Pretty Bad Things

Mar 31, 2011 Jodie (Books for Company) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

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I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. It’s not the sort of book l am always reading at the moment but l think l will always like to go back to these sort of books every now and then as l do enjoy them.
When l started to read this book l was very glad l pick it up from my pile of books. The 1st page of this book grabbed my attention straight away and l cannot see it failing to win any person over. What l loved most about the 1st page is how i...more www.booksforcompany.com - For full ratings
I really didn’t know what to expect with this book. It’s not the sort of book l am always reading at the moment but l think l will always like to go back to these sort of books every now and then as l do enjoy them.
When l started to read this book l was very glad l pick it up from my pile of books. The 1st page of this book grabbed my attention straight away and l cannot see it failing to win any person over. What l loved most about the 1st page is how it introduced us to the first character in the book, Paisley, how quick l felt l know her. Seriously, from the first page l knew more about Paisley than l did about most characters within 2/3 chapters. C.J. then went on to introduce Beau, Paisley’s twin brother. I also felt like l knew him rather quickly. Not only did l love how quickly l felt like l knew them, l loved their characters. Skuse did such a great job of building up their characters, making them different, stand out and making sure their actions were true to the characters she had portrayed.
Pretty Bad Things is written from the POV of two people, Paisley has one chapter and Beau has the other. At the beginning l much preferred Paisley’s chapters because of the character she is but as the book got more into it l very much enjoyed seeing into Beau’s mind too.
The story line is quite a fast paced one and although l felt like this book was a character lead story (in no way bad!) l did also enjoy the twins journey in this book. I liked how the book kept to realistic things, especially as l got so into this book l felt like it had really happened and l was there with them. Bringing something ‘fake’ into this book would have ruined it, once or twice Paisley or Beau said about a fairytale but how this wasn’t one.
Overall this is a great read, l really recommend it to everyone, even if this isn’t your usual type of book. C.J. has put so much character into this book, one minute you will be laughing and the next you will have a worried expression on your face! (less)

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Aug 17, 2011 Jade Walker rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: rated-a

Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

While this book was published last year, I had never heard of it until I was browsing the Chicken House website and loved the cover, I was intrigued by the blurb as well, it sounded funny and cute but also packs a punch.

You know what this book reminds me of? Those emo Hello Kitty toys, the ones that are all cute and pink and adorable but when you look a bit deeper it's a little bit dark and disturbing. The storyline is fantastic; it's funny an...more

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Jan 08, 2013 Patricia rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tbr-reading-challenge-2013

It was a different story...I am more of romance/paranormal/dystopian books and this one tells the story of two teenagers who are looking for their father, in their quest they have to do all sort of things, from putting themselves into danger to threatening other people with a gun. I felt very strongly for their past, being twins their bond seemed stronger than the average, sharing a very tough background was their unbreakable link.

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Jan 27, 2013 YA Novelties rated it 4 of 5 stars

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What a roller coaster ride of a book! The plot was amazing, and not only was it a cute and hilarious story, but it was balanced out with some serious truths about the lives of two troubled teens.

Paisley and Beau's lives are terrible. After finding their mother dead (after committing suicide) the twins wander into the woods looking for their father, and are lost for three days. After that they are under the care of their evil grandmother (their father is in jail)...more Check this review out at our blog!

What a roller coaster ride of a book! The plot was amazing, and not only was it a cute and hilarious story, but it was balanced out with some serious truths about the lives of two troubled teens.

Paisley and Beau's lives are terrible. After finding their mother dead (after committing suicide) the twins wander into the woods looking for their father, and are lost for three days. After that they are under the care of their evil grandmother (their father is in jail) who just exploits them for their money. Paisley also doesn't like to obey her grandmother, so she's sent from boarding school to boarding school to be kept out of the way. Pretty bad, right?

Beau starts out very shy and introverted, but I loved watching him grow out of his shell to become someone much more courageous and willing to take a chance. The grandmother I absolutely hated (but that was the point, she was the villain after all), but I sort of wondered what happened that made her so corrupt and loathsome.

Paisley is the more daring of the two, and can be sorta crazy sometimes, but she is just a troubled teen who is acting out. She curses a lot too, but that just goes with her whole bad-ass persona.Underneath, she is a very likable person. During some of the scenes in which Paisley enacts some of her more insane ideas, I was quite worried for her, and the consequences of her actions. At the same time I was like why would you do something so stupid? I still love her though, and despite my not always agreeing with her actions I can see her honest intentions behind them.

Speaking of some crazy things, so is robbing candy and donut shops, but that is what Paisley and Beau do. They are criminals in that way, but I couldn't help but like them and cheer for them. I just pitied them and wanted something good to finally happen for them. All they wanted was to get on TV so their dad would know that they were looking for him and that they still cared about him. While I was still sympathetic to their cause, they should have gained attention another way, not one that made them criminals. A bit of the plot was a bit far fetched, but that just made it more entertaining.

I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a fast and amusing (yet serious) read, and as there isn't much romance, I think guys would also like it. Cheers, and I wish Paisley, Beau, and their dad a happily ever after.

M @ YA Novelties (less)

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Jan 26, 2012 Once Upon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I fell in love with this story from the beginning. The badass persona of the main character Paisley caught my attention from the get-go. She’s a troubled teen who’s life is going from school to school because she continues to get kicked out due to her “I don’t care” attitude. Paisley has been seeing a therapist ever since she found her mother dead and took off into the woods of New Jersey with her twin brother Beau. After three days lost in the woods, the “Wonder Twins” as the paparazzi called t...more

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Oct 25, 2011 Diane rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: crime, family-stories, washyarg, young-adult

Twins Paisley and Beau were six years old when their mother died (suicide?) and they wandered away from their home, lost in the woods for two days. Their survival brought them notoriety and several million dollars in donations. Their father was in prison, so they ended up with their grandmother, a B-list soap star who really only wanted the twins for their fame and fortune. Beau becomes more compliant and docile as he grows up, but Paisley becomes a foulmouthed, wild child who is constantly bei...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Crystal (Elegantly Bound Books) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-i-own, reviewd

This book was crazy!! Imagine the worst part of you life pretty much starting after you're wondering around the woods for three days after you find your mother dead because she committed suicide. Then going to live with your freak show of a grandma who only keeps you around because you're her meal ticket and she's stealing all your money. Then she ships you off to boarding school because she can't handle you herself. Well, this is pretty much Paisley's life expect she has a twin brother who gran...more

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Aug 01, 2011 Jennifer Monzon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-in-2011

I fell in love with this story from the beginning. The badass persona of the main character Paisley caught my attention from the get-go. She’s a troubled teen who’s life is going from school to school because she continues to get kicked out due to her “I don’t care” attitude. Paisley has been seeing a therapist ever since she found her mother dead and took off into the woods of New Jersey with her twin brother Beau. After three days lost in the woods, the “Wonder Twins” as the paparazzi called t...more

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Jun 26, 2011 Barbara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ncbla

Told in alternating chapters between twins Beau and Paisley, this edgy novel may appeal to plenty of teens looking for a little something different. While I liked the premise and the siblings' love for their father, which is what prompts this road trip from Hollywood to Las Vegas, the behavior of the grandmother strained my patience and detracted from my enjoyment of the book. The last quarter of the book simply disappointed me after the book had started so well. The author's exploration of the...more

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Aug 23, 2011 Nathiel rated it 4 of 5 stars

I won an ARC copy of this book when I participated in the contest of a fellow blogger Christina check out her site here: http://christinareadsya.blogspot.com/ so thank you Christina because I have loved 2 of the 3 books I received (I haven't read the third one yet^^)

This book was fantastic, it was about a set of twins Paisley and Beau.

Paisley is a total bad-ass she's got the attitude and the bad language and the devil may care looks, although internaly she's just a vulnerable teen.

As for her tw...more

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May 30, 2011 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Pretty Bad Things is an great story about the awful truths about greed and betrayal. Paisley and Beau are national celeberties due to their unfortunate past of having found their mother overdosed and going in search of their father only to get lost in the woods for days following the incident. While this was many years earlier that present has left them with much wealth and even bigger problems. This is a terrible story about these to young people and the moment they decide that life has handed...more

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Apr 24, 2011 The BookWhisperer rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Pretty Bad Things is an great story about the awful truths about greed and betrayal. Paisley and Beau are national celeberties due to their unfortunate past of having found their mother overdosed and going in search of their father only to get lost in the woods for days following the incident. While this was many years earlier that present has left them with much wealth and even bigger problems. This is a terrible story about these to young people and the moment they decide that life has handed...more

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Jan 21, 2010 Lindsey rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I think the general premise of the book is fun, but it’s just not something I could get into. Perhaps it’s somewhat that these 1st person narrative teen books are not my kind of read, but I think, even then, the pacing is a bit slow. I generally like the characters, and what they’re willing to do in order to find their dad. However, what I was kind of expecting/hoping for was some situational humor in throughout their journey, but I was mostly met by angsty teens who use a lot of sarcasm and wor...more

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Dec 31, 2012 Celine I Blog, You Read rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty Bad Things was C.J. Skuse’s debut YA book that not many Americans are familiar with. I read it right after I finished Rockoholic and loved that it went against the curve of typical teen books that feel a romance must be included in almost everything. This is a retelling of the story of Hansel and Gretel. Twin brother and sister Paisley and Beau are on a sweet tooth crime spree in order to find their dad. Now C.J. Skuse does not hold back with her characters, thank goodness. They are loud...more

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Jul 04, 2011 Angela rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: not-really-contemporary, arc, annoying-protagonist, alternating-pov, female-pov, male-pov, mystery, humourous, kickbutt-heroines, original-concepts, wtf-ending

I had no idea what this book was going to be about. After all, I received an ARC of this book through a giveaway by Christina Reads YA. Thank you!

The Plot- The Wonder Twins, aka Paisley and Beau (Who names their kids Beau?) find out that their father has been sending them letters from jail, from where he is staying, etc. for the past 10 years. AND THEIR GRANDMOTHER HAS BEEN HIDING THIS FROM THEM! Their grandmother, the "skank" in Paisley's eyes has always been annoying and mean, but that is the...more I had no idea what this book was going to be about. After all, I received an ARC of this book through a giveaway by Christina Reads YA. Thank you!

The Plot- The Wonder Twins, aka Paisley and Beau (Who names their kids Beau?) find out that their father has been sending them letters from jail, from where he is staying, etc. for the past 10 years. AND THEIR GRANDMOTHER HAS BEEN HIDING THIS FROM THEM! Their grandmother, the "skank" in Paisley's eyes has always been annoying and mean, but that is the last straw. They run away from grandma's house and burn it down, then go on a wild escapade to Las Vegas. In the process, they come up with a "brilliant", by which I mean really idiotic plan. Committing crimes is the best way to catch the world's attention quickly, right? So let's do it! Let's steal from tons of candy, donut and ice cream shops with a gun called Eclipse (cool name, btw. I will totally name my gun, if I ever get one, Eclipse. During the journey, they learn some important things about each other and their ever evil grandmother.

You notice how much sarcasm is in this review, I hope. Well here's the reason for this sarcasm; it was ridiculous, yet I loved it. I have never read a book this ridiculous, yet charming. You instantly fall for Beau, but are still thinking about how likable Paisley is.

The sibling bond the two share is incredible. It leads through every hardship. Beau and Paisley have so much trust between each other that they are willing to be danger's way because they know the other one will find them soon. I mean, Beau even jumps out of a moving truck just to find Paisley. Can you imagine anything sweeter than that?

The only problem I had with this book was the fact that Beau did not really love their father. He only went along with the plan because he had no where else to go. Why would anyone try to find anyone he was not sure he loved or needed for a reason? It did not really make sense.

I liked this book enough to read it without much irritation. It was a nice, quick, easy read.(less)

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Jun 28, 2011 Tara rated it 3 of 5 stars

REVIEW ORIGINALLY POSTED http://hobbitsies.net/wordpress/?p=3457

Pretty Bad Things – what a roller-coaster of a book. Is it supposed to be light? Serious? Even affter reading it, I’m really not sure.

The “Wonder Twins” certainly went through some terrible things – depressed mother, hotel-robbing father, famewhore Grandmother, boarding school, being expelled from boarding school, kidnappings, etc. But at the same time, the things Paisley and Beau did throughout the book felt very unbelievable and s...more

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Jun 28, 2010 Missy Cahill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was a really fun read aimed for older teenagers. Good plot, the characters were fantastic, flawed and seemed real. The ending felt slightly rushed and was a tad disappointing but it still was a good fast read.

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Jun 07, 2011 Alyssa hoffmaster rated it 4 of 5 stars

Paisley and Beau are twins, they both have some pretty messed up lives, when they were 6 years old there dad up and left without telling them, later there mom told them that he had been put into jail and would stay there for 10 years.

There mom didn’t want anything to do with any of them, if they did something wrong their mom would lock down in the basement, or hit them. She said nasty things to them and never treated them right. I did feel really bad for the both of them, especially since they...more Paisley and Beau are twins, they both have some pretty messed up lives, when they were 6 years old there dad up and left without telling them, later there mom told them that he had been put into jail and would stay there for 10 years.

There mom didn’t want anything to do with any of them, if they did something wrong their mom would lock down in the basement, or hit them. She said nasty things to them and never treated them right. I did feel really bad for the both of them, especially since they were both so young and their mom treated them like a bug under her shoe.

Then they came home from school one day to find their mom dead, they called the police and then got shipped off to their grandmothers house. Aren’t almost all grandmothers nice? Well there’s certainly aren’t. Their grandmother treats them like scum, and ever since they were little and they were found in the woods all alone they have been on multiple talk shows, they were on the news, they were practically famous. People felt bad for them so they sent them stuff and lots of money for their education when they got older.

They had over 10 million dollars and their grandmother never told them about it. She was using the money and stealing the money from them. All I can say is she is an ugly demented woman and she got what she deserved!

At sixteen Paisley and Beau just found letters that were kept from them from their dad. He was writing ever since he left. He still cared about them. They found out he was out of jail and living somewhere in Las Vegas. Paisley and Beau steal their grandmother’s car and antiques (that rightfully belong to them) and left on a road trip to find their father.

They search and find him homeless, living on the streets, they tried to follow him but lost him and ever since then they have tried to find him. That’s where the robbing comes in. Paisley and Beau rob little candy stores or anything sweet and just take the food, each time leaving a message for their father, in hopes that they would be on the news and their father would see it.

Thu n begins their journey of finding their dad.

I really did enjoy this book and, I read it in a few hours and loved every moment of it. I certainly disagreed with the robbing part but it’s not like they took money, well only once.

The twins both escaped near misses with the cop.

I really liked both of the twin’s personality, they were complete opposites. Paisley wasn’t afraid of anything, at least she didn’t let on that she wasn’t and Beau was the softie, for a boy he was very emotional, almost wimpy, right at the end I thought it was cool how the author completely changed both their personalities around.
This is definitely a great book and I haven’t heard too much about it but it deserves more hype

(less)

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May 16, 2012 Lynsey rated it 5 of 5 stars

If there’s one thing I can tell you about C.J. Skuse, it’s that she knows how to bring the funny. She did it with Rockoholic (which I freaking LOVED by the way) and she’s done it again with Pretty Bad Things. I should say at this point that although Pretty Bad Things was published in the UK a couple of years ago, it wasn’t until last year that I actually got round to reading a copy of the book (when it launched in the US). The story is definitely original and the writing is exceptional, mostly d...more If there’s one thing I can tell you about C.J. Skuse, it’s that she knows how to bring the funny. She did it with Rockoholic (which I freaking LOVED by the way) and she’s done it again with Pretty Bad Things. I should say at this point that although Pretty Bad Things was published in the UK a couple of years ago, it wasn’t until last year that I actually got round to reading a copy of the book (when it launched in the US). The story is definitely original and the writing is exceptional, mostly due to the strong voice of the characters. There’s a TON of LOL humour, complex characters and with Las Vegas a setting? This sounds like a winner to me ;)

Let’s talk about “The Wonder Twins” Paisely and Beau who couldn’t be more different to one another if they tried. Whilst Beau tries to be good and follow the rules, Paisley is the wild child of the two. She’s just purposefully got herself expelled from her fifth boarding school so that she and Beau can go on a road trip to find their jailbird dad. They thought that the years of radio silence meant he didn’t give a damn but in fact, their grandma has been hiding letters from him the entire time. As a modern day Bonnie and Clyde, they set off on a road trip with a plan to hold up donut shops and get themselves on TV to let dear old dad know that they’re in town. You can guarantee that hilarity ensues.

I have to say that my favourite character and probably one of the strongest voices in the book is Paisley. She is fearless, reckless and beyond blunt. She says what she thinks and makes no apologies for it. It may sound strange but I can’t help but admire her for that. There’s something liberating in her behaviour and although it gets her into trouble most of the time, she’s just so damn cool.

There’s no real romance in the book as it’s mostly about family relationships and I never thought I would say it, but the book is so entertaining that I really didn’t mind the lack of romance. I’m not going to give away the plot for you but it’s definitely worth reading and I am putting C.J. Skuse on my automatic pre order list right now. (less)

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Aug 18, 2011 Cicely rated it 4 of 5 stars

Pretty Bad Things was a bit of a romp if ever I saw one! Or rather, read one... It follows the story of the Wonder Twins, Paisley and Beau as they try to scout out there homeless dad in Las Vegas, and it was such a ride! Just like C.J's second book, Rockoholic, it was funny, exciting and thoroughly enjoyable.

I really liked the characters, though I can see why Paisley would put some people off. She has a very strong personality, and has quite a filthy mouth, so if swearing is a problem for you, d...more

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Mar 03, 2013 Adrianne rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: terrible-endings

You cannot end it like that.
Sorry but no.

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Aug 15, 2012 Carrie Stewart rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

When twins Paisley and Beau were children they became famous for being lost in the woods after going looking for their father. They were discovered three days later after being presumed dead. Known as the ‘Wonder Twins’, the public followed their story for a while, with their grandmother cashing in on the celebrity. Ten years later and Paisley has been shipped off to one boarding school after another, losing place after place due to her bad behaviour. Beau is at home with the grandmother, bullie...more When twins Paisley and Beau were children they became famous for being lost in the woods after going looking for their father. They were discovered three days later after being presumed dead. Known as the ‘Wonder Twins’, the public followed their story for a while, with their grandmother cashing in on the celebrity. Ten years later and Paisley has been shipped off to one boarding school after another, losing place after place due to her bad behaviour. Beau is at home with the grandmother, bullied and alone at school. Their father is in prison and they haven’t heard from him since they were kids. Then Beau discovers letters their father has sent throughout the years, but their grandmother has kept hidden. Telling Paisley, they escape their grandmother’s clutches and go off in search of their dad.

Reaching Vegas, they are soon out of money, when Paisley hits on an idea. Rob candy stores and leave obscure messages only their dad will know, get on the news, and soon their dad will know they’re looking for him. Simple, right? It doesn’t all go to plan, but that doesn’t stop the Wonder Twins.

I enjoyed this one. It’s another quick and easy read, and it’s very entertaining. It switches point of view for each chapter, so we get to know Paisley and Beau equally. Beau is the quieter twin. He’s used to keeping his head down and not making trouble. Paisley…wouldn’t know how to keep her head down if she tried. If there were an evil twin here, it would be Paisley. Not that she’s actually evil, she just jumps into things without thinking, has a smart mouth and comes across as fearless, even if she is riddled with insecurities. There were times when I found her immensely unlikeable, and I wished she wasn’t dragging Beau into her schemes. I know they’re kids, but if they’d thought things through a bit more there are better ways of finding someone. Obviously that’s not the point of the story, but she did bug me a bit, and Beau too for not standing up to her more. I do understand why they acted they way they did, given the dynamic of their relationship and the lives they’d led to that point.(less)

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May 17, 2011 1110cg added it

Shelves: boring-middle

Wasn't for me.

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Jan 05, 2013 Kirsty (overflowing library) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: uk-author

Words to describe pretty bad things: original, quirky, hilarious and generally quite fabulous. Yes that just about covers it.

I've been meaning to read this book for ages and I knew before even reading it I would like it because I loved CJ Skuse's humour and writing in Rockaholic and the premise of this one looked just as good.

Pretty bad things is the story of the wonder twins paisley and beau. They are a fab pair of characters to follow, Paisley to kick ass girl who isn't scared of no one and...more Words to describe pretty bad things: original, quirky, hilarious and generally quite fabulous. Yes that just about covers it.

I've been meaning to read this book for ages and I knew before even reading it I would like it because I loved CJ Skuse's humour and writing in Rockaholic and the premise of this one looked just as good.

Pretty bad things is the story of the wonder twins paisley and beau. They are a fab pair of characters to follow, Paisley to kick ass girl who isn't scared of no one and with an attitude big enough to defend the both of them. Beau is the quieter more laid back twin who is happy to stand back and let his sister take the led most of the time. The twins have been thrown it all over previous years after the death of their mother and imprisonment of their father and have spent the last years of their childhood and teenage years under the guardianship of a grandmother who uses their fame after an incident to get money for herself. Beau being the quieter twin has spent that time living with said grandmother where Paisley has been shipped off to whichever boarding school can cope with her before the eventually kick her out at which which she has been shipped off to another.

The story starts with the twins living apart. Beau at home and Paisley at school when Beau stumbles upon a revelation. He finds a stack of letters addressed to the twins that have been withheld from them for years from their father who has recently been released from prison. The twins made the news in their younger years after getting lost in the woods for several days trying to find their father and had thought he didn't want anything to do with them. This news is enough incentive for Paisley to kick off and head back home to pick up Beau and start on an insane road trip to track their father down.

I won't go to too much detail on the plot but I will say that is it hilarious. The whole adventure is almost bonnie and Clyde esque as the two find themselves in increasingly more ludurcoius situations as they try to find their father (involving a gun, a whole lot of candy, a giant M&M and their own flash mob fan base). I won't even know where to start with telling you about it all but be rest assured it is so funny and thoroughly entertaining.

A fab read I really enjoyed. (less)

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Jan 13, 2013 Misty rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: recieved-for-review, own

Although this was actually the authors first release, I read it last and have to say this is easily my favourite of the three books she has so far. Paisley's attitude and the gritty story pulled me in immediately and I actually stayed up until 2:30am and read the whole book in one night, something I rarely do, the reading it in one sitting thing, I'm kept up late by books all the time! I just couldn't put it down and knew I wouldn't sleep if I didn't finish and find out how it ended, if they fou...more Although this was actually the authors first release, I read it last and have to say this is easily my favourite of the three books she has so far. Paisley's attitude and the gritty story pulled me in immediately and I actually stayed up until 2:30am and read the whole book in one night, something I rarely do, the reading it in one sitting thing, I'm kept up late by books all the time! I just couldn't put it down and knew I wouldn't sleep if I didn't finish and find out how it ended, if they found their Dad or ended up locked in jail.
I flew through the book so fast, I even forgot to note down quotes and had to go back after to get some.
I think Paisley can be a tough character to handle for some but I loved her, I loved how she won't take crap from anyone and how she can make holding up sweet shops sound like a good idea. She's tough, decisive and full of attitude.
Beau was a good character too but for me he was just overshadowed by his crazy twin but I liked how he developed during the book.
The story didn't let up either, it was constantly thrilling and full of situations where I didn't know what direction it was going to go. Personally I thought it ended a bit too open, I'd have liked it to be wrapped up a bit more, perhaps with an epilogue, but I still loved every bit of this book and am cursing myself for having not read it sooner.
Another (totally random) thing I liked, were the smells, different scents, not always good ones, are always added into the descriptions, far more than I've read in any other book and it was just something I liked. I also enjoyed the great descriptions of Las Vegas, for someone that's never been there, it was made easy for me to imagine, I would love to visit there someday.

Favourite quotes

'All these counselors had one mission: to get me to cry. and there was no way, even if they pricked my eyeballs with pins or splashed lemon juice into ever cut, no way was I gonna cry.'

'There's no point breaking your crayons over this, okay? This makes sense. If this makes the news, we'll get ourselves on those screens, on the screen outside Ceasers where we know he hangs out. Dad will see us. He was watching the Tron before Coupon Guy started on him. We get famous, we'll be one step closer to finding him.'
'We'll be one step closer to prison, Paisley. Can't you see that?'
'God, when did you become such a prude?'
'I don't know. Maybe the same day you slipped down into the moral abyss?''(less)

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Jan 01, 2013 Madigan McGillicuddy rated it 2 of 5 stars

In a story that hints of Hansel and Gretel, twins Paisley and Beau Argent explain in alternating chapters how they came to be on a candy-strewn crime spree. After the death of their mother when they were six-years old, they were dubbed the "Wonder Twins" during the dramatic rescue which captured the interest of the nation. Now, foul-mouthed, impetuous, sarcastic sixteen-year old Pais is the perfect foil to her shy, obedient twin brother Beau. Their father has been in jail after stealing to suppo...more

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Aug 30, 2011 Shannan/GirlsInTheStacks.com rated it 3 of 5 stars

Random thoughts...

After reading this book in a couple hours, I wish I had more to say than ehhhh… It was ehhh for me. I enjoyed the premise of the story. I thought we had enough back-story to see the anger in Paisley and the fear in Beau. It is really eye opening. I mean, what would you expect from kids who have lost both of their parents, one to death and one to prison, and whose grandmother is a raging psycho who wants to profit off their tragic story?
I admired their love for their father. In...more

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Jul 14, 2011 Britta rated it 2 of 5 stars

There were somethings about this novel I liked... and some things I just couldn't get over. Here's what I wasn't too fond of... The language. There is so much swearing in this novel. I'm okay with swearing, I hear swearing, I sometimes swear, but the profanities in this novel are excessive. It's like every other word is a swear or dirty slang. I liked how Paisley was a strong female, but she was a little too... insane for me. I just couldn't relate to any of the characters. Because of that, I fe...more

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Apr 21, 2011 Rabiah rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My Review Posted: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

I didn't really know what to expect from Pretty Bad Things. It didn't give away too much, I didn't get anything from the first two pages, BUT interesting? it certainly was.

I mean, I first saw the cover and I LOVED it. And then I realised my school library had it (except in the other cover, which I didn't like as much). I grabbed it before one of my friends could (I'm such a nice person right?) and went home and started reading it.
Hmmm...
I...more My Review Posted: http://iliveforreading.blogspot.com/2...

I didn't really know what to expect from Pretty Bad Things. It didn't give away too much, I didn't get anything from the first two pages, BUT interesting? it certainly was.

I mean, I first saw the cover and I LOVED it. And then I realised my school library had it (except in the other cover, which I didn't like as much). I grabbed it before one of my friends could (I'm such a nice person right?) and went home and started reading it.
Hmmm...
I really loved the writing. Paisley was hilarious, but I got confused at first at the shift between who was telling the story. I loved that attitude of hers! It made me laugh loads of times. Beau is a nice contrast to his sister; he's quiet, shy and not one for talking. I love that the girl is the loud, spunky one and the guy is solemn, soft spoken one :) What a difference from most books!

I loved the setting of Vegas, and it seemed so vibrant, just full of life, and the perfect setting for a long-lost dad and a crime shopping spree. I've never been to Vegas, but with the author's writing I felt transported to this setting. I could really feel like I was there. I love it when authors can do that.
However, I did find the Grandma...kinda weird and crazy. I mean, I think that the book was really funny as well with the Grandma in it, but I think it might have been a bit too extreme. I mean, true, this is fiction, but who's Grandma is really like that? Crazy and just a bit too obsessed with herself and money. Creepy.

I noticed that in the beginning of the book there was the note from the publisher. She mentions that the main character in The Catcher in the Rye is kinda like Paisley. Is that true? I have no idea, since I haven't read the book, but people out there who have: Is it a book worth reading? I might consider it :).

Overall, I think Pretty Bad Things is a...different outlook on life and troubles, especially family troubles. C.J. Skuse has written an amazing, funny, and "touching" book of what life's like...on the wild side.(less)

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Sep 20, 2012 Joanne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-crime

Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

When I picked up Pretty Bad Things, I was expecting something completely different to what I got. The blurb on the book is completely different to the description above, it barely skims the surface. Because they were going off looking for their Dad, I thought it might have been a road trip story. It's not. I got past that quite quickly, deciding to just read the book for what it is. However, unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it.

This is not to say it's...more Originally posted on Once Upon a Bookcase.

When I picked up Pretty Bad Things, I was expecting something completely different to what I got. The blurb on the book is completely different to the description above, it barely skims the surface. Because they were going off looking for their Dad, I thought it might have been a road trip story. It's not. I got past that quite quickly, deciding to just read the book for what it is. However, unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it.

This is not to say it's a bad story. It's actually pretty good. It's pretty clear that Skuse can write; Pretty Bad Things has an intriguing plot that keeps you turning the pages. It's addictive, you want - need - to know what happens with Paisley and Beau. Theirs action, there's danger, and there's more than one adrenaline rush inside it's pages waiting for readers. It's really quite exciting!

So why didn't I like it? Because it's not my kind of story. I'm not really that interested in crime. Though, saying that, this is not a dark, gritty crime novel for teens, it's light crime, made amusing because of the crimes they commit. But I'm not really into crime, in any form. Generally, I don't like it, and unfortunately, Pretty Bad Things didn't change my mind about this. As I said, the blurb on the back of the book is different to the description above, but it does say "Twins in a candy-store crime spree", so maybe that, along with the gun on the cover and the title should have made me realise exactly what type of novel I was getting, but I believed I was getting something more along the lines of an issue novel, what with looking for their Dad who hasn't been around. I was wrong.

But that's not the only reason I didn't like it. I couldn't stand Paisley. She was reckless and wild, and just not my kind of character. She was so immature at times and I just wanted to shake her. Regular readers may know that I'm not a massive fan of swearing in books, but I can accept it. But Paisley swear like a trooper, and it was just excessive. It's clear from how Beau talks, for example, that the swearing is all Paisley, part of her character, and not Skuse using it for the sake of it. But it grates on me. I can understand her wanting to escape the clutches of her money-obsessed grandmother, and wanting to find her Dad, but the choices she makes and actions she takes are just so ridiculously reckless and seem idiotic to me. I just couldn't warm to her. Beau is a different story, but Paisley takes half the book.

Pretty Bad Things wasn't my cup of tea, but I enjoyed Skuse's writing enough to pick up her other novels, and I'm looking forward to them!(less)

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