I’ve heard about the TV show, Pretty Little Liars, and while I’ve never seen an episode, I have humored the thought that in another life (younger, more time, if I knew what channel it was on) it might be a show that I’d watch. I had no idea that it was based on a book series, though, until I found it at my local Friends of the Library book sale for a quarter. What follows are my honest thoughts about this book. (Don’t judge.)
I wasn’t particularly impressed by the writing. I was quite worried to discover that I was reading about 7th graders, then quite relieved to find the characters are only that young for the first chapter. These girls are much naughtier than the adult women in the books I normally read. (Not that I wasn’t this age myself and that I don’t realize what goes on – I claim the 5th on ever misbehaving myself in any way – but I was slightly shocked that mothers let their daughters read this, and could not decide at what age I’d expose my daughter, if I had one, to this book.) I didn’t connect with any of the characters, and was almost through the book by the time I was able to keep them straight.
BUT – I’m hooked. I have to know what happens. Who is A? What does she have in store for these girls? I couldn’t sleep after finishing this book because I was so busy listing suspects and scenarios to identify and/or explain A. I’ll admit it – I felt myself blushing when my husband looked at the cover of this book, then at me with a questioning look – but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that this series is my newest guilty pleasure. 4.5 stars.
I LOVE that you read this book! Yay for guilty pleasures! Of which it definitely is. I agree with you. I read it because it was popular back in the day (same goes for Gossip Girls) but I could never really connect with the characters (Not like Meg Cabot’s or Ann Brashares) but I still had to read all the books to find out what happened. I will warn you it was originally suppose to be eight books or so. but because of the popularity and the television show she expanded it. There are sixteen books. I admit the latter books do drag on and become repetitive. But definitely a quick guilty read 🙂 ❤
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I totally agree – my reviews are usually a month or two behind my reading, so I’ve finished the series – and ordered season 1 of the show on DVD 🙄. The series lasted way too long, but as a writer, Shepard definitely did a lot of things right, and hooked a lot of readers, making it a series to study for writing success. I was a little older when Gossip Girls started, so never watched it, but I did arrange my classes so I’d never miss an episode of Buffy.
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Hehe enjoy! At least now you can binge watch all of them! Yes it did. I definitely agree! It is interesting because books I wouldn’t necessarily consider exemplary writing (Fifty Shades for one and I have read books in that genre that have similar but much more likable characters and better writing then that series) seem to cultivate a cult like following. It always intrigues me.
Lol oh my gosh I love it! I miss Buffy and Angel! I remember when Christian Kane starred in Leverage, I was so proud because I knew him when! lol :p ❤
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