5 ⭐️

a powerful, dark and heartbreaking memoir

[a copy of this book was provided to me by the published from netgalley. thank you!]

Such a Pretty Picture is a raw, unflinching memoir that explores the darkness behind a seemingly idyllic facade. It’s a deeply personal account of a childhood marked by emotional turmoil, family dysfunction, and trauma - and the long road toward understanding and healing. Leeb confronts difficult truths about her past with a kind of brutal honesty that’s both courageous and deeply moving.
Even though the book is quite graphic and by far not the easiest read, I believe memoirs that handle such heavy topics- childhood abuse, mental health, complicated family dynamics - are almost mandatory for us to engage with. Yes, the author did the bravest thing by writing and publishing her experiences, so somehow I feel like we, as readers and bystanders, are obligated to read them as long as they exist in the world. Isn’t this the least we can do?
The writing is unpretentious and emotionally sharp- it doesn’t aim to be lyrical or poetic, and that’s exactly why it lands so hard. The author doesn’t distance herself from the pain, and she doesn’t allow the reader to, either. It’s intimate, direct, and at times unbearably honest, making it a memoir that lingers long after the last page.
This isn’t a book you read for comfort - it’s one you read to bear witness.

Set to publishedOctober 14, 2025. Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC.

Such A Pretty Picture by Andrea Leeb is a heart wrenching and tragic personal account of her own story as a child who was betrayed and riden of her innocence by the ones who should have protected her the most. The layers of emotional and physical trauma that she went through haunt her into adulthood where she fights to understand, process, and find outlets to release the secrets bounding her to a life of uncertainty, mistrust, self hatred, and betrayal. It was the constant thread of hope that was depicted in each page that kept me enthralled to keep reading.

My heart ached and broke over and over again as I read this book. No child should go through something as dreadful as this yet it happens to many. The amount of courage and bravery it took for Leeb to not only put her dark secrets on paper but to write it and re live it is a true testament to her strength and growth.

This book was tragically raw and well written.

Trigger Warning: this book discusses sensitive content including SA, suicidal thoughts, and self harm.

Set to be published on 10/14/25

Thank you NetGalley for letting me read and review this book.

A heartshattering memior of a young girl, a child, experiencing incest at the hands of her father. After reading of her struggle with telling people of her experience, I am so happy that Leeb was able to overcome and tell people her story. I am grateful to have read this book, and honored to have gotten an advanced copy of it.

Such a pretty picture is a memoir by Andrea Leeb published by she writes press Oct 2025
Andrea Leeb writing a very hallowing story of her life of sexual and emotional abuse by her father who continued to sexually assault his daughter for years ultimately damaging Andreas life liberty and pursuit of happiness. She was being held in her own emotional prison for many years as the result of this abuse. It made life extremely difficult but even through it all she overcame her fears and made a good life for herself. Not easy at all!
This book really tears at the heartstrings for anyone who has dealt with the same hands of abuse and anyone with compassion and empathy for the turmoil one girl to woman can possibly endure in their lifetime.
Emotionally charged book of her life. You won’t be disappointed but you may need tissues handy as it is a hard read.
Thank you Netgalleu and thank you Andrea Leeb for sharing your story with the world.
Also she has donated 25% proceeds to her royalties to Rainn-Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
Please look for this available October 14, 2025

Such a Pretty Picture by Andrea Leeb is a powerful, emotionally raw memoir that courageously sheds light on the hidden scars of childhood abuse and the arduous journey toward healing. From the very first pages, Leeb immerses readers into her world—one marked by betrayal, shame, and the quiet resilience needed to survive trauma no child should endure. The story begins with a disturbingly intimate account of her early experiences with her father, David, and the devastating impact it has on her life. Leeb’s writing is both honest and compassionate, capturing the complex layers of fear, confusion, and shame that she carries. The narrative doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of abuse but emphasizes her strength in navigating a childhood overshadowed by secrets nobody should bear alone. What makes this book truly remarkable is Leeb’s portrayal of her ongoing journey—not just through her traumatic past but also in her pursuit of self-understanding and forgiveness. The depiction of her mother Marlene’s willful blindness adds a poignant layer of critique about complicity and denial within families, making Leeb’s eventual confrontation with her history all the more impactful. The storytelling in this memoir is lyrical yet unflinching, allowing readers to feel pain, fear, and hope deeply. The way she balances moments of despair with glimpses of grace and resilience offers a genuine and hopeful perspective that healing, while complicated and non-linear, is indeed possible. Leeb’s realization that healing is not about erasing the past but learning to live with it is both inspiring and necessary. This memoir is an essential read for anyone seeking honest insight into the survivor's experience. It’s a testament to the human spirit's capacity to endure and eventually find joy even after profound betrayal. Andrea Leeb’s brave debut is a must-read—raw, emotional, and ultimately empowering.

This is a raw, courageous memoir, easy to read despite the difficult subject matter. The writing is engaging and the author shares her memories of abuse and trauma with sensitivity. Enough detail is given to make clear what occurred, but the emphasis is on recounting the effects of the abuse on the author and those in her life. Leeb very effectively illustrates the deep, far-reaching, and long-lasting effects of this type of trauma. I feel that other fellow survivors will find comfort in the strength she possesses, her ability to confront her trauma and primary abuser, and the joy and hope that she ends the memoir with. The only thing that could make this better would be more discussion of her adult life, particularly during and after her time in the in-patient program. Compared to the discussion of her childhood, the later portions of her story feel somewhat hurried.

I

This memoir is brutally honest and shows the ramifications of abuse through decades. What I appreciated from Andrea's story is the transparent nature of how this altered her adult life and relationships - not just pushing it all to the epilogue. There are moments where I wanted to believe that some of the actions of the surrounding adults was due to time period/lack of education, but without books like these, we will never be educated. While the content is dark, I feel that this book is necessary to many who want to work with children in a professional setting and want to really understand the realities some young people face.

Andrea Leeb is strikingly honest and insightful, and a very talented writer who perfectly balanced heartbreak and hope throughout her memoir. This is one of the better memoirs I've read, and although the subject matter was incredibly heavy, it was compelling and difficult to put down.

And, even aside from the author's own story, there is incredible value in how she breaks down the total lack of support she received from those around her, especially growing up and experiencing the world as a young adult at the time that she did (around the 1960s and 70s). Her experiences with doctors, family, psychiatrists, etc, all ring true in the modern day, but not to the same overwhelming extent the culture of that time promoted. This memoir is in many ways illuminating on the subjects of medicine, the culture surrounding mental health, and the treatment victims of such abuse suffered in their attempts to get help in that time period.

This book made me cry several times, and the epilogue was quite powerful. I definitely recommend it, though I also recommend being aware of the graphic nature of the content. Leeb's story is incredibly important, and she writes in an appropriately unflinching manner, which may be difficult for many people to read. For me, this was four stars only because it is at times a bit disorganized, and I really would have been interested to hear a bit more about her healing journey after the trauma group.

This is a devastating book which looks closely at sexual violence in ways that the world needs to see. I admire the forthright stance that Leeb takes in the work, and I felt drawn in throughout the narrative. What a courageous book.

Such a Pretty Picture is a raw, courageous memoir that navigates the devastating terrain of childhood sexual abuse and the long, winding road to healing. Andrea Leeb recounts her earliest traumas with poignant restraint, choosing words that carry weight without graphic excess—a choice that honors the pain without retraumatizing the reader. As a survivor myself, I appreciated this approach deeply.

The strength of the memoir lies in its emotional honesty and clarity. Leeb captures the silence, the shame, and the psychological toll of being hurt by someone meant to protect you. Her mother’s “hysterical blindness”—both literal and metaphorical—adds a haunting layer of generational complicity and denial.

However, once the story shifts to Andrea’s adult life, the pacing feels rushed. The latter chapters move quickly through years of her life, glossing over the critical and complex journey of post-trauma healing. Readers—especially fellow survivors—may find themselves wanting more: not just about surviving, but thriving.

Still, Such a Pretty Picture remains a moving testament to resilience, offering solace, validation, and the reminder that healing, though never linear, is possible.

I always feel a little strange rating memoirs as I feel like I am just rating someone’s trauma. However, this was so easily a 5 star read for me.

Despite how devastating the events of Andrea Leeb’s life are, this was so beautifully and honestly written. Throughout every part of this book, it just felt so raw. In part 1, where she is describing the events of her childhood, it is written with such innocence that it almost is like a child had written those parts. It was wonderful to see how the older Andrea got throughout the story, the more brave she got in regards to her becoming such a strong and powerful women.


I am struggling to put into words how impactful this book was. I am so glad that she found the courage to be honest with herself and tell her story, as it is so important. Also extra extra loved the links to helplines for anyone who has been affected by SA.

A heartbreaking memoir that was a powerful read and very hard to put down.
The author tells her own very raw and devastating story, handling the subject with a lot of care. I found it quite eye-opening that not only did the author mention the hard times she went through with her family, but also the good times.
Particularly, I found the author’s relationship with her mother intriguing, and thought the epilogue was very moving. I liked the addition of SA survivor hotlines at the end too.

Ultimately, there is a strong message conveyed by the author that there is always hope, and help, out there for victims of SA. I would recommend people to read this book, but perhaps tell them to approach with caution if they are triggered by sensitive contents.

Thank you very much for the ARC.

This was a heartbreaking, powerful, and honest memoir. I read it in only a couple of sittings because it was impossible to put down. It was absolutely devastating and a very important story to tell. Andrea Leeb is so so so brave and I admire her for writing this. She had a great voice within the prose and conveyed her emotions so well. The epilogue was absolutely beautiful. I also really loved how she provided abuse hotlines at the end along with the note about donating 25% of all royalties to RAINN, it was such a nice and thoughtful touch. And while it didn’t hit me in the way I reserve 5 stars for, that’s a personal response, not a knock on the book itself. I feel so lucky to have read Andrea's story.

Thanks to NetGalley and She Writes Press for the ARC - this is my honest review 🩷

Trauma is a hard thing to live it the reality of what happened. This memoir is about Andrea SA abuse from a very young age and how she grew up with her family. What made this book stand out to me was how she wrote about her family, a lot of things they do are horrible things, but at other times, they do good things. That still does not justify the abuse she experienced growing up. There are also different types of abuse, most notably her father's sexual abuse, but there is also physical and emotional abuse she experienced from her mother. Even adults in her life that could have helped her were not able to do help which is sadly reality of many victim of SA child abuse. Through the years we see her understanding of the abuse changing and how it affects her relationship as an adult. The adult period focuses more on her learning to cope with what happened and getting help for it.

The only thing I wish had it more of the adult period in her life. There was many things that happened but I feel like the adult period could have had more chapters this more of nitpick. This book is hard to read though and can trigger some people because of heavy it goes into SA and suicide attempts. It is very sad to read some of scene because of just how messed up her sitatution became at many point in book and this is a true story. There are some good moments in the book where things do get better for her and its not all bleak. I also love how in the end the author Andrea Leeb giving number for those abuse hotlines and tell the audience that when you purchase this book 25% will be donated to RAINN which is an anti- sexual assult organization.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a well-written memoir that is not the standard memoir of sexual abuse. The author starts by relating how, when she was a small child, her mother suffered from a period of hysterical blindness after catching her father abusing her in the bathtub….but that is just the beginning of the insidious abuse that follows, with the mother in complete denial and young Andrea indoctrinated into the keeping of secrets. This story doesn’t conform to the expected pattern of a memoir about this sort of abuse, where everything suddenly explodes and then later comes punishment for the perpetrator and healing for the formerly abused child. So much is more subtle here than what the expected tale might be, and yet it’s no less horrifying and probably a more common story than we would want to think.. I was left thinking there was likely more to tell regarding the author’s life beyond her family of origin, and I would read more by her. This book stands out in its genre as its own kind of difficult yet compelling story.

This is a heartbreaking memoir about molestation, abuse and how Andrea lived with this secret for so many years. My heart hurt so bad for her. She was so real and raw with her story. I’m glad after so many years of suffering Andrea can finally say she feels “free”.

thank you to netgalley and she writes press publications for access to an eARC! all opinions are my own.

For readers of I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy and The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls, a candid and heart-wrenching memoir about child abuse, family secrets, and the healing that begins once the truth is revealed and the past is confronted.

Andrea is four and a half the first time her father, David, gives her a bath. Although she is young, she knows there is something strange about the way he is touching her. When her mother, Marlene, walks in to check on them, she howls and crumples to the floor—and when she opens her eyes, she is blind. Marlene’s hysterical blindness lasts for weeks, but her willful blindness lasts decades. The abuse continues, and Andrea spends a childhood living with a secret she can’t tell and a shame she is too afraid to name.

Despite it, she survives. She builds a life and tells herself she is fine. But at age thirty-three, an unwanted grope on a New York City subway triggers her past. Suddenly unable to remember how to forget, Andrea is forced to confront her past—and finally begin to heal.

This brave debut offers honest insight into a survivor’s journey. Readers will feel Andrea’s pain, her fear, and her shame—yet they will also feel her hope. And like Andrea, they will come to understand an important truth: though healing is complicated, it is possible to find joy and even grace in the wake of the most profound betrayals.

this was an incredibly raw and devastating memoir. it's incredibly written and i read this in almost one sitting because i could not put it down at all.

This is a beautifully written memoir. Andrea shares her story of the brutal abuse and grooming she went through caused by her father that began when she was only 4 years old. Later on the abuse continues from other boys and men. While she shares all the tragedies she faced and how it affects her now as an adult, she also shares how she survived.

This book was devastating and made me cry multiple times while reading. It was heartbreaking to read about how she was failed by everyone around her. She does an excellent job of converting her story and making the reader understand the emotions she experienced. Her story is very important and deserves to be read.

Trigger warning: It deals with heavy topics such as mental health struggles, SA, self harm and abuse.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

These are the types of personal stories that I'm drawn to. I admire the bravery it takes to put your story into the world for all to read and judge. Leeb's book is hauntingly superb. The writing is excellent, making you feel like you're right there with her during her struggles. It will make you think and stay with you after you've finished it. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.