Pretty Little Liars

Pretty Little Liars


By: Sara Shepard
Reviewed by: Annabelle L., 16
Rating: It was alright...


With all the hype from the TV series and books, I decided to try the first of the "Pretty Little Liars" novels...

Meet Alison DiLaurentis. The social butterfly, the queen bee, the ONE you trust... But also the one you fear, the one that knows ALL your secrets.

Now meet four girls that were her best friends- Spencer Hastings, the 'hyperperfect' person; Aria Montgomery, the weird girl; Emily Fields, the swimmer; Hanna Marin, a girl with uncontrollable eating habits. Each have their own dirty little secrets as well as The Jenna Thing.

Ali goes missing, and for three years, everything is buried, and everyone is- for the most part- relieved.

But then, a mysterious person begins to threaten each of the four girls lives with hidden secrets both past and present; she signs off as "A", but Ali is gone right? So, who is this "A"?

Pretty Little Liars reminds me of a cross between Desparate Housewives and The Clique series. It's a lot more mature than The Clique, and brings up a lot of controversial teen issues today- sexuality, relationships with older people, eating disorders, sibling rivalry, overachievement, etc.. It's a suspense drama that you can and can't see happening at the same time.

For me personally, it's a good quick read on rainy (or sick) days, though the mystery part of it appeals to me, especially because at every corner, sometimes you just don't know what to expect. I liked the ways Shepard also wrote the book in the four girls different parts, which tells their own little stories over a grand big one, which helps connect the reader more so to the girls, despite their little faults.

Some of the different parts seemed either too rushed or maybe not enough explanation, though the mystery part of it probably is the reason why. For a modern day teen fic, it's fun, enjoyable, and leaves you wanting more.


Recommended to: older teenage girls