A review by lelemontgomery
Twisted by Sara Shepard

1.0

Pretty Little Liars: Twisted by Sara Shepard - A Dark and Intriguing Sequel

Pretty Little Liars: Twisted is the ninth novel in the popular YA mystery-thriller series by Sara Shepard that inspired the hit TV show of the same name. It continues the twisty and suspenseful story of four former best friends from a small town in Pennsylvania who are haunted by a mysterious and dangerous nemesis known as "A." In this installment, the girls have graduated from high school and started their college lives, but their troubles persist as they try to unravel the ever-complicated web of lies, secrets, and manipulations that surround them.

The book starts with a prologue that revisits the infamous night when Alison DiLaurentis, the charismatic and cruel leader of the clique, disappeared, leaving her friends Spencer Hastings, Aria Montgomery, Hanna Marin, and Emily Fields with a mix of guilt, fear, and suspicion towards each other. This prologue is a clever way to evoke the central theme of the series, which is the past that refuses to stay buried and the secrets that have a way of resurfacing and causing chaos. It also sets up the mystery of the new plot, which involves a disturbing and elusive stalker who sends threatening messages to each of the girls, promising to reveal their darkest secrets and destroy their lives.

One of the strengths of Twisted, and the series as a whole, is its ability to weave multiple plotlines and subplots that intersect and create a web of tension and uncertainty. Each of the girls has her own story arc and conflicts, but they are also linked to each other and to the overarching mystery of "A." For example, Spencer, the brilliant and competitive overachiever with family issues, is struggling with her relationship with her boyfriend Wren and her attraction to her sister's fiancé Ian. Aria, the artistic and independent rebel with a secret relationship with her English teacher Ezra, is torn between her loyalty to him and her desire to explore other options. Hanna, the stylish and bubbly queen bee who has transformed herself from a bullied girl into a popular socialite, is dealing with her shoplifting addiction and her fear of being exposed. Emily, the sporty and sensitive lesbian who has come out to her conservative family, is facing prejudice and rejection from some of her peers and relatives. These subplots are not just filler or distractions, but integral parts of the larger story that reveal the personalities, motivations, and vulnerabilities of the characters, and create a sense of realism and depth.

Another strength of Twisted, and the series, is its portrayal of the dynamics of friendship, especially the fragility, complexity, and intimacy of teenage friendships. The four girls have a long and complicated history with each other, full of betrayals, rivalries, and secrets, but also of loyalty, forgiveness, and love. Their relationship with each other is both a source of strength and weakness, as they need each other to survive and thrive, but also struggle to trust and communicate with each other. This theme of friendship is what distinguishes Pretty Little Liars from other YA thrillers that focus more on individual heroines or anti-heroines, and elevates it to a more empathetic and relatable level.

The suspense and mystery of Twisted are also well-executed, as Shepard keeps the readers guessing and doubting the identities and motives of "A" and some of the other suspects. The clues and red herrings are cleverly planted and twisted, and the reveals and twists at the end are satisfying and shocking at the same time. The pacing is tight and fast, with short and snappy chapters that switch between the points of view of the girls and some of the other characters. The dialogue is snappy and ironic, with a dash of humor and self-awareness that prevents the book from being too grim or melodramatic.

However, Twisted is not without some flaws or drawbacks. One of them is its reliance on some clichés or tropes of the genre, such as the love triangles or squares that add some romantic tension but also distract from the larger plot. Another is its occasional tendency to overload the plot with too many characters, subplots, or twists, which can make the book feel overcrowded or confusing at times. Moreover, some readers may find the behavior or decisions of the characters unrealistic or frustrating, especially when it comes to their repeated mistakes or lack of caution. However, these flaws are not major enough to ruin the enjoyment of the book or the series as a whole.

In summary, Pretty Little Liars: Twisted is a dark and intriguing sequel that delivers on the promises of the series and adds new layers of suspense, drama, and emotion. It explores the themes of the past, secrets, and friendship with depth and complexity, and keeps the readers hooked with its mystery and reveals. If you are a fan of YA thriller, mystery, or drama, or if you are curious about the source material of the TV show, Twisted is a must-read.