Wicked by Sara Shepard

These excerpts from Sara Shepard's novel, Wicked, which is part of the Pretty Little Liars series, chronicle the immediate aftermath of the initial "A" revelations and the start of Ian Thomas's murder trial for the death of Alison DiLaurentis. The core characters—Aria, Emily, Hanna, and Spencer—are grappling with their trauma, attending sessions with a grief counselor who advises them to bury reminders of Alison to find closure. Amidst this, Ian Thomas is granted temporary bail and subsequently disappears before his trial begins, raising fears that he is the new tormentor sending them menacing messages. The narrative also explores Aria's new relationship anxieties as her mother dates an artist, Emily's attempt to date a boy despite being a lesbian, and Spencer's discovery of a family secret suggesting she might be adopted, concluding with the shocking discovery of Ian's seemingly lifeless body in the woods near the Hastings' property.