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Pretty Things
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
Two wildly different women--one a grifter, the other an heiress--are brought together by the scam of a lifetime in a page-turner from the New York Times bestselling author of Watch Me Disappear. Nina once bought into the idea that her fancy liberal arts degree would lead to a fulfilling career. When that dream crashed, she turned to stealing from rich kids in L.A. alongside her wily Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. Nina learned from the best: Her mother was the original con artist, hustling to give her daughter a decent childhood despite their wayward life. But when her mom gets sick, Nina puts everything on the line to help her, even if it means running her most audacious, dangerous scam yet. Vanessa is a privileged young heiress who wanted to make her mark in the world. Instead she becomes an Instagram influencer--traveling the globe, receiving free clothes and products, and posing for pictures in exotic locales. But behind the covetable faade is a life marked by tragedy. After a broken engagement, Vanessa retreats to her family's sprawling mountain estate, Stonehaven: A mansion of dark secrets not just from Vanessa's past, but from that of a lost and troubled girl named Nina. Nina, Vanessa, and Lachlan's paths collide here, on the cold shores of Lake Tahoe, where their intertwined lives give way to a winter of aspiration and desire, duplicity and revenge. This dazzling, twisty, mesmerizing novel showcases acclaimed author Janelle Brown at her best, as two brilliant, damaged women try to survive the greatest game of deceit and destruction they will ever play.
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kelseycoleburke
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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“One should always drive the speed limit when one has fake Oregon license plates on one‘s car.”

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DaNae.Gr
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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new month, new book!

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LitLaur
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

I listened to this audiobook at the beginning of a long drive, and then to/from work each day. It‘s fantastic! “Pretty Things” skewers today‘s social-media driven society, both the good and the bad. (It‘s not lost on me that Litsy is social media for books! 😁) There are plenty of twists and turns that keep the drama moving. Highly recommend.

4 likes1 stack add
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LitLaur
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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I‘m listening to “Pretty Things” by Janelle Brown, but apparently, my car thinks it‘s by James Brown! 😂

LoverOfLearning Oh no 😅 2y
6 likes1 comment
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Kangaj1
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick


September Reads: 13 books

5⭐: Into the Drowning Deep, Just Mercy
4.5⭐: Bone Gap
4⭐: The Madness of Crowds, The Last Story of Mina Lee, 56 Days, Distress Signals, A Murder in Time, Pretty Things, The Secret History
The others are 3⭐ and below.

TiredLibrarian Just Mercy is one of those books I wish everyone in America would read. 2y
Kangaj1 @TiredLibrarian it was excellent on audio and I flew through it. 2y
britt_brooke @TiredLibrarian I 100% agree. I‘ll admit, it changed my perspective. 2y
Gissy Amazing📚📚📚📚👏👏👏👏 2y
25 likes4 comments
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Kappadeemom
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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The story of a young woman who is a grifter because she wants to pay her mother‘s medical bills. She hooks with a dude that is also a con artist and they decide to take down a social media influencer

40 likes2 stack adds
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alecia3dixie
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Mehso-so

I did enjoy the characters in this book, and how well it was written. Other than that, I didn't like much else. The story is told from 2 different view points, but you will read one point of view and then have to go back and read it all over again from the second girls point of view. It was soo annoying, I just did not care if I had both view points. And the ending? There were a few things that I didn't expect but not enough to save this book. 3/5

4 likes1 stack add
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Soscha
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

This one‘s a real twisty-turny roller coaster ride! One‘s the grifter, the other the golden girl. Who are you going to root for?

I‘ll reveal no spoilers other than I‘m going to be shipping one pair of characters. 💞

(Photo is an advertisement for Harry Winston. Sweet, eh? I can only look from afar—a way, way afar.)

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anniebannanie
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
Mehso-so

A good, twisty novel. A lot of repetition and some repeat phrases, but the twist at the end kind of makes up for it?

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HettyG
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

78 miles walked in July while listening to these wonderful books!

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HettyG
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

This book was a lot of fun! It‘s not high literature or anything, and does seem to have been written with a tv series or movie in mind, and the stupidity of the Vanessa character at times defied the limits of credulity but it was an enjoyable audio book all the same!

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Laughterhp
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

This was a low pick for me. My friend recommended it and I struggled through the first 40% and she told me it got better. I was expecting more heist stuff and less backstory. However once we got through that, this book really picked up. I can‘t believe what happened the last 2 hours of this book!

This finally got me a bingo for #BookSpinBingo

TheAromaofBooks Yay bingo!!! 3y
52 likes1 comment
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Wrightreads
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
Pickpick

This book started out great, totally shifted gears, stayed pretty great, but ended a little on the “blah” side. Good characters throughout. Can‘t say much without ruining the book for others. Strong female characters…….sort of??? Definitely some troubling storylines woven in to the larger story.

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JessTedrick
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

There were some serious stylistic pet-peeves to overcome for me in this book but the plot kept me going.

I was fully prepared for this to be a DNF but once I was in, I was IN. Seriously, if you like a con artist plot, satisfying character arcs, and a lot of secrets then this is the book for you.

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JessTedrick
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Ok, I‘m all in.

It was a rocky start and I still have some issues (all the parenthetical narration!!!) but the story itself is now so intriguing that I can‘t put it down.

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JessTedrick
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown

I‘m four paragraphs in and there is already a phrase that has been reused. It‘s a book pet peeve of mine- double words and too many uses of the same or similar phrases.

Nit-picky, I know.

What are your book pet peeves?

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Kris10H
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐
This one is a pretty solid 4 stars. The character development is really well done, and the gaslighting done by the main male character is textbook. I did, however, want to shake one of the main female characters several times and yell, "You should have known better!" Good insight throughout on empathy through familiarity, and today's Insta obsession.

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Kris10H
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Kris10H
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Waiting in town for a prescription, so naturally I'm reading. Every once in a while, I see a package of Fruitfull and I buy it in memory of my grampie Hatfield. ❤

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Kris10H
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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This is off to a good start, and I haven't even started reading the story yet!

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SheReadsAndWrites
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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1st Zoom book club meeting with dear friends. So fun. 🤓

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swynn
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Mehso-so

It's a slow-burn crime thriller about a couple of grifters who mark the Lake Tahoe home of an Instagram influencer. There are twists, though not as many as its nearly-500-page length implies. I found it okay, but rambly.

This was my #BookSpin read for April.
@TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
30 likes1 comment
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swynn
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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When a body goes down in Lake Tahoe, they say, it does not rise again.

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

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swynn
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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My #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin books for April. Definitely will get to these.

Thanks @TheAromaofBooks !

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 3y
30 likes1 comment
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ELMyerholtz
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

A cat and mouse game...but who‘s playing who?

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doodeh
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Loved it!! Twisty & smart. Entertaining 👍

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Blerdgal_Fenix
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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My wonderful book club sent me out new book while I was sick. I can‘t wait to start reading it. I know I have other books to read, but my book club date is coming up and I need to get a move on it. Lol has anyone read this book?

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Eringogreen
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Nina is a con artist forced into her life to ensure her ailing mother gets the medical care she needs. Vanessa is a lonely heiress capitalizing on her name to gain Insta-fame and validation on social media. Both characters have redemptive qualities, but their inertia carries them to continue doing what they know best.

This novel wraps up neater than most and I loved the ending.

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Jeannineth
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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I am so enjoying this con couple working their magic on the unsuspecting rich of Tahoe, Nevada. Who doesn‘t love a strong , but evil, female character?

55 likes1 stack add
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Mikiyaah
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Mehso-so

Did not keep me engaged. Sad i wanted to like the book but it was dragging, struggled to finish it. Could have been better with a little more editing

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Mikiyaah
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Just borrowed! Fresh from my local library! Cant wait to read it!

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BeckyandBooks
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Just finished listening to this, and was pleasantly surprised. We love Lake Tahoe, so it was neat to hear the references. The narrators were easy to listen to, and the story held my attention and kept me wanting more.

39 likes1 stack add
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ElishaLovesBooks
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Since we have no power as a result of a tornado ripping through our neighborhood yesterday afternoon (we‘re all fine) now is as good a time as any for a book review!🌪

I‘m not usually a thriller fan but this book about 2 con artists and the long con they are playing was full of twists and turns. A lot that I didn‘t see coming! It‘s told from the viewpoints of the 2 main characters (the con and the mark) and I liked that aspect of the book too.

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SheReadsAndWrites
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

This is a super fun read with all kinds of intrigue and twists and turns. I couldn't put it down! 🤓 #greatread #bookspinbingo @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! 4y
32 likes1 comment
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SheReadsAndWrites
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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I canNOT put this book down. SOOOO good!! 🤓 Hoping to finish today. 🤞🏼 #happysaturday

31 likes1 stack add
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SheReadsAndWrites
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Reading my #bookspinbingo book today. Glad to have my reading buddy nearby. 🐶

Beatlefan129 What a cutie ❤️🐶 4y
LiteraryinLawrence That face! 4y
AmyG Oh my, is he (or she) a cutie. ❤️ 4y
SheReadsAndWrites Thank you @AmyG His name is Ramses. 😊 4y
37 likes5 comments
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jackilynn
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Nicole Kidman set to star & produce an adaptation of this...sign me up

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3473064598?book_show_action=false&from_rev...

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jackilynn
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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I really need to get up & get ready for work but I feel like things are finally starting to head somewhere 🤔

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ElishaLovesBooks
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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This book is so good! #currentlyreading

Soubhiville Your plants are so pretty. 4y
ElishaLovesBooks @Soubhiville Thank you! I‘ve worked hard to keep them healthy! 4y
47 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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SheReadsAndWrites
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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It's my first time trying this and I am excited! Thank you for your patience with me @TheAromaofBooks 🙃
#Bookspin #bookspinbingo

MallenNC It‘s fun! Welcome to BookSpin! 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yay!! I'll tag you with the winning numbers here very shortly!!! 4y
26 likes3 comments
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azulaco
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Desperately trying to finish this before my e-book loan runs out, but I don‘t think I will make it 😕 I‘ll have to place another hold and finish it later, I guess. I overestimated my available time for reading.

mrsthilkey If it's on your Kindle put it on airplane mode and your book will stay on there until you get back on wifi. (it will not affect the next person in line, they still get their hold.) 4y
azulaco @mrsthilkey Thanks! 4y
11 likes2 comments
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Acoleman
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Summer evening reading!!! Just finished this one, great twists and turns. A little long but once your invested in the characters, you can‘t put it down!

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KailaSimone
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
Pickpick

I loved this book, I was so excited to know the ending that I skimmed the last few chapters! Even after spoiling it for myself I still went back to read the remaining pages and was engaged throughout the entire story. There were a couple unexpected twists and turns that kept me on my toes, and I liked being able to read the story from the perspectives of both Nina and Vanessa. I highly recommend, especially for anyone who wants a good beach read!

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LMJenkins
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Next up.

Tiffiney Loved this one! 4y
28 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Tiffiney
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

I loved this book!! Just found out that Nicole Kidman is making it into a series...I can't wait!

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Arvena
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

Beautiful writing, dirty secret and family lies, twists and revelations, elite drama - this book offers enough to keep you interested and going to the very end.

29 likes2 stack adds
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guinsgirlreads
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Started this one this morning!

38 likes2 stack adds
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CaitlinSiem
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Mehso-so

I was bummed I didn‘t like this book more than I did. I was super intrigued about the blurb and it hit pretty loudly when it was published. It made lots of lists and so it caught my attention...

And the book just didn‘t do it for me. It was rather boring for so much stuff happening. I didn‘t like any of the characters (they weren‘t even bad in a fun way) and so I just stopped caring about what was going to happen. A bummer, really.

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JHSiess
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

★´¯)*¤° ???? ?????? °¤*(¯´★⁣
⁣⁣⁣⁣
??????? ?????'s ?????? ?????? features numerous unexpected revelations, shocking plot twists, & endlessly intriguing characters. Harlan Coben correctly calls Brown "your new must-read author." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⁣⁣

???? ??? ???? ??????: https://tinyurl.com/y6uyb448

46 likes1 stack add
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Skeebies05
Pretty Things: A Novel | Janelle Brown
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Pickpick

I loved the twists. A couple I didn‘t see coming. A fun book. Maybe 50 pages too long? The back and forth covering the same time period could be tedious.