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The Perfectionists #1
The Perfectionists
Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker are all driven to be perfect—no matter the cost.
At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they discover that they all hate the same person: handsome womanizer Nolan Hotchkiss, who's done things to hurt each of them.
They come up with the perfect plan to murder Nolan—jokingly, of course. They'd never actually go through with it. But when Nolan turns up dead in the exact way they'd discussed, the girls suddenly become prime suspects in his murder.
Only, they didn't do it.
So who did? Unless they find the real killer, and soon, any one of them may be the next to die….
At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they discover that they all hate the same person: handsome womanizer Nolan Hotchkiss, who's done things to hurt each of them.
They come up with the perfect plan to murder Nolan—jokingly, of course. They'd never actually go through with it. But when Nolan turns up dead in the exact way they'd discussed, the girls suddenly become prime suspects in his murder.
Only, they didn't do it.
So who did? Unless they find the real killer, and soon, any one of them may be the next to die….
336 pages, Hardcover
First published October 7, 2014
674 people are currently reading
17824 people want to read
About the author
Sara Shepard
129 books14.8k followersSara Shepard graduated from NYU and has an MFA from Brooklyn College. She has lived in New York City, Brooklyn, Tucson, Arizona, Philadelphia, and now lives in Pittsburgh, PA. Sara's Pretty Little Liars novels were inspired by her upbringing in Philadelphia's Main Line.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 1,789 reviews
February 9, 2022
3 stars to Sara Shepard's The Perfectionists. A few things to say on how I chose this book before I get into a review of it:
Earlier this year, I found myself with some free time and an interest in watching Pretty Little Liars. I had seen several commercials and thought that despite it sounding like it was more for a young adult crowd, I would give it a chance. I love suspense, intrigue and drama when I read or watch a movie or TV. I finished the first season in a week and was hooked -- who was "A" and when would we find out? Since I'm practically a "read-the-last-page-of-a-book kinda guy," I immediately searched for spoilers all over the internet which is when I learned it was actually based off of series of books. (Note, I want to know spoilers of what will happen -- not the whole ending -- as I still want to feel suspense). I continued my research and finished the whole series within the month. Unfortunately, once I see a movie or TV show that is a remake of a book, I find it hard to read the book without already having a certain perception of the characters and story. Given this one was over ten books, I wasn't going to sink into reading them but if it's a really good story, sometimes I can still read a single book afterwards. And that's when I saw that Sara Shepard had another book series called "The Perfectionists" that was being optioned as a potential new TV series. BOOM! I could read the books first this time. And so, I put it on my list and it arrived last week which is how I chose to read The Perfectionists...
I gave 3 stars because while the story is good, it's a bit of a let-down from Pretty Little Liars and it also seems to be very similar to Pretty Little Liars. Change the lies, change the cast, change the setting and you've got a new story... well, it had its strengths but it also had some weaknesses. I'll definitely read the second book (even tho I accidentally read who I think is the killer on someone's review) to see how it all plays out. It's definitely more of a young adult book than other YA books I have read but it is still a fun read -- took me about 3 to 4 hours to finish yesterday.
Story
Five (5) 17 year old girls who are not quite friends (just go to the same school together) are doing a review in their film class of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None. " Challenged to determine whether a killer is justified in killing and/or whether someone deserves to die, the 5 stumble upon a connection in that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss for various reasons. They agree on how they'd kill him (all in good fun) since they believe sometimes murder is an acceptable solution -- and then go on with their lives. It was afterall just a fun conversation except that it seems someone must have overheard their plans...
At some point, they have an opportunity to get revenge on Nolan at his house party and use part of their plan to pull a prank on him -- not to kill him. The next morning after the party where they attempt the prank, they learn he has died from a possible overdose. The girls feel bad but they didn't actually do anything except slip him 1 pill. And then a few days later, they learn he died in the exact way they had theorized - murder by cyanide poisoning. Fear strikes each of the girls as they already had their own issues to deal with between past accidents, cheating boyfriends, college plans, falling in love, shady teachers/therapists and bad parents.
Book 1 walks you through all of the major players, their immediate families and friends setting up a long list of possible suspects. By the end, there's a second death and several of the girls are people of interest to the local police. Book 1 ends with the girls realizing the person they all thought was the killer couldn't be and now they are back at square 1 -- only this time they are clearly number 1 on the police hit list.
Strengths
1. Large cast with varied characters and families. Each of the girls have their own supposed troubles/Perceived obstacles to deal with: sick mother, twisted father, 2 gay moms, overly strict parents, step-parents, etc. Each has a boyfriend of sorts who is either cheating or being cheated on... helps you flesh out who they all are.
2. Suspense is good. Each chapter ends with a good conflict or question. You want to keep reading and it's hard to just put it down for a while.
Weaknesses
1. Writing is too easy. It's YA, but I think it's a bit too fluffy and could be stronger.
2. Too similar to Pretty Little Liars without the fear factor. It's suspenseful, but I like when a killer taunts you... so far, the killer and the 5 girls have had no interaction whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
I like Sara Shepard's style and approach. She crafts good stories and characters. She knows how to entice her audience. She has a lot of books so it may get difficult to keep up the intrigue and mystery which I can see happening in this story. But it's still a good quick read with fun and drama -- something we all like to see in our stories!
Earlier this year, I found myself with some free time and an interest in watching Pretty Little Liars. I had seen several commercials and thought that despite it sounding like it was more for a young adult crowd, I would give it a chance. I love suspense, intrigue and drama when I read or watch a movie or TV. I finished the first season in a week and was hooked -- who was "A" and when would we find out? Since I'm practically a "read-the-last-page-of-a-book kinda guy," I immediately searched for spoilers all over the internet which is when I learned it was actually based off of series of books. (Note, I want to know spoilers of what will happen -- not the whole ending -- as I still want to feel suspense). I continued my research and finished the whole series within the month. Unfortunately, once I see a movie or TV show that is a remake of a book, I find it hard to read the book without already having a certain perception of the characters and story. Given this one was over ten books, I wasn't going to sink into reading them but if it's a really good story, sometimes I can still read a single book afterwards. And that's when I saw that Sara Shepard had another book series called "The Perfectionists" that was being optioned as a potential new TV series. BOOM! I could read the books first this time. And so, I put it on my list and it arrived last week which is how I chose to read The Perfectionists...
I gave 3 stars because while the story is good, it's a bit of a let-down from Pretty Little Liars and it also seems to be very similar to Pretty Little Liars. Change the lies, change the cast, change the setting and you've got a new story... well, it had its strengths but it also had some weaknesses. I'll definitely read the second book (even tho I accidentally read who I think is the killer on someone's review) to see how it all plays out. It's definitely more of a young adult book than other YA books I have read but it is still a fun read -- took me about 3 to 4 hours to finish yesterday.
Story
Five (5) 17 year old girls who are not quite friends (just go to the same school together) are doing a review in their film class of Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None. " Challenged to determine whether a killer is justified in killing and/or whether someone deserves to die, the 5 stumble upon a connection in that they all hate Nolan Hotchkiss for various reasons. They agree on how they'd kill him (all in good fun) since they believe sometimes murder is an acceptable solution -- and then go on with their lives. It was afterall just a fun conversation except that it seems someone must have overheard their plans...
At some point, they have an opportunity to get revenge on Nolan at his house party and use part of their plan to pull a prank on him -- not to kill him. The next morning after the party where they attempt the prank, they learn he has died from a possible overdose. The girls feel bad but they didn't actually do anything except slip him 1 pill. And then a few days later, they learn he died in the exact way they had theorized - murder by cyanide poisoning. Fear strikes each of the girls as they already had their own issues to deal with between past accidents, cheating boyfriends, college plans, falling in love, shady teachers/therapists and bad parents.
Book 1 walks you through all of the major players, their immediate families and friends setting up a long list of possible suspects. By the end, there's a second death and several of the girls are people of interest to the local police. Book 1 ends with the girls realizing the person they all thought was the killer couldn't be and now they are back at square 1 -- only this time they are clearly number 1 on the police hit list.
Strengths
1. Large cast with varied characters and families. Each of the girls have their own supposed troubles/Perceived obstacles to deal with: sick mother, twisted father, 2 gay moms, overly strict parents, step-parents, etc. Each has a boyfriend of sorts who is either cheating or being cheated on... helps you flesh out who they all are.
2. Suspense is good. Each chapter ends with a good conflict or question. You want to keep reading and it's hard to just put it down for a while.
Weaknesses
1. Writing is too easy. It's YA, but I think it's a bit too fluffy and could be stronger.
2. Too similar to Pretty Little Liars without the fear factor. It's suspenseful, but I like when a killer taunts you... so far, the killer and the 5 girls have had no interaction whatsoever.
Final Thoughts
I like Sara Shepard's style and approach. She crafts good stories and characters. She knows how to entice her audience. She has a lot of books so it may get difficult to keep up the intrigue and mystery which I can see happening in this story. But it's still a good quick read with fun and drama -- something we all like to see in our stories!
May 14, 2014
I want to read this but I'm afraid it will drag on for years like the Pretty Little Liars book series did. I loved PLL but I think ran it's course a long time ago.
February 26, 2017
Lo terminé el otro día pero se me olvidó actualizarlo *shame on me*
The Perfectionists es un libro que yo tenía muchas ganas de leer, y del cual no esperaba una historia increíble ni unos personajes muy trabajados. Esperaba un misterio decente y unos giros que me dejaran loco. Y ha superado mis expectativas.
Las cinco protagonistas son maravillosas. Llegas a conocer bastante de su vida y entorno en unas pocas páginas, algo en lo que la autora ha mejorado bastante. Me ha gustado cómo las introducía y cómo manejaba sus tramas y la dinámica entre ellas.
Sigue siendo Sara Shepard y por lo tanto, hay elementos comunes demasiado obvios, pero sí que consigue sorprender con algunas cosas. El misterio está bien construido aunque no podría decir que es una novela de misterio en sí, sino una historia contemporánea con un hilo general de misterio del cual todo el resto tira.
En cuanto a los giros en la trama algunos me han gustado bastante, la verdad. Me han sorprendido sobre todo los referentes a acciones de personajes o descubrimientos del asesinato principal. Sin embargo, siento que es una bilogía forzada, que era una novela más larga que se ha dividido en dos partes para vender más.
La recomiendo para pasar un buen rato. Yo he disfrutado bastante de su lectura :)
The Perfectionists es un libro que yo tenía muchas ganas de leer, y del cual no esperaba una historia increíble ni unos personajes muy trabajados. Esperaba un misterio decente y unos giros que me dejaran loco. Y ha superado mis expectativas.
Las cinco protagonistas son maravillosas. Llegas a conocer bastante de su vida y entorno en unas pocas páginas, algo en lo que la autora ha mejorado bastante. Me ha gustado cómo las introducía y cómo manejaba sus tramas y la dinámica entre ellas.
Sigue siendo Sara Shepard y por lo tanto, hay elementos comunes demasiado obvios, pero sí que consigue sorprender con algunas cosas. El misterio está bien construido aunque no podría decir que es una novela de misterio en sí, sino una historia contemporánea con un hilo general de misterio del cual todo el resto tira.
En cuanto a los giros en la trama algunos me han gustado bastante, la verdad. Me han sorprendido sobre todo los referentes a acciones de personajes o descubrimientos del asesinato principal. Sin embargo, siento que es una bilogía forzada, que era una novela más larga que se ha dividido en dos partes para vender más.
La recomiendo para pasar un buen rato. Yo he disfrutado bastante de su lectura :)
April 21, 2020
This book was SO fast-paced with turns at every corner -- a great book for fans of One of Us is Lying.
HOWEVER, having said that, I thought there was an unnecessary amount of teenage drama. Yes, it fed into the story but there were whole chapters which felt kind of irrelevant. I thought they interfered with the overall pace of the story and ended up skimming some of these pages.
HOWEVER, having said that, I thought there was an unnecessary amount of teenage drama. Yes, it fed into the story but there were whole chapters which felt kind of irrelevant. I thought they interfered with the overall pace of the story and ended up skimming some of these pages.
August 1, 2024
Bro.
Bro.
What. The. Fuck?
The author isn’t only forcing me to read the next part but I also FIND MYSELF WANTING TO?
Ughhhhhh fine!
Bro.
What. The. Fuck?
The author isn’t only forcing me to read the next part but I also FIND MYSELF WANTING TO?
Ughhhhhh fine!
September 27, 2015
Review on my blog:
https://thebookgram.wordpress.com/201...
__________________________________________
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard
book 1 in The Perfectionists duology
As I expected, I really enjoyed this book, of course it's Sara Shepard, how could I not?
My thoughts on each of the main characters:
Parker: she was a really interesting and in-depth character to read about, who was just so complex. I can't wait to find out more about her in the next book. I predicted what was going to happen in regards to her relationship plot line, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Mackenzie: I loved Mac, she was so fun to read about. She's the musical character, and her story with her so called 'friend' Claire, and her boyfriend was really intriguing, and I'm excited to see how that is all handled in the next book.
Ava: I also loved Ava, I feel like she played the biggest role in relation to the main 'suspect' in this novel, and I love her relationship with Alex.
Julie: she was great, I really enjoyed reading about her 'secret' relating to her home life, and how she was always there for her friends.
Caitlin: I really loved Caitlin, her relationship plot line was the most interesting to read about out of all the girls, and I'm so excited to see where that goes in the next book. I'm also interested to see how her whole 'soccer' situation plays out.
This book was quite short, so there's not a lot to say, but I really, really enjoyed it and can't wait to pick up the second and final instalment.
I really enjoyed all the characters, and despite the huge amount of characters in this book, it didn't take me very long to decipher them from one another.
I'm so intrigued and eager to find out who the killer is... Have to waitnot so patiently for the second book to come in the mail...
https://thebookgram.wordpress.com/201...
__________________________________________
The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard
book 1 in The Perfectionists duology
As I expected, I really enjoyed this book, of course it's Sara Shepard, how could I not?
My thoughts on each of the main characters:
Parker: she was a really interesting and in-depth character to read about, who was just so complex. I can't wait to find out more about her in the next book. I predicted what was going to happen in regards to her relationship plot line, but I still enjoyed it nonetheless.
Mackenzie: I loved Mac, she was so fun to read about. She's the musical character, and her story with her so called 'friend' Claire, and her boyfriend was really intriguing, and I'm excited to see how that is all handled in the next book.
Ava: I also loved Ava, I feel like she played the biggest role in relation to the main 'suspect' in this novel, and I love her relationship with Alex.
Julie: she was great, I really enjoyed reading about her 'secret' relating to her home life, and how she was always there for her friends.
Caitlin: I really loved Caitlin, her relationship plot line was the most interesting to read about out of all the girls, and I'm so excited to see where that goes in the next book. I'm also interested to see how her whole 'soccer' situation plays out.
This book was quite short, so there's not a lot to say, but I really, really enjoyed it and can't wait to pick up the second and final instalment.
I really enjoyed all the characters, and despite the huge amount of characters in this book, it didn't take me very long to decipher them from one another.
I'm so intrigued and eager to find out who the killer is... Have to wait
September 24, 2024
CURRENTLY REREADING BC YALL NEED TO READ THIS TOO <333 LITERALLY READ THE PROLOUGE AND I GUARANTEE YOU WILL BE HOOKED
andddd words cannot describe how good this series is, hopefully a better review is coming <33 pulling out my notes so I can write a real review for this 📝
--
-> so yk how I made an update abt trying to get ppl to read this? I’m terrified you wont like it 😭 but the thing is, I read it when I was younger and didn't really appreciate how good it is, so I only remember really loving it knowing the plot twist which made it so good SO I HOPE YALL LIKE IT!! PLEASE LIKE IT.
January 2024
😙👌 -> Chef's kiss , so stinking amazing
rereading this, you can really see all the signs.
...also I kinda dont hate mackenzie anymore (I really hated her)
bye this is the driest review wth
andddd words cannot describe how good this series is, hopefully a better review is coming <33 pulling out my notes so I can write a real review for this 📝
--
-> so yk how I made an update abt trying to get ppl to read this? I’m terrified you wont like it 😭 but the thing is, I read it when I was younger and didn't really appreciate how good it is, so I only remember really loving it knowing the plot twist which made it so good SO I HOPE YALL LIKE IT!! PLEASE LIKE IT.
January 2024
😙👌 -> Chef's kiss , so stinking amazing
rereading this, you can really see all the signs.
...also I kinda dont hate mackenzie anymore (I really hated her)
bye this is the driest review wth
October 8, 2014
I cannot believe that just happened. No resolution - none. When I say none, I really mean not a single nibble. The action is rising and just when it gets to the pinnacle - boom - the acknowledgements. I don't whether to be impressed or pissed off. I made painstaking mental notes of every character (and there were a lot of them to keep straight). I don't know if I will have the energy to re-read this one when the sequel comes out. Bummer.
December 18, 2015
Review also posted at Young Adult Hollywood and listen to my The Perfectionists fanmix on 8tracks.
Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker have one thing in common. They all hate the handsome and awful Nolan Hotchkiss, who did some terrible things to each one of them. The five senior girls gather together to prank kill him. It was all just a faux until the next morning when Nolan dropped dead “exactly” the way they schemed. They know they didn’t do it but suddenly they are the prime suspects until they find the real culprit.
Sara Shepard who wrote the popular series Pretty Little Liars is also the genius behind The Perfectionists, so maybe by now you finally have an idea or two on how things will play out here. The Perfectionists offers the same plot line as Pretty Little Liars but much better in my opinion. There’s nothing new in this book. It’s the same mystery – teen drama formula all Shepard’s books have but it is certainly entertaining.
Initially I had a tough time adjusting to everyone’s POV. There are too many characters; I thought this book wouldn’t accommodate that but after a few chapters I finally got my head wrapped around it. The Perfectionists is diverse not only in race but also in gender. It is a feminist driven book. Yay for that! I admire the fierce friendship between the five girls formed under rough circumstances.
I savored this book. I thoroughly enjoyed the teen and high school drama paired along with suspense and great female characterization. I can’t wait to read the sequel.
September 29, 2015
Die Rezension (29.09.15 um 15h): https://youtu.be/Rllp6vEsDO0
August 6, 2017
Reread: You can totally appreciate the threads for the big plot twist at the end of book two in this one!
Similar themes to Pretty Little Liars, and being honest, very similar characters. Each one has a secret, and each one doesn't know who to trust. I look forward to more of a friendship between the girls in the next book. Intriguing and misleading, this is a great teen crime mystery, that keeps you guessing and wondering who the murderer really is! I was just annoyed by the PLL parallels, as a lot of the character plot points were either similar or the same, which detracts from my rating. Overall, an enjoyable and enticing read!
Similar themes to Pretty Little Liars, and being honest, very similar characters. Each one has a secret, and each one doesn't know who to trust. I look forward to more of a friendship between the girls in the next book. Intriguing and misleading, this is a great teen crime mystery, that keeps you guessing and wondering who the murderer really is! I was just annoyed by the PLL parallels, as a lot of the character plot points were either similar or the same, which detracts from my rating. Overall, an enjoyable and enticing read!
July 7, 2019
This took me a lot longer to read than I initially planned. This is more of a 2.5 star rating. It held my interest.. I was just in a little bit of a book slump in the last few weeks. Sara Shepard’s books all read very similar. Same sort of story line, same sort of character description but she still finds a way that you always want to know what happens next!!
May 12, 2017
full of teenage drama & suspense.
March 21, 2022
me parece un SACRILEGIO que en los agradecimientos la autora mencione a *se pone de pie* Alfred Hitchcook y cite su frase "Hay que mantener al público perturbado todo el tiempo" y diga que ella con este libro LO LOGRÓ.
NO NO no nO y NO.
Este libro es mediocre, no te mete en una atmósfera de suspenso ni en pedo.
Todo el problema se desata por una broma estúpida que hacen las protagonistas (que vamos, si estaban tan enojadas con Nolan podrían haber hecho una joda mejor que pintarle la cara con marcadores) y después viene la parte que llamo 🌠introducción infinita🌠 porque empieza a contarte capitulo por capitulo la vida de estas 5 muñecas de barbie que son tODAS IGUALES, pero con nombres distintos y una afición distinta.
Pero dejando de lado eso, hay thrillers juveniles narrados con distintos puntos de vista donde los protagonistas son inculpados, como One Of Us Is Lying que sí te mete en una atmosfera de suspenso y te da intriga, y te genera empatia e interés en los personajes, y sí, aunque son personajes esteriotipados estan bien logrados.
No como esta basura que literal no sólo los personajes son todos iguales sino que ninguno destaca y esta vez no hablo solo de los protagonistas, sino tambien de los personajes secundarios. Ninguno destaca para nada, y las motivaciones de los personajes secundarios para cagar a las protagonistas son infundamentadas. Estan solo ahí para sumarle algo a la ""trama"".
Y sobre la investigacion de los policias, vengo a decir que esta llevada para el ortoo, es como si alguien no supiera nada de cómo se hacen esas investigaciones y las invente.
TODO ES CONVENIENTE PARA QUE EL LIBRO SE DESARROLLE
y para terminar, qué es eso de dejarlo para un segundo libro?? Es cual quie ra, porque en este no pasa nada.
Por último, el único aspecto """positivo""" del libro es que se lee rápido, pero eso es porque tiene una forma de escribir pobre.
estoy muy hater? Sí, pero es que el libro verdaderamente fue malo para que le dé una estrella.
Ni siquiera le di una a "El Sótano" de Natasha Preston que no me gustó.
Y además le suma puntos a este libro que lo leí con la genia de Palo, que lo hizo más llevadero y fue divertido criticar juntas este intento de thriller
tkm❣️
⭐ 1/5
NO NO no nO y NO.
Este libro es mediocre, no te mete en una atmósfera de suspenso ni en pedo.
Todo el problema se desata por una broma estúpida que hacen las protagonistas (que vamos, si estaban tan enojadas con Nolan podrían haber hecho una joda mejor que pintarle la cara con marcadores) y después viene la parte que llamo 🌠introducción infinita🌠 porque empieza a contarte capitulo por capitulo la vida de estas 5 muñecas de barbie que son tODAS IGUALES, pero con nombres distintos y una afición distinta.
Pero dejando de lado eso, hay thrillers juveniles narrados con distintos puntos de vista donde los protagonistas son inculpados, como One Of Us Is Lying que sí te mete en una atmosfera de suspenso y te da intriga, y te genera empatia e interés en los personajes, y sí, aunque son personajes esteriotipados estan bien logrados.
No como esta basura que literal no sólo los personajes son todos iguales sino que ninguno destaca y esta vez no hablo solo de los protagonistas, sino tambien de los personajes secundarios. Ninguno destaca para nada, y las motivaciones de los personajes secundarios para cagar a las protagonistas son infundamentadas. Estan solo ahí para sumarle algo a la ""trama"".
Y sobre la investigacion de los policias, vengo a decir que esta llevada para el ortoo, es como si alguien no supiera nada de cómo se hacen esas investigaciones y las invente.
TODO ES CONVENIENTE PARA QUE EL LIBRO SE DESARROLLE
y para terminar, qué es eso de dejarlo para un segundo libro?? Es cual quie ra, porque en este no pasa nada.
Por último, el único aspecto """positivo""" del libro es que se lee rápido, pero eso es porque tiene una forma de escribir pobre.
estoy muy hater? Sí, pero es que el libro verdaderamente fue malo para que le dé una estrella.
Ni siquiera le di una a "El Sótano" de Natasha Preston que no me gustó.
Y además le suma puntos a este libro que lo leí con la genia de Palo, que lo hizo más llevadero y fue divertido criticar juntas este intento de thriller
tkm❣️
⭐ 1/5
November 15, 2016
I am a sucker for high school mysteries.
July 4, 2014
3.5 stars
It sounded like Pretty Little Liars and it was written by the author of Pretty Litte Liars, so, honestly, I got exactly what I should've expected from the beginning instead of allowing myself to hope for something different: this was extremely reminiscent of PLL.
Truth be told, I've never read the Pretty Little Liars books, but I did see the first season of the show in its entirety and I don't think I need to read the book to see just how similar in structure, narration, plotting, development and characterization this book is to Pretty Little Liars. The author tries very hard to make it different to the novel that made her a household YA name, but once it stuck, the similarities were very hard to shake off.
I was under the impression that this was a stand-alone novel, so I was very disappointed when I reached the last few pages of the novel with no clear resolution in sight and was given a rather abrupt ending and cliffhanger, which, truth be told, disrupted what up until that point had been a very enjoyable experience. Aside from that, this book is fast paced, engaging and full of drama, exactly what one expects in a book like this. The characters are a bit stereotyped and function with a pretty similar mindset to those in PLL, but they were certainly varied and easily distinguishable. The characters did have an infuriating tendency to make the stupidest choices, of endangering themselves and worsening the situation for no other purpose than because the plot required it, which happened so often, it got tiring really quickly.
Every single possible high school cliche is thrown in there, from the characters to the events and the social predicaments, but Shepard has the impressive ability of making them, if not exactly different or original, then definitely interesting and engaging enough to keep me hooked to the story. The situations she placed her characters in fulfilled their purpose, and while some of them were silly and could've been easily resolved, they did have the desired effect of contributing to the atmosphere of the mystery and trapping the characters even tighter within the web of lies and secrets they tangled themselves in.
Most of the secondary characters are absolutely irrelevant, cliched or brushed over. There were plenty of them, and I understand the importance of keeping the focus on the main 5 girls, but their relationships with the rest of these characters seemed rather shallow to me. The mystery of this novel proceeded in a very standard fashion, but I still cannot say with certainty I know who's behind it or why, which made me more interested in the sequel than I had any intention to be. The twists were not hard to see coming, but they are still delivered confidently and exactly when needed, leaving a remarkable impact on the story.
This is a standard mystery as far as the genre goes in YA, and The Perfectionists is was far too reminiscent of PLL in spite of the author's best efforts, but I would be lying if I said this book wasn't extremely engaging. It went by fast and I was very entertained from beginning to end. The book is not without its flaws, but in the end, that doesn't take away from the entertainment value or the addictive quality of the novel, which I'm beginning to suspect is the entire reason behind the success of PLL.
It sounded like Pretty Little Liars and it was written by the author of Pretty Litte Liars, so, honestly, I got exactly what I should've expected from the beginning instead of allowing myself to hope for something different: this was extremely reminiscent of PLL.
Truth be told, I've never read the Pretty Little Liars books, but I did see the first season of the show in its entirety and I don't think I need to read the book to see just how similar in structure, narration, plotting, development and characterization this book is to Pretty Little Liars. The author tries very hard to make it different to the novel that made her a household YA name, but once it stuck, the similarities were very hard to shake off.
I was under the impression that this was a stand-alone novel, so I was very disappointed when I reached the last few pages of the novel with no clear resolution in sight and was given a rather abrupt ending and cliffhanger, which, truth be told, disrupted what up until that point had been a very enjoyable experience. Aside from that, this book is fast paced, engaging and full of drama, exactly what one expects in a book like this. The characters are a bit stereotyped and function with a pretty similar mindset to those in PLL, but they were certainly varied and easily distinguishable. The characters did have an infuriating tendency to make the stupidest choices, of endangering themselves and worsening the situation for no other purpose than because the plot required it, which happened so often, it got tiring really quickly.
Every single possible high school cliche is thrown in there, from the characters to the events and the social predicaments, but Shepard has the impressive ability of making them, if not exactly different or original, then definitely interesting and engaging enough to keep me hooked to the story. The situations she placed her characters in fulfilled their purpose, and while some of them were silly and could've been easily resolved, they did have the desired effect of contributing to the atmosphere of the mystery and trapping the characters even tighter within the web of lies and secrets they tangled themselves in.
Most of the secondary characters are absolutely irrelevant, cliched or brushed over. There were plenty of them, and I understand the importance of keeping the focus on the main 5 girls, but their relationships with the rest of these characters seemed rather shallow to me. The mystery of this novel proceeded in a very standard fashion, but I still cannot say with certainty I know who's behind it or why, which made me more interested in the sequel than I had any intention to be. The twists were not hard to see coming, but they are still delivered confidently and exactly when needed, leaving a remarkable impact on the story.
This is a standard mystery as far as the genre goes in YA, and The Perfectionists is was far too reminiscent of PLL in spite of the author's best efforts, but I would be lying if I said this book wasn't extremely engaging. It went by fast and I was very entertained from beginning to end. The book is not without its flaws, but in the end, that doesn't take away from the entertainment value or the addictive quality of the novel, which I'm beginning to suspect is the entire reason behind the success of PLL.
July 13, 2015
Trigger warning: this book involves murder, the mention of suicide (doesn't go into grand detail), pedophelia, domestic abuse, bullying, and drug abuse.
Sara Shepard always finds a way to keep me on the edge of my seat while throwing in so many characters, it's insane.
This book seemed rather influenced by the PLL tv show in that Mr Granger reminded me SO much of Ezra Fitz. Okay, yes, Granger is a Film teacher, but they both love film noir and they both love underaged girls.
I did like that the "main cast" of this book is rather diverse compared to Shepard's previous books, which mainly include white protagonists. One of the MC's is of Korean heritage and has two moms and a brother who (trigger warning) committed suicide due to bullying. OH yes, the launching point of this book is that all of the MCs have been bullied (or know someone who has been bullied) by Nolan Hotchkiss. Does that first name ring a bell? Hmm.
Much like Shepard's previous series / novels, it's a who-dun-it (even though the MCs played a part in Nolan's demise and are the main suspects).
Things I liked:
The girls stick together and support one another even though most of them didn't know each other before Mr Granger's class.
The pointing out that it's pretty ridiculous how the word of teenage girls isn't trusted. It's sad, but it's very much in the tone of, "See how ridiculous this is, readers?!" Without making it over-the-top.
Even though there are some girls who kiss boys that aren't their boyfriends, it isn't shamed. Sure, their boyfriends react negatively -- to the point that I'm pretty sure Alex killed Mr G -- but it doesn't feel like it's a bad thing?! It's more along the lines of that they're with a person who isn't as right to be with as the second guy. You know!?
TL;DR - Definitely will be a comfort read for those who love the PLL tv show. The MCs are in their senior year, which gives it more maturity, maybe?! It definitely adds another layer of pressure with college and the future looming in front of them.
Sara Shepard always finds a way to keep me on the edge of my seat while throwing in so many characters, it's insane.
This book seemed rather influenced by the PLL tv show in that Mr Granger reminded me SO much of Ezra Fitz. Okay, yes, Granger is a Film teacher, but they both love film noir and they both love underaged girls.
I did like that the "main cast" of this book is rather diverse compared to Shepard's previous books, which mainly include white protagonists. One of the MC's is of Korean heritage and has two moms and a brother who (trigger warning) committed suicide due to bullying. OH yes, the launching point of this book is that all of the MCs have been bullied (or know someone who has been bullied) by Nolan Hotchkiss. Does that first name ring a bell? Hmm.
Much like Shepard's previous series / novels, it's a who-dun-it (even though the MCs played a part in Nolan's demise and are the main suspects).
Things I liked:
The girls stick together and support one another even though most of them didn't know each other before Mr Granger's class.
The pointing out that it's pretty ridiculous how the word of teenage girls isn't trusted. It's sad, but it's very much in the tone of, "See how ridiculous this is, readers?!" Without making it over-the-top.
Even though there are some girls who kiss boys that aren't their boyfriends, it isn't shamed. Sure, their boyfriends react negatively -- to the point that I'm pretty sure Alex killed Mr G -- but it doesn't feel like it's a bad thing?! It's more along the lines of that they're with a person who isn't as right to be with as the second guy. You know!?
TL;DR - Definitely will be a comfort read for those who love the PLL tv show. The MCs are in their senior year, which gives it more maturity, maybe?! It definitely adds another layer of pressure with college and the future looming in front of them.
April 12, 2017
This was pretty entertaining, but I have a sneaking suspicion that this is going to involve one of my least favorite YA mystery thriller tropes and I am not about it. Definitely will finish the series though bc it's like book crack and I am v curious.
October 25, 2014
This review also appears on YA Midnight Reads.
To those of you thinking that the premise of this book sounds an awful lot like Shepard’s previous series Pretty Little Liars; you’re right. The Perfectionists is reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars in almost every way. I don’t intend for this review to become a comparison of The Perfectionists and Pretty Little Liars, but I won’t be suprised if it does turn out like that. Truth be told, there is just so much to compare. The Perfectionists is set in a town that is above all rich, and where all people try to be more than perfect. This town produces some of the best students in the country, who not only excel at their schoolwork but also at othe activities like soccer, music, and, well, being pretty. Everyone tries to be perfect in every way, which of course includes looks. These teens party and drink and keep their own secrets, but usually not those of others. There is one person in this town, a complete jerk and bully if we’re honest, who seems to know more secrets than anyone else. And this person isn’t afraid to use those secrets against others. Which is probably why they end up dead.
Sound familiar? Probably, because I could have just described the plot of either Pretty Little Liars or The Perfectionists. The major difference being that in The Perfectionists, our five female protagonists might have actually something to do with the murder. And I have to admit, Shepard knows how to write a compelling story (even if we’ve seen it before). She keeps unveiling secrets and making the reader second-guess nearly everything. And of course, everyone has their own dirty secrets, even when you don’t expect them to. Though this review could very well turn out slightly ranty, I have to admit I was really intruiged and fully invested in the story. I kept turning the pages and pretty much couldn’t stop. Shepard has the annoying ability to unveil things and still keeping the reader in the dark, but I couldn’t help enjoying myself. And wanting to find out who did it, of course.
As for the characterisation, well… Let’s just say that Shepard manages to create five petty little bitches (if you’ll excuse my language) all over again. We have the sporty one, the one with problems at home, and the one who may or may not be involved with a teacher. (Sound familiar?) Of course, it’s not exactly the same. There are definitely some major differences, but I couldn’t help but recognize some characteristics from the Pretty Little Liars cast. The most interesting characters in The Perfectionists for me were Parker and Ava. Parker used to be pretty and perfect like the rest of the town, but she has some awful scars now and thus hides her face behind a hoodie. She’s definitely the most damaged of the five, and her memory gaps and pounding headaches made for an interesting story. Ava seemingly has everything going for her, but she still suffers from some nasty rumors that were spread about her a while ago. Because of this she starts making some stupid, albeit interesting, decisions and the way she kept digging this hole deeper and deeper caught my attention.
Then there is the plot, some elements of which I definitely recognized. We have “best friends” constantly competing and screwing each other over, the girl who starts falling for her boyfriend’s brother, the girl who is rumoured to be involved with a teacher, the girl who gets threathened by a copycat, stalkers, accusations, mysterious files, police, the whole shebang. (Also I really wanted to say “shebang”.) Though I thought that yes, some parts of the book were definitely recycled material from Pretty Little Liars, all the side-plots and the main mystery caught my attention and held it. I wanted to know who did it (though of course you don’t find out just yet) and how it all would resolve. I’m just very worried that this will turn into another lord-knows-how-many-books series, because though I definitely enjoyed The Perfctionists, I do not have the time to read 12 books of this. And I’d also hate to go look up spoilers on the internet like I eventually did with Pretty Little Liars. (Plus, at some point I’m going to want answers.)
In all, despite the fact that it’s basically a Pretty Litle Liars 2.0, I really enjoyed The Perfectionists. There’s no doubt that Shepard knows how to write a compelling story, and the way she keeps teh reader in the dark makes you want to read more. The Perfectionists has surprising and completely unsurprising plot twists, interesting and some uninteresting characters, and ultimately is the perfect story who want a murder mystery but nothing too heavy. And, of course, it’s recommended to everyone who wants more in the vein of Pretty Little Liars.
~ Thank you HarperTeen for the review copy!~
(I’m also just curious about this, but do any of you have any experience with towns like this? Because to be honest, my high school doesn’t really do the whole popularity thing, and your home situation won’t get you shunned, and nobody cares whether your clothes are a brand or not. But maybe I just attend a strange high school.)
To those of you thinking that the premise of this book sounds an awful lot like Shepard’s previous series Pretty Little Liars; you’re right. The Perfectionists is reminiscent of Pretty Little Liars in almost every way. I don’t intend for this review to become a comparison of The Perfectionists and Pretty Little Liars, but I won’t be suprised if it does turn out like that. Truth be told, there is just so much to compare. The Perfectionists is set in a town that is above all rich, and where all people try to be more than perfect. This town produces some of the best students in the country, who not only excel at their schoolwork but also at othe activities like soccer, music, and, well, being pretty. Everyone tries to be perfect in every way, which of course includes looks. These teens party and drink and keep their own secrets, but usually not those of others. There is one person in this town, a complete jerk and bully if we’re honest, who seems to know more secrets than anyone else. And this person isn’t afraid to use those secrets against others. Which is probably why they end up dead.
Sound familiar? Probably, because I could have just described the plot of either Pretty Little Liars or The Perfectionists. The major difference being that in The Perfectionists, our five female protagonists might have actually something to do with the murder. And I have to admit, Shepard knows how to write a compelling story (even if we’ve seen it before). She keeps unveiling secrets and making the reader second-guess nearly everything. And of course, everyone has their own dirty secrets, even when you don’t expect them to. Though this review could very well turn out slightly ranty, I have to admit I was really intruiged and fully invested in the story. I kept turning the pages and pretty much couldn’t stop. Shepard has the annoying ability to unveil things and still keeping the reader in the dark, but I couldn’t help enjoying myself. And wanting to find out who did it, of course.
As for the characterisation, well… Let’s just say that Shepard manages to create five petty little bitches (if you’ll excuse my language) all over again. We have the sporty one, the one with problems at home, and the one who may or may not be involved with a teacher. (Sound familiar?) Of course, it’s not exactly the same. There are definitely some major differences, but I couldn’t help but recognize some characteristics from the Pretty Little Liars cast. The most interesting characters in The Perfectionists for me were Parker and Ava. Parker used to be pretty and perfect like the rest of the town, but she has some awful scars now and thus hides her face behind a hoodie. She’s definitely the most damaged of the five, and her memory gaps and pounding headaches made for an interesting story. Ava seemingly has everything going for her, but she still suffers from some nasty rumors that were spread about her a while ago. Because of this she starts making some stupid, albeit interesting, decisions and the way she kept digging this hole deeper and deeper caught my attention.
Then there is the plot, some elements of which I definitely recognized. We have “best friends” constantly competing and screwing each other over, the girl who starts falling for her boyfriend’s brother, the girl who is rumoured to be involved with a teacher, the girl who gets threathened by a copycat, stalkers, accusations, mysterious files, police, the whole shebang. (Also I really wanted to say “shebang”.) Though I thought that yes, some parts of the book were definitely recycled material from Pretty Little Liars, all the side-plots and the main mystery caught my attention and held it. I wanted to know who did it (though of course you don’t find out just yet) and how it all would resolve. I’m just very worried that this will turn into another lord-knows-how-many-books series, because though I definitely enjoyed The Perfctionists, I do not have the time to read 12 books of this. And I’d also hate to go look up spoilers on the internet like I eventually did with Pretty Little Liars. (Plus, at some point I’m going to want answers.)
In all, despite the fact that it’s basically a Pretty Litle Liars 2.0, I really enjoyed The Perfectionists. There’s no doubt that Shepard knows how to write a compelling story, and the way she keeps teh reader in the dark makes you want to read more. The Perfectionists has surprising and completely unsurprising plot twists, interesting and some uninteresting characters, and ultimately is the perfect story who want a murder mystery but nothing too heavy. And, of course, it’s recommended to everyone who wants more in the vein of Pretty Little Liars.
~ Thank you HarperTeen for the review copy!~
(I’m also just curious about this, but do any of you have any experience with towns like this? Because to be honest, my high school doesn’t really do the whole popularity thing, and your home situation won’t get you shunned, and nobody cares whether your clothes are a brand or not. But maybe I just attend a strange high school.)
June 29, 2021
After reading the PLL series I was hoping this will be a completely different story but this still had some what similar character personalities with a slightly different plot.
Honestly, it felt like reading another book in the PLL series.
The different 5 POVs made me confused at the beginning but managed to figure it out quickly.
Honestly, it felt like reading another book in the PLL series.
The different 5 POVs made me confused at the beginning but managed to figure it out quickly.
June 11, 2015
"Always make the audience suffer as much as possible." - Alfred Hitchcock
The only way to sum up one of Sara Shepard's books.
The only way to sum up one of Sara Shepard's books.
February 9, 2017
I started reading Pretty Little Liars few years ago and then I realized it has already a mammoth series with #12 or something already released so I dropped it.
Bustle has created a really nice article about similarities so you can check that out if you want.
For me, I was in mood for murder mystery and started reading 'And Then There were None' but got tired really fast because I didn't want to keep track of such large number of people. And then Goodreads suggested this and it was too easy to read and like, I wanted to read the entire book in single sitting.
As this is mystery novel, I don't want to talk about it too much except that the the book is flooded with twist and turns with no resolution at the end (which frustrates and makes you want to read #2 right away) but I already started with #2 so there is no point saying that I liked it very much.
One thing I'd like to mention is that I don't read school life books because I can't stand brats but in this book every girl deals or tries to deal with their problems maturely so I'm keeping up with them.
Bustle has created a really nice article about similarities so you can check that out if you want.
For me, I was in mood for murder mystery and started reading 'And Then There were None' but got tired really fast because I didn't want to keep track of such large number of people. And then Goodreads suggested this and it was too easy to read and like, I wanted to read the entire book in single sitting.
As this is mystery novel, I don't want to talk about it too much except that the the book is flooded with twist and turns with no resolution at the end (which frustrates and makes you want to read #2 right away) but I already started with #2 so there is no point saying that I liked it very much.
One thing I'd like to mention is that I don't read school life books because I can't stand brats but in this book every girl deals or tries to deal with their problems maturely so I'm keeping up with them.
May 21, 2019
Sara never fails to amaze me. Tho this book reminds me so much of Pretty Little Liars it still has its own twists and unique way about it. Following 5 girls who are brought together for their dislike of their fellow peer Nolan Hotchkiss Ava, Caitlin, Julie, Parker, and Mackenzie are all framed for his murder. Each girl lives their own lives but are all connected for the framing. At the end you will learn there's more to live then being perfect. You can easily connect with each character. I absolutely loved the ending. That built more suspense and anticipation for the next book!!!
*****I've been talking with a friend who is watching the series on Freeform which I haven't started yet. She has said the show is completely different then the series is. She has mentioned that not all of the girls are present and that Taylor is Nolan's sister not Caitlin's brother. Allison and Mona aren't in the books but I know they are both a big part of the show.******
*****I've been talking with a friend who is watching the series on Freeform which I haven't started yet. She has said the show is completely different then the series is. She has mentioned that not all of the girls are present and that Taylor is Nolan's sister not Caitlin's brother. Allison and Mona aren't in the books but I know they are both a big part of the show.******
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2018
Would you kill to be perfect? For 5 girls that is not their cup of tea, but for someone in Beacon Heights it is. Mackenzie, Ava, Julie, Caitlin, and Parker decided it was time for revenge on Beacon Heights most popular boy, Nolan Hotchkiss. After his torment and terrible actions against the girls they decided to do something about it. After their hypothetical murder, they thought it wouldn’t cause any physical harm to Nolan, besides the fact they covered his face with names that were not so nice. The next day party goers found him dead, but they didn’t do it. Sara Shepard is a mastermind at writing mystery teen books. One of her most successful series “Pretty Little Liars” became a very popular TV series. Now “The Perfectionists” is going to become a TV show in 2019.
The book “The Perfectionists” is arranged by chapters. These chapters are very short, but are uniquely divided. Each chapter is dedicated to the 5 main characters Parker, Caitlin, Ava, Mackenzie, and Julia. This is very interesting because you get to read about everyone's home life, their thoughts, and what they are doing. In addition, this can also make it hard to follow the story because the main characters have different things they are going through and are always doing something different. All of the characters had different career goals that played a big part in this book which was hard to keep up with in different chapters.
“With perfection comes pressure. Students here are some of the best in the country, and sometimes, they have to let off a little steam. What five girls don’t know, though, is that steam can scald just as badly as an open flame” is one of the first things said in this book. This sets the tone of the book, before it even starts. The author, Sara Shepard, is mostly a mystery writer with often strong teenagers leading the book. One of the things I enjoy about this author is how she makes sure every secret or mystery of the book is revealed and nothing is never left untold. She certainly knows how to end a book, and have you running to the book store to grab the second one in the series in no time.
In other context, there were a couple things that I found interesting and beneficial to the plot of the book. For example, the way the characters interacted with each other perfectly showed the type of person they are . The friendship that the girls had in the book contributed to the plot, and made the story flow perfectly. The girls always had each others backs no matter what each girl did. In addition, Sara Shepard made the book descriptive, and always ended her chapters with a mysterious tone.
Overall, “The Perfectionists” was thrilling, mysterious, and a cannot put down book. From the family drama to shocking revelations of characters, it was unforgettable. Sara Shepard out did herself with another teen leading drama book. This book was creative, very well put together, and overall genius. I enjoyed this book and I am eager to read the second one.
The book “The Perfectionists” is arranged by chapters. These chapters are very short, but are uniquely divided. Each chapter is dedicated to the 5 main characters Parker, Caitlin, Ava, Mackenzie, and Julia. This is very interesting because you get to read about everyone's home life, their thoughts, and what they are doing. In addition, this can also make it hard to follow the story because the main characters have different things they are going through and are always doing something different. All of the characters had different career goals that played a big part in this book which was hard to keep up with in different chapters.
“With perfection comes pressure. Students here are some of the best in the country, and sometimes, they have to let off a little steam. What five girls don’t know, though, is that steam can scald just as badly as an open flame” is one of the first things said in this book. This sets the tone of the book, before it even starts. The author, Sara Shepard, is mostly a mystery writer with often strong teenagers leading the book. One of the things I enjoy about this author is how she makes sure every secret or mystery of the book is revealed and nothing is never left untold. She certainly knows how to end a book, and have you running to the book store to grab the second one in the series in no time.
In other context, there were a couple things that I found interesting and beneficial to the plot of the book. For example, the way the characters interacted with each other perfectly showed the type of person they are . The friendship that the girls had in the book contributed to the plot, and made the story flow perfectly. The girls always had each others backs no matter what each girl did. In addition, Sara Shepard made the book descriptive, and always ended her chapters with a mysterious tone.
Overall, “The Perfectionists” was thrilling, mysterious, and a cannot put down book. From the family drama to shocking revelations of characters, it was unforgettable. Sara Shepard out did herself with another teen leading drama book. This book was creative, very well put together, and overall genius. I enjoyed this book and I am eager to read the second one.
September 2, 2021
THE AMOUNT OF DRAMA HERE IS JUST PERFECTION
Buddy read with Naomi<33
Buddy read with Naomi<33
December 30, 2016
3.5
Considering that the author of this book is the same author who wrote Pretty Little Liars, this book definitely had the same vibe as that series.
I did enjoy reading this book and I read through it pretty quickly. The book is told in 5 different POVs so at first, it would be confusing as to who is who but it didn't take long for me to figure out. I like that we have the overarching storyline of Nolan's murder but each character has their own personal drama to deal with. I do wish there was more of a focus on Nolan's murder but each character's individual storyline did keep me intrigued.
Considering that the author of this book is the same author who wrote Pretty Little Liars, this book definitely had the same vibe as that series.
I did enjoy reading this book and I read through it pretty quickly. The book is told in 5 different POVs so at first, it would be confusing as to who is who but it didn't take long for me to figure out. I like that we have the overarching storyline of Nolan's murder but each character has their own personal drama to deal with. I do wish there was more of a focus on Nolan's murder but each character's individual storyline did keep me intrigued.
July 14, 2019
Videorecensione: https://youtu.be/YZHAbOl_uPg
October 27, 2014
Revenge, murder, mystery, secrets, lies, betrayal, a touch of romance, and a few surprise twists make Sara Shepard’s THE PERFECTIONISTS a wildly entertaining and highly addictive read. Told in the alternating point’s of view of five girls - Caitlin, Julie, Ava, Mackenzie and Parker - who sought vengeance against a boy who made their lives, and everyone else’s, a living hell, a boy who just happened to be murdered in a way very similar to how they’d jokingly planned to do it shortly after their prank that placed them at the scene of the crime, this story with its lightning fast pace will immediately grab readers and keep them hooked.
With a number of potential suspects, including the girls themselves, unraveling the mystery about who really killed Nolan Hotchkiss won’t be easy. Especially when, with each new chapter, secrets are revealed, creating doubt and suspicion, and when new information comes to light that makes those who appear to be the most guilty seem innocent.
And with five protagonists whose personalities, lives, goals, and reasons for hating Nolan Hotchkiss are very different, discovering what those reasons are and finding out who can be trusted or who might be hiding something, makes this a real page turner.
Author Sara Shepard teases readers with each new revelation, each jaw-dropping twist, each surprise. She builds tension and creates suspense as the investigation heats up and the police begin to hone in on their suspect and as the girls try to catch who they think is guilty. She introduces interesting and appealing characters to tell this story who readers will want to know more about, whose secrets they’ll want to uncover, and whose innocence they’ll be hoping for.
THE PERFECTIONISTS is the first book in this new two-book series by the author, which means that not every question will be answered by the story’s end. And as it is told from five different point’s of view, there is still plenty to be discovered about each character’s story in the next book. While much is left up in the air, the author struck the right balance between revealing too little and too much, creating a very satisfying read that allows readers to get to know enough to become invested in the characters and the plot and make them anxious for the next installment.
Suspenseful, fun, exciting and a little bit wicked, THE PERFECTIONISTS is a must for fans of the author, readers who want a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read, and those who like a mystery that won’t be quite so easy to solve.
Original GR comments:
Loved this first book in Sara Shepard's new series. I got a copy for a read-along the publisher put together and it was a lot of fun reading it in nine-chapter sections. Loved the characters, the mystery and the killer ending. There were a few surprises, a whole bunch of moments that made me say WTH and a few characters I'm totally hoping get what they deserve. Can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel. The author did a great job teasing throughout this book about things to come, revealing betrayals, threats and enemies, and leaving me unsure of who to trust and who might be the next key suspect.
Review TK.
With a number of potential suspects, including the girls themselves, unraveling the mystery about who really killed Nolan Hotchkiss won’t be easy. Especially when, with each new chapter, secrets are revealed, creating doubt and suspicion, and when new information comes to light that makes those who appear to be the most guilty seem innocent.
And with five protagonists whose personalities, lives, goals, and reasons for hating Nolan Hotchkiss are very different, discovering what those reasons are and finding out who can be trusted or who might be hiding something, makes this a real page turner.
Author Sara Shepard teases readers with each new revelation, each jaw-dropping twist, each surprise. She builds tension and creates suspense as the investigation heats up and the police begin to hone in on their suspect and as the girls try to catch who they think is guilty. She introduces interesting and appealing characters to tell this story who readers will want to know more about, whose secrets they’ll want to uncover, and whose innocence they’ll be hoping for.
THE PERFECTIONISTS is the first book in this new two-book series by the author, which means that not every question will be answered by the story’s end. And as it is told from five different point’s of view, there is still plenty to be discovered about each character’s story in the next book. While much is left up in the air, the author struck the right balance between revealing too little and too much, creating a very satisfying read that allows readers to get to know enough to become invested in the characters and the plot and make them anxious for the next installment.
Suspenseful, fun, exciting and a little bit wicked, THE PERFECTIONISTS is a must for fans of the author, readers who want a quick and thoroughly enjoyable read, and those who like a mystery that won’t be quite so easy to solve.
Original GR comments:
Loved this first book in Sara Shepard's new series. I got a copy for a read-along the publisher put together and it was a lot of fun reading it in nine-chapter sections. Loved the characters, the mystery and the killer ending. There were a few surprises, a whole bunch of moments that made me say WTH and a few characters I'm totally hoping get what they deserve. Can't wait to find out what happens in the sequel. The author did a great job teasing throughout this book about things to come, revealing betrayals, threats and enemies, and leaving me unsure of who to trust and who might be the next key suspect.
Review TK.
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