Excuse me for just a moment while I dance around with excitement for my friend Jennifer!! I am happy and proud of her for accomplishing a dream, and not only writing a book, but publishing it!
Pretty Little Lies is a great ADULT Summer read. This book has realism, heartbreak, swoon worthy chemistry, redemption, friendship, humor, love, and it's all about second chances. This is a book that has a little bit of everything. For the story's main character Olivia, it's a story about her second chance a love her ran away from 7 years prior to the story starting. That run away set in motion a train wreck of events, including an abusive marriage that thankfully has now ended in divorce and sent her back to her home town, and yes, into the arms of her first love. Before you sigh or roll your eyes, believe me, it's not as easy as I just made it sound.
Olivia is a smart, beautiful, intelligent girl whom I felt bad for, laughed with, and cheered on. Olivia's growth was evident through out the story. I loved the Jennifer didn't make a victim, but instead made Olivia this feisty character who was fed up with the lies, the cheating and the abuse and gets the heck out of dodge and away from Deacon, the sleezy ex-husband. Instead of making Olivia this "poor me" type of girl, she makes her this women I could relate to, even though I've not dwelt with the things Olivia has. Olivia picks up the pieces of her life and makes something of it, including confronting a past she ran from, something that has haunted her and her ex-Luke for seven years.
Before I talk about the tall, dark and sexy Luke, let's talk about the AWESOME best friend who's been there for Olivia through thick and thin, Pyper! Oh my goodness Pyper is that best friend you want in your life These's two know each other like the back of their own hands. The things these two do, say and the situations they find themselves in had me laughing out loud. There are some down right hysterical situations, and I loved that Pyper not only was there for her best friend, but she forced to get out of her slump and move on with life. Even though their speed dating situation didn't work out, it did land Olivia back into Luke's life.
Luke! Oh he is one hot love interest. I loved how Jennifer allowed me to get a glimpse into what Luke and Olivia had in high school, via Olivia's thinking about the things they did, what they went through, experienced, and that little white lie she over heard that sent her packing in the first place. Don't worry, we find out what was really said, why, and if Olivia had only stayed and confronted Luke about it, how things would have been so different for the two of them. BUT, instead we get a story that allows the two of them to pick up right where they left off. The things they've both done the past seven years have made them grow up, and have them both realizing they've both been wanting the same thing, each other.
Oh mama, is the chemistry between these two hot. These two of their fair share of sexy times, as well as humorous moments like when Olivia falls off the desk when a little something something was going down. Oh yes, these two are written in a very realistic way and I loved the realism in this story. Most importantly I loved that these two have been given a second chance at love. What Luke and Olivia have is one of those soul mate, true love type of loves. It made sense. It was right and I loved reading about their reconnecting.
I liked the way that Jennifer allowed me to get to know her characters, especially Olivia. Being in her early twenties, and a divorced women hurts, but it wasn't the end of the world for her, and I love she was able to find herself again. How she grew and changed and owned who she was. Each chapter has a fun fashion tip at the top, indicating what's to come in that chapter. It flowed perfectly with the book, since fashion is Olivia's line of work. There were a few times I felt the story dragged for me, but over all this was a story I seriously enjoyed. Holy crap, talk about a killer ending! Over all this is an adult read I'd recommend taking with you to the beach, the pool, the lake or wherever you're Summer reading takes you.