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Pretty Is As Pretty Does
Lucy Fooshee has just married Bob Bybee, the second-richest farmer in the county if you don't count the Winklejohns -- and who'd want a name like Winklejohn, anyway? Add her enviable hubby to the local beauty queen titles she's won on account of her slim figure, full lips, and all-around good looks, and Lucy's the most envied young woman in Palmyra, Illinois. The most admired by men, too. Funny thing, now that she's married, no one even seems to notice anymore, and Lucy's feeling irritable. So when Billy Lee -- a stranger with no prospects -- comes to town and sees her in a whole new way, he upsets Lucy's applecart. Sure, she's got everything anyone in Palmyra could want, but maybe that's just not enough.
With her striking humor and picture-perfect observations about life in a small town, Alison Clement tells the hilarious, lusty, and ultimately touching story of a fiercely independent woman trapped in the body of a small-town beauty queen.
With her striking humor and picture-perfect observations about life in a small town, Alison Clement tells the hilarious, lusty, and ultimately touching story of a fiercely independent woman trapped in the body of a small-town beauty queen.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
2 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Alison Clement
2 books12 followersAlison Clement is the author of Pretty Is As Pretty Does (MacAdam Cage, 2001), which was a Barnes and Noble Discover Great New Writers choice and a BookSense selection. Her second book, Twenty Questions (Washington Square Press, 2006), won the Oregon Book Award for Best Novel. Her work has appeared in The Sun, High Country News, Salon, Calyx and The Alaska Quarterly Review. Alison grew up in South Carolina and Georgia. She lives now in Oregon.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
November 15, 2010
I loved the writing style of the book....but I HATED the main character....I just wanted to slap the shit out of her! I guess the author did a good job making her voice, no matter how selfish I found it to be, come to life.
August 6, 2022
I initially really disliked the main character who was so caught up in herself, but as the story unfolded I changed my mind. Quick, easy read that was enjoyable. I’d suggest for a vacation read.
October 14, 2025
Pretty Is As Pretty Does by Alison Clement took me on an unexpected journey. Clement lured me into what I thought was going to be a light read only to deftly weave in some heavy issues after I'd gotten comfortable. The main character, Lucy is hard to like, but she's also intriguing enough that I wanted to like her more than I did. At times, her attitude towards other people was infuriating but her seeming naiveté about life, especially beyond her small town, was refreshing in an unexpected way while at the same time being disturbing. I often wondered if Lucy was really as oblivious as she seemed to be because she could certainly be manipulative. Still, my heart often ached for her as she navigated the circumstances of her life and longed for something different. Lucy's family was all too reminiscent of small town families I've known all my life, and I found myself wincing at harmful attitudes, words, and actions. Lucy's seeming detachment from the consequences her actions had on other people made me want to scream a time or two. Pretty Is As Pretty Does grapples with issues that permeate our culture in ways we often try to ignore until they can no longer be ignored through and engaging story about small town life.
January 2, 2009
I took this with me on a business trip, which was a good thing, too, as I finished a book and 1/2, that day, just during travel!
Unfortunately, the only reason I finished this one is because it was the only other one I had with me on the plane, and I had read too much of it to stop once I got home. . . .
The reason it looked so interesting to me were numerous quotes on the cover. From the front: Funny . . . imaginative and high-spirited. (The Denver Post), and from the back cover: Lucy Fooshee is one of the funniest, most exasperating characters to come along in years. You'll love her, you'll hate her, you may want to slap her, but you won't be able to look away. (Jennifer Weiner, author) and also Wildly entertaining. (Booklist)
This book wasn't wildly entertaining at all. It definitely wasn't funny, and it wasn't high-spirited. It was the sad story of a small-town girl who is trapped in the kind of marriage that all small-town girls have, unless they leave the small town. So she has an affair with a guy who isn't "fully white". I'm not sure how that's wildly entertaining. And this was just depressing.
In terms of the writing, the author did a great job of describing the people and place -- it was definitely believable and you could see and hear it in your mind's eye. The language was great, from that perspective. However, people being "prejudice" (instead of prejudicED) and "ice tea" (instead of icED tea) bothered me.
It did pass the time, but that was about it.
Unfortunately, the only reason I finished this one is because it was the only other one I had with me on the plane, and I had read too much of it to stop once I got home. . . .
The reason it looked so interesting to me were numerous quotes on the cover. From the front: Funny . . . imaginative and high-spirited. (The Denver Post), and from the back cover: Lucy Fooshee is one of the funniest, most exasperating characters to come along in years. You'll love her, you'll hate her, you may want to slap her, but you won't be able to look away. (Jennifer Weiner, author) and also Wildly entertaining. (Booklist)
This book wasn't wildly entertaining at all. It definitely wasn't funny, and it wasn't high-spirited. It was the sad story of a small-town girl who is trapped in the kind of marriage that all small-town girls have, unless they leave the small town. So she has an affair with a guy who isn't "fully white". I'm not sure how that's wildly entertaining. And this was just depressing.
In terms of the writing, the author did a great job of describing the people and place -- it was definitely believable and you could see and hear it in your mind's eye. The language was great, from that perspective. However, people being "prejudice" (instead of prejudicED) and "ice tea" (instead of icED tea) bothered me.
It did pass the time, but that was about it.
October 3, 2013
I wanted to start with book one in The Class Reunion series so I began the first Pretty is as Pretty Does. Having never attended a class reunion myself, I was intrigued by the thought!
I was immediately drawn into Priscilla Slater’s story. I found myself relating to her story and her character. Just as I got into it though, the next chapter was told from the perspective of another person who’d be attending the reunion and the next chapter was another. I always find this a disjointed way of reading a story but for this type of book, I get why it was written this way.
Class reunion’s are the drawing together of people from all different walks of life, forever bonded by a common past. Mayne’s character development was in depth and I think she could only accomplish this by writing from each of their perspectives. All of the character’s were someone I could relate to from high school! I guess stereotypes exist for a reason because I could see some of someone I knew in each character.
I think because of it’s format, it took me longer than usual to get invested in this story. I found it interesting enough but initially had to flip back and forth to keep track of each character and their story. They eventually all came together and I enjoyed Pretty is as Pretty Does. The next book will definitely be more enjoyable having the foundation of the first.
I was immediately drawn into Priscilla Slater’s story. I found myself relating to her story and her character. Just as I got into it though, the next chapter was told from the perspective of another person who’d be attending the reunion and the next chapter was another. I always find this a disjointed way of reading a story but for this type of book, I get why it was written this way.
Class reunion’s are the drawing together of people from all different walks of life, forever bonded by a common past. Mayne’s character development was in depth and I think she could only accomplish this by writing from each of their perspectives. All of the character’s were someone I could relate to from high school! I guess stereotypes exist for a reason because I could see some of someone I knew in each character.
I think because of it’s format, it took me longer than usual to get invested in this story. I found it interesting enough but initially had to flip back and forth to keep track of each character and their story. They eventually all came together and I enjoyed Pretty is as Pretty Does. The next book will definitely be more enjoyable having the foundation of the first.
October 6, 2012
I've met Alison Clement a couple of time and I think she's a really lovely person as well as an excellent writer. Her book "Twenty Questions" was wonderful. So, I don't know why it took me so long to pick up "Pretty Is as Pretty Does" which has been sitting and sitting on my shelf.
Now, I'm sorry I waited. Told in a sort of tumble-out-of-the-mouth stream of consciousness, the book pulls into the mind of newlywed Lucy Foushee Bybee who was so lucky to have snagged the son of the second-richest farmer in the county and is so very proud of being a beauty queen and probably the prettiest girl in the county. But she's starting to think that even though she got a big house, nice clothes, and whatnot, maybe she didn't get such a good deal because Bob Bybee is big and sweaty and makes all kind of noise when he eat and maybe instead she'd much rather have the attentions of Billy Lee who just rolled into town and is perfectly, perfectly beautiful.
Lucy certainly does get caught up in her head and in thinking about Billy Lee and about trying to be all clever and manipulate her situation. And she's kind of awful and annoying but you sort of feel for her too because you wonder if she'll ever figure out what she wants and how to get it.
Now, I'm sorry I waited. Told in a sort of tumble-out-of-the-mouth stream of consciousness, the book pulls into the mind of newlywed Lucy Foushee Bybee who was so lucky to have snagged the son of the second-richest farmer in the county and is so very proud of being a beauty queen and probably the prettiest girl in the county. But she's starting to think that even though she got a big house, nice clothes, and whatnot, maybe she didn't get such a good deal because Bob Bybee is big and sweaty and makes all kind of noise when he eat and maybe instead she'd much rather have the attentions of Billy Lee who just rolled into town and is perfectly, perfectly beautiful.
Lucy certainly does get caught up in her head and in thinking about Billy Lee and about trying to be all clever and manipulate her situation. And she's kind of awful and annoying but you sort of feel for her too because you wonder if she'll ever figure out what she wants and how to get it.
October 10, 2008
I really like this book. However, I do not like the ending.
The main character has a healthy lusty sex drive which is dealt with in a refreshing sex-positive sort of way. There's conflict between her 22 year-old healthy sex drive and her status as a newlywed to a man who doesn't quite turn her on. She has grave limitations on how she views the world and lots of family and community who not only pressure her to do what they want her to do and be what they want her to be, but they oftentimes physically grab her and hold her down, rape, abduct, and force her to do what they want. So there's this whole other Rosemary's Baby aspect to the story. I enjoyed all that part. The problem for me comes at the end when instead of learning any lesson about life or realizing that you have to work hard to survive, the story gets resolved by a slap-stick stroke of luck, which is a major let-down to a book that otherwise is so good and fun to read.
The main character has a healthy lusty sex drive which is dealt with in a refreshing sex-positive sort of way. There's conflict between her 22 year-old healthy sex drive and her status as a newlywed to a man who doesn't quite turn her on. She has grave limitations on how she views the world and lots of family and community who not only pressure her to do what they want her to do and be what they want her to be, but they oftentimes physically grab her and hold her down, rape, abduct, and force her to do what they want. So there's this whole other Rosemary's Baby aspect to the story. I enjoyed all that part. The problem for me comes at the end when instead of learning any lesson about life or realizing that you have to work hard to survive, the story gets resolved by a slap-stick stroke of luck, which is a major let-down to a book that otherwise is so good and fun to read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2009
Lucy is a character with many shortcomings: she is vain, self-centered, manipulative, fickle, and selfish. That said, her witty observations about small town surroundings are spot on. Her voice captures the smallness (both literally and figuratively) of Palmyra, Illinois, its petty jealousies, patterns of speech, the blatant racism, and the peevishness of its townfolk. I found myself cheering her on despite her actions and I empathized with her feelings of boredom, the expectations of her family, and making a bad decision early in her life.
August 14, 2016
I love this book! Lucy is a great character who is stuck in the "normal" way of life in a small town. She marries young to a good match, essentially a rich farm boy who is dull, fat and getting fatter by the day. He seems to love his life around farming and food. Everyone in town does not understand her dissatisfaction or her desire for something different. To me, Lucy is an explorer trying to leap into a new life and uses her looks to that aim. Her actions are risky in a small town life, but her ambition to be more (and to get out) are to be applauded.
July 22, 2008
This is a book about a beautiful teen who marries early and basically takes her off the market in a small rural town. She is so disappointed in the way the town treats her now that she's married. I couldn't finish this book. It was dull and shallow.
October 17, 2011
I started out hating the heroine, expecting this to be just a bit of fluff about a pretty girl. Before I knew it I fell in love with her. I really ended up looking at the character in a totally different light and rooting for her. I had to look at pretty a little differently. Wow.
January 30, 2012
Loved reading a book that sounds exactly like the people I grew up with in a small town. This author really has a knack with a writing style that is fresh and brings you right to the heart of the main character. The phrases and thought process of these characters took me back about 30 years!
January 9, 2015
At first, the main character Lucy really annoyed me. By the end of the book, I was hoping for the best for her. Her character was multi-dimensional compared to many of the other characters in the story. Life in a small town was well portrayed. This was Nancy's book club pick for January 2015.
September 22, 2007
Good fluff book
August 2, 2008
cute but not great
December 13, 2008
Very easy read.
May 17, 2011
Loved this book!
August 9, 2011
Was ok, kinda white trashy and I didn't adhere much to the main character.
December 29, 2011
great story!
October 22, 2015
Good narrative style, but I didn't particularly like the narrator, so I wasn't invested in her story.
March 9, 2008
This was pretty close to terrible... but I like shitty novels.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews