Title: Perfect
Series: Pretty Little Liars #3
Author: Sara Shepard
Publishers: Harper Teen
Date of Publication: September, 2007
Genre: Young Adult, Suspense
Format: Paperback
Length: 298 pages
My Source: Ebook.
Synopsis
In Rosewood, Pennsylvania, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem.
Aria can't resist her forbidden ex. Hanna is on the verge of losing her BFF. Emily is freaking out over a simple kiss. And Spencer can't keep her hands off anything that belongs to her sister.
Lucky me. I know these pretty little liars better than they know themselves. But it's hard keeping all of their secrets to myself. They better do as I say . . . or else!
Review
Honestly, I had to read this book. After reading the previous two it was mandatory to read this one!
The story of Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer continues. Aria's family is in shambles, and her mother can't bear the sight of the daughter who withheld knowledge of her father cheating. Emily struggles with her sexuality and trying to get her parents to accept her. Hanna is falling out with her BFF, Mona. And Spencer perhaps has taken one too many things from Melissa.
These books have been marvelous fun to read. They are wildly entertaining, interesting, and actually quite a bit creepy. This book in particular kept me up WELL past my bedtime and I was continuously being rebuked by my mom (well, partly because she thought I was texting on my cell phone and not reading! Only if she knew this book is far far far more interesting than texting..well say even your BFF!!).
Each girl has a vivid story. Aria knew about her father cheating, but never told her mother. Now, she suffers for that. Sure, it's kinda weird to see a mother so antagonistic to her own flesh and blood, but I still think it is nice to see Aria's mother behaving as a normal human being--flawed and somewhat selfish. Her relationships with Sean and Ezra are all over the place, and you totally won't expect how it ends.
Emily was far more interesting to me this time. She has feelings for Maya...but she can't show them, knowing how her parents would react. When the secret comes out, Emily is threatened with either attending Tree Tops (a homosexuality "reform") or moving to Iowa with her super strict aunt and uncle. Again, her aunt and uncle felt WAY overboard (keeping a list of sins? Eating Cheerios to avoid sexuality?), but then again, there are some WEIRD people out there. As for the conflict Emily has over family and Maya, it's very realistic and not all that unlikely.
Hanna is still one of my favorite characters. I really felt for her as she struggled to keep her relationship with Mona. The poor girl has lost so much--boyfriends, father, her independence and confidence--that she can't bear to lose the girl who stood by her 3 years ago when they both made themselves over.
And then Spencer. What is revealed about her...again, this is the reason I stayed up way too late. I love how her stealing comes to bite her in the butt, and I love the argument she has with Melissa. All too often in books, I feel the characters really hold back in what they yell at each other. Not here.
These books have been marvelous fun to read. They are wildly entertaining, interesting, and actually quite a bit creepy. This book in particular kept me up WELL past my bedtime and I was continuously being rebuked by my mom (well, partly because she thought I was texting on my cell phone and not reading! Only if she knew this book is far far far more interesting than texting..well say even your BFF!!).
Each girl has a vivid story. Aria knew about her father cheating, but never told her mother. Now, she suffers for that. Sure, it's kinda weird to see a mother so antagonistic to her own flesh and blood, but I still think it is nice to see Aria's mother behaving as a normal human being--flawed and somewhat selfish. Her relationships with Sean and Ezra are all over the place, and you totally won't expect how it ends.
Emily was far more interesting to me this time. She has feelings for Maya...but she can't show them, knowing how her parents would react. When the secret comes out, Emily is threatened with either attending Tree Tops (a homosexuality "reform") or moving to Iowa with her super strict aunt and uncle. Again, her aunt and uncle felt WAY overboard (keeping a list of sins? Eating Cheerios to avoid sexuality?), but then again, there are some WEIRD people out there. As for the conflict Emily has over family and Maya, it's very realistic and not all that unlikely.
Hanna is still one of my favorite characters. I really felt for her as she struggled to keep her relationship with Mona. The poor girl has lost so much--boyfriends, father, her independence and confidence--that she can't bear to lose the girl who stood by her 3 years ago when they both made themselves over.
And then Spencer. What is revealed about her...again, this is the reason I stayed up way too late. I love how her stealing comes to bite her in the butt, and I love the argument she has with Melissa. All too often in books, I feel the characters really hold back in what they yell at each other. Not here.
We meet some new and old characters. Ezra, Sean, Lucas (such a sweet boy!)...they all really grow and develop. They refuse to be 1 Dimensional characters and feel like they have hopes, dreams, and likes of their own. Even "evil" characters like Melissa and Meredith don't feel 100% evil.
But know what? My favourite character is A! If it sounds weird to you, I can't help it! But without A, the book wouldn't have been half as interesting as it is! I LOVE those texts, IMs, notes she sends to the girls! I highlight them all on my ebook reader (ALL of those!).
And the last chapter of the book! It gave me goosebumps when Spencer recovered her missing memory of the night Ali disappeared. It was unbelievable! And I was like probably that's why the next book is titled "Unbelievable"! Well, I won't give too much details, grab your copy and start reading!
This is not some great literary work, but it is worth reading for sure! At least I'm glued to the series (I'm reading these even when I've lots of ARR books on my list!). If you love suspense, whoa, this series is surely for you. If you haven't already started it, JUST GO FOR IT!!
About The Author
Sara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She currently lives in Tucson, Arizona. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.
My Friendship Bond
My Reaction
Oh my gosh! Your reviews are as vivid as the books themselves. I now want to rush out and buy this one and I am way past an age where I should be reading a YA story. Your website looks amazing. Is this all your won work? I understand about reading when you should be sleeping, I do it all the time. Great to connect on Book Blogs.
ReplyDeleteYou should definitely read them! This series, these books are worth reading! And I'm extremely glad that you found my review helpful.
DeleteOh and the website. Yeah, Amanda, it's my own work! :-D
DeleteThanks for the appreciation, it means a lot!!
I'm so glad that you visited my blog! :)