I understand why the author wrote this book in the voice she did, but man did it make reading it hard. I couldn't read more than a few pages, truthfully. I think a lot of people will be turned off from reading this.

"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" by Colwill Brown is a book that makes you think deeply about what it means to be human. It explores ideas about who we are, how we feel vulnerable, and some of the darker parts of life. Brown's writing is both beautiful and intense, pulling readers into a world that is both lovely and a bit unsettling.

The story starts with a strong sense of honesty that grabs your attention right away. The characters in the book are well-developed, each dealing with their own struggles and desires. The way Brown writes creates vivid pictures in your mind that stay with you even after you finish reading. The emotions in the story are strong, making it a powerful read. It made me nostalgic for my teenage years in the 90s.

Brown mixes the ugly with the beautiful. The title itself hints at this mix, encouraging readers to think about tough truths regarding our bodies, beauty, and how fragile life can be. These themes make you reflect on your own experiences and what society expects from us. Even though the topics can be heavy, Brown writes in a way that keeps the story interesting without it feeling like it is too much. The story moves at a good pace, with moments of tension building up naturally, leading to an ending that feels well-deserved.

"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" is an impressive first book that shows Colwill Brown's skill as a storyteller. It's a book that stays in your mind, inviting you to think about its deep ideas long after you've finished it. It's highly recommended for those who enjoy books that make you think and feel.

The dialect just didn’t work out for me here. Have read and enjoyed many books that employed writing in local dialects but it felt forced and odd here.

Gritty, raw, and poignant. A story about what was, how it was lost, and how pain and anger changed a friendship.

Three friends-Kel, Shaz, and Rachel-form a tumultuous friendship that keeps them afloat through grade school, but evaporates with the passage of time-much like many of our friendships from younger years. And what ultimately threatens to fracture them forever is a painful secret that has broken one of them, and may do the same to another.

And while it took me a bit to grasp the Yorkshire dialect, it didn’t stop me from turning each and every page of this coming-of-age story. It laid bare the ideals we place on our friends as kids, how we form opinions of who they are or aren’t, and how vulnerability can save us in the end. Colwill did not shy away from giving us messy and, at times, cruel nature of jealousy in relationships, and how insecurity will drive away the ones we need and love.

This was not an easy story to read. It’s dark and at times, depressing. But there is also hope, and it is what gives these friends one more day of fight. If you are a fan of contemporary coming-of-age, this one’s for you. 4.25 stars

Living in Sheffield, I'm surrounded by people "speaking Yorkshire" so reading a book in dialect was an easy joy! I really enjoyed this debut novel about the relationship between childhood friends and Donny girls Kel, Sharon and Rach and how it changed as they matured and followed different paths.
My only negative comments would be that I struggled at times with the sudden POV changes, and it did seem ( maybe unnecessarily) long. Looking forward to more by this author though
Thank you to netgalley and Henry Holt and
company for an advance copy of this book

"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" follows Shaz, Rach and Kel at different times through each of their lives from pre adolescence to their early thirties. We follow through the POV of each character as they grapple with different defining moments and eventually, drifting apart. It's written in Yorkshire dialect, which was a bit of an adjustment. The story really captured the intricacies of young female relationships and personal evolutions. Set in post-Brexit England, it is a balanced and strong debut novel. Thank you so much to NetGalley & Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC. You can check this one out when it publishes March 04, 2025!

An exciting read that requires a lot of concentration to get through since it is written in a Yorkshire dialogue. I was challenged by the read and am not sure I liked it but I did appreciate the author's efforts. I think readers up for gritty coming of age story will enjoy.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

These characters were fantastic, but I wanted more connection emotionally between plot events. It felt like every time I really started to care about what was happening with a character, we switched it up to something else entirely.

So unfortunately this ended up being a DNF. I appreciate the authenticity of being told in a Yorkshire accent while it takes place there, but the language was too hard for me to be able to follow the story.

I made it about 25% and I loved the friendship between the 3 main characters but I was so focused on trying to read the language, I lost focus of the plot over and over again. I’m not going to give the book a bad rating because that’s not fair since it was a language thing for me but I just couldn’t get through it enough to give it a full assessment.

The writing here is quite vivid, deeply felt, and emotional. It gives a glimpse into a setting I'd never read about (though knew some about from my One Direction obsession), and it has a deep texture and sense of purpose in the coming of age narrative. What will likely be most reader's highest hurdles is that it's written in dialect from Doncaster, not just in dialogue but through the entire book. It definitely means you have to pay deeper attention and apply more brainpower than you're typically used to. While I think that some amount of friction with the reader for a stylistic choice can pay off, it is also a big point of friction, and for me, that combined with the fact that the second chapter shifted to a different character's POV and decided to utilize second person really started to lose me. I think that when you give a reader a speed bump like this, allowing them to adjust to one perspective makes it so much more hospitable than having to get used to multiple characters so quickly while still learning the language of the book. I'm just also not a fan of second person, and I tend to put books down when I discover that authorial choice. I'm sure it works for some people, but I just find it off-putting. There's a lot of great stuff here worth reading and a gorgeous richness to the development of the setting and the world these girls inhabit, but it tries to do too much all at once to feel entirely successful.

OK first things first, this was way too long. This should’ve been edited a lot and it wasn’t even actually that long page is wise, it was just too long for the story that was being told. It seemed to meander a bit at some point in the middle middle end. Secondly, this had some English accent dialect that was pretty hard for me to get into. I’d say it was more difficult than Shuggie Bain, but not quite as obnoxious as Trainspotting. For me dialect tend to take away from the experience of reading, even though it does get easier as you go along, but I just don’t really think that it adds that much to the story, I can understand why it might add something to the story for people that are familiar with these dialects and understand what it says about a person‘s geography and culture, but I am not one of those people and so I think it more often than not detracts from the story for everyone else. I appreciate the desire for authenticity but for me personally it was just a bit of a chore that I had to deal with while reading. I did appreciate a lot of the references, I think Brown managed to really place them in a point in time using the references in culture but not in a way that was too jarring as it can often be. For me this barely made a three star rating, but I think people from the UK will appreciate this much more, and any anyone else who enjoys dialect writing.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, but it is tough to read about characters who are in messes of their own making and also a bit insufferable. The dialect was taking persistence and stamina I don't have to spare at the moment, so I set it aside. It felt like work to get through, and the plot didn't do enough to make me interested in the results of that work!

A haunting and raw exploration of identity, power, and survival. The novel dives into the lives of its characters with unflinching honesty, examining their internal struggles and complex relationships. Brown's writing captures the emotional intensity of the narrative and the darker sides of human nature. The book’s gritty tone and poignant themes will resonate with readers who enjoy deep, character-driven stories that challenge societal norms and personal boundaries. It’s a thought-provoking and intense read that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths.

Let me start by saying I loved the cover of this novel & it’s crazy that this is the debut for this author.

I found this a little hard to understand at first just because it’s written in Yorkshire dialect but after a few pages I got used to it & it was authentic to the story so I appreciated it. Coming of age stories are pretty hit or miss in my eyes & this one was done so well. We get to follow three friends from their teens to early thirties and all of the obstacles that come along with being a girl/woman. There are many touchy topics covered in this such as eating disorders and sexual assault so be aware of that before reading but I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the eARC

Wow I really enjoyed this one. I was unsure if I was going to be able to get into it, as it's written in Yorkshire dialect, but once I adjusted I really enjoyed the story. I felt it did a brilliant job capturing the intricacies of youth and especially the intensity of young female friendships. Things just feel so intense and serious during those years, and Brown captured it all. Also, what a stunning cover!!

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the ARC.

First off, for a debut this was phenomenal!
I enjoyed this book even though it took about 15 to 25 pages for me to get into the dialect but, after that I had to stay up and finish this! It centers around 3 teens, Kel, Shaz, and Rach, who are your typical 90 rebellious teen girls. These 3 are determined to get the most out of life and at no cost it seems. Between lots of ecstasy and trips to nightclubs that let them in, they live for trouble and excitement. The secrets and pressure they put on each other and themselves was a lot at times. They peer pressured each other to experiment with drinking, partying, lots of drugs, and sex and at times it was a lot.

A great debut coming of age novel. This is a beautiful story! It took me a while to get used to the Yorkshire dialect. It made me have to slow down to read and understand this book. Great debut!

the yorkshire feel took a bit to get used to but once i got used to it the book really shined. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" is a raw and gritty exploration of trauma, survival, and self-identity. The author’s writing is intense, capturing the protagonist's emotional turmoil with unflinching honesty. While the story is compelling in its themes, the pacing can be uneven, making parts of the narrative feel slow or disjointed. The characters, although complex, often lack sufficient development, which makes it difficult to fully connect with their struggles. The dark, gritty tone may appeal to readers who enjoy challenging stories, but the novel's heavy-handed approach and lack of resolution leave some parts feeling underwhelming. A bold but imperfect read.

This is a phenomenal debut novel! 'We Pretty Pieces of Flesh' follows three friends over a decade or so of time. It is a stunning exploration of female friendships and the way our upbringings and hometowns affect who we are. This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.