This was my first time reading a book by this author and what I found was the friendship kinda dissolves when Reya and her mother move to the wealthier side called Bowie. This story sheds light on community, class and being brave enough to stand up for what is right. How about she landed her a job with the Potomac Housewives.

Reya who is a fashionista who enrolls in the fashion technology program. She loves fashion shows and while doing them her old bestie helps her out but not without exchanging services for money, and Summer agrees to it.
The more time these two people spend together the more they begin to form a bond, and a relationship starts to spark up. Unfortunately, the store is being threatened with construction and potentially closing what will happen.

I do feel that the author did a great job dissecting topics of friendship, wealth and the different neighborhoods, growing up neighborhood meant everything, our neighbors would look out for one another and if you needed anything you could always reach out to your neighbor, because your neighbors were your family.

The plot of the story did lack a little bit, but I still enjoyed it since she did talk about real life issues.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and Viking Books in exchange for an honest review. PRETTY GIRL COUNTY will be out on July 1, 2025!

This was a wonderfully done young adult novel, it had that element that I was looking for in this type of book, it had that element that I was hoping for from the description. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed following this concept, the characters were realistically written and worked in the world. Lakita Wilson has a strong writing style and was glad I got to read this.

Thank you NetGalley so much for providing me with an advance copy!! I have been waiting to get my hands on this book for months and I was not disappointed. As an AA woman, I saw my younger self in these characters. Trying to find your place while navigating friendships, relationships and preconceived stereotypes. I loved that that there was a heavy focus on HBCU's. It even mentioned my idol show growing up "A Different World". Great female main characters who had differing points of view but it made sense.

Thank you to NetGalley, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group & Lakita Wilson for the opportunity to Read this ARC.

This was a really good YA read. This story follows 2 teens (Dual POV's) who used to live in the same area (Seat Pleasant). Sommer still lives in Seat Pleasant and has to work for everything she gets. She is currently trying to get into Spelman but is trying to build up the funds through Scholarships to try to make her dream come true. Reya (Sommer's ex BFF) now lives in Prince George County and now needs or wants for nothing. Essentially they are now complete opposites. Reya has the financial ability to go to the College of her choice but needs to prove that she has what it takes. This book takes you on a journey of regaining Friendship and Trust, with a couple of hiccups along the way.
I would definitely recommend this book. It was a really good read for me. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!🥰🥰🥰

Pretty Girl County completely drew me in. It’s bold, emotional, and packs way more punch than I expected. The story follows Blake, who’s trying to navigate life in a town obsessed with appearances, while she’s carrying some seriously heavy truths. I loved how real and raw her voice felt, like I was sitting next to her while she figured things out in real time.

There’s so much heart in this book. It tackles tough stuff like grief, identity, and injustice, but still manages to give space for joy, friendship, and a little bit of hope. It made me think, it made me feel, and I couldn’t stop reading.

pretty fun and cute YA book! the story is cool and the characters are all well written. would definitely recommend. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

Have you ever read a book that says "Wow. I like it. It's good but it would be soo much better as a television series!" That was my thought process when reading this book.

As someone who grew up in the DM(V), the label Pretty Girl County has always been there. It was something everyone was familiar with because it essentially held true. As a lover of the Housewives series, I connected to the story line. I wanted both girls to realize that their worth, to not connect it to a location. I wouldn't be truthful if I didn't say that their behavior was more of the lines as middle schools rather than high school, but I recognized that it's different for teens these days,

Here's the thing that I realized when reading this book. Everyone is doing the best they can with the cards that they are being dealt.

Overall I enjoyed the book but I think it would do great as a television series. Think Grown-ish but HBCU and Pretty Girl County based.

I just couldn't get into this book. It did not connect with me from page one. The title, cover, and synopsis felt misleading.

"Pretty Girl County" by Lakita Wilson is perfect for teens. It's a dual POV centered on friendship and social dynamics. It's a quick read that holds your attention from start to finish. I highly recommend it for its honest portrayal of adolescent relationships and social pressures. It is a book I would want my teenage daughter to read. I gave it 4 stars. Thank you NetGalley, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers and Lakita Wilson for this ARC read.

I’m a Housewives fan so when Wilson was going on about Potomac, I was laughing because this seriously is a thing there. If you don’t live in the exact spot you are supposed to, they will come for you - with a mock pizza delivery!😆 Then there is the branding. Everyone is always pimping something. If you don’t have a storyline that the audience wants to see, “Bye, bye, bye!” I can’t imagine the stress these women choose to live with to make a living this way. I admire the hustle.

So, I went totally off script there as this is a minor part of the story, but it has a huge impact on Reya’s life. It also changed the dynamics of Reya and Sommer’s friendship. When Reya moved out of Seat Pleasant, she found it hard to balance this new “upscale” life and life back in Seat Pleasant. Her mother was pushing hard in one direction, and when you’re a kid you kind of have no choice but to follow along.

Sommer on the hand feels like Reya chose the richer life because if she just worked harder than they would still be friends. If only life didn’t get in the way, right? How many times have we said to former co-workers, “We’ll keep in touch.” Then a year goes by, and we haven’t even texted or called in six months? When this happens to kids though, feelings get hurt.

Pretty Girl County is about this friendship. It’s about what we will do to move forward and the choices we make to support our family and our own dreams. Lakita Wilson does add some romances to their lives, but as a minor supporting role. This is a book about classism, gentrification, Black and women’s empowerment. The discussions aren’t confined, but raw and sometimes left undone. There aren’t easy answers, and the author doesn’t give any.

This is an uplifting story about the ties we make and how we choose to nurture them. I love Reya and Sommer. I also have to say that I crush on Octavius. Visiting Pretty Girl County made me want the ties that these girls have even with all of the drama. 😆

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for a honest review.


This book did a great job touching on the topics class issues, rocky friendships, societal differences and romance all rolled into one YA read. This is a dual POV read and reminded me of some of the discourse that I have with the young ladies I work with in my after school program this will deff be a book I will push for them to read.

**Review: *Pretty Girl County* by Lakita Wilson**

Thank you to Penguin Young Readers Group for the advanced copy!

Growing up in PG County, Maryland is truly a one-of-a-kind experience—one of those *“if you know, you know”* kind of things. Ever since I moved from the DMV almost three years ago, I’ve felt that specific kind of homesickness that only PG can bring. That’s why *Pretty Girl County* felt like a warm, familiar hug and a nostalgic ride home all in one.

I’ve read a lot of books set in the DMV, but this is the **first** time I’ve read one that proudly centers *PG County*—not just DC. And let me tell you, Lakita Wilson did not miss. She captured all the little nuances, slang, and spirit of the area, dropping Easter eggs that only real ones will catch. It’s a love letter to the County, and she signed it with heart and soul.

But Sommer and Reya’s story is more than geography—it’s about love in all its messy, growing forms. It’s about rebuilding friendships, figuring out who you are when everything feels like it’s shifting, and learning how to set boundaries—even with the people who raised you. Reyna’s relationship with her mom? Whew. I definitely wanted to square up with her mother like fifty-leven times... but maybe I’ll rethink that. Maybe. 😅

If you're from PG or the DMV—or even if you’re not—this book is full of heart, community, and that raw, relatable journey of growing up and growing into yourself. I truly enjoyed it and can’t wait for more people to experience *Pretty Girl County*.

Title: Pretty Girl County
Author: Lakita Wilson    
Genre: YA   
Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Girls like Reya Samuels always come from Prince George’s County. Reya is rich and she’s not afraid to show it—she wears designer clothes, drives a custom pink Audi, and lives in a neighborhood tucked behind a fancy cast iron gate. She works hard, but she can get anything she wants with a snap.

Sommer Watkins is from Seat Pleasant, where the cast iron gates are significantly smaller—and attached to the windows, where most folks are still trying to make ends meet. Every day for Sommer is a hustle, working at her dad’s bookstore, and using her art skills to scrounge up enough scholarship money for her dream school, Spelman.

Reya and Sommer used to be BFFs—back when Reya lived in Seat Pleasant, too. Now the girls are from different stratospheres—but when Reya desperately needs help to prove to FIT admissions officers that she has what it takes to make it in fashion, the only person who can help is Sommer. Reya promises to help Sommer in return—she’ll pay her for her services, helping Sommer afford the school her parents can’t.

As the girls work together, slowly they begin to trust each other again. But when new relationships push them both, and Sommer’s dad’s bookstore is suddenly in danger of closing, old wounds bubble up. Can the girls find a way to repair their friendship and stay true to themselves along the way?

I enjoyed this read and thought the author did a great job with the culture and setting. I liked the homey feel of Seat Pleasant, and I liked Sommer a lot. Reya, not so much. She came across as very bougie and snobby, and I’m really not sure she learned her lesson at all, even after watching her mom’s shenanigans. Reya also came across as bossy, and she wasn’t very good at being considerate of others.

Lakita Wilson lives in Maryland. Pretty Girl Country is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Penguin Group in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 7/5/25).

Navigating Friendship
LGBTQIA+ Rep
Transitions
Family
This book holds a special place in my heart since this is also where I grew up. Being able to know the different streets and places mentioned was heartwarming. I felt the love for the area in this story and had me chuckle a bit too. I finished this way sooner than I expected but I should’ve known because I did NOT want to put it down.
I highly recommend this to YA readers, those who want to read OwnVoices, and Black authors. Reading this made me smile and reminisce a bit on my time in high school. Reya (it seems) is lesbian which I found interesting and is a detail I absolutely loved! Sommer is navigating balancing her goals and helping Reya get into her dream school. Sommer needs to money to get to her dream school but feels guilty with what’s going on with her dad’s bookstore. As they navigate these troubles, they both navigate relationships. This is just such a good homage to the area and the importance and beauty of community!

Messy ex-besties? Fashion school dreams? Awkward deals and hidden motives? Yes please. Reya is rich and kinda ruthless. Sommer is broke and talented. Together, they make art—and drama.

Lakita Wilson nails the tension between glow-up and growing apart. The class divide subplot? Sharp. The emotional growth? A little too tidy, but I’ll allow it.

First off, I love the cover. That's what really drew me in 😍. Pretty Girl County is a book that centers around fashion, looks & status, rekindling friendships, and how moving up in life doesn't always mean "better".

I liked how this is told in multiple POVs. You get Reya, whose lifestyle has drastically changed due to her mom's career & TV status. She has it all, it seems. And Sommer, whose father owns the town's local bookstore who works hard & wishes for much.

Bring in the cliché high school cliques & drama, a bit of romance, and every high school senior's biggest life changing choice: college.

I liked how there's a hometown feel to the story with the local bookstore being the heart of Sommer's neighborhood. The love of fashion for both Reya & Sommer and how that rekindles their childhood friendship stood out for me!

I did find Reya's mom SO dramatic & immature, even after her faults with Sommer. She was worse than a high-schooler!! 🙃

Middle/high school me would've eaten this up. I do wish there was a little more to the plot & more insight given with all of the relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley & Viking Books for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.❤️

Thank you, Penguin Teen, for the advanced reading copy.

This book caught my attention when I saw it was set in PG County. As a Maryland native, this was big for me because I rarely see my home state represented in stories. I loved the inclusion of DMV lingo and Maryland landmarks throughout this story. Specifically, the light shone on HBCUs.

While reading this, I had a very interesting experience that's hard to explain. While I could follow along with what was going on, at the same time, it felt like it was all over the place, and things were happening so fast. There seemed to be some type of disconnect between me and this story, possibly because I'm not the target audience.

Regarding the characters, I liked Sommer, but she was too hard on herself at times. Sometimes, I feel she let people gaslight her into believing she was the bad guy when, most of the time, she really wasn't. On the other hand, I didn't care for Reya. She was annoying, and her storyline was a bit too repetitive. She and her actions became stale very quickly. As a result, she didn't get any redemption from me by the end of the story. I was disappointed in her lack of character development.

The storyline for Reya's mom confused me, specifically with the pop culture reference to a popular reality TV show. I just didn't feel it was needed, and couldn't understand its purpose.

Sommer and Reya's friendship provided many points for reflection. One being that it's okay to outgrow people, and sometimes, individuals are only meant to be in your life for a season. The main takeaway I got from this story is that while it's okay to want bigger and better for yourself, don't forget where you came from.

Overall:
This was just okay for me. I didn't hate it, but I also didn't love it.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book. For the right audience this book will be great! I normally really enjoy YA books but the characters in this book drove me crazy I found them to be annoying and self absorbed I just couldn’t make myself finish it. I got 20% through the book but just can’t make myself finish it, I was constantly cringing and putting the book down. Maybe if I could have pushed through I would have liked it. It seems like a lot of other people enjoy it so maybe I will come back to it another day and try again.

A lot of this book was like coming home. As someone who spent several years growing up in PG County as a kid and then the rest in MoCo, seeing how much Wilson loves the DMV gave me the warmest of warm fuzzies. Leaping into and learning about the Black experience in those counties was eye-opening, and I appreciate the opportunity to see it through the author’s words.

The themes of community, family, and friendship are strong here and well-represented. Loving your home and where you came from can sometimes require a conscious effort, and this was so well demonstrated by multiple characters in this story.

Since this is YA, it makes sense that it reads that way. The writing is good but sometimes a little too straightforward, and some of the character behaviors and motivations (which change throughout the book) felt a bit rushed. The again, they’re mostly teenagers - perhaps it’s on brand.

I think this is a great story for anyone who wants to read about community and friendship, especially mending fractured relationships.

4.25⭐️ This was a fast paced delightful read. There was so much that was wrapped up in this YA book that tackles friendship, societal differences, class, wealth and romance without making the prose heavy.

This is a duel POV with 2 strong black FMC’s , Sommer and Reya, who grew up in a poorer section of their county. That is until Reya and her mother “moved up” and is now living a life that financially is a lot more well off.

I enjoyed Sommers perspective in particular as she desire with the stresses of senior year of high school along with family stresses.

This book is going to be one that many teen girls can look up to as well as identify with! It comes out July 1, 2025 making a perfect book for summer reading.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from Viking Books for Young Readers through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again