Pretty Twisted

Jul 02, 2011 SJH (A Dream of Books) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, young-adult

'Pretty Twisted' is not normally the sort of book that I'd pick up and read. It's a modern, contemporary thriller narrated by two teenagers who seem to get themselves into an awful lot of trouble! The storyline is scarily realistic and as the story progresses, you believe completely that the events of the book could actually happen in real life and indeed often do. I was intrigued to read this one when I found out that this was the debut young adult offering by British author Gina Blaxill, who i...more 'Pretty Twisted' is not normally the sort of book that I'd pick up and read. It's a modern, contemporary thriller narrated by two teenagers who seem to get themselves into an awful lot of trouble! The storyline is scarily realistic and as the story progresses, you believe completely that the events of the book could actually happen in real life and indeed often do. I was intrigued to read this one when I found out that this was the debut young adult offering by British author Gina Blaxill, who is actually only 24 herself.

The plot twists and turns and the motives of the characters are never certain until the end of the book. This adds to the sense of suspense and danger which is felt throughout. I was never quite sure who could be trusted as they all seemed to have so many hidden secrets.

The story centres around fourteen year old Ros and sixteen year old Jonathan, who first meet online. I have to say that I found some of the 'chat speak' difficult to read. Although these sections are reminiscent of how teenagers communicate with each other online, I did find these bits often spoilt the flow of the story and seemed a little clumsy. The two characters start to reveal things about themselves which they probably would never be able to do in real life and although they've never met they become closer and closer, to the point that Ros fantasises about Jonathan becoming her real life boyfriend. The two finally meet when Jonathan's girlfriend Freya goes missing and Ros agrees to help him try and track her down. I liked the fact that there is nothing sinister about their online relationship at all. Although Ros is first worried about meeting him, believing that he might not be a teenage boy after all, their friendship develops into something real and they do end up genuinely liking each other. Although the book definitely warns about the dangers of meeting people who you chat to on the Internet, it also shows that you can make friends this way too.

One of the things I liked most about this book was the fact that the writing and the events of the story are so realistic and believable. Gina Blaxill is a really fresh and modern teen voice and she has definitely tried to capture the feelings, emotions and experiences of young people in a way that the reader can really connect with. She's obviously researched her characters well and it shows.

If I'm honest, the plot didn't completely win me over, although I joined the unexpected twist at the end but normally I enjoy a generous helping of fantasy which for obvious reasons this book didn't have, so it did take me a little while to really become engaged with the story. Saying that, I'm still looking forward to seeing what Gina Blaxill has up her sleeves next!

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Dec 30, 2011 Read2review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviewed-for-read-2-review

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The story focuses on the point of view of Ros and Jonathan, the two lead characters. Each section starts with an introduction to whose point of view it is written by and a date and sometimes a time. There are sections of emails and of text messages which were written in a different font so you would know what you are reading. It was very easy to follow and the story was very addictive.

Both a thriller and a crime novel in one the stor...more ** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **

The story focuses on the point of view of Ros and Jonathan, the two lead characters. Each section starts with an introduction to whose point of view it is written by and a date and sometimes a time. There are sections of emails and of text messages which were written in a different font so you would know what you are reading. It was very easy to follow and the story was very addictive.

Both a thriller and a crime novel in one the story is set around the disappearance of Freya Jonathan’s girlfriend, she becomes his ex-girlfriend as the story continues. There have been murders of three girls in the London area and Jonathan is worried for Freya’s safety and goes to visit her. In the meantime Jonathan encounters Ros on MySpace and they hit it off and become friends. He tells Ros everything about Freya and their relationship which leads Ros to stalk Freya. Also there are three college students who Freya and a couple of her friends meet in a pub and they take them back to their apartment. It all seems very complicated when you look at it like this but it’s not.

Gina has really focused on each character so they all have their own defined characteristics and personality. Each place has its own feel and is explained well so you can picture the area. I also love her video on you tube about the making of Pretty Twisted where she talks about the story and why she chose specific areas. I watched this after I had read the book. I don’t think it would have mattered if I had watched the video first as the story was so good.

I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see if Gina Blaxill will bring out more stories. If so I hope to be first in line to get a copy. I have a feeling that Pretty Twisted is just the start of what could be a fantastic literary career, and Gina’s only in her early 20’s! I’m jealous!

I give Pretty Twisted 5/5

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Jul 22, 2011 Alicia rated it 4 of 5 stars

First thing’s first, and this may just be me, but I really didn’t find Pretty Twisted all that twisted; it probably is just me, but with that title I was expecting a bit more than the reveal that we got, which left me feeling just a bit disappointed and let down when I finished - it was clever and unexpected (until the last few chapters before the reveal when I guessed what had really occurred) nonetheless, and you will be in for a very good gripping high-octane ride if you read Pretty Twisted.

O...more First thing’s first, and this may just be me, but I really didn’t find Pretty Twisted all that twisted; it probably is just me, but with that title I was expecting a bit more than the reveal that we got, which left me feeling just a bit disappointed and let down when I finished - it was clever and unexpected (until the last few chapters before the reveal when I guessed what had really occurred) nonetheless, and you will be in for a very good gripping high-octane ride if you read Pretty Twisted.

One thing that I really liked about Pretty Twisted was the characters - all of them, even the ones you weren't supposed to, and this was purely because they were all so unique, engaging and true-to-life - something that you rarely find in a book - and, most impressively of all, genuinely convey teenagers. The pacing of the story is sublime and you can tell that a lot of time and planning has gone into every aspect of the novel, and it really pays off to create a highly authentic plot.

The cover is pretty* unique too, it took me a while to like it, but I really do now. I also liked the stuff on A Levels and GCSEs, as they’re pretty relevant topics but hardly any UK-based book mentions them, probably because most authors are not as clued up as Blaxill, but I found it helped me to relate with the characters more and made the book feel more realistic; not that it isn’t anyway – virtually everything about the premise and storyline is thoroughly realistic, almost frighteningly so – from people going missing, especially teenage girls, to the character’s reactions; although there were a few events that were just that bit too convenient to be truly realistic.

A pretty* impressive debut – it genuinely didn’t feel like one when I was reading it, and the writing was great throughout. I found I couldn’t really be bothered (this is definitely me being my lazy self) to look at the date and time at the beginning of each new point of view to work out the timeframe of it all happening, so that bit, which obviously took a lot of careful planning, was lost on me, but if I reread it, I will be taking more notice. This point of view change was very refreshing and enabled the reader to see both sides of the same event, although sometimes I forgot who it was ‘talking’. The back and forward flashes were very good and power you to keep reading to discover what happens next – as the novel is pretty* addictive, you devour the story in a very short space of time, which probably contributes to my feelings of disappointment at the end.

*I apologise for all the ‘pretty’ puns, but I had to get them in there!(less)

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Aug 01, 2011 Miranda rated it 4 of 5 stars

While contemporary suspense is not my usual genre, YA or no, I'm glad I read this one. I became very caught up in it, very quickly, and actually started and finished it all in one day. Since I don't read suspense often, I can't compare it to other books in that genre, but the mystery kept me guessing right until the very end.

I also really enjoyed how the book was out of chronological order, so you get right to the protagonists' troubles, and then you get the story of how they got there. I had n...more

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May 14, 2011 Maria Bavin rated it 4 of 5 stars

At the beginning of this book, Gina Blaxill gives us an insight into what the book holds and what to expect. Through using two different characters and conveying the date and time, we are able to understand when events happen and gain two different opinions on the situation.

Blaxill has portrayed the characters so that the reader comes to know what personality they have. By doing this, the reader becomes closer to the character and understands the reason behind their actions.

Throughout the book,...more

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May 26, 2011 Marseilles rated it 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Enjoyed this one so much! It's a crime novel and a thriller but it's a really realistic one and there aren't loads of them out there. SO nice to read something like that for a change!

I really liked the characters in Pretty Twisted. In lots of thrillers the characters are kind of empty and boring but these felt like real fleshed out people and they STAYED real rather than turning into incredible crime fighter teens. I could really understand the bond that grew between Jono and Ros and what...more

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Jan 31, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 3 of 5 stars

"Pretty Twisted" is about a six-teen year old boy named Jonathan, who is struggling to make friends at his new college now that his girlfriend, Freya is no longer around him. The only friend that he talks to is Ros, who he has only talked to online. But she decided to help Jonathan when Freya goes missing and Jonathan is the prime suspect. Later on, Ros starts to hang out with a girl named Claudia because Claudia wants to be closer with Abby who is very close with Jonathan. And finds herself lyi...more

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Sep 14, 2011 Annmarie Ager rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-reviewed

Two strangers stumble upon one and other on a social net working site both are struggling with their lives. Things take a turn for the worse when Jonathan X girlfriend goes missing and the finger is pointed at Jonathan so he turns to the only other person he trusts Rosalind but she is hiding things of her own. Will Jonathan and Rosalind find out what’s going on before it’s too late.

I don’t normal read contemporary suspense but I found the story really easy to get sucked into.

The two main charact...more

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May 07, 2011 Katharina rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Pretty Twisted" the first novel by Gina Blaxill was something I was waiting for. I might not be the most objective reader for some reasons, but I really liked the book.

There were ups and downs in the story (like in most books) but I enjoyed it 90% of the time.

My favourite characters were Hugh and Emma, who both are just supporting characters. I must admit Jono didn't really grow on me. He was okay and in the end I liked him better, but he seemed to obsessed about Freya... but then boys might be...more

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May 27, 2011 Tyler-rose (The Reading Pile) rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: enjoyed, favorites

So, Pretty Twisted is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. Mostly because it doesn't have your sterotypical ending. The guy doesn't get his girl, and the girl doesn't get her guy, but another girl does get her guy... and Yeah. There are so many relationships in this book, it was a great idea of Gina's to not give every couple a happily ever after. If they were all romantic 'everything is perfect' types of relationships, I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much - despite me...more

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May 29, 2011 Sarah burrows rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: realistic-real-life, 2011-reads, 4-star-books

I really liked this book. It has alot of twists and turns and an interesting plot. The murder ends up being the person you'd less likely expect it to be. This story shows a modern take on life and its worries and problems, like meeting people on the internet, and people not being who they say they are.
I like that the story is told from two different veiw points, Rosalind's and Jonathan's, which gives more information, effect and the reader gets the feeling from more then one character.
The unexpe...more

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May 15, 2011 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: review-books, uk-author

Pretty Twisted is an easy to read and enjoyable novel which had interesting and engaging characters and a storyline that kept me happily entertained as it twisted and turned its way along nicely.

Pretty Twisted is told in a double narrative with alternating chapters from the two main characters Ros and Jonathan who first meet online completely by accident. Both of them are in quite a similiar place in that they come across as quite lonely and without much idea about where they really fit in. When...more Pretty Twisted is an easy to read and enjoyable novel which had interesting and engaging characters and a storyline that kept me happily entertained as it twisted and turned its way along nicely.

Pretty Twisted is told in a double narrative with alternating chapters from the two main characters Ros and Jonathan who first meet online completely by accident. Both of them are in quite a similiar place in that they come across as quite lonely and without much idea about where they really fit in. When they meet they instantly click as they have lots in common and both depend on their relationship probably more than they'd let on.

Jonathan is 17 and living in rural Norfolk. His girlfriend is in London and his parents are forcing him to do A Levels he doesn;t want to do. He doesn't feel like he has any proper friends and spends most of his time trying to work out how to go and visit his girlfriend Freja. Ros is 14 and living in London and also a bit lost. She isn't cool, doesn't even talk to boys and has a group of friends who don't really treat her properly. In Jonathan she finds a bit of a hero and a bit of a crush to idolise.

To start with the two main characters storylines are separate except for their conversations online. It isn't until Jonathan's girlfriend goes missing that they finally meet and try to hunt her down in the middle of London. Things don't look good as other girls have gone missing and the police are sniffing round looking for a suspect and are particularly interested in why Jonathan and Ros have been spending so much time "stalking Freja". I liked that as the story progressed they became more and more intertwined despite the fact that the characters were little more than strangers at the start of the book.

what I liked most about this book was its believability. So much about the characters was done just so which made me think that the author had clearly done her research and thought about ensuring that the storyline was something that actually could happen. They don't suddenly morph into teenage crime fighters who stop the bad guy totally unaided. I also enjoyed the friendship between Ros and Jono and how it developed and changed as the book progressed.

All in a very enjoyable debut novel. I'll be looking out for the author's next offering.

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Oct 01, 2012 Francesca rated it 4 of 5 stars

I picked this up in the library on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised with what turned out to be a really intense read. I struggled to get into it at first, especially with Rosalind's text slang, but after 50 pages or so I was hooked. The relationship between "Jono" and "Ros" plays out perfectly and the two sides of the story come together really well. I've never read a book about online relationships before and I think Gina Blaxill nailed it. The repetition of the risks was a bit overused bu...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Luna rated it 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars

Pretty Twisted has a good concept and Gina Blaxill expertly weaves the current events of the beginning of the story with how Jonathan ended up in the police station. The pacing is good and while Ros’s textspeak gave me a headache both central characters are teenagers through and through.

What I couldn’t get to grips with where the adults in this story. I apply that term loosely because while Jonathan’s parents were ridiculously trusting it’s the artist friends that Ros ends up with that...more

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Sep 18, 2012 Carly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review

Well, this was definitely a different read for me! The storyline is very intriguing, once you start reading you will find it very hard to put down. But oh my goodness, talk about being confused, the start of the book was a bit of a head pickler but once you get a grasp on who is who and the storyline stops jumping from past to present so much it will end up being a highly addictive read. Another thing that bugged me a little was the amount text talk used throughout the book, maybe I'm just not w...more Well, this was definitely a different read for me! The storyline is very intriguing, once you start reading you will find it very hard to put down. But oh my goodness, talk about being confused, the start of the book was a bit of a head pickler but once you get a grasp on who is who and the storyline stops jumping from past to present so much it will end up being a highly addictive read. Another thing that bugged me a little was the amount text talk used throughout the book, maybe I'm just not with the times, lol! I loved the characters they were very out there, quirky and lots of fun to get to know. I really enjoyed that this was written in part from a male perspective, which is always a refreshing change in the young adult genre. The title fits perfectly as there is so many twists and turns that you really won't know what to expect next. I was racing to the end to find out what was going to happen, so this is definitely a real page turner.

Jono and Ros met by chance on the Internet, Ros is a 14 year old school girl and Jono is a 16 year old collage student who has a girlfriend called Freya. When they first start chatting they never could of possibly imagined that their lives would become so entwined in such a frightening way!

When Freya goes missing after she splits up with Jono, all fingers point towards him as the prime suspect. There is another missing girl and a body found in the surrounding area and it would seem the police would like to pin that on Jono too. So he asks Ros for her help to try and find Freya, to try and get the police off his back. But when the pair meet things start to come together and pieces of the puzzle start to fit into place, with shocking results. How could 2 people who have never met face to face before manage to become so molded together?

Well the ending is fantastic, I absolutely loved how everything slotted into place so seamlessly! I really wasn't in the know, I had everybody down as the suspect and I kept chopping and changing my mind throughout. So overall Pretty Twisted is a thrilling page turner that will keep you guessing right up till the end.

3/5 Stars

*Special thanks to Macmillan for the review copy*

Carly :)
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.co...(less)

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Jun 25, 2011 Lyndsey Rushby rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Before I get to the aspects of this book that I didn’t like, which there are a few of, I will get into the good parts. The part of the book that I was expecting to like the least was that it was a thriller and actually, it turned out that it was what I enjoyed most. The idea surrounding what was happening so scarily real. Unlike some other thrillers I have read, where the plot is insane and unlikely to ever happen, this wasn’t the case with this book. People go missing all of the time and teenag...more Before I get to the aspects of this book that I didn’t like, which there are a few of, I will get into the good parts. The part of the book that I was expecting to like the least was that it was a thriller and actually, it turned out that it was what I enjoyed most. The idea surrounding what was happening so scarily real. Unlike some other thrillers I have read, where the plot is insane and unlikely to ever happen, this wasn’t the case with this book. People go missing all of the time and teenage girls especially and with things like this being in the media so often, it was a topic really close to home. The way the lead up to the main event was written was extremely realistic, tense and exciting all at the same time. Really, this was the only thing I truly liked about this book though.

Even though the main plot won me over, the rest, however, didn’t. Main characters, Ros and Jonathan meet online in a chat room and while this would have been current maybe 10 years ago, it isn’t really anymore. Maybe if they had met each other some other way online, it would have made for a more convincing and believable story. Also, I’m not altogether sure if a 14 year old girl who leads a quite sheltered life and seems to be pretty sensible would go and meet a guy she hadn’t even been talking to for very long. Ros was a girl who seemed to have her head screwed on so this part of the book didn’t really add up for me. However, I can see that she wanted attention and for someone to listen to her so I guess this could have been a big part of meeting Jonathan.

Ros and Jonathan, the main characters, were people I didn’t really like either unfortunately. Ros was a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes she would act really mature and sensible for a 14 year old and then at other times, she would be a complete idiot and do something which made me want to shout at her a little bit. Jonathan was slightly better due to the fact that he was a bit more complicated than Ros. Jono had hidden depths and talents and unlike Ros, has a very distinct and interesting voice about him. He is level headed for the most part but doesn’t mind letting his emotions show and I liked this about him. Jono was interesting mostly because he isn’t like other boys in YA books. He isn’t amazingly hot with supernatural abilities. He is just a normal teenager.

While Pretty Twisted wasn’t to my own personal taste, I can see many people loving it. With a tense mystery full of suspense and a crazy friendship between two unlikely people, it has a lot to offer readers who are more into this genre of book.
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Aug 28, 2012 Charlotte Phillips rated it 2 of 5 stars

I should have known just from the text on the front of the book that it would be pretty unrealistic in response to the whole scenario that had been painted out in words. I know that the point of a book is to twist reality and to make it so much more, but when the sense of reality really does seem to be taken out of context in a way that means you actually have no awareness of what is going on you cant help but feel that actually the athor had no idea what was going on either. I have read books a...more I should have known just from the text on the front of the book that it would be pretty unrealistic in response to the whole scenario that had been painted out in words. I know that the point of a book is to twist reality and to make it so much more, but when the sense of reality really does seem to be taken out of context in a way that means you actually have no awareness of what is going on you cant help but feel that actually the athor had no idea what was going on either. I have read books about missing girls before and they usually all end up pretty dramatic, the police go searching a suspect is arrested, others have gone missing and are found dead or never found at all. But this jjust seemed to be so different. It was a whole week before anyone pointed out that she had gone missing and two people who had never met face to face met and were close enough to the people that they said they would be. There just seems to be a lot there that makes you go heh cos that would really happen in real life. The fact is if a girl of 16 goes missing for a week someone would have reported it sooner, it wouldnt take a week for someone to point out that she was missing and surely she would not have been so stupid to leave things lying around that others could hack into anyway. It just makes you think in a way that makes you pick the book apart rather than enjoying it.

As for the whole two people from the internet meeting up, yes it can and does happen. I myself have met people off the internet that have been who they have said they wre, but at there age, of 14 and 16, I was barely allowed on the computer without the parental restrictions on and I know that this is still the same for a lot of people there age, so why would two teenagers suddenly have there own computer in there bedrooms that they can only use? it all seems a little unbelieable to me because the truth is that is very unlikely to happen. The most realistic part of the novel for me was the parents reactions because you know that it is how they would react were it to occur in real life. I am after all twenty two and I still get the whole meeting people of the internet safety speech that requires me to promise that I do not either go alone or without telling someone who I am meeting and where. For me, yes, the parents were the most believable part because they just felt very real. You could see that they were just concerned and caring parents of teenagers that seemed to make them worry and that is the same for a lot of the teenagers out there.

I can see this perhaps being the sort of book that young teenagers are meant to read with the view and concept that it will scare them from doing such stupid things, but for a young adult, no I would say this is not the sort of book for them. There was just to much to pick apart and it was all predictable anyway. the fact that three strange men came into the whole novel seemed to suggest they had something to do with Freya and that they would be linked somehow and someway to the other girls that had gone missing. for me the book was just so unrealistic and I really did not enjoy it as much as I perhaps my younger sister did, but then she is 14 so perhaps it is more relatable for someone of her age? Someone a bit more naive of the dangers that there are out there in the big wide world. I wish I could have the acception of giving the book a higher rating but for me this deserves nothing more than a its ok rating of two stars. there was just nothing thriving and alive about this book for me. It was cliche and predictable which meant you knew the ending before you had even finished and gotten past the beginning. its not a novel I have intentions of picking up and reading again and its not one I would necessarily recommend to others either.(less)

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Sep 19, 2011 Clover (Fluttering Butterflies) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: british-reading-challenge, sent-for-review, own, ya, books-read-in-2011

This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

I wasn't sure what to make of Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxhill when it arrived. I hadn't heard of the book before and came to the story pretty free of information about it. I must say that I was slightly wary of this book before I started. Because as the reader we're not aware of just how twisted this book gets, I think I had built up in my mind a very horrible situation and all of that worry and build-up made me feel slightly heavy when...more This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies

I wasn't sure what to make of Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxhill when it arrived. I hadn't heard of the book before and came to the story pretty free of information about it. I must say that I was slightly wary of this book before I started. Because as the reader we're not aware of just how twisted this book gets, I think I had built up in my mind a very horrible situation and all of that worry and build-up made me feel slightly heavy when it came to approaching this book.

Surprisingly though, Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill is a very quick and readable book. Despite some of the more serious issues, it didn't feel heavy to me when I was reading it. The story is told from two different viewpoints. The first from Jonathan, a 16 year old boy who is trying to adjust to life in a new school environment without the security blanket of his girlfriend, Freya, who has gone off to school in London.

We also see the story from Ros's perspective, a 14 year old girl, who begins chatting to Jonathan over the Internet. The two begin talking about life and music and Ros develops feelings for Jonathan and lies quite a bit about her age and appearance in order to impress him. Jonathan and Ros meet up rather unexpectedly, after Jonathan's girlfriend, Freya, goes missing.

I don't know. While the story is interesting, I just didn't find myself warming up to either main character. I did enjoy the many twists along the way in terms of what happened between Jonathan and Freya, as well as the mystery that surrounds Freya's disappearance, and I liked discovering the secrets that Ros in particular has been concealing. But I think if I'd had more of an emotional connection to either main character I would have cared more about what happened to the three of them.

I was afraid that this book would be all about the dangers and risks that are involved in meeting people online, but thankfully the author does allow us a more balanced view as some good has come out of it as well. As I met my husband online, as well as one of our closest friends, I'm quite keen on books that show the other side as well. (less)

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Jun 18, 2011 Mia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews, contemporary, 2011, young-adult, for-review

I knew that I'll really like Pretty Twisted as soon I read the synopsis. It says it all. A girl goes missing and no one knows a thing about it. And so people go and try and find her. It' a mystery sort of book. Mysteries I love.

Pretty Twisted is divided between a girl, Ros and a guy, Jono. I loved Jono instantly. One reason? His geekyness! He's so cute and that his girlfriend, well ex-girlfriend, Freya transformed him. I was more than glad. He really sounded hot and sophisticated too. Ros is lik...more

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May 27, 2011 Stacey (prettybooks) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-after-university, read-in-my-twenties, young-adult-fiction

Pretty Twisted landed unexpectedly on my doorstep and I was immediately interested as I hadn't read many young adult crime/thriller novels. However, as I started reading, I began to think that it was maybe too young; perhaps more suitable for a young teenager. The young adult genre is very broad: some books are very young and are unlikely to be appreciated by adults whereas others will be loved by readers of all ages. I immediately decided that it was also a little out-of-date because the main c...more Pretty Twisted landed unexpectedly on my doorstep and I was immediately interested as I hadn't read many young adult crime/thriller novels. However, as I started reading, I began to think that it was maybe too young; perhaps more suitable for a young teenager. The young adult genre is very broad: some books are very young and are unlikely to be appreciated by adults whereas others will be loved by readers of all ages. I immediately decided that it was also a little out-of-date because the main characters, Rosalind (aged 14) and Jonathan (aged 16), meet on MyPlace (i.e. MySpace, obviously). Do people even use MySpace anymore? Anyway, of course that’s not enough to ruin a book, but it did make me cringe. It was made worse by the fact that Rosalind used “chat speak” when talking to Jonathan (e.g. “my best friend is bein rubbish. shes suddenly become matey wiv this gang & wants me 2 hang out wiv them”). It’s bad enough being subjected to it on the internet, let alone in a book. However, I quickly began to realise that, actually, the scenarios were extremely realistic and reminiscent of my school years. It brought back so many memories. We all used MySpace, had stupid profiles with arty “emo” profile pictures, and I had friends that typed exactly the same way. Rosalind is actually one of the most realistic young adult characters I have come across in a while.

Pretty Twisted is about life as a teenager in England; growing up and discovering who you are whilst wanting to fit in with the crowd. Both characters are insecure and unsatisfied with their teenage lives. The reasons are honest and this meant that I ended up really enjoying this book. I particularly liked that the book explored internet relationships and challenged the idea that “everyone on the internet is a creepy old man”, a view that still exists today. It reinforces the idea that internet relationships can be genuine relationships and explores what these relationships can mean to those involved. This was a huge surprise to me and I think it’s a hugely important thing for people to realise. The book also offers some important advice for teenagers feeling unhappy with their lives. Overall, I think Blaxhill understood what it means to be a modern teenager extremely well. I applaud her for managing to describe teenage behaviour, feelings and experiences so accurately.

As for the crime/thriller aspect of the storyline, I found it to be less believable, although it didn’t spoil my overall enjoyment and added intrigue to the story.

Overall, Pretty Twisted surprised me. It’s not for everyone and I mainly enjoyed it because I could identify with a lot of issues in the books. They may not be profound enough for everyone - you make think the issues are trivial and the characters immature, but I found them to be very real.

Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending me the book to review!(less)

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Feb 13, 2011 Iffath rated it 4 of 5 stars

The fact that the events of this books could happen to anybody, it's really quite scary to think about. The novel is about 14 year-old Rosalind and 16 year-old Jonathan who meet on the internet by total accident. Both give off the vibe of being pretty lonely and the type of people who just don't fit in, so it's not totally unexpected when the pair begin to form a friendship.
At the beginning of the story, we are thrown into an interview between Jonathan and the police about his missing girlfriend...more The fact that the events of this books could happen to anybody, it's really quite scary to think about. The novel is about 14 year-old Rosalind and 16 year-old Jonathan who meet on the internet by total accident. Both give off the vibe of being pretty lonely and the type of people who just don't fit in, so it's not totally unexpected when the pair begin to form a friendship.
At the beginning of the story, we are thrown into an interview between Jonathan and the police about his missing girlfriend, Freya, and it's at that point that I knew that I wouldn't be able to put down Pretty Twisted.

One thing I really liked was Jono and Ros's relationship. You'd find it odd, what with him being 16, and her 14, but I really liked the connection they had. It was so convincing and not the slightest bit creepy. I thought the whole age difference between them was portrayed really well and it was really nice to see a relationship that was formed on the internet, turn out so good, instead of say, an innocent teenage girl getting killed. Sorry to be quite blunt, but we can't deny the fact that it could happen in a heartbeat.

The narrative switches between our two main characters (Jono and Ros) so that we get to see the story from both perspectives. I'm really glad the author chose to do this, because we got to read the story from both male and female point of views and that can make ALL the difference in the world, trust me. We get to see how the lives of two different teenagers (who seem worlds apart and have more in common that I assumed) can tangle together so quickly and easily.

The beleivability factor for Pretty Twisted was really what did it for me though. You can tell that Blaxill has done her research and it has really paid off. The plot was scarily realistic and I loved the fact that instead of giving themselves the titles of 'best detectives in the world' and planning to find what has happened to Freya all by themselves, Jono and Ros didn't do that. They didn't suddenly turn into bad-guy-fighting heroes overnight (although that would be rad) but did what was right, even though Jono was quite obviously going to be a prime suspect in the investigation, as Freya's ex-boyfriend.

Pretty Twisted is, excuse for *actually* saying this but it has to be done, pretty twisted. Chilling, and edgy, it left me on the edge of my seat, particularly during the ending! Although, I would have maybe liked the ending to be a little more..twisty. It took me by surprise but hmm. Recommended for fans of Anne Cassidy and Sophie McKenzie!(less)

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May 25, 2011 Kerry-Ann McDade rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: reading-a-little-bit-of-everything

Pretty Twisted was an amazing story one which I enjoyed very much. I don't normally say this but I could read it again. I will read it again as I think it could be the best book I've read yet!!

I really liked reading about Ros and her sisters relationship as everything worked out perfectly in the end for them.

Through the whole book I felt I could relate to Ros, and you will too if you read it. Gina's writing in the entire book was tremendous. Writing about two people meeting online isn't easy an...more

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Oct 04, 2012 MrsPeel rated it 3 of 5 stars

Not being able to spend a lot of money and getting Kindle books bellow £1 or even free, I find books I don't even pass further than the first chapter, but this one was a nice surprise. A very plausible plot, two teenagers meeting online, another one goes missing, most of the story is pretty credible and enjoyable. Not something that wil stay in my mind for long, but an enjoyable easy read.

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Mar 20, 2012 Coral rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: library

I found this book in the library and didn't really think i'd enjoy it but after visiting and seeing it there a couple of times i thought i had better give it a try haha I'm glad that i did as i really enjoyed reading this book and the storyline kept me hooked i couldn't wait to get to the end to find out what happened.

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Jul 25, 2012 Megan Hughes rated it 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely adored this book! Was not your usual girly slushy novel yet it was so interesting- one of those books you just cannot put down! It was a girly book yet was full of suspense which kept me on my feet and wanting to read on. It was adult enough yet suitable for teenagers who don't want a really mild read. A brilliant book that I will be recommending to many.

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Jul 31, 2012 Tina rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle

Another book written for teenagers which I really liked...I see a pattern emerging!

Good characters, good story, enough twists and turns to keep me interested all the way through.

Nothing intellectually challenging , but then I guess thats why I liked it!

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Jul 19, 2012 Kabuto rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

I was intrigued by this book. It was far better than I expected from the blurb and quite different too. I agree with the sentiment that it's not actually really twisted as far as the story goes, but quite a few of the characters seem a little disturbed so it makes sense from that point of view. I actually loved the characters because they seemed so real and I genuinely got sucked into the story. In the end I guess it was them rather than the plot which was important, although the plot is still i...more

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May 23, 2013 Victoria rated it 3 of 5 stars

A good book with strong characters and a very well twisted (Haha...you see what I did there) ending...could have been better, not my favourite book out there but definitely with hope. A difficult senario but a good story never the less...

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May 23, 2011 Erin rated it 3 of 5 stars

PRETTY TWISTED didn't exactly BLOW MY MIND but it was a great read for those who love a little mystery like I do!

Full review: http://talesoftheinnerbookfanatic.blo...

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Dec 29, 2012 Amber Charlotte rated it 1 of 5 stars

I'm not into this kind of book but I think a lot of people would be! Just try it, what's the harm? I didn't like it but you may do, you never know until you try it

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title link	preview: Pretty Twisted
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