Saturday, April 23, 2011

Book Review: I Love the 80s

By Melissa Amster
If you're nostalgic about anything from the 1980's, then "I Love the 80s" is the book for you! This book appealed to me on several levels: chick lit, pop culture and time travel. And I wasn't disappointed once I started reading it and getting absorbed in Jenna Jenkins' life.

In 2010, Jenna's fiancée breaks up with her and she resorts back to her comfort zone by fantasizing about her celebrity crush who was killed when she was 12. After a freak accident, she is transported back to 1987 and lands right in the center of her crush's world. Can she save him from his fate this time around?

I really enjoyed this novel. It was nearly impossible to put down once I got into the thick of it. I loved the pop culture references of the 1980s and how I felt transported back in time along with Jenna. Megan Crane creates vivid and memorable characters that stick with the reader after the book is finished. She even uses two perspectives through most of the story, which I found interesting and enjoyable. Jenna is very easy to relate to on a personal level, as I am obsessed with pop culture trivia and know way too much frivolous information. I'm also satisfied in a passive work role the way she is. Finally, she satisfied my need for a good "romantic" scene or two, which I enjoy in a chick lit novel.

The only critique I had was that Ms. Crane had some trouble explaining some of the facets of time travel. Had she added a third perspective, it would have been helpful. Keep in mind that this critique is coming from someone who overanalyzes "Back to the Future." I don't think there's an easy way to explain time travel without some loophole being overlooked.

Overall, this was a fun story full of romance, humor and pop culture references. I have already been recommending it to my friends and plan to continue doing so. Bravo to Megan Crane. "I Love the 80s" is totally rad! Maybe she can take us to the 90s next time, as I love that era too.

More by Megan Crane:



More about time travel:


4 comments:

Melissa said...

Great review! I want to read this so bad. I love the 80's, and your right a I love the 90's would be awesome..I love the 90's too.

Michelle said...

What a great review! This book totally appeals to me as a big fan of the 80's. I will have to add it to my "to read" list.

Me said...

Thanks for the review!! I have been dying to try something by Megan Crane and being an 80s baby myself, maybe this will be the one! Thanks for sharing..love following all your reviews:)

Meg @ write meg! said...

Really looking forward to reading this! I won a copy a few weeks back and have moved it to the top of my TBR pile.