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Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8) by Sara Shepard
Book: Wanted (Pretty Little Liars #8)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Hardcover 261 pages
Orig. Publication Date: June 8 2010
Date Read: October 20 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Includes Spoilers from the series so far
Description from Goodreads
In Rosewood, majestic estates sprawl for acres, and Tiffany toggle bracelets dangle from every girl’s wrist. But not all that glitters is gold, and the town harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine—like the truth about what really happened the night Alison DiLaurentis went missing. . . .
Back in middle school, Ali plucked Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer from obscurity and turned them into the beautiful, popular girls everyone wanted to be. Ali was the best friend they ever had. But she also made them do terrible things and taunted them with their worst secrets. Now, three years later, all their questions about Ali have finally been answered and they can put this awful chapter of their lives behind them. Or so they think.
Not every story has a happy ending, especially when four pretty little liars have done so many wicked things. In the dramatic conclusion of Sara Shepard’s bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer could get everything they’ve ever wanted—unless A has one more horrifying twist in store.
My Thoughts
Wanted is the final book in the Pretty Little Liars 8 book series. The series so far has been quite a ride and this book is no exception. The final book is full of surprises and suspense and addresses many of the major questions hanging over the series.
There were many suspects in the killing of Rosewood’s Ali, but who really did the deed? And was Ali dead after all? In the end, I thought the killer’s identity plot device was a bit gimmicky and cliche. I wondered why were the girl’s so trusting of Courtney? Have they learned anything throughout this series? The ending was appropriately dark and creepy and in keeping with the series. I don’t think there were enough clues presented in the series to figure out the ending, but some clues are there if you dig deep enough.
The series overall is highly entertaining for teens and adults alike. I’m glad I read this series and I’m sure it will enhance my enjoyment of the ABC Family series. However, after reading these books back to back I’m ready to move on to something else.
Looking forward to checking out Sara Shepard’s next series beginning with the first book: The Lying Game due December 7.
4 Stars
Heartless (Pretty Little Liars #7) by Sara Shepard
Book: Heartless (Pretty Little Liars #7)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 274 pages
Orig. Publication Date: January 7 2010
Date Read: October 18 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Includes Spoilers from the series so far
Description from Goodreads
The newest installment in Sara Shepard’s bestselling Pretty Little Liars series is packed with juicy drama and delicious surprises that will keep readers guessing to the very end.
Hanna, Aria, Emily, and Spencer have been telling some outrageous tales; only, the proof always seems to go missing. The friends insist they’re telling the truth, but all of Rosewood thinks they’re just out for attention—and nobody likes a girl who cries wolf. So when the big bad killer comes after them, will anyone believe the girls. . . or will they be the next to disappear?
My Thoughts
Heartless is the penultimate installment in the Pretty Little Liars series of 8 books. This book was very exciting and pulled me in so many different directions. I was questioning all I have learned from the series so far. Evil “A” has upped the ante and has the four girls from Rosewood wrapped around her finger.
Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer are now the laughing stocks of Rosewood and have been dubbed “The Pretty Little Liars” due to their unsubstantiated stories. The police no longer believe them, and the girls are more driven than ever to solve the mysteries and clear their name.
The new and even more devious “A” has sent the girls on a wild goose chase in all different directions hunting clues. Emily gets sent to an Amish settlement to follow a lead that fingers one of the persons under suspicion in Rosewood. Aria follows a spiritual path and tries again with a seance. Hanna gets sent to an institute by her father who wants her to try therapy to deal with her eating disorder and stress. And Spencer finds plenty of suspicious activity and clues a little closer to home.
I had thought with the next to the last book we would be closer to solving this thing. I was so confused with this book! I thought Emily could be on the right path with her adventure. There may be enough clues at this point to solve the crime if you really dig deep. I don’t think I have it right at this point. Another shocking cliffhanger will have you ready for the final installment in the series: Wanted.
Four Stars
Killer (Pretty Little Liars #6) by Sara Shepard
Book: Killer (Pretty Little Liars #6)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 321 pages
Orig. Publication Date: July 1 2009
Date Read: October 13 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Includes Spoilers from the series so far
Description from Goodreads
In picture-perfect Rosewood, Pennsylvania, ash-blond highlights gleam in the winter sun and frozen lakes sparkle like Swarovski crystals. But pictures often lie—and so do Rosewood’s four prettiest girls.
Hanna, Aria, Spencer, and Emily have been lying ever since they became friends with beautiful Alison DiLaurentis. Ali made them do terrible things—things they had to keep secret for years. And even though Ali was killed at the end of seventh grade, their bad-girl ways didn’t die with her.
Hanna’s on a mission to corrupt Rosewood’s youth, starting with a very attractive sophomore. Aria’s snooping into her boyfriend’s past. Spencer’s stealing—from her family. And pure little Emily’s abstaining from abstinence.
The girls should be careful, though. They thought they were safe when Ali’s killer was arrested and A’s true identity was finally revealed. But now there’s a new A in town turning up the heat. And this time Rosewood is going to burn.
My Thoughts
In Killer, the girls are still being tracked by new “A” and still following clues to find Ali’s real killer. This is a transitional book in the series. There are only two books left and we are building up to the final conclusion. In this book, the girls have their own personal dramas that they are dealing with. These are interesting stories, but the “A” plot does not progress as much as usual.
The girls have lost the trust of the police so they are on their own researching Ali’s killer. “A” is still around providing clues and causing mischief. Hanna gets a new iphone and number so “A” can not reach her. Why wouldn’t they all change their number?
Spencer suspects she was adopted and goes in search of her real mother. Spencer is not one of my favorites but I felt so bad for her in this storyline. Emily and Isaac’s relationship is progressing, much to the outrage of Isaac’s mother. Not sure what that is about, is she a suspect? It doesn’t seem like this is going anywhere. Hanna gets a crush on an adorable younger man at school, and evil stepsister-to-be Kate continues her mind games with Hanna. Meanwhile, Aria acts on her long-time infatuation with (another) older man. The connection between Jason, Wilden, Melissa and Jenna is looking more suspicious. All of them seem to be suspects – could they have killed Ali?
The ending is a huge game-changing cliffhanger! What is going to happen next in Heartless? I can’t wait to find out.
4 Stars
Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5) by Sara Shepard
Book: Wicked (Pretty Little Liars #5)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 336 pages
Orig. Publication Date: November 25 2008
Date Read: October 2 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Includes Spoilers from the series so far
Description from Goodreads:
In idyllic Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four very pretty girls just can’t help but be bad. . . .
Hanna will do anything to be Rosewood’s queen bee. Spencer’s digging up her family’s secrets. Emily can’t stop thinking about her new boyfriend. And Aria approves a little too strongly of her mom’s taste in men.
Now that Ali’s killer is finally behind bars, the girls think they’re safe. But those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. And they should know by now that I’m always watching. . . .
My Thoughts:
I read this book after taking a six-week break from the series due to library availability. I recently picked up the four final books in the series and I’m reading them back-to-back. Glad to get back to this series. However, it’s kind of nice to take a little break between these books, otherwise they blur together. It was easy to pick up the story again, and Sara Shepard does a nice job of catching you up to speed at the beginning of each book.
The Pretty Little Liars series is the story of four friends living in Rosewood Pennsylvania: Aria, Emily, Hanna and Spencer. They are trying to solve the mystery of who killed their friend Ali, and who is their blackmailer “A?”
After finding out the identity of “A” and Ali’s killer in Unbelievable, the fifth Pretty Little Liars book feels like a new beginning for the series. But what’s this? There’s a new “A” blackmailing the four girls? And did they really catch the right killer? It’s more confusing than ever in Rosewood.
Spencer wonders if she was adopted, Aria’s inappropriate taste in men comes back to haunt her in a big way, Emily is dating a guy(!) and Hanna is dealing with her new living arrangement with step-sister to be Kate.
The girls begin receiving the mysterious and threatening texts again. “A” is on a warpath and intent on bringing down the girls. It feels like things are spiraling out of control again. Some of the people in Rosewood that seem very suspicious to me are Kate, Officer Wilden, Ali’s brother Jason, and Spencer’s sister Melissa. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised who the killer is or who “A” is or if Ali is even dead.
The series is still fun, enjoyable and surprising with the twists and turns. This installment poses more questions than answers, but I’m still along for the ride. What will happen in the next installment Killer?
4 Stars
Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4) by Sara Shepard
Book: Unbelievable (Pretty Little Liars #4)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 368 pages
Publication Date: February 1 2008
Date Read: August 21 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Includes Spoilers from the first 4 books
Description from Goodreads:
Four pretty little liars’ charmed lives have turned into living nightmares.
Emily’s been shipped off to Iowa to live with her überconservative cousins. Aria’s boyfriend is behind bars—because of her. Spencer’s afraid she was involved in Ali’s murder. But Hanna’s fate is far worse: She’s clinging to life in the hospital because she knew too much.
If these girls don’t start listening to me, Hanna’s going to look like the lucky one.
My Thoughts:
Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer are mourning the death of their friend Alison. Before she died, Ali collected secrets from all the girls and threatened to expose them to their friends and families. Now, the girls are being blackmailed by the mysterious “A” who knows all those secrets and more. “A” is always watching the girls and sending them threatening texts. We are left wondering “Who killed Ali?” and “Who is A?” No one is above suspicion in this addictive series.
We are at the halfway point of the Pretty Little Liars series, and this may be the most satisfying installment yet! When we last left off, Hanna had a breakthrough and had figured out the identity of “A.” Unfortunately after the car accident she can’t remember. She starts dating Lucas, who seems good for her and I thought made Hanna more likeable. Emily’s parents try again to stifle her homosexual tendencies by shipping her off to relatives in Iowa- this after sending her to a program unsuccessfully in Perfect. Aria is dealing with the aftermath of her parents split and her doomed relationship with Ezra. And Spencer is trying out therapy to help sort out her memories.
Amidst all of the usual drama and mayhem, there are some major answers revealed. Including the identity of Ali’s killer and the circumstances of her death. As well as the identity of “A!” This was so exciting to get some answers in the series. There were some definite hints along the way that cast suspicion on “A” and finally a small mistake got “A” caught. However, we are only halfway through the series, so I’m left wondering if there is not more to the story. There’s more plot twists at the end of Unbelievable to keep you wanting more.
When you have an overarching mystery such as in this series, it’s usually a letdown when the mystery is resolved. However, Sara Shepard does a great job of setting up the next mystery and it feels like there are still more intriguing stories to be told.
This was a satisfying installment for the midway part of the series. Looking forward to more OMG moments with the back half of the series, beginning with book 5 Wicked.
4 Stars
Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard
Book: Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 336 pages
Publication Date: September 1 2007
Date Read: August 19 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Description from Goodreads:
In a town where gossip thrives like the ivy that clings to its mansions, where mysteries lie behind manicured hedges and skeletons hide in every walk-in closet, four perfect-looking girls aren’t nearly as perfect as they seem.
Three years ago, Spencer, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and their best friend Alison were the girls at Rosewood Day School. They clicked through the halls in their Miu Miu flats, tanned in their matching Pucci bikinis, and laughed behind their freshly manicured fingernails. They were the girls everyone loved but secretly hated—especially Alison.
So when Alison mysteriously vanished one night, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna’s grief was tinged with . . . relief. And when Alison’s body was later discovered in her own backyard, the girls were forced to unearth some ugly memories of their old friend, too. Could there be more to Alison’s death than anyone realizes?
Now someone named A, someone who seems to know everything, is pointing the finger at one of them for Ali’s murder. As their secrets get darker and their scandals turn deadly, A is poised to ruin their perfect little lives forever.
My Thoughts (includes spoilers from the first 3 books):
I’m still loving this series! I started reading it when the series on ABC Family began and the books are just as fun as the show. Sara Shepard does a great job writing these characters and keeping you interested, while holding back on answering the big questions. A suspicious glow is cast on most everyone in Rosewood, and the pieces fall into place little by little.
Things are heating up in Rosewood, Pennsylvania in the third book of the Pretty Little Liars series in the most suspenseful installment yet. Aria’s boy drama and the secret about her father’s affair come to a head, Spencer starts to piece things together in therapy, Hanna has a major breakthrough in the case, and Emily’s relationship with Maya heats up.
More secrets are revealed through a home video that resurfaces featuring the girls and Ali. All of the girls are searching for the answers and getting closer to the truth.
This installment was action packed! “A” is still blackmailing the girls and taking it up a notch by revealing her secrets to others.. How does she manage to be in so many places at once? “A” is everywhere.
Perfect is the most exciting yet. I’ve given up waiting for the answers and now I’m just along for the ride. Perfect ends in a shocking cliffhanger that will leave you begging for the next book in the series: Unbelievable.
4 Stars
Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2) by Sara Shepard
Book: Flawless (Pretty Little Liars #2)
Author: Sara Shepard
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: Paperback 352 pages
Publication Date: March 15 2007
Date Read: July 16 2010
Book Source: Borrowed Library book
Publisher’s description:
Spencer stole her sister’s boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. Hanna’s obsession with looking flawless is making her sick. And their most horrible secret yet is so scandalous that the truth would ruin them forever.
And why shouldn’t I tell? They deserve to lose it all. With every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message I send, I’ll be taking these pretty little liars down. Trust me, I’ve got enough dirt to bury them alive.
My Thoughts:
I read Flawless right after reading the first book Pretty Little Liars. The ABC Family series had been on for a few weeks and I wanted to read the books as a comparison. And I was hoping to find out some of the secrets by reading ahead. The answers are actually slow in coming in this series, but it’s a fun ride. It seems like the first season of the show will include several of the books, but time will tell when the TV series comes back in January 2011.
Flawless picks up right where the first book left off – the girls are attending their former best friend Ali’s funeral. Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer are still receiving blackmail texts from the mysterious “A.” More is revealed about Ali and the others in flashbacks. The girls find Ali had a few secrets of her own. And we finally find out what happened with Jenna, and more is revealed about the mysterious Toby.
The story is still intriguing, and I enjoy getting each girls point of view through the alternating chapters. The characters are well drawn and flawed, but still likeable. They have issues going on in their lives that many teens will relate to – divorce, eating disorders, sexual orientation, perfectionism, and sibling drama.
This installment is very suspenseful and shines a suspicious light on pretty much everyone. You may think you have it figured out, but the twists keep coming.
The next book in the series is #3 Perfect.
