Title: Past Perfect
Author: Leila Sales
Expected publication: October 4th 2011 by Simon Pulse
 

I received an eARC from Simon & Schuster via their Galley Grab program. Thank you.

I’m not sure if this book was originally in my to-read list, I just downloaded it to see if my galleygrab is now working. Well, it works (hooray!) but since I missed this month’s newsletter I decided to check the galley links that are floating around. I saw the link in the author’s blog. It sounds nice so I decided to check it out. Well, it was fun, really. Nice, a bit confusing, but nevertheless all fun.

I haven’t heard of ‘historical reenactment’ so that part is what I found confusing. But at the same time refreshing too, I mean you rarely come across books with this theme, right? Well, me I haven’t so I find it very unique. I’m not really that much familiar with American History, so with information about it thrown in this book was a bit overwhelming for me. Not really a big fan of history in general (much less from other country). But Chelsea is a fun narrator her silly antics and dialogues make this book lighter and easy to read.

I like Chelsea and also Dan, but I’m not much convinced with Chelsea and Dan (and don’t ask me about the ex-boyfriend Ezra). I think it was sudden, although the situation they were (they work in opposing town so they’re enemies) was swoon-worthy situation, I wasn’t blown away by it. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t mean the romance wasn’t effective, it was. Actually they are cute together but I find it plain in comparison to the others I read (and no, I’m not talking about pnr here).

In a much serious note, I really that this book has a sort of message about our past and the people in our lives, as well as ourselves. You know, what the title suggests.

I really like this:

“I believe history is always here, and we can’t ignore, and we can’t escape it. But people aren’t history.
….
So that’s how I know that people can change, if they want to. And I want to.”

It was really the part the caught me, she has a point. I don’t think I need to explain it anymore, because Chelsea said it plainly, hitting the right words. Well said, Chelsea, well said.

Did I love it? Not that much. But if you ask me if I enjoyed it? Yes, it was really entertaining. Who would have expected that summer, history, romance, heartbreak and ice cream (yes, ice cream) go perfectly together? I didn’t, but you know what, in this book it did, the author pulled these contrasting ideas into something people will like. And I’m definitely one of them.