So, this book was a little all over the place for me, but overall good.

I know these are teenagers and teenagers are confusing and messy, but the way they were hating each other one minute, in love the next, and then just flat out in love? I wish that transition from enemies to lovers would have been a little cleaner.

I finish in one sitting because I really wanted to know what happened and how it all played out - so that’s a plus, but it just made my head spin a little. There were A LOT of different tropes in this book and that was a lot to dive into.

There were a couple of characters I actually liked a lot, so I’d definitely read more of the series!!

Omg this book! Loved it! I seriously devoured this in one sitting. Thanks for the ARC Netgalley, author and publisher.

Thank you sourcebooks, bloom books & netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I did not know what to expect going into this book and I was pleasantly surprised! I really enjoyed the story and the back and forth between Daria and Penn. At the beginning, I was super confused with all the names being thrown around but I was still
intrigued to keep going! I really enjoyed the multiple POVs!!!! I can't wait to dive into the rest of this series!

If you're looking for a spicy romance filled with lots of drama and interesting characters, I would highly recommend this book!

Pretty Reckless: ★★★★☆ (4) 🌶️🌶️🌶️ (3)

Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy.

This book consisted of the typical enemies to lovers, inappropriate student relationship and family drama. I felt like this book contained a convoluted plot with a few side stories going on in the background. L.J. does wrap everything up at the end. I did not particularly like either main character.

My copy contained a few chapters of Luna and Knight's story. I'm interested in reading that book as it doesn't appear to have as much going on.

Loved it so much! The spice was so good. Loved the story line. This cover is also gorgeous and I’m so happy it was picked up by bloom.

Penn is a dream book boyfriend for a high schooler. He and Daria are surprisingly complex and self-aware for eighteen-year-olds. I found myself rooting for them.

Although I normally don’t care much for high school romances, I found myself having strong feelings toward this book. I got indignant on Daria’s behalf several times. The characters felt really real and developed.

It wasn’t quite a five-star read because I didn’t love the petty girl cliqué cliches, but overall strong for a YA contemporary romance.

Penn and Daria have a very complex relationship. Penn holds a grudge against Daria for past actions, but circumstances bring them together as housemates. Beneath their snarky exteriors, they uncover a deep connection and the potential for a new beginning. This story delves into themes of forgiveness and redemption, showing how love can transform even the most wounded hearts.

What can I said check for triggers
Penn And Daria meet outside of Daria mom dance studio and Penn use to watch her as well Penn pick up his sister but then Penn sister disappear and Penn blame Daria so what he going to do made her pay.
That right he become her new foster brother because Daria mom love Penn sister and see potential on her Daria has always want her mother attention and try to be perfect but she hiding a secret a disturbing one. Via is Penn sister spends her days lying, eating the crumbs of those richer than her and hating the silver platter Daria has. But all the talent in the world can't make Via have a heart.
Penn is trying to be the glue the adults in his life should be.
But he's still just a boy. And one reckless moment to himself costs him the only other person he cares about.
All original men come together to extract punishment to the headmaster.
Shelved as: read

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for sending me this book in exchange for an honest review.
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Pretty Reckless follows popular and perfect high schooler, Daria. Daria was a dancer and her mom was her teacher. Her mom has favorites, one of them being Via. Via and Daria never got along as Via was a favorite of Daria’s mom. Via was supposed to be getting a letter from a prestigious dance program but never received it - Daria ripped it up. She had help, a boy named Penn, mysterious, hot, and full of angst. Except, Penn didn’t know it at the time, but he figured it out. Penn promised Daria he would be he first for everything. Kisses and all. What happens when Via goes missing and isn’t seen for years? What happens when Daria’s family takes Penn in years later? Can Daria and Penn get along? Or will the two love to hate one another too much?
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Ah!!! I loved this. I was kind of annoyed at the start of the book, but once I started getting into the story I LOVED it. Penn and Daria have such an interesting storyline and truly encapsulate enemies to lovers. I think the mother and daughter dynamic was so so well done and showed the absence Daria felt towards her mom. I now have to read the rest of the series!

I loved this book so so much. The story was everything I didn't know I needed until now. This book was nothing short of an emotional rollercoaster for me; it had me laughing, crying, and screaming. There were so many moments that I personally resonated with. Daria can be seen an an unlikeable fmc but personally I found her to be so brutally honest and real, and I found myself relating to her and her story more than I expected.
I loved Daria's relationship with her dad—so heartwarming! Her and Penn's relationship is everything and more.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bloom Books, and L.J. Shen for an eARC of this book!

I want to preface my review by saying this book wasn't personally for me, but I can totally see how it would appeal to a younger audience!

This was my first L.J. Shen read. I had super high expectations going into this book since I've seen good things on Bookstagram. The basic premise of the story is similar to the Twisted series by Ana Huang. Sunshine girl meets grumpy guy who is super possessive. Unfortunately this one didn't live up to the hype for me.

Immediately when starting the book, I noticed Shen's writing style would take a bit of getting used to. I found myself going back and needing to reread sentences to get a truly good grasp on what was being said. The characters were mean to each other, which is essential to the plot, but the snappy comebacks and insults were just not good.

The pacing of the story was fine, but I felt it could have been wrapped up 50 to 75 pages sooner. I would get to a point and think "Oh! This must be the end." Nope... it kept going and going and going. I appreciate that the author was trying to make a statement akin to "You never know what someone else is going through." I just felt the statement was made over and over. I got it after the first time and didn't need the big grand gesture from everyone at school, which was reminiscent of Mean Girls.

I do feel that Shen did a wonderful job portraying the difficulties teenagers have with their parents. The mother/daughter/sibling relationship was angsty and pretty spot on.

I'm giving this book 2.5 stars and rounding up. I'm not sure if I'll read more from Shen. It's probably a better read for someone in high school/college rather than myself - a 35 year old woman.

"A Pretty Reckless" by L.J. Shen is an absolute masterpiece that has left an indelible mark on my heart, deserving nothing less than a resounding 5/5 stars. This book is a tour de force of raw emotion, complexity, and storytelling prowess that had me utterly enthralled from beginning to end.

L.J. Shen has a remarkable gift for crafting characters that are deeply flawed, irresistibly captivating, and utterly unforgettable. Daria Followhill and Penn Scully are no exception. Their tumultuous journey through love, hate, and redemption is a rollercoaster ride that will have your heart in your throat one moment and melting the next. The depth of their character development is awe-inspiring, making you feel as though you're growing alongside them.

The plot of "A Pretty Reckless" is a compelling exploration of love in all its forms. It delves into the complexities of family, friendship, rivalry, and romance, all while navigating the treacherous waters of high school politics. Shen skillfully weaves together these elements, creating a narrative that keeps you guessing and gasping with each twist and turn.

What truly sets this book apart is its fearless approach to addressing difficult and thought-provoking themes. Shen fearlessly explores issues of privilege, bullying, and the consequences of one's actions, adding layers of depth and authenticity to the story. These themes are handled with sensitivity and insight, making "A Pretty Reckless" not just a romance but a poignant reflection on life's complexities.

The pacing of the novel is flawless, with a perfect balance between heart-pounding moments and quiet introspection. The dialogue is sharp, witty, and emotionally charged, drawing you into the characters' lives and allowing you to experience their joys and sorrows firsthand.

The romance in this book is nothing short of explosive. Daria and Penn's chemistry is electric, and their emotional connection is palpable. Shen's ability to write intimate scenes that are both sensual and emotionally resonant is unparalleled, making the love story at the heart of this novel an unforgettable experience.

In conclusion, "A Pretty Reckless" by L.J. Shen is a literary gem that showcases the author's extraordinary talent for storytelling. With its richly developed characters, thought-provoking themes, and a romance that ignites the pages, it's a must-read for anyone who appreciates exceptional literature. This book will stay with you long after you've turned the final page, leaving you with a lasting impression of its power and depth. I wholeheartedly recommend "A Pretty Reckless" to all avid readers, as it is a true masterpiece and a definite 5/5 star read.

I enjoyed this more than anticipated. I thought the emotions were well written and the characters well developed. I'll definitely be continuing the series!

Pretty Reckless was definitely a darker and grittier romance than I typically read.

Daria and Penn have a history. They kissed once, as young teens, but a decision they made together one afternoon cost his sister her future as a ballerina and caused her to run away. Now years later, they're seniors at rival high schools, and he's been kicked out of his step-dad's house after his mom od's. (Like I said, dark and gritty.) Daria's mother was his sister's ballet instructor and sponsor, and when she finds out his predicament, she invites him to move in with them. Which puts both Daria and Penn in a weird situation. You're not supposed to want to hate-bang your foster sibling.

I tend to read romances with adult leads, so it was a little different to have both a FMC and a MMC who were *barely* legal. It took me awhile to get used to the level of explicit content considering the age of the characters.

There was also a lot of potentially triggering content that caught me off guard. Daria was groomed and abused by her principal for years, and there was a lot of bullying and cruel treatment of teens, by teens.

If you like gritty, steamy romances with teenage protagonists, this might be your cup of tea. Unfortunately, it just wasn't mine. I feel like this would be perfect for fans of Punk 57 by Penelope Douglas.

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.25⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary romance📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
A romance that is much more than a romance, it was addicting and the characters were so complex and unique.

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Enemies to lovers
Complex characters
The banter
All the angst
Plot twists
Mean girls
The show Euphoria
Coming of age

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
The meaning behind “Skull Eyes”

I can’t tell if I like this story or if I don’t like this story. I feel like this caused my brain to feel some sort of book whiplash. The writing came across odd to me, more so in the beginning than towards the end. At first it reads like the writer was trying way to hard to make their characters sound a certain way. It felt like they just used the run of the mill stereotypes to be the characters main personality traits making it not feel authentic at all. You can write angsty “I’m not from your world” romance without making them only be the stereotypes that are associated with real life social ladders. Because of this the characters stayed pretty one dimensional. There are pieces of the characters I really liked but then there’s little growth happening. When the growth does happen it’s all crammed in the last 150 pages. This story had a lot of potential but it didn’t really execute it the way I enjoy as a reader.

My beef with this is that everyone is so unlikable to a seriously unbelievable extent. Like no one is this horrible. But damn if you can get past that, there’s some seriously juicy drama!

The book started off rough. With me it’s always a hit and miss with LJ Shen. Most of them being misses. With that being said, I did actually enjoy this book. There was one plot line that I did not like, but won’t get into for the sake of spoilers. But other than that it felt like the characters were decently developed, and I could kind of see where the book was going. Not sure I would get it for a HS library as it seems too mature for something like that, but I could see college students really liking it. Overall I think it has some good concepts, and I would consider buying it myself.

This book was a little slow for me. It was alot of high school drama, and a teenager struggling with her relationship with her mom. Overall it was a good read, and had a decent plot twist. However, I felt like there was alot of unanswered questions at the end.

Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity to read and review Pretty Reckless.

Pretty Reckless is book one of the All Saints High series as it unfolds Daria and Penn’s story.

I was not expecting the amount of angst in this book and I devoured it. I loved that Daria is not your typical having it easy rich kid, she’s full of insecurities and issues. On the other hand, Penn, is a poor kid who finds himself homeless. While he is closed off and full of anger, he loves with his entire heart.

This entire book was a whirlwind of emotions and I’m pretty sure I now have whiplash from it but it was worth every single second. I cannot wait to read book two!

Thank you to L.J. Shen, Netgalley, Sourcebooks Bloom Books, and Bloom Books for the digital ARC.