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ianb's review
emotional
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Before I Get Started, this book can be quite triggering. In the authors words,” it deals with many real issues including eating disorders, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and assault, pornography and misogyny.”
“This Isn’t Dystopia. This isn’t a fiction. THIS IS NOW. NORMAL. OUR WORLD TODAY”.
I have been a huge fan of Bourne’s for several years now and when I saw that she had another YA book out, I was in too minds as I know it’s a genre that I’m reding less and less but once again she has not disappointed with this one, a holding a light up to our social conventions and asking us to consider to what extent we choose to be compliant in this environment.
I think for Women, Girls this is a book that you/they are going to relate to on so many levels. This explores the extremely high expectations that society has placed on the appearance of women and girls and with this being a topic that has been in the Press and what seems like everywhere, with filter at the palm of your hands. This books tackles that and inequality in such a clever way.
As a teen in high school, or more aptly named in the novel, your “Just Right” years, you can either be Pretty, or you can be Objectionable. This book holds a dual point of view where Belle is Pretty, someone who always wears Masks and follows strict eating habits and beauty regimes whilst being rewarded for this behaviour, and Joni is Objectionable, an outspoken, Mask-less, “abomination” who does not follow the social norms and ascribe to any beauty regime whilst being ostracized and humiliated by society.
”Choice means nothing if you feel you have no other option than to choose what everyone chooses. Choice means nothing if there are significant consequences for not following the established path.”
You Could Be So Pretty shows a society that awards beauty with validation and has consequences for anyone who doesn’t fit the Criteria, including fat women, older women, women with features that aren’t acceptable, poor women, and women who are outspoken, to name a few.
This is a book which will provoke numerous emotions: awe, sadness, anger, guilt, envy. It is so cleverly written and one I will be sharing with as many people as possible.
“This Isn’t Dystopia. This isn’t a fiction. THIS IS NOW. NORMAL. OUR WORLD TODAY”.
I have been a huge fan of Bourne’s for several years now and when I saw that she had another YA book out, I was in too minds as I know it’s a genre that I’m reding less and less but once again she has not disappointed with this one, a holding a light up to our social conventions and asking us to consider to what extent we choose to be compliant in this environment.
I think for Women, Girls this is a book that you/they are going to relate to on so many levels. This explores the extremely high expectations that society has placed on the appearance of women and girls and with this being a topic that has been in the Press and what seems like everywhere, with filter at the palm of your hands. This books tackles that and inequality in such a clever way.
As a teen in high school, or more aptly named in the novel, your “Just Right” years, you can either be Pretty, or you can be Objectionable. This book holds a dual point of view where Belle is Pretty, someone who always wears Masks and follows strict eating habits and beauty regimes whilst being rewarded for this behaviour, and Joni is Objectionable, an outspoken, Mask-less, “abomination” who does not follow the social norms and ascribe to any beauty regime whilst being ostracized and humiliated by society.
”Choice means nothing if you feel you have no other option than to choose what everyone chooses. Choice means nothing if there are significant consequences for not following the established path.”
You Could Be So Pretty shows a society that awards beauty with validation and has consequences for anyone who doesn’t fit the Criteria, including fat women, older women, women with features that aren’t acceptable, poor women, and women who are outspoken, to name a few.
This is a book which will provoke numerous emotions: awe, sadness, anger, guilt, envy. It is so cleverly written and one I will be sharing with as many people as possible.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Body shaming, and Bullying
Moderate: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
amyashcroft's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
5.0
You Could Be So Pretty is a dystopia written with feminism at its core, set in a world in which the majority of women “Mask” at the beginning of each day, and those who do not are seen as outcasts.
The novel is split between the perspectives of Joni and Belle, Joni rejects the rules of the Doctrine and doesn’t Mask, and Belle is striving to be a Pretty and is working hard to keep up appearances to win the Ceremony. Despite there differences, they’re both fighting for a scholarship for the Education and are forced to spend more and more time together in order to prepare.
This book is so head-on with the issues of the beauty industry and sexism in modern society. Bourne doesn’t shy away from the gritty details and of her own criticisms of normalised sexism that is experienced by teenage girls, highlighting modern issues from porn to eating disorders and the impact these have on beauty standards. I also thoroughly enjoyed the theme of ageism in society; how the main characters are teenage girls, but we also get to learn how society treats the women around them and how their mothers react to the effects of aging.
You Could Be So Pretty is often hard to read, but there are clear trigger warnings for the issues at the start of the book, which is greatly appreciated, as well as support information at the end. This is definitely an older YA novel, probably best for 16+, I’m 22 and struggled to read some of the content! Holly Bourne was able to critique so many different areas of society and by retitling many of the words used to similar ones, it allowed me to read these difficult topics and feel a separation, helping it feel less overwhelming but still have an impact.
I absolutely devoured this book and cannot wait to discuss it with others when it’s published!
The novel is split between the perspectives of Joni and Belle, Joni rejects the rules of the Doctrine and doesn’t Mask, and Belle is striving to be a Pretty and is working hard to keep up appearances to win the Ceremony. Despite there differences, they’re both fighting for a scholarship for the Education and are forced to spend more and more time together in order to prepare.
This book is so head-on with the issues of the beauty industry and sexism in modern society. Bourne doesn’t shy away from the gritty details and of her own criticisms of normalised sexism that is experienced by teenage girls, highlighting modern issues from porn to eating disorders and the impact these have on beauty standards. I also thoroughly enjoyed the theme of ageism in society; how the main characters are teenage girls, but we also get to learn how society treats the women around them and how their mothers react to the effects of aging.
You Could Be So Pretty is often hard to read, but there are clear trigger warnings for the issues at the start of the book, which is greatly appreciated, as well as support information at the end. This is definitely an older YA novel, probably best for 16+, I’m 22 and struggled to read some of the content! Holly Bourne was able to critique so many different areas of society and by retitling many of the words used to similar ones, it allowed me to read these difficult topics and feel a separation, helping it feel less overwhelming but still have an impact.
I absolutely devoured this book and cannot wait to discuss it with others when it’s published!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexism, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Violence, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Medical content, Toxic friendship, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Abandonment and Alcohol
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