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3.49 AVERAGE
3.49 AVERAGE
why did they change all the references to be modern day? it’s so jarring in an otherwise firmly situated mid 2000s environment. so far everything is almost the same as the tv show, and this book was literally only exposition but also took me only like an hour to read so i will be continuing.
Characters
We are all used to the show and how the characters act and look like on there. In the books a lot of things about that are different. They have different hair colors, some of them smoke, etc. I didn’t like Hanna in this book while I do like her in the show. She is like your typical blonde popular girl while in the show we don’t see that side of her too much. I thought all the characters worked out pretty good, they weren’t shallow.
Writing, story, etc
A lot of what happened in this book had to do with the girls boyfriends and they bf-troubles. We read about Hanna and Sean, Emily and Ben (and Maya), about Aria and Ezra and how he read through her texts (!). There also the SpencerxWren storyline going on. Wren was totally different in the book than he is in the show. I feel like if I had read these books before I become a fan of the show I wouldn’t have like Wren at all. The story is not slow but I wouldn’t say it’s quick paced either. Every chapter covers another girl until the end when they come together. This first book is like the first episode of the show but with more details etc. I’m curious for the other books how that will go.
We are all used to the show and how the characters act and look like on there. In the books a lot of things about that are different. They have different hair colors, some of them smoke, etc. I didn’t like Hanna in this book while I do like her in the show. She is like your typical blonde popular girl while in the show we don’t see that side of her too much. I thought all the characters worked out pretty good, they weren’t shallow.
Writing, story, etc
A lot of what happened in this book had to do with the girls boyfriends and they bf-troubles. We read about Hanna and Sean, Emily and Ben (and Maya), about Aria and Ezra and how he read through her texts (!). There also the SpencerxWren storyline going on. Wren was totally different in the book than he is in the show. I feel like if I had read these books before I become a fan of the show I wouldn’t have like Wren at all. The story is not slow but I wouldn’t say it’s quick paced either. Every chapter covers another girl until the end when they come together. This first book is like the first episode of the show but with more details etc. I’m curious for the other books how that will go.
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
RATING: 2.5 stars.
I must say I started watching the TV series before reading this book (before even knowing there was a book), so I already had a good idea about how the story was going to play out.
"Pretty Little Liars" is a quick, easy read about four 16 year old girls who, like every other teenager in the world made mistakes and keep secrets from any adult in their vicinity. The story revolves around these secrets and the consequences of them being discovered.
When Spencer, Aria, Hannah and Emily were 13, they used to be best friends; and there was a fifth girl in their group: Alison DiLaurentis. Alison was the unquestionable leader, the one who was cool and hanged out with older girls. Alison was popular. And Alison knew all their secrets.
So when one night Alison disappears without a trace, the fours girls feel grief... but also some unconfessed relief. Three years later, they have grown apart and barely speak anymore... until they start receiving strange messages from "-A", who seems to know all their secrets, old and new. Could "-A" be Alison? If so, why doesn't she show herself?
This book reminded me of Gossip Girl (at least from what little I watched from the TV series), with the rich people, the scandalous secrets and the mysterious individual who seems to know all said secrets without valid reason. "-A" is the four girls' private Gossip Girl (or boy?) except he/she isn't benevolent and causes a few problems for our heroines.
"Pretty Little Liars" is very obviously the first in a series as not much happens in this book, story-wise; we get to meet the girls, learn about Alison's disappearance and how they grow apart. Messages from "-A" begin to appear but they are very spaced and basically what you get in this book is the setup for the others: you get to meet the protagonists, you have some character development and a cliff-hanger ending.
It was a nice book, overall, but I felt the tone was sometimes a little juvenile and the girls didn't really think like 16-year-olds, they seemed younger. Other than that and the fact that very little actually happened, it was an agreeable read. I'll possibly be reading the other books as I am curious about "-A", the only character that I thought was truly interesting, in a "genius criminal" kind of way.
I must say I started watching the TV series before reading this book (before even knowing there was a book), so I already had a good idea about how the story was going to play out.
"Pretty Little Liars" is a quick, easy read about four 16 year old girls who, like every other teenager in the world made mistakes and keep secrets from any adult in their vicinity. The story revolves around these secrets and the consequences of them being discovered.
When Spencer, Aria, Hannah and Emily were 13, they used to be best friends; and there was a fifth girl in their group: Alison DiLaurentis. Alison was the unquestionable leader, the one who was cool and hanged out with older girls. Alison was popular. And Alison knew all their secrets.
So when one night Alison disappears without a trace, the fours girls feel grief... but also some unconfessed relief. Three years later, they have grown apart and barely speak anymore... until they start receiving strange messages from "-A", who seems to know all their secrets, old and new. Could "-A" be Alison? If so, why doesn't she show herself?
This book reminded me of Gossip Girl (at least from what little I watched from the TV series), with the rich people, the scandalous secrets and the mysterious individual who seems to know all said secrets without valid reason. "-A" is the four girls' private Gossip Girl (or boy?) except he/she isn't benevolent and causes a few problems for our heroines.
"Pretty Little Liars" is very obviously the first in a series as not much happens in this book, story-wise; we get to meet the girls, learn about Alison's disappearance and how they grow apart. Messages from "-A" begin to appear but they are very spaced and basically what you get in this book is the setup for the others: you get to meet the protagonists, you have some character development and a cliff-hanger ending.
It was a nice book, overall, but I felt the tone was sometimes a little juvenile and the girls didn't really think like 16-year-olds, they seemed younger. Other than that and the fact that very little actually happened, it was an agreeable read. I'll possibly be reading the other books as I am curious about "-A", the only character that I thought was truly interesting, in a "genius criminal" kind of way.
I did not like anything about this book. Although the book ended in a cliffhanger, it was not an impetus enough for me to read the whole series.
The eternal high-end brand name dropping is annoying (we get it--the girls come from rich families). While I comprehend that this book is merely the first in a larger series, it ends lacks any sort of resolution.
This review will be extended, but in short, this book is much darker and deeper than the series spin-off. The pilot is basically a much more chaste, TV friendly adaption of this entire book. Some events spilling off into other episodes, but I feel the story changed much in adaption. I love that the friends find it much harder to come together. The fact that it takes an entire /novel/ to realize they are on the same page and even begin to acknowledge each other is fantastic and testament to the author's skill. Yes, this is no Dicken's social critique. But this is very interesting, and, yes, more believable than the show. I mean, I could not get that these girls were deathly afraid of their secrets being exposed. These twinges are much darker and slightly more serious. Still only faux-pas labeled and gossip worthy, not /real/ intent for murder. These characters with all their flaws and their facets are awesome. Feel so much more grown up than the TV show characters. Haha, sorry to keep comparing those two.
So yes, if you are looking to see if you should read this, yes, you should. It is surprisingly riveting.
So yes, if you are looking to see if you should read this, yes, you should. It is surprisingly riveting.
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
I was shocked how much the show followed it exactly
I somehow managed to never watch an episode of this show or know anything more than the main gist of this mysterious “A” person sending messages to her old friends after a mysterious disappearance. I have to say, I liked this book way more than I thought I would.
I listened to the audio and it took a good bit to figure out which girl was which because their voices were all the same person. But once I had them each figured out, it was smooth sailing.
Definitely will be continuing on with this series!
I listened to the audio and it took a good bit to figure out which girl was which because their voices were all the same person. But once I had them each figured out, it was smooth sailing.
Definitely will be continuing on with this series!