Pretty Things – Book Review

Author: Janelle Brown

Genre: Mystery & Thrillers

Publisher: Random House

Publication Date: April 21, 2020

Book Description: 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.

“Pretty Things is awesome. Simple as that. I loved every page. Janelle Brown is your new must-read author.”—Harlan Coben, New York Times bestselling author of Run Away

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 façade 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’s, Vanessa’s, 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.

Rating: 4 Stars

Review: This is the first book I have read by Janelle Brown, and it certainly will not be the last time. This is a slow burn of a thriller that you will devour. It is rather long, but well worth all the pages.

This book is written as alternating perspectives, Nina and Vanessa. Nina grew up with Cons as parents, and even though she tried to break that pattern, she unfortunately falls into that trap. Vanessa is from a very rich and established family that is about to get the surprise of a lifetime.

There is much more to this story than just a simple con, there is history to these two women, but each don’t even know how much. This book has many curves that you won’t see coming, and the author does a wonderful job keep the suspense throughout.

Mystery and Thrillers are always hard to write reviews for and keep the spoilers out, but I can promise you this does not feel tired and all. Brown has a fresh approach to this genre, that I think will have a lot reader’s wanting more. Excellent Book!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.