irish_m1nx's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Beautiful, dark, depressing, sad, hopeful, intense, gut wrenching, and heart breaking.
tashalou's review against another edition
4.0
Okay so this is my first Karin Slaughter book, and I'm not usually much of a thriller person, but this one kept me hanging on until the last page! I also listened to it in audiobook format (so last section?) during my commute to work and back, and the narrator was great too, very invested in every emotion of the characters. It was brutal and difficult to listen to at times, but hang on for justice to be done... Would recommend if you can't seem to get invested in thrillers and you want something that'll keep you hooked. Trigger warning for scenes of torture, and mentions of sexual assault/murder.
bexw29's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
nofriendsjustbooks's review against another edition
3.0
“Sharp Objects” without the teeth. Karin Slaughter is the only author who has come close to Gillian Flynn in a sea of wannabes who are trying and failing. Her prose (particularly when writing women) is phenomenal and so REAL. It draws you in so much that you feel as if you know each and every one of her characters.
HOWEVER…
This particular story started off so strong and really sputtered out for me toward the end; the same issue I had with the other Slaughter novel I read, “The Good Daughter”. The third act in particular felt especially slow. I wanted to *feel* just a little bit more from Slaughter. I had a hard time reconciling the neat little bow in which this story was wrapped up.
I found myself skipping entire paragraphs towards the end because it seemed like she was running out plot devices and needed some filler. She wasn’t quite able to finesse a realistic rising action, so the climax felt like a miss. I appreciate her ability to paint a vivid and gruesome picture - I definitely had to take some deep breaths during this one - but for me, the ends don’t justify the means for “Pretty Girls”.
HOWEVER…
This particular story started off so strong and really sputtered out for me toward the end; the same issue I had with the other Slaughter novel I read, “The Good Daughter”. The third act in particular felt especially slow. I wanted to *feel* just a little bit more from Slaughter. I had a hard time reconciling the neat little bow in which this story was wrapped up.
I found myself skipping entire paragraphs towards the end because it seemed like she was running out plot devices and needed some filler. She wasn’t quite able to finesse a realistic rising action, so the climax felt like a miss. I appreciate her ability to paint a vivid and gruesome picture - I definitely had to take some deep breaths during this one - but for me, the ends don’t justify the means for “Pretty Girls”.
monicamarinperez's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
_literaryaura_'s review against another edition
5.0
Another excellent read and psychological thriller from Karin Slaughter, that's if you like murder, mystery and a lot of psychological drama. This book was a roller coaster ride, it contained a great deal of violence; murder, rape, snuff porn, suicide, torture, corrupt law enforcement and politicians. It also contained the normal plot twists and turns you come to expect reading a Karin Slaughter novel. The story is of two sisters and their family who is grieving the loss of an older sister who vanished without a trace. Fast-forward and over 2o years later the sisters are estranged. Claire is married to a millionaire and Lydia is a single mother with a troubled past. Claire's husband is murdered and another teenager vanishes. The sisters reunite trying to discover a connection to the disappearances from the past and present day. My one criticism is that Claire who is said to be intelligent and clever has lived years of her marriage being naïve and dependent on her husband, Her husband Paul has managed to successfully keep her in the dark and practically live a second life. Immediately after his death she is able to put 2 and 2 together and take on corrupt law enforcement as well as a psychotic serial killer with years of experience.
I have seen numerous 1 star reviews saying the book is awful and disappointing, also saying it contains too much violence towards women. In my opinion this book has no more violence and gore as other books, tv shoes and movies seen currently.
I have seen numerous 1 star reviews saying the book is awful and disappointing, also saying it contains too much violence towards women. In my opinion this book has no more violence and gore as other books, tv shoes and movies seen currently.
uhhlexiconic's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Seemingly padded for length by flipping between the two sisters, only one of which propels the plot forward, Pretty Girls is an otherwise harrowing thriller about an inability to let go of the past and how little we know the people we love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Confinement, Torture, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Addiction, Rape, Sexual assault, and Stalking
Moderate: Child death and Suicide
nataliejett's review against another edition
3.0
There are many reviews about the graphic nature of this book, which by any means are not inaccurate. BUT if you go into this book knowing what to expect then, it isn’t a big deal. I was well aware this book was graphic and violent and was able to get through all the scenes.
This book was hard, not because of the graphic nature but because I couldn’t relate to the characters at all. I had to push myself to finish this book and then had absolutely zero emotion when it ended.
This book was hard, not because of the graphic nature but because I couldn’t relate to the characters at all. I had to push myself to finish this book and then had absolutely zero emotion when it ended.
yeahjaclynn's review against another edition
3.0
been a while since i read this but here goes.
it was super compelling, gruesome, and emotionally riveting. all good things for a thriller, tbh. read this at the recommendation of paperbackdreams on youtube, and while i don't think i enjoyed it as much as they did, i did enjoy it.
it was super compelling, gruesome, and emotionally riveting. all good things for a thriller, tbh. read this at the recommendation of paperbackdreams on youtube, and while i don't think i enjoyed it as much as they did, i did enjoy it.
rcy's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0