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Pretty Perfect
Deep fried Drop Dead Gorgeous meets Pretty Little Liars, PRETTY PERFECT is a southern comedy full of beauty pageant drama, laugh-out-loud shenanigans and enough whodunit to keep readers guessing.
In the picturesque town of Friendly, Tennessee, the Miss Friendly Pageant is a beloved institution. Girls dream about being crowned Miss Friendly as soon as they’re old enough to do the wave-and-cry.
Contestant June Bell understands what it takes to be a winner. She’s spent eighteen years perfecting her beauty walk, running interview questions and practicing her one-woman handbell solo. Expertly trained by her mother, who won the pageant as a teen, the family motto has been drilled into June since birth - you must be perfect in every way. But as more and more contestants are injured in strange and coincidental accidents, suspicions point to June and her inflated ambition. As the whole town turns against her, June finds solace in swoony, confident Casey, the cute bakery boy from the next town over.
With the pageant days away, tensions mount and friendships are tested. June must figure out who’s attacking the pageant or lose the crown she was born to win.
In the picturesque town of Friendly, Tennessee, the Miss Friendly Pageant is a beloved institution. Girls dream about being crowned Miss Friendly as soon as they’re old enough to do the wave-and-cry.
Contestant June Bell understands what it takes to be a winner. She’s spent eighteen years perfecting her beauty walk, running interview questions and practicing her one-woman handbell solo. Expertly trained by her mother, who won the pageant as a teen, the family motto has been drilled into June since birth - you must be perfect in every way. But as more and more contestants are injured in strange and coincidental accidents, suspicions point to June and her inflated ambition. As the whole town turns against her, June finds solace in swoony, confident Casey, the cute bakery boy from the next town over.
With the pageant days away, tensions mount and friendships are tested. June must figure out who’s attacking the pageant or lose the crown she was born to win.
314 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 8, 2025
2 people are currently reading
37 people want to read
About the author
JoAnna Illingworth
4 books25 followersFeaturing a mix of adult and young adult, JoAnna Illingworth’s books are character driven, fun, engaging reads. Her fast-paced storytelling, smart, funny characters, and swoony love interests keep readers hooked from start to finish.
Follow her on Instagram @glamorousjo and TikTok @glamjo
Visit JoAnna’s website at joannaillingworth.com for signed copies and news on upcoming releases and appearances.
JoAnna lives in Nashville’s suburbia with her husband and two boys.
Follow her on Instagram @glamorousjo and TikTok @glamjo
Visit JoAnna’s website at joannaillingworth.com for signed copies and news on upcoming releases and appearances.
JoAnna lives in Nashville’s suburbia with her husband and two boys.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 16, 2025
This book was full of southern charm, who-done-it mystery, laugh-out-loud moments, and a touch of romance too.
The story is centered around the contestants of the Miss Friendly beauty pageant in the small town of Friendly, TN. With all the drama you would expect around a beauty pageant, there’s an added element of mystery as everyone is trying to solve who is sabotaging the pageant every step of the way.
The characters were all so fun and entertaining with banter and one liners that had me giggling the whole way through.
Another fantastic book from JoAnna Illingworth! Definitely worth the read!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the author. I am voluntarily giving my honest review.
The story is centered around the contestants of the Miss Friendly beauty pageant in the small town of Friendly, TN. With all the drama you would expect around a beauty pageant, there’s an added element of mystery as everyone is trying to solve who is sabotaging the pageant every step of the way.
The characters were all so fun and entertaining with banter and one liners that had me giggling the whole way through.
Another fantastic book from JoAnna Illingworth! Definitely worth the read!
I received a gifted copy of this book from the author. I am voluntarily giving my honest review.
April 8, 2025
Tropes:
- Teenage Beauty Queens
- Pageant Drama
- Whodunnit Mystery
- Drop Dead Gorgeous Vibes
- Young Adult/New Adult
- Lite Romance
- 🚫 Spice
What happens when pageants are life but competing may risk yours? If you’re a contestant in the Miss Friendly Pageant, winning the crown is worth the risk. And if a few contestants get knocked out of the running, you’re just that much closer to the crown.
In the small town of Friendly, TN, girls grow up training for and dreaming of winning the famous Miss Friendly pageant. It’s the most coveted title in town, and girls will do anything to win it. This year, someone seems to be taking that to heart by sabotaging the pageant and contestants at every turn. June Bell is a pageant legacy, a favorite to win, and the prime suspect. With the town against her, she must find the real culprit, clear her name, and most importantly, win her crown.
What unfolds delivers all the drama you would expect from teenage beauty queens, pageant moms, and small towns. There’s plenty of banter, southern charm, and humor (some of it dark). Add in a an element of whodunnit mystery and some sweet romance, and I found myself flipping the pages and wishing for some popcorn. Pretty Perfect is quick, fun, and entertaining, and definitely worth the read!
- Teenage Beauty Queens
- Pageant Drama
- Whodunnit Mystery
- Drop Dead Gorgeous Vibes
- Young Adult/New Adult
- Lite Romance
- 🚫 Spice
What happens when pageants are life but competing may risk yours? If you’re a contestant in the Miss Friendly Pageant, winning the crown is worth the risk. And if a few contestants get knocked out of the running, you’re just that much closer to the crown.
In the small town of Friendly, TN, girls grow up training for and dreaming of winning the famous Miss Friendly pageant. It’s the most coveted title in town, and girls will do anything to win it. This year, someone seems to be taking that to heart by sabotaging the pageant and contestants at every turn. June Bell is a pageant legacy, a favorite to win, and the prime suspect. With the town against her, she must find the real culprit, clear her name, and most importantly, win her crown.
What unfolds delivers all the drama you would expect from teenage beauty queens, pageant moms, and small towns. There’s plenty of banter, southern charm, and humor (some of it dark). Add in a an element of whodunnit mystery and some sweet romance, and I found myself flipping the pages and wishing for some popcorn. Pretty Perfect is quick, fun, and entertaining, and definitely worth the read!
April 12, 2025
JoAnna did it again!! Such a cute and imaginative story. Just the right amount of dark comedy vibes. Characters that you start off hating but grow to love. A fun summery read!
April 19, 2025
Oh my gosh, this was so much fun! Come for the drama and the ending you’ll never see coming, stay for the sharply funny writing and great characters. I laughed out loud so many times and stayed up way past my bedtime to find out what was going to happen. Delightful.
April 8, 2025
Pretty Perfect is equal parts small town pageant drama, YA rom-com and whodunnit mystery, and it's packed with small-town Tennessee charm. The story centers around the Miss Friendly Pageant and the protagonist, June Bell, has lived her entire life preparing to be crowned Miss Friendly.
This is the last pageant before June and all her friends go off to college and they've determined to make it the best pageant ever. But accidents keep happening, putting the pageant contestants in peril and soon June finds herself being labeled as the #1 suspect.
June struggles to clear her name, save the pageant and keep her lifelong friendships from crumbling under the pressure of competition and accusations while juggling a blossoming relationship with a boy she meets at a bakery as the story races to its explosive finale.
This is the last pageant before June and all her friends go off to college and they've determined to make it the best pageant ever. But accidents keep happening, putting the pageant contestants in peril and soon June finds herself being labeled as the #1 suspect.
June struggles to clear her name, save the pageant and keep her lifelong friendships from crumbling under the pressure of competition and accusations while juggling a blossoming relationship with a boy she meets at a bakery as the story races to its explosive finale.
March 13, 2025
Grab a bowl of popcorn and be ready to start flipping those pages. 📖👀🍿
Everyone loves a small town beauty pageant's drama. There's no exception to the Miss Friendly Pageant in Friendly, TN.
This YA romcom mystery has a pinch of everything to entice the reader and keep them questioning what will happen next!
From start to finish I was giggling, in shock, and on the edge of my seat. 👀🍿👏😅
Thank you so much JoAnna Illingworth for giving me the chance to read your new upcoming book!
Everyone loves a small town beauty pageant's drama. There's no exception to the Miss Friendly Pageant in Friendly, TN.
This YA romcom mystery has a pinch of everything to entice the reader and keep them questioning what will happen next!
From start to finish I was giggling, in shock, and on the edge of my seat. 👀🍿👏😅
Thank you so much JoAnna Illingworth for giving me the chance to read your new upcoming book!
November 27, 2025
Oh, what a fun book! The southern charm and witty banter had me kicking my feet! The romance was so sweet; it's how I would love to be treated! This had such an explosive ending that I was not expecting!! And that last line, it was pretty perfect! And, bonus for me as an experienced handbell ringer, I loved how many times it was mentioned!
December 6, 2025
Perfect light read 😊♥️ but full of great plot twist !
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews