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A review by katykelly
You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne
5.0
Upsetting but empowering YA for fans of Atwood/O'Neill.
Good lord, I was riled reading this!
We've seen worlds like this before, indeed our own parallels it only too well. But here the Bad Times are over, equality has been achieved, and the Doctrine 'advises' girls and women on their choices: to be as Pretty as possible, to take male attention as a compliment, to portray perfection.... or face being called an Objectionable. Or later in life if signs of aging dare show themselves - an Invisible.
Like a Black Mirror episode, Belle is intent on retaining her top spot as prettiest girl at school, through daily Rankings, three-hour Masking sessions and expensive Looks. But when a man tries to abduct her on the way to school and she doesn't feel flattered, fellow schoolmate Joni helps her escape (on tottering heels) and the two are thrown together in all their chalk-and-cheese glory.
With one mother hiding her aging self from a mostly-absent husband, and the other revelling in her post-absconding abusive husband's, the two girls and their backgrounds may be at odds, but they are competing for the same Educational opportunities.
This world is absolutely horrific. It doesn't feel so far from the one we find ourselves in. The attitudes towards women are repulsive, the talk of Smut (read that for 'porn') is both timely and very worrying.
While I loved the main twosome's two-handed narration, I found near the end I wanted to have heard more from some of the minor characters who didn't really get a chance to shine - Vanessa, a Pretty who has her own issues with the Doctrine due to her race. And Joni's friends also felt a little too background.
Couldn't stop myself reading this. Definitely a perfect choice for teens who need to consider their own attitudes to beauty, compliance, education and sex. And I mean boys AND girls here. If this leads readers to Uglies, Only Ever Yours, The Handmaid's Tale and the huge range of dystopia feminist literature out there, so much the better.
I've read several Holly Bourne novels now, this one felt personal and very heartfelt. Powerful stuff.
For ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley and Usborne for providing a sample reading copy.
Good lord, I was riled reading this!
We've seen worlds like this before, indeed our own parallels it only too well. But here the Bad Times are over, equality has been achieved, and the Doctrine 'advises' girls and women on their choices: to be as Pretty as possible, to take male attention as a compliment, to portray perfection.... or face being called an Objectionable. Or later in life if signs of aging dare show themselves - an Invisible.
Like a Black Mirror episode, Belle is intent on retaining her top spot as prettiest girl at school, through daily Rankings, three-hour Masking sessions and expensive Looks. But when a man tries to abduct her on the way to school and she doesn't feel flattered, fellow schoolmate Joni helps her escape (on tottering heels) and the two are thrown together in all their chalk-and-cheese glory.
With one mother hiding her aging self from a mostly-absent husband, and the other revelling in her post-absconding abusive husband's, the two girls and their backgrounds may be at odds, but they are competing for the same Educational opportunities.
This world is absolutely horrific. It doesn't feel so far from the one we find ourselves in. The attitudes towards women are repulsive, the talk of Smut (read that for 'porn') is both timely and very worrying.
While I loved the main twosome's two-handed narration, I found near the end I wanted to have heard more from some of the minor characters who didn't really get a chance to shine - Vanessa, a Pretty who has her own issues with the Doctrine due to her race. And Joni's friends also felt a little too background.
Couldn't stop myself reading this. Definitely a perfect choice for teens who need to consider their own attitudes to beauty, compliance, education and sex. And I mean boys AND girls here. If this leads readers to Uglies, Only Ever Yours, The Handmaid's Tale and the huge range of dystopia feminist literature out there, so much the better.
I've read several Holly Bourne novels now, this one felt personal and very heartfelt. Powerful stuff.
For ages 14 and above.
With thanks to Netgalley and Usborne for providing a sample reading copy.