Published by HarperCollins on October 7 2014
Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mystery, Thriller
Pages: 336
Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker are all driven to be perfect—no matter the cost.
At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they discover that they all hate the same person: handsome womanizer Nolan Hotchkiss, who's done things to hurt each of them.
They come up with the perfect plan to murder Nolan—jokingly, of course. They'd never actually go through with it. But when Nolan turns up dead in the exact way they'd discussed, the girls suddenly become prime suspects in his murder.
Only, they didn't do it.
So who did? Unless they find the real killer, and soon, any one of them may be the next to die….
"You don't have to be good to be perfect."
At first glance, this novel seemed familiar. Very, very familiar. From the pastel cover with beautiful script writing and a group of affluent girls all hiding dirty secrets that run the risk of being discovered after they become involved in a mysterious death. However, I found I enjoyed this work much, much more.
Within the first few pages Shepard brings the reader into a lush, affluent and elite suburban world where being good isn't good enough. One must be perfect. With perfection, however, comes pressure, secrets and lies. Enter our Liars. Oh, sorry. Perfectionsists.
Caitlin is a soccer player with a set future: a soccer scholarship to a good school and eventually a happy life with her boyfriend Josh. However, she is not without her problems: a family falling apart. Her brother has taken his life resulting in her mothers having marital problems and now loss has made her questions about her plans for the future and life.
Julie is the is the new "it"girl, beautiful and popular but often falls victim to peer pressure. Being nice has no real meaning when you're a bystander to the young catty girls that are your supposed friends. With a father that is gone and a mother that is barely holding it together, she can't risk doing anything that can cost her status and the safety of being friends with the enemies.
Ava is has the beauty of a model and the past of a troubled student who has lost one parent and been forced to accept another. Not to mention, the nasty rumors of a less than pristine reputation concerning her dating life.
Mackenzie is the soulful musician that just never seems to get the guy. When her best friend is her biggest competition and her crush is sleeping with the enemy, Mac is forced to fight for everything she wants and figure out who she can trust.
Parker is the former "it" girl, supposedly turned basket case. With a tragic and abusive past, Parker's only true friend is Julie - until she meets the others.
"One look, one suggestion, one command, one snarky remark, one blow-off, one public embarrassment, and you were under his thumb for life. Nolan controlled Beacon, whether you liked it or not."
Each of these girls have their problems, and they all stem from Nolan Hotchkiss.
The very first thing I realized is that underneath the perfect veneer there are very palpable and dangerous problems and a very recognizable first villain. The novel calls mental health, abuses of teacher-student relationships, teen suicide, child abuse, sexual harassment, slut shaming, bullying and teen use of drugs and alcohol into the light. Not only does each girl face harassment and their personal demons, but so do their fellow students, and the impact is felt throughout every single character.
Pretty Little Liars addressed contemporary problems such as these, if not exactly these, before but in a less potent and more drawn out manner. The Perfectionists, on the other hand, moves quickly. The impact of what the girls go through hits harder by allowing the reader a voyeuristic peek at their lives, accessible via a "peering through the keyhole" narration that Shepard has come to be known for, while the who-dun-it mystery weaves in between their personal stories. Shepard creates a story that is filled with more tension and a beat that allows the reader to feel just how much time is running out before the killer strikes again while pondering: what makes a villain? What makes a victim? What are the consequences of our actions and just how far, is too far?
Overall, Sara Shepard writes a story that is glamour coated suspense and danger. The Perfectionists is a fast paced and addictive read, filled with lies, betrayals, drama, diverse characters with relatable and serious problems, and surprises. Not to mention this is a duology, rather than a 7 or 16 book series - making it a great read for people who want all the entertaining storytelling without as much drag and commitment. However, with so many similarities to her previous books I cannot give this a perfect score, but I will give it a 4 out of 5 because, similar or not, it was done pretty well and I finished it in a day.
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