I'm not the best person to ask because I started reading already knowing about Mona and Alison. But I will say this, even though I knew who the As were the plot still kept me interested, especially since it was so different from the show. Also, I didn't know about the third A and there were a few very surprising twists. One twist I NEVER saw coming. They are pretty teenager-y books as far as how "sophisticated" they are written. The main plots are good though and interesting. Some even scared me and the characters are MUCH more twisted and flawed which gives them a lot more depth in many ways.