Review - Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Published by Atom
Published 4 November 2010

Summary - Aria, Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Alison have been best friends since the third grade. They go everywhere together, thinking no-one can come between them. If anyone is the ringleader of the group it is Alison, and the other girls cannot help but confide all their secrets to her.

One night, during a sleepover, Alison goes missing. Her body is never found. The girls mourn her death but move apart after time, assuming their secrets have disappeared with Alison too.

Three years later and Aria is having an affair with her teacher; Emily is questioning her sexuality; Hanna is a thief; and Spencer is flirting with her sister's fiance. They all think their secrets are safe, until they starting receiving messages from the mysterious A – who knows exactly what they are all up to, and is threatening to spill the beans . . . 

OMG this series is going to drive me insane because I just can't. stop. reading! Because I LOVE secrets, and not secrets that other people have, secrets that I have that I can't tell people.  Maybe it's the power aspect but I love keeping other people's secrets and the fact that this book is all about secrets and lies and intrigue makes me want to shake it all up and shout "tell me tell me TELL ME". Because I want to, no NEED to know!

So, the story follows each of the four girls, so we get to see a little glimpse into each of them as individuals.  The glue that holds the story together is that fact that they each start to receive texts and emails from a mystery source known by the name A.  A source that knows ALL their secrets.  Can you imagine how freaky that would be? Someone knowing things they couldn't possibly know.  I would be freaking out.

I loved each and every one of the girls, although their lives are pretty scandalous and VERY far fetchec I still found myself tearing through the book.  Once i'd invested in the story and the characters I just couldn't put it down.  And some of the things they get up to? omg I wanted to be friends with them so bad.  I mean, I know what it's like to have a crush on someone you shouldn't so me and Spencer would totally have that going for us.  I like swimming so me and Emily could go do lengths at the public pool and talk about these crazy messages she's getting.  Me and Hanna could eat and eat and eat lotsa chocolate together and then have an impromptu dance party to try and burn some calories.  And Aria? she was my FAVOURITE.  Firstly she likes the older guy (um hell YES) and the first thing she does when she gets into town is go to the local bar. 

In conclusion, I am glad I have Flawless on my bookcase because I would be chewing my prfectly manicured finger nails right about now.  Great start to the series.