I don't typically reach for memoirs, but I was drawn in by the cover and the title. By the time I finished reading the synopsis, I was hooked. I ended up reading this in one day because I just couldn't put it down.

Andrea Leeb is an economical writer and seems to know just how much detail to share and what to leave unsaid. Many of the descriptions of the intensely traumatizing and painful experiences she went through felt devoid of emotion, presented with almost clinical detachment. That was initially something I saw as a flaw in the book, but I came to see it as an evocative portrayal of one of Andrea's coping mechanisms. I felt her dissociation, how she distracted herself and numbed her pain to get through life and simply survive.

Sprinkled throughout the story are moments of lighthearted fun and even joy shared with her parents, highlighting the complexity of growing up in an abusive household. Andrea also shares her hesitations around seeking help to find healing from her trauma, and some of the negative experiences she had when she did seek help. These parts of her story are so important for fellow victims/survivors to read, to maybe see their own experiences reflected in others, to know they are not alone.

The book ends on a more uplifting, hopeful note, though refrains from painting the journey toward healing with an overly sunny brush. Overall, Such a Pretty Picture is a well-written, highly readable, and strikingly balanced examination of a heavy, disturbing topic.

A fantastic and important book on a subject that makes most readers uncomfortable, and rightly so. Everyone acknowledges that SA at any age is wrong, but it particularly comes with its own baggage when it involves minor children, and even more so when it's against one's own child.
Author Andrea Leeb writes about her childhood trauma, her experience with SA and the violence that so often accompanies it. She handles a very tough subject with a light hand, recognizing that the subject alone is a heavy one.
Highly recommended as she shows that there is hope for victims and that it is never their fault

An utterly gripping and emotionally devastating memoir—I couldn’t tear myself away. Andrea’s story unfolds through a thousand quiet traumas inflicted by family, peers, therapists, and romantic partners. As her support group poignantly reflected, if reading her journey is this difficult, living it must have been unimaginable.

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.

Wow this memoir was intense but I'm glad she got to share her story. I loved how honest she was and that the stories were told in a matter of fact way. I liked how it was organized linearly instead of jumping around it time so it was easy to follow.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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.

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”.

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 🩷

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.