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Pretty Twisted
Ros has a secret crush on Jonathan. Jonathan is massively hung up on Freya (even after she dumps him). And Freya? Well, Freya is a beautiful enigma. Even more so when she goes missing without a trace..."Pretty Twisted" is narrated in alternating chapters by Jonathan (16) and Ros (14) who meet online at a time when things are going sour for Jonathan. His stunning girlfriend, Freya, is away at college and they are growing apart - consequently, he is struggling with his own sense of identity. Ros is also experiencing some problems - one of her friends is dating an older man whose strange behaviour gives Ros cause for concern. Meanwhile, the local news has been reporting some kidnappings of teenage girls. So when Freya dumps Jonathan, then seems to disappear off the face of the earth, he enlists Ros' (somewhat reluctant) help in tracking down the girl he still loves. With danger lurking around every corner, their stories become inextricably linked in a way nobody could have predicted...
275 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2011
25 people are currently reading
430 people want to read
About the author
Gina Blaxill
8 books64 followersGina Blaxill wanted to be an author from a very young age - she started writing properly when she was eight and has not stopped since.
Gina lives in Essex with her family and two imperious cats and edits as well as writes. Prior to that, she worked in schools liaison, helping teenagers puzzle out the mysteries of higher education.
Gina lives in Essex with her family and two imperious cats and edits as well as writes. Prior to that, she worked in schools liaison, helping teenagers puzzle out the mysteries of higher education.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 73 reviews
July 2, 2011
'Pretty Twisted' is not normally the sort of book that I'd pick up and read. It's a modern, contemporary thriller narrated by two teenagers who seem to get themselves into an awful lot of trouble! The storyline is scarily realistic and as the story progresses, you believe completely that the events of the book could actually happen in real life and indeed often do. I was intrigued to read this one when I found out that this was the debut young adult offering by British author Gina Blaxill, who is actually only 24 herself.
The plot twists and turns and the motives of the characters are never certain until the end of the book. This adds to the sense of suspense and danger which is felt throughout. I was never quite sure who could be trusted as they all seemed to have so many hidden secrets.
The story centres around fourteen year old Ros and sixteen year old Jonathan, who first meet online. I have to say that I found some of the 'chat speak' difficult to read. Although these sections are reminiscent of how teenagers communicate with each other online, I did find these bits often spoilt the flow of the story and seemed a little clumsy. The two characters start to reveal things about themselves which they probably would never be able to do in real life and although they've never met they become closer and closer, to the point that Ros fantasises about Jonathan becoming her real life boyfriend. The two finally meet when Jonathan's girlfriend Freya goes missing and Ros agrees to help him try and track her down. I liked the fact that there is nothing sinister about their online relationship at all. Although Ros is first worried about meeting him, believing that he might not be a teenage boy after all, their friendship develops into something real and they do end up genuinely liking each other. Although the book definitely warns about the dangers of meeting people who you chat to on the Internet, it also shows that you can make friends this way too.
One of the things I liked most about this book was the fact that the writing and the events of the story are so realistic and believable. Gina Blaxill is a really fresh and modern teen voice and she has definitely tried to capture the feelings, emotions and experiences of young people in a way that the reader can really connect with. She's obviously researched her characters well and it shows.
If I'm honest, the plot didn't completely win me over, although I joined the unexpected twist at the end but normally I enjoy a generous helping of fantasy which for obvious reasons this book didn't have, so it did take me a little while to really become engaged with the story. Saying that, I'm still looking forward to seeing what Gina Blaxill has up her sleeves next!
The plot twists and turns and the motives of the characters are never certain until the end of the book. This adds to the sense of suspense and danger which is felt throughout. I was never quite sure who could be trusted as they all seemed to have so many hidden secrets.
The story centres around fourteen year old Ros and sixteen year old Jonathan, who first meet online. I have to say that I found some of the 'chat speak' difficult to read. Although these sections are reminiscent of how teenagers communicate with each other online, I did find these bits often spoilt the flow of the story and seemed a little clumsy. The two characters start to reveal things about themselves which they probably would never be able to do in real life and although they've never met they become closer and closer, to the point that Ros fantasises about Jonathan becoming her real life boyfriend. The two finally meet when Jonathan's girlfriend Freya goes missing and Ros agrees to help him try and track her down. I liked the fact that there is nothing sinister about their online relationship at all. Although Ros is first worried about meeting him, believing that he might not be a teenage boy after all, their friendship develops into something real and they do end up genuinely liking each other. Although the book definitely warns about the dangers of meeting people who you chat to on the Internet, it also shows that you can make friends this way too.
One of the things I liked most about this book was the fact that the writing and the events of the story are so realistic and believable. Gina Blaxill is a really fresh and modern teen voice and she has definitely tried to capture the feelings, emotions and experiences of young people in a way that the reader can really connect with. She's obviously researched her characters well and it shows.
If I'm honest, the plot didn't completely win me over, although I joined the unexpected twist at the end but normally I enjoy a generous helping of fantasy which for obvious reasons this book didn't have, so it did take me a little while to really become engaged with the story. Saying that, I'm still looking forward to seeing what Gina Blaxill has up her sleeves next!
December 25, 2015
3.5 stelle
Una storiella carina e piacevole che mi ha accompagnata in questa giornata. Forse sono un po' cresciuta per queste storie adolescenziali, però mi é piaciuta la leggerezza della storia e l'ambientazione londinese. Mi ha strappato un sorriso!
Una storiella carina e piacevole che mi ha accompagnata in questa giornata. Forse sono un po' cresciuta per queste storie adolescenziali, però mi é piaciuta la leggerezza della storia e l'ambientazione londinese. Mi ha strappato un sorriso!
May 31, 2024
Content warnings: murder, disappearance of a loved one, police interrogation, adult-minor relationships (yes, plural)
Eesh. The mystery aspect of this was pretty compelling. And I did actually enjoy the dynamic between the two leads. But there were a lot of aspects of this that were just kind of yikes-tastic. Namely, these 14 year old girls wandering around London in the middle of the night, hanging out with men in their early 20s, going back to their share house and making out with them. Sure, the girls lied about their age. But jfc nooooooo.
Essentially, this is VERY of its time and I would like to think that this wouldn't get published in 2024.
Eesh. The mystery aspect of this was pretty compelling. And I did actually enjoy the dynamic between the two leads. But there were a lot of aspects of this that were just kind of yikes-tastic. Namely, these 14 year old girls wandering around London in the middle of the night, hanging out with men in their early 20s, going back to their share house and making out with them. Sure, the girls lied about their age. But jfc nooooooo.
Essentially, this is VERY of its time and I would like to think that this wouldn't get published in 2024.
November 18, 2020
A mystery all in all that has you not expecting quite what's going to happen. Though it felt a bit cliché at some parts the book as a whole captures the readers interred in trying to catch the culprit.
The male protagonist, from beginning to end, was quite consistent with slight changes in personality, but not really greatly wonderful to keep readers interested in him wholly.
The book is still great though, definitely going to look into reading more of this author's works.
The male protagonist, from beginning to end, was quite consistent with slight changes in personality, but not really greatly wonderful to keep readers interested in him wholly.
The book is still great though, definitely going to look into reading more of this author's works.
July 11, 2020
Although, when I saw this book, it made it sound like an adult thriller, it is clearly aimed at the teenage market. That said, it is is a very good story that warns youngsters of the perils of meeting people they don't know and introducing them to 'stranger danger'. It is certainly a book I will encourage my (Not So) Little One to read, now she's nearing her teenage years.
January 24, 2023
Good story for tweens as well as teens and a lesson too ...
November 30, 2024
I loved it a lot + it made me rlly emotional at times. But i literally hated the texting scenes the way they typed rlly gave me the ick.
February 4, 2014
I've had my eye on this book for a while, and was really pleased when Panmacmillan sent it to me in the post. The story is about a girl - Ros - who meets a guy - Jono online. Their friendship develops, until Jono's ex-girlfriend, Freya, goes missing. So Ros decides to help Jono in finding her. The problem? There have been a lot of abductions around the time Freya went missing, and the police suspect that Jono has something to do with her disappearance.
The story is told from both Ros and Jono's point of view, which I thought really fit this story well - because you know Jono is innocent, and it really builds up the tension because you're constantly wondering if he'll be wrongly put in prison...and then there is also that niggling feeling of, what if he did do something, but the catch to his story was that he lied. But, it wasn't like that - which I think was bad in the sense that that could have been a really good twist to the story (hence Pretty Twisted?) but I'm glad it didn't happen because I wanted to like Jono - and I did.
I really loved the characterization of Ros and Jono. Nowadays, I tend to not like reading books where the main character is younger than me, because I can't get properly wrapped up in the story - but I found that I didn't feel like this with Ros, and could relate to her in a lot of ways - both when I was fourteen, and now. I'm pretty sure that a lot of you have guessed that I have made interwebby friends myself, and I know the feeling when people say "Oh, you met a boy? He's a pedo, don't meet up with him, he'll hurt you," And I know things like that could happen, but guess what? Me and my family went and met them, and I am still great friends with them to date. I'm not suggesting that is the best way to make friends, but I understand how irritating it can be when everyone makes assumptions. Another thing that I think the majority of the teenage population can relate to is how a lot of people believe it is not possible to be 'just friends' with the opposite sex - there is always something sexual involved. But it isn't that way, and that link throughout the whole book made it quite believable and realistic.
Another thing oddly realistic was the connection they had to the murderer. When you see news like that, you think, Oh what are the chances that that will happen to me? But then again, what were the chances of it happening to that girl? I think the novel brought across the fact that stuff like this does happen to people out there, and that is is real. I think the fact that obviously Ros or Jono would know the murderer was quite Murder-Mystery-Cliche - but I liked it because it shows what a small world it is, and that you don't know what happens behind closed doors.
Wow. I just read back that last paragraph, and I sound so depressing. But to wrap it up, I really enjoyed this book. It doesn't have your typical Girl-Gets-The-Guy ending, which I really liked, because too many books nowadays are based around happy endings, when the likelihood of it happening in real life is minuscule. I think Blaxill is a really good author, and I found this novel quite an easy read, so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who perhaps isn't a major booknerd but likes a good story when they do read. If that description applies to you, go and get this book now! You won't regret it.
The story is told from both Ros and Jono's point of view, which I thought really fit this story well - because you know Jono is innocent, and it really builds up the tension because you're constantly wondering if he'll be wrongly put in prison...and then there is also that niggling feeling of, what if he did do something, but the catch to his story was that he lied. But, it wasn't like that - which I think was bad in the sense that that could have been a really good twist to the story (hence Pretty Twisted?) but I'm glad it didn't happen because I wanted to like Jono - and I did.
I really loved the characterization of Ros and Jono. Nowadays, I tend to not like reading books where the main character is younger than me, because I can't get properly wrapped up in the story - but I found that I didn't feel like this with Ros, and could relate to her in a lot of ways - both when I was fourteen, and now. I'm pretty sure that a lot of you have guessed that I have made interwebby friends myself, and I know the feeling when people say "Oh, you met a boy? He's a pedo, don't meet up with him, he'll hurt you," And I know things like that could happen, but guess what? Me and my family went and met them, and I am still great friends with them to date. I'm not suggesting that is the best way to make friends, but I understand how irritating it can be when everyone makes assumptions. Another thing that I think the majority of the teenage population can relate to is how a lot of people believe it is not possible to be 'just friends' with the opposite sex - there is always something sexual involved. But it isn't that way, and that link throughout the whole book made it quite believable and realistic.
Another thing oddly realistic was the connection they had to the murderer. When you see news like that, you think, Oh what are the chances that that will happen to me? But then again, what were the chances of it happening to that girl? I think the novel brought across the fact that stuff like this does happen to people out there, and that is is real. I think the fact that obviously Ros or Jono would know the murderer was quite Murder-Mystery-Cliche - but I liked it because it shows what a small world it is, and that you don't know what happens behind closed doors.
Wow. I just read back that last paragraph, and I sound so depressing. But to wrap it up, I really enjoyed this book. It doesn't have your typical Girl-Gets-The-Guy ending, which I really liked, because too many books nowadays are based around happy endings, when the likelihood of it happening in real life is minuscule. I think Blaxill is a really good author, and I found this novel quite an easy read, so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who perhaps isn't a major booknerd but likes a good story when they do read. If that description applies to you, go and get this book now! You won't regret it.
August 11, 2016
Pretty Twisted landed unexpectedly on my doorstep and I was immediately interested as I hadn't read many young adult crime/thriller novels. However, as I started reading, I began to think that it was maybe too young; perhaps more suitable for a young teenager. The young adult genre is very broad: some books are very young and are unlikely to be appreciated by adults whereas others will be loved by readers of all ages. I immediately decided that it was also a little out-of-date because the main characters, Rosalind (aged 14) and Jonathan (aged 16), meet on MyPlace (i.e. MySpace, obviously). Do people even use MySpace anymore? Anyway, of course that’s not enough to ruin a book, but it did make me cringe. It was made worse by the fact that Rosalind used “chat speak” when talking to Jonathan (e.g. “my best friend is bein rubbish. shes suddenly become matey wiv this gang & wants me 2 hang out wiv them”). It’s bad enough being subjected to it on the internet, let alone in a book. However, I quickly began to realise that, actually, the scenarios were extremely realistic and reminiscent of my school years. It brought back so many memories. We all used MySpace, had stupid profiles with arty “emo” profile pictures, and I had friends that typed exactly the same way. Rosalind is actually one of the most realistic young adult characters I have come across in a while.
Pretty Twisted is about life as a teenager in England; growing up and discovering who you are whilst wanting to fit in with the crowd. Both characters are insecure and unsatisfied with their teenage lives. The reasons are honest and this meant that I ended up really enjoying this book. I particularly liked that the book explored internet relationships and challenged the idea that “everyone on the internet is a creepy old man”, a view that still exists today. It reinforces the idea that internet relationships can be genuine relationships and explores what these relationships can mean to those involved. This was a huge surprise to me and I think it’s a hugely important thing for people to realise. The book also offers some important advice for teenagers feeling unhappy with their lives. Overall, I think Blaxhill understood what it means to be a modern teenager extremely well. I applaud her for managing to describe teenage behaviour, feelings and experiences so accurately.
Overall, Pretty Twisted surprised me. It’s not for everyone and I mainly enjoyed it because I could identify with a lot of issues in the books. They may not be profound enough for everyone - you make think the issues are trivial and the characters immature, but I found them to be very real.
Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for sending me the book to review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
Pretty Twisted is about life as a teenager in England; growing up and discovering who you are whilst wanting to fit in with the crowd. Both characters are insecure and unsatisfied with their teenage lives. The reasons are honest and this meant that I ended up really enjoying this book. I particularly liked that the book explored internet relationships and challenged the idea that “everyone on the internet is a creepy old man”, a view that still exists today. It reinforces the idea that internet relationships can be genuine relationships and explores what these relationships can mean to those involved. This was a huge surprise to me and I think it’s a hugely important thing for people to realise. The book also offers some important advice for teenagers feeling unhappy with their lives. Overall, I think Blaxhill understood what it means to be a modern teenager extremely well. I applaud her for managing to describe teenage behaviour, feelings and experiences so accurately.
Overall, Pretty Twisted surprised me. It’s not for everyone and I mainly enjoyed it because I could identify with a lot of issues in the books. They may not be profound enough for everyone - you make think the issues are trivial and the characters immature, but I found them to be very real.
Thank you Macmillan Children's Books for sending me the book to review!
I also reviewed this book over on Pretty Books.
July 22, 2011
First thing’s first, and this may just be me, but I really didn’t find Pretty Twisted all that twisted; it probably is just me, but with that title I was expecting a bit more than the reveal that we got, which left me feeling just a bit disappointed and let down when I finished - it was clever and unexpected (until the last few chapters before the reveal when I guessed what had really occurred) nonetheless, and you will be in for a very good gripping high-octane ride if you read Pretty Twisted.
One thing that I really liked about Pretty Twisted was the characters - all of them, even the ones you weren't supposed to, and this was purely because they were all so unique, engaging and true-to-life - something that you rarely find in a book - and, most impressively of all, genuinely convey teenagers. The pacing of the story is sublime and you can tell that a lot of time and planning has gone into every aspect of the novel, and it really pays off to create a highly authentic plot.
The cover is pretty* unique too, it took me a while to like it, but I really do now. I also liked the stuff on A Levels and GCSEs, as they’re pretty relevant topics but hardly any UK-based book mentions them, probably because most authors are not as clued up as Blaxill, but I found it helped me to relate with the characters more and made the book feel more realistic; not that it isn’t anyway – virtually everything about the premise and storyline is thoroughly realistic, almost frighteningly so – from people going missing, especially teenage girls, to the character’s reactions; although there were a few events that were just that bit too convenient to be truly realistic.
A pretty* impressive debut – it genuinely didn’t feel like one when I was reading it, and the writing was great throughout. I found I couldn’t really be bothered (this is definitely me being my lazy self) to look at the date and time at the beginning of each new point of view to work out the timeframe of it all happening, so that bit, which obviously took a lot of careful planning, was lost on me, but if I reread it, I will be taking more notice. This point of view change was very refreshing and enabled the reader to see both sides of the same event, although sometimes I forgot who it was ‘talking’. The back and forward flashes were very good and power you to keep reading to discover what happens next – as the novel is pretty* addictive, you devour the story in a very short space of time, which probably contributes to my feelings of disappointment at the end.
*I apologise for all the ‘pretty’ puns, but I had to get them in there!
One thing that I really liked about Pretty Twisted was the characters - all of them, even the ones you weren't supposed to, and this was purely because they were all so unique, engaging and true-to-life - something that you rarely find in a book - and, most impressively of all, genuinely convey teenagers. The pacing of the story is sublime and you can tell that a lot of time and planning has gone into every aspect of the novel, and it really pays off to create a highly authentic plot.
The cover is pretty* unique too, it took me a while to like it, but I really do now. I also liked the stuff on A Levels and GCSEs, as they’re pretty relevant topics but hardly any UK-based book mentions them, probably because most authors are not as clued up as Blaxill, but I found it helped me to relate with the characters more and made the book feel more realistic; not that it isn’t anyway – virtually everything about the premise and storyline is thoroughly realistic, almost frighteningly so – from people going missing, especially teenage girls, to the character’s reactions; although there were a few events that were just that bit too convenient to be truly realistic.
A pretty* impressive debut – it genuinely didn’t feel like one when I was reading it, and the writing was great throughout. I found I couldn’t really be bothered (this is definitely me being my lazy self) to look at the date and time at the beginning of each new point of view to work out the timeframe of it all happening, so that bit, which obviously took a lot of careful planning, was lost on me, but if I reread it, I will be taking more notice. This point of view change was very refreshing and enabled the reader to see both sides of the same event, although sometimes I forgot who it was ‘talking’. The back and forward flashes were very good and power you to keep reading to discover what happens next – as the novel is pretty* addictive, you devour the story in a very short space of time, which probably contributes to my feelings of disappointment at the end.
*I apologise for all the ‘pretty’ puns, but I had to get them in there!
February 13, 2011
The fact that the events of this books could happen to anybody, it's really quite scary to think about. The novel is about 14 year-old Rosalind and 16 year-old Jonathan who meet on the internet by total accident. Both give off the vibe of being pretty lonely and the type of people who just don't fit in, so it's not totally unexpected when the pair begin to form a friendship.
At the beginning of the story, we are thrown into an interview between Jonathan and the police about his missing girlfriend, Freya, and it's at that point that I knew that I wouldn't be able to put down Pretty Twisted.
One thing I really liked was Jono and Ros's relationship. You'd find it odd, what with him being 16, and her 14, but I really liked the connection they had. It was so convincing and not the slightest bit creepy. I thought the whole age difference between them was portrayed really well and it was really nice to see a relationship that was formed on the internet, turn out so good, instead of say, an innocent teenage girl getting killed. Sorry to be quite blunt, but we can't deny the fact that it could happen in a heartbeat.
The narrative switches between our two main characters (Jono and Ros) so that we get to see the story from both perspectives. I'm really glad the author chose to do this, because we got to read the story from both male and female point of views and that can make ALL the difference in the world, trust me. We get to see how the lives of two different teenagers (who seem worlds apart and have more in common that I assumed) can tangle together so quickly and easily.
The beleivability factor for Pretty Twisted was really what did it for me though. You can tell that Blaxill has done her research and it has really paid off. The plot was scarily realistic and I loved the fact that instead of giving themselves the titles of 'best detectives in the world' and planning to find what has happened to Freya all by themselves, Jono and Ros didn't do that. They didn't suddenly turn into bad-guy-fighting heroes overnight (although that would be rad) but did what was right, even though Jono was quite obviously going to be a prime suspect in the investigation, as Freya's ex-boyfriend.
Pretty Twisted is, excuse for *actually* saying this but it has to be done, pretty twisted. Chilling, and edgy, it left me on the edge of my seat, particularly during the ending! Although, I would have maybe liked the ending to be a little more..twisty. It took me by surprise but hmm. Recommended for fans of Anne Cassidy and Sophie McKenzie!
At the beginning of the story, we are thrown into an interview between Jonathan and the police about his missing girlfriend, Freya, and it's at that point that I knew that I wouldn't be able to put down Pretty Twisted.
One thing I really liked was Jono and Ros's relationship. You'd find it odd, what with him being 16, and her 14, but I really liked the connection they had. It was so convincing and not the slightest bit creepy. I thought the whole age difference between them was portrayed really well and it was really nice to see a relationship that was formed on the internet, turn out so good, instead of say, an innocent teenage girl getting killed. Sorry to be quite blunt, but we can't deny the fact that it could happen in a heartbeat.
The narrative switches between our two main characters (Jono and Ros) so that we get to see the story from both perspectives. I'm really glad the author chose to do this, because we got to read the story from both male and female point of views and that can make ALL the difference in the world, trust me. We get to see how the lives of two different teenagers (who seem worlds apart and have more in common that I assumed) can tangle together so quickly and easily.
The beleivability factor for Pretty Twisted was really what did it for me though. You can tell that Blaxill has done her research and it has really paid off. The plot was scarily realistic and I loved the fact that instead of giving themselves the titles of 'best detectives in the world' and planning to find what has happened to Freya all by themselves, Jono and Ros didn't do that. They didn't suddenly turn into bad-guy-fighting heroes overnight (although that would be rad) but did what was right, even though Jono was quite obviously going to be a prime suspect in the investigation, as Freya's ex-boyfriend.
Pretty Twisted is, excuse for *actually* saying this but it has to be done, pretty twisted. Chilling, and edgy, it left me on the edge of my seat, particularly during the ending! Although, I would have maybe liked the ending to be a little more..twisty. It took me by surprise but hmm. Recommended for fans of Anne Cassidy and Sophie McKenzie!
June 25, 2011
Before I get to the aspects of this book that I didn’t like, which there are a few of, I will get into the good parts. The part of the book that I was expecting to like the least was that it was a thriller and actually, it turned out that it was what I enjoyed most. The idea surrounding what was happening so scarily real. Unlike some other thrillers I have read, where the plot is insane and unlikely to ever happen, this wasn’t the case with this book. People go missing all of the time and teenage girls especially and with things like this being in the media so often, it was a topic really close to home. The way the lead up to the main event was written was extremely realistic, tense and exciting all at the same time. Really, this was the only thing I truly liked about this book though.
Even though the main plot won me over, the rest, however, didn’t. Main characters, Ros and Jonathan meet online in a chat room and while this would have been current maybe 10 years ago, it isn’t really anymore. Maybe if they had met each other some other way online, it would have made for a more convincing and believable story. Also, I’m not altogether sure if a 14 year old girl who leads a quite sheltered life and seems to be pretty sensible would go and meet a guy she hadn’t even been talking to for very long. Ros was a girl who seemed to have her head screwed on so this part of the book didn’t really add up for me. However, I can see that she wanted attention and for someone to listen to her so I guess this could have been a big part of meeting Jonathan.
Ros and Jonathan, the main characters, were people I didn’t really like either unfortunately. Ros was a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes she would act really mature and sensible for a 14 year old and then at other times, she would be a complete idiot and do something which made me want to shout at her a little bit. Jonathan was slightly better due to the fact that he was a bit more complicated than Ros. Jono had hidden depths and talents and unlike Ros, has a very distinct and interesting voice about him. He is level headed for the most part but doesn’t mind letting his emotions show and I liked this about him. Jono was interesting mostly because he isn’t like other boys in YA books. He isn’t amazingly hot with supernatural abilities. He is just a normal teenager.
While Pretty Twisted wasn’t to my own personal taste, I can see many people loving it. With a tense mystery full of suspense and a crazy friendship between two unlikely people, it has a lot to offer readers who are more into this genre of book.
Even though the main plot won me over, the rest, however, didn’t. Main characters, Ros and Jonathan meet online in a chat room and while this would have been current maybe 10 years ago, it isn’t really anymore. Maybe if they had met each other some other way online, it would have made for a more convincing and believable story. Also, I’m not altogether sure if a 14 year old girl who leads a quite sheltered life and seems to be pretty sensible would go and meet a guy she hadn’t even been talking to for very long. Ros was a girl who seemed to have her head screwed on so this part of the book didn’t really add up for me. However, I can see that she wanted attention and for someone to listen to her so I guess this could have been a big part of meeting Jonathan.
Ros and Jonathan, the main characters, were people I didn’t really like either unfortunately. Ros was a bit of a mixed bag. Sometimes she would act really mature and sensible for a 14 year old and then at other times, she would be a complete idiot and do something which made me want to shout at her a little bit. Jonathan was slightly better due to the fact that he was a bit more complicated than Ros. Jono had hidden depths and talents and unlike Ros, has a very distinct and interesting voice about him. He is level headed for the most part but doesn’t mind letting his emotions show and I liked this about him. Jono was interesting mostly because he isn’t like other boys in YA books. He isn’t amazingly hot with supernatural abilities. He is just a normal teenager.
While Pretty Twisted wasn’t to my own personal taste, I can see many people loving it. With a tense mystery full of suspense and a crazy friendship between two unlikely people, it has a lot to offer readers who are more into this genre of book.
January 27, 2015
Pretty Twisted is an easy to read and enjoyable novel which had interesting and engaging characters and a storyline that kept me happily entertained as it twisted and turned its way along nicely.
Pretty Twisted is told in a double narrative with alternating chapters from the two main characters Ros and Jonathan who first meet online completely by accident. Both of them are in quite a similiar place in that they come across as quite lonely and without much idea about where they really fit in. When they meet they instantly click as they have lots in common and both depend on their relationship probably more than they'd let on.
Jonathan is 17 and living in rural Norfolk. His girlfriend is in London and his parents are forcing him to do A Levels he doesn;t want to do. He doesn't feel like he has any proper friends and spends most of his time trying to work out how to go and visit his girlfriend Freja. Ros is 14 and living in London and also a bit lost. She isn't cool, doesn't even talk to boys and has a group of friends who don't really treat her properly. In Jonathan she finds a bit of a hero and a bit of a crush to idolise.
To start with the two main characters storylines are separate except for their conversations online. It isn't until Jonathan's girlfriend goes missing that they finally meet and try to hunt her down in the middle of London. Things don't look good as other girls have gone missing and the police are sniffing round looking for a suspect and are particularly interested in why Jonathan and Ros have been spending so much time "stalking Freja". I liked that as the story progressed they became more and more intertwined despite the fact that the characters were little more than strangers at the start of the book.
what I liked most about this book was its believability. So much about the characters was done just so which made me think that the author had clearly done her research and thought about ensuring that the storyline was something that actually could happen. They don't suddenly morph into teenage crime fighters who stop the bad guy totally unaided. I also enjoyed the friendship between Ros and Jono and how it developed and changed as the book progressed.
All in a very enjoyable debut novel. I'll be looking out for the author's next offering.
Pretty Twisted is told in a double narrative with alternating chapters from the two main characters Ros and Jonathan who first meet online completely by accident. Both of them are in quite a similiar place in that they come across as quite lonely and without much idea about where they really fit in. When they meet they instantly click as they have lots in common and both depend on their relationship probably more than they'd let on.
Jonathan is 17 and living in rural Norfolk. His girlfriend is in London and his parents are forcing him to do A Levels he doesn;t want to do. He doesn't feel like he has any proper friends and spends most of his time trying to work out how to go and visit his girlfriend Freja. Ros is 14 and living in London and also a bit lost. She isn't cool, doesn't even talk to boys and has a group of friends who don't really treat her properly. In Jonathan she finds a bit of a hero and a bit of a crush to idolise.
To start with the two main characters storylines are separate except for their conversations online. It isn't until Jonathan's girlfriend goes missing that they finally meet and try to hunt her down in the middle of London. Things don't look good as other girls have gone missing and the police are sniffing round looking for a suspect and are particularly interested in why Jonathan and Ros have been spending so much time "stalking Freja". I liked that as the story progressed they became more and more intertwined despite the fact that the characters were little more than strangers at the start of the book.
what I liked most about this book was its believability. So much about the characters was done just so which made me think that the author had clearly done her research and thought about ensuring that the storyline was something that actually could happen. They don't suddenly morph into teenage crime fighters who stop the bad guy totally unaided. I also enjoyed the friendship between Ros and Jono and how it developed and changed as the book progressed.
All in a very enjoyable debut novel. I'll be looking out for the author's next offering.
September 19, 2011
This review was originally posted at Fluttering Butterflies
I wasn't sure what to make of Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxhill when it arrived. I hadn't heard of the book before and came to the story pretty free of information about it. I must say that I was slightly wary of this book before I started. Because as the reader we're not aware of just how twisted this book gets, I think I had built up in my mind a very horrible situation and all of that worry and build-up made me feel slightly heavy when it came to approaching this book.
Surprisingly though, Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill is a very quick and readable book. Despite some of the more serious issues, it didn't feel heavy to me when I was reading it. The story is told from two different viewpoints. The first from Jonathan, a 16 year old boy who is trying to adjust to life in a new school environment without the security blanket of his girlfriend, Freya, who has gone off to school in London.
We also see the story from Ros's perspective, a 14 year old girl, who begins chatting to Jonathan over the Internet. The two begin talking about life and music and Ros develops feelings for Jonathan and lies quite a bit about her age and appearance in order to impress him. Jonathan and Ros meet up rather unexpectedly, after Jonathan's girlfriend, Freya, goes missing.
I don't know. While the story is interesting, I just didn't find myself warming up to either main character. I did enjoy the many twists along the way in terms of what happened between Jonathan and Freya, as well as the mystery that surrounds Freya's disappearance, and I liked discovering the secrets that Ros in particular has been concealing. But I think if I'd had more of an emotional connection to either main character I would have cared more about what happened to the three of them.
I was afraid that this book would be all about the dangers and risks that are involved in meeting people online, but thankfully the author does allow us a more balanced view as some good has come out of it as well. As I met my husband online, as well as one of our closest friends, I'm quite keen on books that show the other side as well.
I wasn't sure what to make of Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxhill when it arrived. I hadn't heard of the book before and came to the story pretty free of information about it. I must say that I was slightly wary of this book before I started. Because as the reader we're not aware of just how twisted this book gets, I think I had built up in my mind a very horrible situation and all of that worry and build-up made me feel slightly heavy when it came to approaching this book.
Surprisingly though, Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill is a very quick and readable book. Despite some of the more serious issues, it didn't feel heavy to me when I was reading it. The story is told from two different viewpoints. The first from Jonathan, a 16 year old boy who is trying to adjust to life in a new school environment without the security blanket of his girlfriend, Freya, who has gone off to school in London.
We also see the story from Ros's perspective, a 14 year old girl, who begins chatting to Jonathan over the Internet. The two begin talking about life and music and Ros develops feelings for Jonathan and lies quite a bit about her age and appearance in order to impress him. Jonathan and Ros meet up rather unexpectedly, after Jonathan's girlfriend, Freya, goes missing.
I don't know. While the story is interesting, I just didn't find myself warming up to either main character. I did enjoy the many twists along the way in terms of what happened between Jonathan and Freya, as well as the mystery that surrounds Freya's disappearance, and I liked discovering the secrets that Ros in particular has been concealing. But I think if I'd had more of an emotional connection to either main character I would have cared more about what happened to the three of them.
I was afraid that this book would be all about the dangers and risks that are involved in meeting people online, but thankfully the author does allow us a more balanced view as some good has come out of it as well. As I met my husband online, as well as one of our closest friends, I'm quite keen on books that show the other side as well.
September 18, 2012
Well, this was definitely a different read for me! The storyline is very intriguing, once you start reading you will find it very hard to put down. But oh my goodness, talk about being confused, the start of the book was a bit of a head pickler but once you get a grasp on who is who and the storyline stops jumping from past to present so much it will end up being a highly addictive read. Another thing that bugged me a little was the amount text talk used throughout the book, maybe I'm just not with the times, lol! I loved the characters they were very out there, quirky and lots of fun to get to know. I really enjoyed that this was written in part from a male perspective, which is always a refreshing change in the young adult genre. The title fits perfectly as there is so many twists and turns that you really won't know what to expect next. I was racing to the end to find out what was going to happen, so this is definitely a real page turner.
Jono and Ros met by chance on the Internet, Ros is a 14 year old school girl and Jono is a 16 year old collage student who has a girlfriend called Freya. When they first start chatting they never could of possibly imagined that their lives would become so entwined in such a frightening way!
When Freya goes missing after she splits up with Jono, all fingers point towards him as the prime suspect. There is another missing girl and a body found in the surrounding area and it would seem the police would like to pin that on Jono too. So he asks Ros for her help to try and find Freya, to try and get the police off his back. But when the pair meet things start to come together and pieces of the puzzle start to fit into place, with shocking results. How could 2 people who have never met face to face before manage to become so molded together?
Well the ending is fantastic, I absolutely loved how everything slotted into place so seamlessly! I really wasn't in the know, I had everybody down as the suspect and I kept chopping and changing my mind throughout. So overall Pretty Twisted is a thrilling page turner that will keep you guessing right up till the end.
3/5 Stars
*Special thanks to Macmillan for the review copy*
Carly :)
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.co...
Jono and Ros met by chance on the Internet, Ros is a 14 year old school girl and Jono is a 16 year old collage student who has a girlfriend called Freya. When they first start chatting they never could of possibly imagined that their lives would become so entwined in such a frightening way!
When Freya goes missing after she splits up with Jono, all fingers point towards him as the prime suspect. There is another missing girl and a body found in the surrounding area and it would seem the police would like to pin that on Jono too. So he asks Ros for her help to try and find Freya, to try and get the police off his back. But when the pair meet things start to come together and pieces of the puzzle start to fit into place, with shocking results. How could 2 people who have never met face to face before manage to become so molded together?
Well the ending is fantastic, I absolutely loved how everything slotted into place so seamlessly! I really wasn't in the know, I had everybody down as the suspect and I kept chopping and changing my mind throughout. So overall Pretty Twisted is a thrilling page turner that will keep you guessing right up till the end.
3/5 Stars
*Special thanks to Macmillan for the review copy*
Carly :)
http://fictionfascination.blogspot.co...
August 1, 2011
While contemporary suspense is not my usual genre, YA or no, I'm glad I read this one. I became very caught up in it, very quickly, and actually started and finished it all in one day. Since I don't read suspense often, I can't compare it to other books in that genre, but the mystery kept me guessing right until the very end.
I also really enjoyed how the book was out of chronological order, so you get right to the protagonists' troubles, and then you get the story of how they got there. I had no trouble keeping track of when I was or what happened when, which would usually be an issue with non-chronological storytelling. I appreciated knowing the conflict ahead of time so I knew where things were leading up to, as well.
Where PRETTY TWISTED really shines, though, is the characters.
The entire cast felt very real and believable, especially the two main characters, Jonathan and Rosalind (Jono and Ros for short). What I loved was that Jono and Ros weren't perfect -- they made mistakes, they did stupid things for stupid reasons, a lot of the time they thought with their hearts instead of their heads, and sometimes they blew things out of proportion... just like real teenagers do. Jono acted like a sixteen-year-old boy, and Ros acted like a fourteen-year-old girl. The secondary cast was also very real and well-developed, but Jono and Ros totally stole the show (as they should have).
And they were so, so lovable. They were people I wanted to be friends with. I think the main reason I got so caught up in the mystery was because I really cared about the characters. Since the characters are always the most important part of any book, in my opinion, this book is a huge success in my eyes.
Again, this isn't my usual genre, and my opinion is very subjective, but I think PRETTY TWISTED is well worth giving a look. I can't speak to how it is as a suspense novel because I don't really have anything I can compare it to, but as a character novel, I couldn't ask for more.
I also really enjoyed how the book was out of chronological order, so you get right to the protagonists' troubles, and then you get the story of how they got there. I had no trouble keeping track of when I was or what happened when, which would usually be an issue with non-chronological storytelling. I appreciated knowing the conflict ahead of time so I knew where things were leading up to, as well.
Where PRETTY TWISTED really shines, though, is the characters.
The entire cast felt very real and believable, especially the two main characters, Jonathan and Rosalind (Jono and Ros for short). What I loved was that Jono and Ros weren't perfect -- they made mistakes, they did stupid things for stupid reasons, a lot of the time they thought with their hearts instead of their heads, and sometimes they blew things out of proportion... just like real teenagers do. Jono acted like a sixteen-year-old boy, and Ros acted like a fourteen-year-old girl. The secondary cast was also very real and well-developed, but Jono and Ros totally stole the show (as they should have).
And they were so, so lovable. They were people I wanted to be friends with. I think the main reason I got so caught up in the mystery was because I really cared about the characters. Since the characters are always the most important part of any book, in my opinion, this book is a huge success in my eyes.
Again, this isn't my usual genre, and my opinion is very subjective, but I think PRETTY TWISTED is well worth giving a look. I can't speak to how it is as a suspense novel because I don't really have anything I can compare it to, but as a character novel, I couldn't ask for more.
December 30, 2011
** For the full review please check out www.read2review.com **
The story focuses on the point of view of Ros and Jonathan, the two lead characters. Each section starts with an introduction to whose point of view it is written by and a date and sometimes a time. There are sections of emails and of text messages which were written in a different font so you would know what you are reading. It was very easy to follow and the story was very addictive.
Both a thriller and a crime novel in one the story is set around the disappearance of Freya Jonathan’s girlfriend, she becomes his ex-girlfriend as the story continues. There have been murders of three girls in the London area and Jonathan is worried for Freya’s safety and goes to visit her. In the meantime Jonathan encounters Ros on MySpace and they hit it off and become friends. He tells Ros everything about Freya and their relationship which leads Ros to stalk Freya. Also there are three college students who Freya and a couple of her friends meet in a pub and they take them back to their apartment. It all seems very complicated when you look at it like this but it’s not.
Gina has really focused on each character so they all have their own defined characteristics and personality. Each place has its own feel and is explained well so you can picture the area. I also love her video on you tube about the making of Pretty Twisted where she talks about the story and why she chose specific areas. I watched this after I had read the book. I don’t think it would have mattered if I had watched the video first as the story was so good.
I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see if Gina Blaxill will bring out more stories. If so I hope to be first in line to get a copy. I have a feeling that Pretty Twisted is just the start of what could be a fantastic literary career, and Gina’s only in her early 20’s! I’m jealous!
I give Pretty Twisted 5/5
** Read More At : http://read2review.com/our-reviews/g/...
The story focuses on the point of view of Ros and Jonathan, the two lead characters. Each section starts with an introduction to whose point of view it is written by and a date and sometimes a time. There are sections of emails and of text messages which were written in a different font so you would know what you are reading. It was very easy to follow and the story was very addictive.
Both a thriller and a crime novel in one the story is set around the disappearance of Freya Jonathan’s girlfriend, she becomes his ex-girlfriend as the story continues. There have been murders of three girls in the London area and Jonathan is worried for Freya’s safety and goes to visit her. In the meantime Jonathan encounters Ros on MySpace and they hit it off and become friends. He tells Ros everything about Freya and their relationship which leads Ros to stalk Freya. Also there are three college students who Freya and a couple of her friends meet in a pub and they take them back to their apartment. It all seems very complicated when you look at it like this but it’s not.
Gina has really focused on each character so they all have their own defined characteristics and personality. Each place has its own feel and is explained well so you can picture the area. I also love her video on you tube about the making of Pretty Twisted where she talks about the story and why she chose specific areas. I watched this after I had read the book. I don’t think it would have mattered if I had watched the video first as the story was so good.
I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see if Gina Blaxill will bring out more stories. If so I hope to be first in line to get a copy. I have a feeling that Pretty Twisted is just the start of what could be a fantastic literary career, and Gina’s only in her early 20’s! I’m jealous!
I give Pretty Twisted 5/5
** Read More At : http://read2review.com/our-reviews/g/...
September 14, 2011
Two strangers stumble upon one and other on a social net working site both are struggling with their lives. Things take a turn for the worse when Jonathan X girlfriend goes missing and the finger is pointed at Jonathan so he turns to the only other person he trusts Rosalind but she is hiding things of her own. Will Jonathan and Rosalind find out what’s going on before it’s too late.
I don’t normal read contemporary suspense but I found the story really easy to get sucked into.
The two main characters Jonathan and Rosalind worked really well together and the book showed both characters points of view.
Jonathan was a truthful character yet he finds it hard to be anybody without his beautiful girlfriends Freya without her his left wondering what to do.
Rosalind is from a Brocken home her dad is hardly around and her sister always doing her own thing. Rosalind best friend is now trying to push herself into the popular crowd and ros is left feeling alone and unwanted.
Together Ros and Jono find a friend in one and other.
All together this story was just brilliant the book was like a big puzzle and the more you read the more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. From the start you end up trying to work things out, who do you trust and where had the girlfriend gone but the author makes shore you continue reading to the very end.
I loved the teen writing style with lots of up to date text chat and smiling faces, I felt that I was with the characters the whole time and at a few points in the book I completely forgot the book was a work of fiction and not real like I felt it was.
Lots of character interaction and drama going on and all together a fantastic book!
I give the book 5 well earned stars
To sum this book up I would say
Up to date and twisted in all the right places so much drama it felt real.
For all Best book reviews please follow best books blog http://bestbooks1.blogspot.com/
I don’t normal read contemporary suspense but I found the story really easy to get sucked into.
The two main characters Jonathan and Rosalind worked really well together and the book showed both characters points of view.
Jonathan was a truthful character yet he finds it hard to be anybody without his beautiful girlfriends Freya without her his left wondering what to do.
Rosalind is from a Brocken home her dad is hardly around and her sister always doing her own thing. Rosalind best friend is now trying to push herself into the popular crowd and ros is left feeling alone and unwanted.
Together Ros and Jono find a friend in one and other.
All together this story was just brilliant the book was like a big puzzle and the more you read the more pieces of the puzzle fell into place. From the start you end up trying to work things out, who do you trust and where had the girlfriend gone but the author makes shore you continue reading to the very end.
I loved the teen writing style with lots of up to date text chat and smiling faces, I felt that I was with the characters the whole time and at a few points in the book I completely forgot the book was a work of fiction and not real like I felt it was.
Lots of character interaction and drama going on and all together a fantastic book!
I give the book 5 well earned stars
To sum this book up I would say
Up to date and twisted in all the right places so much drama it felt real.
For all Best book reviews please follow best books blog http://bestbooks1.blogspot.com/
July 22, 2015
Review can be found at: www.the-reading-pile.blogspot.co.uk
So, Pretty Twisted is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. Mostly because it doesn't have your sterotypical ending. The guy doesn't get his girl, and the girl doesn't get her guy, but another girl does get her guy... and Yeah. There are so many relationships in this book, it was a great idea of Gina's to not give every couple a happily ever after. If they were all romantic 'everything is perfect' types of relationships, I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much - despite me being a massive romance fan, I like the character's to go through some trouble at least! Which these couples definitely went through.
This Book is set out in multiple chapters -with clever chapter names- with two alternating (sometimes) POVs inside the chapters. Usually I get somewhat confused when things like multiple POVs are used in one chapter, but Gina made it so easy to understand the switch overs that it wasn't possible to forget whose POV you were currently reading.
Earlier when I said the book doesn't have a sterotypical ending, it most definitely has an ending that was perfect for the book. Pretty Twisted was, honestly unlike any book i've read before. There are a few similarities to books like 'Will Grayson, Will Grayson' but it's in a league of it's own.
I am hoping Gina writes a sequel, however i'm glad she's working on a second book. She definitely has a lot of talent, well that much was obvious otherwise she wouldn't have been published now, would she? If you're looking for something slightly different then pick this book up. But hold onto your seats, the story is about to get, Pretty Twisted.
So, Pretty Twisted is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. Mostly because it doesn't have your sterotypical ending. The guy doesn't get his girl, and the girl doesn't get her guy, but another girl does get her guy... and Yeah. There are so many relationships in this book, it was a great idea of Gina's to not give every couple a happily ever after. If they were all romantic 'everything is perfect' types of relationships, I don't think I would have enjoyed the book as much - despite me being a massive romance fan, I like the character's to go through some trouble at least! Which these couples definitely went through.
This Book is set out in multiple chapters -with clever chapter names- with two alternating (sometimes) POVs inside the chapters. Usually I get somewhat confused when things like multiple POVs are used in one chapter, but Gina made it so easy to understand the switch overs that it wasn't possible to forget whose POV you were currently reading.
Earlier when I said the book doesn't have a sterotypical ending, it most definitely has an ending that was perfect for the book. Pretty Twisted was, honestly unlike any book i've read before. There are a few similarities to books like 'Will Grayson, Will Grayson' but it's in a league of it's own.
I am hoping Gina writes a sequel, however i'm glad she's working on a second book. She definitely has a lot of talent, well that much was obvious otherwise she wouldn't have been published now, would she? If you're looking for something slightly different then pick this book up. But hold onto your seats, the story is about to get, Pretty Twisted.
June 19, 2011
I knew that I'll really like Pretty Twisted as soon I read the synopsis. It says it all. A girl goes missing and no one knows a thing about it. And so people go and try and find her. It' a mystery sort of book. Mysteries I love.
Pretty Twisted is divided between a girl, Ros and a guy, Jono. I loved Jono instantly. One reason? His geekyness! He's so cute and that his girlfriend, well ex-girlfriend, Freya transformed him. I was more than glad. He really sounded hot and sophisticated too. Ros is like one of those typical teenagers. She struggles through her friendships and than confides in another through the Internet on MyPlace- Jono.
Jono and Ros have their share of problems. I love how they confide in each other and how they be for one another. Especially, when Freya goes missing they both play a key role in getting her back. Though, even though Freya was a central part of the plot, I don't think we got to see much of her character.
Nevertheless, I really really loved this book. One tiny thing though, I'm not a big fan of the way things ended with Jono and Ros. Why couldn't- ...nope I'm not giving anything away. I'm sure it's pretty obvious though!Pretty Twisted is a hell of a book. Fast paced, engaging and pretty unpredictable, I found this to be a truly gripping read.
Pretty Twisted is divided between a girl, Ros and a guy, Jono. I loved Jono instantly. One reason? His geekyness! He's so cute and that his girlfriend, well ex-girlfriend, Freya transformed him. I was more than glad. He really sounded hot and sophisticated too. Ros is like one of those typical teenagers. She struggles through her friendships and than confides in another through the Internet on MyPlace- Jono.
Jono and Ros have their share of problems. I love how they confide in each other and how they be for one another. Especially, when Freya goes missing they both play a key role in getting her back. Though, even though Freya was a central part of the plot, I don't think we got to see much of her character.
Nevertheless, I really really loved this book. One tiny thing though, I'm not a big fan of the way things ended with Jono and Ros. Why couldn't- ...nope I'm not giving anything away. I'm sure it's pretty obvious though!Pretty Twisted is a hell of a book. Fast paced, engaging and pretty unpredictable, I found this to be a truly gripping read.
January 31, 2013
"Pretty Twisted" is about a six-teen year old boy named Jonathan, who is struggling to make friends at his new college now that his girlfriend, Freya is no longer around him. The only friend that he talks to is Ros, who he has only talked to online. But she decided to help Jonathan when Freya goes missing and Jonathan is the prime suspect. Later on, Ros starts to hang out with a girl named Claudia because Claudia wants to be closer with Abby who is very close with Jonathan. And finds herself lying to Jonathan just for her popularity. Jonathan, as a former computer geek, feels there is nothing wrong with having more people to speak to online than in real life. His parents disagree and are concerned by the amount of time he chooses to spend online rather than making friends with "real people".The issue for Ros's friends and family is more to do with online safety. His big sister Olivia and Abby are both concerned by the prospect of Jonathan turning out to be someone other than claimed.I found this story to be very readable and quite difficult to put down! I was eager to read as much as possible every day so I could find out exactly what had happened to Freya. I found it surprising that the story finally picked up it's pace towards the end, and this book is a must for teens who are into mystery!
May 25, 2011
Pretty Twisted was an amazing story one which I enjoyed very much. I don't normally say this but I could read it again. I will read it again as I think it could be the best book I've read yet!!
I really liked reading about Ros and her sisters relationship as everything worked out perfectly in the end for them.
Through the whole book I felt I could relate to Ros, and you will too if you read it. Gina's writing in the entire book was tremendous. Writing about two people meeting online isn't easy and I think the way the book panned out worked really well with the story.
I loved the ending of Pretty Twisted, No one could have asked for a better ending. Without me babbling on anymore and trying really hard to not give spoilers away. Go and purchase a copy of this book. You won't regret it.
Click on the link below to see my inter with the author:
http://readinglittlebitofeverything.b...
I really liked reading about Ros and her sisters relationship as everything worked out perfectly in the end for them.
Through the whole book I felt I could relate to Ros, and you will too if you read it. Gina's writing in the entire book was tremendous. Writing about two people meeting online isn't easy and I think the way the book panned out worked really well with the story.
I loved the ending of Pretty Twisted, No one could have asked for a better ending. Without me babbling on anymore and trying really hard to not give spoilers away. Go and purchase a copy of this book. You won't regret it.
Click on the link below to see my inter with the author:
http://readinglittlebitofeverything.b...
May 14, 2011
At the beginning of this book, Gina Blaxill gives us an insight into what the book holds and what to expect. Through using two different characters and conveying the date and time, we are able to understand when events happen and gain two different opinions on the situation.
Blaxill has portrayed the characters so that the reader comes to know what personality they have. By doing this, the reader becomes closer to the character and understands the reason behind their actions.
Throughout the book, it switches between the main characters, Jonathan and Rosalind, so that we can learn about them both, and read about how their lives become entwined. And comparing both characters, you begin to realize what similarities and differences they have, creating a friendship that we see grow throughout.
Pretty Twisted is a book about growing up, differences and friendship. A must read for anyone who loves a bit of drama!
Blaxill has portrayed the characters so that the reader comes to know what personality they have. By doing this, the reader becomes closer to the character and understands the reason behind their actions.
Throughout the book, it switches between the main characters, Jonathan and Rosalind, so that we can learn about them both, and read about how their lives become entwined. And comparing both characters, you begin to realize what similarities and differences they have, creating a friendship that we see grow throughout.
Pretty Twisted is a book about growing up, differences and friendship. A must read for anyone who loves a bit of drama!
October 24, 2015
2.5 stars
Pretty Twisted has a good concept and Gina Blaxill expertly weaves the current events of the beginning of the story with how Jonathan ended up in the police station. The pacing is good and while Ros’s textspeak gave me a headache both central characters are teenagers through and through.
What I couldn’t get to grips with where the adults in this story. I apply that term loosely because while Jonathan’s parents were ridiculously trusting it’s the artist friends that Ros ends up with that really creeped me out. There is also inconsistency in Ros being really concerned about them while overly trusting of Jonathan.
I struggled with this story because there were a few too many instances of needing to suspend disbelief. By the end of Pretty Twisted I was left thinking that all teenagers are selfish, unconsidered and really dumb. It’s a pity because the characters undermine a story that is really promising.
Pretty Twisted has a good concept and Gina Blaxill expertly weaves the current events of the beginning of the story with how Jonathan ended up in the police station. The pacing is good and while Ros’s textspeak gave me a headache both central characters are teenagers through and through.
What I couldn’t get to grips with where the adults in this story. I apply that term loosely because while Jonathan’s parents were ridiculously trusting it’s the artist friends that Ros ends up with that really creeped me out. There is also inconsistency in Ros being really concerned about them while overly trusting of Jonathan.
I struggled with this story because there were a few too many instances of needing to suspend disbelief. By the end of Pretty Twisted I was left thinking that all teenagers are selfish, unconsidered and really dumb. It’s a pity because the characters undermine a story that is really promising.
August 31, 2015
Pretty Twisted by Gina Blaxill follows Jonathan and Ros who start chatting to each other online. When Jonathan's ex-girlfriend, Freya, goes missing in London, he sets out to find what happened to her enlisting Ros for help.
I bought the Amazon version for £0.20p back in 2012, so quite a while ago. Reading the blurb I thought it would be something I would enjoy. Also, I think the author is a friend of my boyfriend's family so I thought to myself "Hey! Why not?" I thought the book was good. It wasn't amazing or a book that I would recommend to others but it was compelling. I liked how the chapters alternated between Jonathan and Ros. The characters were entertaining and I liked how the story and characters all linked in together.
The only thing I didn't like was how unrealistic Ros was portrayed. She's 14 years old and it's hard to imagine her being as mature as she is portrayed to be.
I bought the Amazon version for £0.20p back in 2012, so quite a while ago. Reading the blurb I thought it would be something I would enjoy. Also, I think the author is a friend of my boyfriend's family so I thought to myself "Hey! Why not?" I thought the book was good. It wasn't amazing or a book that I would recommend to others but it was compelling. I liked how the chapters alternated between Jonathan and Ros. The characters were entertaining and I liked how the story and characters all linked in together.
The only thing I didn't like was how unrealistic Ros was portrayed. She's 14 years old and it's hard to imagine her being as mature as she is portrayed to be.
May 29, 2011
I really liked this book. It has alot of twists and turns and an interesting plot. The murder ends up being the person you'd less likely expect it to be. This story shows a modern take on life and its worries and problems, like meeting people on the internet, and people not being who they say they are.
I like that the story is told from two different veiw points, Rosalind's and Jonathan's, which gives more information, effect and the reader gets the feeling from more then one character.
The unexpected twist near the end of this book is amazing, clever and kept very secretive all through the book, without much of a hint.
I liked the name 'Pretty Twistted' as it suits the story and its plot really well and cleverly.
I enjoyed this book. Gina Blaxill has created a wounderful, page-turning story. xxx
I like that the story is told from two different veiw points, Rosalind's and Jonathan's, which gives more information, effect and the reader gets the feeling from more then one character.
The unexpected twist near the end of this book is amazing, clever and kept very secretive all through the book, without much of a hint.
I liked the name 'Pretty Twistted' as it suits the story and its plot really well and cleverly.
I enjoyed this book. Gina Blaxill has created a wounderful, page-turning story. xxx
July 19, 2012
I was intrigued by this book. It was far better than I expected from the blurb and quite different too. I agree with the sentiment that it's not actually really twisted as far as the story goes, but quite a few of the characters seem a little disturbed so it makes sense from that point of view. I actually loved the characters because they seemed so real and I genuinely got sucked into the story. In the end I guess it was them rather than the plot which was important, although the plot is still interesting and probably the main drive of the story. I thought maybe some of the circumstances were a bit unlikely, but I didn't doubt the realism so much that it made me dislike the book so that's a plus. An unusual and pleasing read overall
October 1, 2012
I picked this up in the library on a whim and I was pleasantly surprised with what turned out to be a really intense read. I struggled to get into it at first, especially with Rosalind's text slang, but after 50 pages or so I was hooked. The relationship between "Jono" and "Ros" plays out perfectly and the two sides of the story come together really well. I've never read a book about online relationships before and I think Gina Blaxill nailed it. The repetition of the risks was a bit overused but it was nice how two completely different people came together and ultimately became very close friends.
This book is probably for younger teens but I really liked it.
This book is probably for younger teens but I really liked it.
July 1, 2014
I loved this book! It isn't something I would normally read but I loved it and was glad I did. It was a really good read and I definitely recommend this one but DON'T READ IT UNLESS YOU'RE IN YOUR TEENS! I won't tell you why because it will spoil the book but it is inappropriate for people who are in Years 3-8 but as soon as you're old enough definitely pick this book up and give it a read. Basically what happens without too many spoilers this boy called Jonathan who is dating this girl called Freya, Jonathan decides to talk to someone online and finds Ros after something happens between Freya and Jonathan's relationship Freya disappears. Would Jonathan go after her or stay at home?
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