Thursday, February 15, 2018

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces

Bad Girls with Perfect Faces

Bad Girls With Perfect Faces is so twisted. Deliciously so. I mean really, I've read a ton of thrillers in the last year, and enjoyed many of them, but in some ways this might be the most twisted one I've read. And I mean that in a very good way. Sasha is in love with her best friend Xavier, and he's probably in love with her too- he just doesn't know it yet. He thinks he's in love with Ivy, who dropped him like a hot potato and cheats on him, but when she cries or says she's sorry he melts and always comes back. She plays him like a fiddle, basically. Through it all Sasha has stood by him, and on his seventeenth birthday they're out together, he 's finally- maybe- over Ivy, and Sasha thinks their moment is coming. And then Ivy appears. 

What happens after that is probably not hard to imagine. Ivy has her hooks into him again and Sasha is kind of devastated. I can't say much more as this book is, I think, best experienced without any spoilers. Suffice to say that everyone in this book makes decisions that will have enormous consequences down the road. I liked Sasha a lot- she's tough and smart, and Xavier admires her for that. They both tiptoe around the fact that they're more than just friends, and Sasha doesn't really do relationships anyway. She makes out with a guy and moves on, as she puts it, although she knows she has a thing for Xavier. But he's not available, initially. I liked him a lot too- he's just a nice guy, and is as compelling and well- written as Sasha is. 

Ivy on the other hand is a piece of work, and I didn't like her. About as manipulative and nasty as they come, but even so I was shocked at some of the things that happened. This book has a twist or too that are wild, and the big one I did not see coming. I loved it though. This is a book to talk about, and I loved the relationship between Sasha and Xavier. They are so good together, even if they're not together, and I read this book in two sittings. I just had to know what was going to happen next, and the last maybe thirty percent of the book was tense and unpredictable. The only issue I really have is the ending- not what I wanted, but I get it. 

If you like twisty YA thrillers with a dose of unpredictability, this is a must get.  

FURTHER THOUGHTS/ SPOILERS

Okay let's talk specifics. This will be spoilery obviously. I loved that Sasha was as tough as Ivy- this is not a story about a meeker girl finding the strength to fight back. No, Sasha doesn't take any crap from anyone. Including Ivy. Go her, as far as I'm concerned. And she's willing to play rough. I LOVED how she went after Ivy with the whole texting thing- however I did find it a bit unrealistic how quickly and completely Ivy fell for it. The other thing is- Gwen turns out to be a very sick puppy lol. But the twist was killer. I found it interesting too that Gwen would have went with Sasha, as she was so taken by "Jake", and I was even more interested in the fact that Sasha felt something similar- she mentioned how Ivy made her feel less alone, which surprised me. 

The game Sasha plays with "Jake" and the texting was the heart of the story, in many ways, and it's interesting that both Sasha and Gwen felt a connection. A real connection, apparently. Can you really fall in love, or make a meaningful connection, solely through texting? Certainly a theme the author seems willing to address. I think in this day and age that's a question worth considering too, especially vis a vis teens. If there's any recent YA book that could benefit from a discussion guide, this one is it. I'd love to see what teens, who let's face it live by texting, would think of this. 

And how about that ending? Sasha and Xavier not being together bothered me, but maybe it's realistic? I mean, after what happened. They're both scarred in the aftermath. And the mention of someone on a message board getting close to the truth- was that a hint that Gwen was spouting off online? You can make an argument that Sasha should never have done what she did- but I'll be honest and say I loved it. I thought Ivy had it coming. But now she has to live with the guilt, and the thing I love about this book is there is no magic solution. She has to live with it. They all do. 

48 comments:

  1. This sounds like one to put on my tbr list for sure :-)

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  2. This was one of the last books I read in 2017 and I really liked it, especial the twist!

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    1. Yeah the twist was amazing, I was very pleasantly surprised!

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  3. I don't normally read YA, but my goodness, I really love thrillers that keep me on my toes. Definitely need to check this one out. Hugs...RO

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  4. It's been a while since I haven't read a YA thriller but this one looks interesting so why not?

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    1. Yeah, why not? It was a lot of fun and a bit edgy...

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  5. What a convoluted, but intense plot! Glad you really liked it. Not sure if it's for me, but it's certainly for many of your followers!

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    1. Ha ha it's definitely one I liked more than I thought I would?

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  6. I love a thriller than actually delivers on the unpredictable twists! Great review, Greg!

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    1. It ws pretty unpredictable, and the protagonist was awesome.

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  7. Whoa, this sounds good, but that cover with the flies is creeping me out!

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    1. You know that cover seems appropriate now that I've read it, but I thought the same thing- what is going on with that cover??

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  8. Romance and texting...not my favourite things! I like the cover though.

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  9. Ooh Ivy sounds like a piece of work for sure! I'm so glad to hear you liked this one.

    -Lauren
    www.shootingstarsmag.net

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  10. ahh, now I feel bad for myself for not getting it before because now I can't find it on my local bookstore. great review!! I'm adding this to my wishlist!!

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  11. Great review! This sounds really intriguing! I love books with unpredictable twists!

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    1. This one really surprised me, and I liked seeing these two girls going up against each other.

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  12. WARNING SPOILER COMMENT!!!

    I finished this the other night. I didn't like it quite as much as you - I thought the main twist with Ivy, Xavier, Sasha was more than enough and would have liked to see how that original assumption played out. But I did like both Sasha and Xavier and how there was a bit of a twist on that. Xavier is the one in the mildly abusive (at least manipulative) relationship and it's the girl trying to get him out. And Sasha, like you said, deals with what's happening. She tries to help Xavier but also does her own thing.

    I'm not sure how I feel about the ending either. I think it's fitting but I would have liked to see that conversation - Since Xavier wasn't even angry at Sasha - how did they decide to part ways? I think I needed that scene.

    Karen @ For What It's Worth

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    1. Ooh fun. And I know what you mean- frankly the story already had a bit of a twist and arguably didn't need the other one? Although it did add a creepy element, I thought, but may have been too much? I go back and forth.

      And the ending didn't feel quite right, although I did like how there were no easy answers and no way out, how they have to live with the knowledge.

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    2. It would kind of make a good "I know what you did last summer" sequel though lol

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  13. I love a good twist or a twisted story line and this seems to have both. That cover sure got me when I first saw it. Fly's on lipstick. Now that's original.

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    1. I know? And this one does have a nice twist, I like how it examines guilt and having to live with consequences too.

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  14. I really enjoy twisted stories like this now and then when they get into the dark corners of human motive. I've had a couple where an ending wasn't what I wanted, but probably fit the rest of the story better. I'll have to keep this one in mind.

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    1. Oh this one is twisted, and I loved it!! It definitely gets into the dark side of human motive. And guilt and having t olive with horrible ecisions also.

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  15. Okay the book's title grabbed my attention. But now that I've read the review your review, I'll be adding it to my ever growing reading wishlist.

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  16. this looks so good really, I think I have this, not sure why I have not read it yet :(

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  17. I loved this book. It was dark and twisty and also really beautifully written. I was ok with the ending, because it answered some of my questions and did seem appropriate after what they went through.

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  18. Okay definitely skipping the spoiler section because I want to read this one! It sounds so good- I mean for it to be the MOST twisty out of all the thrillers you've read, that says a lot! I only like thrillers when they will actually, you know, thrill me, and it sounds like this will. I just ordered The Wolves of Winter, so now I guess I need to get this one too. You're terrible for my book purge, you know? :D

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  19. YES. I've been waiting for this review!

    ...and now I want to read it EVEN MORE. I skipped the spoiler section for obvious reasons, but everything before that was wonderful. I love well-written characters, especially the ones you love to hate.

    Unexpected twists and turns are the best! I cannot wait to read this! Wonderful review, Greg!

    Do You Dog-ear?

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  20. Oh my, you have my curiosity piqued, even with the spoilers!

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  21. If you use words like 'deliciously twisted', expect me to add a book to my list! Hehe, yeah, I'm that twisted :P Great review, Greg!

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  22. This sounds good! I know I've known a girl like Ivy and they always end up getting a nice guy all twisted up. I didn't read the spoiler section because I definitely want to read this one!

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  23. The deal breaker for me would be the ending. I wouldn't have liked the way it turned out romantically. Glad you liked the super twistyness of it! Wonderful review, Greg!

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  24. The cover is disgustingly cool. After reading your review, I know I need this book in my life.

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  25. As you know, I am not into Thrillers, but that title is great. 🙌

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  26. I'm so glad you loved this one! You sold me on it and I just got my copy the other day. I will hopefully get to it in the next month or so. :D :D

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  27. I'm so glad to hear you like this one! I have been interested since I saw it on your last Sunday Post. It sounds so good! And I adore that title.

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  28. Wow, this sounds like such a wild and unpredictable ride! Ivy sounds like one of those characters I would love to hate, lol.

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  29. It certainly sounds twisty! I've never really thought about whether it's possible to fall in love via text, but with all the Catfish shows and whatnot out there, I imagine it must be. I mean, I've made close friendships by talking to people online!

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