Past Perfect by Leila Sales
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date: 4th October 2011
Rating: 5/5
Source: Purchased
Publishers Summary:

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….

All’s fair in love and war, right? For Chelsea Glasser love and war are two things that go hand in hand. During the summer before her senior year all she can dream about is a job at the mall where her breaks are filled with trips to the ice cream shop nearby. Unfortunately Chelsea’s best friend Fiona has her eyes on a job to hone her acting talents, but that also means another year in Essex Historical Colonial Village. In an attempt to support her best friend and avoid her ex-boyfriend she goes back to the job she’s had her whole life, but ends up with nothing she expected. A new position as a lieutenant of the so-called “war” with neighboring “Reenactmentland”, a new potential love and the possibility of a betrayal she never saw coming make up the summer she’ll never forget.

A favorite aspect of reading chick lit for me is what I like to call the “giggle” factor. It’s all about how much a book has me laughing not only at the dialogue or situations, but also at those moments when two people are first falling in love. That goofy feeling you get when you know they are about to kiss for the first time and you can’t help but anticipate that moment. I love it! And Past Perfect was full of all of those moments.

This was my first time reading anything by Leila Sales and I’m so glad I took up the recommendations of so many friends (Leah, Carla and Lenore, thank you!). Past Perfect was completely unexpected and to be honest when I was reading the first thirty pages or so I was not so sure I’d made the right decision to pick it up. A story about a girl who dresses up and reenacts parts of US history? I lived in Virginia for some time and know a few people who do this, lets just say it’s not my cup of tea. But Past Perfect absolutely was and I’m so glad I gave it a chance! The characters were original, the story was unique and I certainly didn’t expect the turn of the events that played out for the main characters. Truly, who comes up with a plot based on rival historical based reenactment “parks” where the teens who work there over the summer go to “war” with each other behind the adults backs? Simply brilliant!

Without giving away too much, lets just say that I find Dan completely adorable and Ezra (Chelsea’s ex) hardly bearable. What was refreshing about Leila Sales story though was the way she wrote Chelsea’s interactions with both Dan & Ezra. Not only did/do we all pine after those first loves but we waste away our days, especially if we were the ones dumped. I loved that Chelsea kept a folder of things from her relationship with Ezra, but I also loved that in the end she makes the right choice. The way everything plays out is fantastic, but like I mentioned I don’t want to give it all away!

Past Perfect by Leila Sales is a refreshing love story mixed with a bit of historical silliness that will have you in stitches. I’m certain you will giggle through the pages of perfectly written dialogue and be swooning over Chelsea’s new love interest. For those of you who don’t normally pick up young adult chick lit, this would absolutely be one to try! A quick read filled with characters that have you wishing it didn’t end quite so soon, Past Perfect is a wonderful new sophomore novel by talented author Leila Sales!

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