Title & Author:
Past Perfect by Leila Sales
Publisher:
Simon Pulse
Publication Date:
October 04, 2011
Pages:
322
Source:
Publisher via GalleyGrab
Amazon | Goodreads

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…. – Goodreads

I read Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales last year and I LOVED it. It is one of the funniest and the most realistic YA contemps I’ve ever read. She GETS it.

So, of course I had to read Past Perfect. I mean, of course. I mean, even besides the fact that Leila freaking Sales wrote it. It takes place in a Colonial re-enactment town. I’ve been to Williamsburg and it rocked my socks off. Granted, I was 9. But I want to go back so badly.

Anyway, Past Perfect was made of awesome. Not only did it take place in a Colonial re-enactment town, it was right across the freaking street from a Civil War re-enactment town. And the two towns were at war. And there are BOYS.

I thought Chelsea was an excellent protagonist. She was snarky and bitter, as most teenagers are, and her situation, although a little out there, was certainly relatable in the overall themes. And Dan was all sorts of swoon worthy. I loved their banter and even though I didn’t necessarily understand the big deal with their different situations, it made for an interesting conflict.

Past Perfect is a hilarious and witty and very, very original young adult contemporary. I loved every single page and every single character, even the obnoxious ones. If you’re looking for a laugh or for a fun romance or for an original story in a badass setting, definitely check out Past Perfect. And anything else Leila Sales ever writes.