mehsi's review against another edition
3.0
This was a really fun/interesting book.
Holly loses her grandfather, and she inherits the chapel. She meets Dax, falls in love and so on. :)
Holly was a nice character, though I felt she was a bit strange at times. How she acted/did, sometimes I was thinking she was over 20, but at other times I thought she was 12.
I also find it silly that she got ownership of the chapel. While sure she inherits it, she still isn't an adult and someone should supervise/have ownership until she turns 18 or until she is at least done with school/college and all that. So that was a bit unrealistic.
I didn't like her relationship with Dax, throughout the book I felt like they just didn't fit together, and I didn't like all the sneakiness. It felt too much like Romeo and Juliet at times and it also got a bit boring.
Dax, urgh, I really didn't like him for most of the book. At times he was nice, but at other times I just felt he was hiding something, or plotting something bad.
Then we have Dax's granddad, oh my gosh, he was a total prick and mean. Also one reason why this book only gets 3 stars, instead of 4 or 5.
But I liked the weddings and how hard Holly tried to save her chapel.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
Holly loses her grandfather, and she inherits the chapel. She meets Dax, falls in love and so on. :)
Holly was a nice character, though I felt she was a bit strange at times. How she acted/did, sometimes I was thinking she was over 20, but at other times I thought she was 12.
I also find it silly that she got ownership of the chapel. While sure she inherits it, she still isn't an adult and someone should supervise/have ownership until she turns 18 or until she is at least done with school/college and all that. So that was a bit unrealistic.
I didn't like her relationship with Dax, throughout the book I felt like they just didn't fit together, and I didn't like all the sneakiness. It felt too much like Romeo and Juliet at times and it also got a bit boring.
Dax, urgh, I really didn't like him for most of the book. At times he was nice, but at other times I just felt he was hiding something, or plotting something bad.
Then we have Dax's granddad, oh my gosh, he was a total prick and mean. Also one reason why this book only gets 3 stars, instead of 4 or 5.
But I liked the weddings and how hard Holly tried to save her chapel.
Review first posted at http://twirlingbookprincess.com/
sandraagee's review against another edition
3.0
The books was fine and had a charming premise with loads of potential, but I didn't love it as much as I wanted to. As I was reading I mentally changed the ages of all of the characters so that the teens were all 23. That made me enjoy the book a bit more since the premise seemed somewhat implausible otherwise. I mean, who leaves a teenager a business in their will and doesn't include a clause that holds it in trust until she's at least out of high school? Could not wrap my head around that at all.
rosiethespy's review against another edition
3.0
Sweet and funny and only a little sad. A nice quick read if you're in the mood for something light.
sc104906's review against another edition
3.0
Holly's grandfather recently died and left her his Vegas Wedding Chapel. She has helped keep the business running throughout the years, and he knows that she is the best bet for the job.
Holly is forced into a long time battle with the chapel's arch nemesis, who is threatening to buy out her chapel. Can Holly and her crew make enough money to keep the chapel afloat, or will the cute boy from the competing chapel be too much.
This is your stereotypical fluffy novel, with all of the cheesy quirks.
Holly is forced into a long time battle with the chapel's arch nemesis, who is threatening to buy out her chapel. Can Holly and her crew make enough money to keep the chapel afloat, or will the cute boy from the competing chapel be too much.
This is your stereotypical fluffy novel, with all of the cheesy quirks.
laurenash's review against another edition
3.0
The Chapel Wars was cute, I'll give it that. My only issue with the book was the overwhelming sense of something missing, and I couldn't quite figure out what it was. There was a little bit of insta-love between Holly and Dax. So, overall it was light and fluffy, which earned it the 3 stars.
sheffner07's review against another edition
3.0
The MC was feisty and funny, the love interest a worthy book boyfriend. Loved the setting of Las Vegas and the wedding business there. The second half of the book fell short for me, however, and there seemed to be too many conflicts thrown in at the end. Still, it was a sweet and hilarious read that's perfect for people looking for a quick, sweet read.
anabook25's review against another edition
3.0
I really loved her latest book, but I couldn't really get into this one. I probably had a book hangover because I spent one month reading Mistborn or maybe it was because I'm not really a fan of Las vegas. Either way, it was a cute, quick read. And I'll still read anything Lindsey Leavitt writes.
tfillion's review against another edition
3.0
I think that this book was cute, but it was definitely not one of my favorites. The best part is the love interest- Dax. However, the way that the protagonist treats him makes me wish that he went looking for someone better. There was a running Romeo and Juliet theme going on, but the acceptance of the relationship by both parties for the most part made it seem like this feud was not nearly as dramatic. However, I did like the discussion of love vs marriage and the contrasting ideas of Holly's divorced parents and Dax's widowed mother and how that affected their view of love/ marriage, which is seen in the difference in the wedding chapels. Overall, I'm excited to start Going Vintage and I will keep Leavitt on my list of authors to read.
emjrasmussen's review against another edition
I have read all of Leavitt's published books to date, and not one has disappointed me. Her clever writing has a casual sort of cadence that does not call too much attention to itself, and it always brings to life three-dimensional protagonists with engaging family and friend dynamics. As I expected, The Chapel Wars delivers all of the above, plus a humorously forbidden romance and a glittering Las Vegas backdrop.
One thing, however, causes Leavitt's newest novel to stand out from the rest. Its overarching theme of loyalty makes The Chapel Wars this author's best YA book so far.
The theme of loyalty pops up repeatedly throughout Holly's quest to save her chapel. Her utter dedication to her family business, a traditional-wedding oasis in a sea of garish theme-wedding chapels, clashes with Las Vegas, where everything is constantly changing and modernizing. The protagonist's devotion to an old place and old traditions, especially when contrasted with the transient nature of her hometown, drives her character and shows why saving the chapel means so much to her. Holly's mindset engages readers, forcing them to care about her conflicts as much as she does.
The novel's main theme also impacts the romantic subplot. Holly's relationship with Dax unites two people with different opinions and backgrounds, and the protagonist's love interest compels her to question the opinions she used to stand by stubbornly. Additionally, the fact that the two characters' loyalties lie with separate chapels gives their relationship a Shakespearean quality and develops a creative kind of romantic tension. I loved watching them struggle to remain loyal to their own chapels while still looking out for each other, illustrating the complexities of conflicting allegiances.
By the end of the story, readers will have cheered for Holly in both romance and business, as well as considered their own loyalties and when it is acceptable to defy them for the greater good. The final chapters of The Chapel Wars will give returning readers a huge smiles that will serve to remind them why they remain fans of Lindsey Leavitt. This book cemented my loyalty to its author, and I cannot wait to read her next novel.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.
One thing, however, causes Leavitt's newest novel to stand out from the rest. Its overarching theme of loyalty makes The Chapel Wars this author's best YA book so far.
The theme of loyalty pops up repeatedly throughout Holly's quest to save her chapel. Her utter dedication to her family business, a traditional-wedding oasis in a sea of garish theme-wedding chapels, clashes with Las Vegas, where everything is constantly changing and modernizing. The protagonist's devotion to an old place and old traditions, especially when contrasted with the transient nature of her hometown, drives her character and shows why saving the chapel means so much to her. Holly's mindset engages readers, forcing them to care about her conflicts as much as she does.
The novel's main theme also impacts the romantic subplot. Holly's relationship with Dax unites two people with different opinions and backgrounds, and the protagonist's love interest compels her to question the opinions she used to stand by stubbornly. Additionally, the fact that the two characters' loyalties lie with separate chapels gives their relationship a Shakespearean quality and develops a creative kind of romantic tension. I loved watching them struggle to remain loyal to their own chapels while still looking out for each other, illustrating the complexities of conflicting allegiances.
By the end of the story, readers will have cheered for Holly in both romance and business, as well as considered their own loyalties and when it is acceptable to defy them for the greater good. The final chapters of The Chapel Wars will give returning readers a huge smiles that will serve to remind them why they remain fans of Lindsey Leavitt. This book cemented my loyalty to its author, and I cannot wait to read her next novel.
This review originally appeared at www.foreverliterary.blogspot.com.