Pretty Reckless is a enemies to lovers romance. The main characters are in high school and met years before. After Penn’s mother passes away Daria’s mother brings him into their home. Penn’s twin sister was a ballerina prodigy who ran away years when they were fourteen, Daria has always felt like it was her fault and became the ice queen to deal with this and other events of her past. Penn has always blamed both himself and Daria for his sister leaving. When he moves in, he decides he will make Daria’s life hell, just like he always believed she did to his sister. However, being near each other proves to be more difficult than either person thought it would be. Balancing the secrets of Penn’s current resident and Daria’s own deep dark secrets proves to be harder than both expected.

Pretty reckless is has a lot of teen angst and forbidden love feelings tangled throughout the story. I found it addictive most of the time and hard to put down. I also found it frustrating as well. The way the two main characters acted instead of just talking at times was so frustrating. Daria could have helped her relationship with Penn by telling him about past behavior that has been directed towards her at one point but never did. Penn could have communicated a bit more as well. I had a hard time trying to remember these were meant to be teenagers at these times, though, since the book is a steamy adult novel, not a young adult. The story has a good amount of steamy scenes but not too many that it takes over the whole plot. There are some darker scenes as well that I did not expect.
One of my biggest dislikes of the story is how people seem to be allergic to communication for most of the story. Daria feels invisible to her mom from early teens into adulthood. All it would take is talking to her mom. She seems to be lacking some impulse control. So, instead of talking to her mom about how she feels, she just reacts. It added to the story at times but also got to be too much at other times.
I would call this a four-star read. There is spice, there is drama, there is angst, and an overall enjoyable read for the most part.

There are a few triggers in the story of bullying, drug use, abuse, assault and talk of sexual assault.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All thoughts and feelings are my own.

Pretty Reckless de L.J. Shen, es el primer libro de la Serie All Saints High, esta serie es la segunda generación de la Serie Sinners of Saints, ósea los hijos de los chicos de SOS (o de los HotHoles como los conocemos mejor), aquí conocemos a Daria Followhill está un poco celosa y resentida ya que su madre, quien es la dueña de un estudio de baile, adora a su alumna estrella, Via, y cuando Daria conoce a un chico misterioso y siente una atracción inmediata por él, lo que menos imagino era de que él es el hermano gemelo de Via, Penn, pero las acciones de Daria contribuirán a que Via se escape, la posible relación con Penn se convertirá en una de posible amor a odio absoluto. Sole que cuatro años más tarde cuando Penn termine como su “hermano” adoptivo, la atracción sigue allí y será cada día más difícil luchar contra ella, lo que les pondrá en situaciones difíciles, pero cuando ambos se permitan ser frente al otro real puede que vuelvan a encontrar el camino al amor.
Esta es de esas historias que te atrapan y de las cuales te enamoras Me encanta el crecimiento en ambos personajes y cómo evoluciona su relación, este es una relectura para mí pero las emociones fueron como la primera vez que la leí, con una nueva edición de Bloom que incluye un epílogo especial ahora contado desde el punto de vista de Penn. ¡Definitivamente Altamente Recomendada!

Anyone who knows me knows that I’ve been on a major angsty YA/NA/high school drama kick all year, and have been reading a lot more in that general sub genre. But now I’m thinking Pretty Reckless was exactly what I’ve been waiting for all along. Everything about this book makes my Cruel Intentions/The OC loving heart sing. Not only is it a pretty epic romance, but it is also a heart wrenching coming-of-age story about familial love with a full, well rounded cast of characters, apart from the surprisingly endearing leads.

Daria is more than just the rich as sin ice queen we expect her to be; her characterization holds a damning mirror to the ugliness of societal and parental expectations of girls and how they can weigh on the best and worst of us. We all have insecurities, they just manifest differently. Who knew I’d find her so weirdly relatable. Penn is exactly what she needs, but their journey to each other is full of toxic secrets, damaged pasts, and ruined relationships.

This book is special already for Hothole fans, but the author takes all those expectations and makes them her bitch and gives you a stunner of a book. Daria and Penn will ruin you and make you, they’ll kill you dead and bring you back to life, and you’ll love every minute of the sweet wreckage.

Speaking of well rounded characters, We get introduced to the next gen and meet our favorite men, who are now all adorable dads. From the glimpse that we get of them, I can surely say I will expire of anticipation for Vaughn, Luna, and Knight’s stories. They’re already such fully fleshed out people! For now, the tantalizing glimpses will have to do.

4 stars

LJ Shen is a great writer who creates intriguing characters and engaging plots and has done so yet again. This story starts slow but grabs you eventually and keeps hanging on.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy.

Jealousy is a cruel thing. Sometimes its justified by actions of others...but sometimes, we just don't know the whole story.
Daria has a secret, that only she and one other knows. He helped her destroy the letter. Her mother and arch rival will never know what was inside that letter.
Pretty Reckless (Daria Followhill's and Penn Scully's story) is the first book in the 'All Saints High' series by author L.J. Shen


Pretty Reckless is such an angsty, forbidden, enemies to lovers, spin off series (I actually haven't read the earlier series) that had me hooked from the very beginning.
The dynamic between Penn and Daria - the banter, their chemistry, their intertwined story. I really loved it.

The sun is a lot like hate - Beautiful and lethal and essential for our survival.
It can blind you, but it also keeps you going.
Hate motivates much more then love.
Love is content and peaceful. Happy people aren't driven.
They simply...exist.
Now, us, hateful people, we're something else.
Hungry and desperate.

I found myself surprised that this book had depth - I wasn't expecting that from a 'New Adult / Romance'. Maybe it's just me; While reading I was considering my own relationship with my daughter the challengers teens face - hierarchy of high school, the emotional mentality of teenagers etc etc.

I look forward more L.J. Shen books and will defiantly go back to read more back catalogue.

Thank you again to L.J. Shen, the publisher Bloom Books, and NetGalley for letter me read this book in exchange for an honest review.

This read was absolutely incredible! I devoured this book ! Penn and Daria , I just truly have no words ! The share a past and a secret from years ago. I have a complete obsession with this book , and now this author. I will be diving deep into L.J Shens work , unapologetically! If you need me , ill be trying to recoup from this magnificent work !!!!!

🏈 Taboo romance
📣 Highschool bully
🏈 Football/cheerleader
📣 Forced proximity
🏈 Stepbrother
📣 Opposites attract
🏈 Revenge
📣 Grief/trauma
🏈 Nicknames

💕 Penn + Daria

🚩 please check triggers

This has two things that I normally don't enjoy, stepbrother/fosterbrother and highschool. But I LOVED this. It sort of reminded me of Magnolia Parks but California version and a bit less drama, not much though. Definitely not a book for everyone, but it ended up being a book for me 😊.

Daria + Penn's twin sister are in the same ballet class when they are 14. Which is when the book and the rivalry begin. I don't want to go into too much detail and ruin anything but there's a dual timeline with 14yr olds and then it jumps to them being 18 & seniors.

Watching these two grow and open their hearts was a beautiful journey. Penn is the closed off bad boy from a rival school. Daria is *the hulk* with a really bitchy exterior who doesn't let anyone in.

Thank you for this ARC netgalley & ljshen For this copy.

retty Reckless is the story of how Daria and Penn meet at 14 but need 4 more years before they figure out they belong together. Daria's life looks easy and amazing from the outside but she is plagued by insecurity. Penn's life is hard scrabble and he is determined to claw his way to success. The two of them understand they are attracted to each other but don't have the first clue how to make it work. Their journey is full of twists and turns, love and hate, joy and pain. The end is worth the journey.

Daria starts the book feeling like her mother doesn't pay attention to her and when she does her mother doesn't "see" her. She is a totally moody teen. Daria is being bullied right under her mother's nose and it causes a lot of damage. Somehow she manages to keep a little bit of her humanity in tact even though she is a totally bitch on the outside. I like that Daria managed to grow and mature during the story. I like that Daria's mother even got a chapter so that the readers can understand her perspective on the situation. I thought the ultimate solution to help Daria was a bit much but it worked in the end.

Penn starts the book as a boy on the edge of the knife. He could chose to follow his mother into addiction or he can fight for a better future. When Penn's sister disappears it changes his life in some deep and sad ways. I feel like the conclusion to Penn's sister's story was a little weak but it did create good tension and allowed Penn and Daria to work through their feelings.

I enjoyed how this book set up the other Totholes and their future books. I would love to have more of the Hotholes but that wasn't what this story was about so I understand why they weren't prominently displayed. I am looking forward to the next book in the series!

This book can be read without reading the books in the prior series, Sinner of Saint. I'm glad I had the background because I really enjoyed those books but this book really stands alone. I recommend this book to anyone that likes romance with a side of young adult angst.

Quotes:
"What would you have asked of me if I took the sea glass?"
"To save me all your firsts," he whispers somewhere between my ear and mouth as his body brushes away from

It was love at first sight
Hate at second
Lust at third
But four is my lucky number
So mine your ass shall be

I devoured this.

This book isn't at all what I expected. I thought I was getting a bully romance. But instead, I got two misunderstanding assholes falling in love. I say that with affection 😆

Daria is a beautiful but profoundly insecure girl who habitually lashes out and rejects people before they can reject her. If you strike her, she strikes back.

Penn is a star athlete with a major chip on his shoulder. I suppose having a deadbeat, hyper-religious father and mother who died from an overdose and an abusive stepfather will do that to you. He guards his heart as if always bracing himself for when people inevitably leave.

They form a connection from the moment they meet. However, one bad thing has them splitting apart and not speaking for four years. When they officially meet again they do their best to ruin each other. But of course, nothing goes as planned. Twisted as it is, they can't stay away from each other. And despite any protests from themselves or those around them, they form an unbreakable bond.

Honestly, this book is addicting. I left a party early just to come home and stay up until 4 am to finish this book in one day.

This book gives Gossip Girl mixed with Pretty Little Liars, following Bad Boy Penn and Queen Bee Daria. High School setting full of angst, drama, football, and toxic behavior.

💟 High School Setting
💀Bully / Dark Romance
💟 Complicated Family Dynamics
💀Angst & Toxic
💟 She Saves Her Firsts For Him
💀Heart Wrenching Love Story

Pretty Reckless follows Penn Scully and his revenge on Daria Followhill. Penn wants all of Daria's firsts and she wants to be his last everything.

I tried really hard to read this novel, but I could not get into liking this no matter how hard I tried. I just felt like this novel was too juvenile. The bully trope was what I was drawn too, but unfortunately it fell too flat for me.
The character's stories jumped around too much for me to follow along, it felt as though I was missing pieces of the character's stories which might have contributed to their unlikable personality.

Both Penn and Daria became too angsty for my liking and led me astray from the novel entirely.

I wish I could've liked this novel better than I did, but unfortunately I didn't.
Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this and posting an honest review.

aria Followhill is one of the most popular girls at school. Dare I say, Queen Bee? She is, but the one thing she can’t seem to do is get her mother’s approval. No, her mom seems to only have eyes for a different girl in her ballet class. A girl that seems to already have it all.

One day, she’s really feeling down about her mother’s blatant disregard for her during ballet, so when she sees the other girl’s dreams coming true, she becomes very upset. She goes to a coffee shop, with all the intention of destroying the girl’s future, and meets a boy, Penn Scully who has been pining for her from afar.

They kissed, and he made her promise to save all her firsts for him. But after that fateful day, everything fell apart for the both of them.

Daria and Penn, they were both broken in their own ways. Daria may have been the Queen of her school, but she was hiding so much pain. She felt unloved by the people who were supposed to love her the most. And Penn? He had a really sh*tty childhood with terrible parents.

These two went through so much separately and together. They had to go through tough circumstances and make hard decisions, and they ultimately had to learn that family isn’t always the people you share blood with.

Daria really changed a lot. She was so unhappy and was dealing with it in an unhealthy manner. She took it upon herself to work on her mental health so she could truly be happy and not live in anger.

I loved how Penn changed as well. He was also very angry, even with Daria. He wasn’t kind to her, but when he realized what she was feeling, he was the one that was there for her. I loved that he never gave up on her and was protective of her.

I don’t normally read high school romance, but I was able to forget their ages because this story was that interesting. There was so much angst, but I loved it.

The first book in the All Saints High series and Pretty Reckless is an opposite side of the tracks, bully romance and, after reading this book I’m so glad my high school days are well behind me, I honestly couldn’t take all that angst and turmoil! In an absorbing story full of twists and turns, the heroine Daria might be wealthy and benefited from all the privileges that came with it but it didn’t guarantee happiness as she had found to her cost while the hero, Penn was angry at life in general and and as such it made him act out without thinking of the consequences. The sparks flew whenever they were near each other despite their supposed mutual hatred making for one emotional roller coaster of a read. With a strong cast of secondary characters I’m looking forward to reading more from this series.

Drama and angst at All Saints High!

How did I miss Pretty Reckless when it was released originally because I thought that I had read most of L.J. Shen’s sports orientated romances?

If you want a romance that has tons of angst and emotions on both sides of story because Daria Followhill and Penn Scully originally seem to be wrong for each other but there is something that makes them unable to stay away.

So pull out you Kleenex and a glass of your chosen beverage because you will be taken on a wild ride reading about Daria, Penn and the rest of All Saints High School where drama and angst rule the hallways!

Daria is the daughter of Melody Greene and Jaime Followhill from Defy (Sinners of Saint).

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Daria Followhill is the queen bee of her school- rich, beautiful and full of evil secrets.

Penn Scully is the bad boy from the wrong side of town. Poor, scrappy and barely surviving his sister’s disappearance.

When the two fall in a forbidden romance, while living under the same roof, tensions reach a breaking point and Penn and Daria are left dealing with the fall out.

Penn and Daria’s story had some high and low points for me- I didn’t love the writing style- it felt like I was getting a rushed, condensed version of a story and it was hard to stay engaged. I did like the dual POV- however, I strongly disliked both main characters, so hearing things from their pov did not help me connect with them.

I’m not sure how to identify this one- a bully romance, maybe? Except both people are bullies. It’s not truly enemies to lovers either, but there is a love/hate dynamic between the two. The chemistry between Penn and Daria is pretty intense, and probably what kept me reading to the very end.

While this read isn’t one of my favourites, I’d still be interested in reading some of LJ Shen’s other books.

Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books for sending me an advance copy of this book for an honest review.

This a my first book from this author and I will definitely be reading more. This is a Bully romance laiden with CW style teen drama with angsty, steamy scenes, and was heart wrenching, this did not disappointed. One thing I did not expect was that this was set in high school which is not my norm, but I still liked it though and would read it again.

3.5/5 stars

ⓣⓡⓞⓟⓔⓢ
❤️‍🔥Bully Romance
❤️‍🔥Enemies to Lovers
❤️‍🔥Forced Proximity
❤️‍🔥Toxic and Taboo

🅡🅔🅥🅘🅔🅦
I’ll be the first to say I’m not a bully romance reader, but I wanted to check out the genre and I’d read some of LJ Shen before and liked them so thought I’d give this a try when I saw it on NetGalley.

As one of my first and few forays into bully romance, I have to say I was highly entertained by this book. I’d describe it as watching a car crash or trashy reality TV. A lot of drama, a lot of toxicity, but you just can’t look away. I flew through the book in two days! While there were some things that weren’t my cup of tea, I figure they are pretty standard for bully romances so I can’t hold that against the book when its more of a my preference vs the genre thing! I can’t say that the writing was amazing, but it was highly entertaining and sucks you in and won’t let you go until you finish. There was a scene at the end that was very reminiscent of Mean Girls and had me rolling my eyes at how corny it was (felt like the book went from NA to YA REAL QUICK), but otherwise spent the book simultaneously saying “I hate this, these people are so awful” and “OMG what happens next”.

The FMC, Daria, was AWFUL for most of the book. She is the Queen Bee at All Saints High and got there by making sure everyone else knew their place. She had horrible, fake friends, and well meaning parents who just didn’t understand her and didn’t help the situation. She would say and do the most awful things, and while we know she’s doing it from a place of hurt and trauma, it was still no excuse for her behavior. Girl needs some therapy stat. However, she does have a lot of growth in the book and it was enjoyable to see her becoming a better person in the end. The MMC, Penn, was a protector at heart, who hates Daria because of what she did to his sister. They had some insane chemistry and I really liked his character a lot and his journey through the book as well!

Fair warning to those who want to read it: the All Saints High series (this series) is a spin off of the Sinners of Saint series about their kids. While they can be read as standalones, if you want to read them as a series I’d suggest reading the Sinners of Saint first.

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

They all love to hate her...

I'm ambivalent as this is a covert bully book about highschoolers. Penn wanted specific things from Daria. They met at fourteen, but things did not go well. Now, Penn is living with Daria because he's houseless, but brimming full of anger, rage and jealousy. He wants revenge.

Daria is misunderstood, but she seriously has her own issues (does not play well with others). Both Penn and Daria are not particularly empathetic characters. In fact, at times they are quite the opposite. But it is packed with angst and rolling emotions.
Purchased.

I really, really wanted to enjoy this book, but the characters were so unlikeable that I wasn't invested in the story at all. Also the adults in this book are HORRIBLE!

Was this a terrible book? No.
Was it for me? No... and that is okay!

This would be good for:
·Anyone that really loved watching Gossip Girl
·Fans of happily ever after endings

"Pretty Reckless" marks the commencement of the All Saints High series, featuring the captivating journey of enemies-to-lovers between the main characters, Penn and Daria. Their initial encounter traces back to their early teenage years, when they were both fourteen. As the story unfolds, both Daria and Penn find themselves navigating the ups and downs of high school life. It's worth noting that certain scenes within the book contain triggering or challenging content, warranting a Trigger Warning (TW) or Content Warning (CW) - despite such notices not being explicitly present within the book itself. The narrative carries a distinct vibe of a bully romance, making it an engaging choice for readers who enjoy this genre. If this premise aligns with your reading preferences, "Pretty Reckless" is definitely a book you should consider delving into.