Reviews with content warning for Sexism - Pretty Girls - Putri-putri Cantikku

Holy SHIT. This book is not for the faint of heart. Recommended via a hate review for another book (that says that Slaughter's book deals with the subject of pornography and underground snuff rings in a much better way), I decided to take my chances. Pretty Girls did not disappoint.

From fraught family relationships to murder to addiction, this book deals with many difficult topics in addition to snuff pornography. Slaughter handles them very well and uses them to create tension and twists that will keep you reading.

Content Warnings

loudonuts's review against another edition

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dark emotional sad tense medium-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? Yes

3.0

a gruesome story that was ultimately about the bond between sisters. it didn’t exceed my expectations but it was an okay thriller. at the beginning the hyper descriptive violence was shocking and intense, but by the end of it, it felt pretty gratuitous. was the aim to desensitise me, or was it just bad at keeping me engaged? unfortunately i’m not sure.

Content Warnings

vadarraga's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

Very intense plot, had to put it down and process without getting triggered.

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annakinsky's review against another edition

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dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Fave lines:
> Lydia could still remember what it felt like back when she was fronting the band. Men had fought for the privilege of accommodating her. She never had to open a door for herself. She never had to buy a drink or a bump or a Baggie. She said she wanted something and it was placed in front of her before she could finish the sentence.
She told Rick, “The world stops for you when you’re pretty. That’s why women spend billions on crap for their faces. Their whole life, they’re the center of attention. People want to be around them just because they’re attractive. Their jokes are funnier. Their lives are better.jokes are funnier. And then suddenly, they get bags under their eyes or they put on a little weight and no one cares about them anymore. They cease to exist.”

> “I guess I see your point, but there’s more to people than how they look.”
“But you only get to know somebody because you like what you see.”

> Claire spoke the only truth she was certain of. “I don’t deserve your forgiveness.”
“I don’t forgive you, but you’re still my sister.”

>Having a teenager is like having a really, really shitty roommate. They eat all your food and steal your clothes and take money out of your purse, and borrow your car without asking.” She put her hand over her heart. “But they soften you in ways you can’t imagine. It’s so unexpected. They just smooth out your hard lines. They make you into this better version of yourself that you never even knew was there.”

>I knew that was it. No more holding my hand. No more sitting in my lap. No more throwing your arms around my waist when I walked through the front door or standing on my shoes while we danced around the kitchen. I would be the bank now. The ride to your friend’s house. The critic of your biology homework. The signature on the check mailed away with your college application.

> You have thoughts I will never know. Desires I will never understand. Friends I will never meet. Passions I will never share. You have a life. You have an entire world in front of you.

Spoiler alert! - The story is about two sisters Lydia and Claire, who have been estranged for many years following the disappearance of their eldest sister Julia, twenty years earlier. Plot started when there was another girl had gone missing again in their town same age as Julia (teens)

Paul who was Claire's husband was also murdered. While Lydia was living her own life and upon learning of Paul's death, she and her sister were able to reunite again and together they have discovered that things didn't seem as they were. They were also able to know the truth behind their sister's killer and who were the people involved in a series of rape and murder of young girls in their town. They were brought suddenly in a very dangerous path that they were able to realize the essence of their family and their love for each other.

I love how the writer never held back in describing the gruesome murders that took place.
I would love this book to be a movie but it would be scary and thrilling to watch.
I sooo love the letters that their father wrote. At first I was confused because there were different perspectives in the book.. All characters have. But their father's was the most hartwarming and at the same time I got hooked because he was smart like a detective and was able to really discover who was the killer if only he wasn't murdered first.

While the book captivates with its vivid storytelling, there is a character named FBI Fred Nolan, even after reading the book. I was still not entirely sure why he was there and why act the way he did. Like it was really not necessary to be like a drunk, mean FBI agent. Anyway.. very nice read.

Content Warnings

bookmuva's review against another edition

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adventurous dark hopeful mysterious sad tense slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

I put this book down for months around chapter seven, but once I picked it back up I was hooked. Although it was a bit predictable, there were definitely twists and points caught me off guard. Picked up two more books by the author in hopes they’re similar!

Content Warnings

peyviz's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective tense fast-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

4.0

I really enjoyed this book up until the last 1/4. too much FBI/law enforcement/lawyer talk for my personal taste. that being said, it was a wild ass ride from start to finish and kept me hooked the whole time. I read this book with my girlfriend and found myself itching to read when she wasn't able to and wanting to read ahead. beware, this book is pretty graphic and violent for how popular it is, it surprised me.

Content Warnings

hugsy85's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

One of the most challenging books I have ever read. Be sure to read the trigger/content warnings before going into it as the content is incredibly graphic. Karin Slaughter is definitely one of my favorite writers and her ability to pull together this story ... It was heavy, descriptive to the point where you could visualize each aspect and feel like you were there in the moment - it was unnerving. I honestly don't know how I finished this one and will need to follow through with a lighter read.

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