theawkwardbookw's review against another edition
2.0
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Megan Fletcher has always been in the shadow of her older sister Lucy who is gorgeous and a talented actress. One day, Megan is in a horrible accident which causes her to need plastic surgery which changes her appearance completely. Now, more beautiful then her sister, things begin to get complicated. The boy she's had a crush on since the first time sh laid eyes on him is finally starting to pay attention to her. Unfortunately, here best friend Simon wants to be more than friends and Lucy is acting differently. As the tension builds in every relationship she has, Megan has to learn to live with her new life.
I don't know what it was about this book but it just didn't sit well with me. I didn't like Megan as a main character and found her to be annoying and whiny. I also didn't care for Lucy, Simon or Drew. Basically all the characters made me roll my eyes. I like the message the author was trying to convey, that it matters more about what is on the inside rather than the outside, it just fell short in my opinion. I think the overall concept of the book was interesting, it just wasn't executed well in my opinion.
Megan Fletcher has always been in the shadow of her older sister Lucy who is gorgeous and a talented actress. One day, Megan is in a horrible accident which causes her to need plastic surgery which changes her appearance completely. Now, more beautiful then her sister, things begin to get complicated. The boy she's had a crush on since the first time sh laid eyes on him is finally starting to pay attention to her. Unfortunately, here best friend Simon wants to be more than friends and Lucy is acting differently. As the tension builds in every relationship she has, Megan has to learn to live with her new life.
I don't know what it was about this book but it just didn't sit well with me. I didn't like Megan as a main character and found her to be annoying and whiny. I also didn't care for Lucy, Simon or Drew. Basically all the characters made me roll my eyes. I like the message the author was trying to convey, that it matters more about what is on the inside rather than the outside, it just fell short in my opinion. I think the overall concept of the book was interesting, it just wasn't executed well in my opinion.
hunkydory's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, and Fatphobia
Minor: Eating disorder
skybuffalo's review
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Very much a guilty pleasure kind of book. Tried to tackle darker subject matter, but very much superficially. Enjoyed it, just was not especially good.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
izzy_1004_'s review
3.0
I loved this story from beginning to end. The story of two sisters. One gorgeous and slim, the other ugly and overweight.
The story of a ugly duckling being reborn into a magnificent swan. A miricle, some would say.
The only thing I would've changed was the ending. It wasn't anywhere close to bad, but I felt just a little bit unsatisfied.
The story of a ugly duckling being reborn into a magnificent swan. A miricle, some would say.
The only thing I would've changed was the ending. It wasn't anywhere close to bad, but I felt just a little bit unsatisfied.
kristenlynn94's review
1.0
Okay...I originally picked up this book because I thought it had an intriguing premise. However, I was greatly disappointed. I really wish I could say I liked this book; but sadly, the fact of the matter is that this book was just poorly executed. End of story.
booksargram's review
4.0
this was just one of those really good books that you're not exactly sure how it got so good. i was thinking that the characters were so common in the beginning, but they were really just real. i also loved the conflict in the story. it was interesting and thought provoking.
kaitiereads's review
3.0
3.5 stars. I remember reading this book in high school... saw it on my bookshelf recently and thought, "Why not?" Picked it up again and finished it in a day. The book dragged on a little bit in the beginning and middle, and there was nothing super extraordinary about it, but it was an easy and fast read, and it was fun to revisit my old reads from high school. I enjoyed Drew's play at the end.
ckporier's review
1.0
Didn't make it past the first few pages. Too much description about what each character is wearing, it got tedious fast.
theresidentbookworm's review
1.0
I'm not sure how or when The Pretty One ended up on my to-read list. I feel like it was an impulse buy at a Target. Either way, I read The Pretty One and HATED IT. I mean, this book made me want to scream. In 2008, I did not have the language to express why. Now, in 2019, I can recognize all the ways in which The Pretty One is problematic (and boy, there are many!).
It's crazy to imagine The Pretty One as a YA novel that could be realized today. Even the description screams superficiality and fatphobia. Of course, Megan needs to get in an accident, have tons of reconstructive surgery, and lose weight due to her mouth being wired shut to be seen as beautiful by those around her, particularly her best friend Simon. You know Insatiable, the bad, problematic (but still weirdly enjoyable?) Netflix show? This book is the Insatiable of YA fiction. (Except it's not even trashy bad.)
Do not read. Do not recommend.
It's crazy to imagine The Pretty One as a YA novel that could be realized today. Even the description screams superficiality and fatphobia. Of course, Megan needs to get in an accident, have tons of reconstructive surgery, and lose weight due to her mouth being wired shut to be seen as beautiful by those around her, particularly her best friend Simon. You know Insatiable, the bad, problematic (but still weirdly enjoyable?) Netflix show? This book is the Insatiable of YA fiction. (Except it's not even trashy bad.)
Do not read. Do not recommend.