What do you think?
Rate this book
Such a Pretty Girl
Award-winning author T. Greenwood explores the often-flickering line between woman and girl in this vividly lyrical drama alternating between an West Village artists community in 1970s New York and present day, as a former child actress is forced to confront the darkest secrets of her youth when a controversial photo taken of her as a preteen on the night of the 1977 blackout ignites a media firestorm.
Living peacefully in Vermont, Ryan Flannigan is shocked when a text from her oldest friend alerts her to a devastating news item. A controversial photo of her as a pre-teen has been found in the possession of a wealthy investor recently revealed as a pedophile and a sex trafficker—with an inscription to him from Ryan’s mother on the back.
Memories crowd in, providing their own distinctive pictures of her mother Fiona, an aspiring actress, and their move to the West Village in 1976. Amid the city’s gritty kaleidoscope of wealth and poverty, high art, and sleazy strip clubs, Ryan is discovered and thrust into the spotlight as a promising young actress with a woman’s face and a child’s body. Suddenly, the safety and comfort Ryan longs for is replaced by auditions, paparazzi, and the hungry eyes of men of all ages.
Forced to reexamine her childhood, Ryan begins to untangle her young fears and her mother’s ambitions, and the role each played in the fraught blackout summer of 1977. Even with her movie career long behind her, Ryan and Fiona are suddenly the object of uncomfortable speculation—and Fiona demands Ryan’s support. To put the past to rest, Ryan will need to face the painful truth of their relationship, and the night when everything changed.
Living peacefully in Vermont, Ryan Flannigan is shocked when a text from her oldest friend alerts her to a devastating news item. A controversial photo of her as a pre-teen has been found in the possession of a wealthy investor recently revealed as a pedophile and a sex trafficker—with an inscription to him from Ryan’s mother on the back.
Memories crowd in, providing their own distinctive pictures of her mother Fiona, an aspiring actress, and their move to the West Village in 1976. Amid the city’s gritty kaleidoscope of wealth and poverty, high art, and sleazy strip clubs, Ryan is discovered and thrust into the spotlight as a promising young actress with a woman’s face and a child’s body. Suddenly, the safety and comfort Ryan longs for is replaced by auditions, paparazzi, and the hungry eyes of men of all ages.
Forced to reexamine her childhood, Ryan begins to untangle her young fears and her mother’s ambitions, and the role each played in the fraught blackout summer of 1977. Even with her movie career long behind her, Ryan and Fiona are suddenly the object of uncomfortable speculation—and Fiona demands Ryan’s support. To put the past to rest, Ryan will need to face the painful truth of their relationship, and the night when everything changed.
304 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2022
172 people are currently reading
15041 people want to read
About the author
T. Greenwood
25 books1,813 followersT. Greenwood is the author of sixteen novels. She has received grants from the Sherwood Anderson Foundation, the Christopher Isherwood Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Maryland State Arts Council. She has won four San Diego Book Awards. Five of her novels have been IndieNext picks. BODIES OF WATER was finalist for a Lambda Foundation award and KEEPING LUCY was a Target Book Club selection.
She teaches creative writing for San Diego Writer's Ink and The Writer's Center. She and her family split their time between San Diego and Vermont. She is also a photographer.
More information on T. Greenwood can be found at her websites: http://www.tgreenwood.com
She teaches creative writing for San Diego Writer's Ink and The Writer's Center. She and her family split their time between San Diego and Vermont. She is also a photographer.
More information on T. Greenwood can be found at her websites: http://www.tgreenwood.com
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews
September 6, 2022
My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
My Blog - Twitter - Amazon - The Book Review Crew
3.5 Stars
I thought about everything they didn’t know. That I could never tell them.
I couldn't help but think of Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby and of course, I remember those Loves Baby Soft adverts from the 70s'. They were creepy then and they are creepy now.
The book is also reminiscent of the Jeffery Epstein scandal, but this story focuses more on the mother/daughter relationship than the scandal itself and that's what I enjoyed most about it. The mother in this story is bad, really bad. She is negligent, a narcissist, selfish, self-centered, and exploits her daughter in many ways, she was an awful stage mother too. I am sad to say she reminded me of my own mother, who was selfish as well, just in a different way and she never exploited me. It was a tough subject to read about but things like this happen every day. I enjoyed the two timelines that are narrated by our main character, Ryan. She was one tough cookie and became the type of mother her own wasn't.
This was such a thought-provoking read with an excellent plot that takes on the #metoo movement in a unique way. The characters weren't always likable they were definitely interesting and very real, I actually felt their raw emotions.
Many thanks to NetGalley, T. Greenwood, and Kensington Books for the giving of the ARC.
#SuchaPrettyGirl #NetGalley
3.5 Stars
I thought about everything they didn’t know. That I could never tell them.
I couldn't help but think of Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby and of course, I remember those Loves Baby Soft adverts from the 70s'. They were creepy then and they are creepy now.
The book is also reminiscent of the Jeffery Epstein scandal, but this story focuses more on the mother/daughter relationship than the scandal itself and that's what I enjoyed most about it. The mother in this story is bad, really bad. She is negligent, a narcissist, selfish, self-centered, and exploits her daughter in many ways, she was an awful stage mother too. I am sad to say she reminded me of my own mother, who was selfish as well, just in a different way and she never exploited me. It was a tough subject to read about but things like this happen every day. I enjoyed the two timelines that are narrated by our main character, Ryan. She was one tough cookie and became the type of mother her own wasn't.
This was such a thought-provoking read with an excellent plot that takes on the #metoo movement in a unique way. The characters weren't always likable they were definitely interesting and very real, I actually felt their raw emotions.
Many thanks to NetGalley, T. Greenwood, and Kensington Books for the giving of the ARC.
#SuchaPrettyGirl #NetGalley
October 16, 2022
Ryan Flannigan, a former child actress, received a phone call informing her that a photograph taken of her after a horrible night during the blackout in 1977 has been found in the possession of a successful businessman/investor who has recently been revealed as being a sex trafficker and pedophile. The photo had been given to the man by Ryan's mother who inscribed the back.
When the photographer, Henri, who was like a father to her, commits suicide, Ryan returns to NYC to attend his memorial. There she looks back on her childhood and her relationship with her mother, Fiona, an aspiring actress who had to take a backseat when it was Ryan who obtained fame.
Now Ryan's mother, Fiona, is hiding while the FBI are searching for her to question her about the photo and her connection to the investor/pedophile.
The book is told through two timelines 1977 and 2019. Ryan looks back on her life, her modeling and acting career, those in her life, and her mother's role in all of it. This is a heartbreaking book that looks at the life of a former child star. This book had me thinking about Drew Barrymore, Brooke Shields, and Jodie Foster. How they were forced to grow up at young ages. This book has a Jeffrey Epstein slant while looking at sexualized children, neglect, stage moms, friendship, and love.
I enjoyed how Ryan found her own family unit with Henri and Gilly. I also liked the relationship she had with her daughter. But my heart broke for her when looking back at how she was raised and how her "good mother" was not always so good. She was a parentified child living in all too grown-up world.
Thought provoking, heartbreaking and raw.
***Buddy read with Brenda - Traveling Sister's Book reviews
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
When the photographer, Henri, who was like a father to her, commits suicide, Ryan returns to NYC to attend his memorial. There she looks back on her childhood and her relationship with her mother, Fiona, an aspiring actress who had to take a backseat when it was Ryan who obtained fame.
Now Ryan's mother, Fiona, is hiding while the FBI are searching for her to question her about the photo and her connection to the investor/pedophile.
The book is told through two timelines 1977 and 2019. Ryan looks back on her life, her modeling and acting career, those in her life, and her mother's role in all of it. This is a heartbreaking book that looks at the life of a former child star. This book had me thinking about Drew Barrymore, Brooke Shields, and Jodie Foster. How they were forced to grow up at young ages. This book has a Jeffrey Epstein slant while looking at sexualized children, neglect, stage moms, friendship, and love.
I enjoyed how Ryan found her own family unit with Henri and Gilly. I also liked the relationship she had with her daughter. But my heart broke for her when looking back at how she was raised and how her "good mother" was not always so good. She was a parentified child living in all too grown-up world.
Thought provoking, heartbreaking and raw.
***Buddy read with Brenda - Traveling Sister's Book reviews
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
November 12, 2022
**Many thanks to Kensington and T. Greenwood for a gifted copy of this book!!**
...And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city - "Summer in the City", The Lovin' Spoonful
Bursting with nostalgia, a complex mother-daughter dynamic of love and frustration, and simmering with seductive and dangerous undertones, Such A Pretty Girl shows what can happen when one innocent photograph is taken COMPLETELY out of context...with dangerous consequences.
Ryan had a complicated adolescence, but things have calmed down significantly now that she's all grown up and living a quiet life in Vermont. Her past comes back to shock her out of this tranquility, however, when a friend alerts her that a now infamous picture of Ryan taking during her modeling days and teenage years...a photo that might not appear so innocent, to those who don't know the circumstances...has resurfaced after many years. This 'blackout' picture might not be so dangerous, if it were found in other hands...but it has ended up in the clutches of a sex trafficker...and to make things worse, there is a note to Ryan's mother Fiona inscribed on the back.
The man who took this picture, Henri, has also just died and this prompts Ryan to return to NYC to grieve his passing, as well as search for answers. Just how involved WAS her mother with this trafficker..and why does he reference Fiona by name? Ryan's mother never had a problem pushing her into modeling gig after acting job, secretly longing for fame in her own right as well...but was there more than naked ambition driving her actions? And where exactly ISshe now?!
I am new to Greenwood, but the minute I saw the premise and the time period this book takes place in, I was excited to dive in. I have a soft spot for the 70's (okay, and the 80's and 90's too, but that's a different story) and Greenwood definitely delivered on that front! From Love's Baby Soft to striped gym socks, the author didn't miss a beat. There is one timeline devoted to Ryan's life in the 70's and also one in 2019 where she goes to NYC to revisit her past and get to the bottom of the mystery, and I felt it was easy to keep up with both timelines and fair amounts of time were devoted to each.
Aside from the immersive jump into 70's New York (particularly a vivid description of the Westbeth Artist community that mother and daughter called home), Greenwood's characters are what truly carry this book from start to finish, although it was hard not to be frustrated with Ryan's selfish and somewhat impetuous mother Fiona, who finds it easy to prioritize casting calls and liquid lunches in search of her own fame rather than providing the emotional support her daughter needs. She thrusts Ryan into the spotlight (as I suppose many parents do) and doesn't really consider the long-term ramifications of her behavior. As such, there is a long history of push and pull between the two that helps to drive the narrative along.
The story of the photo and the surrounding 'mystery' were interesting, but for me, not the most memorable aspect of the book. There were sections that got a bit draggy towards the end where it felt like the same ground was being tread on without as much forward progress in terms of plot as there was earlier in the story, but it still managed to keep me intrigued until the end and I felt the resolution was fair. While I went into this book expecting a #MeToo angle (based on the blurb) the resulting plot is FAR different, and the angst and tension between what a mother WANTS and a child NEEDS was what kept me riveted from start to finish!
Though looking at the photo of John Lennon in a sleeveless New York City shirt may be as close to experiencing NYC in 70's as I might ever get, this book certainly got me one step closer. Nostalgic, emotional, and affecting, this is one that will stick with you!
4 stars
...And babe, don't you know it's a pity
That the days can't be like the nights
In the summer, in the city - "Summer in the City", The Lovin' Spoonful
Bursting with nostalgia, a complex mother-daughter dynamic of love and frustration, and simmering with seductive and dangerous undertones, Such A Pretty Girl shows what can happen when one innocent photograph is taken COMPLETELY out of context...with dangerous consequences.
Ryan had a complicated adolescence, but things have calmed down significantly now that she's all grown up and living a quiet life in Vermont. Her past comes back to shock her out of this tranquility, however, when a friend alerts her that a now infamous picture of Ryan taking during her modeling days and teenage years...a photo that might not appear so innocent, to those who don't know the circumstances...has resurfaced after many years. This 'blackout' picture might not be so dangerous, if it were found in other hands...but it has ended up in the clutches of a sex trafficker...and to make things worse, there is a note to Ryan's mother Fiona inscribed on the back.
The man who took this picture, Henri, has also just died and this prompts Ryan to return to NYC to grieve his passing, as well as search for answers. Just how involved WAS her mother with this trafficker..and why does he reference Fiona by name? Ryan's mother never had a problem pushing her into modeling gig after acting job, secretly longing for fame in her own right as well...but was there more than naked ambition driving her actions? And where exactly ISshe now?!
I am new to Greenwood, but the minute I saw the premise and the time period this book takes place in, I was excited to dive in. I have a soft spot for the 70's (okay, and the 80's and 90's too, but that's a different story) and Greenwood definitely delivered on that front! From Love's Baby Soft to striped gym socks, the author didn't miss a beat. There is one timeline devoted to Ryan's life in the 70's and also one in 2019 where she goes to NYC to revisit her past and get to the bottom of the mystery, and I felt it was easy to keep up with both timelines and fair amounts of time were devoted to each.
Aside from the immersive jump into 70's New York (particularly a vivid description of the Westbeth Artist community that mother and daughter called home), Greenwood's characters are what truly carry this book from start to finish, although it was hard not to be frustrated with Ryan's selfish and somewhat impetuous mother Fiona, who finds it easy to prioritize casting calls and liquid lunches in search of her own fame rather than providing the emotional support her daughter needs. She thrusts Ryan into the spotlight (as I suppose many parents do) and doesn't really consider the long-term ramifications of her behavior. As such, there is a long history of push and pull between the two that helps to drive the narrative along.
The story of the photo and the surrounding 'mystery' were interesting, but for me, not the most memorable aspect of the book. There were sections that got a bit draggy towards the end where it felt like the same ground was being tread on without as much forward progress in terms of plot as there was earlier in the story, but it still managed to keep me intrigued until the end and I felt the resolution was fair. While I went into this book expecting a #MeToo angle (based on the blurb) the resulting plot is FAR different, and the angst and tension between what a mother WANTS and a child NEEDS was what kept me riveted from start to finish!
Though looking at the photo of John Lennon in a sleeveless New York City shirt may be as close to experiencing NYC in 70's as I might ever get, this book certainly got me one step closer. Nostalgic, emotional, and affecting, this is one that will stick with you!
4 stars
September 28, 2022
T. Greenwood has once again fashioned a disturbing historical fiction. This time, she tells the story of a child actress in late 1970s NYC. Ryan’s mother was the one who wanted fame, but it was her daughter that became a star. But now, in 2019, a controversial picture of her from those days has been found in the home of a child predator. A picture signed by her mother.
The story goes back and forth in time, always told from Ryan’s POV. When the photographer who took the picture commits suicide, Ryan finally returns to New York for his memorial service. With the authorities looking to question her mother, Ryan is forced to confront the past.
Greenwood has totally captured the NYC of the 1970s- a time before it was cleaned up and sanitized. It actually comes across as a character in its own right, from artistic Greenwich Village to sleazy Times Square. I hadn’t realized that Westbeth Artist Housing was a real place.
Once again, Greenwood has created a story full of heartbreak and sorrow. My emotions toggled between wanting to hold Ryan as a young girl and wanting to throttle her mother. There’s a sense of unease and tension throughout both time frames.
This book made me think back to how the sexualization of young girls was just accepted in those days. The ads. The movies. The book even cites Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, but this made me think more of Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
The story goes back and forth in time, always told from Ryan’s POV. When the photographer who took the picture commits suicide, Ryan finally returns to New York for his memorial service. With the authorities looking to question her mother, Ryan is forced to confront the past.
Greenwood has totally captured the NYC of the 1970s- a time before it was cleaned up and sanitized. It actually comes across as a character in its own right, from artistic Greenwich Village to sleazy Times Square. I hadn’t realized that Westbeth Artist Housing was a real place.
Once again, Greenwood has created a story full of heartbreak and sorrow. My emotions toggled between wanting to hold Ryan as a young girl and wanting to throttle her mother. There’s a sense of unease and tension throughout both time frames.
This book made me think back to how the sexualization of young girls was just accepted in those days. The ads. The movies. The book even cites Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver, but this made me think more of Brooke Shields in Pretty Baby.
My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an advance copy of this book.
November 15, 2024
Happy Pub Day!!
Publication date: October 25th, 2022
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
‘’𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝘼 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙.’’
I was expecting this one to be interesting - I’m quite simply blown away.
This is my first ever T. Greenwood novel but definitely not my last. This novel follows Ryan, whose mother uproots the family from their artistic haven in Vermont and moves them to Westbeth (a real place!) in New York City in a vain attempt to find success as an actress. Ryan’s entire childhood is dictated by her mother’s moods and desires.
Fiona, a narcissistic, neglectful, and manipulative mother, is furious that her daughter Ryan was noticed first, but it doesn't stop her from pushing for Ryan to do commercials, films, modelling, everything.
Fiona is rarely honest, but when it comes to cashing Ryan, 10,'s cheques, she has no difficulty.
Now a grownup and a mother, Ryan learns of even more deceit when she hears that the FBI suspects her mother of being part of a child paedophilia network.
By dividing the narrative between the present and the past, Greenwood helps us better comprehend Ryan's connection with her mother and her intense need for her acceptance. Ryan’s childhood is full of abuse, neglect, and walking on eggshells trying to understand what she ever did to make her mother hate her so much. The writing was divided between the present and the past was easy to follow, well timed, and presented in a way that kept me interested throughout.
This novel explores the awful sense of never being enough, never doing enough, and of what happens to a child who just isn’t loved quite enough. This was a brave and deeply affecting novel I recommend to every single person out there.
Read this if you loved:
- I’m Glad My Mom Died
- The Glass Castle
- Lolita
- The Jeffrey Epstein scandal
- Understanding childhood trauma / if you have dealt with your own narc or cluster B parent or suffered any emotional neglect (check trigger warnings before)
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram!
Publication date: October 25th, 2022
𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝘃𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
‘’𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙖 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙖 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙢𝙮𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛. 𝘼 𝙢𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙜𝙤𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙.’’
I was expecting this one to be interesting - I’m quite simply blown away.
This is my first ever T. Greenwood novel but definitely not my last. This novel follows Ryan, whose mother uproots the family from their artistic haven in Vermont and moves them to Westbeth (a real place!) in New York City in a vain attempt to find success as an actress. Ryan’s entire childhood is dictated by her mother’s moods and desires.
Fiona, a narcissistic, neglectful, and manipulative mother, is furious that her daughter Ryan was noticed first, but it doesn't stop her from pushing for Ryan to do commercials, films, modelling, everything.
Fiona is rarely honest, but when it comes to cashing Ryan, 10,'s cheques, she has no difficulty.
Now a grownup and a mother, Ryan learns of even more deceit when she hears that the FBI suspects her mother of being part of a child paedophilia network.
By dividing the narrative between the present and the past, Greenwood helps us better comprehend Ryan's connection with her mother and her intense need for her acceptance. Ryan’s childhood is full of abuse, neglect, and walking on eggshells trying to understand what she ever did to make her mother hate her so much. The writing was divided between the present and the past was easy to follow, well timed, and presented in a way that kept me interested throughout.
This novel explores the awful sense of never being enough, never doing enough, and of what happens to a child who just isn’t loved quite enough. This was a brave and deeply affecting novel I recommend to every single person out there.
Read this if you loved:
- I’m Glad My Mom Died
- The Glass Castle
- Lolita
- The Jeffrey Epstein scandal
- Understanding childhood trauma / if you have dealt with your own narc or cluster B parent or suffered any emotional neglect (check trigger warnings before)
Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Follow me on Instagram!
September 22, 2022
3.5 Stars
I was drawn to read this book by the setting of New York City in the summer of 1977. I had seen a documentary about how on a very hot evening in August 1977 there was a NYC blackout resulting in chaos and looting, an incident that looms large in this story. I was a teenager during this time and related to a lot of things discussed in the book like television shows (Sonny & Cher, Donny & Marie), movies (Taxi Driver, Rosemary's Baby) products (Baby Love, Jean Nate) and places (Studio 54). Also, the idea of a pre-teen young girl being used in modelling and acting media inappropriate for her age reminded me of Brooke Shields. Shields was in the movie "Pretty Baby" in 1978 (at the age of 12) playing a child prostitute. I have a lot of nostalgia for the seventies and hoped to drink in all of those warm and fuzzy feelings. I later realized this same author wrote Keeping Lucy, a previous book of hers I had rated five stars.
The main character Ryan is an eleven year old girl living with her fledgling actress mother Fiona in a quaint sort of Summer Stock resort in Vermont, but they live there all year round. Ryan has never known the identity of her father, but she thrives in this gentle community flanking a river where actor friends join them in the summer months. Ryan is very content in this quiet refuge, but is suddenly upended when her mother wants to move to New York City for acting opportunities. Ryan and her mother are invited to stay with actor friends in their iconic artist community apartment Westbeth flanking Bank Street in NYC. Although quite large, it was a familial atmosphere where everyone kept their doors unlocked and you could just pop in. Ryan made many friends here, especially the French photographer Henri. He was very friendly and helpful, and had a key to the rooftop where he fed a family of cats.
The book has dual timelines of 1976-1977 and 2019, with the dual locales of Vermont and New York City. As the book begins Ryan is now an adult with a college age daughter of her own, and has just found out that Henri is dead. She must return to NYC for the funeral/memorial, but circumstances are further complicated by the resurfacing of a scandalous photo Henri took of Ryan during the 1977 blackout. It is now a media scandal, dredging up Ryan's very first (controversial) movie "Midway Girl".
I enjoyed reading about the apartment building and its welcoming courtyard, which was a private place for all the tenants to be communal, relax, and for the kids to play games. I didn't like the character of the mother Fiona, who was very selfish, cunning, and manipulative- but was necessary for the conflict in the story. It took until about 80% into the book to reveal the exact details of the blasphemous photo taken of Ryan during the blackout, and by then I felt really put out for keeping me on a string that long. I found the ending a bit nonsensical after all that waiting, and was just like, "Oh, OK"- and the book was over. As an aside, this may sound petty to some but I find it annoying when you have a female character and the author uses a name normally associated with males. Why confuse things for the reader? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, but it's not the author's best work. It still was a cool idea to draw from iconic moments in the seventies.
Thank you to the publisher Kensington Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
I was drawn to read this book by the setting of New York City in the summer of 1977. I had seen a documentary about how on a very hot evening in August 1977 there was a NYC blackout resulting in chaos and looting, an incident that looms large in this story. I was a teenager during this time and related to a lot of things discussed in the book like television shows (Sonny & Cher, Donny & Marie), movies (Taxi Driver, Rosemary's Baby) products (Baby Love, Jean Nate) and places (Studio 54). Also, the idea of a pre-teen young girl being used in modelling and acting media inappropriate for her age reminded me of Brooke Shields. Shields was in the movie "Pretty Baby" in 1978 (at the age of 12) playing a child prostitute. I have a lot of nostalgia for the seventies and hoped to drink in all of those warm and fuzzy feelings. I later realized this same author wrote Keeping Lucy, a previous book of hers I had rated five stars.
The main character Ryan is an eleven year old girl living with her fledgling actress mother Fiona in a quaint sort of Summer Stock resort in Vermont, but they live there all year round. Ryan has never known the identity of her father, but she thrives in this gentle community flanking a river where actor friends join them in the summer months. Ryan is very content in this quiet refuge, but is suddenly upended when her mother wants to move to New York City for acting opportunities. Ryan and her mother are invited to stay with actor friends in their iconic artist community apartment Westbeth flanking Bank Street in NYC. Although quite large, it was a familial atmosphere where everyone kept their doors unlocked and you could just pop in. Ryan made many friends here, especially the French photographer Henri. He was very friendly and helpful, and had a key to the rooftop where he fed a family of cats.
The book has dual timelines of 1976-1977 and 2019, with the dual locales of Vermont and New York City. As the book begins Ryan is now an adult with a college age daughter of her own, and has just found out that Henri is dead. She must return to NYC for the funeral/memorial, but circumstances are further complicated by the resurfacing of a scandalous photo Henri took of Ryan during the 1977 blackout. It is now a media scandal, dredging up Ryan's very first (controversial) movie "Midway Girl".
I enjoyed reading about the apartment building and its welcoming courtyard, which was a private place for all the tenants to be communal, relax, and for the kids to play games. I didn't like the character of the mother Fiona, who was very selfish, cunning, and manipulative- but was necessary for the conflict in the story. It took until about 80% into the book to reveal the exact details of the blasphemous photo taken of Ryan during the blackout, and by then I felt really put out for keeping me on a string that long. I found the ending a bit nonsensical after all that waiting, and was just like, "Oh, OK"- and the book was over. As an aside, this may sound petty to some but I find it annoying when you have a female character and the author uses a name normally associated with males. Why confuse things for the reader? Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy the book, but it's not the author's best work. It still was a cool idea to draw from iconic moments in the seventies.
Thank you to the publisher Kensington Books who provided an advance reader copy via NetGalley.
October 25, 2022
3.25⭐
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, dual timeline (1970's & 2019), childhood model/actress, jealous/neglectful/manipulative stage mother, suicide, sexual assault on a minor, pedophilia and references to pornography
Ryan was a child model and actress that looked much older than she was. She was put into predicaments that children her age should not be put into.
I really liked Ryan and Gilly's friendship and how they remained best friends for decades. Gilly's family were great too. Ryan and Sasha, her 18 year old daughter, were #motherdaughtergoals. But she probably felt like she had to work extra hard to be nothing like the mother she had.
I am not new to reading this authors work and she writes about some heavy topics. I'm usually all for it, but this one was slow going for me. I kept picking it up and putting it back down, which I hardly ever do. I usually like a dual timeline, but I wasn't loving it for this one because I felt like I was forgetting what happened at the end of the last chapter with the same time period. Also, she was reminiscing while in the present, so that was messing me up too. The pace eventually picked up and I was ready to see how it would all play out. I was about to be really mad at the end there, but it didn't go how I initially thought it was going to so phew.
About the picture ~ am I the only one that see's a problem with the fact that Henri took this picture and that was somehow okay? Gives him a creepy vibe if you ask me and nobody batted an eye at that.
So overall, not my favorite, but I'll still read more of her books.
*Thanks to Kensington Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
Featuring ~ single 1st person POV, dual timeline (1970's & 2019), childhood model/actress, jealous/neglectful/manipulative stage mother, suicide, sexual assault on a minor, pedophilia and references to pornography
Ryan was a child model and actress that looked much older than she was. She was put into predicaments that children her age should not be put into.
I really liked Ryan and Gilly's friendship and how they remained best friends for decades. Gilly's family were great too. Ryan and Sasha, her 18 year old daughter, were #motherdaughtergoals. But she probably felt like she had to work extra hard to be nothing like the mother she had.
I am not new to reading this authors work and she writes about some heavy topics. I'm usually all for it, but this one was slow going for me. I kept picking it up and putting it back down, which I hardly ever do. I usually like a dual timeline, but I wasn't loving it for this one because I felt like I was forgetting what happened at the end of the last chapter with the same time period. Also, she was reminiscing while in the present, so that was messing me up too. The pace eventually picked up and I was ready to see how it would all play out. I was about to be really mad at the end there, but it didn't go how I initially thought it was going to so phew.
About the picture ~ am I the only one that see's a problem with the fact that Henri took this picture and that was somehow okay? Gives him a creepy vibe if you ask me and nobody batted an eye at that.
So overall, not my favorite, but I'll still read more of her books.
*Thanks to Kensington Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*
Follow me here ➡ Blog ~ Facebook
October 26, 2022
At the center of this book is a revealing photograph. No, not that way. It was emotionally revealing and taken when Ryan Flannigan was emotionally vulnerable. The photographer was a man who was like a surrogate father. He was trustworthy and protective. Unfortunately the photograph was not cared for as it should be. This book runs on three tracks: 1) A present 2019 timeline when a predator has been discovered and the shockwaves reach Ryan and daughter Sasha and draw Ryan back into her mother's orbit. 2) A past 70's timeline when Ryan moves to NYC with her mother Fiona and gets "discovered." 3) Interludes (in italics) correspond to some of the memorable moments when Ryan "made" pictures with Henri, the photographer. This book was captivating and kept me reading to find out the chain of custody for the photo and other unresolved issues. Would definitely recommend for readers who enjoy a gritty look behind the scenes of the show business world and 70's pop culture.
Thank you to Kensington and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy pub day!
Thank you to Kensington and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. Happy pub day!
November 9, 2022
What are some of the themes explore? Did the stories have me think deeply, challenge my thoughts, and see something different?
Through themes that explore Mothers/Daughters, ambition vs. exploitation, and artist expression vs. obscenity, I began to see many things differently. T. Greenwood explores the often-flickering line between woman and girl. The story challenged my thoughts while seeing how ambition can turn to or be exploitation, how there is a fine line between expression and how it can be perceived as obscenity.
When a controversial photo emerges of former child actress Ryan taken on the night of NYC blackouts on July 13-14, 1977 is found, Ryan is forced to examine her childhood.
Sense of place and time
This is one of the strongest elements of the story. T. Greenwood captures place and time well. The story is set in a West Village artist's community in 1970s New York, a time when young actresses were exploited and commodified by the entertainment industry. The story opened my eyes to how it was a time when it was tolerated, accepted, or dismissed, and I saw how different things are now. However, it is timely with how our world could change and also reminded me how easy it is to dismiss the danger in the truths we don't accept, ignore, or let happen.
The characters: Are the characters easy to connect and relate to? Was I able to step into their shoes?
Yes. While exploring the complicated relationship between Ryan and her mother, I could step into both their shoes and see/decide for myself how I felt about how Ryan was exploited and commodified.
The story's heart is the relationships Ryan formed while living in the artist's community and her bond with her daughter. A bond that contrasts her own with her mother.
The story wrap up well and was I satisfied with the outcome for the characters. I highly recommend it
Source: I received a copy from the publisher through NG
A buddy read with Debra!!
Through themes that explore Mothers/Daughters, ambition vs. exploitation, and artist expression vs. obscenity, I began to see many things differently. T. Greenwood explores the often-flickering line between woman and girl. The story challenged my thoughts while seeing how ambition can turn to or be exploitation, how there is a fine line between expression and how it can be perceived as obscenity.
When a controversial photo emerges of former child actress Ryan taken on the night of NYC blackouts on July 13-14, 1977 is found, Ryan is forced to examine her childhood.
Sense of place and time
This is one of the strongest elements of the story. T. Greenwood captures place and time well. The story is set in a West Village artist's community in 1970s New York, a time when young actresses were exploited and commodified by the entertainment industry. The story opened my eyes to how it was a time when it was tolerated, accepted, or dismissed, and I saw how different things are now. However, it is timely with how our world could change and also reminded me how easy it is to dismiss the danger in the truths we don't accept, ignore, or let happen.
The characters: Are the characters easy to connect and relate to? Was I able to step into their shoes?
Yes. While exploring the complicated relationship between Ryan and her mother, I could step into both their shoes and see/decide for myself how I felt about how Ryan was exploited and commodified.
The story's heart is the relationships Ryan formed while living in the artist's community and her bond with her daughter. A bond that contrasts her own with her mother.
The story wrap up well and was I satisfied with the outcome for the characters. I highly recommend it
Source: I received a copy from the publisher through NG
A buddy read with Debra!!
January 8, 2023
Such a Pretty Girl is the story of Ryan told in two timelines, as a child actress navigating 1970s New York and in present day. The grittiness and violence of New York in the late 1970s is vivid, as is the description of Westbeth, the artists’ community where Ryan lives in Manhattan as a child.
At its core, the book is about mother/daughter relationships. Additionally, it’s a fascinating exploration of the exploitation of girls and young women in the entertainment industry.
At its core, the book is about mother/daughter relationships. Additionally, it’s a fascinating exploration of the exploitation of girls and young women in the entertainment industry.
March 11, 2023
This book is told in two timelines. The narrator switches between her present in 2019 and her childhood in the 1970’s. The narrator Ryan starts the story off with being informed that a very private photo (that was done artistically but could be seen sexually) of her as a child was found during a raid on a billionaire pedophile’s home. It sets her both literally going back to New York to try to piece together what really happened and figuratively home to remembering her childhood and start as a model and actress and how her mother raised her. What I think I liked best about this book is that while it was about a scandal of rich and powerful men sexually abusing children this book was really focused on the mother daughter dynamic.
September 15, 2022
This is a well-written, fast paced, entertaining, work of dramatic fiction, which is told over a dual time line. It has tragedy, trauma, suspense, resilience, strength, friendship and hope. The settings are vivid and Ms. Greenwood perfectly describes the time period. The sodas in the refrigerator, the taste of the New York City tap water, the crime of the decade in the city, and the memorable blackout are completely accurate.
I won an ARC of this book from Kensington Books, and this is my honest opinion.
I won an ARC of this book from Kensington Books, and this is my honest opinion.
February 4, 2022
Former child actress Ryan Flannigan is forced to confront her difficult past when a risqué childhood photo is made public, leading to the suicide of a dear, old friend and causing her mother to go into hiding. T. Greenwood’s exquisite storytelling ability is showcased in this coming of age/coming to terms with one’s past, dual time period page-turner. Wrought with emotion and brimming with suspense, this will appeal to fans of Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain.
December 30, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up
Engaging story with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but there were some odd choices, which in hindsight feels like filler to get the word count up. A little repetitious sometimes, and honestly, childhood Ryan was pretty whiny, but overall, I enjoyed the book and the story.
Engaging story with well-developed characters. I enjoyed the dual timelines, but there were some odd choices, which in hindsight feels like filler to get the word count up. A little repetitious sometimes, and honestly, childhood Ryan was pretty whiny, but overall, I enjoyed the book and the story.
February 17, 2024
Check out my fun in-depth #AuthorElevatorSeries interview with T. Greenwood, where we go behind the scenes of the book and the author!
Timely. Lyrical. Evocative. Alluring. Haunting!
Master storyteller T. Greenwood returns following Keeping Lucy and Rust & Stardust with a powerful, emotional, and gripping story surrounding the 1977 New York City Blackout —SUCH A PRETTY GIRL.
Former child actress Ryan Flannigan learns from a NYT article that a sensitive photo of her at age eleven (during the blackout), by photographer and family friend Henri Dubois, was found among the possessions during the raid of billionaire Zev Brenner's Paris apartment. This pedophile has been accused of underage sex trafficking and unspeakable crimes. So many young, innocent victims.
The discovery leads Ryan to reflect on her estranged mother (stage mom), Fiona, who gave Brenner the photo with an inscription on the back during Ryan's career. Ryan has not seen the photo since it was taken at Westbeth.
The FBI is now after her mother, Fiona, and Ryan's model agent, Margie. How are they connected to this monster?
The face of a woman on a child's body, the contradiction that launched her career and ultimately destroyed it.
Lost River, Vermont 2019: The book opens in Vermont, where we meet Ryan Flannigan and her daughter Sasha. It is Sasha's eighteenth birthday, and soon she will be heading off to college in California.
It has been thirty years since Ryan's last film when she left show business and came to Lost River. However, her past resurfaces when her best friend, Gilly, texts her about the NYT article "Mother or Monster."
A black and white photo of Ryan as a little girl, eleven years old, taken during the NYC Blackout in 1977 by her friend and photographer, Henri Dubois. This vulnerable, raw photo was meant for her mother's eyes only, so how did it wind up in the hands of a pedophile?
Her mother gifted this private photo of her to a monster. How did she know him and why? What about the talent agent?
Gilly, her childhood friend from NY, wants her to come to NY since Henri (a man they were close to) and a well-known photographer, has committed suicide. Was it due to this photo?
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know." —Diane Arbus
From flashbacks of Vermont 1976 before Westbeth and NY 2019, a mother (Fiona) and daughter (Ryan) lived in a compound in Lost River where the mom worked in the Lost River Playhouse. Their friend Serafina ran the theatre, which was a happy time for all. However, things were tough for a struggling actress, so they moved to NYC to stay with Gilly and his mom to find work, while Gilly's dad was in LA with work.
Westbeth Artists Housing NY: 1976-1977: An old factory building complex where hundreds of artists and actors lived, musicians, dancers, and photographers. All was fun, and the kids kind of ran wild without their parents being around. Ryan made friends with gay Gilly and Henri, a well-known photographer who took many photos of her.
Her mom, Fiona, went on many interviews and was getting desperate. She could not find work until a talent agent discovered Ryan. She became a star. It is not what her mom wanted but soon realized this was her ticket to money and fame. Through her daughter. She became the stage mom.
However, what had Fiona done? Had she sold out her daughter? What kind of deal had she made with the devil? Greed, secrets, and fame. Was she a protector or a monster?
That troubled and traumatic time that Ryan would like to forget is now forced upon her. That night her mom went missing and never came home. Leaving a young girl unattended for two days and nights.
The blackout. An innocent game of "hide and seek" in her building goes bad. She was lost and came into the hands of another pedophile in her building. A night of horror. She turned to her friend Henri. She would never forgive her mother for leaving her alone without caring for her well-being.
But now the feds are after her mom, and she wants Ryan to hide her in Vermont. What will Ryan decide? A riveting story that will keep you glued to the pages!
WOW! T. Greenwood has been a favorite author for many years and I have read all 14 of her novels. No other author could have written this novel with the same passion as Greenwood.
A young, innocent girl was forced to grow up before her time. Faced many obstacles, from being a child celebrity to the problems of her selfish mother, who was not there to protect her. Ryan longs for safety, comfort, and above all, her mother’s attention in a world of corruption, trauma, fame, and greed.
Greenwood dives deep into the characters' minds, with vivid settings and descriptions of the night of the blackout, which brought about fear and horror for those involved, and you could feel the anxiety as if you were there.
Enthralling and Hypnotic! Beautifully written and told with compassion and sensitivity, SUCH A PRETTY GIRL is a must-read!
I loved all the 1970s references since I lived through the 70s and enjoyed Ryan's friendship with Gilly and Henri while her mom left her all alone. Such a beautiful story, especially now showcasing Ryan as a mother and how she raised her daughter differently than her mother.
If you have read Greenwood's Rust and Stardust, you must read SUCH A PRETTY GIRL. Also, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.
The novel will bring to mind Brooke Shields in “Pretty Baby” meets the disturbing early ads for Loves Baby Soft – in a city about to plunge into darkness. Also here in Palm Beach, Multi-millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
View Letter from Author and fascinating Book Club Kit.
Thank you to #Kensington Books for gifting the beautiful print copy and the box of fun goodies which I loved representing the 1970s (had loads of fun with the Magic 8-ball) and #Netgalley for a digital ARC.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 25, 2022
Oct 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022
Interview
Timely. Lyrical. Evocative. Alluring. Haunting!
Master storyteller T. Greenwood returns following Keeping Lucy and Rust & Stardust with a powerful, emotional, and gripping story surrounding the 1977 New York City Blackout —SUCH A PRETTY GIRL.
Former child actress Ryan Flannigan learns from a NYT article that a sensitive photo of her at age eleven (during the blackout), by photographer and family friend Henri Dubois, was found among the possessions during the raid of billionaire Zev Brenner's Paris apartment. This pedophile has been accused of underage sex trafficking and unspeakable crimes. So many young, innocent victims.
The discovery leads Ryan to reflect on her estranged mother (stage mom), Fiona, who gave Brenner the photo with an inscription on the back during Ryan's career. Ryan has not seen the photo since it was taken at Westbeth.
The FBI is now after her mother, Fiona, and Ryan's model agent, Margie. How are they connected to this monster?
The face of a woman on a child's body, the contradiction that launched her career and ultimately destroyed it.
Lost River, Vermont 2019: The book opens in Vermont, where we meet Ryan Flannigan and her daughter Sasha. It is Sasha's eighteenth birthday, and soon she will be heading off to college in California.
It has been thirty years since Ryan's last film when she left show business and came to Lost River. However, her past resurfaces when her best friend, Gilly, texts her about the NYT article "Mother or Monster."
A black and white photo of Ryan as a little girl, eleven years old, taken during the NYC Blackout in 1977 by her friend and photographer, Henri Dubois. This vulnerable, raw photo was meant for her mother's eyes only, so how did it wind up in the hands of a pedophile?
Her mother gifted this private photo of her to a monster. How did she know him and why? What about the talent agent?
Gilly, her childhood friend from NY, wants her to come to NY since Henri (a man they were close to) and a well-known photographer, has committed suicide. Was it due to this photo?
"A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know." —Diane Arbus
From flashbacks of Vermont 1976 before Westbeth and NY 2019, a mother (Fiona) and daughter (Ryan) lived in a compound in Lost River where the mom worked in the Lost River Playhouse. Their friend Serafina ran the theatre, which was a happy time for all. However, things were tough for a struggling actress, so they moved to NYC to stay with Gilly and his mom to find work, while Gilly's dad was in LA with work.
Westbeth Artists Housing NY: 1976-1977: An old factory building complex where hundreds of artists and actors lived, musicians, dancers, and photographers. All was fun, and the kids kind of ran wild without their parents being around. Ryan made friends with gay Gilly and Henri, a well-known photographer who took many photos of her.
Her mom, Fiona, went on many interviews and was getting desperate. She could not find work until a talent agent discovered Ryan. She became a star. It is not what her mom wanted but soon realized this was her ticket to money and fame. Through her daughter. She became the stage mom.
However, what had Fiona done? Had she sold out her daughter? What kind of deal had she made with the devil? Greed, secrets, and fame. Was she a protector or a monster?
That troubled and traumatic time that Ryan would like to forget is now forced upon her. That night her mom went missing and never came home. Leaving a young girl unattended for two days and nights.
The blackout. An innocent game of "hide and seek" in her building goes bad. She was lost and came into the hands of another pedophile in her building. A night of horror. She turned to her friend Henri. She would never forgive her mother for leaving her alone without caring for her well-being.
But now the feds are after her mom, and she wants Ryan to hide her in Vermont. What will Ryan decide? A riveting story that will keep you glued to the pages!
WOW! T. Greenwood has been a favorite author for many years and I have read all 14 of her novels. No other author could have written this novel with the same passion as Greenwood.
A young, innocent girl was forced to grow up before her time. Faced many obstacles, from being a child celebrity to the problems of her selfish mother, who was not there to protect her. Ryan longs for safety, comfort, and above all, her mother’s attention in a world of corruption, trauma, fame, and greed.
Greenwood dives deep into the characters' minds, with vivid settings and descriptions of the night of the blackout, which brought about fear and horror for those involved, and you could feel the anxiety as if you were there.
Enthralling and Hypnotic! Beautifully written and told with compassion and sensitivity, SUCH A PRETTY GIRL is a must-read!
I loved all the 1970s references since I lived through the 70s and enjoyed Ryan's friendship with Gilly and Henri while her mom left her all alone. Such a beautiful story, especially now showcasing Ryan as a mother and how she raised her daughter differently than her mother.
If you have read Greenwood's Rust and Stardust, you must read SUCH A PRETTY GIRL. Also, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.
The novel will bring to mind Brooke Shields in “Pretty Baby” meets the disturbing early ads for Loves Baby Soft – in a city about to plunge into darkness. Also here in Palm Beach, Multi-millionaire Jeffrey Epstein, and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell.
View Letter from Author and fascinating Book Club Kit.
Thank you to #Kensington Books for gifting the beautiful print copy and the box of fun goodies which I loved representing the 1970s (had loads of fun with the Magic 8-ball) and #Netgalley for a digital ARC.
Blog Review Posted @
www.JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 5 Stars
Pub Date: Oct 25, 2022
Oct 2022 Must-Read Books
Top Books of 2022
Interview
January 18, 2023
3 stars
A semi-nude picture of Ryan Flannigan, as a young teen, shows up and is being circulated. And not that that is not bad enough, it is being exploited by a sex-trafficking pedophile. Then to make matters worse there is an inscription on the back of the picture - written by her mother - addressed to the pedophile.
Ryan and her mother did not get along. Fiona wanted to be a star, just not quite making it. Whereas Ryan was perceived as a Goddess, by males of all ages. Obviously this lead to a very bad relationship between mother and daughter.
Now years later, as this picture with her mothers writing on the back is exposed, Ryan must remember back to the one night that changed their lives.
Relationships, innocence, jealousy, mother against daughter, aging from teen to woman are just some of the themes throughout this book. I think the mystery part of the book was satisfying, but overall this book just seemed to be lacking excitement. I was unable to summon up much emotion as I read the story.
August 18, 2022
Such a Pretty Girl is a story that really sticks with you. Ryan Flannigan is a former child actress whose life is turned upside down when a controversial photo of her taken years ago comes to light. Now she is forced to reexamine her childhood and the current relationship with her mother. The story alternates between the 1970s and the current day. It’s suspenseful as you wonder what happened to young Ryan during the 1977 blackout in New York City, since that event is mentioned and some kind of trauma hinted at throughout the book. It is also a commentary on how youth and young girls are exploited by the media and even people in their lives. Some of the things that happen to Ryan in the book remind me of actual events that young actresses and models experienced in the 1970s. Looking at these things, such as the way young models were shown in advertisements, as an adult is disturbing and the book is thought-provoking.
I really liked the characters of Ryan, her daughter Sasha, and Ryan’s longtime best friend Gilly and the way they are there for each other through all the ups and downs of life. However, I strongly disliked Ryan’s self-centered mother Fiona from the very beginning and I never changed my mind. I know this was on purpose, but she is a character that is really hard to take. There is another character that I think is supposed to be one of the “good guys”, but I was mistrustful of the person throughout the book. This part of the story remained ambiguous for me because I don’t think the character’s motivations were clearly revealed. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I enjoyed her engaging writing style. I’m so glad I read this book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Between The Chapters Books for the advanced copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
I really liked the characters of Ryan, her daughter Sasha, and Ryan’s longtime best friend Gilly and the way they are there for each other through all the ups and downs of life. However, I strongly disliked Ryan’s self-centered mother Fiona from the very beginning and I never changed my mind. I know this was on purpose, but she is a character that is really hard to take. There is another character that I think is supposed to be one of the “good guys”, but I was mistrustful of the person throughout the book. This part of the story remained ambiguous for me because I don’t think the character’s motivations were clearly revealed. This is the first book I’ve read by this author, but I enjoyed her engaging writing style. I’m so glad I read this book and would rate it 4.5 stars.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Between The Chapters Books for the advanced copy of this book. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
August 15, 2022
Author T. Greenwood serves up another delicious novel about a young girl who is uprooted from her idyllic Vermont artsy community to NY City, so that her mother can continue desperately grasping at some sort of fame and fortune. When her daughter, Ryan, is instead the one discovered, Fiona is incensed, but not enough to keep from insisting Ryan takes commercials, films, modeling, *anything.* While Fiona is almost never forthcoming with the truth, she has no problem cashing 10-year-old Ryan's checks.
As an adult, Ryan -- who is also a mother now -- discovers even more subterfuge when she learns the FBI believes Fiona was involved in a child pedophilia ring. Begrudgingly returning to NY City to help her mother, Ryan recalls so much of her childhood, including her friend, the photographer, and the nightmare she endured there.
Telling her story in two time periods, Greenwood gives us some clear-eyed insight into Ryan's relationship with her mother, and we understand how frantically she yearns for approval. Exploring all the sickening feelings of never being enough, never doing enough, and never being loved enough, Ryan does everything her mother wants, but to little effect. Greenwood puts a magnifying glass to the mother/daughter relationship here, and it's not a pretty picture. Wonderfully done, with heart and empathy, Greenwood certainly retains her title of master storyteller with this brilliant book!
Thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced reader copy.
As an adult, Ryan -- who is also a mother now -- discovers even more subterfuge when she learns the FBI believes Fiona was involved in a child pedophilia ring. Begrudgingly returning to NY City to help her mother, Ryan recalls so much of her childhood, including her friend, the photographer, and the nightmare she endured there.
Telling her story in two time periods, Greenwood gives us some clear-eyed insight into Ryan's relationship with her mother, and we understand how frantically she yearns for approval. Exploring all the sickening feelings of never being enough, never doing enough, and never being loved enough, Ryan does everything her mother wants, but to little effect. Greenwood puts a magnifying glass to the mother/daughter relationship here, and it's not a pretty picture. Wonderfully done, with heart and empathy, Greenwood certainly retains her title of master storyteller with this brilliant book!
Thanks to the author and publisher for an advanced reader copy.
June 24, 2022
Name of Book: Such A Pretty Girl
Author: T. Greenwood
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Family Drama, Historical Fiction, Mothers/Daughters
Pub Date: October 25, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!
This is my fourth T. Greenwood novel. I read Rust & Stardust, The Golden Hour, and Keeping Lucy all were great!
Haven’t read anything of hers in a couples years and have been looking forward to another.
Story is not my typical Psychological Thriller or Mystery Thriller but I like T. Greenwood plus the reviews were awesome!
This story is told in a dual time period.
Then Mid 1970s
Now 2019
In 1976 Ryan Flannigan was 10 years old and was “discovered” in a café in NYC. Her mother, a struggling actress, becomes obsessed with supporting Ryan’s career as well as her own. Young Ryan often finds her mother off doing her thing and is left on her own a lot ~which is the real start to this story.
Now in 2018 Ryan is an adult and excited to be celebrating her daughter Sash’s eighteenth birthday. But is faced with her childhood past when the FBI is looking for her mother regarding a photo of eleven year old Ryan that was taken at the Paris home of billionaire Zev Brenner. Brenner has been in the papers recently for unspeakable crimes such as pedophile.
When Ryan’s mother goes into hiding when the photo is release, one wonders if she encouraged this meeting.
T. Greenwood is a great storyteller!
Want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 25, 2022
Author: T. Greenwood
Publisher: Kensington Books
Genre: Family Drama, Historical Fiction, Mothers/Daughters
Pub Date: October 25, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!
This is my fourth T. Greenwood novel. I read Rust & Stardust, The Golden Hour, and Keeping Lucy all were great!
Haven’t read anything of hers in a couples years and have been looking forward to another.
Story is not my typical Psychological Thriller or Mystery Thriller but I like T. Greenwood plus the reviews were awesome!
This story is told in a dual time period.
Then Mid 1970s
Now 2019
In 1976 Ryan Flannigan was 10 years old and was “discovered” in a café in NYC. Her mother, a struggling actress, becomes obsessed with supporting Ryan’s career as well as her own. Young Ryan often finds her mother off doing her thing and is left on her own a lot ~which is the real start to this story.
Now in 2018 Ryan is an adult and excited to be celebrating her daughter Sash’s eighteenth birthday. But is faced with her childhood past when the FBI is looking for her mother regarding a photo of eleven year old Ryan that was taken at the Paris home of billionaire Zev Brenner. Brenner has been in the papers recently for unspeakable crimes such as pedophile.
When Ryan’s mother goes into hiding when the photo is release, one wonders if she encouraged this meeting.
T. Greenwood is a great storyteller!
Want to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for this eGalley. This file has been made available to me before publication in an early form for an honest professional review.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for October 25, 2022
May 12, 2022
Ryan Flannigan is 10 years old when she is “discovered” in a café in NYC. Her mother, a struggling actress, becomes obsessed with Ryan’s career, insinuating herself as her daughter’s manager. But managing Ryan’s career doesn’t bring the two together…rather, Ryan finds herself on her own more and more. Things come to a head during the 1977 blackout in New York, when Ryan is left on her own, literally in the dark. Her missing mother returns a couple of days later with a story about getting lost in the chaos.
Many years later, a grown-up Ryan finds out that the FBI is looking for her mother with regard to a photo of Ryan that was taken the night of the blackout, which has been found in a known pedophile’s home. Ryan comes to the realization that her relationship with her mother has never been oriented toward her needs and she questions her instinct to protect her mother once again.
I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of Lolita, especially when looking at the cover. The characters are interesting and nuanced, and are believable as big-city denizens living in an artsy community. I was drawn into the world of Ryan and her mother, as they first made their break into fame and then came into scandal. Their good friend Henri (the photographer) was also a compelling character and, although it seemed extreme, I could understand his taking his life for his art. The inclusion of ad campaigns that I remember from my youth (Love’s Baby Soft) added another layer to the story. I can remember buying Jean Nate and trying to “splash” it on myself like the woman in the commercial did. Between that and Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific. I probably smelled like a walking cloud of perfume.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Many years later, a grown-up Ryan finds out that the FBI is looking for her mother with regard to a photo of Ryan that was taken the night of the blackout, which has been found in a known pedophile’s home. Ryan comes to the realization that her relationship with her mother has never been oriented toward her needs and she questions her instinct to protect her mother once again.
I really liked this book. It reminded me a bit of Lolita, especially when looking at the cover. The characters are interesting and nuanced, and are believable as big-city denizens living in an artsy community. I was drawn into the world of Ryan and her mother, as they first made their break into fame and then came into scandal. Their good friend Henri (the photographer) was also a compelling character and, although it seemed extreme, I could understand his taking his life for his art. The inclusion of ad campaigns that I remember from my youth (Love’s Baby Soft) added another layer to the story. I can remember buying Jean Nate and trying to “splash” it on myself like the woman in the commercial did. Between that and Gee Your Hair Smells Terrific. I probably smelled like a walking cloud of perfume.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
September 17, 2022
Have you ever seen Law and Order? You know those episodes that are very obviously ripped from the headlines, to the point where you know the exact source or sources they've cobbled together to create the episode? Such a Pretty Girl is the literary equivilent of that.
I'm not, of course, saying that's a bad thing. Joyce Carol Oates made an entire literary career out of doing just that, as did Jodi Picoult. And who doesn't catch an episode of Law and Order once in a while?
I say this because Such a Pretty Girl is obvious about where it gets its sources. It's obviously inspired by the plight of 1970s child stars like Jodie Foster and Brooke Shields, as well as the Jeffrey Epstein trial. I also was reminded of Irina Ionesco.
I can't really say this book scratched the itch I wanted it to, however. I wanted a historical fiction novel about the New York artist world in the 1970s. I didn't really care about life in an actor's commune in Vermont, about the process of filming Hollywood movies and being on set, both of which too much of the book was concerned with. I also didn't really like the present-day storyline but I knew it was there going in and I've never been much for alternating timeline novels, anyway.
I also thought the Jeffrey Epstein-esque storyline dragged the book down. I think I would rather it just have been about the exploitation of child stars in the 1970s, and the relationship between a former child star and her stage mom as she confronts exactly what her mother did to her.
In the book's favor, it's fast-paced and competently written. It's a quick, interesting enough read for an afternoon or two.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Goodreads Giveaways for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publication.
I'm not, of course, saying that's a bad thing. Joyce Carol Oates made an entire literary career out of doing just that, as did Jodi Picoult. And who doesn't catch an episode of Law and Order once in a while?
I say this because Such a Pretty Girl is obvious about where it gets its sources. It's obviously inspired by the plight of 1970s child stars like Jodie Foster and Brooke Shields, as well as the Jeffrey Epstein trial. I also was reminded of Irina Ionesco.
I can't really say this book scratched the itch I wanted it to, however. I wanted a historical fiction novel about the New York artist world in the 1970s. I didn't really care about life in an actor's commune in Vermont, about the process of filming Hollywood movies and being on set, both of which too much of the book was concerned with. I also didn't really like the present-day storyline but I knew it was there going in and I've never been much for alternating timeline novels, anyway.
I also thought the Jeffrey Epstein-esque storyline dragged the book down. I think I would rather it just have been about the exploitation of child stars in the 1970s, and the relationship between a former child star and her stage mom as she confronts exactly what her mother did to her.
In the book's favor, it's fast-paced and competently written. It's a quick, interesting enough read for an afternoon or two.
Thanks to Kensington Books and Goodreads Giveaways for giving me the opportunity to read this prior to publication.
August 10, 2022
This was original and well written, but at times felt a little direction-less, or perhaps I was craving a stronger pull into the story. It had hints of My Dark Vanessa, the subdued melancholy was expertly crafted, yet at times it seemed to lack definition. Things that were hinted at were never explored. I did feel it began to run out of steam and I wanted more of a sucker punch to the gut than it provided, but overall it was quite impressive. Perhaps a bit of editing would make the story feel more powerful. I also felt it built up to… not that much. Either this or the provoking of emotion waned as the story went on. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc.
February 4, 2023
A dual time line novel 1970 and 2019. During the 70’s Ryan and her narcissistic mom move from Vermont to New York so Fiona can get “discovered” and become an actress, and low and behold, it’s 10 year old Ryan that gets discovered and not Fiona. Fiona decides that she will be Ryan’s momager and doesn’t make the best choices for her daughter as a manager or a mom. This was my first book by this author and I’m sure it won’t be my last. Very hard hitting topics look up trigger warnings.
October 23, 2022
✨ "I am thinking that my mother is an ache. In a bone-deep place. That I miss her. And hate her. And love her all at once."
Anything about mother-daughter relationships tend to gut me and this exquisite novel is no exception. I couldn't tear myself away from this beautifully written book and was left teary-eyed.
Through visual and stunning prose, the author skillfully explores a wide range of themes such as parent-child dynamics, complicity, the exploitation and sexualisation of child stars, and trauma with sensitivity and nuance. The characters are memorable and well-written. I was particularly struck by my conflicting feelings about Fiona, who in spite of her neglect and resentment, "was the best mother she knew how to be".
Greenwood has also painted such a vivid picture of New York City through captivating dual timelines. Whether it's the grittiness and frenzy of the 1970s, the bustling and vibrant present-day, or even the idyllic and carefree Vermont summers, all are both brimming with life and made me feel like I was right there. I loved the references to actual historical events and showbiz, cheering when it's something I recognised and having fun looking things up online.
Unflinching, emotional and full of heart, this is a book that will stay with me for long.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
Anything about mother-daughter relationships tend to gut me and this exquisite novel is no exception. I couldn't tear myself away from this beautifully written book and was left teary-eyed.
Through visual and stunning prose, the author skillfully explores a wide range of themes such as parent-child dynamics, complicity, the exploitation and sexualisation of child stars, and trauma with sensitivity and nuance. The characters are memorable and well-written. I was particularly struck by my conflicting feelings about Fiona, who in spite of her neglect and resentment, "was the best mother she knew how to be".
Greenwood has also painted such a vivid picture of New York City through captivating dual timelines. Whether it's the grittiness and frenzy of the 1970s, the bustling and vibrant present-day, or even the idyllic and carefree Vermont summers, all are both brimming with life and made me feel like I was right there. I loved the references to actual historical events and showbiz, cheering when it's something I recognised and having fun looking things up online.
Unflinching, emotional and full of heart, this is a book that will stay with me for long.
Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
December 26, 2022
3.5 stars
If you like heavy subject matters based off real events/headlines told in dual timelines that pull at your heartstrings, Greenwood is an author you most pick up. This is my 3rd novel by her and while this wasn’t my favorite, I would still recommend this read along with Keeping Lucy and Rust & Stardust. Oh my, these poor girls in all of these books!!
SUCH A PRETTY GIRL touches greatly on the sexual exploitation of young girls in Hollywood. Consider the Love’s Baby Soft ads I remember from the 70s that the book mentions. I’ll wait a moment while you google this….. yep, see what I mean? Take a selfish mother who uses her daughter’s beauty and her jealousy of her daughter being “discovered” while her own acting aspirations die as motivation and we get the story of Ry - from her POV - and how quickly she had to grow up in oh so many ways. We travel through her memories and it is heartbreaking.
I didn’t particularly care for the weaving in of what obviously was a nod to the Epstein horrific scandal. If felt a bit plopped in though certainly made sense considering all the going one within the pages. However…. 😐
All in all, Greenwood continues to show how talented she is in her storytelling and I will always pick up anything she throws our way.
•
Book two complete in my vacation reads. Hallelujah!! Treat yourself and add any of her novels to your shopping cart asap 😏
If you like heavy subject matters based off real events/headlines told in dual timelines that pull at your heartstrings, Greenwood is an author you most pick up. This is my 3rd novel by her and while this wasn’t my favorite, I would still recommend this read along with Keeping Lucy and Rust & Stardust. Oh my, these poor girls in all of these books!!
SUCH A PRETTY GIRL touches greatly on the sexual exploitation of young girls in Hollywood. Consider the Love’s Baby Soft ads I remember from the 70s that the book mentions. I’ll wait a moment while you google this….. yep, see what I mean? Take a selfish mother who uses her daughter’s beauty and her jealousy of her daughter being “discovered” while her own acting aspirations die as motivation and we get the story of Ry - from her POV - and how quickly she had to grow up in oh so many ways. We travel through her memories and it is heartbreaking.
I didn’t particularly care for the weaving in of what obviously was a nod to the Epstein horrific scandal. If felt a bit plopped in though certainly made sense considering all the going one within the pages. However…. 😐
All in all, Greenwood continues to show how talented she is in her storytelling and I will always pick up anything she throws our way.
•
Book two complete in my vacation reads. Hallelujah!! Treat yourself and add any of her novels to your shopping cart asap 😏
April 23, 2023
This book sort of snuck up on me and turned out to be really well done. It could have just been a ripped from the headlines sordid take of suxual abuse in Hollywood. Instead, it was a deep and complex character piece. I loved the tactic of moving back and forth between the 1970s and 2019. I loved the deep delve into an unhealthy mother-daughter dynamic. (and I loved the integration of news stories and headlines.) This is a dark story, but beautifully told.
August 8, 2022
I got really into this novel and read it fast. Think Brooke Shields and maybe a little Jeffrey Epstein? It's about how little girls are sexualized in ads and in movies.
The main character is 10, Ryan, the daughter of a single mom who wants to be an actress, but can't quite make it. But then Ryan, a child who happens to have a beautiful, sensual-looking adult-like face, gets noticed by a woman who runs a talent agency, and her career in advertisements and movies begins. Her mother, when she's not disappearing for days and/or getting very drunk, is her manager. And she's jealous of Ryan.
The novel takes place partly during Ryan's childhood, in the 1970s, and partly in 2019, when her mother is implicated in a scandal with a billionaire who has had an organization of people working to procure him with young teenagers to sexually assault.
I had some questions about this book. Why did Henri (that was the photographer's name, right?) kill himself? That didn't seem plausible. Was it just a device to get Ryan back into NYC? And while Ryan, Gilly and Henri are good, well-rounded characters, her mother really isn't. I had some sympathy for her mother, who in the mid-60s, with abortion unavailable, was probably forced to give birth. She finds herself isolated, then comes back to the city still in her 20s, and because of the media's (weird) obsession with youth, it already feels like her own dreams are over. She was kind of a terrible mother, but this novel didn't offer her much sympathy.
Anyway, I was really drawn into this story. And it gave me a chance to think about how little girls were/are? sexualized in ads. Take a look at this. The print ad is pretty much described in this novel, although they changed the name of the perfume. I loved Love's Baby Soft when I was 12 or 13!
https://www.yesterdaysperfume.com/yes...
The main character is 10, Ryan, the daughter of a single mom who wants to be an actress, but can't quite make it. But then Ryan, a child who happens to have a beautiful, sensual-looking adult-like face, gets noticed by a woman who runs a talent agency, and her career in advertisements and movies begins. Her mother, when she's not disappearing for days and/or getting very drunk, is her manager. And she's jealous of Ryan.
The novel takes place partly during Ryan's childhood, in the 1970s, and partly in 2019, when her mother is implicated in a scandal with a billionaire who has had an organization of people working to procure him with young teenagers to sexually assault.
I had some questions about this book. Why did Henri (that was the photographer's name, right?) kill himself? That didn't seem plausible. Was it just a device to get Ryan back into NYC? And while Ryan, Gilly and Henri are good, well-rounded characters, her mother really isn't. I had some sympathy for her mother, who in the mid-60s, with abortion unavailable, was probably forced to give birth. She finds herself isolated, then comes back to the city still in her 20s, and because of the media's (weird) obsession with youth, it already feels like her own dreams are over. She was kind of a terrible mother, but this novel didn't offer her much sympathy.
Anyway, I was really drawn into this story. And it gave me a chance to think about how little girls were/are? sexualized in ads. Take a look at this. The print ad is pretty much described in this novel, although they changed the name of the perfume. I loved Love's Baby Soft when I was 12 or 13!
https://www.yesterdaysperfume.com/yes...
October 25, 2022
Third book for me by this author. If you haven’t read her, I suggest Keeping Lucy.
This book has a dual timeline, 2019 and 1977. Ryan was a successful model and young actress until she gave up the limelight and returned to her Vermont roots. She is brought back to reality when she receives a call from her best friend about the death of a dear friend and father figure. I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1977 and all the happening of the time, Love’s Baby Soft, the NYC Blackout. An interesting correlation of Mother/Daughters then and now…which I can so appreciate as I grew up in the 70s and now have a 20 year old daughter. Completely different times and different parenting. Do I parent the same way my mother did? I guess to a point but I have a much more honest and open relationship with my daughter. Thank God my mother was nothing like Ryan’s. This book brings to mind Brooke Shields and her relationship with her mother, but throw in a Jeffrey Epstein vibe.
Thanks to Ms. Greenwood, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
This book has a dual timeline, 2019 and 1977. Ryan was a successful model and young actress until she gave up the limelight and returned to her Vermont roots. She is brought back to reality when she receives a call from her best friend about the death of a dear friend and father figure. I enjoyed the flashbacks to 1977 and all the happening of the time, Love’s Baby Soft, the NYC Blackout. An interesting correlation of Mother/Daughters then and now…which I can so appreciate as I grew up in the 70s and now have a 20 year old daughter. Completely different times and different parenting. Do I parent the same way my mother did? I guess to a point but I have a much more honest and open relationship with my daughter. Thank God my mother was nothing like Ryan’s. This book brings to mind Brooke Shields and her relationship with her mother, but throw in a Jeffrey Epstein vibe.
Thanks to Ms. Greenwood, Kensington Books and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
January 24, 2023
First third of the book was slow moving. The author bounces timelines, dual; however there were times it felt like I missed part of the story. As the book progressed, I had to pause reading several times. The topics are outside my comfort zone in a fictitious manner. Child pornography, trafficking, and abuse are too prevalent in society right now to give head space for pleasure. I read fiction as a hobby.
The child grows up in the story and becomes a mother herself. The storyline was not convincing given her upbringing.
Profanity: Yes.
2 stars, this is not self-help and the read is for pleasure only.
Thank you GoodReads for the Giveaway program. I won a physical copy and will donate it.
#45/500 Read What I Own
March 4, 2023
5 Stars
This was a ripped-from-the-headlines novel. Peripherally, at least. I loved the writing and the story. At turns sad, uplifting, and empowering. A really great read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 464 reviews