Laurie Boyle Crompton
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary
Publisher: Blink
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Goodreads
Fresh and funny, this new YA romance—a Groundhog Day meets Pretty in Pink mashup—tells the tale of a girl who’s stuck repeating her first day at a high school filled with cliques and misfits, convinced that a true love’s kiss will break the curse.GUEST POST
Seventeen-year-old Andie is the type of girl who always comes up with the perfect thing to say … after it's too late to say it. She's addicted to romance movies but has yet to experience her first kiss. After a move to Punxsutawney, PA, for her senior year, she gets caught in an endless loop of her first day at her new school, reliving those 24 hours again and again.
Convinced the curse will be broken when she meets her true love, Andie embarks on a mission: infiltrating the various cliques to find the one boy who can break the spell. What she discovers along the way is that people who seem completely different can often share the very same hopes, dreams, and hang-ups. And that even a day that has been lived over and over can be filled with unexpected connections and plenty of happy endings.
Pretty in Punxsutawney is this generation's ode to the coming-of-age, romantic, teen-angst dramas that director John Hughes made into some of the most beloved teen films of all time.
One of my favorite parts of PiP was all the movie references. Andie was a cinephile, who had a penchant for rom-coms, and Laurie Boyle Crompton is here to share some of her favorites with us!
Rom coms are like pizza for me, even the bad ones are still pretty yummy! Many of my favorites could come straight from the 80s DVD library Andie’s mother keeps in a glass case in a corner of the living room in Pretty in Punxsutawney. To paraphrase what Johnny says to Baby’s dad at the end of Dirty Dancing, “Nobody puts my 80’s rom coms in a corner.” So, how about we open up that fictional glass case and see what’s inside! My top eight favorite 80s rom-coms in no particular order are:
- Pretty in Pink: Always and of course. While I have an issue with the ending of that movie, (#teamduckieforever) Pretty in Pink is one of my favorite John Hughes films. And fortunately, I was able to address that movie’s ending in Pretty in Punxsutawney and have my say, but of course you’ll need to watch it if you want to truly experience the outrage for yourself.
- Say Anything: This movie was the genesis of my John Cusack obsession. He is so relatable in this film and that iconic scene where he holds up the boom box is on one of my favorite T-shirts. One of the best movie moments ever!
- The Princess Bride: Probably the ultimate in classic romance and adventure. It truly is the story that has everything, including some of the most memorable lines (and rhymes!) of all time. Anybody want a peanut? As you wish.
- Big: I’m not sure if this movie counts as a rom-com since the actual romance is a bit er, unsustainable, but Tom Hanks and Elizabeth Perkins show just how much fun falling in love can be. Other than their age gap, the two of them make a perfect pair and the movie is probably the reason my favorite engagement gift was a set of super-soakers.
- Valley Girl: An underrated classic film that is quintessentially 80s in tone as well as wardrobe. Nicholas Cage is never more brooding and intense than he is in this film, not even when he’s tasked with rescuing the Declaration of Independence!
- Some Kind of Wonderful: Makes my list because it’s a John Hughes movie that gives us the happy ending we deserved in Pretty in Pink, while simultaneously proving that girls can rock the drums as hard as any guy.
- Overboard: I haven’t seen the remake but as a fan of Anna Farris, it’s on my TBW list! I do know the original film with real-life long-time couple at the beginning of their relationship, Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn, is fantastic! Such silly fun, which exactly what I look for in a rom-com!
- The Breakfast Club: I like to imagine the connections that were made between the Shermer High School students during their day of detention changed the school’s social structure and permanently tore down walls between cliques. It serves as the inspiration for Andie’s goal of breaking down divisions in Pretty in Punxsutawney.
This book was a fun mix of Groundhog Day and classic teen rom-coms, which kept a smile on my face from beginning to end.
Things I Loved:
- 80s teen movies own me, because I was actually a teen in the 80s. So, obviously, I loved all the movie references and discussions that popped up in the story.
- It was fun seeing how Andie would relive her day. She learned new skills, did some body alterations, dropped truth bombs, made friends and enemies -- she took risks, because she knew the day would reset, and there were some really amusing and thoughtful moments in some of those days.
- Andie grew a lot over the course of the book. She learned quite a bit about herself and those around her, and she started seeing things and people through a new lens. It was really great to see her using the experience to become a better version of herself.
- There were some great themes explored about looking past the surface to see how we are the same and avoiding labels.
- Andie's parents were maybe a little quirky, but they were present and supportive, and gave her space to explore who she wanted to be.
- This was a light and fun story with a rom-com feel, and I laughed and smiled a lot.
Yes, I had a lot of fun reading this, but there was one things I wish there had been more of - Tom. I loved him, and would have liked to have seen a bit more of him, especially at the end.
Overall: A witty Groundhog-esque story about looking beyond the labels, which was filled with friendships, many amusing antics, and an adorable romance.
* ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
She graduated first in her class from St. John’s University with a BA in English and Journalism. Since then she’s written for national magazines like ALLURE, survived a teaching stint at an all-boy high school, and appeared on Good Day New York several times as a Toy Expert. And yes, ‘toy expert’ is an actual profession. Really.
She has lived in places like Orlando, Florida where she and her husband spent all of their spare time and money visiting theme parks before moving to the Cotswolds in England for six months, which was every bit as cool as that sounds. The Cromptons are now back in New York where their two children resent never going to Disney.
Laurie occasionally enjoys hanging out in fields of blooming flowers and also referring to herself in the third person.
Do you have a favorite teen movie?
Let us know in the comments!
Oh my goodness, so much cuteness! Groundhog day stories can be so much fun, and this one being on the first day of school -- LOL, I would have liked that a couple of times over the years! This sounds like a book you could happily curl up with for a whole day and come out at the end of it feeling the best!! (Big could totally be a romance! It's a fave from your list -- and baby Tom Hanks with that hair will never not be cute!)
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun to see how the author will have the MC use/manipulate that day they keep reliving, and there were a few interesting choices made in this book. I remember going to the theatre to see Big with my family, and I was in awe of how good the movie was.
DeleteI love ground hog day type stories! And 80's romcom vibe?? I think I have to read this one!!
ReplyDeleteIt was really cute, and the nostalgia was a definite plus for me.
DeleteOK, but how do you even pronounce that title?? :D
ReplyDeleteI love ground hog day type stories too because they are always fun. I'm glad to hear it was a good read for you!
I actually know how to pronounce it. My problem is spelling it! It was cute and fun. I wanted more of the romance, but it didn't ruin it for me.
DeleteThis sounds really cute, and while I didn't grow up in the 80's, I do love a lot of those movies so I think the references throughout would be really enjoyable.
ReplyDelete-Lauren
www.shootingstarsmag.net
I wonder how many young people still watch these films. I know my daughter had seen some, because of me, but she is more Amanda Bynes/Hilary Duff era.
DeleteI do remember the 80s. Guess that dates me a bit. I do love some good laughs.
ReplyDeletesherry @ fundinmental
I was a teen in the 80s. So, that dates me too.
DeleteYou had me at 80’s teen movie references. :) Since I was a teen in the 80’s that’s all kinds of nostalgic. The whole Groundhog Day element sounds like fun and that lends itself to all kinds chances for change and growth.
ReplyDeletePretty in Pink is actually my favorite of all time, and Crompton wanted to go with the original ending, which I love.
DeleteI love the 80's as I grew up in them. You have some of my FAVORITE movies of all time! Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, Say Anything.
ReplyDeleteMary
I know! Crompton's list is a a list of my teen years.
DeleteAhh... so much goodness in this post. I was also a teenager in the 80s and I saw all of the movies. Loved so many of them. I have had my eye on this book. I will have to grab a copy soon! I need fluffy goodness.
ReplyDeleteIt's Blink, and their books are clean and uplifting, and this one fits their standards. Cute, fun, sweet, with a nice message too.
DeleteI like stories where a day keeps getting repeated, it's fun to see how the characters adapt to it! And the 80s stuff is very fun, my husband is obsessed with 80s movies.
ReplyDeleteThe author had Andie do some really fun stuff, but my favorite parts was where she tried to make things better, even if she knew the day would reset.
DeleteThis sounds like a lot of fun. I love those movies, too, especially Overboard. I don't have plans to watch the remake though.
ReplyDeleteI have not seen the new Overboard, but I loved the Goldie Hawn version. It was hilarious.
DeleteI am SO excited to read this book-- first I LOVE 80's movies, 2nd I can't get enough Groundhog's Day books, and 3rd I live like 25 mins from Punxsy. Fave 80's rom-coms-- Chances Are, Teen Witch, Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Just One of the Guys, and License to Drive.
ReplyDeleteThe book was cute. There were a few things I wanted more of and a few things I wanted less of, but overall, it was really enjoyable, and very positive. I share your love for many of these films. License to Drive and the Coreys!
DeleteI bet this is such a fun read. And I love the clever title and cute cover!
ReplyDeleteIt was super fun with a great message.
DeleteGreat review. Now I have some movies to watch!
ReplyDeleteThis book definitely made me want to break out the DVDs.
DeleteThis sounds super cute. I know I'd be loving the movie references too.
ReplyDeleteThe movie references were fun and well utilized, and her mom reminded you of some 80s movie teen mom. I felt like she showed shades of Fiona from PiP.
DeleteOoooh I've been seeing this everywhere, but I never really read the summary. This sounds adorable, and your review has definitely convinced. Fantastic post, Sam! :)
ReplyDeleteIt was cute and fun, and I feel like a big part of my enjoyment was the movie references.
DeleteI'm blog hopping and just read Lisa @ Lisa Loves Literature's book review of this one too and she also liked it a lot. I am glad you did too! It sounds like you really connected to the movie mentions. I totally agree and appreciate the themes of labels and judging people and I would love to see how that comes through in the book.
ReplyDeleteThere was great messaging in the book, and it was very upbeat and positive too. I always enjoy that.
Delete