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tbr_withmaya's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
2.0
I didn’t hate it, but I definitely liked it better when I was in middle/high school.
brendalovesbooks's review
2.0
I think reading reviews on Goodreads, and knowing ahead of time that the book just abruptly ends, really helped me not to be as bothered by that as I otherwise might have.
I realized pretty early on that this wasn't really my thing, but at least it was semi-entertaining. I wanted to read it to see if it's something my teenage daughter my like to read. After finishing it, I'm still not sure if she'd like it.
I think the whole thing was pretty forgettable. I won't be anticipating the next book, and will likely forget I even read this by the time the next book came out. I think the author could have done a better job of making people excited for the next book without just stopping in the middle of the plot.
I realized pretty early on that this wasn't really my thing, but at least it was semi-entertaining. I wanted to read it to see if it's something my teenage daughter my like to read. After finishing it, I'm still not sure if she'd like it.
I think the whole thing was pretty forgettable. I won't be anticipating the next book, and will likely forget I even read this by the time the next book came out. I think the author could have done a better job of making people excited for the next book without just stopping in the middle of the plot.
aliena_jackson's review against another edition
3.0
Pretenders is one of those books that feels hip when it’s being written, but by the time it’s been published and people are buying it, everything in it is outdated and old. All said, it was an enjoyable read, if not the most intellectually stimulating.
cnguyencbcn's review
4.0
BOOK: PRETENDERS
AUTHOR: Lisi Harrison
REVIEW:
AUTHOR: Lisi Harrison
REVIEW:
I'm going to be honest, pretenders was kind of a let down to me. I haven't read the second one, but I'm dying to because Pretenders had a giant cliff hanger. I liked the pretenders, and how it was written, but to me, most of the book was filler. I was only really invested in some of the characters, and how they were portrayed, I have mixed feelings about. The characters were sort of juvenile to me,and I know for a fact how kids their age actually act, and that is only somewhat correct. I might have interpreted something in the book, but I thought the characters were a bit underdeveloped and thoughtless. The whole book and plot to the book was somewhat boring because of the format it was in. These kids were supposed to fill a 250 page journal about their feelings, meaning, you don't get as much of the action and dialogue, and real feelings as you do a normal book. In all, I liked the book, and I want to read the second one, but I feel like this one was just filler and information.
cherryredsreads's review against another edition
3.0
Read this and just could not get hooked into it. Felt there were too many POV's. Also felt like I have read books like this before with High School characters who create drama to get what they want.
allyups's review against another edition
4.0
A multiple narrator view on high school life, written by teenagers who seem alright, but as the title suggests, are pretenders. I loved this book because it does show the struggles of normal life, not life in the movies.
leathehatless's review
5.0
Review from The Almighty GIP
This was the book that i discovered in my usual bookshop, lost in the foreigner shelf, catched my eye for the cover and was bought by my sister because i wasn’t sure of it. I’m happy she takes chances on weird books because it turned out to be one of the fastest and funnest reads i did in a really long time.
Pros:
Journaling: It was a tremendous twist from the usual narrative on books. It is pretty much like peeking into someones diary. They are very personal, written by five very different characters that get their own voice. It’s incredibly effective and well put together. It was a bold move from Lisi but it sure paid off, since this book is entirely fiction and has no connection to factual events.
Fast, easy: The format is very easy to read since the narrative is free. In a journal all is allowed, is something you keep to yourself, not meant to be evaluated by other’s criticism. That is a bonus to get the target audience interested and probably will make them read other things when the time comes. And for someone used to reading thicker books it’s a good distraction and feels like a breeze.
Personality: The characters scream personality. They are so well built that they feel real from chapter one. Every on of them is unique, original and entertaining. Even with their problems and bad decisions they are still likable, we feel their struggles personally because we all been them at some point of our life. Sheridan Spencer, Andrew Duffy, Lily Bader-Huffman, Vanessa Riley, and Jagger did a great job.
Cons:
Youth, right?: I feel that since it’s a light story maybe not everyone will get into it. It is about teenager problems and their struggles, and even though it’s well balanced, it’s just not meant to please everyone. People that enjoy stories that are a bit darker and twisted will probably have a bad time with it.
Infinite pop culture: The reason i love this book is due to it’s many references to pop culture. But not everyone is familiar with it and some people just think it’s plain dumb. It’s ok, not judging anybody, but if you fit in this category this book is not for you.
-> Favorite Line:
” FOE NO YOU DIZN’T!” by Vanessa Riley.
Final grade: Four and half stars. (4,5/5)
May The Almighty GIP be with you,
L.T:Htlls
This was the book that i discovered in my usual bookshop, lost in the foreigner shelf, catched my eye for the cover and was bought by my sister because i wasn’t sure of it. I’m happy she takes chances on weird books because it turned out to be one of the fastest and funnest reads i did in a really long time.
Pros:
Journaling: It was a tremendous twist from the usual narrative on books. It is pretty much like peeking into someones diary. They are very personal, written by five very different characters that get their own voice. It’s incredibly effective and well put together. It was a bold move from Lisi but it sure paid off, since this book is entirely fiction and has no connection to factual events.
Fast, easy: The format is very easy to read since the narrative is free. In a journal all is allowed, is something you keep to yourself, not meant to be evaluated by other’s criticism. That is a bonus to get the target audience interested and probably will make them read other things when the time comes. And for someone used to reading thicker books it’s a good distraction and feels like a breeze.
Personality: The characters scream personality. They are so well built that they feel real from chapter one. Every on of them is unique, original and entertaining. Even with their problems and bad decisions they are still likable, we feel their struggles personally because we all been them at some point of our life. Sheridan Spencer, Andrew Duffy, Lily Bader-Huffman, Vanessa Riley, and Jagger did a great job.
Cons:
Youth, right?: I feel that since it’s a light story maybe not everyone will get into it. It is about teenager problems and their struggles, and even though it’s well balanced, it’s just not meant to please everyone. People that enjoy stories that are a bit darker and twisted will probably have a bad time with it.
Infinite pop culture: The reason i love this book is due to it’s many references to pop culture. But not everyone is familiar with it and some people just think it’s plain dumb. It’s ok, not judging anybody, but if you fit in this category this book is not for you.
-> Favorite Line:
” FOE NO YOU DIZN’T!” by Vanessa Riley.
Final grade: Four and half stars. (4,5/5)
May The Almighty GIP be with you,
L.T:Htlls
marie1328's review
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
kathhh's review
3.0
This book is SUPER HANGING that even though the story is so slow and some parts are boring, there will be a part of you that will crave for the next book just to know the reason why they are named as the The Phoenix Five and all that. Yup. Dayuuum.
lynnaeaowens's review
4.0
This is a very interesting new series from Harrison. Definitely a more adult perspective than the Clique and Alphas. The layout is unique - we have a collection of journal entries from a weird collection of high school students (seriously, I'm still not sure why these students are chosen? It's suggested they're all popular but that's definitely not the case). I loved the mystery aspect and watching the drama unfold and all of their lives intertwine. There's a lot of relateable teen drama even if it's over the top.
The ending is a huge cliff-hanger (kind of? The plot builds and builds then the book just ends). I actually liked it though because I have the second book ready to go!
The ending is a huge cliff-hanger (kind of? The plot builds and builds then the book just ends). I actually liked it though because I have the second book ready to go!