How to Survive in a Post–Pretty Little Liars World

Pretty Little Liars is over, and we need something new to live for.

Okay, maybe that’s dramatic, but if you’re a huge fan of the show or loved the Pretty Little Liars novels by Sara Shepard as much as we did, you need something to cure your series finale blues!

We’ll never be able to replace Emily, Aria, Spencer, Alison, and Hanna, but we were able to round up a few books, shows, and podcasts that are full of the same thrilling mysteries and social dramas that made us fall in love with PLL in the first place! Check out our best picks below.

via Giphy
via Giphy

Read these books:

One of Us Is Lying

One of Us Is Lying

What happens when five strangers walk into detention and only four walk out alive? You get the insanely addictive novel One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus. The book centers around five students who probably remind you of people you know from high school: the brain, the beauty, the criminal, the athlete, and the outcast.

 

By the end of detention one of them is dead—and according to investigators, his death wasn’t an accident. Did one of the other students in detention kill Simon to keep him from gossiping about them? Or is the real killer still at large? One of Us Is Lying makes you question how far you’d be willing to go in order to protect your secrets.

Little Monsters

Little Monsters

If you loved the murder-mystery component of Pretty Little Liars (like finding out who “A” is!), then you’ll love reading about Kacey, Bailey, and Jade in Little Monsters, a new psychological thriller by Kara Thomas that tackles themes like appearance versus reality and the power of manipulation among teenage girls.

 

Little Monsters follows Kacey, the new girl in Broken Falls. When she moves in with her dad and stepfamily, she is welcomed into a seemingly perfect life away from her dysfunctional mom. Kacey quickly befriends Bailey and Jade, but the friendship takes a confusing turn. Then the mysterious disappearance of Bailey leaves the community reeling. Kacey quickly learns that Broken Falls may not be so welcoming after all—especially to the new girl.

Genuine Fraud

Genuine Fraud

If you thought A was bad, get ready for Jule, the star of the upcoming psychological thriller by E. Lockhart. Jule refuses to give people what they want from her and her diabolical smarts keep people guessing at every turn. But how many lies are too many? You be the judge.

 

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Watch these shows:

Listen to these podcasts:

1. Criminal

If you lived for the mystery in Pretty Little Liars, then you’ve got to check out Criminal, a podcast that discusses the sociological, historical, even anthropological aspects of real crimes. Phoebe Judge has a similar style to Sarah Koenig, host of the wildly popular podcast Serial. The best part? Criminal episodes are short and sweet, making them perfect to listen to on the go!

2. Teens of America Radio Network

Listeners swear by this podcast because it covers tough topics that we all have dealt with in some way, like bullying, losing a friend, mental health, and divided families. We love PLL because it explores issues of our generation in an interesting way, and this podcast is a great way to dive a little deeper into those issues!

3. The Moth

The Moth’s mission is to promote the art of storytelling and to honor and celebrate the diversity and commonality of the human experience. Although this classic podcast has been around for some time, The Moth is always fresh, with stories covering a wide spectrum of experiences—all of them true and authentic, which we love!

 

Let us know what you think of these picks and tell us about other PLL–inspired favorites @GetUnderlined!

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