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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Right on track with her other Hotholes books!!
So I had some higher expectations for this series continuation because I liked the Sinners of Saint books so much. The beginning was a little hard to get through because Daria seemed like such an unlikable character. Typical poor little rich girl, but there was a disconnect between reader and story. And maybe because she didn't come across as quite the mean girl/feared by all that she was supposed to be, but it took some time where I had to power through to really get to know her more. The introduction of Melody Green as a mom added a new dimension to her character. She was kind of awful! And with that you got your first look into the real Daria. Penn's presence in her life a!so brought out some new parts of her character. Penn was a great addition to the Tothole generation. He fits in great, and I liked his interactions with Jaime. All in all, I was happy with L.J. Shen's newest series, and I'll be looking forward to the next 2 books!!!
So I had some higher expectations for this series continuation because I liked the Sinners of Saint books so much. The beginning was a little hard to get through because Daria seemed like such an unlikable character. Typical poor little rich girl, but there was a disconnect between reader and story. And maybe because she didn't come across as quite the mean girl/feared by all that she was supposed to be, but it took some time where I had to power through to really get to know her more. The introduction of Melody Green as a mom added a new dimension to her character. She was kind of awful! And with that you got your first look into the real Daria. Penn's presence in her life a!so brought out some new parts of her character. Penn was a great addition to the Tothole generation. He fits in great, and I liked his interactions with Jaime. All in all, I was happy with L.J. Shen's newest series, and I'll be looking forward to the next 2 books!!!
So I had no interest in reading about the spawns of the sinners of saint series, and was a aware this was the spin off until the mention of Vicious early on in the book that I realised this. But boy am I glad I picked this up.
It was so fun and twisted and messy. The characters were unapologetically awful sometimes, but then you learn and understand their motives and you feel for them whilst slightly hating them and really hating their actions.
So, Daria..... God. I really miss being an angsty, moody, bitchy teen. It’s been fun living in a vindictive mean girls head. I hate her but it’s fun experiencing life through an angry give-no-shits bitch. When it’s fictional. It was a little nostalgic actually (ott, but not completely unfamiliar). I hated her, but I really did get her. I feel like I was similar to her, albeit when I was 16 and not 18, and I didn’t look down on poor ppl. But if you hurt me, I’d hurt you back twice as hard (when I was 16). My parents were also really abusive when I was that age, so her anger, vindictiveness and coldness, does in a way feel reminiscent of the what i felt when I was 16.
In a way I am nostalgic for those days, bc of how hard life as been as of late, as it has been for everyone, and this book just allowed me to be angry and sad through someone else, it helped me process some of my own emotions. For that I am really thankful.
Penn was cool, he was broody and mean and remorseful. But Daria was the standout character, with real emotional depth.
Overall, yes this was slightly cringe, and is not a totally accurate representation of teenagers, but it was very fun and made me feel a spectrum of emotions. A solid almost 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It was so fun and twisted and messy. The characters were unapologetically awful sometimes, but then you learn and understand their motives and you feel for them whilst slightly hating them and really hating their actions.
So, Daria..... God. I really miss being an angsty, moody, bitchy teen. It’s been fun living in a vindictive mean girls head. I hate her but it’s fun experiencing life through an angry give-no-shits bitch. When it’s fictional. It was a little nostalgic actually (ott, but not completely unfamiliar). I hated her, but I really did get her. I feel like I was similar to her, albeit when I was 16 and not 18, and I didn’t look down on poor ppl. But if you hurt me, I’d hurt you back twice as hard (when I was 16). My parents were also really abusive when I was that age, so her anger, vindictiveness and coldness, does in a way feel reminiscent of the what i felt when I was 16.
In a way I am nostalgic for those days, bc of how hard life as been as of late, as it has been for everyone, and this book just allowed me to be angry and sad through someone else, it helped me process some of my own emotions. For that I am really thankful.
Penn was cool, he was broody and mean and remorseful. But Daria was the standout character, with real emotional depth.
Overall, yes this was slightly cringe, and is not a totally accurate representation of teenagers, but it was very fun and made me feel a spectrum of emotions. A solid almost 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
La historia me ha sorprendido para bien. Iba escéptica y con miedo a encontrarme algo que detestara, pero me he encontrado una historia que me enganchó, con unos personajes cuestionables y que, cuando he terminado he dicho: quiero leer más de esta serie y de la precuela.
Penn es un personaje que me ha gustado bastante. Es un alma atormentada, pero con un corazón demasiado grande. Por otro lado tenemos a Daria, que es un personaje que claramente tiene problemas. Hace cosas muy moralmente cuestionables y, lo que más me ha molestado del desarrollo de este personaje es que claramente necesita un psicólogo y NO LO TIENE. Es más, no se menciona en ningún momento que necesite terapia por todo lo que hace, y su alrededor y ella misma piensa que sus problemas tienen otro tipo de solución.
Los personajes secundarios me han gustado algunos. Otros es que se les ve venir que son malas personas.
Penn es un personaje que me ha gustado bastante. Es un alma atormentada, pero con un corazón demasiado grande. Por otro lado tenemos a Daria, que es un personaje que claramente tiene problemas. Hace cosas muy moralmente cuestionables y, lo que más me ha molestado del desarrollo de este personaje es que claramente necesita un psicólogo y NO LO TIENE. Es más, no se menciona en ningún momento que necesite terapia por todo lo que hace, y su alrededor y ella misma piensa que sus problemas tienen otro tipo de solución.
Los personajes secundarios me han gustado algunos. Otros es que se les ve venir que son malas personas.
Es passiert so so viel in diesem Buch!
An manchen Stellen war mir der Verlauf der Story ein bisschen zu heftig und das Drama, das aus Misskommunikation und Neid entstanden ist... kein Kommentar.
Und von den Erwachsenen will ich gar nicht erst anfangen...
Mindestens genauso schlimm wie die Jugendlichen.
Trotzdem war es super unterhaltsam, Schreibstil packend und ich hatte Spaß beim Lesen.
3,5⭐️
An manchen Stellen war mir der Verlauf der Story ein bisschen zu heftig und das Drama, das aus Misskommunikation und Neid entstanden ist... kein Kommentar.
Und von den Erwachsenen will ich gar nicht erst anfangen...
Mindestens genauso schlimm wie die Jugendlichen.
Trotzdem war es super unterhaltsam, Schreibstil packend und ich hatte Spaß beim Lesen.
3,5⭐️
Pretty Reckless' blurb promised trashy fun but it was a mistake. It wasn't so-bad-it's good. It's just bad.
Pros first: The writing isn't boring. The alternating narrators, especially Daria, have distinctive voices. This was nice: “His eyes are dark green and bottomless like a thickly fogged forest. I want to step inside and run until I'm in the depth of the woods.”
There is a fine line between cringe and comedy.
I laughed both times. What they have in common is the blunt honesty of these ridiculous thoughts running through the characters' heads. You can imagine real people thinking these things to themselves. The problem, however, is when things happen outside their minds and they continue being ridiculous. That's when it tips that delicate balance and falls into cringe territory.
Penn's grand plan to ruin Daria's life is to make her fall in love with him and break her heart.
I'd respect it if it were paced well, but slow burn? What's that? You want their first interaction in four years to be Penn walking in on Daria naked?
They get sexual super fast, which is fine, but they also start sharing emotional stuff super fast. It doesn't make sense that he tells Daria to vent at him when she storms off after an unnecessary argument with her mother when he says he just wants to hate-fuck her (he says he does this because "she's got a case." Does LJ Shen know how people act when they actually hate people? You don't empathize with them that fast). If you didn't give a shit about her, why are you asking her about her feelings? Why are you sharing information about your mom who OD'd? Why are you cuddling in a bathtub? Why are you trying to cheer up Daria when she's upset? Why are you helping Daria by making her confront her mommy issues through pseudo-talk-therapy?
Then they have sex in the forest so I guess they aren't enemies anymore. We are not even halfway through the book and the premise has already been torn to shreds. (61% in, Daria is already "hopelessly, tragically in love with Penn Scully.") There is no satisfaction. The drama is now about Penn's sister, a championship football game, and other circumstances keeping Penn and Daria apart.
That was my main issue. I had some others though:
Awkward use of real-world slang, internet slang, and pop culture references.
This one gets to me because Penn gave no indication before this point that he plays Fortnite. In this scene, he'd been flirting with a cashier to get on Daria's nerves then it's like ooh I'm playing Fortnite. And it's never mentioned again. I can imagine this being a real conversation during the writing of this book: "That's what's popular with kids now, right? Fortnite?"
Too many descriptive dialogue tags and actions during speech to the point of distraction.
Daria and her mommy issues are so annoying lmao. She thinks her mom doesn't love her even though her mom tries and Daria shoots her down and doesn't try to meet her halfway. Then Daria sulks that her mom doesn't make an effort.
She bitches about them not celebrating her birthday or getting her gifts but guess what...
She creates her own problems, blames other people, and wallows in her angst. I don't think I've hated a main character so much.
I know I rated Clay 1/5 but that doesn't come close to the abomination that is Pretty Reckless. I'd give this 0.5 stars if I could. All I wanted was some trashy fun but this was all trash, no fun.
Pros first: The writing isn't boring. The alternating narrators, especially Daria, have distinctive voices. This was nice: “His eyes are dark green and bottomless like a thickly fogged forest. I want to step inside and run until I'm in the depth of the woods.”
There is a fine line between cringe and comedy.
I especially don’t want to face him after he saw me naked and kissed me and made my nipples hard and then told me he doesn’t want anything to do with me.
I hate her ass, it’s true, but that ain’t gonna stop me from fucking her. It’ll be poetic justice at its finest. She took my sister, so I’ll take her vanity.
I laughed both times. What they have in common is the blunt honesty of these ridiculous thoughts running through the characters' heads. You can imagine real people thinking these things to themselves. The problem, however, is when things happen outside their minds and they continue being ridiculous. That's when it tips that delicate balance and falls into cringe territory.
Penn's grand plan to ruin Daria's life is to make her fall in love with him and break her heart.
I'd respect it if it were paced well, but slow burn? What's that? You want their first interaction in four years to be Penn walking in on Daria naked?
They get sexual super fast, which is fine, but they also start sharing emotional stuff super fast. It doesn't make sense that he tells Daria to vent at him when she storms off after an unnecessary argument with her mother when he says he just wants to hate-fuck her (he says he does this because "she's got a case." Does LJ Shen know how people act when they actually hate people? You don't empathize with them that fast). If you didn't give a shit about her, why are you asking her about her feelings? Why are you sharing information about your mom who OD'd? Why are you cuddling in a bathtub? Why are you trying to cheer up Daria when she's upset? Why are you helping Daria by making her confront her mommy issues through pseudo-talk-therapy?
Then they have sex in the forest so I guess they aren't enemies anymore. We are not even halfway through the book and the premise has already been torn to shreds. (61% in, Daria is already "hopelessly, tragically in love with Penn Scully.") There is no satisfaction. The drama is now about Penn's sister, a championship football game, and other circumstances keeping Penn and Daria apart.
That was my main issue. I had some others though:
Awkward use of real-world slang, internet slang, and pop culture references.
Vicious is Vaughn’s dad and the deadliest mofo in the neighborhood. I crushed on him when I was five. Baron “Vicious” Spencer is still a hottie, so #SorryNotSorry.
“Bumpin’.”
“Amazeballs.”
I want to LOL in her face when I think about the one and only guy I’ve slept with.
The girl starts shooting out the number quickly. I pretend to program them into my phone while playing Fortnite.
This one gets to me because Penn gave no indication before this point that he plays Fortnite. In this scene, he'd been flirting with a cashier to get on Daria's nerves then it's like ooh I'm playing Fortnite. And it's never mentioned again. I can imagine this being a real conversation during the writing of this book: "That's what's popular with kids now, right? Fortnite?"
Too many descriptive dialogue tags and actions during speech to the point of distraction.
“Maybe he gave her chlamydia, and she wants him to pay for the treatment.” Colin, ASH’s linebacker, hiccups, and everyone but Knight erupts in laughter.
“That’s rich from someone whose face looks like genital herpes,” I pipe out.
“Come at me, bro!” Colin bangs his chest with his fist.
“I would, but I don’t hit chicks,” I drawl.
“Whatever.” I flip my hair. “Casserole’s a dud, anyway. Enjoy your carb-fest, losers.” I plaster my fingers into an L-shape on my forehead before retiring upstairs on [sic] a huff.
“Ohhhh,” the Las Juntas crowd, which I’m standing in the middle of, taunts, turning their thumbs down in a boo motion toward Bauer.
Daria and her mommy issues are so annoying lmao. She thinks her mom doesn't love her even though her mom tries and Daria shoots her down and doesn't try to meet her halfway. Then Daria sulks that her mom doesn't make an effort.
I growl. “I’m going to watch The Real Housewives of Dallas until we eat.”
“Or you can stay with me, and we can look at the new Chanel catalog,” Melody suggests, cracking open a bottle of white wine.
“No thanks,” I quip.
“Hey, maybe we could—”
“Nope.” I plaster my most plastic smile, making a show of batting my eyelashes. “Please don’t embarrass us both by trying again. Even if you offer me a shopping spree in Milan, the answer will still be no.”
She bitches about them not celebrating her birthday or getting her gifts but guess what...
“Why are they ignoring your birthday, Skull Eyes? Tell the truth.”
It’s painful to swallow. There’s so much bitterness in my throat. The truth seems oceans away. I see it in the distance, but it’s unreachable. So hard to put into words.
“I asked them to ignore it.” I choke. “I made them promise.”
She creates her own problems, blames other people, and wallows in her angst. I don't think I've hated a main character so much.
I know I rated Clay 1/5 but that doesn't come close to the abomination that is Pretty Reckless. I'd give this 0.5 stars if I could. All I wanted was some trashy fun but this was all trash, no fun.
My favorite book of 2019!!!
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵!!!
This book deserves so so much more than 5 pretty stars. The plot and everything was wonderfully planned out. I was putting this book on hold because I know LJ have the power of breaking me. I was so scared! Lol also because they're all in high school so makes me too old to be reading it, but DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! I have to let it sink in for a day before I write this review. I haven't read Sinners of Saint Saint series, but after reading this, I'm really thinking about reading it.
This book is about love, family, hatred, healing, betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, finding yourself, and so much more. It's EVERYTHING. It's intense, emotional, angsty, twists and turns. It broke me. My tears just keep on falling, and I couldn't stop it. There were quite a lot of characters that I have to write down who's who. Besides that, each character are so complex, really evil, just devious.
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧"... 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩. 😄
Daria..Daria...a really devious Queen B, but so broken. Full of insecurities, pain, jealousy, vulnerable, and very hulky indeed. Just thinking about her makes me want to cry again, and it's been a day. Lol She's not your typical nice heroine. LJ perfectly wrote Daria's character. So complex and full of layers that makes your heart ache for her.
Penn Scully... Definitely my newest book boyfriend! He has a heart of gold. Even when he went through so much, he's still so resilient. He can be a jerk at times when he said those mean words, but actions speaks louder. You just can't help but just love him.
Penn and Daria are the COUPLE!!! Their life, pain, and heartache will break you. I love how Penn always get Daria to talk about her problems when she doesn't tell anyone, and vice versa. They have each other's back. Definitely one of the best enemies to lovers book. Highly, highly recommended. You wouldn't want to miss this one. Can't wait to read about Knight's and Vaughn's story.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵!!!
This book deserves so so much more than 5 pretty stars. The plot and everything was wonderfully planned out. I was putting this book on hold because I know LJ have the power of breaking me. I was so scared! Lol also because they're all in high school so makes me too old to be reading it, but DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! I have to let it sink in for a day before I write this review. I haven't read Sinners of Saint Saint series, but after reading this, I'm really thinking about reading it.
This book is about love, family, hatred, healing, betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, finding yourself, and so much more. It's EVERYTHING. It's intense, emotional, angsty, twists and turns. It broke me. My tears just keep on falling, and I couldn't stop it. There were quite a lot of characters that I have to write down who's who. Besides that, each character are so complex, really evil, just devious.
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧"... 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩. 😄
Daria..Daria...a really devious Queen B, but so broken. Full of insecurities, pain, jealousy, vulnerable, and very hulky indeed. Just thinking about her makes me want to cry again, and it's been a day. Lol She's not your typical nice heroine. LJ perfectly wrote Daria's character. So complex and full of layers that makes your heart ache for her.
Penn Scully... Definitely my newest book boyfriend! He has a heart of gold. Even when he went through so much, he's still so resilient. He can be a jerk at times when he said those mean words, but actions speaks louder. You just can't help but just love him.
Penn and Daria are the COUPLE!!! Their life, pain, and heartache will break you. I love how Penn always get Daria to talk about her problems when she doesn't tell anyone, and vice versa. They have each other's back. Definitely one of the best enemies to lovers book. Highly, highly recommended. You wouldn't want to miss this one. Can't wait to read about Knight's and Vaughn's story.
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝘆 𝗙𝗔𝗩𝗢𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗘 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵!!!
This book deserves so so much more than 5 pretty stars. The plot and everything was wonderfully planned out. I was putting this book on hold because I know LJ have the power of breaking me. I was so scared! Lol also because they're all in high school so makes me too old to be reading it, but DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! I have to let it sink in for a day before I write this review. I haven't read Sinners of Saint Saint series, but after reading this, I'm really thinking about reading it.
This book is about love, family, hatred, healing, betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, finding yourself, and so much more. It's EVERYTHING. It's intense, emotional, angsty, twists and turns. It broke me. My tears just keep on falling, and I couldn't stop it. There were quite a lot of characters that I have to write down who's who. Besides that, each character are so complex, really evil, just devious.
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧"... 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩. 😄
Daria..Daria...a really devious Queen B, but so broken. Full of insecurities, pain, jealousy, vulnerable, and very hulky indeed. Just thinking about her makes me want to cry again, and it's been a day. Lol She's not your typical nice heroine. LJ perfectly wrote Daria's character. So complex and full of layers that makes your heart ache for her.
Penn Scully... Definitely my newest book boyfriend! He has a heart of gold. Even when he went through so much, he's still so resilient. He can be a jerk at times when he said those mean words, but actions speaks louder. You just can't help but just love him.
Penn and Daria are the COUPLE!!! Their life, pain, and heartache will break you. I love how Penn always get Daria to talk about her problems when she doesn't tell anyone, and vice versa. They have each other's back. Definitely one of the best enemies to lovers book. Highly, highly recommended. You wouldn't want to miss this one. Can't wait to read about Knight's and Vaughn's story.
This book deserves so so much more than 5 pretty stars. The plot and everything was wonderfully planned out. I was putting this book on hold because I know LJ have the power of breaking me. I was so scared! Lol also because they're all in high school so makes me too old to be reading it, but DON'T LET THAT STOP YOU! I have to let it sink in for a day before I write this review. I haven't read Sinners of Saint Saint series, but after reading this, I'm really thinking about reading it.
This book is about love, family, hatred, healing, betrayal, forgiveness, friendship, finding yourself, and so much more. It's EVERYTHING. It's intense, emotional, angsty, twists and turns. It broke me. My tears just keep on falling, and I couldn't stop it. There were quite a lot of characters that I have to write down who's who. Besides that, each character are so complex, really evil, just devious.
"𝘚𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴 𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘰𝘧"... 𝘈𝘭𝘭 𝘚𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩. 😄
Daria..Daria...a really devious Queen B, but so broken. Full of insecurities, pain, jealousy, vulnerable, and very hulky indeed. Just thinking about her makes me want to cry again, and it's been a day. Lol She's not your typical nice heroine. LJ perfectly wrote Daria's character. So complex and full of layers that makes your heart ache for her.
Penn Scully... Definitely my newest book boyfriend! He has a heart of gold. Even when he went through so much, he's still so resilient. He can be a jerk at times when he said those mean words, but actions speaks louder. You just can't help but just love him.
Penn and Daria are the COUPLE!!! Their life, pain, and heartache will break you. I love how Penn always get Daria to talk about her problems when she doesn't tell anyone, and vice versa. They have each other's back. Definitely one of the best enemies to lovers book. Highly, highly recommended. You wouldn't want to miss this one. Can't wait to read about Knight's and Vaughn's story.
So I’ve been getting around to writing reviews for books I read forever ago. This was one of Lj shen’s books I fell in love with. Because as I’ve said there was a time where I loved so many of her books.
If you’ve read Ruthless empire this gives me massive Cole and Silver vibes. I’m a sucker for a “bully” heroine and seeing her redeem herself. I loved how Daria had layers and seeing her come into her own. This is one of those stories where the female lead takes center stage, which I don’t feel like you see very often!
The connection between the character was great and the story itself I will always love.
If you’ve read Ruthless empire this gives me massive Cole and Silver vibes. I’m a sucker for a “bully” heroine and seeing her redeem herself. I loved how Daria had layers and seeing her come into her own. This is one of those stories where the female lead takes center stage, which I don’t feel like you see very often!
The connection between the character was great and the story itself I will always love.
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Excellent - Highly Recommended
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - A good, solid read
3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️ - An okay read
2 ⭐️⭐️ - Meh
1 ⭐️ - Not my cup of tea
Pretty Reckless is an incredibly angsty and swoon worthy story between Daria and her foster brother Penn. They are just so perfect for each other, even if it took them a hot minute to figure it out. I love everything about this story! It was awesome to jump back into the world of Saints and see the next generation in all their glory.