PRETTY RECKLESS All Saints High Book 1 by LJ Shen
I got so involved in this story I didn't want to do anything else! LJ Shen is so good at creating an angst filled story. The audio book was excellent with the narration of Angela Goethais, Maxine Mitchell, and Michael Crouch. This story starts the All Saints High Series. There is angst, betrayal, emotional drama, heartache, and tragedy.
Daria Followhill is one of the original "MEAN" girls, she is also cheer captain, and most popular girl at the school. She also has said school in the palm of her hand.
Penn Scully is from the wrong side of the tracks. He is a twin whose twin is missing. He is also a football player who can't stay on the opposing team without a place to live. Melanie and Jamie Followhill bring Penn into their home and offer him a place to live his senior year. He and Daria become fast enemies. This is 5 stars.

Wow! I think this is the most nasty book I’ve ever read.

Enemies to lovers
Forced proximity
Roommate (kind of)
High school drama
Secrets upon secrets

This book has so much going on it gave me anxiety in the best way.

Not a fluffy/romcom read. The author did a great job of making me hate her characters. I binged this book in one sitting.

I absolutely ADORE this book! So when I heard it was being picked up by BLOOM and would have added content I couldn't wait to get my hands on it to read - L.J. Shen gave us everything and more with this added bonus epilogue - more Skull Eyes and Penn Skully, YES PLEASE!!

I cannot wait to get more bonus content from this series as they're released. These characters feel like coming home. One of my most favourite series!

Actual rating: 2.5 -
This book was a like a train wreck in the way that what’s happening in it is awful and toxic and crushing but you can’t help but to slow down and watch to take in every single detail. The first couple chapters I felt like I was playing catch up trying to learn and understand who the characters were, the dynamics, and what what actually going on. At times the slang got slightly confusing to me or I would catch myself skimming conversations when the side characters were just talking crap and saying mean things.

I haven’t really read any bully romances before that were quite like this and it just seemed a little too mean/dirty/toxic for me at times. I kept getting little blindsides or twists that occurred throughout that seemed to jive with the way things were going down. With the black book of sins, being abused by a person in power, being totally ignored by her mom, and having no one stick up for her literally ever, I just hated most characters that weren’t Daria. Even though she was frustrating at times and did some bad things, at the end of the book I don’t think anyone could say it wasn’t justified or people didn’t deserve it (or she had to do something, anything to protect herself).

I still think that Melody needed to do a LOT more groveling to make up for everything that happened. And how the heck is Via still there and just allowed to be living with them after what happened to their actual daughter Daria? Like I just feel so unsatisfied on Daria’s behalf for how some of the ending scenes went down. People only every apologized after they already crushed her and continued to do so without every really seeming sorry. Also I may love the dad, but if you actually care about your daughter (even if you also love your wife) grow a backbone and stand up for the daughter who had literally no one, or maybe step in and not let her be completely ignored and bulldozed over. By the time the ending came around I couldn’t even enjoy what little romance we got because it felt manufactured and not real. Penn never treated her right and still wants his “sister” in his life who tried to ruin his and the only girl he cared about in the worst ways. He even admits in the end that he never did anything for her or put in much effort. I don’t think Penn deserves Daria after everything and think the Scully’s were not good for their family at all.

I still absorbed this book because I had to know how it ended because so many things in the middle killed me and filled me with negative feelings I needed to get past. My rating for the book kept going back and forth and took me a long time to settle on this. I mainly gave it this rating due to all the negative emotions it left me with and how I felt angry while reading most of it and I hate feeling like that.

A great book with a fabulous new cover!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Wow - definitely deep and dark for a high school romance but the character development?? So well done. A great introduction to the All Saints High crew - it definitely left me wanting more from them.

Penn and Daria have traumatic experiences before and during their time in this story so make sure to check content warnings. But their experiences lead to growth together and separately and I love the way LJ Shen provides revenge for people who have wronged the MC’s eventually.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Daria meets a boy when she is fourteen named Penn Scully. She and Penn have a moment, but something happens that changes everything. Now, fast forward several years later and they have a rivalry. Not only that, but Daria’s parents take Penn in, and they’re living together. It’s a hot mess but I loved it.

Daria appears to be your typical rich mean girl, and in many ways that’s exactly what she is. But there is also more to her than that. Penn seems to be your typical kid from the wrong side of the tracks, but there is also more to him. These two have so much freaking chemistry. And you know what they say about the line between love and hate…

Things between them are so intense. Just as things start to heat up and get really good, someone else comes into the picture and everything changes. I was so stressed out while reading this book. SO stressed. The characters, sometimes I loved them and sometimes I hated them, but I felt for them. I ended up loving both Penn and Daria by the end. One of the only things I didn’t love about it was the Principal storyline. I didn’t feel like it was necessary to the story and I didn’t like it. Other than that, I really enjoyed this one!

If you’re a lover of enemies to lovers, you need this book in your life! Pick it up for all the angst you could ever want!!
“Victories are sweeter when you celebrate them together”

This was a great start to the companion series. You get a good taste of the new generation with sprinkles of the old ocean stayed true to her grumpy/grumpy characters.

Penn and Daria, beautifully damaged and a joy to read about. We love a good close proximity enemies to lovers.

This book deserves way more than just 5 stars!! L.J. Shen has done it again. I was IN TEARS!!! Even hours later after I finished the book I would cry just thinking about it. Gosh, this book was EVERYTHING!!! Pretty Reckless was about life, revenge, love, and so much hurt. 

Daria and Penn were amazing, I loved Daria so much. If you've read Shen's previews books then you know who she is, but in this book we get to know her and see just how much she is holding back and suffering. Daria isn't always doing the correct thing, she lets things get to her and she acts out of anger. She is tho, not a bad person. She is holding so much and all she wanted was attention and love that her mom hasn't been giving her for years. 

Penn is a guy who is used to getting away with everything, he wasn't easy to love but also wasn't impossible. He was holding so much in, anger, disappointment, and revenge. He isn't used to letting people get away with things. So when he finds his sister gone, he sets out to get revenge on the person who drew her to leave town.... Daria.

Penn and Daria are so different yet so alike, they both have suffered so much, all the are looking for is to find someone to be there for them. This book was amazing, I loved Daria so freaking much. Shen once again proves that she is the queen of delivering amazing and unforgettable book.

Thank you to Bloom, L.J. Shen, and NetGalley for giving me an eARC of Pretty Reckless in exchange for an honest review.

The character development in this book? Fire. If there is one thing that I love about any good book is that there is always solid character development. Where the character starts at the beginning of the book is vasty different from where they end up when the book comes to a close. The same can be said for Daria and Penn. Both characters are greatly misunderstood at the beginning of the book. Yet their journeys demonstrate just why you should not judge a book by its cover or a person based on what they appear to be. When a chance meeting gets vastly out of hand, Daria and Penn go down a path of hatred. But what happens when circumstances force them to live together, albeit unwillingly? One thing I really appreciated about this book is that the two of them really saw each other, and the different difficulties that they were each going through. Neither let their feelings cloud their opinions on the other person's situation. They are willing to go above and beyond to help each other out when they need it, and everything about their relationship feelings natural. To anyone who is a fan of going on a journey of personal growth with the characters, I highly recommend this book.

Thanks NetGalley for a copy of Pretty Reckless!

Whew where to begin? This was my first LJ Shen novel and it will certainly not be the last. I went into this book relatively blind only knowing the little blurb it threw at me about Penn wanting revenge on Daria for something that happened four years ago.

What I did not expect was the absolute wild ride full of every emotion possible. Simple HS romance? Not even a little bit. At no point did I have a clue where this story was going and I LOVED every minute of it. and because of that, I recommend also going in blind.

These characters have such a depth to them that it's actually kind of rare. It felt like these were very real people with very real issues.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the group is up to when I continue the series.

EASY 4.5 stars!

First loves really never die!! I know this one has been out for a while, but I hadn't read it! - (I also love the discreet cover that came out in 2023! So fun to be able to read your smut in public lol)

Ruthless Rival by Shen has been one of my favorite reads in the past few years, so I snagged Pretty Reckless as soon as I saw it available on NetGalley.

When I requested it, I didn't realize it was a high school bully romance - especially since those typically aren't my thing? After being granted the arc, though, I decided to give it a go and it was exactly the angst I didn't know I needed. I've read so many contemporary lit books recently, and romance really is my bread and butter. A perfect blend of tear-jerking angst and sappy moments while letting us reminisce on our first loves!

NOTES:
- 🌶️🌶️/5 (V open door for a high school romance. If you're of that age group - it's definitely swoon-worthy!)
- CWs: Abuse in many forms including but not limited to s3xual, physical and drug abus3.

**Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books & NetGalley for the advanced reader copy. I received this book for free, but all thoughts are my own. – SLR 🖤

Thanks to Netgalley and Bloom Books for an e-arc in exchange for a honest review.

I did not like this book. It grossed me out how they were doing things and then they were calling each foster siblings. There also was so much trying to go on in this book, and it made it unenjoyable. I will not be continuing the series

Thank you for this arc! I went back and tried to get through it. I personally did not like the dynamic and the dialogue between the characters. Was not my favorite. I was finding it hard to find a character I loved. I still think others would enjoy this.

“We ruined ourselves the day of our first kiss.”

Prepare to devour this baby all wrapped up in a new cover by Bloom books, Penn Scully will hook you in…line and sinker. Pretty Reckless is an enemies-to-lovers, high school standalone sports romance filled with all the angst, deception, and thrill an alpha bad boy can deliver. This is new adult romance is a must-read for this amazing All Saints High series. I reviewed an early copy voluntarily by Netgalley, and highly recommend this book.

“Tell me you don’t want all my firsts.”

Good story good characters . I loved the story. I loved the ending. The characters were likeable too. Shes a good writer too.

Thanks netgalley

Popular, unhinged, foul-mouthed cheerleader and a rebellious, rugged, rough football player......forbidden love?! foster-siblings?! enemy to lovers?!
WHAT IS THERE NOT TO LOVE?!
This book was the perfect mix of interesting storyline and steamy romance.
On one page I am yelling and punching the air and the next page I am swooning over Penn and his angst.

This brought me right back to those young, fleeting moments of finding yourself in your youth and those stolen moments where you hope to heck your parents don't find out where you've been or what you've been doing.

The scene with Daria and the school principal?! I'm sorry....WHAT....talk about DARK.

This book had absolutely everything in it that could keep my interest. L.J. Shen has an amazing way of including so many different tropes into one single book, it never ceases to captivate me.
I always find myself reaching back for her books and I will always do so.

10/10. Love.

Many thanks to Bloom Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

At first, I wasn't sure if "Pretty Reckless" by L.J. Shen would be my cup of tea, but I'm glad I stuck with it because by the end, I was fully immersed and thoroughly enjoyed the journey. Daria Followhill, the protagonist, initially seems to have a knack for finding trouble, but as her story unfolds, it's impossible not to empathize with her. Her deep bond with her father was a heartwarming aspect of the book, and her resilience in the face of adversity shines through. When life takes a dark turn, Daria takes matters into her own hands, and the way her loved ones rally to seek justice is both moving and satisfying.

Penn Scully, the bad boy with a complicated past, struggles with his feelings for Daria throughout the story. His inner turmoil adds depth to his character, and it's clear that he doesn't believe he's worthy of her love. Despite their rocky relationship, Daria and Penn bring out both the worst and the best in each other. What truly stands out is the fantastic dynamic between Penn and Jamie, filled with witty and sometimes comical exchanges. By the end of the book, I found myself loving the characters, chuckling at the banter between Penn and Jamie, and content with the conclusion. Pretty Reckless turned out to be a great read that blends complex characters, emotions, and humor into an engaging story.

4.25/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

LJ Shen knows how to write toxic characters in a way that makes you fall for them. And I definitely did! I laughed reading Pretty Reckless. I teared up and cried reading this book too. There are so many secrets and lies between these characters that make for the best kind of drama–I ate this book up. It’s taboo and dark and delicious. I had a blast reading about what crazy plans these people were going to carry out next and what reveal was coming next. And trust, the reveals in this one really had me audibly gasping.

Daria’s character was hard to love at first. I felt bad for her when I knew I shouldn’t. And that’s saying something because she was absolutely horrible to many people in this book. Penn was awful too. This book has a lot of them being really vindictive and mean to each other. They’re mean and I loved it (think Riverdale, Mean Girls, 90210) But! There were many sweet moments for them. This story is powerful because it really takes you beyond the humor, beauty and snark of these young people. Shen shows us the consequences of their terrible choices and makes them face those hard choices at the end of all that occurs in this book. Each reveal was more shocking than the last! Those “guest” chapters, I had to read with my mouth wide open. Pretty Reckless was heavier than I initially expected as it touches on topics of child abuse, grief and suicide. However, I felt Shen treated it well and I enjoyed Penn and Daria’s introspection just as much as their stolen moments together.

The depth behind this story was impressive. I spent several days thinking about these characters and I suppose I liked this story because I liked how clear these characters were in my mind while reading. I loved their authenticity in being the people they are. Daria and Penn fit together so perfectly. I can’t deny their chemistry and how high the tension was between them when they were at each other’s throats. It’s what drew me in like a moth to a flame. But the clarity in which they saw one another and the vulnerability that, after much turmoil lol, is shared between them, makes this book stand out for me.

Also, I loved the poetry in this book. Each chapter starts with a new poem and I adored each one! I shared some of my favorites below.

I would recommend this book to those who like enemies to lovers and sports romance! I’ve been dying to get to book two and see what Knight and Luna’s story will be like. Thank you so much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy to share my honest review.

Pretty Reckless by L.J. Shen was such an amazing story. I loved the characters especially Daria! The trauma in this story breaks your heart and the relationship just puts everything back together again. I love this author so much and how she can bring out so many different emotions of the reader through the characters! I can't wait to read more in this series and anything else this author writes!