The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard (Hot Key Books)
PB RRP $16.95
ISBN 978-1-4714-0434-4
Reviewed by Jacque Duffy
This
is one of those non-put-downable books. It is well written, the main characters
are likeable, and the pacing is fast, but I have a problem.
Sara
Shepard is the author of many popular books including the Pretty Little Liars series, which I confess to not having read but
have heard quite a lot about. Pretty
Little Liars has sixteen – yes, sixteen -- books in the series. Don’t get
me wrong, I like a series, I don’t mind a little breathing space between books.
I like to let the characters have a rest too, especially after a fast-paced
book like this one.
But
here is my problem. The Perfectionists
has a lot of characters, starting with five girls plotting revenge against the
school’s most popular boy slash bully; each of those girls has her own group of
secondary characters, some of which are crucial to the plot. That is a lot of
characters to make mental notes about.
I was enjoying this book immensely; not only are these girls managing to get themselves into all kinds of trouble - most of the time not of their own doing - but there has been a murder. Towards the latter half I found it hard to put the book down. I read faster and faster, needing to know who the bad guy/girl is and if the girls were going to be safe.
Then
it ended.
Just like that.
I
have no idea if these girls whom I had become so fond of were safe.
Looks
as though I will have to wait for book number two; I hope it comes out fast.
The
book, if read in a classroom situation, would raise healthy discussion. The
serious matters of sex, drugs, bullying, suicide and revenge are raised in this
story. The characters are fully formed and each has their own story to tell.
The
story obviously gives room for sequels and I am sure each would be an enjoyable
read.
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