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Uglies #1-2
Uglies & Pretties
The first two novels of Scott Westerfeld's New York Times bestselling series a global phenomenon that started the dystopian trend now available in one edition. Tally can't wait to turn sixteen. Only then will she be able to have an operation to turn her from a repellant ugly into a stunningly attractive pretty and live in New Pretty Town a high-tech paradise where her only job will be to have fun. But when Tally finally becomes pretty, everything isn't as perfect as it seems. Underneath all the beauty and luxury is a nagging sense that something is wrong. Very wrong. Searching for the truth, Tally discovers a whole new side of the pretty world and it isn't very pretty. Now Tally has a choice to make: fight to forget what she knows or fight for her life.
800 pages, Paperback
First published June 16, 2015
36 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Scott Westerfeld
89 books21.3k followersScott Westerfeld is a New York Times bestselling author of YA. He is best known for the Uglies and Leviathan series. His current series, IMPOSTORS, returns to the world of Uglies.
The next book in that series, MIRROR'S EDGE, comes out April 6, 2021.
The next book in that series, MIRROR'S EDGE, comes out April 6, 2021.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
January 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this book(s). Since it was a 2-in-1 I'll kind of review each book separately. I would recommed this book to everyone - I really liked it - but you should have both books together if you really want it to wow you.
Uglies - I liked the idea of uglies and how it kind of starts off with this idea of being beautiful and how everyone looks the same. I feel that the book begins to lose the idea it started with and kind of moves on to this idea of betrayal. I would rate the book a 4/5 because it was well written but the ideas, I felt, kept changing.
Pretties - This is the reason why I rated this book 5 stars. Here, Tally now leads a different life-style and meets new people. A lot happens in the book so it is a bit hard to keep track but the overall journey is still conveyed. The idea of betrayal is still in this book, and stronger this time as Tally feels the guilt. I felt that the ending was so necessary because of what she always faces. Even though Specials isn't supposed to be great I wouldn't mind trying it.
Overall, my preffered book is Pretties because it was different. I think they are both great books, but again, should be read together.
Uglies - I liked the idea of uglies and how it kind of starts off with this idea of being beautiful and how everyone looks the same. I feel that the book begins to lose the idea it started with and kind of moves on to this idea of betrayal. I would rate the book a 4/5 because it was well written but the ideas, I felt, kept changing.
Pretties - This is the reason why I rated this book 5 stars. Here, Tally now leads a different life-style and meets new people. A lot happens in the book so it is a bit hard to keep track but the overall journey is still conveyed. The idea of betrayal is still in this book, and stronger this time as Tally feels the guilt. I felt that the ending was so necessary because of what she always faces. Even though Specials isn't supposed to be great I wouldn't mind trying it.
Overall, my preffered book is Pretties because it was different. I think they are both great books, but again, should be read together.
June 3, 2022
I enjoyed this book. I like the concept of turning 16 and becoming pretty, how everyone is so set on that because its a socieital norm. I like how she ran away, leaving this society instead of letting it ruin her, turn her into one of them. I wonder if this is actually a solution to injustice towards other people. Is this really a solution to racism and mistreatment? To me it seems like a dystopian outcome of a society that attempted to solve an issue that is unsolvable. Overall, I really enjoyed this book, but there are parts that can be pretty boring.“We're not freaks, Tally. We're normal. We may not be gorgeous, but at least we're not hyped-up Barbie dolls.page 24 This quote was enjoyable because she shows how turning 16 isn't really that important.
Want to read
June 19, 2015loved these so much the first time through...been thinking of re-reading for awhile, so this is perfect!!!
October 16, 2017
Uglies #1- This book caught my attention from the book cover actually, i found it to be interesting because they show you a white cloth with woman's fingernails painted bright colors. Almost as if she was fake, the skin looks perfect. Too good to be true kind of thing. The story tells about a future where everyone at sixteen gets a surgery to be "pretty" and move out of the current town everyone lives in called ugly ville. I know sounds insane but the book was actually really interesting and fun to read. So while the book goes about telling us how amazing it is to be living in the "pretty town" we see the main character Tally who can't wait to turn sixteen and have her surgery so she can leave the dorm, and move on with her life, and re connect with her best friend who had the surgery already. Then we learn about this group called "smokies" who are anti-pretty. They dont want the surgery, and they don't want to change their appearance, so they live out in the "wild" and are calling for more young boys/girls to join their cause, and fight against the government and this surgery.
Pretties #2: In this book, Tally has finally become pretty, and the perks of being pretty. Pretty mind- no negative thoughts, a non-stop party, all the friends she could ever want, a nice fancy house to live in with the best technology. What more could a girl want right? Except Tally feels like something's wrong- something she forgot when she was an ugly... Thats when something, or someone comes from her past and she remembers. Now Tally makes the hardest decision, does she ignore what she remembered, or does she fight against the government ? This book was action packed and had you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen.
Pretties #2: In this book, Tally has finally become pretty, and the perks of being pretty. Pretty mind- no negative thoughts, a non-stop party, all the friends she could ever want, a nice fancy house to live in with the best technology. What more could a girl want right? Except Tally feels like something's wrong- something she forgot when she was an ugly... Thats when something, or someone comes from her past and she remembers. Now Tally makes the hardest decision, does she ignore what she remembered, or does she fight against the government ? This book was action packed and had you on the edge of your seat waiting to see what would happen.
July 29, 2017
I liked it. I initially picked this book up from the school library thinking it was just another teen read. But, I ended up enjoying it. The only problem I see is the 400 pages. Most (not all) of my students would not pick up a book of 400 pages no matter how good I tell them it is. I will try and sell this.
Great read especially for teens and the young at heart.
Great read especially for teens and the young at heart.
December 23, 2023
I remember when I first read these and they were SOO good! I’d love to re-read soon! I could imagine it so vividly in my head the way she describes it and I was instantly hooked when it was assigned in school. The plot twists and character development is amazing! The pretties sequel is a firey combination of rebellion and mystery and excitement!
October 13, 2017
I love this book! I really enjoy the layout of the book and the characters. I find the setting to be unique and the descriptions to be without flaw. It takes you to a place you wish existed. I hope it becomes a movie ;)
Read
April 14, 2020the book was great and it was really interesting. I can't wait to read pretties since I didn't read that book yet.
November 24, 2020
Very good I really like the development of the characters.
December 11, 2020
Só li Feios
August 28, 2022
Love it!
Read
October 31, 2023Read first book gave 3 stars. Have no desire to read the second so I will DNF the series. Too young adult for my taste.
May 9, 2025
loved this
December 16, 2025
I love this book because it shows how someone can change by becoming a pretty can changes your whole attitude
February 24, 2017
Tally and Peris are best friends they do everything together, well they did until Peris turned sixteen. Peris is three months older than Tally so he turned sixteen before Tally did so he was now a pretty and she wasn't yet. Their nicknames for each other were Nose and Squint, Squint was Tally's nickname and Nose was Peris' nickname. They share a scare on one of their palms well they did until Peris became a pretty, he had been perfected and they had taken away the scar.
Peris was still Tally's best friend but he was different now he wasn't immature anymore like he used to be, he always wanted to follow the rules and not get into trouble. Tally was sneaky just like Peris was and they would sneak around after their bed time and go watch the pretties. Tally was also different she would still sneak around and didn't follow a lot of the rules but she really wanted to become pretty like Peris, but she couldn't wait so she had to sneak herself over the other side of the wall into where the pretties lived and almost got caught.
In life we often want things to come faster then they already are like Tally how she wanted to have her birthday come so she could become a pretty. We have to wait for the things we want if we really want them that much because you can't make something come faster. Tally had to wait for her birthday to come so that she could see Peris again some time. Though she changed her mind when she realized that to become a pretty wasn't really that pretty.
I liked this book because it was really weird and interesting. You never expected what was going to come next. I didn't like that it had the whole pretties and uglies even though that was the point of the book. I really think that I liked it more then I hated it though, it was a good book.
Peris was still Tally's best friend but he was different now he wasn't immature anymore like he used to be, he always wanted to follow the rules and not get into trouble. Tally was sneaky just like Peris was and they would sneak around after their bed time and go watch the pretties. Tally was also different she would still sneak around and didn't follow a lot of the rules but she really wanted to become pretty like Peris, but she couldn't wait so she had to sneak herself over the other side of the wall into where the pretties lived and almost got caught.
In life we often want things to come faster then they already are like Tally how she wanted to have her birthday come so she could become a pretty. We have to wait for the things we want if we really want them that much because you can't make something come faster. Tally had to wait for her birthday to come so that she could see Peris again some time. Though she changed her mind when she realized that to become a pretty wasn't really that pretty.
I liked this book because it was really weird and interesting. You never expected what was going to come next. I didn't like that it had the whole pretties and uglies even though that was the point of the book. I really think that I liked it more then I hated it though, it was a good book.
Read
March 3, 2017This was not at all what I was expecting. I found it hard to buy into the premise, the world-building was lacking in enough detail to make me feel as if I understood the setting etc., and I wasn't engaged by the MC. This was a DNF for me.
December 22, 2015
OVERALL: 3 stars
Uglies (Uglies #1) - 3 stars
All Tally ever wanted was to be pretty. That is exactly what she gets when she turns sixteen, there is a catch though, Special Circumstances wants her to find her friend Shay who escaped before becoming pretty. As Tally embarks on the adventure of her life there is a deep secret rooted in the New Pretty town and Tally has to figure out a way to stop the corruption.
I thought this was a really interesting concept and I liked the characters. Tally did start to get annoying about half way through the book, especially with her insta-love reaction and swooning style when she was around David. I am interested to see what happens next and what other secrets New Pretty Town has to reveal.
Pretties (Uglies #2) - 3 stars
As Tally sacrificed herself to the city to become Pretty and see if the cure is going to work getting back on the outside is more than she has bargained for. With help of her new Pretty friend, Zane, she might just remember the mission Special Circumstances made her forget.
Ahh the development of the love triangle. I was actually waiting for this to happen in the first book. As much as we have seen of both David and Zane I still feel like I know nothing about them. Tally’s relationship with each is just on a surface level, nothing really deep goes into either of these in the first two books (In my opinion).
It was interesting to see how the story was going to progress. I guess it makes sense by the title that the whole entire second book was going to be in New Pretty Town. I wanted to hear more from the outside and David though. It is almost as if this series is written in steps.
I did get use to all of the Pretty language in the second book. Although it is still strange to read. I feel like I am thrown back into my teen years trying to make up new words for things.
Uglies (Uglies #1) - 3 stars
All Tally ever wanted was to be pretty. That is exactly what she gets when she turns sixteen, there is a catch though, Special Circumstances wants her to find her friend Shay who escaped before becoming pretty. As Tally embarks on the adventure of her life there is a deep secret rooted in the New Pretty town and Tally has to figure out a way to stop the corruption.
I thought this was a really interesting concept and I liked the characters. Tally did start to get annoying about half way through the book, especially with her insta-love reaction and swooning style when she was around David. I am interested to see what happens next and what other secrets New Pretty Town has to reveal.
Pretties (Uglies #2) - 3 stars
As Tally sacrificed herself to the city to become Pretty and see if the cure is going to work getting back on the outside is more than she has bargained for. With help of her new Pretty friend, Zane, she might just remember the mission Special Circumstances made her forget.
Ahh the development of the love triangle. I was actually waiting for this to happen in the first book. As much as we have seen of both David and Zane I still feel like I know nothing about them. Tally’s relationship with each is just on a surface level, nothing really deep goes into either of these in the first two books (In my opinion).
It was interesting to see how the story was going to progress. I guess it makes sense by the title that the whole entire second book was going to be in New Pretty Town. I wanted to hear more from the outside and David though. It is almost as if this series is written in steps.
I did get use to all of the Pretty language in the second book. Although it is still strange to read. I feel like I am thrown back into my teen years trying to make up new words for things.
September 4, 2016
The premise of these books always sounded interesting to me, but I did not pick them up in all these years because I had heard that, although the first book was fine, the rest of them were just mediocre. I do not agree, for I have also read the second one and found myself as entertained as when reading the first.
The main character is flawed and starts as a conformist teenage girl, but her evolution is really good and plausible. The rest of the characters are also great and, for the first time in my life, I have found a love triangle which seems real and is not the "a-girl-torn-between-her-friend-and-the-bad-guy" cliché. The plot is fine and sufficiently interesting and well developed to keep amused, though fairly simple and lineal. I found some scenes to be redundant or dispensable, but, as the writing style is really clear, I could read those quick and continue with what really interested me.
I equally liked Uglies and Pretties, and will probably continue with the series to know what happens next, though they are clearly not the books of my life.
The main character is flawed and starts as a conformist teenage girl, but her evolution is really good and plausible. The rest of the characters are also great and, for the first time in my life, I have found a love triangle which seems real and is not the "a-girl-torn-between-her-friend-and-the-bad-guy" cliché. The plot is fine and sufficiently interesting and well developed to keep amused, though fairly simple and lineal. I found some scenes to be redundant or dispensable, but, as the writing style is really clear, I could read those quick and continue with what really interested me.
I equally liked Uglies and Pretties, and will probably continue with the series to know what happens next, though they are clearly not the books of my life.
December 14, 2015
Well..I'm sure this would have been a great book if i bother reading on...but as appealing as the plot sounds, when it comes to the real deal, the story is moving at a terribly slow pace and I have to skip so many paragraphs of extra information. Due to the lack of suspense and readability of this book, I was unable to read on. However, I still rate it 2 star because I like the idea behind this book of this dystopian world of uglies and pretties.
August 4, 2016
This book was great!!! This is a combination of both Uglies and Pretties, the first and second books of the series. I'm glad I got this because it was so hard to put it down!! There is action, and usually in dystopian books there isn't a lot of twists, but there is in these books!!!! I'm dying right now because Pretties ended in suck a suspenseful way!!! Need to go get Specials!!!! Everyone should read this book!!!
January 29, 2016
This book is like a bad dream. Interesting concept for a series, loved how the author turned some of the issues in today's society and made it worse, like a nightmare. Won't go into details so i don't spoil anything. Lets hope this story never becomes reality. Really an enthralling book. Can't wait to read the next 2 books in the series!
March 7, 2016
It was interesting but the writer has added a lot of unnecessary information, especially at the pretties section. The story and plot was interesting for me, but the extra information ruined the book. Plus, I'm also dying at the ending! I am really confused at the end- so did she change or did she not? (idk am I the only who doesn't get it?)
September 1, 2016
I think it is so good I haven't read the rest of it
Read
May 24, 2017lost interest
Want to read
September 1, 2017Love this book
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews