Lynn Weingarten

I'm dead-- this book just ripped out my soul. Thanks Lynn Weingarten for writing books with characters that are so messed up that I can't possibly look away from the words on the page!!

I've been a Lynn Weingarten fan for a while, but now I think I've graduated into SUPER-FANDOM. This might be the most "me" book that I've read in the last 2 years.

It starts off with Sasha, who is this girl with a hard heart but a soft spot for Xavier. She wants to tell him her feelings, but Ivy gets in the show more way. First by breaking his heart and sending him into a downward spiral, and then by whisking in and wanting him back at the worst possible moment.

Ivy is a memorable character because she's so obviously damaged and puts Xavier through hell. Ivy is the kind of girl who does what she wants and doesn't worry about the people she's hurting. She's confident that people will let her off the hook because she's good at manipulating them. Typical sociopath. I spent so much of the book wishing that Xavier would wake up and tell her to FUCK OFF-- until I realized that really isn't what the book is about at all.

What is the book about?? Well, I try to be spoiler-free around here, so I'm not going to tell you what's actually happening. But I will say that it's about a WHOLE LOT MORE than crushes and cat-fishing damaged girls. It's the best dark romance that I've read in a long time, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

My Fave Part: Underneath all the lying and drinking and pain, there was a legit beautiful friendship there. I couldn't help but feel a little jealous over how Sasha and Xavier just "got" each other. The sense of humor they had with each other was something only people who genuinely love each other could cultivate. I would reread this book just to jump back into the glimpses of their relationship that didn't revolve around Ivy.

This is the type of YA that I LIVE for-- the type that is raw and full of characters that have a bite to them. I couldn't put this book down, did not want to stop reading. The thrilling lead-up to the reveal had me turning pages like a madwoman. My emotions are still reeling a little bit after finishing this dark, twisty book. I SO recommend to people that love the darkness.

OVERALL: 1,00000 times YES!! I love nothing more than the dark YA books that are full of messed up characters. I recommend to my fellow YA Thriller lovers-- people who liked [b:The Female of the Species|25812109|The Female of the Species|Mindy McGinnis|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1455917180s/25812109.jpg|45668311]-- who want to read a book that is twisty and leaves you feeling a little bit lost.

My Blog:
Pink Polka Dot Books show less

It took me until halfway through this book to really feel it, but then my heart was in my mouth for the rest of the story.

This was a fantastically constructed story. I'm always a little cynical about things that seem too crazy to happen in real life, but this was done so sweetly and with such emotion that it became believable.

I finished this book with an emotional hangover; I really went on a rollercoaster alongside Ellie in this book. In describing the book, it's not one that I would show more utterly adore; however, Ellie and Sean's friendship hooked me and from there, I was very emotionally invested.

The clues were all very well placed and arranged, so when I thought back I could make a lot of logical conclusions. I enjoyed how the events that took place revealed a little about both Ellie and Nina, and how their relationship as sisters changed.

I'm glad that Ellie's friends, Brad and Amanda, had different reactions to her up and leaving; I thought this really said something about friendship and the various forms it can take. Nina, too, was a very vibrant but almost ethereal character; it was almost a let down to meet her and find that she was a real person.

This wasn't really a romance, but more of an adventure, and is sure to keep you on your toes. show less

"When someone you cherish does something incomprehensible, you will find reasons to decide they are the exception. You will cling to the details, tell yourself, but this is different. But it never is."

Bad Girls with Perfect Faces
by Lynn Weingarten

My review:

Have you ever felt like something.....about to happen? Something ominous?

Maybe in a film you saw or in a TV show you watched? Or in the life of someone you knew? Or even your own?

There's this feeling....like you are about to be show more enveloped.....ensnared in DANGER? It is a subtle distant type of danger. A danger you have no idea what it is about or where it is hiding....(maybe in the trees? in the twilight?) You don't know what it's made of, you just know it has shown itself.

And it is coming for you. Soon you will know. But for now it is a mood that is omniscient. It is all around you and you just cannot escape it.

THAT IS THIS BOOK!!

Bad girls with Perfect Faces is a gem. It is startling and dark, moody and tragic....I really liked it. I think you will too.

I so do not want to give anything away. I sometimes give plot descriptions. Not for this one though. Not much anyway.

I will say that the central plot involves Sasha and Xavier who are best friends. Xavier has been dumped by his mindfuck...sorry...girlfriend..Ivy.

Ivy is the type of person who gets off on making her lovers as humanly miserable as possible. She has a contempt for goodness and loving her also comes with punishment...because Ivy, on some level, hates herself and she does her best to make her boyfriends hate her as well.

So when a chance encounter throws the sweet Xavier and the nasty Ivy back together, Sasha is terribly worried for her best friend Xavier. She knows he barely made it through his LAST breakup with Ivy. She is worried and does not want Ivy to fuck with her friend anymore. So she decides she will show him just how awful Ivy is.

Until it all goes horribly wrong.

OK..I have said to much already. If you like moody YA mysteries you have got to read this. It really pulls you in and makes you want to keep reading until the end. Which I did!

There are some excellent plot twists which I doubt you will see coming although you might THINK you do.

Now I have to put spoilers up. If you are reading this review and have yet to read this book and want to, please stop reading my review at this point.

SPOILERS:

I know I often contradict myself. Sometimes I say I like dark endings, sometimes I say I don't. I think it is really different for every book. My only complaint with this one is how tragic the end was. I felt for Sasha although she absolutely acted in some very self destructive ways. But I wish it had ended on a happier note. Part two, Author?

Anyway....this one was just what I needed tonight and I do recommend it...it has it all...great characters, an alluring story, deep atmosphere an d excellent plot twists. Four stars for a very well written book. show less

"I'm nothing if not completely inconsistent."

Wow. Okay I did not expect that ending AT ALL. Every time I thought that I knew what happened a new twist appeared and now Im just left reeling and with so many questions!! It was a great book, pulling you in quickly with the mystery of what happened to Delia as June tries to put together the pieces of what truly happened to her friend. June's own unreliability as a narrator fashioned the story into a magic trick- she misdirected you in a way that show more distracted you from the truth.

Overall: Great suspense with an AMAZING plot twist. Definitely worth a read. show less