Flawless

*small spoilers from previous book and this book*

Wow, I really wish I could say that flawless was flawless, but alas, I cannot. Sadface. Although the plot and all the subplots with the different characters was really, amazing-- wren and Spencer made me wanna puke. Everyone else was okay, though.

I mean, seriously. Spencer is like my age and wren is like my grandpa. Excuse my exaggeration, but isn't wren technically a pedophile because of this...? Really. I'm just asking here. And they're not even cute together. There's really no spark between them besides how they like the same things. I like the same things as my friends, but that doesn't mean I watch kid shows while doing the horizontal naked dance with them.

Well, I actually do do that first part. But we've all watched Dora with our friends out of boredom and hate for Paula Dean... Y'all.

I'm sorry. I'm getting off track here. Anyways, and what bothered me most was that she did this after Melissa forgave her. Props to you, Melissa. And you suck, Spencer. Seriously. I may not hate you as much as Kate, but in this book, I detested you. But don't take it personally, really.

Besides that, though, flawless really was flawless. The struggles the other characters had to face really were believable.

Emily was just trying to figure out who she was and whether she was a lesbian or no. She was in that confused stage where she didn't know what to do. Oh, and along with that, her ex was trying to rape her. I don't know about you, but she's got it pretty tough. Although this plot was a bit different than what you may think is a relatable plot, it was pretty good. There needs to be at least one partially relatable and not cringeworthy part. Really.

Aria had a not so little secret, and it was spiraling out of control. I feel that Aria's problem was a huge problem that is easily related to things that we're going through- just on a much bigger scale. And as I said before in my other review, all Shepard does is blow it up to full scale and wraps it into words. Again, this is so effing real. I love it.

And last... Hanna. again, she's struggling to be perfect again. But this time, she's being compared to little miss amazing Kate. Well, crap now. Again, Shepard just brings this to life. and oh, Kate is such a bitch. Really. She is that character that I really just want to kill then bring back to life then kill again. *revs up chainsaw* a dead Kate is a happy Jenn! Oh, and I don't really hate Hanna anymore. :P so much pity.

Toby was seriously an amazing new character introduced. It was kinda awkward as to what he did to Jenna back in the good ol' days (here's a secret- when I say that, I don’t know the actual year. ;D) and he was hot. Don’t forget that. Yes, he was very hot. And right until the very end of his life, sara Shepard just brought it alive. I've said that a lot, but it's true. 100% true and amazing. This also ties in with the Jenna Thing which, too, was just epic.

This is not your normal young adult novel. This is epicsauce in a can.

The Pretty Little Liars series is really something. So grab he first book before I stab you or something. 

 

My rating: 4 stars

Pretty Little Liars

*small spoilers*

After months of waiting for my friend to lend me her book, she finally gave me Pretty Little Liars. Hurrah! Screw her brother’s girlfriend who took the book for like, ever. I could not put down this book. It was intriguing, the voice and descriptions were vivid, and I just flat out loved it like an American loves (or despises) McDonalds. Okay. That was a bad analogy. Seriously. I can’t explain how good of a book this is: it really portrays the anguish and confusion some of them are going through- a lot better than other YA books, no doubt about it. Only a few things bothered me.

The relationships were bothersome. Aria and Ezra were cute together, but illegal. The same with Spencer and Wren. (By the way- that’s such a pretty name. I don’t think a guy should have that name. It’s weird. I thought they should switch names. That would totally work.) Emily being a lesbian was okay- you need at least one unique one. And Hanna was just a bitch to Sean, aka what’s-his-insignificant-virgin-face.

She was also a bitch to her mom. Nuff said right there.

But on the bright side, the plotlines were pretty good, aside from the relationships.

Hanna’s problems as a pre-teen were great for the plot. Feeling imperfect is something teens can relate to today, seeing someone more beautiful and perfect than you is definitely something teens can relate to. Shepard really made Hanna’s pain real and strong, putting it into words. And that’s when she started becoming bulimic.

This part of the plot was just amazing. I feel sympathy for her, even though she is a bitch.

I enjoyed reading about Aria and her complete awkwardness between her and Ezra. I’m a sadist at times. Though I said the relationships weren’t my favorite part, they were completely bad. Just bad. And weird. I don’t know why I liked this Ezra/Aria relationship so much (though I’m totally against this dating a minor thing). Also, Aria was trying to find herself throughout the entire book, seeing as Icelandic Aria was basically a façade. Oh, and her parents. That’s another amazing plotline Shepard just throws in there.

Wow, and I thought YA books were supposed to be about drinking!

Emily is going through this awkward stage where she doesn’t know anything about whether things are love or lust, whether her emotions are true or not. But most of the time, it’s TRUE LOVEEEEE. Oh boy. Or girl. Excitement! But with Emily, Shepard really does put some thought into this instead of “OMG I LUV U SOOOO MUCH Y RN’T U ANSRING UR FONE DONT U LUV MEEE :’(“ Emily really is feeling some conflicting emotions. Yay, no more fake teen drama!

Spencer is falling for her sister’s British, hot, and BRITISH boyfriend with the name of a prissy girl and is trying to stay true to her academics. In the end, she makes out with him naked and her family hates her and wants her to burn in hell.

Call me selfish, but I think this is a pretty good start for a good plotline.

And finally, the main plot is so unique and spectacular. It’s truly a marvel. I mean, we have pregnancy, suicide, and anorexia… but it’s all been done. But your friend haunting you with things that happened years ago?

And your friend is dead- don’t forget that.

This is a new, amazing idea. It’s new, fresh, and Sara Shepard is pulling it off almost perfectly.

Pretty Little Liars was truly an amazing book. Thief girl will most definitely be reading the next few books. And if they’re not good, who cares? It’s a guilty pleasure.

Shepard mixed up intrigue, romance, mystery, murder, hate, revenge, and memories into a big batter of amazingness. And what have we here?

Oh, it’s just the book.

So.

Frigging.

Epic.

My rating: 4 stars