Review: Pretty Little Lies by Jennifer Miller

A little lie can change the course of everything. . .

Like every other eighteen-year-old in love, Olivia has dreams of spending forever with the love of her life. Luke is all she’s ever wanted – until she overhears something she was never meant to. In a matter of seconds, Olivia’s heart is shattered. Olivia handles it the only way she knows how - she runs- leaving behind her family, friends and the boy she loves.

Seeking comfort and an escape, Olivia finds it in resident bad boy Deacon. He’s everything Luke isn’t – and that’s fine with Olivia.

Now, seven years later, Olivia is older, wiser and headed back to Chicago looking forward to a fresh start and reconnecting with her best friend Pyper. What she doesn’t expect, is to come face to face with the boy she left behind and discover that even though she may have left, her feelings for him didn’t.

Can Olivia put aside the pain in her heart and trust Luke? Will the ties to her past ever let her go, or will she continue to let her life be affected by pretty little lies?


4 Star Review by Jen Hagen

Seven years ago Olivia had her future all planned out.  She was going to go to the same college as Luke, her high school sweetheart.  Luke and Olivia were deeply in love with each other…at least that is what Olivia thought until she inadvertently hears Luke speaking behind closed doors.  Olivia runs from her hurt, runs to another college in a different state, and essentially runs directly into Deacon’s arms. 

Deacon came into Olivia’s life when she was trying to find a new niche in her life.  Olivia immersed herself in school, parties, and drinking to forget the past and the hurt that accompanies the memories.  Deacon was what she needed at the time but now that she and Deacon have been together for 4 years, Olivia has seen her life in a new light and she doesn’t like who she has become. 

I want more.

I need more.

I deserve more.

Olivia is moving back home to Chicago…the place where her heart was broken and her life changed.  She has moved in with her best friend Pyper.  Pyper is determined to get Olivia back into the game and they have both signed up for online matchmaking and speed dating.  I really got a good laugh over these two best friends…everybody needs a friend like Pyper in their life.  Olivia is more reserved but Pyper is able to bring out the more daring side in Olivia.  Olivia feels comfortable doing these escapades with Pyper by her side.  These dating experiences will make you laugh.   

Olivia has never kept tabs on what happened to Luke after she left.  She knows that being back in Chicago holds a slight chance that she will see him again.  Out of all the ways a chance encounter could happen, nobody saw this being one of the choices.

“Hello, Olivia.”

 I remove my hand from my mouth, open it to respond… And throw up on his feet.

Luke was never able to speak to Olivia after his heartbreaking words had been said.  Olivia forbade everybody to talk to Luke after her absence.  He never knew where she went and had no resources to find her.  His parents were not supportive of his relationship so he had no money available to take his search to a higher level.  He carried on with his life as best he could.  Now that Luke has seen Olivia he has a mission to make her his again.

“Olivia, listen closely please. I want to make sure you hear me. I. Want. You. Back,” he says very slowly, “Make no mistake of what my intentions are here. I will not lose you again. I wouldn’t survive it a second time.”

Olivia is hesitant at his intentions, but Pyper is Team Luke and will do whatever she can to make certain that Luke and Olivia find that happiness that has eluded both of them.  Of course it helps that she can be bribed easily to assist Luke…

“Shoes? You bought her shoes?! Oh my god! Does she have no shame?”

Luke is a character that you will fall in love with immediately.  He made a mistake 7 years ago but he carries around the guilt of what he did and how that affected both their lives.   He had no idea how much Olivia’s life would change because of his words.

“Olivia, I will spend every day of the rest of my life begging you to forgive me. I will do anything you want. Anything. But please, all I’m asking is for your forgiveness and for you to just love me. Tell me there’s a chance, tell me you can get there, tell me what I can do.”

And that is why you will love Luke…he will do anything for Olivia and isn’t ashamed to voice his intentions or his love.   

There’s more to come from Luke and Olivia as their second book will be out soon.

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