Review: Twisted

Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Series: Pretty Little Liars (#9)
Synopsis: It’s been a year since the torturous notes from A stopped and the mystery of Alison DiLaurentis’s disappearance was finally put to rest. Now seniors in high school, Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily are older, but they’re not any wiser. The Pretty Little Liars have more secrets than ever - twisted secrets that could destroy the perfect lives they’ve worked so hard to rebuild. 


Aria’s jealous of her boyfriend’s new exchange student. Spencer’s getting a little too cozy with her soon-to-be-stepbrother. Hanna’s one scandalous photo away from ruining her dad’s Senate campaign. And Emily will do anything to get a swim scholarship. 


Worst of all: Last spring break in Jamaica, they did something unforgivable. The girls are desperate to forget that fateful night, but they should know better than anyone that all secrets wash ashore … eventually.


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Sara Shepard has a Twisted mind (hahaha... Yeah, not that funny). The drama in these books are unbelievable.

I know what you're thinking. I thought the same thing. A ninth book? But everything was closed off in the eighth! What else could possibly happen? This is ridiculous! Is there even a genuine story?

And I'll say that to enjoy this book, you're going to have to let go of some things. Let go of any preconceptions that Pretty Little Liars is realistic. Expect the unexpected. Don't even think "That's not possible!" because, it is. Ignore the need for characters to stop behaving the way they do and creating huge trouble for themselves. That trouble is what the story is based on. And as all the fans know, reading about the drama is an addictive, guilty pleasure. Accept the books for what they are: entertaining, fun, surprising.

That doesn't all come without a price though. This series has gone way down my list from being well thought out to amusing, to quick entertainment. It could have been so much more... But I should follow my own advice and accept the books for what they are.

Twisted begins with this huge secret that you don't know which was driving me insane. Curiosity was killing me. There were tantalizing little hints but not until later on do we fully piece what happened and still then we're left astounded. The plot is a bit slow and it seems like pointless drama for a bit till we get to the end and a revelation appears.

I have to say, I lost respect and faith in Spencer, Emily, Aria and Hanna. I thought these girls were capable of taking the good things they had and not messing up. They're good people- why can't that translate into actions? That wouldn't make much of a story though. I was frustrated with the way they all made decisions in Twisted.

I like these books. They're not the most eloquently written, not the most haunting story, but they're easy to read and make a great tv show. I say if you've read all the previous books, why not read one more? 3 stars,

***

Review: The Lying Game

Author: Sara Shepard
Pages: 320
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Library
Synopsis:
I had a life anyone would kill for.

Then someone did.

The worst part of being dead is that there’s nothing left to live for. No more kisses. No more secrets. No more gossip. It’s enough to kill a girl all over again. But I’m about to get something no one else does—an encore performance, thanks to Emma, the long-lost twin sister I never even got to meet.

Now Emma’s desperate to know what happened to me. And the only way to figure it out is to be me—to slip into my old life and piece it all together. But can she laugh at inside jokes with my best friends? Convince my boyfriend she’s the girl he fell in love with? Pretend to be a happy, carefree daughter when she hugs my parents good night? And can she keep up the charade, even after she realizes my murderer is watching her every move?

From Sara Shepard, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars books, comes a riveting new series about secrets, lies, and killer consequences.

Let the lying game begin.

Ever since I first heard of this book, I wanted to read it. It has a cool name, a pretty cover, and an author who can write a complex, scary and interesting story. The Lying Game pretty much gave me all I expected.

The story is told from Sutton's perspective. Sutton's a ghost and she is weirdly connected to her long lost twin sister, Emma. Sutton can see Emma's thoughts, but she adds her own all of a sudden. It's like a POV within a POV. To be honest, I didn't like it. I'd fall into Emma's perspective and then all of a sudden, Sutton would make a comment and I would be reminded that there is an invisible girl there too. I don't see the point of having Sutton around yet, but since it's Sara Shepard, I expect there is one that pertains to the story.

Beside from that, I enjoyed the story. The murder plot is classic, but Shepard is able to make it original with the whole idea of the Lying Game. That's probably what I like the most- the game. Those girls are insane, but it leaves many plot lines open for exploring. Many interesting plot lines. It also gives motivation for Sutton's killer.

There are some memorable parts in this book, but it's exactly what I expected and it's good. I do wish the story was longer; I want to know more of what happens next, but this is a great intro to our characters (who are all interesting). It doesn't go too in depth about any of them though.

Overall, I think this is a start to a series that will probably get better as each book comes along. I'm not hooked, but this series has already roused my interest and I think it will be lots of fun to read.

3.5 stars

***& 1/2 *