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A review by ianb
You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne
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