I don't know what I expected when I read this book but whatever happened was not it. To be honest this book is kind of dumb but I was so invested that I literally don't care. I needed to know what would happen next at every moment. They clearly didn't like each other at the beginning but also were a little bit in love with each other. The progression of their relationship is so interesting to me. I kind of need more of them.

“I’VE LOVED YOU IN SECRET, AND I’VE LOVED YOU OPENLY IN FRONT OF BOTH OUR WORLDS, AND IF YOU THINK I’LL STOP LOVING YOU IF YOU PUT AN OCEAN BETWEEN US, YOU'RE DEAD WRONG"

Truly, this was a 4.5 star read for me. I wasn’t expecting to stay up late into the night reading this, but I was pleasantly surprised and utterly enthralled by the plot of this book.

Daria Followhill is both relatable and frustrating, full of insecurity and flaws reminiscent of almost every girl’s high school experience. It’s not hard to understand why she feels the way she does when she has a mother who shows preferential treatment to her others while neglecting Daria’s mental and emotional needs. Who wouldn’t turn bitter and a little malicious? And boy, does Daria get her revenge.

Enter Penn Scully. Through unexpected events, love-at-first-sight quickly turns into vengeance-at-first-opportunity, and the games begin.

Tropes to watch out for:
• Enemies-to-lovers
• Forced Proximity
• Bully Romance
• Second Chance
• Poor boy/Rich girl
• Sports Romance (Football)

Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely! The plot twists and turns were perfectly timed and hard to predict, and the story was both dramatic and romantic in the best way possible. Did I cry, yes. Did I sit around for a few days after thinking about the characters and the ending? Also, yes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy of Pretty Reckless by L.J. Shen.

I have always enjoyed reading an L.J. Shen book when it is released. I believe she's one of the most popular new adult authors discussed on social media. That's how I got to know who she was. I was already familiar with this series, but this doesn't mean I didn't love getting reimmersed. The universe she built with the Spencers and co has been wonderful. I wonder if she'll create another universe similar to this with the success of both the original and second-gen series.

This book will always and forever have my heart. It was one of my first LJ Shen book that I buddy read with my now passed best friend. No one would ever close to serving enemies to lovers like Penn and Daria did.

This book was powerful and emotional. The way Shen is able to paint such vivid characters was incredible. The sexual tension was was everything, and the banter was my favorite part! I felt like I was on a roller coaster ride with an exciting ending.

LJ Shen has done it again. "Pretty Reckless" is by far one of my favorite romance novels of the year.

Penn Scully and Daria Followhill are pretty much the perfect enemies to loves. Daria is the ice queen of All Saints High. She is the beautiful "It" girl who has no issues cutting down a person or two, especially with her ruse with the school's principal. But she meets her match. Penn Scully is vicious and all-consuming when comes time to collect for what was done to his sister. And he has the blame set on Daria.

The two develop a fiendish hate that occasionally involves flirting and being naked in bathrooms together. But I'm here for it.

While this story is a smutty romance, it is also deeply complex with themes of abuse, depression, and loss. This book is such a success and L.J. is only picking up steam.

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

-Enemies to lovers
-Opposites attract
-High school rivals
-Spicy

I was expecting YA but this is definitely more New Adult. Tons of angst. Tons of spice!
4 stars

This was such a fun read I loved it so much I couldn't put it down and was completely hooked from the first page I love this arthur so much

I'm obsessed with all things LJ Shen when it comes to her sinners or saint and this introduction to the second generation did not disappoint. Daria is such a relatable heroine and while not always likeable, she is so genuine. I loved the cameos from past S&S characters and the little quirks dari and her family have (oh my marx)
Penn was a terrific hero. And the chemistry between him and Daria was electric.

Books like this are always a bit of a hit or miss for you. I do think the constant miscommunication made it hard to get through for me personally but I know a lot of people would love this book. I do think the author dives into the serious issues in this book very well and it did make for an emotional read. Overall, I did enjoy this book but I might've been slightly out of the target audience fort it. Like I said earlier in this review though I see a lot of people really loving this book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book was really difficult to get into. A family takes in twins as foster children. Then the daughter of the adoptive family falls for the foster son. Unhealthy relationship. Emotionally abusive and hard to read. Honestly predictable and hard to get through. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I received this book from Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, Bloom Books for an honest review.
This book had a lot going on in it. Poor boy and rich girl, sports romance, family issues, fake friends, teen romance, bully romance, forced proximity, enemies to lovers, older man/principal taking advantage of a student... I could probably go on. Although there were some aspects of the book I liked, such as the character development and how they both matured towards the end. BUT, like I said there was just so much going on and some parts of it where just a bit much for me. Geared towards YA but very spicy.

I recently indulged in "Pretty Reckless" by L.J. Shen, the first book in the All Saints High series. As a passionate fan of romance books, particularly those with a darker edge, this book resonated deeply with me.

The story revolves around Penn Scully and Daria Followhill, two characters whose lives are intertwined by past hurts and a simmering desire for revenge. Penn, once the victim of Daria's thoughtless actions, finds himself in a twist of fate, living under the same roof as her. The dynamic between them is electrifying. Penn's thirst for retribution and Daria's unapologetic attitude create a tension that's both captivating and emotionally charged.

One of the standout aspects of the novel for me was the depth of its characters. Daria, particularly, is a complex character whose tough exterior hides a world of vulnerability. Her journey, including the strained relationships with her parents and the emotional rollercoaster she experiences, adds a layer of authenticity to the narrative. It's not just a story about romance; it's about personal growth, making amends, and finding strength in vulnerability.

The enemies-to-lovers trope, a personal favorite of mine, is executed with finesse. Shen weaves a tale of intense emotions, where love and hate collide, creating a romance that is as tumultuous as it is passionate. The rich-poor dynamic adds another layer to this story, offering a nuanced exploration of class and privilege.

However, it's crucial to note that the book ventures into some dark themes. Shen doesn't shy away from presenting flawed characters and morally grey situations, which might not be everyone's cup of tea. Yet, these elements contribute to the story's raw and real feel.

"Pretty Reckless" is a tale that captures the essence of teenage angst, the complexity of human emotions, and the unpredictable nature of love. It's a reminder that people are not always what they seem and that redemption and understanding can be found in the most unexpected places.

In essence, "Pretty Reckless" is a compelling read for those who appreciate a romance that's not only about the fluttering of hearts but also about the deeper, sometimes darker, aspects of human connections. It's a story that stays with you long after the last page, making you ponder the intricacies of love, revenge, and redemption.

This book is a modern Romeo and juliet imo and its good. I love how long their story took and you really felt the emotions. The book is very ya so it was a rough go for me but once it hit that 50% I was hooked !!!
Very good !!! It was just a cheerleader meets football player romance it was something much more

I received this book from NetGalley for an honest review. Thank you!

I've never been so conflicted over a rating for a book. While this is a high school bully romance and I'm still not sure that it was for me, it wasn't all bad?

The banter and dialogue is witty and the pace is fast. I also paired this with the audible narration and it could not have been narrated by better voice actors.

I guess because the characters are just not likable for the majority of the book I'm not sure if that's a stylistic choice because of the bully romance or if I just didn't like that the book itself has SEVERAL unlikable characters. Because let me tell you, none of these characters should have been as awful as they were. I couldn't figure out why Penn or Daria fell in love. What about each other was there to love, while they were so busy being so hateful?

I'm glad there was some redeeming towards the end and the HEA was sweet.

This was SO good! Emotional, angsty, bad boy, enemies to lovers, opposites attract. And ooooh was it hot. I loved the characters and really enjoyed the plot. Daria was such a complex character but I loved seeing behind her exterior of the pretty rich girl. She had so much more going for her and seeing it unfold was perfect. The chemistry, the banter, all of it was so fun. I really enjoyed and will recommend to others!

This book wasn't quite what I expected and I can't decide if I truly liked it. On one hand, Shen dives into some heavy issues and does it pretty well, but other than that it felt a bit formulaic. A Queen Bee meets her match in a boy who she wronged and then they go round and round and have lots of high school angst and miscommunication. I know there are people out there who will love this book, but I guess that audience doesn't include me.

lJ Shen’s writing is absolute magic. I felt all the angst, heartbreak, and was so excited for the redemption.
Daria knows heartbreak so well with her ritzy life she lives in. Penn is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks. He wants for his life though but one mistake destroys every chance at love. But what happens when the bad boy for falls for someone who shouldn’t ever be his? There is so much character growth between both characters in this and the plot is truly amazing. One of my favorite reads from this author!

i really really liked this book! i felt like the writing in this book was very enjoyable and the story flowed very well. i loveeddd the banter between the characters and the friends because it made the story that much better! this book was filled with tension and angst and the chemistry between the characters was sooo good. however, my biggest complaint about this book was the subplot with the principal because i just believe it was unnecessary. thank you to netgalley and the publishers for sending me this arc. all opinions are my own.