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brasilii's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kosmond's review against another edition
3.0
There's not much to say about this book that I haven't already said about the first 2. The suspense of Perfect is there and will keep you on the edge of your seat. Things in the novel started to become clearer and sometimes you'll get that "a-ha!" moment when you figure something out (or think you have).
The characters are all the same, they haven't changed one bit, and I like that about this book. Along with the characters being true for all 3 novels, the action, suspense, drama and excitment is true too. I'm glad that I have number 4 to jump right into because with the ending of Perfect, you will want and need to have Unbelievable in your hands to start right away.
I'm excited to be able to see what else A has planned and see what get's revealed in Pretty Little Liars #4 since I've heard that this is where the good (better), juicy stuff comes out!
If you haven't already, you should definitely grab these books to read. You wont be disappointed, and they are quick, easy reads for in between some of the other books that are on you pile to read!
The characters are all the same, they haven't changed one bit, and I like that about this book. Along with the characters being true for all 3 novels, the action, suspense, drama and excitment is true too. I'm glad that I have number 4 to jump right into because with the ending of Perfect, you will want and need to have Unbelievable in your hands to start right away.
I'm excited to be able to see what else A has planned and see what get's revealed in Pretty Little Liars #4 since I've heard that this is where the good (better), juicy stuff comes out!
If you haven't already, you should definitely grab these books to read. You wont be disappointed, and they are quick, easy reads for in between some of the other books that are on you pile to read!
0liviamarie's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
vanessa177's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not even sure how to rate books by Sara Shepard anymore. This book has a lot of problems. It took ages for the plot to really begin. A lot of the book felt like filler. We see the same scene retold at least half a dozen times, and new information is not always revealed. Often, I start to wonder why the girls aren't acting a little more paranoid. The are not actively trying to figure out who A is, and they continually give A new blackmail material. A big portion of the plot deals with repressed memories, which just seems like a cheap plot device, especially since it is only really introduced in this book. The prose is purple but also as shallow as possible.
I even have some issues with characterization. Hanna's mother is home sometimes now, and she even expresses a mild amount of concern for Hanna. Spencer's parents somehow become slightly sympathetic, but it is all through things that we're told rather than shown. Okay, they're not sympathetic, but they are at least out of the running for most terrible parents in this series. Sean is no longer a perfect saint, without any real reason. (Don't worry, he's being replaced by a new saintly teenage boy.) Melissa sprouts a mustache for twirling purposes and becomes a cartoon villain.
Despite all of this, Pretty Little Liars remains really good trash. The first half of the book is so boring; however, Shepard brings this book to the most climactic conclusion possible without making any reveals. The last ten chapters, at least, are filled with suspense. A is really doing their best to ruin these girls' lives, and it is the perfect hook to come back for more. Until I reached the climax, this review would have completely bashed the book. It might have even reached one star level at some points. But I'm reading these books for the explosive endings, and this one really delivered.
I even have some issues with characterization. Hanna's mother is home sometimes now, and she even expresses a mild amount of concern for Hanna. Spencer's parents somehow become slightly sympathetic, but it is all through things that we're told rather than shown. Okay, they're not sympathetic, but they are at least out of the running for most terrible parents in this series. Sean is no longer a perfect saint, without any real reason. (Don't worry, he's being replaced by a new saintly teenage boy.) Melissa sprouts a mustache for twirling purposes and becomes a cartoon villain.
Despite all of this, Pretty Little Liars remains really good trash. The first half of the book is so boring; however, Shepard brings this book to the most climactic conclusion possible without making any reveals. The last ten chapters, at least, are filled with suspense. A is really doing their best to ruin these girls' lives, and it is the perfect hook to come back for more. Until I reached the climax, this review would have completely bashed the book. It might have even reached one star level at some points. But I'm reading these books for the explosive endings, and this one really delivered.
axellesbooks's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
karenholmes's review against another edition
3.0
Guilty pleasure to sneak in between big reads just for the sake of it. It is still odd to see the girls different from the TV show, but anyway, it is a fun, quick and easy read to forget about everything and loose yourself in it.
lelemontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
Not as bad as I thought but cringy all the way through till the end
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
Wow, where Flawless only makes a small contribution to the Pretty Little Liars mystery, Perfect makes up for it tenfold. You discover the identity of Ali's killer, provided the author hasn't lead the reader on a wild goose chase. It also opens up many more questions about who hid her body, while closing more than a few doors on who A could be.
In Flawless I thought Emily's despicable parents had somewhat redeemed themselves, but it turns out they're even worse than Hanna and Spencer's families. They're not as absent or domineering, they're just straight-up twisted. I was utterly disgusted at the thought of them sending Emily to rehab to be "cured" of her sexuality, or going to live with her Puritanical relatives who believe sexuality = evil.
I think the author did an amazing job here, because I was so frustrated and disgusted that half the time I couldn't decide whether I wanted to headdesk, stab the parents, or just sit there making this face D: for an hour. It's so fucking backwards that it just makes me sick. Emily's parents better explain away their hatred in the next book, or I think I just might explode.
I think it's almost as bad that A would reveal Emily's sexuality the way they did, and how they would embarrass Hanna at Mona's party. I knew they weren't playing games, but it seems like they've taken a slightly more evil turn - which was obviously cemented by running Hanna over with the car. If they don't meet a painful demise in book 8 I know I'm going to be seriously displeased. >:|
On a ~lighter note, I LOVE what's happening with Spencer and her descent into madness. I love that she finally snapped and pwned Melissa, and I love that she's finally figured out that she's Ali's killer. I've had suspicions about the hypnosis and Spencer since the first book, but thought that maybe all 4 of them had killed Ali and blocked it out. My interest was definitely piqued by clues and A's epilogue in Flawless, and I figured it out early on in Perfect. Now I'm just worried that Spencer didn't actually kill Ali, and that the author will explain it all away as Spencer being stressed and crazy.
After the events of this book it's safe to say that I no longer suspect Mona or Ezra as A, and obviously not Ali's killer. I figure Ezra wouldn't have dobbed himself in for his tryst with Aria, and Mona just doesn't seem like she's A based on her confusion over the lipo rumour. I'm 90% sure she's going to the burns clinic for her own treatment though, and I'm interested to hear the story behind that and if she's friends with Jenna.
I still suspect Jenna, especially since she was conspicuously absent from this book. I feel like the author was trying to deflect attention and suspicion away from her, since she's supposedly blind and incapable of being A. I don't think Mona is A per se, but I think she could be in cahoots with Jenna because the burns clinic is just too much of a coincidence.
Since Lucas has actually been introduced in the books, I guess I'm free to suspect him too. I'll have to read on though to confirm my suspicions, because he doesn't seem as obvious and self-incriminating as he is in the show. I'm also suspecting that A and the person who moved Ali's body are not the same person, and I'm suspecting Ian of doing the latter with Spencer's help. Then again, maybe Ali told Ian everything and he's also A.
I have the feeling that the ending is going to completely blindside me though, and I'll read back over my reviews and feel quite stupid for not figuring it out earlier ;]
Overall: If you loved Pretty Little Liars and hated how Flawless didn't seem to go anywhere, then you'll LOVE Perfect. The secret of Ali's killer is unveiled, and things start slowly spiralling downward.
In Flawless I thought Emily's despicable parents had somewhat redeemed themselves, but it turns out they're even worse than Hanna and Spencer's families. They're not as absent or domineering, they're just straight-up twisted. I was utterly disgusted at the thought of them sending Emily to rehab to be "cured" of her sexuality, or going to live with her Puritanical relatives who believe sexuality = evil.
I think the author did an amazing job here, because I was so frustrated and disgusted that half the time I couldn't decide whether I wanted to headdesk, stab the parents, or just sit there making this face D: for an hour. It's so fucking backwards that it just makes me sick. Emily's parents better explain away their hatred in the next book, or I think I just might explode.
I think it's almost as bad that A would reveal Emily's sexuality the way they did, and how they would embarrass Hanna at Mona's party. I knew they weren't playing games, but it seems like they've taken a slightly more evil turn - which was obviously cemented by running Hanna over with the car. If they don't meet a painful demise in book 8 I know I'm going to be seriously displeased. >:|
On a ~lighter note, I LOVE what's happening with Spencer and her descent into madness. I love that she finally snapped and pwned Melissa, and I love that she's finally figured out that she's Ali's killer. I've had suspicions about the hypnosis and Spencer since the first book, but thought that maybe all 4 of them had killed Ali and blocked it out. My interest was definitely piqued by clues and A's epilogue in Flawless, and I figured it out early on in Perfect. Now I'm just worried that Spencer didn't actually kill Ali, and that the author will explain it all away as Spencer being stressed and crazy.
After the events of this book it's safe to say that I no longer suspect Mona or Ezra as A, and obviously not Ali's killer. I figure Ezra wouldn't have dobbed himself in for his tryst with Aria, and Mona just doesn't seem like she's A based on her confusion over the lipo rumour. I'm 90% sure she's going to the burns clinic for her own treatment though, and I'm interested to hear the story behind that and if she's friends with Jenna.
I still suspect Jenna, especially since she was conspicuously absent from this book. I feel like the author was trying to deflect attention and suspicion away from her, since she's supposedly blind and incapable of being A. I don't think Mona is A per se, but I think she could be in cahoots with Jenna because the burns clinic is just too much of a coincidence.
Since Lucas has actually been introduced in the books, I guess I'm free to suspect him too. I'll have to read on though to confirm my suspicions, because he doesn't seem as obvious and self-incriminating as he is in the show. I'm also suspecting that A and the person who moved Ali's body are not the same person, and I'm suspecting Ian of doing the latter with Spencer's help. Then again, maybe Ali told Ian everything and he's also A.
I have the feeling that the ending is going to completely blindside me though, and I'll read back over my reviews and feel quite stupid for not figuring it out earlier ;]
Overall: If you loved Pretty Little Liars and hated how Flawless didn't seem to go anywhere, then you'll LOVE Perfect. The secret of Ali's killer is unveiled, and things start slowly spiralling downward.