Top #4 in the entire store.#14 Most Sold Book on Amazon“Best Romance Novels of 2019” – Oprah MagazineGoodreads Best Romance of 2019 Nominee“A runaway train of revenge, rivalry and angst. This complex and venomous tale takes on a modern-day Cruel Intentions/Mean Girls vibe. Pretty Reckless is unputdownable and absolute Kindle Crack.” – Kindle Crack Book ReviewsFrom USA Today and Washington Post … Crack Book Reviews
From USA Today and Washington Post bestselling author L.J. Shen comes an intense, high school enemies-to-lovers romance with a twist.
Penn
They say revenge is a dish best served cold.
I’d had four years to stew on what Daria Followhill did to me, and now my heart was completely iced.
I took her first kiss.
She took the only thing I loved.
I was poor.
She was rich.
The good thing about circumstances? They can change. Fast.
Now, I’m her parents’ latest shiny project.
Her housemate. Her tormentor. The captain of the rival football team she hates so much.
Yeah, baby girl, say it—I’m your foster brother.
There’s a price to pay for ruining the only good thing in my life, and she’s about to shell out some serious tears.
Daria Followhill thinks she is THE queen. I’m about to prove to her that she’s nothing but a spoiled princess.
Daria
Everyone loves a good old unapologetic punk.
But being a bitch? Oh, you get slammed for every snarky comment, cynical eye roll, and foot you put in your adversaries’ way.
The thing about stiletto heels is that they make a hell of a dent when you walk all over the people who try to hurt you.
In Penn Scully’s case, I pierced his heart until he bled out, then left it in a trash can on a bright summer day.
Four years ago, he asked me to save all my firsts for him.
Now he lives across the hall, and I want nothing more than to be his last everything.
His parting words when he gave me his heart were that nothing in this world is free.
Now? Now he is making me pay.
more
LJ Shen has knocked another gritty story out of the ball park! Of course anything to do with All Saints High was going to be gripping but this series is the next generation. Children of the Hot Holes and what a roller coaster of a ride we are treated too.
Penn Scully born on the wrong side of the tracks and Daria Followhill , daughter of Jamie, who has has a rich and privileged upbringing. Two childhood friends through their actions as young teenagers become enemies. This book has it all! A character we can fixate hate on, the ultimate bitch that just appears to get away with every damn thing. A spoilt brat that just wants attention and to be loved. Enemies battling it out of the playing field for scholarships all tied together with secrets and lies gives us this faced paced story of teen angst and bullying. Once again heart is out through the wringer!
Bravo LJ! I loved every word !
Pretty Reckless by L. J. Shen, the first book of the All Saints High series, is a story that the book community has eagerly been waiting for since she first announced it a year ago. And with good reason, because this author’s writing style, execution and characters continue to set her apart from authors in the community. If you have been reading her books for a while, the All Saints High series are is a next generation series following her successful series, the Sinners of Saint. Portraying an elite group of boys (men), their holier than thou attitudes, their alpha a-hole tendencies and the women that ultimately bring them to their knees. The All Saints High series is the beginning of all the Hotholes children and their stories.
Pretty Reckless is an amazing enemies to lovers romance. It’s so well written, I was immediately consumed from the very first page. It’s a story about revenge, jealousy, lust, passion and fighting feelings you don’t want to feel. I can’t tell you how many times while I was reading this book, did I have to put it down just to kind of process what happened because the shock that overcame my body was intense. It’s full of surprises and everything I expected from a book by this author. This is part of the reason why she is on her own wavelength, smashing records and leaving a lasting impression in the community. I don’t want to go into detail about the story because I can’t say much without spoiling it. But if you love bratty teenagers, betrayal, a-holes and finding love in the most unexpected places, this is the book for you. Heck, if you loved her last series, then you’ll definitely love this one. I also loved how we got to see more of the original Hotholes in this story. The blend was amazing and wasn’t as choppy as I expected it to be. I can’t wait for the next book! Bravo L. J. Shen!
I’m one starring for the cringe worthy dialogue alone. If this is how people talk in other parts of the world, I’m never moving. It was very late 80’s/early 90’s bad teen slang kind of shit.
I’m not even going to comment on the weird principal/priest thing.
I will comment on the horrible parents though. They sucked. I know they are characters from a previous book, but I don’t ever want to read it because I hated them that much.
Angst was ‘okay’ and I actually could feel Daria’s sadness a few times, so the writings not completely off. But the overall delivery was not my thing. At all.
This book exceeded my expectations, and that’s really something considering LJ Shen is my favorite author, and I’ve read all her books by now. While this story, too, is very similar to the others (sexy quarterback, one guy hurts his leg and his career is ruined just like it happened to Trent, the villain is an over-the-top bitch/sister/ex — she likes to exaggerate here but ok, when they finally confess their feelings there’s always something happening to keep them apart AGAIN, etc.), I was glad to see she changed three things this time. One, while the guy is an asshole again, he’s got good reason this time. Two, the hero is for once not a super-rich dude who thinks he rules the world. And three, Daria’s character is new, and for the first time not the innocent plus I’m-crazy-with-colorful-hair-and-a-weird-hobby kinda girl. It’s super hard to make the main character a not-so-good-not-so-nice person and still make readers like them, and while I know from reading the reviews that there are a lot of readers who felt offended by Daria, I think LJ did a great job here. She didn’t make her mean without reason, it all had its roots with the complicated relationship to Mel.
People love LJ’s books because of her dark humor and cool metaphors. Sometimes, they become a little too much, and feel like no one talks “normally” in her stories (not even the teenagers, lol), but as a non-native author who writes in English, it definitely helps expanding my vocab 😀
Can’t wait for the next one, as usual 😉
Oh my Marx! This book was epic!
I’ve read almost every book by this author. I’ve loved how her characters become alive chapter after chapter. I thought O was prepared for this book, but I wasn’t. This book broke me. But also put me back together. I loved Daria and Penn. I stressed, cried, laughed and cried again with their journey. I read this book with no idea of what to expect at the end. And the story surprised me and filled my heart to the top. Can’t wait to read what’s next. So if you’re considering to read this book, go ahead. I’ll see you on the other side.
Oh fucking Christ this story crushed my heart from beginning to end, and of course it became my favorite.
Getting to know Daria FolloWhill’s world of glamor was a roller coaster of excitement and anger and despair … Daria is a beautiful but rebellious young teenager who suffers from her mother’s absence, plus everything that happens in her pink world she never imagined crossing the dark line until he met Penn Scully at the most painful moment of his life, they both looked for each other a world of theirs more than they did not realize that these two worlds of broken hearts would have a consequence.
Penn Scully, a beautiful and passionate boy who has always lived on the other side of the line, grew up and lived in a world of pain and abuse, with an absent and addicted mother and a cruel and abusive stepfather, he spent his life trying to get his sister the twins were able to grow and win in life, but what he did not expect was that everything he wished her most would turn against him.
And when Daria and Penn cross again the spark that lit the two passes out, he the poor guy falls into the pink world of Daria who passes is divided with his heart towards Penn, ambons play hard through the story until that when everything seems to be the way that Penn always wished after everything that happened because of Daria in the past collapses, and Daria is even more lost and alone, she tries to stay on the heap more they break down and the people who she really cares anyway she punishes her making the rabbit hole open and she falls … but what Daria did not imagine was that in the end there was still redemption for her and Penn.
Penn the young man on the other side of the rails, even with the pain and torment of the past, learns how to bruise and see what he really wants for his world.
Pretty Reckless is a story that crushes your heart over after custura all back, an incredible story. This novel is not about this incredible couple. We also get to see our beloved Hotholes and their children. We learn more about Vaughn, Knight and Luna and this just makes things more exciting for upcoming romances.
Overall, it was everything I expected and more! It kept me hooked all the time and gave me all the sensations. LJ Shen started the All Saints High Series with a bang and I just want more of the whole gang!
DREAMY’S REVIEW
LJ Shen writes books that leave a mark on you. They imprint on your heart and your soul. She writes books that stay with you long after you finish reading them! She writes books that you re-read more often than not!
She writes books that give you everything you hope for and more.
Pretty Reckless is about two flawed souls who were meant to be together.
“It started with a lemonade and ended with my heart. This, my pretty reckless rival, is how our screwed up love starts.”
Penn Scully and Daria Followhill are both full of love/lust/hate.
Daria Followhill has always had money and riches on her side. And at a young age, she was given something rare and meaningful. Four years later, Daria IS that QUEEN B! She’s rich and popular, but it’s nothing new to the most loved and envied girl at All Saints High! Just when you think you’ve got her under your shoe, she claps back with a mouth that’s all bark and bite! Daria plays by her own rules, on and off the field!
And let me tell you this, there is more to Daria Followhill that meets the eye.
“I’ve always been popular, and I’ve always fought hard for a place in the food chain where I can enjoy the view. But I think I’m ordinary.”
Penn Scully hasn’t always had luck by his side. But at a young age, he took a chance on someone he knew he didn’t stand a chance with, someone too good for him. Four years later, he’s THAT bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Yet, he’s THE boy that everyone swoons over. THE football star. THE fighter.
And let me give you some insight on Penn Scully… The more you read about him, the more you want to get to know him. The more intrigued you are about him, his story, and why he’s fueled by lust, hate, and revenge.
“He gave me the rarest thing in the world, and I gave him heartache.”
Even at a young age, you already know that there’s an invisible string that tethers them together. As you continue to read about their story the moment they’re back in each other lives, you see, you feel the genuine connection between these two.
It is real, raw, organic, and full of depth. The emotional connection between these two is UNREAL
“We’re stomach to stomach. Legs to legs. Heart to heart.”
Daria and Penn were so wrong for each other, in almost every way, but you just couldn’t deny the chemistry when they were together! It was off the charts, sizzling, and so damn present whenever they were close.
And just when you thought you had everything figure out between these two, just like in LJ Shen fashion, she puts you in for a full ride of twists and turns!
*****
Here’s one thing that threw me in for a loop and questioning why, how, and OMG NOOO!
I LOVED Jamie and Melody in Defy! I’m a huge fan. LOVE THEM SO HARD! While I absolutely swooned, loved, and enjoyed Jamie’s character, Melody fell short for me.
“My mom woulddonate all of her organs to save one of her students’ fingernails. She smothers her ballerinas with love, leaving me saddled with jealousy.”
While I understood her, felt her pain, and my heart broke… she broke me as she did Daria. I empathized hard with her for trying to be the perfect mom, but in that, it broke me to pieces seeing as how everything played out! I’m so glad we got her POV and see everything from her eyes, but I was in tears!! IN TEARS for the build up that happened between mom and daughter!
I cannot deny that it struck the cord in my heart that ached with mommy issues! Which is why I connected with Daria on that level. Craving love, attention, and just about anything. I’m so glad for the turn out of their mom/daughter relationship and hope it continues to grow and flourish throughout!
I’m also glad that Daddy Jamie came in to save the day when he could because HE is what daddy dreams are made of!
*****
I absolutely loved seeing Vaughn, Knight, Luna, and the OG Hotholes! These characters have a permanent spot in the depths of my heart!
Nonetheless, I did enjoy this amazing read! It definitely lived up to the hype and high-anticipation! Shen had me swooning hard over the hero, admiring and loving the heroine for her strength, and falling in complete love with their love story!
Shen has a way of capturing your undivided attention and never letting go up until the very last word! She is a master in her craft and everything I’ve read by her is nothing but magical! She knows how to weave a beautifully told plot with amazing flow, in-depth flawed characters, and making you love them hard! She keeps you salivating for more!
If you haven’t met the OG Hotholes, I suggest you read the Sinners of Saint Series before this just to enhance your reading experience!
Four and a half dreamy stars:
I couldn’t wait to read this book because I loved Jaime and Melody in Defy. I couldn’t wait to read about their daughter. I loved Daria in this story. She was who she was and made NO apologies. Didn’t justify her behavior because she knew what she was doing wrong but did it anyway. Not too many people can admit faults especially at her age.
Penn. Oh how I loved me some Penn in this novel. He was dealt a crappy hand and I loved how he did the best he could to not become a product of his environment. Penn amazed me with how patient and caring he was with Daria when half the time I knew he wanted to shake some sense into her. I loved how he was her shoulder to lean on and saw through the hulk. I loved the passion, the lust, the hate, chemistry and tension between Penn and Daria. You could feel it oozing off the pages.
Now as much as I loved Jaime and Melody I did question their parenting at times. I won’t go into detail as I don’t want to spoil any thing but I did yell at them through my kindle.
I have read several book by LJ Shen and this was such an emotional and angst filled read. The writing was good, the story line held my attention. The characters sucked me in from the very first chapter. I have to say this book will make your heart race. Just when I thought everything was going to be good the rug was pulled right from under me. Talk about torture. I don’t know how I will survive the rest of the series but I’m sure looking forward to reading!
This book had me up late for nights in a row (because as much as I wanted to devour these words, I needed to take this one slow) and crying in the middle of a (thankfully not crowded) airplane.
Penn was so beautifully broken, with the hole in his shirts to prove just how messed up he was. But poor Daria was this broken beauty hiding behind her gorgeous shell, and I felt like I could feel her pain. I wanted to hug them both, to tell them that it’d be okay. But it wasn’t until it was, and the ending was so perfect it made me cry.
I LOVED the cast of characters in this book. I loved the glimpse at Jaime and Mel – to be able to see their continued love for each other and their tense but unconditional love they had for their kids. I loved the glimpse at Knight, Vaughn, and Luna – it made the story feel so much more real.
The angst with this was high, but it was done in the best possible way. They all made mistakes. They all got sucked into the drama of the day. And they all dug their way out, standing by each others sides and being stronger for it.
I loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more.
OMG I don’t even know where to begin…
I’m going to try SUPER hard not to give any spoilers as I write this.
Wait for this book?– Worth it
LJ is the queen, I bow down to her greatness– no surprise at all she slayed this book.
Daria was not at all what I expected and I loved her from page 1. She is both perfect and perfectly flawed in a way that has you rooting for her.
Penn– well he is just Hothole perfection for this Tothole.
And Jaime– well he was exactly as I imagined him to be as a bad
The other Totholes?– They live up to their namesake for sure and now I need their books like right now.
Do you need to read this book?? 10000000000% yes.
There may be points where you’re like oh I think this is going to happen but when they do the ride LJ takes you on and what she does with them are what will keep you up to 4am like me.
Totally worth the book hangover
I flove this book, my only regret is I haven’t read the Sinners of Saint series yet…that will change soon.
This book is filled with teenage angst, confusion, mixed feelings, secrets, betrayal, revenge, hurt, lust and love
SOME SPOILERS
Daria is a from a wealthy family, she’s a on a mission to prove she’s good enough for her mother, but her mother only seems to have eyes for Via. Via seems so perfect on the outsiders, but is looks can be deceiving.
One letter runs her life, she turns herself into the Ice Queen, hard-faced, plotting her way to get what she wants, she’s untouchable or so it seems.
She falls for Penn, the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, with the holey tops, he’s the only person who really sees her, but he’s Via’s twin brother, so, they are so wrong for each other.
The heart wants what the heart wants and now she needs to do the right thing for herself and everyone else and give herself a re-do.
Penn’s life is real rough at home, the only person he cares about is his twin Via, he will do anything for her. Via’s life leads him to his Skull Eyes, she’s sad, and angry. A letter leads them to his sister running for 4 years. And 4 years later he’s still angry at Daria and wants to hurt her.
Daria’s parents have a soft spot for him take him in when no one else will. Now they’re under the same roof and face-to-face and he sees her, really sees her, all is not as it seems. Lust turns to love, but they can never happen.
Will they get an HEA?
Will the fake people get what the are due?
This book left me breathless with the emotional, tumultuous relationship between Daria and Penn, as well as, the secondary characters. Lj Shen never disappoints and she definitely rocked my world with this story! If you thought you knew what to expect with this book, let me tell you that you don’t……it had so many twists and turns, mind-blowing and jaw-dropping moments I was left SPEECHLESS! Turning page after page, I was intrigued, spellbound and seduced by a story that had me laughing, crying and wanting more. If you read anything this week, month or year READ THIS BOOK! Pretty Reckless is definitely a TOP READ for me and one that I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
I wasn’t sure if I could read PRETTY RECKLESS, I haven’t read L.J.Shen’s “Sinners of Saint” series, but since I loved THE KISS THIEF so much, I really wanted to read more of this author, so I did and I don’t regret it. The thing about this book, is that you don’t HAVE TO read the other series to follow along with what is happening. This is a spin off series of the “Sinners of Saint” series. A “next generation” type series. So it’s an added bonus if you read it but it is not necessary.
This book was amazing in all the possible ways which makes it pretty addictive and impossible to put it down.
PRETTY RECKLESS has it ALL: high school drama, teen drama, bully, revenge, family betrayal, secrets, enough angst to make it impossible to stop reading it. Daria is the Queen Bee at All Saints High and Penn is the football star from the rival team.
Daria and Penn shared a secret that changed their lives forever and makes them become enemies. Now years later he becomes her foster brother and he’s come for revenge. But nothing is at it seems, and eventually the truth will be known.
I loved Daria’s character and how she developed through the story, she learned from her mistakes and she learned how to forgive herself and deal with her insecurities. Penn will show her how to be just herself and not the facade she portraits for everyone.
Pretty Reckless is book #1 of ALL SAINTS HIGH series, it can be read as a standalone, but I recommend to read the Sinners of Saint series first, I didn’t read it and I wish I had so I can enjoy more this amazing story. Can’t wait for more of this series!!!
There’s something to say about how poetic LJ writes. I don’t know how to say it, but the thought is there.
I felt more in this book than when my heart was broken the first time.
My heart constantly ached, but secretly, I craved it.
I needed the pain and burn that Penn and Dar offered, it was almost necessary.
Each chapter was a punch, each poem was a stab, and each word was a promise.
This book was everything and more, and I can honestly say, I didn’t see it coming.
And P.S. I love Vaughn. I couldn’t help it, but he owns my heart, even tho we all know he doesn’t fucking want it.
Regardless of whether you are a mean girl or not, Daria is one of the most relatable characters in existence for so many reasons.
Finding her jealousy and temperaments that rivaled my own was as scary as it was eye opening. And it made me think humble pie needs to be in my future.
Seeing my favorite men come back, even for a moment, made my black heart lighten a little. I missed them and their shenanigans and found a deeper love for Jaime along the way. He was everything and more throughout this book.
The ending was bittersweet, and I think it’ll never feel like enough. Penn and Dar have a solid place in my heart, and they’re not leaving any time soon.
You did superbly, Leigh. I’m fucking proud of your growth as a writer, and you as a person, you’ve done more than well with these two. I cannot wait for the other two books!
Those who know me also know I make no secret of how much I love LJ Shen. Her writing is off-the-charts fantastic.
While Vicious remains my favorite book of hers, everything she writes bleeds LJ Shen all over the page. Her voice is so brilliantly unique.
The way Shen lays words on the page… my heart sings. YA/NA isn’t my usual thing, but I’ll make an exception for LJ Shen every day of the week.
Pretty Reckless has it all; angst, heartbreak, sexy times, brilliant characters and even a scene with the original bad boy himself, Baron “Vicious” Spencer. Bestill my beating heart!
I waited impatiently for this book but holy moly was it worth it. Daria is complicated and broken,vindictive and spiteful but that’s only what she lets people see.Underneath her snarky exterior she is hurting and only let’s herself be seen clearly by Penn. Penn Scully is from the wrong side of the tracks but has talent and needs Daria to make him whole.
This book is fast paced, full of action and had me sucked right in from the start. The original Hotholes feature and most of the next generation so it’s definitely up there with my favorite books.
What can I say that hasn’t already been said about L.J. Shen? I literally count the days until her next release. This book is another of her amazing novels. She has a way of making her characters so believable they jump off the pages and become someone you feel you’ve known your whole life or you wish you could know. The only downside is when you’re done reading the book you miss the friends you’ve made while reading it. If you haven’t read this whole series I don’t know what you’re waiting for. I highly recommend this book and all the others in the series.
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.
4.5 Stars
This book is sexy and full of drama you won’t be able to put it down. Pretty Reckless consumed me. This book surprised me, things happened that I didn’t see coming. This book gave me all the feels for the bad boy.
I adored these characters Daria and Penn. This was the perfect enemies to lovers story. Daria is a spoiled girl who is going to the same school as her parents. She does what she wants no matter the consequences.
Penn has been dealt a bad hand and did what he could. He has to work to break down the walls Daria has built. These two are fire and I loved them.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. I devoured it and loved every minute.
To say that I was anxiously awaiting Pretty Reckless was an understatement. After reading LJ Shen’s Sinners of Saints series, there was nothing that would keep me from the “Totholes”. Well, except some ARCs of some great books. To say that I am a week and a half late to the PR party is an understatement. However, I’m glad I finally showed up.
Pretty Reckless is a gut-wrenching, anxiety-inducing, “should I read the epilogue so I can breathe” story of Penn and Daria. This is an enemies-to-lovers story for those of you who like your romance categories. For me, it’s a story of finding a love for yourself. Our current generations struggle with creating facades with their social media, and Pretty Reckless shows us the dangers of presenting a facade, not showing the real “you.” It’s a reminder that we have to accept our true self for other’s to accept us. Even more, it suggests that, in order to accept ourslves, we have to be “seen” for our true selves, if we are brave enough to show them.
Daria as a character resonated with me. Like her, I struggled (struggle) with insecurity. The way that we handle this insecurity is raging on others. While I am not a “mean girl,” I can be mean to those around me, and I live with that guilt, just as Daria does. I loved her growth in this story because her evolution suggests we can change and become better.
Penn’s love for Daria (even when he didn’t recognize it as such) made me cry. That he “sees” her through all of her BS makes him special, even when he hurts her. I appreciate the dimensions of his character. He isn’t simply a jock. He’s flesh and blood with his own complex feelings. He’s a hurting brother, a broken son, and a kind friend.
If you haven’t read the Sinner of Saints’ books, then you must. Then, read this one. Even as a New Adult book, the story is complex and necessary for any age of reader. It will break your heart, but it will mend it too.