The Innocents by Lili Peloquin

The Innocents (Innocents, #1)

by Lili Peloquin

Even the innocent don't kiss and tell...

“…the quick pacing will keep readers engrossed in this series kickoff as Alice and Charlie try to sort through the soap opera that is their new lives and figure out who they can trust. It’s Gossip Girl for Connecticut’s Gold Coast.” –Publishers Weekly

 
The Innocents weaves a saga of nail-biting drama, breathless romance, and gothic mystery perfect for fans of ABC's Revenge.
 

Though they share the same blood, Alice and Charlie couldn’t be more different. Alice is older (by one year and one day), shy and reserved, a cool blonde, a painter, a reader, a thinker. Charlie is feisty and uninhibited, a wild brunette, the kind of girl who punches a bully right in the mouth. They hate each other. They love each other. They stand by each other, when no one else will. They’re sisters.

Then their parents divorce. Soon, Alice, Charlie, and their mother are leaving their old life behind. They’re saying goodbye to their cramped Cambridge apartment and driving along the rocky Connecticut coastline—to their stepfather's summer estate in the wealthy town of Serenity Point.

The minute they drive through the gates, they wish they never had. Their arrival reopens old wounds, memories of lost loves, best friends—and bitter rivals. The people of Serenity Point thought the past was dead and buried. They were wrong.

Reviewed by Angie on

3 of 5 stars

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I had absolutely no expectations going into this one, which was kind of nice, since I couldn't be disappointed. In fact, I hadn't even heard of The Innocents until I won a prize pack of ARCs which happened to include it. It ended up being a pleasant surprise. It's kind of like Gossip Girl with a slight gothic twist. Alice and Charlie are moving in with their mom's filthy rich new husband. While Charlie immediately joins the popular crowd, Alice is having a bit more trouble. It also doesn't help that she happens to look like their step-father's dead daughter, Camilla. Alice also can't help but wonder if the story surrounding Camilla's death is true or not.

The first half of The Innocents reads like a typical YA Contemporary. The girls move to a new town, meet the queen bee, and spot some boys. Charlie who seems uber confident as she tries to fit in with Cybill and Jude is faltering a little under the pressure. Alice on the other hand is keeping to herself although she has her eye on Tommy, who happened to be Camilla's boyfriend when she was alive. Alice is also having a rough time getting along with her step-father. Is it because she reminds him too much of what he lost?

Then we start to learn more about this mysterious Camilla. She's not what she seemed, and I really liked these tidbits about her. I was hoping that more of the gothic, mystery vibe would appear, but it still read as pretty contemporary. The twist near the end wasn't really shocking at all, since we're given all of the pieces to figure it out. It's still a pretty good read, and I think I'll read the next one, since things about Camilla's death, and Alice's relationship with Charlie are still up in the air.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

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Reading updates

  • Started reading
  • 22 November, 2012: Finished reading
  • 22 November, 2012: Reviewed