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Pruitt Prep #1

First: Get Caught: A Stalker's Guide to Love

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Abigail Bean’s leather-bound journal is quickly filling up with all things Ben Song, but she has no intention of doing anything about her feelings. She knows there’s no chance the most sought-after boy in her grade would be into her, but the doodles and daydreams serve as a mindless distraction from her parent's recent divorce.
Though Pruitt Preparatory Academy is a small boarding school, valedictorian Ben Song doesn't know Abigail exists—until he stumbles upon her journal. Sure, he's a little creeped out. But he's also curious about this girl who draws so beautifully. He becomes more intrigued when she stands up to his snobby friends while studiously ignoring him. Is this the same person tracking every detail of his life? If so, how can she pretend he doesn't exist?
Determined to solve the Abigail puzzle, Ben texts her as the imaginary Prescott Abernathy, promising to return her journal if she follows Prescott's orders: starting with crashing Ben's table at lunch.

471 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2020

13 people are currently reading
35 people want to read

About the author

Crystal Liechty

5 books11 followers

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5 stars
37 (63%)
4 stars
16 (27%)
3 stars
3 (5%)
2 stars
1 (1%)
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1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
Profile Image for Alicia.
2,567 reviews82 followers
May 29, 2022
This was pretty funny and a unique take on YA romance.
Abigail has a massive crush on Ben, and chronicles everything she sees him do in her journal as part of an 'anthropological study' (Because that sounds better than stalking). She's fully aware of how ridiculous she is though, so a lot of her 'notes' are comments on herself and how something must be seriously wrong. It turned it from creepy to amusing and was just perfection.
Then she loses the journal, and zero points for guessing who finds it. Though when Ben sees the meticulous notes about himself, he's actually flattered and realises that this girl gets him. But he doesn't want her to know he knows. So fake profile Preston texts her with a task to get her journal back.
For a book that is literally about creeper excessive stalking, it is amazingly fun, and the character is actually pretty well balanced. She's not stealing his underwear of ruffling through his trash or anything extreme, so it works. And she never compromises who she is or ditches her friends. Abagail was the best sort of character to follow, and really just made the book all the more enjoyable. I don't agree with all the advice given in here, but I can see why the characters in here would say it.
I think I started reading at midnight and stayed up to finish it because it was so absorbing. I’m hoping there’s a next book eventually, because I definitely want to read it.
Profile Image for Meredith.
773 reviews33 followers
November 3, 2021
Oh my gosh! I am so excited that @thepixieperkins recommended this book to me. It was so weird and cute and sweet and awkward and adorable and just all the things I look for in YA novels. And I read a lot of them haha. And it's so wonderfully clean. Like, I'm going to buy a copy and keep it in my stash of YA books for my daughter to read. I mean, I've read them all too so it'll be something for us to share.
Profile Image for Melanie Stanford.
Author 11 books99 followers
July 24, 2020
This was like a high school kdrama in book form. It was both funny and sweet. I loved the strength and vulnerability of the MC, and the swooniness of the male lead. The supporting cast of characters were really fleshed out as well. Loved it and I can’t wait to read the next book!
Profile Image for Laura.
593 reviews4 followers
March 4, 2021
Super cute high school drama story. I love the stereotypical characters - nerdy, rich kids vs. the unknowns. The main characters showed strengths and vulnerabilities that made for a more realistic read in a not so realistic setting. I’ll definitely read the next book in the series.
Profile Image for Jacob Mendoza.
37 reviews5 followers
January 27, 2021
A must read! Initially you think it’s a weird premise in the first couple of chapters, after all, it is weird to keep a journal on your crush. But, consider, I think we all have our own version of Abigail’s journal. So careful before you cast the first stone. It’s were she keeps her vulnerability. This story is a beautiful tale of not just Ben and Abi’s vulnerabilities but everyone’s.
A great romance with characters you can’t help care deeply about— which will cause you to be torn. Heart breaking moments, both objectively and because you can relate to the less than acceptable acts of the characters. It’s been awhile since I’ve stayed up till 3:30 in the morning because I couldn’t put the book down. 10/10 would recommend.
Profile Image for Cheyenne Davis.
303 reviews2 followers
August 31, 2020
Oh my goodness! I loved it!

I adored this book! It's definitely one of my favorite YA high school romance books I've read in a long time. This was my first time reading a book by this author and I'll definitely read more! There's so many things I enjoyed about this book.

First, the characters are great. Abigail is a great heroine. She's gone through some crap and I'd kind of a mess, but she fights for what she believes in and pushes back against bullies, which I loved. She firm, but not a brat. I also kind of loved how creepy she was about Ben. It reminds me and my best friend in high school. We never went to the lengths she did, but it was definitely relatable and therefore nostalgically hilarious. So so awkward and mortifying for Abigail, which adds great conflict to the story. I also really liked Ben. From the outside looking in, he looks perfect, but I liked seeing from his perspective and that he actually isn't perfect. Yes, he's a good guy, but he's not just a caricature of the "perfect guy." Also, I really liked Abigail's group of friends! The Dregs are so great. Each of their personalities shine in different ways. I enjoyed Harvard, too. He is sometimes a tool, but it's also surprisingly good natured and is a good friend to Ben. And surprisingly, there were times I liked Serena, even though she is the antagonist of the story and it's usually a stuck up jerk. But I like it when the "bad guys" aren't actually all bad and you can see some good in them.

I also really liked the multi-cultural aspect to Pruitt Prep. It was particularly relatable to me because Asians were are pretty good chunk of my high school population, so I enjoyed seeing that in this book. And I loved that Ben is Korean and peeking in on some of his family's culture. I guess this helped everyone feel more real to me, and not cookie cutter.

And, it's clean! No cursing (that I remember). No sex--some mild innuendo. Mild kissing. It's so nice to read a book where the content isn't something I have to worry about--another reason why I'll read more books by this author.

So yeah, I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this genre. I really don't have any complaints about this book. It's great. It's been awhile since I've felt so enthusiastic about a new author!
Profile Image for Drew.
18 reviews
August 8, 2020
I rate a book highly if it makes me stay up until the wee hours of the morning to continue reading. This book did just that.

When I heard this was a book for fans of Kdramas, that made me hit "buy" right there and then. Now, I've read some other books with similar tag lines, and while fun to read, were too fluffy or sugar coated for me to really enjoy. This book was so refreshing because it was written so well and the characters are really fleshed out. I loved the dialogue between everyone and it flowed without feeling forced or stalled.

This is a high school drama, so a few of their decisions will have you rolling your eyes in frustration, but that's typical for people still learning how to handle emotions, challenges, and well, life. You make mistakes, you try to fix things, you give in to peer pressure, and you forgive.

I enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to the next installment. It was fun and a bit of fresh air among the gloom of quarantine that made me laugh and smile.
Profile Image for Cindy.
1,393 reviews
November 8, 2021
When I started reading this book (that I saw recommended on Bookstagram) I wasn't really enjoying it. I had almost written it off as a generic rich kids high school romance, and then it all changed. Instead of that it was:

A discussion of the pressure some kids face to achieve academic perfection
An example of how easy it is for kids to automatically divide alone socioeconomic lines, especially when one group of parents knows each other
A beautiful description of a Korean mourning ceremony
Fun pranks
Heartwarming conclusion showing what happens when people get to know each other

In the end there was a romantic happily ever after, sure. But it was the rest that made this book stand out for me.
Profile Image for Angie Taylor.
Author 8 books50 followers
August 20, 2020
This book was practically perfect in every way! All of the characters were so endearing. Abigail was hilarious and adorable, and Ben was easy to fall for. All of the Dregs and Elites felt like my best friends and enemies. The plot was so well developed with everything fitting together wonderfully. And the writing was so, dang, fun! I laughed so many times. I cried a couple of times, and my stomach got all the jittery feels because the YA romance was perfect and tilted my adult world back in time to the magic of high school crushes. This would make the best high school rom com! Such a fabulously fun read.
Profile Image for Trish.
315 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2020
Once you suspend the idea that Pruitt Prep doesn't exist (physically or socially), it is a delight to get lost in this world where K-drama comes to life. All the aspects of why I love watching k-dramas is present. There is just fun and butterflies watching the characters interact and their stories unfold. I was giggling from the start without being beset by too much teenage snark. It was just fun to read.
Profile Image for Natalie.
104 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2020
A fun read

This was a fun and relatable read. I loved how this book included some Asian (specifically Korean) culture and realistic characters who each had their own unique personalities and problems. There were some hilarious parts in the book that made me laugh, mainly to do with Abigail's sassy attitude and her inner thoughts. I'm looking forward to reading about Hannah's story next!!
Profile Image for Sam.
529 reviews28 followers
July 20, 2020
I loved this story SO much! I loved Abigail's tenacity and loyalty to her friends. It was easy to feel what she was feeling, she was a really relatable character. And Ben. BEN. I loved the way his mind worked and enjoyed following the antics that ensued after he found Abigail's journal. Well worth the read, and so much fun!
Profile Image for Robin Ambrose.
49 reviews58 followers
July 20, 2020
A great escape from 2020

Loved it! Who can't relate to harboring an impossible crush? While I've never kept a secret journal filled only with pictures and notes about my crush, or makes a lot of sense why Abigail needs this diversion to distract herself from her absent father. I love this first book in this exciting new series, and can't wait for the next one.
Profile Image for Tamera Westhoff.
1,091 reviews6 followers
July 26, 2020
Teen Romance

It was kinda funny, but a rude kind if funny, so I didn’t love it. The teens see bullying often, get revenge, and swear under their breath. It makes rich people into snobs (especially the parents), and there are a lot of prejudices in it, but I was happy with how it ended and I’m still curious what will happen in the next book.
Profile Image for Crystal Brinkerhoff.
Author 2 books6 followers
September 3, 2020
I didn't get anything else done because I was reading all day!

I LOVED this book! I blew through it in a day because I couldn't put it down. I love me a good, light, fluffy romance, but this was not that. It was deep and emotional and funny. I was laughing one minute and in agony the next. Abigail goes on a ride and I was here for every second of it!
4 reviews
September 6, 2020
I loved this book. It was different than anything I have read lately and I couldn’t put it down! It grabbed me with the first line. I wish I could have given it 5 stars but at 79% a conversation happens that I strongly disagree with. You are not your parents and if you choose to hate a parent you do not hate yourself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Tinkerbell.
453 reviews4 followers
June 2, 2022
Oh my gosh, I loved this book! The story was engaging, and the writing was fresh and funny. The storyline tied up in all sorts of unexpected ways, which I found delightful. If you are looking for a fun YA romance, pick this one up!

And FYI I normally don't get in to romances as a series, but I would ABSOLUTELY read the next one from this author, series or no.
Profile Image for Amber Humphries.
886 reviews9 followers
July 21, 2020
I give this book a 3.5. This book was actually a lot of fun. The romance had just the right amount of depth to make it sincere. Thankfully it was more then just two people looking at each other and then love instantly happens. I liked it enough that i will be watching for the next in the series.
Profile Image for Christina Li.
Author 8 books9 followers
September 19, 2020
Fun romance

Hilarious clean, teen romance. The author did a great job capturing what it's like to be in high school in love with someone you think is beyond you. Can't wait for the next one to come out. I'll be following this author.
Profile Image for Tayo.
586 reviews24 followers
September 26, 2023
Um where is book 2?

I absolutely loved this - so much I lost sleep to finish it.

This plot could have been an absolute disaster, yet Liechty scored a slamdunk by striking just the right tone.
Full spoilers.

Abigail is obsessed with Ben, a student in her grade who doesn't know she exists. (And he actually doesn't know she exists). She's so obsessed that she keeps a journal of him. One with drawings and daily updates on what Ben eats, what Ben wears how Ben smiles. So imagine her horror when one day she loses this journal.

Enter Ben. Ben is at the top of his class and he does so by studying all the time. He's preoccupied with this and doesn't necessarily notice others around him. Imagine when he stumbles upon this journal that's all about him.

For this to work it can't feel as creepy as it actually is. And it doesn't. Abigail acknowledges all throughout that she's being creepy and Ben agrees that it's creepy. If Abigail at any point had felt justified in her behaviour this would have all fell apart. If Ben had felt flattered it would have felt unrealistic. Yet the perfect balance was struck and it all came across as entirely humorous.

So Ben finds this journal and is naturally curious as to who is obsessed with him and if he, you know, needs to get the cops involved. So he contacts her under an alias to find out more about her, which leads to...blackmail. Abigail wants her journal back and Ben (ala Prescott) won't return it to her unless she undergoes certain challenges for example sitting with Ben at lunch. Abigail is not amused.

Which brings me to 2 major things I loved in this book.

- Characterisation!! Everyone, everyone! feels super fleshed out in this book. For example Abigail. Form the outside looking in, you would think that Abigail was this wilting, repressed, shy wallflower. I mean she keeps a journal of a guy she's never spoken to. But she's not. She's incredible sharp, a lot stubborn, super loyal and is willing to stick it to bullies when they come up against her. This is a girl who frequently goes toe to toe with the "Elites" of her grade. The supporting characters as well are all given great service. Even characters who are not exactly likable are given backstory and motivations and growth, and moments of levity and humour - excellent!

- Tone!!! This book is funny! It takes a pretty tricky plot, lands it, and in style. I was often laughing out loud through this whole read. Abigail's journal is funny Ben's reaction is funny. "Prescott" essentially daring Abigail to sit with Ben at lunch was humorous. And yet nothing went over the top to the point of ridiculousness, it still felt somehow grounded. Which leads me to the next point I loved which was....

Accountability!!!! One of my favourite things in books, especially when the characters are thinking or doing questionable things is accountability. A lack of accountability is enough to make an otherwise great read a terrible read for me due to the lack of emotional or tangible closure. This was not a problem in this. This had tons of self- and external accountability. For example, Abigail knows her journal is creepy, and also no one else is telling her otherwise. Excellent, because this grounds the story in reality. Imagine if her best friend Hannah was telling her that it's a normal thing to do, is draw a practical stranger over and over, it would make you dislike Hannah and also make the whole book ridiculous.
My favourite moments of accountability actually came with Ben. Ben initially takes on an alias so her can find out about this girl who's crushing on him hard, to figure out why she's so obsessed with him. It's not from a place a malice, but curiosity. Yet, he quickly crosses over the line. His initially curiosity turns into a little bit of...manipulation? He uses the journal against Abigail to get her to to things, and then he uses the Prescott connection to then get to know her better. There's a lot of emotional consequences, and he's completely oblivious to it. In comes Harvard, Ben's friend and roommate who calls it out. What I love is that there is zero love lost between Harvard and Abigail, he doesn't address Ben's errors for her sake but from an objective point of view.

“Unless she's full psychotic, crushes change. Especially if what she likes about you changes. She thinks you're this awesome, sweet guy. Mr. Perfect. But what will she think about a guy who pretended to be someone else? What will she think about a guy who forced her into embarrassing situations for no apparent reason? On top of that, when she finds out the subject of her journal has her journal?”


Ben's sister also has a great moment when the truth comes out and Ben is scrambling where she gives it straight about why Abigail is justified in her anger and Ben can't rush that process for his own sake.
Brilliant.

There are other themes interwoven with the story, particularly on family. Abigail's relationship with her parents, Ben's family, even the family dynamics of the supporting characters.
Yet nothing felt rushed, nothing felt irrelevant or superfluous.

Need I say more - I enjoyed this thoroughly, and will wait with bated breath for book 2. Why is it not out yet?!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Shannen.
157 reviews2 followers
July 21, 2020
This was a fun read! I look forward to the next one!
Profile Image for Taffy.
983 reviews62 followers
August 23, 2020
Opening line:
"Benjamin Song sat on the other side of the room, an approximate length of 50 yards or about 75 steps."

Lovedlovelove this book!
529 reviews2 followers
January 11, 2022
This was a cute, fun read. I love the relationships between Abigail and the kids at school, especially Ben. I look forward to the second in the series.
Profile Image for Tiffany.
333 reviews11 followers
October 2, 2023
Constantly offensive. Read this to screen it for my daughter. Didn’t like it.
Profile Image for Dani.
146 reviews
June 24, 2024
A good YA novel about crushes in high school and what happens when the most terrifying thing happens- they find out!
Profile Image for Kat Todd.
272 reviews2 followers
April 2, 2024
A Korean Drama set in an high-end School in the U.S., romance, drama, and plenty of secrets, need I say more?!

I greatly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to any romance lover!
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews

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