Reviews with content warning for Alcohol - Pretty Little Liars

The best kind of bad. I remember reading this back when I was about twelve to thirteen years old – I was obsessed with the show and wanted to read the books as well – but I ended up abandoning the book series somewhere along the way.

Reading it was very nostalgic, albeit very repetitive at times, since the TV show followed the plot pretty closely. It’s and easy and quick read and it pulls you in, even though it’s not the best written book out there.

I plan on finishing the book series this time.

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fanboyriot's review against another edition

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lighthearted mysterious tense medium-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

4.5

Read For

✓ Nostalgia

✓ Secrets and Lies
✓ Small Town Vibes

✓ High School Drama

✓ Best Friend Murdered

˗ˏˋ ★ REVIEW ★ ˎˊ˗

I love and hate this series so much. The nostalgic vibes this book has is far too comforting to just read once. The mystery of “Alison’s” death is dragged out but in this book things are focused on setting up the world and the gossip of a small town. Rosewood is a place where the kids act like adults and the adults act like teenagers.

This is the book where everything—for basically everyone—goes downhill. Relationships are broken and found—both friend wise and romantic, everything is upped in the dramatics taking simple things and making them a big deal. In a way it’s like a lighthearted mystery; then again it could be just because it’s a nostalgic read, however, it reminds me of a cozy mystery. It told the backstory, and how Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily all went on to live their lives after their best friend’s disappearance. But secrets only stay buried for so long and A lives for drama.

Spice Level: n/a

Angst Level: 💧💧💧

POV: Multiple, Third Person

Release Date: 06, October 2006

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karahildebrand's review against another edition

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funny lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This series is an ideal lighthearted, immersive read. While the writing may be a little exposition heavy or sloppy at times, the conversational gossipy tone from the narrator gives the story so much personality that honestly is lacking in the show, even though i love the show too. The mystery and the characters and their struggles and flaws are incredibly compelling and finishing the book makes you immediately want to pick up the next one. This book certainly delivers on the juicy drama and the lies promised in the title, although the dramatic moments built up to in the plot of this first book are almost immediately revealed for consequences to ensue which is odd given the themes of burying secrets. The worst part was how much attention was given to Ezra and Aria’s relationship, which is just gross and creepy. Overall, the characters aren’t necessarily likeable but they’re not really supposed to be. They are interesting products of both Rosewood (which has far more dimension in the books that the show watered down significantly) and their individual home lives in ways that yield interesting and mostly plausible character flaws and bad habits. While the series may not be high art, it’s effective at what it does and is a really fun and fast read.

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christineazopf's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-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

3.0

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