A review by ihateprozac
Perfect by Sara Shepard

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.