Thank you to NetGalley, the publu6, and author for the privilege of reading this emotional and life changing book.

I readd this book in less than a day from cover to cover. Andrea's story of abuse was hard to read, but helped me immensely. Although I did not suffer physical abuse our home was one of fear and mental and emotional abuse. My father regularly beat and abused my brother and as a child I felt guilty not being able to help him. In those days people looked the other way.

Years and years of therapy have helped, but I still live with guilt and shame and enormous trust issues. Relationships are hard

I understand Andrea's love for her mother. I do not understand my Mother not stepping in an allowing the abuse. It is hard to reconcile that anger with the live a child has for a parent.

Confusd and guilt ridden I have survived.

I recommend this book to all survivors and those who seek to understand and help those they love who are suffering or struggling as survivors.

First, I would like to say thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC. This is a haunting memoir. I wanted to crawl into the book and save 4 1/2 year-old. Andrea. It was an absolutely heartbreaking read. Page after page, I became angrier and angrier at how many people failed an innocent child. And page after page, I applauded Andrea for somehow managing to live through the horrors she experienced.

Such a Pretty Picture is one of the most beautifully written memoirs I've read this year. With raw honesty and lyrical prose, the author recounts her experiences with familial abuse, sexual assault, and suicidal ideation in a way that is both deeply affecting and profoundly authentic. The writing doesn't just tell you a story, it immerses you in it, evoking an emotional intensity that stays with you long after the final page. This memoir powerfully illuminates the long-lasting impact of sexual abuse on young women and children, showing how trauma echoes into adulthood. Despite the heaviness of the subject matter, the book is ultimately a testament to resilience and healing. I'm grateful the author had the courage to share her truth-- and to find, through that process, a measure of peace.

Such a Pretty Picture is not just a beautiful memoir; it's an important one.

I have set myself a goal to read more non fiction and so when I saw this cover it just grabbed me and I knew I had to read it. It was such a thought provoking read with some heavy moments but also some really lighthearted and funny moments. I really enjoyed it

Andrea Leeb, you did a beautiful job writing about the worst parts of your life. Because of your courage, others can read this memoir and not feel so alone. Thank you for that.

If you loved I’m Glad My Mom Died or The Glass Castle, this memoir should be on your list. It’s raw, emotional, and incredibly brave. Andrea shares her story of childhood abuse and the long road to healing with such honesty that it really hits you. Her journey is heartbreaking but also full of strength and hope. It’s not an easy read, but it’s an important one and one that sticks with you long after the last page.

Andrea Leeb’s debut memoir will wrench open a reader’s heart. SUCH A PRETTY PICUTRE delivers an unapologetic journey into the trauma of childhood sexual abuse. From the opening chapter, the innocent moment of a four-year-old’s bath at the hands of her father, sets the stage for a decade of shame and fear. The writer is led to believe that she is to blame for what her father does to her, and anything less than her silence will destroy the family. Her mother, aware of the abuse, turns a blind eye, and does nothing to protect her daughter.

SUCH A PRETTY PICTURE exposes exactly how abuse can hide in plain sight. Andrea writes with an emotional detachment, an unflinching look at her world, that draws the reader close to every painful moment. Her prose is spare, yet impactful. The reader cannot look away, as if the act of looking might somehow save the child.

Andrea’s triumphant success, finding her true self in the middle of confusion and shame, is a testament to the writer’s tenacity. Her struggles to recover balance and healing, gift the reader with a hopeful note, that resilience and recovery, no matter how messy and no-linear, can be attained.

An important and must-read book that will linger in the reader’s mind long after turning the last pages.

Tw -
* child SA
* incest SA

Honestly this book absolutely broke me, such an intense read to read about Andrea Leeb and her traumas growing up
I feel absolutely privileged to have been able to read this early as an arc read

It was utterly heartbreaking and intense,
Andrea Leeb is an incredibly strong woman

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
This is such an emotional story. The abuse and grooming by Leeb's father is appalling but what makes it worse is her mother's willful blindness from the very first incident.
The trauma that follows from being abused by boys and the damage it has on her future relationships is very apparent. Therapy is so important in working through the trauma.

A heartbreakingly dark memoir. The author had to endure so much, it is truly shocking and was a difficult read.

I received a copy for review. All opinions are my own.
Wow what a captivating story of what the author had to endure in her life starting when she was a young girl. Her story helps show what happens when we hold trauma in and how it can affect so many other aspects of our lives until we decide to face it head on. By sharing her story, as hard as it may be, this book can help others not feel so alone. I am grateful she chose to share her story.

Wow. I finished this one in a single sitting - this was a tragic and dificult read, but also a powerful and important one.

I appreciated Andrea sharing her story in such a raw and authentic way - it highlights that trauma doesn't just impact us in the moment, but that it follows us and impacts future relationships and life moments. SO many people failed her, yet she somehow still managed to pick herself up to seek help, strength, and hope through everything, something that many of us are too fearful of doing. On top of that, it was beautifully written - "unputdownable" while also sharing the horrific truth behind the abuse she endured. An easy 5/5. Thank you so much for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this raw and heart-wrenching memoir by Andrea Leeb ARC.
I admire the courage it took for her to write and tell us her darkest and most personal moments. This book deals with heavy topics that may be triggering. It touches on sexual abuse, incest, and grooming by her father. The lack of emotional support in her life was appalling. I understand that it was a different time and such topics weren't considered so seriously yet it still shocks me how every adult in her life failed her. Andreas writing style is perfect, you feel connected to her experiences and pain. I highly recommend this memoir to anyone looking for something honest and impactful that will leave you wanting more and more.

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