Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.81 AVERAGE
3.81 AVERAGE
Pretty Things is a psychological thriller in every aspect of that word, as we truly delve into the minds of Nina and Vanessa.
Nina feels like her dream of leading a life on the straight-and-narrow dissipated when they found out about her mother's illness. Her dreams of having a fancy career with her art history degree never materialised and with the mounting debts to pay, Nina found herself turning to a series of scams, with her sometimes lover Lachlan, to fund her mother's treatments. It doesn't help that she holds the ultra-rich in total contempt and that she doesn't really believe that her actions have much of an impact:
Vanessa is a Liebling, which means that she grew in wealth and relative privilege. On the outside, her life looks perfect as she quickly established herself as a Instagram lifestyle influencer - taking photos of fabulous travel sites, expensive gadgets and beautiful clothes. However, she's quickly realised that her online life has spiralled out of her control:
Nina and Vanessa's paths are set on a collision course when Nina decides to target Vanessa's ancestral home, Stonehaven. Due to a series of tragedies in her life, Vanessa has retreated back to Stonehaven and now rents out a portion of the grounds to holidayers. Nina hatches a plan to pose as a yoga instructor while Lachlan pretends to be a professor, in order to infiltrate Vanessa's lonely existence, gain her trust and then steal what they can from her home. However, as it turns out, there's more to the story than either Nina or Vanessa are aware of.
Perspectives play a big role here. There were moments were the same story beats were played through in their different perspectives, bringing different dimensions to how each of the characters viewed themselves and the way that they viewed each other. And, of course, points of view play a huge role in the story because it's also about social media and how we portray ourselves through Instagram:
Another huge portion of the story is about Nina's past and where she seems so obsessed with the Lieblings and Vanessa, currently. Both of them have a lot of secrets and there's definitely going to be a price to pay for everything that they've done - the book opens with a dead body in Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, there were also a lot of twists because just when I thought that I knew exactly where the story was going, the rug was pulled under me.
Nina feels like her dream of leading a life on the straight-and-narrow dissipated when they found out about her mother's illness. Her dreams of having a fancy career with her art history degree never materialised and with the mounting debts to pay, Nina found herself turning to a series of scams, with her sometimes lover Lachlan, to fund her mother's treatments. It doesn't help that she holds the ultra-rich in total contempt and that she doesn't really believe that her actions have much of an impact:
The super-rich are not like you or me, you see. We know exactly where our money is each minute of every day, the value and location of our most treasured belongings. The fabulously wealthy, on the other hand, have their money in so many places that they often forget what they have and where it's supposed to be.
Vanessa is a Liebling, which means that she grew in wealth and relative privilege. On the outside, her life looks perfect as she quickly established herself as a Instagram lifestyle influencer - taking photos of fabulous travel sites, expensive gadgets and beautiful clothes. However, she's quickly realised that her online life has spiralled out of her control:
Social media feeds the narcissistic monster that lives within us all, I would think to myself. It feeds it and grows it until the beast takes over and you are left outside the frame, just looking at images of this creature, like everyone else in your feed, wondering what it is that you birthed and why it's living the life you wished you had.
Sometimes, even I could be terribly self-aware.
Nina and Vanessa's paths are set on a collision course when Nina decides to target Vanessa's ancestral home, Stonehaven. Due to a series of tragedies in her life, Vanessa has retreated back to Stonehaven and now rents out a portion of the grounds to holidayers. Nina hatches a plan to pose as a yoga instructor while Lachlan pretends to be a professor, in order to infiltrate Vanessa's lonely existence, gain her trust and then steal what they can from her home. However, as it turns out, there's more to the story than either Nina or Vanessa are aware of.
Perspectives play a big role here. There were moments were the same story beats were played through in their different perspectives, bringing different dimensions to how each of the characters viewed themselves and the way that they viewed each other. And, of course, points of view play a huge role in the story because it's also about social media and how we portray ourselves through Instagram:
Here they are: the one percent. The young and ultra-rich. Billionaire babies, millionaire millennials, fabu-grammers. "Influencers." They have it all and they want the whole world to know. Pretty things, so many pretty things in the world; and we get them all, says their everyday Instagram photo. Covet this life, for it is the best life, and we are #blessed.
Another huge portion of the story is about Nina's past and where she seems so obsessed with the Lieblings and Vanessa, currently. Both of them have a lot of secrets and there's definitely going to be a price to pay for everything that they've done - the book opens with a dead body in Lake Tahoe. Furthermore, there were also a lot of twists because just when I thought that I knew exactly where the story was going, the rug was pulled under me.
Spoiler
I didn't expect that Nina's real identity would've been exposed by Vanessa so quickly, nor that Lachlan would continue to perpetrate the scam after Nina's arrest.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book.
I enjoyed Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear, and found Pretty Things to be a twisty thriller, too. It's probably my fault that I kept wanting this book to be something *more*--and that left me just a bit unsatisfied.
I enjoyed Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear, and found Pretty Things to be a twisty thriller, too. It's probably my fault that I kept wanting this book to be something *more*--and that left me just a bit unsatisfied.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy of this book.
I enjoyed Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear, and found Pretty Things to be a twisty thriller, too. It's probably my fault that I kept wanting this book to be something *more*--and that left me just a bit unsatisfied.
I enjoyed Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear, and found Pretty Things to be a twisty thriller, too. It's probably my fault that I kept wanting this book to be something *more*--and that left me just a bit unsatisfied.
Book started off strong, and I was pulled in. However, toward the end after taking a fairly interesting twist it veers hard into the absurd and fantastical in its attempt to make the protagonist out to be a put-upon victim instead of a savvy con artist.
Excellent psychological thriller full of twists and secrets. An heiress and the grifter who returns from her past to swindle her. Modern themes of social media influencers and the deceptive nature of Instagram fame, the antiques and art world, mental health and gaslighting. Good female characters-great choice for book clubs.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
medium-paced