Scan barcode
trisha_thomas's review against another edition
4.0
"We're all messed up," I said. "I like life is just about finding the right people to be messed up with."
I read the synopsis of this book and just thought 'meh' - it didn't really stand out to me. Couple that with the cover and I wasn't too excited but willing to give it a try.
I'm so glad I did.
This is an adorable story about dreams and goals and numbers but also love and expectation and the messy reality that is life. It doesn't all end well, people die and divorces happen and you never get to answer the question "Why?"
Holly is a numbers girls and always has tight control. Dax is the unknown boy next door. But her grandpa wrote a letter to him for her to deliver.
and thus the story begins. It's an adorable tale. I giggled, I was sad, happy, and completely taken in by this family and this story. They are quirky and odd, but worth every page turn. I hope you enjoy it too!
I read the synopsis of this book and just thought 'meh' - it didn't really stand out to me. Couple that with the cover and I wasn't too excited but willing to give it a try.
I'm so glad I did.
This is an adorable story about dreams and goals and numbers but also love and expectation and the messy reality that is life. It doesn't all end well, people die and divorces happen and you never get to answer the question "Why?"
Holly is a numbers girls and always has tight control. Dax is the unknown boy next door. But her grandpa wrote a letter to him for her to deliver.
and thus the story begins. It's an adorable tale. I giggled, I was sad, happy, and completely taken in by this family and this story. They are quirky and odd, but worth every page turn. I hope you enjoy it too!
maggiemaggio's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 stars
Las Vegas has always been an interesting place to me. Not the whole get drunk and throw away money and smoke indoors side of Vegas, but the historical side of Vegas. My maternal grandparents got married in Vegas, on Christmas Eve, in 1949. They had met in college on the east coast and after they graduated my grandfather moved to Vegas to teach and my grandmother moved to New Mexico to work as a dental hygienist on an Indian reservation. My grandma went to visit him over Christmas and the rest, as they say, is history: five years later my mother was born, 36 years later I was born, and 64.5 years later they are still happily married.
Maybe it’s because of my personal connection to Vegas, but I was immediately taken in by the world Lindsey Leavitt created in this story. Holly’s grandfather, who’s pretty much her hero, passed away suddenly and at the reading of the will (which pretty much sums up her grandfather’s flair for the dramatic) Holly learns that she has inherited her grandfather’s Vegas wedding chapel. Holly is still reeling from her grandfather’s death, but she’s excited to take on the challenge of running the chapel. She’s a numbers girl, she likes to count everything and calculate odds on everything from sports to how long couples will stay married, plus she goes to a special business high school, so she feels as prepared as a seventeen year old can to run a business.
Unfortunately that business isn’t doing too well. Holly’s grandfather wasn’t the most fiscally responsible man and Holly quickly learns that she needs to raise a large sum of money to pay back a loan. There are many reasons this is problematic, but a big reason is the chapel next door, a gaudy, soulless place owned by her grandfather’s archenemies, Victor Cranston. One of her grandfather’s last wishes was for Holly to deliver a letter to Cranston’s grandson, Dax, and when she does she immediately takes a liking to him and they strike up a secret romance.
The strongest parts of this book had to do with Holly’s family (no surprise from Leavitt) and the Vegas setting. Holly’s love for her grandfather is obvious, but the rest of her family is pretty screwed up. Her parents are recently divorced, something that came out of no where since she’s never seen them argue and her older sister is distant and pretentious and away at college and her younger brother, a piano prodigy, is pretty much one bad decision away from juvenile detention. Even though this is a different kind of family than I’ve come across in Leavitt’s other books, I still really liked them, especially Holly’s younger brother. They’re far from a perfect family, but they all love the chapel and they’re each trying to honor her grandfather in their own way.
The family that Holly created from her friends is also great. Holly’s best friend is a boy named Sam and she and Sam are part of a group with a few other guys. As a numbers person Holly is very black-and-white and closed off emotionally so she fit in well with this very teenage group of boys, who I immediately liked even though they are obnoxious at times. Sam is also in a relationship with a girl named Camille and even though they were secondary characters I liked what their relationship brought to the story. Sam is very devoted to Camille and wants to get married once Camille finishes high school, but Camille’s parents are overprotective and don’t want Camille dating anyone so she and Sam have to sneak around. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Sam and Camille’s relationship and Holly and Dax’s romance.
Then there’s the setting of Las Vegas. Having never been to Vegas I have nothing to go on, but I fell in love with the Vegas in the book. Dax is new to the city and as he and Holly go on dates and hang out she introduces him to different parts of the city beyond what I think of as the typical tourist traps. They go to old school Vegas restaurants, this neon sign museum (which sounded amazing), and a creepy tattoo parlor. At one point they even go to the Bellagio fountain which is definitely cheesy, but it fit into the Vegas story really well.
That all sounds good, right? It was, but there was also something about the characters, especially Holly, that just never sat right with me. The death of Holly’s grandfather and the problems with the chapel are really emotional issues, but I didn’t think it read like an emotional book (although it was very funny). Part of this is probably due to Holly being so closed off. I certainly never felt like I really knew Holly despite spending a lot of time in her head. There was also something about the romance with Dax that never worked. Because he’s a Cranston I worried the whole time about his intentions and I was bothered that Holly wasn’t worried more about them. The romance between them also happens really quickly and beyond both coming from families that own wedding chapels and both having lost a close family member recently, I wasn’t quite sure what their connection was.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but these characters are older than Leavitt’s typical characters. Holly is seventeen and Dax is almost nineteen. It makes sense that Holly would have to be older to be able to run a business, but I wonder if that’s part of the issue here. Also, I wish the story had taken place over the summer because technically Holly and her friends should have been in school, but that was never really mentioned after the beginning of the book. Also, was Dax in school? It was never really clear and it kind of drove me nuts.
Bottom Line: I loved the family-run wedding chapel and the Las Vegas setting, but The Chapel Wars didn’t live up to my love of Lindsey Leavitt’s other books. I still liked it and I’d recommend it for a summer read, but my lack of connection to the characters and to the romance held me back from fully enjoying it.
I received an electronic review copy from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
Las Vegas has always been an interesting place to me. Not the whole get drunk and throw away money and smoke indoors side of Vegas, but the historical side of Vegas. My maternal grandparents got married in Vegas, on Christmas Eve, in 1949. They had met in college on the east coast and after they graduated my grandfather moved to Vegas to teach and my grandmother moved to New Mexico to work as a dental hygienist on an Indian reservation. My grandma went to visit him over Christmas and the rest, as they say, is history: five years later my mother was born, 36 years later I was born, and 64.5 years later they are still happily married.
Maybe it’s because of my personal connection to Vegas, but I was immediately taken in by the world Lindsey Leavitt created in this story. Holly’s grandfather, who’s pretty much her hero, passed away suddenly and at the reading of the will (which pretty much sums up her grandfather’s flair for the dramatic) Holly learns that she has inherited her grandfather’s Vegas wedding chapel. Holly is still reeling from her grandfather’s death, but she’s excited to take on the challenge of running the chapel. She’s a numbers girl, she likes to count everything and calculate odds on everything from sports to how long couples will stay married, plus she goes to a special business high school, so she feels as prepared as a seventeen year old can to run a business.
Unfortunately that business isn’t doing too well. Holly’s grandfather wasn’t the most fiscally responsible man and Holly quickly learns that she needs to raise a large sum of money to pay back a loan. There are many reasons this is problematic, but a big reason is the chapel next door, a gaudy, soulless place owned by her grandfather’s archenemies, Victor Cranston. One of her grandfather’s last wishes was for Holly to deliver a letter to Cranston’s grandson, Dax, and when she does she immediately takes a liking to him and they strike up a secret romance.
The strongest parts of this book had to do with Holly’s family (no surprise from Leavitt) and the Vegas setting. Holly’s love for her grandfather is obvious, but the rest of her family is pretty screwed up. Her parents are recently divorced, something that came out of no where since she’s never seen them argue and her older sister is distant and pretentious and away at college and her younger brother, a piano prodigy, is pretty much one bad decision away from juvenile detention. Even though this is a different kind of family than I’ve come across in Leavitt’s other books, I still really liked them, especially Holly’s younger brother. They’re far from a perfect family, but they all love the chapel and they’re each trying to honor her grandfather in their own way.
The family that Holly created from her friends is also great. Holly’s best friend is a boy named Sam and she and Sam are part of a group with a few other guys. As a numbers person Holly is very black-and-white and closed off emotionally so she fit in well with this very teenage group of boys, who I immediately liked even though they are obnoxious at times. Sam is also in a relationship with a girl named Camille and even though they were secondary characters I liked what their relationship brought to the story. Sam is very devoted to Camille and wants to get married once Camille finishes high school, but Camille’s parents are overprotective and don’t want Camille dating anyone so she and Sam have to sneak around. I enjoyed the juxtaposition between Sam and Camille’s relationship and Holly and Dax’s romance.
Then there’s the setting of Las Vegas. Having never been to Vegas I have nothing to go on, but I fell in love with the Vegas in the book. Dax is new to the city and as he and Holly go on dates and hang out she introduces him to different parts of the city beyond what I think of as the typical tourist traps. They go to old school Vegas restaurants, this neon sign museum (which sounded amazing), and a creepy tattoo parlor. At one point they even go to the Bellagio fountain which is definitely cheesy, but it fit into the Vegas story really well.
That all sounds good, right? It was, but there was also something about the characters, especially Holly, that just never sat right with me. The death of Holly’s grandfather and the problems with the chapel are really emotional issues, but I didn’t think it read like an emotional book (although it was very funny). Part of this is probably due to Holly being so closed off. I certainly never felt like I really knew Holly despite spending a lot of time in her head. There was also something about the romance with Dax that never worked. Because he’s a Cranston I worried the whole time about his intentions and I was bothered that Holly wasn’t worried more about them. The romance between them also happens really quickly and beyond both coming from families that own wedding chapels and both having lost a close family member recently, I wasn’t quite sure what their connection was.
Correct me if I’m wrong, but these characters are older than Leavitt’s typical characters. Holly is seventeen and Dax is almost nineteen. It makes sense that Holly would have to be older to be able to run a business, but I wonder if that’s part of the issue here. Also, I wish the story had taken place over the summer because technically Holly and her friends should have been in school, but that was never really mentioned after the beginning of the book. Also, was Dax in school? It was never really clear and it kind of drove me nuts.
Bottom Line: I loved the family-run wedding chapel and the Las Vegas setting, but The Chapel Wars didn’t live up to my love of Lindsey Leavitt’s other books. I still liked it and I’d recommend it for a summer read, but my lack of connection to the characters and to the romance held me back from fully enjoying it.
I received an electronic review copy from the publisher via NetGalley (thank you!). All opinions are my own.
This review first appeared on my blog.
poorashleu's review against another edition
4.0
Originally posted here
This book is so cute. Super cute even. Even though the book starts off with something that is generally considered to be morbid and depressing, this book isn’t. Even Holly’s view on her grandfather’s death is taken with a bit of humor. While Holly is at a loss of what to do when her grandfather dies, she handles it with humor because that is how she faces the world. This means, within the first 30 pages, I related to Holly. I’m the same way. No matter what happens in the world I tend to tackle it with humor. Yes, even the most awkward and painful moments, I’m the person who makes the cringe worthy moments with humor.
Then at the funeral Holly meets Dax. Dax who is the grandson of the rival wedding chapel. Although this is Las Vegas and there are tons of wedding chapels, this is the one that shares the parking lot while Holly’s wedding chapel. Oh so Romeo and Juliet of them, and Leavitt, I know. It works though. There is a spark. A spark and snark. It’s the perfect little combo, to me at least.
What also helps The Chapel Wars is the cast of characters that is included throughout the novel. Not just Holly and Dax, but also the people in Holly’s life. Her grandfather’s right hand woman, Donna was a hoot; even in moments she was meant to be serious.
“Two of my alpacas, Milton and Clarabelle, were depressed today. I shouldn’t have broken the news about Jim. He always brought them treats.”–pg 40 of paperback ARC.
Comments like that makes me want to be friends with Donna, because friends like that, people who stick by you through thick and thin, even though they are a bit kooky are worth it. And Donna is worth it, she helps Holly throughout the novel. While she finds it crazy that Holly is in charge, she doesn’t really care, and just wants to help Holly succeed. Which is almost next to impossible as the Chapel is floundering. Through growing up, dates with Dax (in which there is BANTER! SPORTS BANTER! Girls can know football! Mind blowing!) Holly tries. She tries to succeed, but also be a teenager, which is never the easiest thing.
Through use of pop culture (which will hold up years from now), relate-able characters and a solid book Leavitt reminds you of first loves in city that people often forget people even live. A perfect summer read.
This book is so cute. Super cute even. Even though the book starts off with something that is generally considered to be morbid and depressing, this book isn’t. Even Holly’s view on her grandfather’s death is taken with a bit of humor. While Holly is at a loss of what to do when her grandfather dies, she handles it with humor because that is how she faces the world. This means, within the first 30 pages, I related to Holly. I’m the same way. No matter what happens in the world I tend to tackle it with humor. Yes, even the most awkward and painful moments, I’m the person who makes the cringe worthy moments with humor.
Then at the funeral Holly meets Dax. Dax who is the grandson of the rival wedding chapel. Although this is Las Vegas and there are tons of wedding chapels, this is the one that shares the parking lot while Holly’s wedding chapel. Oh so Romeo and Juliet of them, and Leavitt, I know. It works though. There is a spark. A spark and snark. It’s the perfect little combo, to me at least.
What also helps The Chapel Wars is the cast of characters that is included throughout the novel. Not just Holly and Dax, but also the people in Holly’s life. Her grandfather’s right hand woman, Donna was a hoot; even in moments she was meant to be serious.
“Two of my alpacas, Milton and Clarabelle, were depressed today. I shouldn’t have broken the news about Jim. He always brought them treats.”–pg 40 of paperback ARC.
Comments like that makes me want to be friends with Donna, because friends like that, people who stick by you through thick and thin, even though they are a bit kooky are worth it. And Donna is worth it, she helps Holly throughout the novel. While she finds it crazy that Holly is in charge, she doesn’t really care, and just wants to help Holly succeed. Which is almost next to impossible as the Chapel is floundering. Through growing up, dates with Dax (in which there is BANTER! SPORTS BANTER! Girls can know football! Mind blowing!) Holly tries. She tries to succeed, but also be a teenager, which is never the easiest thing.
Through use of pop culture (which will hold up years from now), relate-able characters and a solid book Leavitt reminds you of first loves in city that people often forget people even live. A perfect summer read.
brendaclay's review against another edition
4.0
Holly is only 16, but her recently-late grandfather left her in charge of their family's legacy and livelihood, the Rose of Sharon wedding chapel in Vegas. He also left her a sealed letter to take to Dax, the grandson of his rival chapel owner next door. After discovering her chapel is in danger of foreclosure, Holly throws herself into saving it, and also finds herself falling in love with the enemy. It's a fun story that touches on some serious issues. I love Lindsey Leavitt's characters, but I have to admit I didn't love Dax like I was clearly supposed to. Something about him just rubbed me the wrong way.
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.