Sara Shepard

You don't have to be good to be perfect. From Sara Shepard, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Pretty Little Liars series, comes another series full of juicy secrets, nail-biting suspense, and beautiful girls who will do anything to hide the ugly truth. Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie, and Parker are all driven to be perfect—no matter the cost. At first the girls think they have nothing in common, until they discover that they all hate the same person: handsome womanizer Nolan Hotchkiss, who's done things to hurt each of them. They come up with the perfect plan to murder Nolan—jokingly, of course. They'd never actually go through with it. But when Nolan turns up dead in the exact way they'd discussed, the girls suddenly become prime suspects in his murder. Only, they didn't do it. So who did? Unless they find the real killer, and soon, their perfect lives will come crashing down around them.

The Perfectionists

tina

As a kid, I spent my time reading Nancy Drew books. I grew up loving the genre of mystery and that's why, up until today, I'm always up for a mystery book. The Perfectionists has such a really good storyline, even if it was a teensy bit similar to Pretty Little Liars. The mystery was gripping and engrossing. I didn't want to stop reading the book because I badly wanted to find out what happens next. Not only was the plot intriguing, but the characters themselves were interesting. The backstories that each girl has brought so much color to the story. The good thing is not a single girl out of the five was a bratty bitch. That's something that's kind of an ordinary thing when it comes to stories that have settings like this. Although there were still bitches in this story (*coughs* Claire, Ashley *coughs*), all the main characters were relatable and lovable. 

What I thought was lacking in this book was the thrill. The plot progressed slowly. The first half was slow paced and circled around the girls's individual lives. Although that was also an understandable move because this helped us get to know each girl. But I would've liked it if the thrilling moments were consistent and didn't only take hold on the last 70% or so of the book. Shepard could've inserted crazy happenings or little bits of hints to the mystery here and there. 

Another thing that I didn't like was that this was too short. I wish we would've gone more in depth with the story, and played with it a bit more. Sometimes, I think the things that happened were a bit too sudden and in a rush. 

But, with that being said, it doesn't entirely mean that this wasn't a good mystery book. In fact, I can't wait to find out what happens next!

Julia Lotz

Inhalt: Die Highschool-Mädchen Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie und Parker haben nur ein Ziel: perfekt zu sein. Außer derselben Schule verbindet die privilegierten Überflieger nicht viel. Doch sie haben ein gemeinsames Hassobjekt: Nolan Hotchkins, gutaussehend, reich – und skrupellos. Jedem der Mädchen hat er übel mitgespielt. Die fünf schmieden einen Plan, wie man Nolan umbringen könnte – nur aus Spaß! Nie würden sie so etwas wirklich tun. Doch als Nolan ermordet aufgefunden wird und genau auf die Art, wie sie es geplant hatten, sind die Mädchen plötzlich Hauptverdächtige in einem hochbrisanten Mordfall. Wenn sie nicht bald den wahren Mörder finden, wird ihr perfektes Leben zusammenfallen wie ein Kartenhaus … (Quelle: Verlag)
Meine Meinung: Nach Pretty Little Liars und Lying Game veröffentlicht Sara Shepard nun auch eine dritte Reihe auf dem deutsche Buchmarkt: The Perfectionists. Und wenn ihr Pretty Little Liars oder Lying Game geliebt habt, dann sollte diese Reihe unbedingt ganz nach oben auf eure Wunschliste. Denn obwohl Sara Shepard auch dieses Mal wieder mit einer neuen Idee punkten kann, hat The Perfectionists auch einige Ähnlichkeiten denn euch erwarten auch hier Lügen, Intrigen und eine Mädchengruppe, die verzweifelt versucht aus einer Sache herauszukommen. Genau das, was ich an Pretty Little Liars liebe! Als ich dann das Buch in den Händen hielt und voller Vorfreude mit dem Lesen begonnen habe wusste ich schon nach wenigen Seiten, dass The Perfectionists mich nicht enttäuschen wird. 
Wir begleiten die 5 Mädchen Ava, Caitlin, Mackenzie, Julie und Parker. Jede von ihnen hat mit etwas zu kämpfen. Alle haben kleinere und größere Probleme die im Verlauf des Buches aufgedeckt werden oder schon recht früh bekannt sind. Und darüber hinaus haben sie alle eines gemeinsam: Nolan Hotchkiss. Er allen hat ihnen irgendetwas angetan für das er büßen soll. Ein Streich. Da sind sich die fünf einig. Dann jedoch stirbt Nolan und zwar genauso, wie die 5 es sich aus Spaß zusammengereimt haben. Klar werden sie dann auch alle in die Ermittlungen mit eingezogen und versuchen verzweifelt ihre Unschuld zu beweisen. Wie auch Pretty Little Liars und Lying Game besteht The Perfectionists also aus einer Reihe von Lügen und Intrigen. Aber auch Werte wie Familie, Liebe und Freundschaft spielen eine wichtige Rolle. So lesen wir von den aktuellen Sorgen und Geschehnissen im Leben der Mädchen, fühlen mit ihnen und sehen gleichzeitig zu, wie die fünf durch die ganzen Vorfälle immer weiter zusammengeschweißt werden. Das alles erzählt Sara Shepard wie gewohnt locker leicht und das Buch liest sich so sehr schnell weg.
Das Ende lässt mich sehr gespannt und neugierig zurück. Es ist fast schon ein kleiner Cliffhanger. Denn obwohl wir die eine oder anderen Information zum Mord an Nolan bekommen, passieren gegen Ende noch mal ziemlich viele spannende Sachen und wir wissen immer noch nicht, wer Nolan umgebracht hat und was wirklich alles geschah. So hoffe ich nun, dass sich The Perfectionists nicht so ewig lang ziehen und ich sehr bald lesen kann, wie es mit den Mädchen weitergeht. Sarah Shepard konnte mich wieder einmal überzeugen und ich bin schon sehr gespannt auf ihr nächstes Buch.
Bewertung: The Perfectionists steht Lying Game und Pretty Little Liars in nichts nach. Mit bekannt erfrischendem Schreibstil erzählt Sara Shepard, wie das Leben der fünf Mädchen auf den Kopf gestellt wird und ihr neustes Werk hat absoluten Wiedererkennungswert. Schon nach wenigen Seiten wusste ich, dass ich The Perfectionists lieben werde und wenn ihr auch so große Sara Shepard Fans seid wie ich, solltet ihr das Buch unbedingt schnell zur Hand nehmen. Ich vergebe auf jeden Fall 5 von 5 Füchschen und warte nun auf Band 2.
Vielen Dank an cbt für das tolle *Rezensionsexemplar.

Suz Corso

amazing! sara shepard outdoes herself like always.

laura

solid book. very fast pace. reminds me alot of PLL series but still good

Jelke Lenaerts

This book has trigger warnings for drug use, suicide, domestic violence, panic attacks, PTSD and pedophelia.

Realisticly this book is a three star novel but I can't take away the fact that this book just wouldn't let me go. I read this in one sitting and just very quickly in general. I was literally unable to put this book down. The mystery wasn't anything to crazy, neither was the drama. It was quiet predictable but there were some fun twists added into it. I really enjoyed the dynamic between the 5 main girls. They were all very different but worked pretty well together. I also really like the fact that they didn't go from strangers to besties that spend all their time together because of one small event, like what happened in Pretty Little Liars. They spent most of the book apart and I really liked the fact that their life didn't stop because they met new people. I'm pretty excited to read the sequel but it's not really a main priority to me.

Review for the reread. (I decided to add a star, just because of some stuff I picked up in the reread)

Okay. So...
I really didn't like this book the first time I read it. I don't know. I guess I liked Shepard's PLL a lot more. But after rereading it (and after I've been spoiled for the ending of book two). I have to admit it. Sara did this book a lot better than Pretty Little Liars. I guess part of the reason is because the series is not that long and it resolves pretty quickly. And I guess I wasn't that annoyed reading it, just because I knew it wouldn't last for ever.

But after being spoiled and rereading... I just.. How have I not guessed it. It's litterary in your face. LIKE WOW. Sara you just did an exelent job with this book... 
SPOILERS (for the book 2) AHEAD

How can you not figure something's wrong after you read something like these examples:
(view spoiler)["Uh, Dr Fielder - Elliot?" Her voice was high and thin, nothing like her own.
"Julie?" Elliot said uncertanly.
"N-no, it's Parker. Parker Duvall."
***
Elliot didn't even look at her; he kept his gaze on Parker. Suddenly, a strange smile flashed across his face. "You're out together."
***
"Look, I was just trying to find out more about Parker's condition. I think I can help her. I might even be able to help you, Julie. If I can help one of you, I can probably help both of you."


Just. Brilliant. A was screaming at the book the entire time while reading. Like how didn't I pick this up the first time. How didn't I find it suspicious?!
  (hide spoiler)]

Now. I have to get my hands on that sequel.

Anastaciya

Girls with secrets, plot twists, murders... A good Sara Shepard book. I feel like I'm a bit too old for this read, but I still enjoyed it.

Michelle Boyea

** spoiler alert **
           A knock off of her Pretty Little Liars series, Sara Shepard has done it again! This book is riveting from beginning to end and I can't wait for the next one. 

From a school bully to a pervert teacher, these 5 girls have a lot of stress in their lives. And then the bully is dead and in the end, so is the teacher. Someone is setting the girls up, but who? Will they lose everything in the process of finding the killer? Everything they have worked so hard to have? And to hide?

Zoe Smolen

PLL set in Washington. But still really fun.

Jessica 

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It’s no secret that I am a massive fan of Sara Shepard and have been for years. Devouring The Lying Game and Pretty Little Liars series has been a bit of an addiction for me since my teens; so it’s no surprise how thrilled I was when I heard about The Perfectionists, Sara’s latest dive into young adult suspense and glamour.

Not only is the cover gorgeous, the plot shows promise in the same way that all her books do. Although Sara’s writing isn’t the best in all the land, she makes reading fun and each story oozes scandal, luxury, death and mystery. It’s easy to see why her work is adapted frequently and why she dominates her portion of the genre.

Sara’s mind is filled with ideas, this much we know. She just knows what she’s doing to make readers crawl back. But while The Perfectionists was a fun, thrill filled read that shined bright with dark air and mystery, it wasn’t her best work. I keep noting that some of the characters felt less alive than her previous works.

This isn’t to say that The Perfectionists was boring or a chore to read. It’s fast and fun and very delicious in its own right; it just had moments where you felt very unattached to some of the characters.

Almost like they weren’t quite fleshed out beyond a brief summary of interests and physical appearances. It was odd.

Ava, Caitlin, Mac, Parker and Julie were all entertaining in their own rights and it was easy to get wrap up in their drama, yet more often than not I found myself feeling rather underwhelmed by their plots and characteristics. Mostly, they were forgettable. 

For my full review of The Perfectionists by Sara Shepard please continue to BOOKEDJ.

Kate

3.75 I really enjoyed this book and after finishing 'The Good Girls' (the concluding book to this series) I appreciate 'The Perfectionists' even more. So clever. Just brilliant.

The Perfectionists

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