Pretty Little Liars

Aria was one of Alison’s best friends and is one of the four central characters of the book. She’s pretty with a “ballet-dancer frame, straight black hair, and pouty lips” (31), but has a hard time fitting in at school. Her parents always told her to be herself, but she isn’t sure who that is. She’d always experimented with different personalities, trying to figure out which one fit. She sometimes carries around strange, random items with her like Pigtunia, a stuffed pig puppet that her dad gave her. Her family moved to Iceland shortly after Ali disappeared and she became “Icelandic Aria” (32), which she considered to be “the best Aria yet” (32). However, now that she’s back in Rosewood, she must figure out a new identity.

While she looks to her romantic connection with her teacher, Ezra Fitz, to help her find stability, she finds this difficult as she receives texts from the mysterious A about their secret tryst, as well as her dad’s previous affair with his student.

Emily Fields was one of Alison’s best friends and is one of the book’s four central characters. She has been a competitive swimmer since a young age, following in the footsteps of her older siblings. She has won four state championships and is “strong” and “muscular” (70). She has “reddish blond” (69) hair that is slightly green from the chlorine. In seventh grade, the other girls called her “Killer” (6) because she was always ready to defend Ali at all costs. Back then, she didn’t wear cute or tight clothing because her parents “insisted that one built character from the inside out” (2). While she does everything her parents tell her to do and is a “hyper-obedient daughter” (20), her ability to easily follow the rules begins to change when she meets Maya. She’s not sure if she likes Maya as a friend or something more. As messages start to simultaneously surface from A regarding Emily’s strong feelings for Ali when she was alive, Emily becomes increasingly conflicted about her sexuality.

Spencer Hastings was one of Alison’s best friends and is one of the book’s four central characters. She lives next door to Alison’s house, which is later occupied by Maya and her family. She can see into Ali’s bedroom from her room. She has long dark-blond hair (3). Unlike Ali, she didn’t make JV field hockey in seventh grade, which frustrated her. She didn’t like it “when anyone was better at anything than she was” (3), particularly Ali. After Alison’s disappearance, Spencer becomes “a more exaggerated version of her already hyper-perfect self” (26).

Spencer is the vice president of her class and continues to be highly competitive, especially with her older sister, Melissa. Their ongoing rivalry comes to a head when Melissa’s boyfriend, Wren, shows interest in Spencer. Emails from A about the situation force Spencer to confront her behavior, as well as the fact that someone knows her secrets.

Hanna Marin was also one of Alison’s best friends and is one of the book’s four central characters. After her parents divorced in seventh grade, she put on weight and became insecure about her physical appearance. However, her looks change dramatically after Ali’s disappearance. She’s now “model-thin” (63) with “deep brown hair” (87) and “flawless” skin (87). She becomes best friend with Mona Vanderwaal—whom none of the girls liked previously—and is considered “the most sought-after girl at Rosewood Day” (42). However, her insecurities continue to haunt her. She initially lost weight through an eating disorder that starts to reemerge as she receives texts from A about her various transgressions.

Mona Vanderwaal is a girl who lives down the street from Ali. In seventh grade, she was constantly trying to become friends with Spencer and Alison. Back then, the group of girls didn’t like her or her two best friends, Chassey Bledsoe and Phi Templeton. After Alison’s disappearance, Mona becomes best friends with Hanna and is “even more glamorous” than her (63). Mona is often Hanna’s accomplice in their illicit behavior, but, unlike Hanna, rarely gets caught. Mona’s presence shows how Hanna has changed and molded herself in the years after Ali’s disappearance. As she does not encourage Hanna to do the right thing, she becomes a stand-in for Alison, supporting Hanna to commit theft and other crimes.

Melissa Hasting is Spencer’s “prim and proper, excellent at everything older sister” (7). She looks the same as she did in high school, with “ash-blond hair cut bluntly to her chin” (52) and barely wears any makeup. She’s competitive and over-achieving, much like Spencer, and constantly fuels their rivalry with one another. Although Melissa seems nice, Spencer considers her to be “inwardly horrid” (56). Melissa represents a goal that Spencer feels she will never attain and as a reminder of her past mistakes.

Ezra Fitz is a recent college graduate with messy blond hair and “ice-blue Siberian husky eyes” (37). He has a “cute smile” and “nice hands” (38). After Aria meets him in a local bar and they have a brief tryst in the bathroom, he turns out to be Aria’s new English teacher at Rosewood Day School. Although this complicates the relationship between Ezra and Aria, they continue to pursue it. Ezra represents Aria’s desire to experience the world and something new away from Rosewood. As Aria pursues a relationship with Ezra, she attempts to forget her past and shares intimate memories with him that she doesn’t share with anyone else.

Wren Kim is Melissa Hasting’s boyfriend. He’s “tall and lanky” (52) and well-dressed. He has long, shaggy black hair, almond eyes, flawless skin and “high cheek-bones” (52). He’s from North London and has a British accent, although his dad is Korean. He’s in his first year of medical school, studying to be a doctor. When Spencer Googles him one night, she finds a picture of him in “Shakespearean garb, holding a skull” (142), determining that he likes drama and theater. He’s unlike Melissa’s previous boyfriends, who were generic and predictable, and has an immediate connection with and attraction to Spencer. Wren is another avenue through which Spencer competes with Melissa, as she eventually pursues a relationship with him. Her relationship with Wren demonstrates Spencer’s reversion to the person she was when Ali was alive.

Maya St. Germain is the new girl in town who moves into Alison’s old house. She’s tall and skinny with “coffee-colored skin” (69) and “wild” (22) dark wavy hair. Her eyes are green with some yellow, “like a cat’s” (27). She plays the guitar and smokes weed. She quickly bonds with Emily, who soon becomes confused about her feelings towards Maya. Maya serves as an encouragement for Emily to discover who she really is and explore her sexuality. Maya is one of the few individuals Emily trusts and feels comfortable around.

Ian Thomas was Melissa’s boyfriend when they were both in high school. At the time, he flirted with—and kissed—Spencer. He’s now Spencer’s lacrosse coach and still flirts with her. He’s muscular with “sleepy-looking, hazelnut-colored eyes” (8). His blond hair, which was messy when he dated Melissa, has grown even “longer and messier” (76). Ian, like Ali, is a reminder for Spencer of the past and her past behaviors. She remembers Ian with shame but does not hesitate to use him as a weapon to throw Melissa off during family dinner.