Pretty Reckless by L.J. Shen
Genre: NA Realistic Fiction
Blurb (on back of book): 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.
MY OPINION: **
I completely forgot about all the book reviews I had pushed aside since the beginning of this month, so I apologize for the short reviews!
L. J. Shen is a fairly notable author in the world of Booktok. As someone who had never heard of her and definitely had never read any of her work, I was interested to see what the hype was all about. Looking back on that, I recognize that this was probably not the best book to start with as I believe she has several more popular and well-loved books. I believe it is also a spinoff series of one of the other series by Shen. However, this one was highly-rated on Goodreads and I expected a lot from it.
I personally did not enjoy this book. I didn't like any of the characters and I didn't particularly care for the plot. I expected a slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers type of romance but instead I got an angsty, confusing, twisted story. Everything felt over-the-top, too dramatic, and too unrealistic. I wasn't sure where this book was headed and I didn't particularly care to find out. The only reason I finished it is because I usually finish every book I start for the sake of finding out what happens.
Daria, our protagonist, has unresolved issues with her mother who tends to favor another girl at the dance studio they attend over her own daughter. Daria and the girl's twin brother, Penn, inadvertently end up ruining the girl's future by destroying her ticket to fame. Ever since then, Daria has lived with the secret of what she's done, resulting in a tension-filled relationship with her mother. I cannot for the life of me remember the girl's name but she has run away for years without any further contact or clues as to where she's gone, and Penn ends up moving in with Daria and her family (long story that I don't feel like getting into).
Penn was an interesting character. He carries a lot of hatred and resentment for Daria because of everything that happened with his sister but at the same time is incredibly attracted to the girl. I didn't like Penn's character, to be quite honest. I felt as if he treated Daria as if she was nothing but did not expect the same treatment in return. He's the classic angry-boy type and for once, it wasn't doing it for me. I generally love the bad-boy trope in our main character's love interest but this one felt less of the generic bad-boy and more of an annoying, crazy, awful boy lost in grief, guilt, and hatred.
The romance between Daria and Penn felt so unrealistic. I didn't even realize they had fallen in love until they were suddenly saying the words. I didn't feel any chemistry between them and I hated the dynamic that Penn created for them, with the simultaneous love and hate going on. By the end of the book, I still did not feel that "love" aspect that I expected from a book as hyped up as this one. The "spice" factor also was not it, as two characters making love when I don't believe they're in love does not result in a favorable review from me.
There were so many side plots that I absolutely hated. I didn't understand any of the stories with the side characters, though I'm sure if I had read the first series before this one I would have connected with them a bit more. I also despised the student-principal elements which not only felt out of place and random but also was quite... disgusting. I am not a fan of age gap and especially not within the context and situation that the characters were in in this particular book. I also especially despised Penn's sister whose character felt fairly unrealistic but also incredibly unlikable.
I'm not sure if I plan on reading any of Shen's other books. I am told to read the original series before making any final judgments but with the pile of books sitting by my bed and on my Apple Books waiting to be read, I'm debating the merits of continuing a work I potentially will not love or connect with. I would recommend this book to people looking for a dramatic, angsty novel.
Main Character: Daria, Penn
Sidekick(s): Friends, etc
Villain(s): Misunderstandings, guilt, the sister, etc
Realistic Fiction Elements: This book was all very real to life.
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