
Member Reviews

I finished Pretty Things last month but needed some time to organize my thoughts. This was an engrossing tale filled with some pretty buzzy topics: social media stardom and backstabbing friends, both of which reeled me in immediately. It was the writing that kept my attention, though. Janelle Brown has the writing chops to tackle some serious subjects and keep the reader begging for more. I could not put this one down and finished the rather weighty book in just a few sittings. The story is engaging and the pacing is perfection.
The novel is told in both a dual narrative and dual timelines, alternating between Nina and Vanessa - a con artist and a wealthy social media influencer, respectively. The two women seem like they couldn't be more distant from each other, both in temperament and circumstance, but there are some hidden links between them in their past that one of them may or may not remember.
I loved the look into the life of a successful con artist. It was fascinating to read about how these people operate. The social media aspect was also really interesting. Both of these women were so well-written and their stories captivating. I cannot wait to see what Brown comes up with next. An easy 5 star read.

I have mixed feelings about this book because parts of it were slow to me. Nina has resorted to conning folks in order to help pay for her mom’s cancer treatment. Vanessa is a social media influencer with the “perfect” life, and Nina decides that she will steal a million dollars from her because she knows where it is hid. As Brown tells the story, you learn about each character and their motivations. Wasn’t bad but wasn’t my favorite either

This book was enticing from reading a short discription, and the content did not disappoint! The story started perfectly, and was well paced. I truly love Janelle Brown's writing and seek out her future books!

I love the cover of this novel and the inside. "Pretty Things" is an exciting novel by Janelle Brown. A page turner for sure.

An exciting and timely premise told in alternating points of view by an established suspense author, *Pretty Things* shines in its portrayal of resort town Lake Tahoe and its affluent residents. Pretty Things could have benefitted from tighter editing to keep the pace of this thriller, but the book is enthralling all the same.

Oh my goodness I absolutely LOVED this book! Pretty Things was phenomenal. This is one I will be thinking about for a looong time. Highly highly recommend! You will love this story about a con artist, an instagram influencer, and a spooky old house! #prettythings

Loved the twisty-turny events. Some I saw coming, some, I did not. I was pleased with the evolution of the story and how it differed from other titles of this genre. Will definitely recommend!

This is a con artist story like no other that I have read.
The story follows Nina, a conwoman who is in need of money to pay her mother's chemo bills. She finds the perfect target, Vanessa an influencer from an affluent family. What Nina doesn't know is Vanessa isn't as well off as she thinks. The POVs alternate between Nina and Vanessa which helps build the suspense and gives us insights into the challenges and motivations of each woman. I loved the juxtaposition of their experiences and struggles. It was a very compelling way to tell this story.
My only complaint is that the story dragged a bit in the middle and it could've used some more editing, but overall this is a solid story perfect for summer reading.

Definitely cannot sing enough praises about this book! Why in the heck did I wait sooooo long to read it. Months later and I still have this book stuck in my head!! I will forever be a fan of Janelle Brown now. I've read her other books, but this one is FIRE.

This was twisty and somewhat fun, but it could have been a cleaner narrative. The characters were deeply unlikeable.

Dnf - did not finish. I did not connect with the plot and will not be finishing this one. Thank you for the early copy.

I finished this one, but just barrrrely. It's just really long and drawn out and the believability factors are quite low. Still, I give it 2.5 stars rounded up.
Thanks netgalley for giving me the pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

It's incredibly hard for me to find a thriller that I like these days. This one could not hold my interest. I finally sat it aside at the halfway mark.

A solid entrant in this genre. I enjoyed this title more than I did her last one. I would read this author again.

I was enthralled by this book. I love a book with thrilling unpredictable plot twists which is what you get in this story of three flawed characters mixed up in a great con.

This book started off string. It jumps in right away and the main character felt very believable. But then about half way through I just lost interest. It was too long and didn’t hold my interest the whole time.

Nina has put her fancy fine arts degree to good use -- she's a con artist who specializes in bilking rich people out of their pricey art & antiques. When it appears that the police are catching up, she hatches a plan to escape to Lake Tahoe with her boyfriend for one "last" heist. Vanessa is an heiress whose life is played out in the public eye -- she's an "influencer" with all her antics cleverly marketed on Instagram and Facebook. As secrets and lies are revealed, the reader discovers the connections between these two.
Twists and turns abound in this "can't put it down" book. Some of the "surprises" are telegraphed for pages, others are more surprising. Although I was mesmorized, I'm still somewhat conflicted. Was this a GREAT book? No, but it was certainly entertaining and I kept turning the pages despite an occasional moment that caused me to roll my eyes. Looking for something to pass the time? Looking for a quick read? Looking for a book with lots of plot twists? This is the book for you. I don't think it's Brown's best work, but it will do. Just don't look for sympathetic characters who show any depth or growth.

I received a free digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Absolute page turner!! I loved this so much. The characters were so well thought out!
Thank you kindly to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for this review copy.

Alternating storylines are so hit or miss for me and I'm generally hesitant to read thick thrillers, but Pretty Things was different. I'm a big fan of books that focus on character development as long as it delivers in the end, and this one definitely does. Refreshing to see a unique take on this genre, but also unexpected. Depending on the reader that may not work, but it did for me.

A page-turner as I was trying to figure out who is speaking the truth. I wish the ending could have been better plotted. A great read overall, and can't wait to see the movie adaptation!