Review: Past Perfect by Leila Sales

Past Perfect by Leila Sales

October 4, 2011

Simon Pulse

Synopsis:
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….

My Review:
PAST PERFECT is a delightfully adorable YA read that I highly enjoyed! Sales has crafted a novel that will make you smile from ear to ear! I have been reading so many dark and depressing novels lately, and though I do like them for different reasons, I really needed a light and fluffy read. I just cannot get over how cute this one was, and it wasn't at all cheesy. Sales' protagonist Chelsea is a breath of fresh air and her world is weird, quirky, and just a tad complicated.

Chelsea has been working at Essex since forever because of her parents who are stuck in the past. Every thing they do at the Colonial village is authentic and made to give the visitors a look inside of the past. Chelsea is done with it though. She doesn't want to work there anymore, but that doesn't stop her from getting dragged there for another summer full of wars with the Civil War re enactors, crazy tourists, and a little bit of new found love that Chelsea wasn't at all expecting.

Chelsea was absolutely adorable. Her comments are so snarky and honest that I couldn't help but love her. The relationship she has with her dad made me giggle! He always seems to be annoying her, and I could see why she didn't want to have to work another summer right alongside him. And then there is the fact that even though she doesn't want to work at Essex for another summer, it has such a huge role in her life.

The war with the Civil War soldiers is hilarious! Everyone takes it so seriously and the pranks they play on each other are absolutely ridiculous. The war made the book and it wouldn't have been the same without it, especially considering that Chelsea may or may not have fallen for one of the Civil War re enactors!!

PAST PERFECT is the perfect read (get it?) for those who are looking for something not so heavy and funny. While the story isn't so complex, I couldn't help but loving it and I cannot wait for more from Sales.

My Rating: