Such a Pretty Smile

320 pages

English language

Published Jan. 13, 2022 by St. Martin's Press.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-27421-2

View on OpenLibrary

(2 reviews)

4 editions

Shiyana reviewed Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester

Review of 'Such a Pretty Smile' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Some of it was a bit on the nose but I would say if you liked the Barbie movie and want similar feminist media but horror give this book a read. I quite enjoyed it but it also wasn't super scary. I felt a lot of anger in many parts, quite a cathartic read, but not the scariest book I have read. Not sure which book wins that award, but likely something by Dean Koontz when I read him as a pre-teen and teen.
I found this book had a good pace, though I sometimes wanted less jump between timelines. I do think that structure kept me reading when I would ordinarily book a book down. It was a quick read and the writing was good.

WellWorthARead reviewed Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester

Review of 'Such a Pretty Smile' on 'Goodreads'

4 stars

Caroline Sawyer, is an artist and single mom who was raised to be a good girl and is raising her daughter to be the same. Her daughter Lila is trying to be a good girl while navigating hormones, her first crush, and the secrets she knows her mother is keeping from her about murdered girls and what that might have to do with her past.
There's an expression that I love and it seems fitting for this review. "Teach your daughters to worry less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings." Yet in this day and age so many girls, and so many women are told just to smile. This book made me think of how many times I've heard it myself. Just smile. Why aren't you smiling? As if women should go around with a perpetual grin plastered to their faces regardless of how they …

Caroline Sawyer, is an artist and single mom who was raised to be a good girl and is raising her daughter to be the same. Her daughter Lila is trying to be a good girl while navigating hormones, her first crush, and the secrets she knows her mother is keeping from her about murdered girls and what that might have to do with her past.
There's an expression that I love and it seems fitting for this review. "Teach your daughters to worry less about fitting into glass slippers and more about shattering glass ceilings." Yet in this day and age so many girls, and so many women are told just to smile. This book made me think of how many times I've heard it myself. Just smile. Why aren't you smiling? As if women should go around with a perpetual grin plastered to their faces regardless of how they feel or even whether the situation calls for smiling.
If you enjoy a slow burn horror with a sharp feminist edge, or if you've ever been "mansplained" to this book is for you. It's part supernatural thriller, part social commentary, and totally different from anything I've ever read.