Veronica Walsh is a self-proclaimed fat girl who wears wild vintage clothes. When she drops off some of her clothes at the Clothing Bonanza, a combination vintage clothing store and Dollar-a-Pound, Claire, the consignment manager, is impressed with her old clothes and offers her a job in the Consignment Corner. This is perfect for Veronica, who trusts no one and has no friends, because she won’t really have to interact with anyone, until two of the “florons” (girls who work the floor in The Real Deal) befriend her. They are completely outrageous and Veronica isn’t sure she wants to trust them but goes along with their plan to follow Lenny aka The Nail, the stock boy, who they suspect of stealing the really good vintage clothes to resell on the Internet along with Claire. Before she knows it, Veronica is having feelings for Lenny but he overhears her making fun of him with Ginger and Zoe. But is it too late for her to repair the damage with him? Veronica’s voice is funny and pitch perfec and Perl weaves issues of divorce, a mother obsessed with her own weight, trust, serious illness, friendship, and so much more seamlessly and believably. ( )

Unexpected plot. Good YA book about being true to yourself, and choosing your friends based on their true character (not their popularity). Unnecessary use of vulgar language in my opinion (lots of "F" word), therefore only 3*. ( )

There’s a lot that’s by-the-numbers in this book, but the secondary characters are original enough to make up for it. Zoe might be one of my favorite villains in realistic fiction. Perl does an excellent job of making her terrifyingly, unpredictably evil, despite being a 19-year-old store clerk. (Full review at http://www.parenthetical.net/2010/12/07/review-vintage-veronica-by-erica-s-perl/... ( )

When I first read the plot summary for VINTAGE VERONICA, I classified it as a cute and didn't really expect it to have any depth, but that first impression was entirely off! Erica Perl has written a novel full of quirky characters that captured my heart and has managed to tell a story that the Veronica in all of us can relate to.

The setting and characters of VV were colorful and utterly unforgettable. The only way that I can really describe the feel of the book as is off beat. The easiest way I can describe the novel is by referencing Ellen Page films, like JUNO and WHIP IT. The characters in those films are quirky and seem to stick in your mind as if held there by superglue. Veronica is the star of the novel, but I was most drawn to Len, the mysterious and awkward stock boy. He is so much more than what he seems when the reader is briefly introduced to him at the beginning of the novel. I loved discovering the magic of Len as Veronica spends more time with him. I really liked that he isn't the normal heartthrob character or the tortured bad boy; he's just Len - and that's all he needs to be.

Given that I adore Len, it is understandable that I'm a fan of the romance between him and Veronica. However, it wasn't simply my feelings about Len's character that pulled me into their love story, it was the truthfulness. Len and Veronica's relationship is not perfect, but it is awkward, painful, and so, so tender. There are some romances that take you by storm and you are so totally enraptured in one another that there really isn't very much awkwardness. This is not the case in VV, partly because Veronica tries so hard to keep a cool head about the whole situation and doesn't allow herself to be overwhelmed by her feelings, in the beginning at least. And when one overanalyzes as much as Veronica, there is always going to be some uncomfortable moments. I think that in real life, people generally fit into that second category, so I found this love story particularly touching. ( )

Veronica Walsh works at a consignment shop, sorting antique clothing all day and avoiding having to interact with people. The job is perfect for her because, while she loves fashion, she is also fat, and her experience with people has not endeared them to her.

But Veronica’s life begins to change the day Zoe and Ginger, two intensely cool salesgirls, begin to talk to her, and she begins to cross paths with Len, a silent, frustratingly slooow coworker. Veronica thinks she’s got the three of them figured out, but as her friendship with Len grows, she begins to see that she does not know people—or herself—as well as she once thought…

VINTAGE VERONICA is a top-notch light-hearted coming-of-age YA contemporary novel. With excellent characterization, a fantastic setting, and a heartfelt lesson that everyone can relate to, VINTAGE VERONICA is truly delightful.

Erica Perl has gotten the authentic and appealing teen voice down pat. Veronica may claim that she’d rather spend time with fabrics than people, but if so, then she is a shrewd observer in her self-imposed naivety. The way she describes the consignment shop makes the place feel like the only place you’d ever want to work, a building filled with ancient machinery, quirky coworkers, and the most interesting customers and clothing you’ll ever encounter.

This is not a book about self-esteem, body image, losing weight, and the like, for which I am thankful. Veronica does make note of her size, but instead chooses to devote more of her attention—and, to our delight, her narrative—to the observances of her workplace. She is intelligent and fashion-savvy, and yet has the insecurities and desires that every 15-year-old girl wants, despite what she says: friends, a boy who will love her the way she is. Therefore, she ends up making the same mistakes that other people make for the sake of social interaction, and then eventually learning from those mistakes.

VINTAGE VERONICA contains a wonderful cast of minor characters that you feel like you know a lot about just from Veronica’s descriptions. Len is an unusual love interest, with his slowness and love of reptiles. The development of Veronica and Len’s romance felt just a bit unnaturally quick to me, for two people who have so many issues. But that was the only part of the book that I felt was overly dramatic. Len may be an unusual love interest, but he is also kind of adorable, for those of us who have a soft spot for dorky, geeky guys.

Overall, VINTAGE VERONICA was a pleasure to read from cover to cover. It reminded me of the best kind of contemporary novels I remember loving as a teen: good writing, a smart and appealing protagonist, and a feel-good lesson at the end of the day. ( )