I didn’t think I wanted to read Pretty Is by Maggie Mitchell. Turns out I was wrong. Not only did I read it, I really enjoyed it. It’s about two girls who were kidnapped and their lives 20 years later. Kidnapping tales aren’t really my thing because of the hundreds of troubling images that come to mind, but Pretty Is is different. Nothing bad really happens to the girls, I mean, aside from the obvious trauma of being kidnapped.
The story is told in short, highly digestible passages alternating in the voices of Lois and Carly. This makes for quick reading.
I’d recommend Pretty Is mostly as a palate cleanser type of book. That’s how i used it and it was perfect. I was really into it in the beginning, but the ending didn’t do it for me. And I’m not alone in that sentiment. Many other reviews I’ve read have reported the same thing.
Who would like this book? Hard-core literature this is not, but Pretty Is is well written. I was concerned it was going to veer into Jodi Picoult territory (i know you know what i mean), but it does not get sentimental or weepy. To me it was an originally told tale, with full characters.
52 books or bust 
This book was a solid “okay” for me; I liked how it started out, but I wanted more character development for both girls and less of the thriller-esque territory the novel strayed into in the second half.
I agree. It starts off so well and then fizzles. But as a palate cleanser I’m willing to accept that.
PS welcome back!
It sounds like a palette cleanser for sure. But those can be good!
Sounds like if I run into this in the library, it wouldn’t be the worst thing to take home with me. Something to read sitting in the sun on a long weekend? I do know exactly what you mean by Jodi Picoult – she used to be one of my go-to authors before I started finding her work predictable.
The only reason I read it was cuz I saw it at the library and thought what the heck? I’ll give it a try. Total library read.