Release Date: October 2013Genre: Contemporary Fiction
When and Where: Present day America
Protagonist: This novel has multiple high-school aged characters and the point of view alternates with each chapter
The Story: Beginning with an unexpected letter from one of the Phoenix Five, Pretenders follows the freshman year of the top five students of the school. Each character represents a specific high school stereotype, including a jock, a home schooled nerd, an over-achiever, a loner, and a drama queen. Each of the characters was tasked with keeping a personal journal by their English teacher, and the students completed the task with the understanding that no one will ever read the journals. One of the Phoenix Five is outing the entire group, however, and the reader gets to gorge on the drama and angst that make up these characters' lives.
Reaction: I don't know why, but I really found myself entertained by this book...perhaps I liked it because it fed my drama llama. The book is filled with the self-absorbed ramblings of five teens, has hints of romance, and definitely has all kinds of betrayal. Frankly, some parts read like a CW television show, and people watch and read this fluff for a reason - simple, mindless entertainment. Author Lisi Harrison nails the teens' voices, which really makes the book fun to read. I do think the author did us a disservice providing us with zero resolution to the conflicts in the novel; I'm not sure how much of a hurry I will be to pick up the second book when it is released.
If You Like... Gossip Girl or Revenge, you'll enjoy Pretenders.
Rating: 4
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