The Chapel Wars
Holly wants to remember her Grandpa forever, but she’d rather forget what he left her in his will: his wedding chapel on the Las Vegas strip. It’s bad enough to be running the cash-strapped business with her recently divorced parents. But, Grandpa also insisted Holly reach out to Dax, grandson to the owner of the rival chapel next door. No matter how cute Dax is, Holly knows that if she wants her chapel to succeed, she can’t make nice with the enemy. And she has to stay focused: on her group of guy friends, her disjointed family, work, school and . . . Dax. No wait, not Dax.
Holly’s chapel represents everything she’s ever loved in her past. Dax might be everything she could ever love in the future. And if she doesn’t choose soon, she could lose them both.
“Leavitt creates some hilarious scenes that could only be set in Las Vegas… while maintaining a serious emotional tone. Like a Sarah Dessen heroine, Holly discovers that her heart has answers that are neither easy nor perfect. Recommend to readers who enjoy novels that blend light-hearted moments and gravitas.” ~Booklist
“In a world of trilogies, The Chapel Wars stands alone as a funny, realistic, heartfelt novel that teens of all ages will enjoy.” VOYA
“Hilarity is tempered by moments of genuine feeling, whether it’s grief… or romance… Holly has a determined entrepreneurial spirit; a dry sense of humor; and obvious love for her hometown and her family, however unconventional. Readers will root for her as she attempts to preserve her grandfather’s dream while beginning to imagine her own.” ~Horn Book
“Leavitt’s sense of place and ability to balance grief with hope make for an entertaining read.” ~Publisher’s Weekly
“Both family and friendship dynamics are shown well through action and dialogue. Las Vegas is also essentially a character, with the ‘behind-the-scenes’ actions of the city brought to life by the author who grew up in Vegas. This delightful story of self-discovery includes wit and grief, along with quirky characterizations of a disjointed family, friends, and place.” Children’s Literature