Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Publication: Graphia (May 8, 2012)
Description: Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.
My Thoughts: I enjoyed this contemporary romance. I liked Libby and thought she made a realistic, history-loving teen. Spending her summer in Camden Harbor as an intern at a Living History Museum has lots of surprises for her. She has a horrible roommate who is determined to spend the whole summer in character and is jealous of Libby almost from the second they meet. She is flattered when she is hit-on by the very cute Cam who is the very image of all of the romantic heroes from her reading.
She is considerably less flattered when Garrett McCaffrey rescues her from a large barrel and teases her unmercifully about her Hello Kitty underwear. Things go from bad to worse when she finds herself sharing a room with him on the sloop that is supposed to be haunted. She isn't very fond or ghosts or Garrett but anything is better than her current roommate.
This was a fun story. I thought Libby was great. I liked that she was both obsessed with history and with fashion. I liked that her best friend Dev was gay and was interning with a teen fashion magazine in New York City. I liked that she put her friendship with Dev ahead of her budding romance with Cam when she had to make a choice.
I can heartily recommend this one to younger YAs because it is a good example of girl power and has a sweet romance.
Favorite Quote:
"I will admit I may have...underestimated you," he said grudgingly. Victory!I received this ARC through the Amazon Vine Program in exchange for an honest review. You can buy your copy here.
"Wow, did the infallible Garrett McCaffrey just admit he was wrong about something?" I teased.
"Hardly. I admitted to a miscalculation, not an error." He sounded like his smug old self, but there was a little something in his voice that made me think that if I could see him, he would have been smiling.
This does sound like a cute story. I like that it is set in a living history museum.
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