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.
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LJ Shen never disappoints and with every book she releases, she raises the standard higher and higher. Her books are usually full of knowledge and it tackles issues that are prevalent in the society today. The characters have depth and you will learn to love even the characters you expected to hate once you get to know their story. In Pretty Reckless, Ms. LJ Shen was able to put the readers in Daria’s shoes, a teenager who, since childhood, craved her mother’s support and attention. Daria Followhill is like most of the teenagers who just wanted q belong, to be accepted and appreciated. As a teenager, I can definitely relate to Daria on a personal level especially when it comes to the topic of social expectations and feeling like you have to fit into a certain mold in order to belong.
As per the male protagonist, I fell head over heels in love with Penn Scully! And the sea glass part? Oh Marx! How can someone be so sweet? It might not be that big of a deal for other people, but sometimes, the simplest gesture are the ones that mean the most. Throughout the whole story, I feel like he’s one of the people who truly knew the real Daria behind her strong facade. He can see right through her and I just love it when he comforts her in his own ways. Seriously, I need a Penn Scully in my life!
Overall, I’ll rate it 5 stars! There’s no reason not to I definitely recommend this story, it’s a must read!
Daria, daughter of Melody and Jaime from Defy, is the first one out when Ms Shen let us in on life after the Hotholes’ romances. Daria has so many layers and is an incredibly fascinating character. Her complicated journey with family and Penn is amazingly well written. I had zero expectations before this book. I love the previous series, but didn’t really think anything about Daria before reading. The book had me sucked in from the beginning. It’s just so good. Another win for LJ Shen.
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 to work up to it. At that time, I didn’t know what this was a spin off of the Sinners of Saint series, the child(ren) of the HotHoles. So I ended up not reading this one, ended up binging on a lot of the author’s other books, including the entire HotHole series…and that’s when I decided to read this. I had just finished reading Jamie and Mel’s story, and what better time to read about their daughter?
Here’s where my issues came in: To me, the problem with spinoff books/series about the children of the established series is that you’ve (most likely) fallen in love with the parents, and (for me) they’ve lived happily ever after with no further drama in their perfect little book world. *sigh* I know that’s not actually how it happens, but it’s a nice thought. They got together, had kids (or not but they did in this case) and all is good. You can argue that one of the great things about books like these is that the characters are human, they make mistakes…and boy did they ever in this case. It was almost like the characters I’d come to know, and love were missing. They were HORRIBLE parents. (Ok, Jamie wasn’t really but I’ll get to that). But Mel. Mel (inadvertently) made the exact same mistakes her parents had done to her even as she was trying to do the opposite. She let Daria down time after time and honestly, my heart broke for Daria. It seemed like Mel just stopped caring. I know that wasn’t actually the case, but her actions said otherwise. Every time she turned around, she kept hurting Daria. I didn’t blame Daria for getting to the point of walking away from her mom. As for Jamie…he disappointed me, but not to the point of Mel. In his case, he was a typical man, oblivious to what’s really going on, only catching little things and trying to help but not really helping. However, when Daria finally decided to confide in a parent, I was really glad it was Jamie (although, I’ll be honest, I was kind of hoping she’d skip her parents and just go to Uncle Vicious at that point…more on that later). But I was glad she confided in her dad. Her mom didn’t deserve that level of trust at that point. Yes, things eventually got better between Daria and her mom, but it took her mom WAY to long to get a clue.
So, my biggest issue with this book was the angst. Omg the angst. It was so full of angst that I felt like I was on the verge of an anxiety attack at multiple points. or maybe I had one all throughout the book? I don’t know. But my issue wasn’t so much with the book as with the angst. I have enough anxiety problems that I don’t need help with that. And books that are really angsty just leave me feeling anxious and it sucks. While all of LJ Shen’s books have been full of drama, and angst and all the feels (omg the feels!!!), this was the first one to make me feel like I was on the verge of an anxiety attack.
I ended up really liking Daria. While I was reading the Sinners of Saint series, and saw her occasionally in the later books, and having read the blurb/sample of this book, I was really worried that I was going to hate her. And there’s nothing worse than hating one of the main characters of a book. My heart broke for her. I wanted to slap both of her parents with a wakeup call and I wanted to push her bullies off a cliff. Honestly, even though he wasn’t my favorite from the HotHoles series, I wanted to sic Vicious on all of her bullies. I wanted him to go all psycho on them. That’s one of the reasons I was really glad that Daria ended up confiding in her dad. Even though he didn’t have the anger issues of Vicious, he definitely had that streak in him to get the appropriate revenge. I was happy to see that Penn was right there with the HotHoles when they went for that revenge.
When it comes to revenge, I will say I’m disappointed that Via and Gus didn’t really get what was coming to them. Both of them got off too lightly. I’m sorry, but it’s true. Via was a bully who threw tantrums at 14 and she was even worse at 18. She betrayed her own brother. She needed a lot more than what she got.
I’ll admit, I’m a sucker for the enemies-to-lovers storyline, so this story, between Penn and Daria was right up my alley. And I loved watching things slowly change for Penn in regards to Daria. He was always attracted to her, but to see that she wasn’t what she appeared to be…I loved it. And then later in the book, to find out the meaning behind the nickname Skull Eyes…made my heart melt.
I was super glad to get a POV from both of Daria’s parents. I think it was definitely needed, and while I can appreciate why the author had Daria confide in here dad in the mom’s POV, I kind of wish it had been in Jamie’s POV to see him react/comfort his daughter. But seriously, when I got to Jamie’s POV, I was literally giddy.
Overall, this book was super good, but emotionally exhausting. I think it finally broke my LJ Shen binge streak. I think I need something light and fluffy after this.
Every single book that I read by L.J.Shen just takes my breath away,and leaves me completely lost for words..Pretty Reckless is NO exception.
This is an exceptionally brilliant story that had me under its spell right from the very start right until the glorious end. Penn and Daria’s rocky romance will stay with me for a long time,a relationship surrounded by secrets and lies.But a connection so strong that it endures even the brutalist of betrayals,manipulations and unpleasant situations.
I am totally in love with the way L.J Shen writes and the way she just takes you on an emotional journey full of surprises,heat and heart,I Love the way everything has a symbolic meaning that makes you sigh with bliss when you find out the reason behind the things the characters do .
Pretty Reckless is a Top read for me
I loved it ,enjoyed it and would read it again and again.
I highly recommend this book.
Pretty Reckless was a great weekend read. I don’t know why I waited so long to open it, but once I did I couldn’t put it down. Really looking forward to reading this series and getting ng to know the second generation, but more excited to read the hotholes as grown men, yum.
A YA romance, set in high school, it is a story full of jealousy, hate, emotion, angst and teenage hormones. The level these teens will go to just to get what they want is way more than I’d even imagine. Spoilt is not a strong enough word to describe these characters.
Oh my Marx!!! Daria and Pen were absolutely amazing. I was in pin and needles through the entire book, because of Daria, and the things she did.
That with a whole bunch of emotions and the angst that only Leigh Shen knows how to write, make for a great read that I couldn’t put down, but at the same time needed to put down just to take a breath and calm down, or to rant about the things happening.
Daria she’s something else, I don’t have even know how to describe her, but I truly LOVE her. Pen was great and surprisingly quite “nice” not really an a*hole like I was expecting.
And Jamie, he’s just fantastic it was great to see him again, as for Melody I still have mixed feelings towards her I don’t really want to judge her but at the same time I do, so I better not say more.
I also listen to the audiobook version and it was fantastic, it just doesn’t get old revisiting them again. The narration was perfect, the narrators performed Daria and Pen really well, their voices, tone, inflections where so good that I enjoyed it a lot.
So whether you are a book or audiobook person you won’t regret reading this amazing book. This is a spin off of Sinners of Saint, but you don’t need to read them to understand this book, although it would make more sense some of the things that are mentioned in here and you will love those to.
5 love-hate crowns! Spoiled princess and broken bad boy… Volatile, young and doomed romance at its best!
Oh my sweet Lord! L.J. Shen has done an excellent work with Pretty Reckless, there is no doubt she is a master story teller. She exceeded all my expectations about this book. Her writing is pretty addictive, sexy, steamy and flawless. I don’t really know where to begin. I’m speechless. Truly. It worth every damn second I spent reading it. The prose is unapologetic poetry, honesty, drama and angst. It’s a powerful combination that left me craving and aching in the only way L.J. Shen can do it! She slayed it!
In my opinion, this book is pretty engaging. It pours drama, angry pain, forbidden passion and doomed dangerous love. The writing is sharp, clever and addictive. The emotional plot is twisted tragedy and decadent love. Pretty Reckless is an EPIC enemies-to-lovers-romance inked in betrayal, pain, blood, family bonds and revenge. In a world of saints this is the Holy Grail! The storyline is a web of secrets; very intense in words and a roll coaster of teenage drama!
The story of Daria and Penn is insanely perfect. They are wild together. The broken ballerina and the broken pauper. The bitchy princess and the arsehole prince! Two broken, betrayed, haunted and intense teenagers. Two teenagers who never stood a chance to be friends in a world of sinners, so they became enemies.
I loved Daria from the first page, she is untamed, wild and sassy with capital letters, the queen bee! Behind her cold exterior there is a tender young woman aching for love. She is a great actress masking her real emotions. She is untouchable. She is spoiled. She is dubious and terrible misjudged and very lonely. She is a sweet contradiction. Her toughs can be dangerous, immoral and dark. Her untamed natured made her unique and dangerously beautiful. She is like a butterfly, beautiful, free but with poisoned wings! There is a sweet melancholy around her that makes her dangerous and authentic at the same time. And this spoiled princess will meet her match in Penn Scully.
And oh man! Penn stole my heart in a beat. I’m suffering from PPSD (Post-Penn Scully Disorder). His betrayed young heart made him impossibly attractive. He is a tormented Romeo. His loyalties are torn apart between love and family. Nothing is easy for him; not his mistakes neither his secrets. Daria destroyed him from the first kiss they shared and he will make her paid. He will ruin her. He is the only one who really sees her past her icy exterior. Penn is fearless and pursuing Daria will be a bittersweet game that will burn him alive.
Fairy tales can turn into nightmares stained by awful decisions and never be allowed for a happy ending however the romance of Daria and Penn broke the web of secrets around them. It was love at first sight and then hate and luscious lust. At the end all the lies, insecurities, rivalry, lust and truth lead them to surrender to love in the road to adulthood.
I absolutely loved Jamie as a dad! He is exactly how I supposed he will be with his daughters, especially Daria. He truly understands her because she is like him. Her little Hulk! He melted my heart in many moments of my reading. Opposite of Melody, who I hated because a mother must always put her children first and not others. I can’t say I was a fan of her. #SorryNotSorry
Pretty Reckless goes direct to my top read list of 2019! Ce livre m’a consommé et m’a laissé vouloir plus. Je ne veux jamais que ça se termine, je veux un autre aperçu de ces personnages qui ont complètement pris vie dans ma tête. L’écriture divertissante et séduisante de L.J. Shen était délicieuse… un plaisir à dévorer. J’ai dévoré Pretty Reckless comme si c’était ma drogue, donc séduisant, sauvage, et vraiment addictif.
I urge you to read this masterpiece of volatile doomed love. It is a must read for all the sinners and saints out there in the wild.
L.j. Shen’s best work
Finally got round to.readong it and my god it was so worth the wait, I love daria and penns story, it had me on the edge of my seat and my guts in knots.
Amazing Leigh, Absolutely
This was an amazing book! I loved the story and the characters are flawed yet amazingly relatable. Couldn’t put the book down.
Wow! The life of teenagers and the influence of parents in their lives. Who would think that your enemy could become your lover, especially after all that occurred? Will it be real love or revenge love?
This story had me on the edge of my seat for most of the book. I spent the time either worrying or thinking I could anticipate what would happen next, but sometimes that did not help with the shock to come. The characters are varied but so very well written.
So, honestly it took me a while to get into this book. I knew there was a lot of hype about this book, so I kept going. But after a few chapters I could see the story start coming together, and I really enjoyed it. I really loved how broken Daria was, it showed her sensitive side. The banter between Daria and Penn made me laugh, and it made me cry. This was a real emotional story that ended up being one of my favorite this year!
Shen literally caught me with my pants down in Pretty Reckless. I never, ever expected such an intense read which would make me keep questioning her. ‘Why, why, why’, I reiterated to myself! She forced me to take a hard look at family dynamics and much more besides. She had me swearing, teary-eyed, made me feel elated and desperate all in the same breath. Paragraphs beyond brilliant, hurtful and oh-so damn compelling, had me backtracking what I’d read. Shen’s writing is addictive. And even though I didn’t like what I’d read inasmuch as I couldn’t come to terms with what was evolving in front of my very own eyes, I couldn’t pull myself away. Hooked, I wanted more.
Secrets. If there hadn’t been so many of them, I wouldn’t have had the feeling that the something was going to hit the fan at any moment. But like the brilliant storyteller that Shen is, she not only held back, she also raised my hopes…and quite cannily so, I might add. Then matters complicated even more than I could have imagined and I didn’t know which way to turn, but hope for relief I clung to. My question was what would be divulged first and more importantly, how would it affect an already stressful home environment. The best recipe for disaster was being concocted and I felt like I had the best seat in the theatre. When cat number two was let out of the bag, I groaned why yet again! It was such a cleverly construed work of trickery, or so I thought at the time. Fooled, I couldn’t turn the pages quick enough to see what else was in store, what else could go possibly go wrong.
Everything changes for the worst when guest number one is invited to stay for reasons I’d rather not disclose. And I won’t even start on guest number two, but supposed friends become arch-enemies, misunderstandings flourish, causing heartache, guilt and jealousy. The green-eyed monster had reared its ugly head earlier on, now it was like waiting to see if there was going to be any damage control. It got to a point in the story when I wondered if certain individuals involved would ever see sense. It’s a fast-paced read, there’s not let up and room to breathe is scarce.
What happened left me seething and I didn’t just want to throttle two of the characters, but three! My level of patience with each and every one of them was beginning to wear thin by now. Wrapped up in their own problems which seemed to be of their own making, escalated by the minute. There’s a huge lack of communication between Daria and her mother, Melody. Not that surprising for a teenager since many of us have been there at one time or another. And despite dual points of view, a lot of emphasis was given to Melody’s role as a mother. Rewind back to Defy: Sinners of Saint, and you’ll have met her and Jaime. A gorgeous couple who still can’t keep their hands off each other, but this parenting business has got them a tad stumped. Jaime, bless him, is a rock. A father who adores his eldest daughter lays down reasonable house rules for what they’re worth.
Titans at loggerheads; two perfectly imperfect teenagers, two lost souls. One lacking attention, the other trying to steer well clear from it. A wrongdoing without thought for the consequences is the tip of the iceberg. I really don’t want to let on too much as you just have to read this book; however, it’s been a long while since I have loathed a book character so much. I had absolutely no sympathy for her. You’ll see who she is. She stands out in the before and in the after.
Penn. Ooh my, what a lovely guy he is. Since finishing the book he’s haunted my dreams because for someone so inexperienced in life, his moral compass impressed me. Even though he wants the best for the folk around him and I mean this at home and in sports, it’s not easy to please when your feelings and loyalties are torn in two. Not in the slightest bit ungrateful for an opportunity to better his situation, everything seems to snowball into an even messier state of affairs than it is.
Daria. Hmm…she has one big chip on her shoulder. To begin with, I didn’t care much for her but as I read on and saw what was happening, I warmed up her. Shen’s written a very character driven novel but with Daria’s, she’s gone to town. Haughty, beautiful and dreadfully thoughtless, she treats most of those who care for her with utmost disdain. Will she change and if so, who will be the one to break down her emotional walls without coming out of it unscathed?
I can’t put into words how much I loved the last few chapters. Thank you so much, Shen, for letting two wonderful people have their say. I cried buckets, too. Written faultlessly, the banter was where this reader needed it the most, angst-ridden scenes were where I least expected them to pop up. A love story that’s not just unforgettable, it’s tremendous. I have to say that this is the very best from an author whose storytelling I have always admired. Bravo no. Bravissimo!
Disclaimer: This review MAY contain spoilers.
Marx, help me. I have such a soft spot for books that teeter on the cusp of young adult and new adult. Stories full of drama and raw, real life. Stories that are about high school kids coming into their own, but the stories are anything but innocent. Stories that read more like New Adult books. Not the fluffy YA stories that dominate the market. This is one of those stories.
Something that I loved about this book was that Daria and Penn weren’t at all likable at the beginning of the book. They are both closed off, nasty to others, and hard around the edges. Through the course of the story, we learn what has made them both this way and that deep down they are not soulless monsters. They are just taking life’s punches as they come the best that they can and it has made them hard and unflinching survivors.
The cast of characters in this book really makes up the heart and soul of this story. Sure, there are shocking things happening in the plot of the story, but it is the characters’ reactions and journeys that really make the story special. I liked Daria’s family and I was glad to see them present in most of the story. They weren’t exactly the best at keeping tabs on Daria’s life, but it was obvious that they loved her. Her sister was a darling. I liked Daria’s childhood friends, though I honestly expected more of them in the book since they WERE childhood friends. They seemed a little too scarce in the story for my liking. I would have loved more tender moments between them, though I was thrilled that they always had her back. I also liked the antagonists in this book. They were very effective and their stories and motivations were believable.
The plot of this story worked so well. So much drama, guys, seriously. And the best part was that it was so addicting. Unputdownable. The plot flowed beautifully with excellent foreshadowing. The plot was cleverly crafted with dips and turns and OMG moments.
The romance in this story is so intense that you feel like you are suffocating. The chemistry between Daria and Penn was simmering and crackling like an electric current from the moment they met at age 14. And when they finally come together four years later it is like a bolt of lightning descends. No joke. They both have reasons to hate each other and their feelings are anything but simple. There is serious attraction. The journey from fascination to hate to love in this romance is such a delight to experience.
Overall, I couldn’t have been more happy with this book! I will always enjoy a more serious YA story. The fluffy ones are good too, but life isn’t always fluffy so I need books like this in my life. I am excited to read the next book in this series about one of Daria’s childhood friends. And since this is my first book by this author, I am also excited to go back and read some backlist titles since the parents’ stories are in other series written by this author. I contemplated reading them first, but this story spoke to me so I couldn’t wait. This author has definitely gained a new fan. I definitely recommend this book, but I do have to warn that this book contains mature themes and adult situations so tread carefully if that isn’t your jam.
Ohmylawwwd every time i read Ms. Shen’s books, she just up her game again and again.
All the raw feelings, fear, insecurity, jeolusy, heartbreak, anger, envy, lust,betrayel… She capture it so perfectly.
At first I was dissapointed of how Melody and Jamie become as parents. But then misunderstanding, jeolusy and love not good in delivery comes barreling through. I can see the why and how from both side, and it’s heart-breaking. I feel sorry for Daria to feel she’s unworthy of love. I feel sorry for Mel for being a mom but can’t reach her daughter. I feel sorry for Jamie who try to be the middle grown with his love for his girls.
It was awesome to see how Mel stand-up for her daughter and face Prichard for his twisted pervert ways toward Daria.
It was crazy super dad moment when Jamie get his payback for Daria in the most Defy way.
And Via…. She can live with her pittiness alone, I don’t even care.
Penn… Ah my beautiful Penn… This boy… I just have no words. His and Daria chemistry is kinda bitter sweet. They have come a long way with their guilt, anger, hate and revenge. I love how they love. I love how they become vulnerable to each other to be strong for one another. I love love love how Penn kinda like Jamie in his old days
Pretty Reckless is more than teen-age love or a young couple romance. It’s too about loving your self, family and friends.
Shen writes powerful story with this book, I spent my nights finishing it and got no sleep this morning when I go to work. Huge headache but oh so worthed!
Besides Sparrow, Pretty Reckless may have just become my favorite LJ Shen book. As someone who wouldn’t consider a high school romance to be in my top 10 tropes, I’m impressed that I enjoyed this one so much. It didn’t feel at all immature like many HS stories can. My heart broke for both Penn and Daria. And I came in to this story knowing with absolute certainty that I would hate her, thinking that she would be completely irredeemable based on how she was portrayed at the end of the HotHoles books. I was going to read her story partly because I read all of Ms Shen’s work, and partly because I felt like I would be missing something as I read the rest of the series if I skipped it. And while honestly, I don’t LOVE her, I can say that I more than tolerate her, perhaps even LIKE her, after reading her story. It was great to see the parents, and the other Tot Holes, and I can’t wait for the rest of their stories as well.
This book messed me up in the best way possible. I want to avoid any and all of the cliche things to say but I don’t know how. 1. I am not a writer so I lack words and imagination and 2. it is all of those things. This book has everything, angst, love, betrayal, plot twists, beautifully f*@Ked up hero (her trademark), a heroine that is apologetically bitchy but deep down hates it and herself but grows so beautifully from all she has gone through, a HEA, and I could go on and on. Leigh delivered beautifully written characters that everyone to could relate to on some level. So much happens in this book to keep you on your toes and not one second of it was wasted words. It all was important to the overall story which makes it all the more amazing.
LJ you are amazing and this one just proves it again. Please keep doing what you do so I can keep doing what I do: devour your words.
Please excuse me while I find something to cure this hangover . . . .
Oh, Marx, what a journey!
I just want to start out by saying that reading through the entire Sinners of Saint Series then the first All Saints High book in a marathon was one of the most enjoyable and crippling things I’ve ever done, reading-wise. I’ve never become so emotionally invested and fully enamoured with an author before on the first book that I just had to conquer every single one after it without reading anything else in between.
But I sort of knew this would happen. I’d heard so many good things about all the HotHoles and TotHoles that leaping off the cliff and plummeting to my demise all the while with a smile on my face was inevitable.
So what can I say about Pretty Reckless that hasn’t already been said in the hundreds of other glowing reviews and countless edits taking over Instagram? Or the fact that it was #1 on Amazon for like weeks straight, and probably still is?
Well, for one thing, I highlighted more in this book than I ever have before in any other book. I’m not a highlighter. I just recently started doing it (in SoS), and with PR I found it impossible to stop, especially with Penn’s poems.
Let’s not even talk about how fucking incredible those poems are. Or the fact that they could work for Daria and Penn, even though we eventually find out that Penn wrote all of them which just thrashed my heart even more.
This book is fantastically written. It’s almost epic, in its own way. I mean, even the formatting on the eBook had me quaking!
Daria Followhill is such a complex character, it takes my breath away. She’s by far one of realest, most raw characters I’ve read. I love the combination of bad bitch on the outside, and insecure girl on the inside. Walking through the halls of her perfect mansion, feeling invisible. Leigh truly captured the essence of a struggling teenager becoming an adult, which was intense.
Her relationship with her parents was done brilliantly. Since we already know Jaime and Mel from the Sinners series, it’s hard to imagine them as parents to an adult. But Daddy Jaime… Oh my Marx. Swoonz times a million! If I had thought Jaime Followhill was the more vanilla of the HotHoles before, this book totally changed my impression of him! Especially that scene with Prichard! (Cue the drool because Vicious was there, too).
You want to be so mad at Melody throughout a major portion of the book. And then BAM! We get her POV for a minute and everything comes full circle! Getting Jaime’s too was a real treat, and unexpected AF!
And then there’s Penn. Oh Penn Scully… How I love you so!
Honestly I wasn’t sure what I was going to think about Penn, not knowing anything about him before this book. But he stole my heart, even when he and Daria were “enemies”, although who are we kidding?? I could smell his hidden love for her a mile away.
This book had me tearing up, and it made me hella uncomfortable at times, in the best possible ways. Because the mark of a truly amazing romance novel, to me, is that it pushes your boundaries. Not everything is happy-go-lucky and sunshine. There are dark times, when you’re unsure how these characters could possibly pull through.
The scene at the snake pit with the secrets was one of my favorites. Ugh I still can barely process how incredible that was.
I’ve said it before, but one thing Leigh Shen is just a pure GENIUS at is creating a storyline so chock full of drama that you’re thinking a happy ending can’t possibly be in the cards. She tears your heart out, slowly and painfully, shocks your freaking socks off, and then glues you back together. And you come out on the other side, battered and bruised but replete; satisfied, joyous and so glad you came along for the ride.
I’m so effing glad I know these characters. Yes, they’re fictional, but they feel real to me, and I know they feel real to all the fans out there. I want to get lost in Todos Santos with my friends. I absolutely cannot WAIT for the next book in the series… Broken Knight. Wow. I just… GAH! I’ll be on the edge of my seat in anticipation.
Applause so loud it can be heard around the world for the gem that is LJ Shen! You’re a role model to me, darling. Keep it up and please never stop, for all of our sakes.
This is going to be short and sweet as I do not want to give anything away. One click this book! If you loved The Sinner of Saint books you will LOVE this one. Perfect
Pretty Reckless is the first book in the All Saints High Series, which is a spin-off of the Sinners of Saint Series. The new series will follow the children (Tot Holes) of the Hot Holes. This book follows Daria Followhill (Jamie and Melody’s oldest daughter) and Penn Scully. L.J. Shen doesn’t disappoint when it comes to writing characters who are “broken” and plain out cruel. The cast of teen introduced in this book were privileged and acted as if the world owe them. They live their lives giving “no fucks” about any consequences.
Daria was a “mean” girl. She was spoiled, entitled and at times vengeful. Penn, a boy from a different side of town didn’t grow up with the privileges Daria did, but they weren’t that much different. A secret brought them together while at the same time tearing the apart. Their mutual hate for each other was as passionate as the best kind of love. Their hate was the fuel that fed their love; their lust; their attraction.
What I love about this book (apart from the angst and intensity) is that just when you think you have these characters figured out; just when you think you know where the story is headed, L.J. Shen takes the story in an entirely different and unexpected direction. This book made me feel a lot of emotions. Daria was such a complex character who made me hate her while feeling empathy for her at the same time. She made me so angry, but also so sad for her. She is a perfect example of a person who is able to mask her insecurities and shattered inner-self. There was so much internalized pain and anger and that gave us an understanding of the person she portrayed herself as. She was defensive and guarded yet extremely vulnerable. Pretty Reckless is a perfect example of a story how lack of communication and assumptions can easily be perceived differently by those directly affected.
If you love a well written, though provoking, emotionally charged enemies to lovers romance with intensity and angst, this book is perfect for you. In fact, all of L.J. Shen’s books are.