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Pretty Reckless (All Saints High, #1)

L.J. Shen

Start date: April 29, 2019

Finish date: May 4, 2019

Discussion: Buddy Reads

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Buddy Reads

* October 2025 Buddy Reads
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What Members Thought

Aug 11, 2019 Lindsay rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: jenn-moral-support-while-reading, 2019, buddy-read-with-jenn, enemies-turned-lovers, august-2019, bullying

4.5

I went back and forth on what rating to give this book. On one hand, I really enjoyed it, even loved parts of it...but on the other hand, I had issues (I think that's the first time I've said that about a LJ Shen book, but I'll explain below).

I first read the blurb and sample weeks ago, right after my first book by LJ Shen. I wasn't sure what book to read next and this one is a recent release so I looked at it first. I was a little put off by the mean girl/bully sound to Daria, so I decided ...more

7 likes · Like · see review

Apr 29, 2019 Heather rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, my-favorite-authors, favorite-books, book-boyfriends-i-wish-were-real, sexiest-covers, z2019-new-releases, zyear-2019

I loved every single word of this book!

Daria is the girl you have to hate but L.J. Shen knows how to write despicable characters that you inevitably fall in love with. Penn, the perfect bad boy that loves with all his heart.

As annoyed as I was with Melody, which hurt my heart because she and Jamie were my fave couple, it was HER chapter that had me sobbing uncontrollably. Jamie was wonderful in every scene he was in...I always loved Jamie Followhill best (even a little better than Vicious, don' ...more

6 likes · Like · see review

Apr 30, 2019 Cyle rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, contemporary, mature, new-adult, alpha-male, rich-families

I usually shy away from New Adult / YA books as of late, because as I've gotten older I just don't seem to get into the stories as much. I guess I can't connect to the characters anymore like I did years ago. But that's what I love about L.J. Shen and her writing, her characters have so much depth, their raw and mature and live in a world where you have to grow up fast. This may be a story about teenagers but these teens are very adult and mature and live in a world where their parents grew up f I usually shy away from New Adult / YA books as of late, because as I've gotten older I just don't seem to get into the stories as much. I guess I can't connect to the characters anymore like I did years ago. But that's what I love about L.J. Shen and her writing, her characters have so much depth, their raw and mature and live in a world where you have to grow up fast. This may be a story about teenagers but these teens are very adult and mature and live in a world where their parents grew up fast and had a lot of mature things to deal with.

If you havent read her sinners of saint series, I highly recommend reading at least the first two before reading Pretty Reckless, Defy tell the story of the story of Daria's parents. But that series follows the parents of the children in this series.

Pretty Reckless follows Daria Followhill, who may be surround by family and friends but is always left in the shadows. Her mothers big dreams have gotten in the way of her connection with her daughter (Daria), while her friends dont really see the real Daria, they see what she allows. Until she meets Penn who just gets her, sees her, connects with her. From there starts a whirlwind of connection from one incident that starts a chain reaction of events. Penn thinks the worst of Daria after all these years until he really gets to know her. Together they better both the inner demons to find their place in their families and each other.

I don't want to give too much away, these two characters are very complex, very mature and serious I fear for my son if this is what happens in high school! Ha! But anyways, I loved Penn, he was a good kid with a chip on his shoulder, smart and athletic, he's good at football and wishes he could find his sister. His welcomed into Daria's family by Daria's mother who feels she needs to help Penn after not being able to help his sister. Daria is thrown for a loop when she comes face to face with Peen, they are more fr-enemies at the beginning.

In the end I loved seeing the characters from the prior series, all grown up, sexy and a mess. But I love them all. Their children live interesting lives that are similar to their parents pasts, its going to be an interesting series, ...more

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Apr 30, 2019 Kaz. rated it really liked it

Another fantastic read by L.J. Shen. This book shows you how everyone, no matter how perfect their life may seem, have their own personal problems and issues. This book kept my interest all the way through and had a great ending.

2 likes · Like · see review