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_j3ss1ca's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Murder, and Mental illness
elise_knepler's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexual content and Murder
minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
🇺🇸 Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles and Lake Tahoe, California, USA.
POV: We follow two main characters, both in their thirties and struggling to find themselves. One has a faltering lifestyle and fashion influencer career. The other is relying on cons and thieving to support themselves.
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Coming of age first love, what-could-have-been, friends-to-lovers romance
-Contemporary fiction with revenge and retribution, long-con “I’m gonna ruin your life” tropes
-Not-all-is-as-it-seems dual character studies
-Themes of trust, betrayal, criminal nature, fake dating, purpose, the relative experience of adversity, mental illness, guilt, jealousy, necessity, deception, multigenerational trauma, self-preservation, and self-reinvention.
—
🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕
✏️ Writing: The writing style was immersive and fluid, successfully balancing two distinct first-person narratives. Vanessa’s direct and introspective storytelling contrasted effectively with Nina’s more traditional narrative, offering insights into their pasts and current motivations. This dual perspective deepens the character study, and I was totally engaged in both their evolutions and perceptions.
🫥 Characters: Both characters are struggling to carve out their identity amidst a web of deceit and misplaced ambition. The character development was a standout for me. Both protagonists had moments of likability and disdain, with their perspectives and values shifting as the story unfolded. The narrative structure allowed ample time to delve into each character’s psyche, enhancing the suspense and intrigue. However, if you aren’t big on character-driven narratives I’m not sure the plot alone will be enough to keep you interested.
🗺️ Worldbuilding: The atmospheric setting was vividly portrayed through sensory descriptions. We get not only the physical environment but also the underlying vibes of places and interactions. The frequent use of sensory descriptors, (especially scent lol) was an unusual but effective touch.
🔥 Fuel: The story’s tension revolved around the characters’ interpretations of their shared past and its impact on their present actions. The overlapping perspectives added depth, revealing motivations behind actions initially misunderstood by the other character. But this approach might feel repetitive to some. For me, it enriched the character development, but I was also invested in them both. If I wasn’t, I can see how this could feel empty or hard to get through.
🐢🐇 Pacing: The novel’s pacing was deliberate, with a mix of short and long chapters. The narrative progression was steady, with lots of room for a deeper exploration of the characters’ inner worlds without feeling inconsistent, repetitive, or rushed. Again, assuming you're invested in these characters!
🎬 Scenes: The observations and descriptions were heavy on showing rather than telling, which brought scenes to life for me. The ending was a bit over-the-top, but in that good way where we are rooting for a specific turn out, or just enjoying the drama.
🤷♀️ Nerdy Nit-picking: The inclusion of cancer as a plot element can be a sensitive topic, and I generally despise when authors do this because it’s so anxiety-inducing and feels gratuitous…added in just to tug on the reader’s heartstrings or as a lazy way to set up someone enduring some unusual family dynamic. Thankfully here it was handled with care, playing a significant role in the story without feeling gratuitous or overly sentimental.
🎧 Audio narration: The audiobook version went well with the text, and I was easily able to switch between them without feeling like one was better than the other. The distinct vocal changes between past and present timelines and characters made it easy to keep track of what could have been a confusing narrative on audio. I found the action scenes were easier with text though (I just zone out too much for action scenes in audio).
🤔 Random Thoughts: I thought this was a thought-provoking exploration of identity, trust, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. It’s likely going to be a compelling read for those who appreciate nuanced character studies set within a framework of suspense and moral ambiguity.
—
Content Heads-Up: Theft (physical property). Cancer (parent). Financial insecurity/poverty. Weight anxiety. Schizophrenia (descriptive, on page). Mania, depressive episodes (descriptive; on page). Alcohol (self-medicating; partying; addiction). Cannabis and drug use (mention). Suicide (recall, descriptive). Betrayal, lying, cons. Murder. Violence (threats, gun). Obsession (revenge, anger).
Rep: The characters are predominantly White or racially ambiguous Americans.
Format: Library Audio via Libby + Kindle
“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI bookworm bestie ✨”
POV: We follow two main characters, both in their thirties and struggling to find themselves. One has a faltering lifestyle and fashion influencer career. The other is relying on cons and thieving to support themselves.
Mood Reading Match Up:
-Coming of age first love, what-could-have-been, friends-to-lovers romance
-Contemporary fiction with revenge and retribution, long-con “I’m gonna ruin your life” tropes
-Not-all-is-as-it-seems dual character studies
-Themes of trust, betrayal, criminal nature, fake dating, purpose, the relative experience of adversity, mental illness, guilt, jealousy, necessity, deception, multigenerational trauma, self-preservation, and self-reinvention.
—
🐺 Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags 🐕
✏️ Writing: The writing style was immersive and fluid, successfully balancing two distinct first-person narratives. Vanessa’s direct and introspective storytelling contrasted effectively with Nina’s more traditional narrative, offering insights into their pasts and current motivations. This dual perspective deepens the character study, and I was totally engaged in both their evolutions and perceptions.
🫥 Characters: Both characters are struggling to carve out their identity amidst a web of deceit and misplaced ambition. The character development was a standout for me. Both protagonists had moments of likability and disdain, with their perspectives and values shifting as the story unfolded. The narrative structure allowed ample time to delve into each character’s psyche, enhancing the suspense and intrigue. However, if you aren’t big on character-driven narratives I’m not sure the plot alone will be enough to keep you interested.
🗺️ Worldbuilding: The atmospheric setting was vividly portrayed through sensory descriptions. We get not only the physical environment but also the underlying vibes of places and interactions. The frequent use of sensory descriptors, (especially scent lol) was an unusual but effective touch.
🔥 Fuel: The story’s tension revolved around the characters’ interpretations of their shared past and its impact on their present actions. The overlapping perspectives added depth, revealing motivations behind actions initially misunderstood by the other character. But this approach might feel repetitive to some. For me, it enriched the character development, but I was also invested in them both. If I wasn’t, I can see how this could feel empty or hard to get through.
🐢🐇 Pacing: The novel’s pacing was deliberate, with a mix of short and long chapters. The narrative progression was steady, with lots of room for a deeper exploration of the characters’ inner worlds without feeling inconsistent, repetitive, or rushed. Again, assuming you're invested in these characters!
🎬 Scenes: The observations and descriptions were heavy on showing rather than telling, which brought scenes to life for me. The ending was a bit over-the-top, but in that good way where we are rooting for a specific turn out, or just enjoying the drama.
🤷♀️ Nerdy Nit-picking: The inclusion of cancer as a plot element can be a sensitive topic, and I generally despise when authors do this because it’s so anxiety-inducing and feels gratuitous…added in just to tug on the reader’s heartstrings or as a lazy way to set up someone enduring some unusual family dynamic. Thankfully here it was handled with care, playing a significant role in the story without feeling gratuitous or overly sentimental.
🎧 Audio narration: The audiobook version went well with the text, and I was easily able to switch between them without feeling like one was better than the other. The distinct vocal changes between past and present timelines and characters made it easy to keep track of what could have been a confusing narrative on audio. I found the action scenes were easier with text though (I just zone out too much for action scenes in audio).
🤔 Random Thoughts: I thought this was a thought-provoking exploration of identity, trust, and the blurred lines between right and wrong. It’s likely going to be a compelling read for those who appreciate nuanced character studies set within a framework of suspense and moral ambiguity.
—
Content Heads-Up: Theft (physical property). Cancer (parent). Financial insecurity/poverty. Weight anxiety. Schizophrenia (descriptive, on page). Mania, depressive episodes (descriptive; on page). Alcohol (self-medicating; partying; addiction). Cannabis and drug use (mention). Suicide (recall, descriptive). Betrayal, lying, cons. Murder. Violence (threats, gun). Obsession (revenge, anger).
Rep: The characters are predominantly White or racially ambiguous Americans.
Format: Library Audio via Libby + Kindle
“Reviews are my musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶 refined by my AI bookworm bestie ✨”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Suicide, and Mental illness
Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcohol, and Cancer
Minor: Violence, Murder, and Fatphobia
reading_beyond_the_book_cover's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Meeting someone by chance is one thing, but purposely crossing paths with them again is another. Written in a dual timeline from the perspectives of Nina and Vanessa, a grifter and an heiress, Janelle Brown’s Pretty Things highlights how the world of these two women merge and impact each other amid a scheme gone awry. The twists and turns in this story culminate into a book you won’t want to put down.
Full Review: https://readingbeyondthebookcover.com/book-review-pretty-things-by-janelle-brown/
***Note: This review has affiliate links and if you click on them and make a purchase, we will earn a commission from it. We appreciate your support and thank you in advance.
Full Review: https://readingbeyondthebookcover.com/book-review-pretty-things-by-janelle-brown/
***Note: This review has affiliate links and if you click on them and make a purchase, we will earn a commission from it. We appreciate your support and thank you in advance.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Moderate: Cancer and Death of parent
Minor: Murder and Vomit
asialei's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
hkburke2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Glad I read this even though I didn't enjoy the plot summary teaser (I guess that's not surprising) - it felt unique even with a plot that was (for me) fairly predictable. The social media commentary was my least favorite bit, but the two female leads and the timeline made up for it for me!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Mental illness, Cancer, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Addiction
Minor: Drug use and Murder
cloudzz's review
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Murder and Violence
emmaopaline's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Cancer, Murder, Death of parent, and Death
booksnbones13's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book is like a darker, modernly twisted version of the Great Gatsby; with two complex women main characters narrating their unique, but still alike, perspectives throughout this story of lies and deceit
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Classism
Moderate: Cancer, Suicide, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Murder
freyleong's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use, Panic attacks/disorders, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Suicide, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Suicidal thoughts