Beauty Shop for Rent: . . . fully equipped, inquire within

The delight of this book was the affectionate portrayal of the intergenerational relationships between Abbey and the older women in her life. Intelligent "chick lit" for teens.

Abbey Garner has learned hard lessons from the women in her life. Her mother and grandmother were teenage mothers with failed marriages. Abbey is determined not to let that happen to her and she scrupulously saves her earnings so she can be a millionaire by age 35. She has been living with Granny Po ever since her mother tried to commit suicide. The cranky but soft-hearted Granny Po and her sprightly senior citizen friends have become surrogate mothers to Abbey. Another important woman is the glamorous Gena, who bought Granny's beauty shop and turned it into a show more spa. These women help Abbey cope with her mother's disappointing unreliability. Enjoyable intergenerational relationships although Abbey's lessons learned are a little pat. show less

Abbey Garner has a goal -- she's going to be a millionaire by the time she's thirty-five. A part-time job in her great-grandmother Granny Po's beauty shop means fourteen-year-old Abbey can make regular bank deposits toward her goal. For the last three years, since her mother dropped her off on Granny Po's doorstep, Abbey has been mostly happy: she has good friends, Granny Po and the "Grey Ladies" who frequent the beauty shop, and a good start on her millionaire-by-thirty-five plan. But in a year when the years'-old, rusty sign advertising "beauty shop for rent" actually attracts an inquiry, when her absent mother actually pays a visit, and when her good friend Mitch starts showing more than friendly interest.... Well, it's safe to say show more that Abbey's life is about to change.

It's difficult to believe that this is Bowers debut novel. Abbey is a wonderfully realized character, and she's surrounded by a cast that is as clearly and charmingly crafted as she is. Joining Abbey, Granny Po, Gina and the Grey Ladies for their weekly "hypothetical question" was a real treat. show less

I loved this book when I read it a few years ago. I wasn't sure what it would be like, when it was nominated for the Gateway readers list. We have used it as an alternative assignment for [b:Thirteen Reasons Why|1217100|Thirteen Reasons Why|Jay Asher|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1333822506s/1217100.jpg|2588213]. It's a great coming of age story.

Abbey Garner knows that money is the only thing that can protect you from heartbreak. 14 years on earth plus living with her mother have taught her that. Especially after her mother leaves her to be raised by Granny Po (her great grandmother)She loves the supportive network of the Gray Widows (her grandmother's collection of friends) but longs to have a real mother. When Granny Po puts her beauty shop up for rent everyone's life changes as Gena enters the picture. She opens a new salon in Granny Po's old place and changes everyone's life for the better. Abbey slowly opens her heart to love (Mitch) and learns that sometimes you have to take risks. She faces her mother and makes peace with both her and her father.

Reviewed by Safia Abdul for TeensReadToo.com

There is nothing like Polly's Parlor, where a free dose of gossip comes with a manicure.

For Abbey Garner, her great-grandmother's old-fashioned beauty shop and the familiar elderly customers are home and family to Abbey ever since her mother left her several years ago. Now fourteen-year-ld Abbey works alongside her great-grandmother, Granny Po, giving perms and haircuts and investing her earnings towards her goal of becoming a millionaire before the age of thirty-five.

But in the last few years, the outdated Polly's Parlor hasn't been doing too well due to competition from more modern beauty salons. In fact, Granny Po has been trying to rent out the beauty shop, but nobody has been show more interested...until now. Gena is a fun and ambitious woman with big plans to turn the beauty shop into a friendly modern-day spa. Can the beauty shop be transformed and still remain Abbey's home?

In addition, between work, high school, and thinking about boys, Abbey is also worrying about her fragile, depressed mother. When she shows up for a surprise visit, Abbey's world is about to be turned completely upside down.

BEAUTY SHOP FOR RENT is the story of a girl growing up and trying to find a place in the world. Realistic, yet humorous, this is a satisfying novel that I'm sure many readers will be able relate to. show less

It was nice to see a good clean teen read where the teenager is both strong yet respectful of her elders.

I LOVED this book!!!!!! The old ladies in the book say the funniest things. The main character grows up so fast, planning to be a millionare by age 30. Then when her mother, who left her when she was a young girl, shows up and her life does a complete 360!