the forefront again. It ends up making Past Perfect a very slow-moving mishmash of feuding, getting over your ex, moving on to someone new, dealing with crazy parents, and fighting with friends. The story just doesn't quite pull it all off cohesively. It's as though each part is dealt with separately, with loose strings keeping them attached. The climax isn't even climactic; it's just there.
Also, there are a lot of characters, so unfortunately none of them - including Chelsea - get characterized much, if at all. Their personalities are very one-note.
Thankfully the writing kept me attached to the story.
I need to read this one - it sounds really cute, and it's a nice change that it doesn't take place at in school! It's a shame it's slow-moving though. Thanks for the great review!
ReplyDeleteHm. I'm drawn to reading this one, but mostly because of the cover. Even if you rated this four stars, it doesn't sound like there's much to like about it. :P Slow build up and an okay climax... doesn't sound like how I usually like my contemps to be.
ReplyDelete@Cialina: Haha, I know. The cons seem to outweigh the pros. But, it really wasn't "bad" or "awful" or anything of the sort. It was a solid read, and I did enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI'm planning to read this soon. It sounds really interesting, and I'm glad to find out it doesn't take place during the school year for once!
ReplyDeleteNice review! :)