Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson is a standalone contemporary coming of age YA novel centered on two ex-friends who grew apart but have to rely on each other to get ahead.

I freaking love this book! Not only does it encompass the dynamic of rich and not so rich kids at a school, but taking people who used to be friends and how two faced one can be, to a new level. I really love how rooted in black culture it is. With every word read, it felt so natural and also the expressions of a teen girl.

Between struggling to make ends meet while watching other kids who have everything and then having to push her wants aside, Sommer brings such a relatable character to life. I liked the flirting with the guys and her still being like, nope, I’m focused on going to Spelman!

Then on the other side, Reya and her sudden rags to riches lifestyle going to her head, creating a monster and super fake personality, while ignoring her actual day-one friend, is a mess. Of course she’s deeper than that, but she’s annoying and relatable to many as well.

Between jealousy, money, friendship, rage, and everything else teens can feel at any given time, there’s so much to get from this book! It’s great from start to finish and I highly recommend diving into it and/or listening to the audiobook!

This is a great choice to add in schools. It is fun, takes on themes of friendship, have and have nots, and well as coming of age. This could be a book for class or just one in the recommended reading list. It’s great for readers 14+. Don’t like the school rec stop you from getting a copy for home too! Enjoy it with the family, too.

Other books to check out: Sparkle, Last Chance Dance, and all of Lakita’s biographies!

*This was an honest review for a complimentary copy of Pretty Girl County from Lakita Wilson via NetGalley

I've read Wilson's work before and liked it. This new book wasn't a complete hit, but I certainly loved how the characters evolved and how the plot proceeded.

3.5/5.0 Stars

PRETTY GIRL COUNTY – by Lakita Wilson

‘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.’

My Heart—Love The Ending, And All Of The Awesome Book Recommendations Throughout PRETTY GIRL COUNTY.

My current TBR pile is side-eyeing me really hard right now. . .

To that, I whisper, ‘Sorry Not Sorry.’

Thank you, NetGalley and Viking Books For Young Readers (Penguin Random House LLC), for providing me with an eBook ARC of a PRETTY GIRL COUNTY at the request of an honest review.

Teen & Young Adult Romance
Age range: 12 up
Grades: 7 up

Growing up right next to PG County, this book caught my eye immediately when I heard of it. So it was really need to understand and know where a lot of the locations they name in the story are. But I think the overall themes of the coming of age story and dynamics of Sommer and Reya's friendship can be translated to the teenage experience all across the country. The issues and unease all the characters went through felt realistic and I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you Viking and NetGalley for an ARC of Pretty Girl County!

⭐ 3.75

Okay, so right off the bat: I have mixed feelings about this one.

Let’s start with the good — because there’s a lot of it.
✅ I LOVED the cover art
✅ I LOVED the story and where it ended up
✅ I LOVED the character development

But. The beginning was a bit rough for me. I almost DNF’d, purely because the main characters were so caught up in judging each other… while also being guilty of the exact same things. It just felt a bit hypocritical and frustrating — like, how are you calling each other out for stuff you also do? 😅

That being said, I’m glad I kept reading. The reconnection of their friendship was genuinely sweet, and the character growth throughout the story made it feel worth it in the end.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read and I’d still recommend it — especially if you like flawed characters who do learn and grow.

Thank you Lakita Wilson and Penguin Young Readers Group for this eARC!

I have to start by saying that reading a book centered around Prince George's County (as a Montgomery County girl) was so much fun! You can tell from reading how much love Lakita has for the PG community. I think this book does a great job at addressing the challenges that come along with classism within a community - I really understood the frustration Sommer had with Reya and feeling abandoned when money came into Reya's life. I also really felt the pulls that Sommer and Reya felt into the lives they currently live and with the people they've known their whole lives. This book is almost perfect in my opinion - the flaw comes with the pacing. I felt like I couldn't tell how much time had passed throughout the book, which I don't think served my understanding of the relationships. I also felt like a certain relationship did not get as much attention as it needed, despite my liking of the resolution in the end of the book.

Really enjoyed, really recommend and look forward to reading more from Lakita Wilson. 4 stars.

Thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for this digital arc in exchange of my honest opinion.

3.5 rounded to 4

Really enjoyed the writing in this YA, centering around two girls whose friendship is nearly shipwrecked by one family becoming wealthy, with all that entails. The best part of the book was Reya and Sommer, the girls, and the arc of their relationship; outside of them there was (for me) some unevenness that bordered on melodrama, but on the other hand, Wilson has a sure touch with what is likely to draw her target readership.

Thank you to Netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group | Viking Books for Young Readers for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thought it was well written, love the storyline, and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

I thought this was cute overall, but left wishing it had more substance. I also feel like the romances involved felt a bit rushed.

This wasn’t just a story about teens growing up. It was about figuring out who you are, standing on that, and learning how to handle pressure from all angles, family, friendships, and everything in between. And let’s be real… sometimes when you move away or try to forget where you came from, it really can change how you move and the people around you feel that too.

I loved that Sommer was ready to roll up her sleeves and help out with the family business. That level of maturity was so refreshing…it wasn’t just a “good girl” move, it was real grown energy. She ain’t run from it, and I respect that.

And shoutout to Bowie State getting love in this book! As a proud alum, it made me smile seeing the characters embrace the campus. I remember my own visit like it was yesterday… Aye Aye Aye Ayeeeee BOWIEEEE 💛🖤

A love letter to PG County and a much needed YA story about community and friendship. It was refreshing to see a YA tory featuring Black girls set in a majority Black area.

Lakita Wilson's Pretty Girl County is a heartwarming tale exploring friendship, privilege, and self-discovery. The story follows Reya Samuels, who lives in wealth, and her former close friend Sommer Watkins, who struggles to achieve her dreams while working at her father's bookstore. Their friendship rekindles when Reya offers to pay Sommer for help with her college application, allowing them to rebuild trust despite their different paths.
The novel captures the complexities of their renewed relationship with vibrant, relatable writing and authentic dialogue. Rated four and a half stars, it features compelling character development, though some pacing issues arise with drawn-out scenes. Overall, Pretty Girl County is a beautifully written exploration of personal growth and the power of friendship, making it a highly recommended read for those who enjoy insightful narratives.

I loved this book. I loved the deeper look at income disparity and how it ruined a friendship. I also liked how it highlighted the facade of reality tv and how that plays out in the real world. The choice between the two love interests was also very well done and left me eager to find out who she she chose in the end. It was a really good book that I will definitely tell others to check out. Thank you very much for this read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

A quick read, great for high school teen girls. It had so much emotion in the writing, I was crying throughout the last few chapters. The power of friendship of these 2 girls while fighting through their differences was perfect to read. One of my favorite quotes that Sommer said was that her father always told her ghetto is a place not a person.

Pretty Girl County by Lakita Wilson was so easy to fly through.
I adored this heartfelt story of community, friendship and love in all its complexities.
This was such a great read. I was so gripped from get go.
The writing was great and the characters amazing.
I will definitely be picking up Lakita’s books in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

If I am being honest, it was the cover that drew me into this book. However, I had a hard time connecting with the characters or the plot. I think I am in the minority here, so that's a good thing. I guess I need to be more careful when requesting YA books in the future as some may not draw me in, like I think they will.

This book delves into friendship, ambition and second chances as the two friends are brought back together in a high-stakes fashion showdown that could make or break their futures.

Sommer is determined to attend Spelman, but her family's bookstore is at risk of closing, which might prevent her from affording it. Reya dreams of enrolling at the Fashion Institute of Technology but has been waitlisted. The two friends reconnect after Reya moves to a wealthier town in Prince George's County. This book is about Black teens facing everyday problems and joys of adolescence, with a Real Housewives connection that adds some extra fun.

This YA novel is a heartfelt story told from dual perspectives, following two former best friends, Sommer and Reya. Sommer still lives in Seat Pleasant and is working hard to earn scholarships to attend Spelman, while Reya now lives in affluent Prince George’s County and has the financial means but struggles to prove her own worth. Though their lives have taken very different paths, the story explores their journey of rebuilding trust and friendship, with a few bumps along the way. A relatable and engaging read—I definitely recommend it!

4.5 stars

I adore Lakita Wilson's writing. She has such a great way of bringing characters to life. I really love that this is a dual POV story about friendship where one of the characters is queer and there's never an issue with it. This is a cute, fun read that I'd definitely recommend for older teens, especially living in DMV.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review.