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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
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.
This may end up feeling like a surprisingly passionate defense of Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas and for that, I am extremely sorry. You are just as surprised as I am that I'm about to praise Punk 57 as much as I'm about to in comparison to this book.
I actually enjoyed the first third of this book in the same way I shamelessly adored Punk 57's utterly delightful trash, but a shift happened at a certain point where I realized something that really hurt this book's chances of being liked by me: it started taking itself too seriously.
This book is trashy as hell. It is, at first, written like a story about two really awful, shitty teenagers who have sexual tension fueled melodrama, and it works fairly well for a little bit, but the book quickly decides to value the melodrama over the fun, sexy bits.
The ending of this book does such a wild, insane heel turn on the characters' personalities, and suddenly these people who I've spent most of this book gleefully despising these two characters when suddenly, the book is insistent that they are decent people. Punk 57 would never. But then, as the story is wrapping up, Daria is about to leave town because she's done too many awful things and her reputation is ruined, and both the schools in this really tacked-on rivalry are all gathered at the local underground fighting ring (as teenagers definitely actually do, I promise) and, in order to rescue Daria's reputation, Penn gets all the other bad bad teens to start confessing their own secrets and air their dirty laundry because, "Everyone has secrets." Excuse me, this is actually one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've ever heard in my life. Incredible. My skin is clear, my crops are flourishing. Amazing.
The hilarity doesn't stop there, though! It finally comes to be Penn's turn to confess something and, since he's been purposely wearing shirts with holes cut into the chest, he tells us it's because a family member literally goddamn actually fucking cursed him when he was a kid. I was absolutely howling as this part was read to me. Even funnier: the so-called curse can only be broken by true love! And whose love is truer than the girl you've terrorized for years on end? It's amazing in all the worst ways.
Another thing I found to be funny, and, in no way am I suggesting this is L.J. Shen's problem, was the fact that Michael fucking Crouch narrated Penn's parts and he was laughably unsuited for the role. This part is for the Jeremy Yorks, the Vikas Adamses, the Zachary Webbers. Michael Crouch is meant to play the relatable softboi, not the shithead fuckboy. There are so many super gross fuckboy lines in this book (like, for example, he says something to the effect of, "pubes still wet with her cum." at one point that made me want to die) and Michael's voice is so boyish and cute that when he says that nasty stuff, it sounds quite off, to put it nicely. If it were Zachary Webber, the stuff would still make me cringe, but it wouldn't sound just plain wrong coming from his type like it does from Michael who, despite himself, is doing his best, poor guy.
I mean, this wasn't overall a waste of time, but it wasn't what I wanted out of the experience, either. I wanted more Punk 57 and less dedication to convincing me our characters were good people, no, really. Promise.
I actually enjoyed the first third of this book in the same way I shamelessly adored Punk 57's utterly delightful trash, but a shift happened at a certain point where I realized something that really hurt this book's chances of being liked by me: it started taking itself too seriously.
This book is trashy as hell. It is, at first, written like a story about two really awful, shitty teenagers who have sexual tension fueled melodrama, and it works fairly well for a little bit, but the book quickly decides to value the melodrama over the fun, sexy bits.
The ending of this book does such a wild, insane heel turn on the characters' personalities, and suddenly these people who I've spent most of this book gleefully despising these two characters when suddenly, the book is insistent that they are decent people. Punk 57 would never. But then, as the story is wrapping up, Daria is about to leave town because she's done too many awful things and her reputation is ruined, and both the schools in this really tacked-on rivalry are all gathered at the local underground fighting ring (as teenagers definitely actually do, I promise) and, in order to rescue Daria's reputation, Penn gets all the other bad bad teens to start confessing their own secrets and air their dirty laundry because, "Everyone has secrets." Excuse me, this is actually one of the most unintentionally hilarious things I've ever heard in my life. Incredible. My skin is clear, my crops are flourishing. Amazing.
The hilarity doesn't stop there, though! It finally comes to be Penn's turn to confess something and, since he's been purposely wearing shirts with holes cut into the chest, he tells us it's because a family member literally goddamn actually fucking cursed him when he was a kid. I was absolutely howling as this part was read to me. Even funnier: the so-called curse can only be broken by true love! And whose love is truer than the girl you've terrorized for years on end? It's amazing in all the worst ways.
Another thing I found to be funny, and, in no way am I suggesting this is L.J. Shen's problem, was the fact that Michael fucking Crouch narrated Penn's parts and he was laughably unsuited for the role. This part is for the Jeremy Yorks, the Vikas Adamses, the Zachary Webbers. Michael Crouch is meant to play the relatable softboi, not the shithead fuckboy. There are so many super gross fuckboy lines in this book (like, for example, he says something to the effect of, "pubes still wet with her cum." at one point that made me want to die) and Michael's voice is so boyish and cute that when he says that nasty stuff, it sounds quite off, to put it nicely. If it were Zachary Webber, the stuff would still make me cringe, but it wouldn't sound just plain wrong coming from his type like it does from Michael who, despite himself, is doing his best, poor guy.
I mean, this wasn't overall a waste of time, but it wasn't what I wanted out of the experience, either. I wanted more Punk 57 and less dedication to convincing me our characters were good people, no, really. Promise.
This book is addictive but the last half was was choppy and jumped around
I love LJ Shen. She is a great storyteller and her books have so much emotion.
This story is about Penn and Daria. I always love enemy to lovers took but this one was one of my favourites. The first have f the book was great and flowed really well. I thought Daria was a brat but I understood where she was coming from
Around the half way point, the story started to jump around a lot and there were a lot f holes in the story line. I felt the characters were consistent and they became too emotional. The last 20% dragged and although I couldn't put it down because let's face it... I've come so far... Maria became more of a brat and Penn became too love sick... meanwhile the parents and siblings just did what they normally did and ignored the whole situation.
A little characters consistency would have been nice. 5 star for story 2 for character development.
I love LJ Shen. She is a great storyteller and her books have so much emotion.
This story is about Penn and Daria. I always love enemy to lovers took but this one was one of my favourites. The first have f the book was great and flowed really well. I thought Daria was a brat but I understood where she was coming from
Around the half way point, the story started to jump around a lot and there were a lot f holes in the story line. I felt the characters were consistent and they became too emotional. The last 20% dragged and although I couldn't put it down because let's face it... I've come so far... Maria became more of a brat and Penn became too love sick... meanwhile the parents and siblings just did what they normally did and ignored the whole situation.
A little characters consistency would have been nice. 5 star for story 2 for character development.
A little black book ... A window to their hearts
Like all LJ Shen books, there so much I am lost in where to start. I thought I read this book, but after starting and now finishing I know I didn't. I think I didn't have the strongest connection to Jamie because his story was so short.
Daria was just a little but older than the boys, Knight and Vaughn, but to see them take care of her in that ever faithful brotherly way was just great. There are so many facets to her, but the one that broke my heart was her feeling like an outsider in her own home. I understand her need to lash out, her need to please her mother and the need to feel like she's someone first choice!!!
Penn (I have an affinity for characters with this name) was ever observant of his Skull Eyes for so much longer than she knew. I loved each entry at the start of a chapter, it's like we got a piece of Penn even when it was his turn to "speak". I loved him throughout this entire book, even when he was being cruel to Daria because he was faced with the hardest decisions on who to choose.
Their relationship was made of so many different paragons, even in anger, lust, jealousy or love, it was a fundamental pierce of who they were separate and together ❤
While I enjoyed Jamie's book Defy, I cherished him for the way he loved his daughter in this book. I love all the Hotholes and their offspring for so many different reasons, but this author has made it difficult yo ever meant to let them go.
Like all LJ Shen books, there so much I am lost in where to start. I thought I read this book, but after starting and now finishing I know I didn't. I think I didn't have the strongest connection to Jamie because his story was so short.
Daria was just a little but older than the boys, Knight and Vaughn, but to see them take care of her in that ever faithful brotherly way was just great. There are so many facets to her, but the one that broke my heart was her feeling like an outsider in her own home. I understand her need to lash out, her need to please her mother and the need to feel like she's someone first choice!!!
Penn (I have an affinity for characters with this name) was ever observant of his Skull Eyes for so much longer than she knew. I loved each entry at the start of a chapter, it's like we got a piece of Penn even when it was his turn to "speak". I loved him throughout this entire book, even when he was being cruel to Daria because he was faced with the hardest decisions on who to choose.
Their relationship was made of so many different paragons, even in anger, lust, jealousy or love, it was a fundamental pierce of who they were separate and together ❤
While I enjoyed Jamie's book Defy, I cherished him for the way he loved his daughter in this book. I love all the Hotholes and their offspring for so many different reasons, but this author has made it difficult yo ever meant to let them go.
I’ve never read an LJ Shen book I didn’t like.
The angst.
The tension.
The chemistry.
*chef’s kiss*
Shen writes books that make you FEEL, and man did this one give me all the feels.
Daria and Penn are complicated characters who embody “morally grey” perfectly without coming off as trite, flat, or cliche.
Shen delivers on familiar tropes in the new adult contemporary romance genre (rivals to lovers, bad boy, angst) in such an impactful way. Pretty Reckless is more than a sexy romance story—it has a beating HEART. It dissects familial relationships, loyalty, love and forgiveness.
I recommend this if you want to FEEL ALL THE FEELS.
The angst.
The tension.
The chemistry.
*chef’s kiss*
Shen writes books that make you FEEL, and man did this one give me all the feels.
Daria and Penn are complicated characters who embody “morally grey” perfectly without coming off as trite, flat, or cliche.
Shen delivers on familiar tropes in the new adult contemporary romance genre (rivals to lovers, bad boy, angst) in such an impactful way. Pretty Reckless is more than a sexy romance story—it has a beating HEART. It dissects familial relationships, loyalty, love and forgiveness.
I recommend this if you want to FEEL ALL THE FEELS.
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn’t hate it, just not finding it exciting. Soft-DNF, may pick up again in the future.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Vorneweg: Ich liebe die Bücher von L.J. Shen und auch die Sinners of Saint Reihe war für mich ein Highlight. Ich habe mich so sehr auf All Saints High gefreut, denn endlich begegnen wir den Kindern. Aber leider hat mich dieses Buch einfach nur enttäuscht. Wo ist die wortgewandte Autorin geblieben? Wo waren ihre tollen Idee? Ihre faszinierenden Charaktere? Nichts davon habe ich in diesem Buch gefunden. Die Handlung war teilweise so übertrieben und an den Haaren herbeigezogen, dass ich einfach nur den Kopf geschüttelt habe.
Ich habe Jamie und Melodys eigenen Geschichte geliebt und auch die beiden als Charaktere waren ein Traum. Doch hier sind sie Eltern, die sich nicht um ihr Kind kümmern, sie im Stich lassen und sich dann auch noch wundern warum sich Daria so schlimm benimmt. Von den beiden bin ich einfach nur enttäuscht. Wobei Jamie immer noch besser als Melody war.
Daria war der einzige Charaktere, den ich einigermaßen mochte. Ich konnte ihr Verhalten, ihre Entscheidungen und ihre Gedanke absolut verstehe und nachvollziehen. In manchen Situationen hätte ich genau wie sie gehandelt. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen ihr und Penn habe ich überhaupt nicht verstanden. Da war für mich kein Knistern und auch keine Chemie. Die Liebesszene zwischen den beiden war lieblos und es kamen keine Gefühle auf. Penn war ein ständiges Hin und Her, Hin und Her. Zu ihm konnte ich leider keine Bindung aufbauen, seine Entscheidungen nicht nachvollziehen oder auch nur zu verstehen.
Gegen Ende wurde es dann etwas besser, auch wenn es etwas überzogen war, aber das hat es für mich noch einmal etwas rausgezogen. Die Chameo Auftritte der Sinners of Saint waren eine schöne Überraschung. Trotz der Enttäuschung bin ich sehr gespannt auf Vaughn und Knights Geschichte und ich werde sie auf den Fall lesen, in der Hoffnung die alte L.J. Shen dort zu finden.
Von mir gibt es leider keine Leseempfehlung.
Ich habe Jamie und Melodys eigenen Geschichte geliebt und auch die beiden als Charaktere waren ein Traum. Doch hier sind sie Eltern, die sich nicht um ihr Kind kümmern, sie im Stich lassen und sich dann auch noch wundern warum sich Daria so schlimm benimmt. Von den beiden bin ich einfach nur enttäuscht. Wobei Jamie immer noch besser als Melody war.
Daria war der einzige Charaktere, den ich einigermaßen mochte. Ich konnte ihr Verhalten, ihre Entscheidungen und ihre Gedanke absolut verstehe und nachvollziehen. In manchen Situationen hätte ich genau wie sie gehandelt. Die Liebesgeschichte zwischen ihr und Penn habe ich überhaupt nicht verstanden. Da war für mich kein Knistern und auch keine Chemie. Die Liebesszene zwischen den beiden war lieblos und es kamen keine Gefühle auf. Penn war ein ständiges Hin und Her, Hin und Her. Zu ihm konnte ich leider keine Bindung aufbauen, seine Entscheidungen nicht nachvollziehen oder auch nur zu verstehen.
Gegen Ende wurde es dann etwas besser, auch wenn es etwas überzogen war, aber das hat es für mich noch einmal etwas rausgezogen. Die Chameo Auftritte der Sinners of Saint waren eine schöne Überraschung. Trotz der Enttäuschung bin ich sehr gespannt auf Vaughn und Knights Geschichte und ich werde sie auf den Fall lesen, in der Hoffnung die alte L.J. Shen dort zu finden.
Von mir gibt es leider keine Leseempfehlung.
I'm finally getting to my review of this book! And why has it taken me so long you ask?
Because I needed a week to process this f**king awesome book!!!!!!
I absolutely f**king LOVED this book!!!!
Yes, that much!!!!
By far one of the best books I've read this year!!!!
The banter between Daria and Penn, the sexual chemistry, it's off the friggin charts amazing and I couldn't get enough!!
Yes, there are some triggers, but the story is so well written I connected with the characters and understood their choices and their actions. I stayed up until 3 am reading this gem and it won't be the last time I read it.
I literally cannot wait for the follow-up!!
Do yourself a favour and get this book now.
I devoured it, and damn I loved Penn Scully!!
Daria is one lucky bitch!!
Ok...ok...I'll shut up now (so you can buy it and read it, like yesterday 😜)
Because I needed a week to process this f**king awesome book!!!!!!
I absolutely f**king LOVED this book!!!!
Yes, that much!!!!
By far one of the best books I've read this year!!!!
The banter between Daria and Penn, the sexual chemistry, it's off the friggin charts amazing and I couldn't get enough!!
Yes, there are some triggers, but the story is so well written I connected with the characters and understood their choices and their actions. I stayed up until 3 am reading this gem and it won't be the last time I read it.
I literally cannot wait for the follow-up!!
Do yourself a favour and get this book now.
I devoured it, and damn I loved Penn Scully!!
Daria is one lucky bitch!!
Ok...ok...I'll shut up now (so you can buy it and read it, like yesterday 😜)