How did I get the book? I bought it.
Genre: Contemporary / Mystery
First Impression: Twisted is good.
Synopsis: 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…
200words (or less) review: I’d been eyeing this book since last year and the pink spine was the perfect excuse to include it in The Pink Thing.
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.
Recommend it?
Not sure.
Luna's Little Library 