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minimicropup's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Mysterious, feral, abstract
🇺🇸 Set mostly in Atlanta, Georgia and New Orleans, Lousiana in 2004 and 2019.
POV: We follow a teen navigating their crush on a best friend in 2019. We also get a peek into the past via the experience of the teen's parents in 2004 and present day 2019.
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🐺Growls, Howls, and Tail Wags🐕
😃 Atmospheric and in their heads writing style that didn't feel bogged down.
🤔 The synopsis sounded a bit out of my league (I don’t like in your face symbolism), but it was excellent. The symbolism started off subtle and gradually got louder but remained plausible as the story progressed and characters evolved. I didn't always understand what it was trying to say or show, but it didn't take away from the story for me. Probably a great book club read.
👍 I think the story covers how mental illness, especially in women, is treated in modern times in a relatable way. Very show not tell - like how loved ones really do want you to get better, but have their own complications to add (don't just pop pills you just need to relax. Or just pop pills and be cured).
🥹 I found the experiences of the characters relatable for anyone who is sensitive or intuitive and has been accused of being too emotional or too sensitive. Like feeling lost or alien in your own body and mind and feeling feral sometimes.
🥹 I found the experiences of the characters relatable for anyone who is sensitive or intuitive and has been accused of being too emotional or too sensitive. Like feeling lost or alien in your own body and mind and feeling feral sometimes.
🤷♀️ This is a story I think many could still identify with and enjoy. It doesn't rely on misandry or man = bad tropes. In some cases men were stifled in their coping skills because of patriarchal systems and beliefs growing up that denied them a chance to be themselves and gain confidence. In other cases, men are beasts and predators, but the distinction is made, along with how that affects girls and young women.
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Mood Reading Match Up:
- Coming-of-age friendship drama and finding your true self
- Mental illness, monster, memories, or magic?
- Ominous undercurrent of serial killer crimes through the decades
- Archetypes, commentary, and themes around animal nature, “fuck politeness”, patriarchy, and the beasts that walk among us
- "Are you the one?", "Will they make it?" romantic suspense and drama
Content Heads-Up: Mental illness (hallucination). Misogyny (systemic, medicine and psychiatry). Parental rejection. Medical (hospice, cancer). Death of a parent. Loss of a teen. Body horror (murder, dismembering, disfiguring). Natural disasters (Hurricane Katrina recollection and aftermath). Lesbian rep (homophobic characters and supportive ones).
Format: Hardcover
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Death of parent
Moderate: Mental illness, Lesbophobia, Body horror, Misogyny, and Cancer
szyca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Toxic friendship, Blood, Gaslighting, Sexism, Animal death, Mental illness, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Murder, Body horror, Child death, and Death
Moderate: Cancer, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, Bullying, and Grief
ohhthehorrors's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Blood, Body horror, Cancer, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Dementia, Gore, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Toxic friendship
enchantressreads's review
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Wow. I loved this book. My first five star of the year!
Lila Sawyer is an awkward 13-year-old girl who lives alone with her mother, sculptor Caroline Sawyer. She’s recently been taken under the wing of extrovert Macie Kemper. She’s soft, shy, and quiet, until something starts to grow within her. She becomes defiant, loud, no longer going to her mother for comfort, but to hurt her.
Such a Pretty Smile deals with so many topics in a cohesive way. There are family secrets, repressed memories, grief, and overall it’s a coming of age story. As Mother Horror stated previously, girls grow up too. It was lovely to see a coming of age story focusing on a young girl.
This story is so layered, and some of the twists had me reeling, clinging to my Kindle so I wouldn’t toss it across the room. Just read it.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this advanced review copy. Such a Pretty Smile releases on January 18th.
Lila Sawyer is an awkward 13-year-old girl who lives alone with her mother, sculptor Caroline Sawyer. She’s recently been taken under the wing of extrovert Macie Kemper. She’s soft, shy, and quiet, until something starts to grow within her. She becomes defiant, loud, no longer going to her mother for comfort, but to hurt her.
Such a Pretty Smile deals with so many topics in a cohesive way. There are family secrets, repressed memories, grief, and overall it’s a coming of age story. As Mother Horror stated previously, girls grow up too. It was lovely to see a coming of age story focusing on a young girl.
This story is so layered, and some of the twists had me reeling, clinging to my Kindle so I wouldn’t toss it across the room. Just read it.
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read this advanced review copy. Such a Pretty Smile releases on January 18th.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Mental illness, and Violence
Moderate: Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual harassment
Minor: Death of parent and Sexism
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