Past Perfect: a book recommendation

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5 out of 5 stars.

At the suggestion of Taryn last Sunday (when I asked for YOU to recommend ME something), I picked up Leila  Sales’s Past Perfect.

And oh my gosh, I’m so glad I did. This book is so, so, SO funny. I could not stop giggling while I read this on the bus, on the train, and at the airport–basically, any moment I had, I devoured this story.

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….

The main character, Chelsea, is completely likable, the love interest is absolutely adorable (um, Civil War uniforms? YES PLEASE), and the secondary characters are just perfect.

But the highlight of this book is definitely the setting: Essex Historical Colonial Village. Having a reenactment theme park be the backdrop for romance is just such a unique idea! Not to mention, the whole premise of a war between reenactment parks? You gotta love that! And on top of all that, Chelsea’s sense of humor (so sarcastic, so hilarious) melds perfectly with the “colonial” backdrop.

The only thing I’d have liked more of is the kissing. 😉 But that’s just because the kisses were SO DELICIOUSLY SWOON-WORTHY.

If you’re looking for a laugh-out-loud, endearing romance, then be sure to pick up Leila Sales’s Past Perfect.

You tell me: Have you read this book? Do you have any other awesome YA contemporary to recommend?