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    Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless
    Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless
    Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless
    Ebook304 pages4 hours

    Pretty Little Liars #2: Flawless

    By Sara Shepard

    4/5

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    About this ebook

    The #1 New York Times bestselling series that inspired the hit ABC Family TV show Pretty Little Liars and the upcoming HBO spin-off series Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin!

    Four pretty little liars have been very bad girls.

    Ever since the body of their former best friend was found, Aria, Hanna, Emily, and Spencer have been trying to figure out who could have killed her. But they’ve also been keeping some pretty big secrets…and now the mysterious “A” is threatening to reveal everything, including something so scandalous that the truth could ruin them forever.

    Perfect for fans of One of Us is Lying, The Cousins, and A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, this second book in Sara Shepard’s #1 New York Times bestselling Pretty Little Liars series brings new twists to the thrilling and magnetically compelling world of Pretty Little Liars, where everyone’s got something to hide, and no secret stays buried for long. 

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperTeen
    Release dateOct 6, 2009
    ISBN9780061975578
    Author

    Sara Shepard

    Sara Shepard is the author of two New York Times bestselling series, Pretty Little Liars and The Lying Game, as well as the series The Perfectionists. She graduated from New York University and has an MFA from Brooklyn College.

    Read more from Sara Shepard

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    Reviews for Pretty Little Liars #2

    4/5

    522 ratings35 reviews

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    • 4/5
      This book got a lot better than the first one. There weren't as many brand names dropped. But I felt that some of the things that the adults in the book did were a little ridiculous. As though the author didn't really grow up enough to know adults don't act like that. Overall though I did like it, and continued on to the next one.
    • 4/5
      Engaging and easy read. I'm really liking this series and it differs from the television storyline.
    • 4/5
      Flawless is the second book in the PLL series, and it's just as good, if not better then the first!I was really surprised at how good these books are! This doesn't mean that I had low expectations for this series, but I was just thinking it was going to be a book filled with girly drama and repetitiveness (with there being so many books in the series) but Flawless has so much more than that! It has suspense and cliff-hangers, shocks and twists and turns. Just when you think something is figured out...BOOM!, we don't actually know as much as we may have thought! And I absolutely love books like that! (I try not to think to far ahead while reading, and I don't like to try and solve things until the last minute - I love the surprises and the story telling me what happened.)Shepard obviously knows a thing or two about being a real "pretty little liar" or she is just a really great writer because she has these 5 girls written to a tee. Aria, Spencer, Hanna, Emily and Ali are all back and better than ever! Things are happening to them left, right, and center - things we haven't thought of - and we're hoping they are strong enough to pull through.Flawless will have you reading it in one sitting, and have you at the edge of your seat as we see the life of these Pretty Little Liars unfold in front of them. Secrets are kept, secrets are revealed and more secrets are being made. You'll want to get your hands on a copy as soon as possible!
    • 4/5
      Loving this series. It's creepy and fun. I also find myself switching loyalties between the four girls and forcing myself not to guess who A is. I can't wait to keep reading, I've been told that the reveal of A is quite a surprise.
    • 4/5
      I was pleasantly surprised with book two in this series. Book one failed on me on a few levels in the romance department. It's far from my favourite things to read; but I appreciate it when it's done well, and the Aria/Ezra, Spencer/Wren relationships just made me gag throughout book one; but what kept me reading into book two was the mystery, and the romance become much more believable and readable, which for me was a big deal. I applaud the author's ability to create and follow four (five if you include Ali) different but intertwined lives. The relationship between Spencer and Wren has fizzled when she becomes too needy; a flaw in so many girls I knew at that age who dated older guys, Emily's struggle with her sexuality, and Hanna's constant battle with her former self as well as parents who seem to have forgotten about her. Add to that the mystery of what the hell happened to Allison and who did it, and you have a great story that had me hungry for more. The only negative I have, which is minimal, is that the parents sometimes act more childish than the teenagers. When Alison's body is found, Spencer's parents keep ignoring her and treating her like she doesn't exist (her punishment for getting with Wren, her sister's bf), that was just completely unrealistic to me. Her parents are not shown to be closed off at any other points, but are quite attentive and focused on their children, so to have their youngest have to endure the trauma of her former best friend's body finally being found and attending her funeral with her old friends would most certainly cause her parents to act parental. Too often is seems like these four girls are raising their parents. Hanna's mother sleeps with a cop to keep her daughter's record clear, Aria's keeping her father's affair secret for her father, Emily's parents are racist, and Spencer, well see above. But as with book one going into book two and solving the issues I had with the romance, I hope that in book three this parent/child thing will sort out and become more realistic. The mystery is fully engaging; and the main reason I continue. Onto book three!
    • 3/5
      So yes, I actually started and finished this book the same day I started and finished the first one. Told you they were like potato chips.

      The author does a good job of keeping the mystery going, and hits almost exactly the same tone as she does with the first one, which is, I think, the biggest challenge of writing a series. The characters might be becoming a little two-dimensional, because they each have A Big Secret, and most of the book focuses on their respective panicking that someone else will find out. Most, but not all -- again, there's plenty of family dysfunction, inappropriate romantic relationships, and general scandal, although I should point out that (somewhat impressively) the books aren't actually explicit, despite the very adult themes.
    • 4/5
      Flawless immediately begins where Pretty Little Liars ends: the afternoon of Ali’s funeral service. Aria, Spencer, Emily and Hanna are still stunned that their former friend’s body was found. The police have reopened the case and now consider it as homicide. Each girl admits to receiving texts and e-mails from “A” and agree to disclose if any more are received. All four have secrets that they have kept from each other and the only other person who knows is Ali. Now Ali is dead and that leaves no explanation for how “A” knows all about these secrets.Flawless goes more in depth with each character and her back story. Spencer constantly feels inferior to her older sister, Melissa. When Melissa catches Spencer with her boyfriend, her parents shun her and barely speak to her. They are nonchalant about Ali’s death and hardly acknowledge Spencer’s grief. Feeling ousted by her family, Spencer resumes her relationship with Wren and soon her perfect facade begins to crack. Spencer also feels guilty about what really happened the night the Jenna thing occurred, but remains silent. Her silence may eventually put her friends in harm’s way.Hanna is desperately trying to hold it together. She no longer feels like the “confident, popular” Hanna, but more like the “insecure, overweight ” Hanna of years ago. Hanna continues to make poor decisions and tries to live with the consequences. Her dad is back in her life, but he comes with his soon-to-be bride and Hanna’s nemesis, step-sister Kate.Emily is trying to understand her feelings for the new girl, Maya. She begins to avoid Maya and soon finds herself on a date with someone she never considered dating potential. She’s also dealing with her ex-boyfriend’s hatred after he caught Emily kissing Maya.Aria is trying to get over her feelings for her teacher. She finds a new love interest, but isn’t quite sure what to expect. In the meantime, she’s also carrying the burden of the real reason why her dad moved her family to Iceland and realized the problem hasn’t gone away at all.So, you think each girl has enough to deal with, right? Well, apparently “A” doesn’t think so. “A” not only continues to send texts and e-mails, no, he/she has upped the ante and begins leaving notes on their car windshields, in their textbooks and at school. “A” is carrying out his/her threats and forces the girls to do the unspeakable to protect their secrets.Honestly, I can’t believe how much I like this series! It’s very quick reading and the more I learn about each girl and their secret, the more I want to know “A’s” identity. I’ve narrowed it down to two people, so we’ll see if I’m right. “A” definitely turned up the heat at the end of Flawless, so I can’t wait to see what happens in book 3, Perfect.
    • 3/5
      I watched the seasons on TV and the books are so similar that I guess I need to skip ahead so I am not bored! :) Like the story though.
    • 3/5
      Whoa. So different from the show! :o The first book was alot like the hit TV show, Pretty Little Liars... but Flawless completely shocked me. If you haven't been reading the books because you said you would "just watch the show" then you need to start reading the series.Flawless has unexpected twists and turns, Plenty of juicy drama, and last but not least, "A". "A" will feel as real to you as she must feel to Aria, Spencer, Hanna, and Emily when you're reading the books. She could be hiding on the very next page, With "A" you just never know. ;)"~Never trust a pretty girl with an ugly secret.~"
    • 4/5
      The drama at Rosewood continues. Spencer's love life becomes more complicated. Aria struggles to keep her family together. Emily attempts to figure out who she really is. Hanna is finally in contact with her father after four years, and she's hopeful that they can mend their relationship. But A is still on the loose and threatening to expose their secrets to the world. The girls believe that they've finally figured out who A is, but, of course, they've been wrong before.In spite of the series being geared towards teenagers, I still find it interesting. I'm looking forward to discovering who A exactly is (I have a couple of theories); the anticipation keeps building in each additional book.
    • 5/5
      I thought Flawless was the best Pretty Little Liars book yet. It was full of drama and the story was still mysterious. It kept me keep wanting to read more and more. One of their best friends has been found dead and they still can't get over it. Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer are still receiving blackmail texts from the mysterious “A.” More is revealed about Ali and the others in flashbacks. The girls find Ali had a few secrets of her own. And we finally find out what happened with Jenna, and more is revealed about the mysterious Toby. Too much drama and more to come. That why I love this book and give it 5 stars
    • 5/5
      I really like this book , well I think all the pretty little liars book are all kind of similar. Just because they are based on the television show. But basically they are trying to find out what happened to their best friend , and they get mysterious texts from "A"
    • 5/5
      I have read the whole Pretty Little Liars series and I have enjoyed reading every one of them. I never know what is going to happen next. This particular book I really liked because of the suspense and because I still had no idea who A was so I was always changing my guess. The four girls in the book are just as lost as I was and every time they think they might know something, they find out that they are completely wrong which is another reason why I like it.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed Flawless in the Pretty Little Liars series. I liked how every girl has their own story, but it intertwines with everyone elses. And how they are all so different, but brought together by their old, dead friend. It's cool to see how much people change in time, and that it's really realistic because I know people who were bestfriends when they were little, grown to be so different, but still friends by their old bond. overall great book.
    • 5/5
      I really enjoyed reading this book. It was so good I read it in one day.
    • 5/5
      Binge read the whole thing in two hours. These books are such a mind screw!!
    • 4/5
      I have a confession to make: this series makes me feel very guilty to read. I consider it my guiltiest of guilty pleasures. Why, you ask? (And, please keep in mind, I mean no offense with this review...this is just MY feelings and opinions about this series - I totally feel like if you love it with all your heart, that is great!) So anyway, why, you ask, is this a guilty pleasure? Because this is THE MOST dramatic, cliquey, high schoolish series I have ever laid eyes on. Based on past experience with books, I should HATE these books with a passion that burns brighter than the sun. Instead, I find myself strangely drawn into the mystery that is "A". Maybe be it is because I love a good mystery, and this is, admittedly, a well-written, twisty mystery...that also happens to be drama-filled and cliquey. Long story short, I am looking forward to book 3. I may not be able to puzzle out my exact reasons why I enjoy this series, but whatever the reasons, I'm going to enjoy the pleasure I get from this book. I do not support shaming people for their choice of reading materials, so no more doing it to myself...no matter how "guilty" the pleasure!
    • 5/5
      pretty good - makes me want to read more
    • 4/5
      I read Flawless right after reading the first book Pretty Little Liars. The ABC Family series had been on for a few weeks and I wanted to read the books as a comparison. And I was hoping to find out some of the secrets by reading ahead. The answers are actually slow in coming in this series, but it’s a fun ride. It seems like the first season of the show will include several of the books, but time will tell when the TV series comes back in January 2011.Flawless picks up right where the first book left off – the girls are attending their former best friend Ali’s funeral. Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer are still receiving blackmail texts from the mysterious “A.” More is revealed about Ali and the others in flashbacks. The girls find Ali had a few secrets of her own. And we finally find out what happened with Jenna, and more is revealed about the mysterious Toby.The story is still intriguing, and I enjoy getting each girls point of view through the alternating chapters. The characters are well drawn and flawed, but still likeable. They have issues going on in their lives that many teens will relate to – divorce, eating disorders, sexual orientation, perfectionism, and sibling drama.This installment is very suspenseful and shines a suspicious light on pretty much everyone. You may think you have it figured out, but the twists keep coming.The next book in the series is #3 Perfect.
    • 4/5
      Seriously, who killed Ali and who the hell is A???
    • 5/5
      Total fluff and trash, but I LOVE this series
    • 5/5
      I honestly didn't think book two would be better than book one. But I proved myself wrong. This is the best YA series I have read in a long time, and can not wait to start book three. I would have to say Aria is my favorite in this book. She had a fling with her teacher in book one. And in this one there are hints there might be something more about them in book three. She also is dating Hanna's ex-boyfriend, Sean, which Hanna is not happy about. Hanna in this book struggles to find herself and where she fit's in. She steals, takes pills, smokes, and is friends with a bad girl names Mona. Which their friendship fades after Hanna keeps secrets from her. Hanna is also having a hard time with her dad's new family. Her dad hasn't talked to Hanna in four years, but then comes back into Hanna's life after Hanna is caught stealing. Hanna's step-sister, Kate is out to get and make sure that Hanna isn't part of her new family. And Hanna and her mom aren't close. Emily has mixed feelings about her girl friend Maya that she kissed in the first book. Emily is attracted to her still, but she is worried about what other's will say about her being gay. So she tries dating guys. She starts a fling with Toby, who in the end they think is "A" who is sending them messages about the secrets they told Alison, but Alison is dead, and Toby's ending is tragic and shocking. And Spencer, she has the most going on. She has secrets about The Jenna Thing only her and Alison knew, and it weighs on her not telling anyone. She also has a hard time with her family who favors her sister more. Spencer also stole her sister's boyfriend, Wren from her only to have her sister steal him back and dump him to get back at Spencer for stealing him. These are awesome books, intense drama, and an amazing read!
    • 4/5
      So Ali is dead, her body was found, but A is still going strong with the notes. And now, instead of taunting, A is taking action. A threatens the girls, telling them if they don’t do what they are told, their secret will be outed. Aria is the first to find this out when her mother is told about Byron and Meredith’s affair. This is all going on at the same time as Foxy, a high class, super expensive dance. Aria goes with with Hanna’s ex, Spencer goes with her competition for valedictorian to make her family think she’s done with Wren, Emily goes with Toby, yes Toby who could possibly be A, and Hanna, well she doesn’t go until she finds out who Aria is with.All of the girls finally think they figure out who A is and they’re ready to bring him down. Of course, it doesn’t quite work this way.I didn’t love this book as much as I loved the first one. I am mid-way through the third book, Perfect, right now and I am starting to get frustrated. Aria’s secret is out, Emily’s is out and they are still not telling each other what is going on. To me, everyone is going to find out anyway. Just tell your friends so it doesn’t tear you apart when they find out through someone else.I do admit, I have NO idea who is doing this. I have a couple of hunches, but I am 99% sure I am wrong. This drives me nuts.After reading the first book and watching the first episode of the series, I decided I had to kick some major butt reading these books. The first episode was the first book wrapped up in an hour. Yikes! I only have the first four. That means I can watch the first month. LOL Maybe they’ll mix some of the other plots from the first book in. Maybe they’ll just change some things. I did like the show, there just wasn’t much difference between the show and the book. I knew what was going to happen. I loved the book, I should have loved the show, but I knew what was around the corner. I have decided no matter if I watch or read first, I always like what I do first better because it’s new.Back to Flawless, I give the book 4 bookmarks.
    • 4/5
      This is the second in the Pretty Little Liars series. I like the TV show and was only so-so for the first book. Fortunately, the TV show made me want to keep reading, because, wow, this book was intense.I don't really want to spoil anything, so I'm going to do a little compare/contrast with the show up to this point.The first book was essentially the pilot. There was one thing with Ezra and Aria that didn't happen until later episodes, but for the most part, everything that happened in the pilot happened in that book.In this book, a ton of things happened. There was the dance, we learned what happened with Jenna and Toby (although it's handled a lot differently in the book) and Aria's mom finds out Aria's secret.A in the book is SO scary and mean. It's basically the difference between Heather Chandler and Regina George. You don't want either one mad at you, but given the two, I'd definitely pick Regina. She's mean but it's not as malicious as it is with Heather.And what makes it scary is that you know that she's so close (in terms of proximity, obviously, not affection) to those girls, but you don't know who she is. That's a big psychological aspect that the show's largely ignored, I think.There are a lot of really major differences, too. A character dies in this book, one that didn't die in the series. (Yet, I guess; I haven't seen tonight's episode, obviously.) Aria's mom reacts even less well to learning the secret. Spencer and Wren's relationship is different. (And her parents are evil.) And while the series definitely implies that Hanna doesn't have the healthiest relationship to food, that is a major aspect of who she is in the books (or at least this one).
    • 5/5
      It was really good, and made you want to read more in the series.
    • 4/5
      You know that weird boy in the neighbourhood who lives just a few doors down from you? The one who randomly appears when you’re with friends. Sometimes you’ll see him riding his bike around the neighbourhood, and you swear he’s the creepiest person alive. Every town has one of them. In Rosewood, his name was Toby Cavanaugh. Sara Shepard’s Flawless, the second novel in the Pretty Little Liars series, takes you into the lives of four seemingly ordinary girls and their not so ordinary secrets. Emily, Aria, Hanna and Spencer come from different backgrounds and belong in different cliques. The thing that they had in common? They all used to be best friends with each other and Alison DiLaurentises.Everything seems to be going back to normal in Rosewood, until Emily, Hanna, Aria and Spencer are sent threatening text messages about their deep, dark secrets. Secrets of the past that only Alison knew and secrets of the present that only the girls themselves knew, but how is that possible? Alison’s been dead for 3 years. The mysterious “A” and the girls’ pasts are turning their worlds upside down: Hanna’s back to binge eating, Spencer’s family is ignoring her, Emily’s relationship with her boyfriend and Mona, a new friend she just met, are at an all time low, Aria’s family is breaking apart and things don’t get any better when Toby Cavanaugh’s back in town. Toby’s mere presence causes the girls to bring up “The Jenna Thing” again, bad memories and secrets that should have never been shared. With the sudden appearance of Toby and the terrifying text messages, the girls try to piece together the cause of Alison’s murder themselves. They reach the “obvious” conclusion that Toby is A, and that he killed Alison.Towards the end of the book, Toby makes a horrific decision that makes the girls feel even guiltier than they already do. The book ends with Emily receiving another text message from A stating that it’s not over until she says it’s over. I recommend this book to any teen, whether or not you like mystery books, but I recommend that you read the first book, Pretty Little Liars to understand the whole storyline, first. I think that the problems that Aria, Spencer, Hanna and Emily have to deal with are everyday problems than anyone can relate to: family problems, secrets being exposed, being popular, trust issues and relationship problems.
    • 4/5
      Very good continuation of the first book. Who is «A»???? l'm excited to find out.
    • 5/5
      I was hooked with the first book,and when i started this one, i found that this is even better.What i liked about this one, is that you can know more about the girls's emotions, for instance, Hanna's character, you can really feel what's she is going through the Bulimia thing,is really touching to see she's struggling so much and at the same time she's feeling weak. I loved every chapter, i found lots of differences with the show, some even better
    • 4/5
      Well, I can say this book shocked the mess out of me! Again, I started watching the show before I started reading the books. And this book is totally different from the show and what happened in the show. The show has it looking like certain people were liking certain situations, when in the book, it was a totally different situation when it came to those same said situations in the show.

      Some people that I totally adore on the show, I still adore, but will look at them a little differently now, even though I will still probably love them because even in the book, I saw where changes were still trying to be made on their part.

      Secrets are starting to be revealed in the lives of a few. Some, I already knew about, a couple I didn't. Those who were bitches, I mean,uh, not so nice people in the show, are still pretty much the same in the book. With the exception of one..So Far.

      When it comes to certain parents, well, they come off as even bigger jerks than they do in the show, and I didn't think that was even possible, but I was proven so totally wrong!

      I can say that I will be going on to the third book (which is sitting on my shelf along with books 4-6 as well), but I won't be going on in the series immediately. I realized midway through the book that I need a break from the series/books for right now or else I will end up getting bored with them. I'm not sure exactly when I will be going on to the next one, but hopefully within the next few weeks or so.

      These books are fairly short, so far, the first two books have been 330 pages or less. And Sara Shepard writes them in a way that makes you want to read them. The chapters are pretty short so far. Not much more than about 10 pages or so (give or take about 5 pages in each chapter).
    • 4/5
      Engaging and easy read. I'm really liking this series and it differs from the television storyline.

    Book preview

    Pretty Little Liars #2 - Sara Shepard

    1

    And We Thought We Were Friends

    Spencer Hastings stood on the apple-green lawn of the Rosewood Abbey with her three ex–best friends, Hanna Marin, Aria Montgomery, and Emily Fields. The girls had stopped speaking more than three years ago, not long after Alison DiLaurentis mysteriously went missing, but they’d been brought back together today for Alison’s memorial service. Two days ago, construction workers had found Ali’s body under a concrete slab behind what used to be her house.

    Spencer looked again at the text message she’d just received on her phone.

    I’m still here, bitches. And I know everything. —A

    Oh my God, Hanna whispered. Her phone’s screen read the same thing. So did Aria’s and Emily’s. Over the past week, each of them had gotten emails, texts, and DMs from someone who went by the initial A. The notes had mostly been about stuff from seventh grade, the year Ali went missing, but they’d also mentioned new secrets . . . stuff that was happening now.

    Spencer thought A might have been Alison—that somehow she was back—except that was out of the question now, right? Ali’s body had decayed under the concrete. She’d been . . . dead . . . for a long, long time.

    Do you think this means . . . The Jenna Thing? Aria whispered, running her hand over her angular jaw.

    Spencer slid her phone back in her tweed Kate Spade bag. We shouldn’t talk about this here. Someone might hear us. She glanced nervously at the abbey’s steps, where Toby and Jenna Cavanaugh had stood just a moment before. Spencer hadn’t seen Toby since before Ali even went missing, and the last time she saw Jenna was the night of her accident, limp in the arms of the paramedic who’d carried her down.

    The swings? Aria whispered, meaning the Rosewood Day Elementary playground. It was their old special meeting place.

    Perfect, Spencer said, pushing through a crowd of mourners. Meet you there.

    It was the late afternoon on a crystal-clear fall day. The air smelled like apples and wood smoke. A hot-air balloon floated overhead. It was a fitting day for a memorial service for one of the most beautiful girls in Rosewood.

    I know everything.

    Spencer shivered. It had to be a bluff. Whoever this A was, A couldn’t know everything. Not about The Jenna Thing . . . and certainly not about the secret only Spencer and Ali shared. The night of Jenna’s accident, Spencer had witnessed something that her friends hadn’t, but Ali had made her keep it a secret, even from Emily, Aria, and Hanna. Spencer had wanted to tell them, but when she couldn’t, she pushed it aside and pretended that it hadn’t happened.

    But . . . it had.

    That fresh, springy April night in sixth grade, just after Ali shot the firework into the tree house window, Spencer ran outside. The air smelled like burning hair. She saw the paramedics bringing Jenna down the tree house’s shaky rope ladder.

    Ali was next to her. Did you do that on purpose? Spencer demanded, terrified.

    No! Ali clutched Spencer’s arm. It was—

    For years, Spencer had tried to block out what had come next: Toby Cavanaugh coming straight for them. His hair was matted to his head, and his goth-pale face was flushed. He walked right up to Ali.

    "I saw you. Toby was so angry he was shaking. He glanced toward his driveway, where a police car had pulled in. I’m going to tell."

    Spencer gasped. The ambulance doors slammed shut and its sirens screamed away from the house. Ali was calm. "Yeah, but I saw you, Toby, she said. And if you tell, I’ll tell, too. Your parents."

    Toby took a step back. No.

    "Yes, Ali countered. Although she was only five-three, suddenly she seemed much taller. You lit the firework. You hurt your sister."

    Spencer grabbed her arm. What was she doing? But Ali shook her off.

    Stepsister, Toby mumbled, almost inaudibly. He glanced at his tree house and then toward the end of the street. Another police car slowly rolled up to the Cavanaugh house. I’ll get you, he growled to Ali. You just wait.

    Then he disappeared.

    Spencer grabbed Ali’s arm. What are we going to do?

    Nothing, Ali said, almost lightly. We’re fine.

    Alison . . . Spencer blinked in disbelief. Didn’t you hear him? He said he saw what you did. He’s going to tell the police right now.

    I don’t think so. Ali smiled. Not with what I’ve got on him. And then she leaned over and whispered what she’d seen Toby do. It was something so disgusting Ali had forgotten she was holding the lit firework until it shot out of her hands and through the tree house window.

    Ali made Spencer promise not to tell the others about any of it, and warned that if Spencer did tell them, she’d figure out a way for Spencer—and only Spencer—to take the heat. Terrified at what Ali might do, Spencer kept her mouth shut. She worried that Jenna might say something—surely Jenna remembered that Toby hadn’t done it—but Jenna had been confused and delirious . . . she’d said that night was a blank.

    Then, a year later, Ali went missing.

    The police questioned everyone, including Spencer, asking if there was anyone who wanted to hurt Ali. Toby, Spencer thought immediately. She couldn’t forget the moment when he’d said: I’ll get you. Except naming Toby meant telling the cops the truth about Jenna’s accident—that she was partially responsible. That she’d known the truth all this time and hadn’t told anyone. It also meant telling her friends the secret she’d been keeping for more than a year. So Spencer said nothing.

    Spencer sighed and turned out of the Rosewood Abbey parking lot. See? A couldn’t possibly know everything, like the text had said. Unless, that was, A was Toby Cavanaugh . . . But that didn’t make sense. A’s notes to Spencer were about a secret that only Ali knew: Back in seventh grade, Spencer had kissed Ian, her sister, Melissa’s, boyfriend. Spencer had admitted what she’d done to Ali—but no one else. And A also knew about Wren, her sister’s now-ex, whom Spencer had done more than just kiss last week.

    But the Cavanaughs did live on Spencer’s street. With binoculars, Toby might be able to see in her window. And Toby was in Rosewood, even though it was September. Shouldn’t he be at boarding school?

    Spencer pulled into the brick-paved driveway of the Rosewood Day School. Her friends were already there, huddling by the elementary school jungle gym. It was a beautiful wooden castle, complete with turrets, flags, and a dragon-shaped slide. The parking lot was deserted, the brick walkways were empty, and the practice fields were silent; the whole school had the day off in Ali’s memory.

    So we all got texts from this A person? Hanna asked as Spencer approached. Everyone had her cell phone out and was staring at the I know everything note.

    I got two others, Emily said tentatively. I thought they were from Ali.

    I did too! Hanna gasped, slapping her hand on the climbing dome. Aria and Spencer nodded as well. They all looked at one another with wide, nervous eyes.

    What did yours say? Spencer looked at Emily.

    Emily pushed a lock of blondish-red hair out of her eye. It’s . . . personal.

    Spencer was so surprised, she laughed aloud. You don’t have any secrets, Em! Emily was the purest, sweetest girl on the planet.

    Emily looked offended. Yeah, well, I do.

    Oh. Spencer plopped down on one of the slide’s steps. She breathed in, expecting to smell mulch and sawdust. Instead she caught a whiff of burning hair—just like the night of Jenna’s accident. How about you, Hanna?

    Hanna wrinkled her pert little nose. If Emily’s not talking about hers, I don’t want to talk about mine. It was something only Ali knew.

    Same with mine, Aria said quickly. She lowered her eyes. Sorry.

    Spencer felt her stomach clench up. "So everyone has secrets only Ali knew?"

    Everyone nodded. Spencer snorted nastily. I thought we were best friends.

    Aria turned to Spencer and frowned. So what did yours say, then?

    Spencer didn’t feel like her Ian secret was all that juicy. It was nothing compared to what else she knew about The Jenna Thing. But now she felt too proud to tell. It’s a secret Ali knew, same as yours. She pushed her long dirty-blond hair behind her ears. "But A also emailed me about something that’s happening now. It felt like someone was spying on me."

    Aria’s ice-blue eyes widened. Same here.

    So there’s someone watching all of us, Emily said. A ladybug landed delicately on her shoulder, and she shook it off as though it were something much scarier.

    Spencer stood up. Do you think it could be . . . Toby?

    Everyone looked surprised. Why? Aria asked.

    He’s part of The Jenna Thing, Spencer said carefully. What if he knows?

    Aria pointed to the text on her phone. You really think this is about . . . The Jenna Thing?

    Spencer licked her lips. Tell them. We still don’t know why Toby took the blame, she suggested, testing to see what the others would say.

    Hanna thought for a moment. The only way Toby could know what we did is if one of us told. She looked at the others distrustfully. "I didn’t tell."

    Me neither, Aria and Emily quickly piped up.

    What if Toby found out another way? Spencer asked.

    You mean if someone else saw Ali that night and told him? Aria asked. Or if he saw Ali?

    No . . . I mean . . . I don’t know, Spencer said. I’m just throwing it out there.

    Tell them, Spencer thought again, but she couldn’t. Everyone seemed wary of one another, sort of like it had been right after Ali went missing, when their friendship disintegrated. If Spencer told them the truth about Toby, they’d hate her for not having told the police when Ali disappeared. Maybe they’d even blame her for Ali’s death. Maybe they should. What if Toby really had . . . done it? It was just a thought, she heard herself saying. I’m probably wrong.

    Ali said no one knew except for us. Emily’s eyes looked wet. "She swore to us. Remember?"

    Besides, Hanna added, how could Toby know that much about us? I could see it being one of Ali’s old hockey friends, or her brother, or someone she actually spoke to. But she hated Toby’s guts. We all did.

    Spencer shrugged. You’re probably right. As soon as she said it, she relaxed. She was obsessing over nothing.

    Everything was quiet. Maybe too quiet. A tree branch snapped close by, and Spencer whirled around sharply. The swings swayed back and forth, as if someone had just jumped off. A brown bird perched atop the Rosewood Day Elementary roof glared at them, as if it knew things, too.

    I think someone’s just trying to mess with us, Aria whispered.

    Yeah, Emily agreed, but she sounded just as unconvinced.

    So, what if we get another note? Hanna tugged her short black dress over her slender thighs. We should at least figure out who it is.

    How about, if we get another note, we call each other, Spencer suggested. We could try to put the pieces together. But I don’t think we should do anything, like, crazy. We should try not to worry.

    I’m not worried, Hanna said quickly.

    Me neither, Aria and Emily said at the same time. But when a horn honked on the main road, everyone jumped.

    Hanna! Mona Vanderwaal, Hanna’s best friend, poked her pale blond head out the window of a white Range Rover. She wore large, pink-tinted aviator sunglasses.

    Hanna looked at the others unapologetically. I’ve gotta go, she murmured, and ran up the hill.

    Over the last few years, Hanna had reinvented herself into one of the most popular girls at Rosewood Day. She’d lost weight, dyed her hair a sexy dark auburn, got a whole new designer wardrobe, and now she and Mona Vanderwaal—also a transformed dork—pranced around school, too good for everyone else. Spencer wondered what Hanna’s big secret could be.

    I should go too. Aria pushed her slouchy purple purse higher on her shoulder. So . . . I’ll call you guys. She headed for her Subaru.

    Spencer lingered by the swings. So did Emily, whose normally cheerful face looked drawn and tired. Spencer put a hand on Emily’s freckled arm. You all right?

    Emily shook her head. Ali. She’s—

    I know.

    They awkwardly hugged, then Emily broke away for the woods, saying she was going to take the shortcut home. For years, Spencer, Emily, Aria, and Hanna hadn’t spoken, even if they sat behind one another in history class or were alone together in the girls’ bathroom. Yet Spencer knew things about all of them—intricate parts of their personalities only a close friend could know. Like, of course Emily was taking Ali’s death the hardest. They used to call Emily Killer because she defended Ali like a possessive Rottweiler.

    Back in her car, Spencer sank into the leather seat and turned on the radio. She spun the dial and found 610 AM, Philly’s sports radio station. Something about over-testosteroned guys barking about Phillies and Sixers stats calmed her. She’d hoped talking to her old friends might clear some things up, but now things just felt even . . . ickier. Even with Spencer’s massive SAT vocabulary, she couldn’t think of a better word to describe it than that.

    When her cell phone buzzed in her pocket, she pulled it out, thinking it was probably Emily or Aria. Maybe even Hanna. Spencer frowned and opened her inbox.

    Spence, I don’t blame you for not telling them our little secret about Toby. The truth can be dangerous—and you don’t want them getting hurt, do you? —A

    2

    Hanna 2.0

    Mona Vanderwaal put her parents’ Range Rover into park but left the engine running. She tossed her cell phone into her oversize, cognac-colored Lauren Merkin tote and grinned at her best friend, Hanna. I’ve been trying to call you.

    Hanna stood cautiously on the pavement. Why are you here?

    What are you talking about?

    Well, I didn’t ask you for a ride. Trembling, Hanna pointed to her Toyota Prius in the parking lot. My car’s right there. Did someone tell you I was here, or . . . ?

    Mona wound a long, white-blond strand of hair around her finger. I’m on my way home from the church, nut job. I saw you, I pulled over. She let out a little laugh. You take one of your mom’s Valiums? You seem sort of messed up.

    Hanna squeezed the bridge of her nose. Of course she was messed up. Her old best friend had been murdered, and she’d been receiving terrifying text messages from someone named A all week. Every moment of today—getting ready for Ali’s funeral, buying Diet Coke at Wawa, merging onto the highway toward the Rosewood Abbey—she felt sure someone was watching her. I didn’t see you at the church, she murmured.

    Mona took her sunglasses off to reveal her round blue eyes. You looked right at me. I waved at you. Any of this sound familiar?

    Hanna shrugged. I . . . don’t remember.

    Well, I guess you were busy with your old friends, Mona shot back.

    Hanna bristled. Her old friends were a sticky subject between them—back a million years ago, Mona was one of the girls Ali, Hanna, and the others teased. She became the girl to rag on, after Jenna got hurt. Sorry. It was crowded.

    It’s not like I was hiding. Mona sounded hurt. I was sitting behind Sean.

    Hanna inhaled sharply. Sean.

    Sean Ackard was her now ex-boyfriend; their relationship had imploded at Noel Kahn’s welcome-back-to-school field party last Friday night. Hanna had made the decision that Friday was going to be the night she lost her virginity, but when she started to put the moves on Sean, he dumped her and gave her a sermon about respecting her body. In revenge, Hanna took the Ackard family’s BMW out for a joyride with Mona and wrapped it around a telephone pole in front of a Home Depot.

    Mona pressed her peep-toe heel on the Range Rover’s gas pedal, revving the car’s billion-cylinder engine. So listen. We have an emergency—we don’t have dates yet.

    To what? Hanna blinked.

    Mona raised a perfectly waxed blond eyebrow. Hello, Hanna? To Foxy! It’s this weekend. Now that you dumped Sean, you can ask someone cool.

    Hanna stared at the little dandelions growing out of the cracks in the sidewalk. Foxy was the annual charity ball for the young members of Rosewood society, sponsored by the Rosewood Foxhunting League, hence the name. A $250 donation to the league’s choice of charity got you dinner, dancing, a chance to see your picture in the Philadelphia Inquirer and on glam-R5.com—the area’s society blog—and it was a good excuse to dress up, drink up, and hook up with someone else’s boyfriend. Hanna had paid for her ticket in July, thinking she’d go with Sean. I don’t know if I’m even going, she mumbled gloomily.

    Of course you’re going. Mona rolled her blue eyes and heaved a sigh. Listen, just call me when they’ve reversed your lobotomy. And then she put the car back into drive and zoomed off.

    Hanna walked slowly back to her Prius. Her friends had gone, and her silver car looked lonely in the empty parking lot. An uneasy feeling nagged at her. Mona was her best friend, but there were tons of things Hanna wasn’t telling her right now. Like about A’s messages. Or how she’d gotten arrested Saturday morning for stealing Mr. Ackard’s car. Or that Sean dumped her, and not the other way around. Sean was so diplomatic, he’d only told his friends they’d decided to see other people. Hanna figured she could work the story to her advantage so no one would ever know the truth.

    But if she told Mona any of that, it would show her that Hanna’s life was spiraling out of control. Hanna and Mona had re-created themselves together, and the rule was that as co-divas of the school, they had to be perfect. That meant having the best Instagram pages, getting the hottest Golden Goose sneakers before anyone else, and never losing control. Any cracks in their armor could send them back to unfashionable dorkdom, and they never wanted to go back there. Ever. So Hanna had to pretend none of the horror of the past week had happened, even though it definitely had.

    Hanna had never known anyone who had died, much less someone who was murdered. And the fact that it was Ali—in combination with the notes from A—was even spookier. If someone really knew about The Jenna Thing . . . and could tell . . . and if that someone had something to do with Ali’s death, Hanna’s life was definitely not in her control.

    Hanna pulled up to her house, a massive brick Georgian that overlooked Mt. Kale. When she glanced at herself in the car’s rearview mirror, she was horrified to see that her skin was blotchy and oily and her pores looked enormous. She leaned closer to the mirror, and then suddenly . . . her skin was clear. Hanna took a few long, ragged breaths before getting out of the car. She’d been having a lot of hallucinations like this lately.

    Shaken, she slid into her house and headed for her kitchen. When she strode through the French doors, she froze.

    Hanna’s mother sat at the kitchen table with a plate of cheese and crackers in front of her. Her dark auburn hair was in a chignon, and her diamond-encrusted Chopard watch glinted in the afternoon sun. Her Motorola wireless headset hung from her ear.

    And next to her . . . was Hanna’s father.

    We’ve been waiting for you, her dad said.

    Hanna took a step back. There was more gray in his hair, and he wore new wire-rimmed glasses, but otherwise he looked the same: tall, crinkly eyes, blue polo. His voice was the same, too—deep and calm, like an NPR commentator. Hanna hadn’t seen or spoken to him in almost four years. "What are you doing here?" she blurted.

    I’ve been doing some work in Philly, Mr. Marin said, his voice squeaking nervously on work. He picked up his Doberman coffee cup. It was the mug her dad used faithfully when he’d lived with them; Hanna wondered if he’d rooted through the cupboard to find it. Your mom called and told me about Alison. I’m so sorry, Hanna.

    Yeah, Hanna sounded out. She felt dizzy.

    Do you need to talk about anything? Her mom nibbled on a piece of cheddar.

    Hanna tilted her head, confused. Ms. Marin and Hanna’s relationship was more boss/intern than mother/daughter. Ashley Marin had clawed her way up the executive ladder at the Philly advertising firm McManus & Tate, and she treated everyone like her employee. Hanna couldn’t remember the last time her mom had asked her a touchy-feely question. Possibly never. Um, that’s okay. But thanks, she added, a little snottily.

    Could they really blame her for being a tad bitter? After her parents divorced, her dad moved to Annapolis, started dating a woman named Isabel, and inherited a gorgeous quasi-stepdaughter, Kate. Her father made his new life so unwelcoming, Hanna visited him just once. Her dad hadn’t tried to call her, email her, anything, in years. He didn’t even send birthday presents anymore—just checks.

    Her father sighed. This probably isn’t the best day to talk things over.

    Hanna eyed him. Talk what over?

    Mr. Marin cleared his throat. Well, your mom called me for another reason, too. He lowered his eyes. The car.

    Hanna frowned. Car?

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