Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm

Pilgrims Don't Were Pink

Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers 
Pages: 204

Release Date: May 8th, 2012

Source: Oyster, a book subscription service

Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.

Pilgrims Don't Wear Pink is a fun novel that I enjoyed more than I expected to. To be honest, I wasn't sure how much I would like the novel as Libby is such a different person from myself. I don't like fashion, I rarely wear makeup, and I think I have one pink article of clothing in my entire closet. Yet there was still something charming about this book that kept my interest.

Cam, unfortunately, is extremely stereotypical as an initial love interest. That far too perfect, out to get in your pants type guy stands out to me from a mile away. I felt frustrated that Libby was so easily won over by him. She seems like she's really smart, at least when it comes to history, but really dumb when it comes to guys. Then there was Garrett, and I actually related more to him than probably anyone else in the book. I'm a nerd, and I've been a journalist, so I think I ended up staying in the story just for him. At the same time, I ended up feeling frustrated because why would he end up with a girl like Libby? I'm not sure I really understood what it was that connected them. 

I like Libby's best friend, although some of the characters didn't feel entirely fleshed out in the story. It was a light read, but aGood one? I guess I'm on the fence about that. It felt like maybe a story that would be a sort of "pallet cleanser" type category. Nice to read, would read a sequel, but not something I would be dying to go back to.