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Pretty Reckless

Book 1 in the series:All Saints High

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"Pretty Reckless" by L.J. Shen is a raw and intense story set in the All Saints High universe, focusing on the next generation known as the HotHoles. The plot revolves around the complicated relationship between Daria Followhill, a mean girl with a troubled past, and Penn, a bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. The writing style is described as addictive, dual POV, and filled with drama, romance, familial conflicts, and unexpected twists that keep readers engaged and emotionally invested.

Characters:

The characters are flawed and complex, with Daria as an unapologetic mean girl and Penn as her adversary turned love interest, both navigating personal struggles.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is raw and emotional, often eliciting strong feelings from readers, though it can also feel awkward and inappropriate at times.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot combines a rich girl and poor boy dynamic set in high school, emphasizing an enemies to lovers romance filled with high drama and complex relationships.

Setting:

The setting is a high school focusing on class differences, characterized by intense social hierarchies and family issues.

Pacing:

The pacing varies throughout the book, with some moments feeling rushed while others lag, impacting engagement.
It always is when Vaughn fights, and Vaughn always fights. He breaks noses almost as well as he breaks hearts. Breaking hearts, in case you’re wondering, is his second-favorite art. At least six girls...

Notes:

Pretty Reckless is part of L.J. Shen's All Saints High series, which features characters from her previous Sinners of Saints series.
The main female character, Daria, is depicted as a popular and mean girl who struggles with feelings of being unloved and unwanted.
Penn, the male protagonist, comes from a poor background and harbors a grudge against Daria's family.
The book explores themes of wealth disparity, personal growth, and emotional struggles of teenagers.
There's a strong enemies-to-lovers trope between Daria and Penn, highlighted by their initial hatred for each other.
Daria's character undergoes significant development, but some readers found her transformation and motivations unclear.
Critics pointed out that the book's portrayal of high school drama seemed exaggerated and unrealistic.
Characters face various issues, like bullying and the pressures of social status, but some readers feel these themes were not handled sensitively enough.
The dialogue and character behaviors sometimes feel out of touch with real high school experiences according to some reviewers.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The content warnings include themes surrounding bullying, mental health issues, sexual misconduct, and intense emotional conflicts.

Has Romance?

Yes, romance is a significant part of the narrative, characterized by intense emotions and complicated relationships.

From The Publisher:

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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Ratings (33)

Incredible (4)
Loved It (18)
Liked It (5)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (2)
Hated It (2)

Reader Stats (84):

Read It (38)
Want To Read (32)
Did Not Finish (4)
Not Interested (10)

About the Author:

L.J. Shen is a USA Today and Amazon #1 Best-selling author of contemporary and YA romance. Her books are translated into several languages. She lives in California with her husband and son, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.

 
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