From the author of "Mostly Good Girls" comes a heartbreaking and hilarious novel about looking at love through rose-colored glasses.
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reviews
Jun 05, 2011
Flannery
rated it: 
True confession: I love reenactors. People who wear oldey-timey outfits for work? You’re awesome. Does your job require you to shun modern technology and to feign ignorance when someone asks you where the bathroom is? You deserve a medal. This is the first YA book I’ve ever read in which the main character works at a colonial village. (My only other experience with reenactors in a book is from Choke) There’s just something about how people having jobs at places like Sturbridge Village and Coloni
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26 comments
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(63 people liked it)
Jan 10, 2012
Tatiana
rated it:
Who knew people obsessed with historical reenacting were so awesome?
(Somehow, they do not appear to be particularly cool in these pictures, don't they?)
And yet, this book and its characters are A TON OF FUN!
After discovering the sheer awesomeness of Dungeons & Dragons' enthusiasts in Into the Wild Nerd Yonder and stage crew fanatics in Pink, learning about this new type of nerdery was a special, unexpected treat. Seriously, who would want to hang out More...
(Somehow, they do not appear to be particularly cool in these pictures, don't they?)
And yet, this book and its characters are A TON OF FUN!
After discovering the sheer awesomeness of Dungeons & Dragons' enthusiasts in Into the Wild Nerd Yonder and stage crew fanatics in Pink, learning about this new type of nerdery was a special, unexpected treat. Seriously, who would want to hang out More...
10 comments
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(34 people liked it)
Nov 04, 2011
Nomes
rated it:
Reading Past Perfect was reminiscent of the time I read Psych Major Syndrome. I just didn’t want to stop reading it. Not because it’s an adrenalin-fuelled, tension-filled, mind-blowing plot but because I was just having such a good time reading it that it felt like a crime to stop. So I read Past Perfect until 3am and grinned and sighed my way through it.
The first reason I fell in love with this book was because is gorgeously funny. The prose is a dream: insightful and sharp and snar More...
The first reason I fell in love with this book was because is gorgeously funny. The prose is a dream: insightful and sharp and snar More...
21 comments
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(31 people liked it)
Nov 01, 2011
Jo
rated it: 
3.5 stars... rounded up.
“What can I say; I have a thing for guys in period dress, okay? That’s just who I am.”
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
This book was like the younger tag-along sibling of Jellicoe Road and Frankie Landau-Banks. Very cute, a bit silly, surprisingly funny, sometimes annoying but ultimately, wholly charming.
High Points.
Chelsea. Fiona. Ice cream connoisseurs. History. Original and hilarious setting. “Pony tails are just a deal bre More...
“What can I say; I have a thing for guys in period dress, okay? That’s just who I am.”
Initial Final Page Thoughts.
This book was like the younger tag-along sibling of Jellicoe Road and Frankie Landau-Banks. Very cute, a bit silly, surprisingly funny, sometimes annoying but ultimately, wholly charming.
High Points.
Chelsea. Fiona. Ice cream connoisseurs. History. Original and hilarious setting. “Pony tails are just a deal bre More...
15 comments
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(16 people liked it)
Jul 23, 2011
Catie
rated it:
3 1/2 stars
For most of my life I’ve hated learning about history. It’s always seemed so subjective and so obviously tainted by the spin of those who have written it. I remember my high school history classes being taught by the bitterest of the teachers. I’m pretty sure they resented forcing us to memorize oversimplified propaganda as much as we resented the idea that little nuggets like “Lincoln freed the slaves” and “the first settlers arrived in 1620” (never mind all those pesk More...
For most of my life I’ve hated learning about history. It’s always seemed so subjective and so obviously tainted by the spin of those who have written it. I remember my high school history classes being taught by the bitterest of the teachers. I’m pretty sure they resented forcing us to memorize oversimplified propaganda as much as we resented the idea that little nuggets like “Lincoln freed the slaves” and “the first settlers arrived in 1620” (never mind all those pesk More...
4 comments
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(13 people liked it)
Sep 13, 2011
Lisa O.
rated it:
As far as YA chick lit goes, Past Perfect is a really fun book.
Chelsea, 16, comes from a family of historical re-enactors,. She lives in the town of Essex, where this kind of practice seems to be the bread and butter of the population. In fact, not only Essex has a Colonial time reenactment village, but a Civil war one as well. And they're bitter, bitter enemies. So when summer begins and Chelsea, as every year before, starts to work in the village, the time for war between the facti More...
Chelsea, 16, comes from a family of historical re-enactors,. She lives in the town of Essex, where this kind of practice seems to be the bread and butter of the population. In fact, not only Essex has a Colonial time reenactment village, but a Civil war one as well. And they're bitter, bitter enemies. So when summer begins and Chelsea, as every year before, starts to work in the village, the time for war between the facti More...
Oct 17, 2011
oliviasbooks
rated it:
Hmmm.
- I liked "Past Perfect" and I think it was a really cute and enjoyable, well-tied story.
- I liked both the 16-years-old heroine, Chelsea, and her love interest.
- I even came to like Chelsea's best friend Fiona as the story progressed. She redeemed herself in my eyes at the end.
- I liked the trampoline scene. It was sufficiently romantic.
- I didn't like Chelsea's parents at all, but I think normal, but rather unlikable parents are something whi More...
- I liked "Past Perfect" and I think it was a really cute and enjoyable, well-tied story.
- I liked both the 16-years-old heroine, Chelsea, and her love interest.
- I even came to like Chelsea's best friend Fiona as the story progressed. She redeemed herself in my eyes at the end.
- I liked the trampoline scene. It was sufficiently romantic.
- I didn't like Chelsea's parents at all, but I think normal, but rather unlikable parents are something whi More...
2 comments
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(7 people liked it)
Jan 29, 2012
Choco
rated it:
3.5 stars
Reasons for my rating (not a review!):
I can see why this is compared to Psych Major Syndrome. Although the settings differ, some of the issues the main characters go through are very similar. Problems I had with each book were similar too. There were some differences, which made rating difficult. I enjoyed the sense of humour in this A LOT more (actually LOVED it), and overall this is better written. However, there isn't nearly as much swooning happening in this one wh More...
Reasons for my rating (not a review!):
I can see why this is compared to Psych Major Syndrome. Although the settings differ, some of the issues the main characters go through are very similar. Problems I had with each book were similar too. There were some differences, which made rating difficult. I enjoyed the sense of humour in this A LOT more (actually LOVED it), and overall this is better written. However, there isn't nearly as much swooning happening in this one wh More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Oct 30, 2011
Tina
rated it:
Original post at One More Page
Oh how this cover lies. This cover has absolutely nothing to do with the story, no matter how cute it looks. I know covers are really for sales, and I may be able to forgive this if the book gets more sales because of the cover. Still, I can't see any connection.
But anyway, in Past Perfect, Chelsea is stuck in the past -- literally and figuratively. Chelsea is back to work for the summer in the Essex Historical Colonial Village, where she dre More...
Oh how this cover lies. This cover has absolutely nothing to do with the story, no matter how cute it looks. I know covers are really for sales, and I may be able to forgive this if the book gets more sales because of the cover. Still, I can't see any connection.
But anyway, in Past Perfect, Chelsea is stuck in the past -- literally and figuratively. Chelsea is back to work for the summer in the Essex Historical Colonial Village, where she dre More...
0 comments
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(3 people liked it)
Dec 05, 2011
Rebecca
rated it:
When I found out about this book I added it to my wishlist straightaway, knowing I had to check it out. This is my first book by Leila Sales and all I can say, is that if her other books are as good as this, I’ll definitely be reading them!
Chelsea was at times a little self-centered but was always a quirky, fun loving, relatable character. All the characters were true to life and acted like real teens with faults and imperfections, which was refreshing to read. Even though Dan was the More...
Chelsea was at times a little self-centered but was always a quirky, fun loving, relatable character. All the characters were true to life and acted like real teens with faults and imperfections, which was refreshing to read. Even though Dan was the More...
0 comments
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(2 people liked it)
May 26, 2011
Vinaya
rated it:
Dear Leila Sales,
It's not you, it's me.
Okay, maybe it is you, just a little bit.
There are characters that I love to love, and characters that I love to hate. Characters that I merely despise, however, are rarely to my taste. Take Eona, for example. God, that girl frustrated me, annoyed me, made me want to scream at her and shake her till she saw sense, but I still loved the book.
Chelsea, the heroine of this book, inspired no such emotion in More...
It's not you, it's me.
Okay, maybe it is you, just a little bit.
There are characters that I love to love, and characters that I love to hate. Characters that I merely despise, however, are rarely to my taste. Take Eona, for example. God, that girl frustrated me, annoyed me, made me want to scream at her and shake her till she saw sense, but I still loved the book.
Chelsea, the heroine of this book, inspired no such emotion in More...
14 comments
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(15 people liked it)
Jan 01, 2012
Kristin
rated it:
GrowingUp YA
I stumbled upon Past Perfect at a Young Adult book panel in downtown NYC. Leila Sales was one of the panelists and after hearing her read an excerpt of the book, I bought a digital copy (on the spot!) for my Kindle.
And I am so happy I did!!
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. First of all, I loved that the majority of the book takes place at Essex Colonial Village. The setting was just so different and charming, that I couldn't help but fall More...
I stumbled upon Past Perfect at a Young Adult book panel in downtown NYC. Leila Sales was one of the panelists and after hearing her read an excerpt of the book, I bought a digital copy (on the spot!) for my Kindle.
And I am so happy I did!!
I thoroughly enjoyed everything about this book. First of all, I loved that the majority of the book takes place at Essex Colonial Village. The setting was just so different and charming, that I couldn't help but fall More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 29, 2011
Ari
rated it:
To make it clear, it's a little bit more than 3.5 stars :)
AND I think I'm becoming more and more exigent when it comes to the books I read, and I'm also becoming lazy when it comes to my reviews.
This is no exception.
So here come some random thoughts:
When I think about PAST PERFECT I think about myself in high school. It's not that I miss being in high school, but I miss some parts of it, and you'll get some glimpses of that inside this review too.
#1 The cov More...
AND I think I'm becoming more and more exigent when it comes to the books I read, and I'm also becoming lazy when it comes to my reviews.
This is no exception.
So here come some random thoughts:
When I think about PAST PERFECT I think about myself in high school. It's not that I miss being in high school, but I miss some parts of it, and you'll get some glimpses of that inside this review too.
#1 The cov More...
2 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Oct 13, 2011
Penelope
rated it:
The first thing I loved about this book was the setting. It was SO nice to get out of a high school, or boarding school for once! This book takes place in the summer at a living history colonial village, where the younger employees are at war with the employees at the Civil War reenactment camp across the street. The war is similar to the one found in Jellicoe Road, but without the harrowing family drama, and with a big helping of humor. This book was nothing but adorable fun.
I felt More...
I felt More...
0 comments
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(1 person liked it)
Jul 04, 2011
Aleeza
rated it:
*4.25 stars*
I don’t know how many of y’all have seen the movie Sweet Home Alabama, but it is one of my All. Time. Favorites. I love that movie so much I could see it again and again and again and again and never get bored. Yep, I love it that much. The movie takes place in Alabama (as you could probably guess), and there’s this one scene where the main character’s very Southern parents are reenacting a scene from the Civil War in which they dress up like Confederate soldiers and then More...
I don’t know how many of y’all have seen the movie Sweet Home Alabama, but it is one of my All. Time. Favorites. I love that movie so much I could see it again and again and again and again and never get bored. Yep, I love it that much. The movie takes place in Alabama (as you could probably guess), and there’s this one scene where the main character’s very Southern parents are reenacting a scene from the Civil War in which they dress up like Confederate soldiers and then More...
9 comments
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(11 people liked it)
Oct 30, 2011
Janina
rated it: 
Another disappointment. Really, I had immensely high expectations for this book, but overall, it was just so ... bland. Chelsea's problems seemed insignificant, I really didn't understand how she got so worked up about minor things <spoiler> and yes, falling in love with the "enemy" from the other Historical Village across the street does count as minor for me</spoiler>.
I used to love these kind of contemporary novels - not actual "issue" books, but l More...
I used to love these kind of contemporary novels - not actual "issue" books, but l More...
5 comments
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(2 people liked it)
Dec 24, 2011
K
rated it:
This was quick and fun and, more importantly, likeable.
In Chelsea’s small Virginia town there are two big tourist draws and the employees’ rivalry between them is fierce. At one, Reenactmentland, the Civil War era is played out as living history. At the other, Essex, they play out the Revolutionary War era. And they’re across the street from each other. So, yeah—it’s nerd realness up in that part of town. Despite claims that she hates it, Chelsea ends up back at Essex for the summer. More...
In Chelsea’s small Virginia town there are two big tourist draws and the employees’ rivalry between them is fierce. At one, Reenactmentland, the Civil War era is played out as living history. At the other, Essex, they play out the Revolutionary War era. And they’re across the street from each other. So, yeah—it’s nerd realness up in that part of town. Despite claims that she hates it, Chelsea ends up back at Essex for the summer. More...
Jan 22, 2012
Deborah
rated it:
(SOME SPOILERS AHEAD).
I really enjoyed Leila Sales' first novel, Mostly Good Girls. The characters were excellent and got into lots of fun adventures and situations. But I had to admit that the plot was a little oddly paced. The plot in Past Perfect is definitely smoother and a bit more suspenseful. However, the characters, especially Chelsea, the main character, have taken a turn for the worse.
I honestly thought that Chelsea was one of the meanest characters that I've come More...
I really enjoyed Leila Sales' first novel, Mostly Good Girls. The characters were excellent and got into lots of fun adventures and situations. But I had to admit that the plot was a little oddly paced. The plot in Past Perfect is definitely smoother and a bit more suspenseful. However, the characters, especially Chelsea, the main character, have taken a turn for the worse.
I honestly thought that Chelsea was one of the meanest characters that I've come More...
Jan 09, 2012
Eunice
rated it:
4 of 5 stars
Past Perfect was a fun and delightful read. I didn't expect that I's be able to enjoy this book so much. I found myself staying awake until 3 am just to finish this book even when I have a 7:30 am class tomorrow (Luckily, class got suspended today!I was literally dragging myself to take a bath this morning when it was announced that there were no classes today. Hurrah!). I laughed, swooned, and grin like a mad man on all the cute and funny stuffs in this book. This book al
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Past Perfect was a fun and delightful read. I didn't expect that I's be able to enjoy this book so much. I found myself staying awake until 3 am just to finish this book even when I have a 7:30 am class tomorrow (Luckily, class got suspended today!
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(1 person liked it)
Jan 04, 2012
Karen
rated it:
Disclaimer: My parents were both teachers, and I spent WAY more time touring reconstructed villages than the average child, so the fact that Chelsea and her parents work in Essex, a colonial era village, amused me greatly. Chelsea has worked with her parents as long as she can remember, and she would much rather spend the summer working at a mall store with her friend Fiona. When Fiona decides to work at Essex, Chelsea is stuck, but at least gets to work at the graveyard instead of in her parent
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Nov 28, 2011
Sarah-Greenbeanteenqueen
rated it:
I was sold on this book when I heard it was about a girl who worked as a historical reeanctor. I can say that's one premise I don't think I've encountered in a book I've read before! Plus, there's a part of me that thinks that job would be really fun!
Past Perfect is a great contemporary romance with a bit of a twist. The setting of taking place at reenactment villages adds for a unique storyline.While we may have read a forbidden romance story before, the setting gives in a fresh new More...
Past Perfect is a great contemporary romance with a bit of a twist. The setting of taking place at reenactment villages adds for a unique storyline.While we may have read a forbidden romance story before, the setting gives in a fresh new More...
Nov 18, 2011
Bunker
rated it:
Chelsea Glaser lives in the past every day. Not only is she a paid colonial reenactor with her parents at Colonial Essex Village, but she also pines for her first love, Ezra, who broke up with her in the spring. Trying to help her through the heartache is her best friend, the model-like and talented Fiona, who decides to join Chelsea at Colonial Essex Village during the summer to lend support as well as be close to her crush, Nat. In addition to having her best friend help her endure the summer
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Nov 14, 2011
Lucy
rated it:
Past Perfect hits a lot of my sweet spots; Leila Sales is a master of dialogue and in between all the general romantic angst of YA books there is some serious discussion of ice cream. A great model of female friendship, a cute but not too cute boy and some seriously pearl clutching swoony times on a trampoline all make this a sweet and addictive read.
But here's the best part: the book takes place almost entirely in a COLONIAL REENACTMENT TOURIST ATTRACTION VILLAGE! And most of what isn More...
But here's the best part: the book takes place almost entirely in a COLONIAL REENACTMENT TOURIST ATTRACTION VILLAGE! And most of what isn More...
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(1 person liked it)
Nov 06, 2011
David
rated it:
Every so often when I'm reading novels, I'll stumble over 2 or 3 in near succession to each other that have thematic overlaps by total coincidence. Recently, I read Julian Barnes' Booker-prize winning The Sense of an Ending, which revolves around a man entering his older years and questioning his grasp of memory and history while recounting his youth and younger adulthood. At roughly the same time, I also delved into Myla Goldberg's The False Friend, in which a 30-something woman questions an in
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Oct 30, 2011
Bailey (IB Book Blogging)
rated it: 
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 More...
Chelsea More...
Oct 28, 2011
Sofija
rated it:
It was perfect!
First of all it was fun. While reading it I had a silly grin all the time.
And it was filled with wisdoms like:
“I tasted Fiona’s ice cream. It was only so-so, since I think raisins are gross and desiccated and should stay the hell out of desserts.” - Never has a truer word been spoken!
“It’s funny how little time it takes for kids to stop being cute and start being annoying.”
“I don’t know what my best friend sees in him. I guess he’ More...
First of all it was fun. While reading it I had a silly grin all the time.
And it was filled with wisdoms like:
“I tasted Fiona’s ice cream. It was only so-so, since I think raisins are gross and desiccated and should stay the hell out of desserts.” - Never has a truer word been spoken!
“It’s funny how little time it takes for kids to stop being cute and start being annoying.”
“I don’t know what my best friend sees in him. I guess he’ More...
Oct 11, 2011
jenn
rated it:
3.5 stars. I liked the humor, the historical stuff, and the parents. The dialogue was good, but there was a LOT of it. Maybe this is a good thing, and perhaps reflective of actual teen conversations. Sadly, I am no longer a member of the "actual teen conversations" demographic. Minus -.5 stars for Dawson Dialogue.
I really dislike it when YA authors try to get away with things that mainstream authors couldn't. Sales pretty much avoids this, except in one case that drove me B More...
I really dislike it when YA authors try to get away with things that mainstream authors couldn't. Sales pretty much avoids this, except in one case that drove me B More...
Oct 11, 2011
Rachael
rated it:
The last thing that Chelsea wants to do is spend yet another summer working at Essex Historical Colonial Village, like she’s done for basically as long as she can remember. That’s what happens when both your parents are colonial reenactors. But summer rolls around, and Chelsea finds herself back at Essex, because her best friend Fiona would rather hone her skills for the dramatic instead of relax in a cozy, air-conditioned job at the mall. To make matters worse, guess who else Chelsea gets to wo
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Oct 06, 2011
Sara
rated it:
Past Perfect by Lelia Sales follows Chelsea who is spending the summer, like every summer before working at a colonial historical village. Chelsea has spent the past several months getting over a breakup and is not happy when her Ex Boyfriend is at orientation. To make things more complicated Chelsea has been elected second in command of the War between her colonial village and the Confederate one across the street and when she's kidnapped she falls for Dan who is one of the enemy.
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Oct 04, 2011
Lisa
rated it:
I was in the mood for a cute light read and Past Perfect sounded like a great book to fulfill that want. Chelsea is doomed...not only is she working at the Essex Historical Colonial Village as a junior interpreter, wearing a heavy dress and telling people where the bathroom (excuse me, the privy) is all summer, but now her ex-boyfriend is working there too. She is still stuck in the past in many ways and can't seem to move forward.
Things turn around when Chelsea get nominated as Li More...
Things turn around when Chelsea get nominated as Li More...
