Megan McCafferty’s The Mall is the ideal mix of ’90s nostalgia and hilarious shenanigans

Megan McCafferty’s hilarious novel is the perfect reflection of what it felt like when you first realized you didn’t actually have your life figured out after all.

Remember the summer before you went off to college — that glorious stretch of time between graduation and move-in day you hoped would never end?

Cassie Worthy thought she was going to have one of those. But it didn’t turn out anything like she originally planned.

Everything in Cassie’s life is finally about to get back to normal. After a month stuck at home with no contact with the outside world, she can now finally return to her boyfriend and her job — and enjoy the last summer before going off to college.

The universe has other plans, though. Not only does she lose her boyfriend AND her only source of income, but she also finds out her picture-perfect family is breaking apart.

All seems hopeless. That is, until Cassie and her former best friend find themselves on a mission to find a treasure of sorts hidden somewhere in the mall.

Admittedly, I haven’t seen as many shows or movies set in the early ’90s as I should have being born of the era and all. But reading this book truly felt like watching one of those. Things go off the rails within the first few pages, and they just keep going. As you’re turning pages, you sort of start to wonder how far McCafferty is going to take this heavenly nostalgia trip.

Spoiler alert: It’s far. There are Cabbage Patch Kids involved. And it’s fantastic.

Add to that the fact that the main female character is not only witty, but also super smart and a little nerdy, and it instantly becomes impossible not to love at least some element of it.

This is the perfect book to read if you’re just looking for something quick and all-out fun. Also, if you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s and spent a lot of time in your local mall as a teen, the nostalgia factor will definitely hook you instantly.

The Mall is also excellent proof that young adult books are not written strictly for young adults. Coming-of-age stories are plentiful in this genre, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the humor, the relatable characters, and — yes — even the brilliantly paced suspense.

We’ve all had seemingly perfect romances crumble. We’ve all had that one best friend who hasn’t been for years — you know, the one you still think about, always wondering if they’ll wander back into your life on accident one day. We’ve also all most likely experienced “that” moment growing up, when you realize your family is far from flawless … and then that moment you realize yours isn’t the only one.

McCafferty’s writing is funny and captivating, and even though the book doesn’t dive deep into the emotional beats of its major plot points, that’s not really what this story is designed to do, so it doesn’t feel hollow. It feels light and fresh and fun, as more books these days should.

Some books, like this one, are crafted to delightfully entertain. This book nails its purpose almost perfectly, so if that’s what you’re in for, you’re not going to be disappointed.

The Mall is available for pre-order now and hits shelves July 28.