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vanessa177's review against another edition
2.0
The big problem is that this book has the same plot as the rest of the books in this series. It really feels like all of the girls are repeating the same mistakes that they made before. The entire book feels like filler. Not a whole lot happens in this book. Structurally, this book is very similar to the previous book. It really emphasizes the feeling that this series has told this same story before. When the same things happen to characters over and over again, it just isn't trashy fun anymore.
There are still some aspects of the story that I liked much more than the previous book, earning this two stars. Unlike the previous book, we did not start this book with a lot of exciting plot developments, only for them to be ignored. At the end of the previous book, it looked like Hanna should have an interesting story for this book. While I did not love it, Hanna's chapters in this book at least continued with what Shepard set up in the previous book.
If you are very concerned about spoilers, you might want to skip this part, though everything I mention occurs at least a little past the half-way point of the novel. All these books have problematic elements, but the one that is standing out to me the most is what these books seem to be saying about young women having relationships with older men. The book seems to be implying that Ali instigated a relationship with Ian, who is sometimes painted as completely innocent in the situation. Again, Aria's story centers around her relationship with an older man. This case seems to subvert the usual message of the series, but it did not work for me. It feels more like the message has just changed to statutory rape is fine, as long as the guy isn't in his thirties, because it's creepy then.
There are still some aspects of the story that I liked much more than the previous book, earning this two stars. Unlike the previous book, we did not start this book with a lot of exciting plot developments, only for them to be ignored. At the end of the previous book, it looked like Hanna should have an interesting story for this book. While I did not love it, Hanna's chapters in this book at least continued with what Shepard set up in the previous book.
If you are very concerned about spoilers, you might want to skip this part, though everything I mention occurs at least a little past the half-way point of the novel. All these books have problematic elements, but the one that is standing out to me the most is what these books seem to be saying about young women having relationships with older men. The book seems to be implying that Ali instigated a relationship with Ian, who is sometimes painted as completely innocent in the situation. Again, Aria's story centers around her relationship with an older man. This case seems to subvert the usual message of the series, but it did not work for me. It feels more like the message has just changed to statutory rape is fine, as long as the guy isn't in his thirties, because it's creepy then.
almags_'s review
4.0
Dios, Sara, no me puedes dejar así.
Y mucho menos, haber eliminado así a Lucas, lo adoraba y Hanna y él eran adorables.
A Emily se la tenía muy olvidada, un personaje plano, plano y sin muchas cosas que contar además de su vida sentimental. Y sí, han escrito sobre ella, pero solamente para decir que a conocido a alguien. ¿Algún día conoceremos más cosas sobre ti, Emily, que tu sexualidad? No creo. Pero bueno, al nuevo novio de Emily se le ve majo, pero creo que algo va ir mal, me lo huelo.
Duele ver cómo tratan las familias a Spencer, que son de lo peor, solamente preocupándose por la reputación), y a Hanna (su padre, asqueroso, más pendiente de su hijastra que de su verdadera hija) y seguramente vaya a peor próximamente.
Y, Aria, eres tonta. ¿No hay más chicos en este mundo para coquetear que con el novio de tu madre? ¿Lo haces a posta?
Ahora están las dudas de Ian. ¿Quién lo ha matado? ¿Fue suicidio? ¿Mató a Ali realmente?
No hay mucho que decir, solamente un continuo "guau". Estos libros siempre están llenos de sorpresas y no sabes lo que te puede llegar en el próximo capítulo.
Es un libro muy rápido de leer, pero hay muchos detalles tontos y descripciones pesadas.
Tengo muchísimas ganas del siguiente, de descubrir la verdad sobre Spencer y Kate o cómo se las va a apañar ahora Aria.
Y mucho menos, haber eliminado así a Lucas, lo adoraba y Hanna y él eran adorables.
A Emily se la tenía muy olvidada, un personaje plano, plano y sin muchas cosas que contar además de su vida sentimental. Y sí, han escrito sobre ella, pero solamente para decir que a conocido a alguien. ¿Algún día conoceremos más cosas sobre ti, Emily, que tu sexualidad? No creo. Pero bueno, al nuevo novio de Emily se le ve majo, pero creo que algo va ir mal, me lo huelo.
Duele ver cómo tratan las familias a Spencer, que son de lo peor, solamente preocupándose por la reputación), y a Hanna (su padre, asqueroso, más pendiente de su hijastra que de su verdadera hija) y seguramente vaya a peor próximamente.
Y, Aria, eres tonta. ¿No hay más chicos en este mundo para coquetear que con el novio de tu madre? ¿Lo haces a posta?
Ahora están las dudas de Ian. ¿Quién lo ha matado? ¿Fue suicidio? ¿Mató a Ali realmente?
No hay mucho que decir, solamente un continuo "guau". Estos libros siempre están llenos de sorpresas y no sabes lo que te puede llegar en el próximo capítulo.
Es un libro muy rápido de leer, pero hay muchos detalles tontos y descripciones pesadas.
Tengo muchísimas ganas del siguiente, de descubrir la verdad sobre Spencer y Kate o cómo se las va a apañar ahora Aria.
naya04's review against another edition
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
karenholmes's review against another edition
3.0
Guilty pleasure again trying to sneak some reads during commuting time. Perfect read to forget about evil day job and problems of growing up. It still annoys me all the heavy designer marks and references but at least the descriptions are a bit more elaborate.
candiedbooks's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
lelemontgomery's review against another edition
4.0
Well, actually the fifth book was better than the others so far.
I loved how things went by and how the characters, our main four girls had to face them.
But I do not quite got a hint who‘s A this time.
I totally have to read the number six to find that out soon and still ten more books to go.
But I did had some issues with some situations in this book too.
Aria and the artist called Wolfgang,turns out to be her mothers date, because he used a fake name for his online dating and his real name is Xavier. Quite not what I was expecting when the door bell rang and Aria opened and saw her future date (which indeed she almost kissed back at the artist gallery)
And now it’s her moms date?
Sara Shepard, what the f***?!
Still a good series and so far the further you‘re into it the better it gets
I loved how things went by and how the characters, our main four girls had to face them.
But I do not quite got a hint who‘s A this time.
I totally have to read the number six to find that out soon and still ten more books to go.
But I did had some issues with some situations in this book too.
Aria and the artist called Wolfgang,turns out to be her mothers date, because he used a fake name for his online dating and his real name is Xavier. Quite not what I was expecting when the door bell rang and Aria opened and saw her future date (which indeed she almost kissed back at the artist gallery)
And now it’s her moms date?
Sara Shepard, what the f***?!
Still a good series and so far the further you‘re into it the better it gets
ihateprozac's review against another edition
5.0
It might have taken me a while to get around to finishing Wicked, but I'm still terribly enjoying these books! In Wicked there's a new A in town, and serious doubts are raised around Ian being Ali's killer. Though if you've read the previous books in the series - or even my reviews - you'll know that all is never what it seems anyway. I have to admit I feel like I'm forever in the dark here, and I suspect I'll be on a rollercoaster until the very last page of the 8th book.
But that doesn't mean I can't still theorise! Based on some accidental/potential spoilers from a friend and hints in the book, I'm entertaining the possibility that the author is going to chalk it all up to some secret evil Ali twin. Ian saw another blonde in the clearing with Ali, and until the author starts dropping hints about another blonde in town I'm going with the evil-twin-that-lives-in-the-basement theory.
Also, although I initially suspected Ian, I started to doubt that he was Ali's killer even before I began reading Wicked. It all seemed too convenient, and I've become more than familiar with how Sara Shepard builds up your confidence that you've figured it all out, only to completely destroy your theories in the next book. Ian was so adamant about being innocent, and though he'd dropped a creepy line a few years ago it didn't seem like he was capable of murder. If he'd killed Ali I feel like it would've been by accident, much like Spencer pushing Ali.
I almost feel like I need to create a timeline and web of all the characters I've suspected in this series so far! I've suspected Ezra, Lucas, Mona, Jenna, Spencer, Maya, Melissa and Ian, and I think now I'm adding Jason and an evil basement dwelling twin to that list. I'm unsure whether to suspect Kate, because although she sounds like an evil bitch, she may just be that - a bitch. At this stage I believe that she's plotting Hanna's downfall, though I don't think murder is in her repetoire.
I think the author is stretching it if she's going to link Kate to Mona as new A. I think if Kate is involved as A, there are 2 options. 1) Mona told Naomi and Riley things, and Kate is finding out through them, and 2) Kate and Ali have kept in touch over the years, after the author revealed Ali told Kate about Hanna's purging 4 years ago. Then again, maybe Riley and Naomi are both new A, and Mona left them a legacy.
As far as Ali's killer goes, I think this book also presents 2 options: Jason and Lucas. I'm betting the author will dash my hopes in the next book, but I have to admit Jason DiLaurentis was shady as fuck in Wicked. He was weirdly overprotective of Ali when Ian joked about killing her, and Jason stealing Ali's Time Capsule flag was just bizarre. If my evil basement dwelling twin theory is a bust, Jason certainly presents some interesting options. Maybe he got into a fight with Ali about Ian and accidentally killed her? Or maybe he just really hated Ali for being a vindictive bitch?
In the past I mainly suspected Lucas because of how he acts in the show, but his absence at the fundraiser in Wicked is setting off alarm bells. We know Ali taunted him and called him a hermaphrodite, so he'd definitely have cause to hate her and possibly kill her. But then new A also claims that Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hanna got what A always wanted, so he could be jealous of them and also be new A. Mona managed to innocently worm her way into Hanna's life and maintain a front, so it's possible that Lucas is doing the same. Then again, maybe his absence at the party is entirely innocent, and I'll feel a bit stupid when I finish Killer.
Officer Darren Wilden is also rather shady in Wicked, though I can't tell if it's a red herring or not. There's a possibility he was involved in Ali's death and then went on the straight and narrow afterwards, but we just don't know enough about him at this point. He's having weird angry phone conversations, but that's about it. Unless I hear more about him in Killer, I'm going to file him away under 'maybe but not right now'.
On a completely unrelated note, I'm really fascinated by Spencer's potential adoption, and why her parents are suddenly acting so weird! I know the Golden Orchid fiasco was an embarrassment and it's been a while since I last picked up this book, but her parents' behaviour just seems so out of the blue. If there's not some weird family secret related to Spencer's birth conditions or omission from the will, I'll be really disappointed. Mrs DiLaurentis was really weird toward the girls at the trial, and I think it'd be fascinating if Spencer were really a DiLaurentis.
When it comes to Hanna, I'm getting really aggravated by her Dad and Kate. Poor girl can't seem to catch a break! If Hanna can't find something to discredit Kate in her father's eyes soon, I might have to slam my head against a desk. Or wall. Or tiled floor. I was beginning to trust Kate after the apology for her behaviour at Le-Bec-Fin, but she's just as big a bitch as ever. That being said, I'm really fascinated to find out what the "complications" after sleeping with that guy were.
I'm also mildly aggravated by the Aria/Xavier situation, because I feel it's just annoying filler and that Aria can't catch a break either. She falls in love with Ezra, and there are complications with that because he's her teacher. She gets with Sean, and he turns out to be a douche who rats her and Ezra out. She almost gets with Xavier, then it turns out he's dating her mother. Xavier then becomes hella creepy and moves toward rapist/axe murderer territory. If Aria were faced with some other conflict it'd be fine, but more boy problems that could also potentially ruin her already strained family relationships? Tell me that's not annoying.
On the other hand, I love where things are going for Emily. I was a little bit annoyed that the author made her like boys again, but the confusion over her sexuality and reluctance to tell Isaac made for an interesting story. Though I guess I should empathise with Hanna's eating disorder and Aria and Spencer's family problems, the only girl I really connect with is Emily. I can't say I've experienced anything similar, but I feel like her issues are the most believable and relatable. I think the author's done a great job creating this character and weaving her story.
Overall: There are no revelations about new A, though the author clears a few things up with Ali's killer. But in true Sara Shepard style, nothing should be taken at face value because we'll all be made to feel like idiots in the next book. There are some great developments with Spencer and Emily, and you're guaranteed to headdesk over even more drama with Kate.
But that doesn't mean I can't still theorise! Based on some accidental/potential spoilers from a friend and hints in the book, I'm entertaining the possibility that the author is going to chalk it all up to some secret evil Ali twin. Ian saw another blonde in the clearing with Ali, and until the author starts dropping hints about another blonde in town I'm going with the evil-twin-that-lives-in-the-basement theory.
Also, although I initially suspected Ian, I started to doubt that he was Ali's killer even before I began reading Wicked. It all seemed too convenient, and I've become more than familiar with how Sara Shepard builds up your confidence that you've figured it all out, only to completely destroy your theories in the next book. Ian was so adamant about being innocent, and though he'd dropped a creepy line a few years ago it didn't seem like he was capable of murder. If he'd killed Ali I feel like it would've been by accident, much like Spencer pushing Ali.
I almost feel like I need to create a timeline and web of all the characters I've suspected in this series so far! I've suspected Ezra, Lucas, Mona, Jenna, Spencer, Maya, Melissa and Ian, and I think now I'm adding Jason and an evil basement dwelling twin to that list. I'm unsure whether to suspect Kate, because although she sounds like an evil bitch, she may just be that - a bitch. At this stage I believe that she's plotting Hanna's downfall, though I don't think murder is in her repetoire.
I think the author is stretching it if she's going to link Kate to Mona as new A. I think if Kate is involved as A, there are 2 options. 1) Mona told Naomi and Riley things, and Kate is finding out through them, and 2) Kate and Ali have kept in touch over the years, after the author revealed Ali told Kate about Hanna's purging 4 years ago. Then again, maybe Riley and Naomi are both new A, and Mona left them a legacy.
As far as Ali's killer goes, I think this book also presents 2 options: Jason and Lucas. I'm betting the author will dash my hopes in the next book, but I have to admit Jason DiLaurentis was shady as fuck in Wicked. He was weirdly overprotective of Ali when Ian joked about killing her, and Jason stealing Ali's Time Capsule flag was just bizarre. If my evil basement dwelling twin theory is a bust, Jason certainly presents some interesting options. Maybe he got into a fight with Ali about Ian and accidentally killed her? Or maybe he just really hated Ali for being a vindictive bitch?
In the past I mainly suspected Lucas because of how he acts in the show, but his absence at the fundraiser in Wicked is setting off alarm bells. We know Ali taunted him and called him a hermaphrodite, so he'd definitely have cause to hate her and possibly kill her. But then new A also claims that Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hanna got what A always wanted, so he could be jealous of them and also be new A. Mona managed to innocently worm her way into Hanna's life and maintain a front, so it's possible that Lucas is doing the same. Then again, maybe his absence at the party is entirely innocent, and I'll feel a bit stupid when I finish Killer.
Officer Darren Wilden is also rather shady in Wicked, though I can't tell if it's a red herring or not. There's a possibility he was involved in Ali's death and then went on the straight and narrow afterwards, but we just don't know enough about him at this point. He's having weird angry phone conversations, but that's about it. Unless I hear more about him in Killer, I'm going to file him away under 'maybe but not right now'.
On a completely unrelated note, I'm really fascinated by Spencer's potential adoption, and why her parents are suddenly acting so weird! I know the Golden Orchid fiasco was an embarrassment and it's been a while since I last picked up this book, but her parents' behaviour just seems so out of the blue. If there's not some weird family secret related to Spencer's birth conditions or omission from the will, I'll be really disappointed. Mrs DiLaurentis was really weird toward the girls at the trial, and I think it'd be fascinating if Spencer were really a DiLaurentis.
When it comes to Hanna, I'm getting really aggravated by her Dad and Kate. Poor girl can't seem to catch a break! If Hanna can't find something to discredit Kate in her father's eyes soon, I might have to slam my head against a desk. Or wall. Or tiled floor. I was beginning to trust Kate after the apology for her behaviour at Le-Bec-Fin, but she's just as big a bitch as ever. That being said, I'm really fascinated to find out what the "complications" after sleeping with that guy were.
I'm also mildly aggravated by the Aria/Xavier situation, because I feel it's just annoying filler and that Aria can't catch a break either. She falls in love with Ezra, and there are complications with that because he's her teacher. She gets with Sean, and he turns out to be a douche who rats her and Ezra out. She almost gets with Xavier, then it turns out he's dating her mother. Xavier then becomes hella creepy and moves toward rapist/axe murderer territory. If Aria were faced with some other conflict it'd be fine, but more boy problems that could also potentially ruin her already strained family relationships? Tell me that's not annoying.
On the other hand, I love where things are going for Emily. I was a little bit annoyed that the author made her like boys again, but the confusion over her sexuality and reluctance to tell Isaac made for an interesting story. Though I guess I should empathise with Hanna's eating disorder and Aria and Spencer's family problems, the only girl I really connect with is Emily. I can't say I've experienced anything similar, but I feel like her issues are the most believable and relatable. I think the author's done a great job creating this character and weaving her story.
Overall: There are no revelations about new A, though the author clears a few things up with Ali's killer. But in true Sara Shepard style, nothing should be taken at face value because we'll all be made to feel like idiots in the next book. There are some great developments with Spencer and Emily, and you're guaranteed to headdesk over even more drama with Kate.
lovemydolphins's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best PLL books! It's a good way to come off the first arc (first 4 books, first A, etc.). The girls' storylines were interesting and I definitely wanted to know what happened next (especially with Spencer and her "mom"). I think any PLL fan will appreciate this and find it a page-turner!
anikarajan's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
slower book for sure with the most exciting thing being the fundraiser party ofc - i was really looking forward to a trial but alas i don't think there ever is one
i think i like emily being bi because her struggles feel really real.
sara’s writing is improving though, definitely more descriptions and scene setting.
poor hanna - her PTSD is probably one of the most compelling parts of this book. New A finds it so easy to manipulate her because of her trauma and I love that the book focuses on her trauma specifically because she was the precious A’s friend. I just want her to be happy.
i think i like emily being bi because her struggles feel really real.
sara’s writing is improving though, definitely more descriptions and scene setting.
poor hanna - her PTSD is probably one of the most compelling parts of this book. New A finds it so easy to manipulate her because of her trauma and I love that the book focuses on her trauma specifically because she was the precious A’s friend. I just want her to be happy.
lillydowty's review against another edition
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75