Reviews tagging 'Car accident'

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

10 reviews

celisabeth's review against another edition

mysterious fast-paced

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

3.5

Shepard did a good job isolating the four former friends throughout this book. As you read, you understand each character's complex relationship with Alison, their histories with one another, and the secrets Ali knew about them.

It's only in the last ten pages that they come together

, and it was charming to see the tension fall away as they took comfort in one another. We all have those friends that we drift apart from but when you reconnect it is like no time has passed, and for these girls, they seem to have found a home in one another. They are bound together by the past and the mysterious A that has been sending them threatening messages about the secrets no one but Alison knew. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Lesbophobia

Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racism, Ableism, Misogyny, and Murder

Minor: Car accident

teacher-student relationship

caroliiineb's review against another edition

dark mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Eating disorder, Alcohol, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Car accident, Drug use, Death, and Suicide attempt

bibliorama's review against another edition

dark funny tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Did I power through this in a matter of days? Yes. 

It was a pretty fast read compared to my normal speed. I was curious about this book series after remembering that I never really got any satisfaction from the show about A. I'm hoping the books give me that, and beyond that I'm in the mood for some toxic drama. 

If you see this review and are worried about my reading tastes, don't worry, so am I.

(My star rating is purely off of vibes and means nothing)

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Lesbophobia, Stalking, and Classism

Minor: Self harm and Sexual content

The book is pretty much about how horrible young teens can be to each other, and there are some pretty crappy adults thrown in as well. The writing didn't feel as if it was showing these themes to be a good thing and it felt like it was highlighting how messed up it all is. While also dealing with heavy themes with the main characters, thr writing built in a lot of empathy for the main 4. I especially felt for Hanna and Emily.

wackzo's review against another edition

adventurous dark tense slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Lesbophobia, Stalking, Vomit, Body shaming, Bullying, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Murder, Adult/minor relationship, Car accident, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Hate crime, and Toxic friendship

honben's review against another edition

emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.75

I'm a big fan of the show (completely aware that it is mostly garbage) and I wanted to give the books a shot and I am shockingly pleased. This book contains only what happens in episode 1 of the show (just a heads up) and when I realised I was thrilled. It gives you much more insight on the characters, and there are major differences with the show but I actually feel like I will like the books better (specially in the romance department) and though the writing style is very simplistic it makes it much easier to read.
Already started the second one.
P.S.: there is depiction of mental health struggles and there are moments when even the narrator is fatphobic, I remember a specific line from one of the last chapters. I attribute this to the year it was published, but obviously, it is not nice to read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Grief, and Homophobia

Moderate: Body shaming, Child death, Classism, Gaslighting, Self harm, Toxic friendship, Death, Emotional abuse, and Fire/Fire injury

Minor: Car accident, Infidelity, and Murder

Slut Shaming isn't on the list of trigger warnings, but there is a ton of it on this book.

livingwithghost's review against another edition

mysterious medium-paced

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

3.25

wanted to re-read this series for nostalgia and to get back into reading. a whole lot of nothing happens in this book. i enjoyed it though knowing what else happens in the series.

honestly the worst part about it is the amount of weird adult/minor relationships being played as sexy, forbidden love stories. sure they’re forbidden, but it’s because they’re weird and inappropriate.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Car accident, Toxic friendship, Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, and Fatphobia

Moderate: Cursing, Grief, Homophobia, Racism, Self harm, Classism, and Lesbophobia

Minor: Vomit and Murder

pippamillerxoxo_'s review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful mysterious slow-paced

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

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Lesbophobia, Stalking, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Car accident, Drug use, and Racism

act_23's review against another edition

lighthearted mysterious fast-paced

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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Body shaming, Death, Grief, Murder, Toxic friendship, and Eating disorder

Minor: Car accident

outcrye's review against another edition

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

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

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Body shaming, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Stalking

Moderate: Car accident, Cursing, Drug use, Homophobia, Self harm, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Racism and Vomit

karahildebrand's review

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. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Eating disorder and Stalking

Moderate: Alcohol, Car accident, and Death

Minor: Self harm