Need Some Holiday De-Stress Reading? Pretty Little Liars Novels Wicked, Killer, and Heartless Are Up to the Task

PLL author, Sara Shepard

Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars series is like the whipped cream on top of a steaming mug of hot cocoa: light, unnecessary, but delicious all the same. I can read books from this series in a day or two, usually sandwiched between heavier books or during times when I'm super-busy and need a distraction. I don't usually feel as though each separate entry in the series deserves a review all to itself; if you have read them, then you are well-aware that they are serial stories, much like a soap opera. One sort of bleeds into the next, and so on.

I read book five, Wicked, in the summer and number six, Killer, back in October. Last month I read Shepard's seventh PLL book, Heartless, in less than 24 hours. My guy had surgery, and I had several days spent in waiting rooms and then caring for him afterwards. Shepard's books are welcome distractions at times like those. The PLL world pulls you in and makes you forget about real life for a little while. Then you get so involved in their particular brand of crazy that you can't pull yourself away until you've read every last page.

Wicked starts, as each book does, exactly where the last book left off. In this case, Shepard has her work cut out for her. In the fourth book she wrapped up several of the mysteries that had been dangling for the first few books in the series. As a result, a whole new set of problems is introduced. (This is the point you might want to stop reading if you're unfamiliar with the series. SPOILERS ahead.)

"A," the long-time tormenter of Aria, Emily, Hannah, and Spencer, is dead. Or is she...? In Wicked, Shepard introduces a new "A," one with a vendetta against the girls that seems just as strong as Mona's. Basically, the girls continue living their fabulously wealthy teenage lives, full of new love interests and even new friends, in Hannah's case. At the end of the novel, the girls discover a body in the woods, which rockets them back into the media spotlight.

Book six, Killer, is titled after Emily's nickname from middle school -- so-called because of her inclination to jump to Ali's defense back then, like a loyal pet. The killer -- Ali's -- is the focus of this novel, as the girls begin to doubt their certainty that Ian murdered Ali. Other possibilities pop up from their past, including Ali's somewhat creepy (but extraordinarily good-looking) brother Jason. They also suspect policeman Darren Wilder after he seems less than enthusiastic about listening to their stories. When the woods are aflame at the novel's end, all of the girls believe they see a girl running away who looks disturbing like their dead friend.

Shepard turns everyone against the infamous foursome in the seventh novel, Heartless. Each girl spirals downward as the media slays them and even their friends and family turn away from them. The Ali-sighting seems a bit too much for everyone, and as a result the girls find themselves alone. Well, all alone -- except for "A." She -- or he -- is back and more in control than ever. "A" sends each girl on a private mission, with disastrous results.

If you haven't yet read any of Sara Shepard's Pretty Little Liars books, December is the perfect month to give them a try. Who has time for heavy reading when the holidays are coming up and everyone is stressed to the max? Trust me when I say that they'll capture your attention for a while and distract you from that ever-growing list of gifts to buy and cookies to bake.

Need to refresh your memory on the first four books before you dive into five, six, and seven? Read about Pretty Little Liars (#1) and Flawless (#2) here, Perfect (#3) here, and Unbelievable (#4) here. And if you enjoy the series, you're in luck. Shepard has written ten books so far, with an eleventh one set to release in summer 2012. The tenth book in the series, Ruthless, comes out this Tuesday.

Unbelievable Serves as a Turning Point for the Pretty Little Liars Series

I became a fan of Sara Shepard's YA books after reading an ARC of her first book in a new series, The Lying Game. Since then I've read the first four books in her bestselling Pretty Little Liars series, and started the fifth. They are shallow -- but addicting -- quick reads that focus on a group of elite girls living in suburban Pennsylvania.

In Unbelievable, the girls -- Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer -- are still reeling from the discovery of their friend Ali's body, years after her disappearance the summer before high school. They all continued to harbor hope that Ali would reappear alive, especially after their torture at the hands of someone calling herself only "A." This so-called A knows secrets only Ali knew, leading them all to think she must be back.

While they deal with Ali's body being found, then her funeral, the girls also have problems of their own -- many caused by A. Hanna lies in a hospital bed after figuring out A's identity, then promptly being struck by a car before she could share her newfound knowledge; Spencer is receiving praise for a school paper, but stressed because she plagiarized it; Aria is estranged from her mother after it's revealed that Aria knew about her father's affair; and Emily is shipped off to Iowa to learn some lessons from the conservative side of her family.

But, as always, A continues to push the problems to a whole new level. When things continue to heat up, the girls are forced to face the fact that Ali cannot be A. Yet A continues to torture them. So who is A? Perhaps in this installment of the PLL books readers will finally find out...

Unbelievable is the fourth book in the PLL series. That means that, including Wicked (which I started but haven't finished), I still have four books left to enjoy. They are going to make perfect beach & poolside books for this summer! (Not to mention, rumor has it that a new PLL book, Twisted, will hit store shelves in July, then a second for the year, Ruthless, in December.)

Pretty Little Liars is also, of course, a hit television series on ABC Family. The season finale was last night, but you can play catch-up by viewing episodes from this past season at Shepard's website.

Perfect (Pretty Little Liars Book #3) Is Pretty Much, Well... Perfect in Every Way

I know, I know. The Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard is in some ways the literary equivalent of cotton candy -- fluffy, full of sugar and flavor, with little substance in the end. However, I can't stop reading these books! Something about them is addicting. Here's a short summary of the latest title I finished, Perfect, and then a short list of reasons why I love these books:

As the third book in the series, Perfect picks up where the second book -- Flawless -- left off. Hanna is still struggling with her recurring eating disorder (once conquered, but now picking up speed with the advent of the increasingly disturbing texts and messages from A). Aria revealed too much truth about A, so she is suffering the consequences: her mom kicks her out, her dad moves in with his college-age girlfriend Meredith, and Aria is left to find shelter with her new boyfriend's family. Emily is continuing to struggle with her identity, and losing the trust of her family members quickly. Her popularity at Rosewood Day, on the other hand, seems to be on the rise. Spencer is suddenly the golden child in her family after weeks of trouble with her sister. She is nominated for a Golden Orchid, an award for high school students likened to the Oscars. But she has a secret that would destroy all those good vibes instantly. Who will A torture next? The question definitely isn't "if" but "when."

Reasons I love this series:

• Although their allowances are much bigger than mine was, these girls are very relatable. I feel like I understand their motivations, feelings, and desires. Deep down, they are just teenagers seeking a sense of self and a place in the world.
• Each character is individually defined. Shepard manages to create a whole world full of intricate, vibrant characters who are each unique from the rest. Not many authors can accomplish this feat -- many do single characters with depth, but rarely a bevy of them.
• It's fun to read about all that wealth. I don't have that kind of money, and (barring a lottery win or other miracle) never will. I like to hear about Rock & Republic jeans and Zac Posen dresses, even if I'll never own them -- however, through eBay all things are possible!
• The suspense is killing me -- in a good way (obviously, if I'm still reading). This is key -- leaking the exact right amount of information, but still leaving much a mystery. Shepard hits the right balance between revealing something (subplot points and some of the girls' secrets) and nothing (A's identity, which in the third book readers are no closer to learning than when the series began). This is especially tricky for me, because I hate to wait! Case in point: How I Met Your Mother, which I realized after almost the whole first season was not going to let viewers know which storyline led to children. Perhaps viewers know now -- I don't, because I stopped watching! Shepard is a careful storyteller, and a darn good one.

I've already made my way (in one night) through the fourth book, Unbelievable, and I will be starting on the fifth, Wicked, sometime this week! They're just that good.

If you'd like, you can go ahead and order it (or any other book) online. Your purchase will help support this blog, since I am an affiliate of these stores (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Indiebound). For more info on this, you can read my Review Policy & Disclosures.

• Perfect on Amazon.com
• Perfect on Barnes&Noble.com
• Perfect on Indiebound.org

Pretty Little Liars Book Series (#1 and #2) Provides Hours of Entertainment

Disclaimer: I have never watched the ABC Family television series Pretty Little Liars. I started my foray into the world of author Sara Shepard with her new series, The Lying Game. After reading it -- in all its teenage angst, up-to-date technology, and high-end fashion -- I went straight to the library to find the PLL series books.

The first and second books in the series did not disappoint. Pretty Little Liars (#1) and Flawless (#2) introduce readers to five friends: Aria, Emily, Hanna, Spencer, and -- last but not least -- Ali. In seventh grade, the girls united into a clique that could not be challenged by anyone at Rosewood Day, their private prep school.  But the summer before high school, Ali disappeared. Three years later, as the series begins, none of the former best friends are on speaking terms. Each beautiful young lady has her own talents and her own demons.

Things begin to heat up when the girls begin to receive texts, emails, and notes from someone called only 'A.' The girls had secrets with Ali, and now A seems to know those, as well. However, A also knows things that are happening currently -- things Ali has missed in her three years missing. Is Ali back? Is she A? Or is A someone outside their once-bullet-proof circle?

Shepard does an exceptional job of keeping readers on their toes while revealing just enough to make her books satisfying reads. Some mysteries are tied up at the end of each novel; still others are created in the novel's unfolding. What's next? I don't know, but I'm racing to find out. I'm currently just a few dozen pages from finishing the third book in the series, so look for more PLL reviews in the future.

The ABC Family series comes on Monday nights at 7pm CST.

Want to catch up on the books as you watch this season? Choose your store and click below (plus, support more PLL reviews on the blog with your purchase!):

• Pretty Little Liars on Amazon.com
• Pretty Little Liars on Barnes&Noble.com
• Pretty Little Liars on Indiebound.org
  

The Lying Game Forces Me to Read Pretty Little Liars (and Continues My Newfound Love for eBooks)

I've said before that I'm not much of a YA reader. However, that has changed since I returned to the classroom this year as a middle school language arts teacher. I have been trying to make a concerted effort to add YA titles to my reading list, so that I can communicate with my students about what they're reading, make recommendations, and (perhaps) add appropriate titles to my classroom library.

I also recently started reading ebooks (late start on that trend, huh?) via my iPod touch. Some have said they don't understand how I can read on something so small. The truth is, it's very handy for reading in bed. The small size doesn't matter so much when you're holding it fairly close to your face. I'm enjoying ebooks more than I ever thought I would. I had the opportunity to read Michael Koryta's upcoming novel The Cypress House in ebook form, and the bug bit me. I needed more. Using the site NetGalley (highly recommend to other book bloggers!), I've connected with several publishers and read a few more fabulous titles, including Sara Shepard's latest novel The Lying Game. Yep, that Sara Shepard. Author of the wildly popular snarky-rich-girl series Pretty Little Liars, which rocketed to fame after the ABC Family channel started airing a television series based on the novels. I haven't seen the show, but I am now reading the series to compare it to my experience with The Lying Game.

The Lying Game begins a separate series for Shepard from Pretty Little Liars, but from what I can tell so far, is similar in many ways. The characters are teenage girls, many well-to-do, who text, tweet, and use Facebook constantly. However, far from your regular old Gossip Girl-esque storyline, Shepard combines smart YA with my favorite type of novel -- the mystery/thriller. I don't know the plot of the PLL series (I just began book one last night), but The Lying Game has a fabulous premise. Shepard incorporates the paranormal into this series from the very first page, when we learn that the narrator is a dead girl, trapped forever to follow the main character around. Unlikely premise, but Shepard makes it believable within the novel's confines and defintely makes things interesting from the get-go.

Emma has been tossed around the foster system her entire life. She carries with her vague memories of her biological mother, but it's been years since she last saw her. When she comes across a video of a girl who looks exactly like her, she leaves her not-so-great-anyway foster family and heads for Tucson, Arizona, to meet up with this twin. After arriving, Emma realizes all is not sunny in Tucson. Sutton, her lookalike, is missing. Did she run away as part of an elaborate scheme, or is something more sinister going on? The dead narrator learns a lot about her former life while shadowing Emma's activities.

This book grabbed me from the first page and made me appreciate current YA fiction. Shepard does an excellent job of realistically describing teenagers living in 2011. They live in an age where immediacy is the most important thing -- a world in which nothing is secret, because all things are being broadcast via multiple mediums. From Twitter to Facebook, Shepard captures the lives of today's teenagers with precision.

I will say one negative thing about the novel after all my raving -- the ending was one of the most frustrating I'v ever read. As this novel begins a new series for Shepard, many plotlines are left dangling. Like any good soap opera, Shepard ensures that readers will keep coming back for more. I just don't know if I can wait for the next Lying Game book to be released -- Amazon lists it as not releasing until August! Until then, I have eight Pretty Little Liars books to read (and a television series to catch up on, of course!). Pretty Little Liars returned to ABC Family last night and can be seen on Mondays.