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Pretty Hurts
"Keeping secrets from someone is no different than ling to them; it's still dishonest."
In Pretty's Strong's view, she is far from the average 'pretty' girl. Despite facing challenges that come with living with a rare disease affecting one side of her face, like most, she yearns for pure love and happiness, but often wonders if such things exist outside of fairytales, one's dreams, or fictional stories... well, that is until she meets Dr. Sylas Blairwood.
Pretty sees Sylas as the epitome of perfection - charming, kind, understanding, and handsome beyond compare. However, she can't help but wonder what makes him 'perfectly imperfect,' as everyone has their flaws.
Just when Pretty thinks she has found the love and happiness she has been searching for her whole life, secrets are unveiled, and her world is turned upside down. She is taken back to the dark place in her life, a place she thought she had left behind forever. But will she emerge from this ordeal stronger or weaker?
Grab some tissues and dive into this emotionally charged novel filled with sorrow and hope to find the answers.
In Pretty's Strong's view, she is far from the average 'pretty' girl. Despite facing challenges that come with living with a rare disease affecting one side of her face, like most, she yearns for pure love and happiness, but often wonders if such things exist outside of fairytales, one's dreams, or fictional stories... well, that is until she meets Dr. Sylas Blairwood.
Pretty sees Sylas as the epitome of perfection - charming, kind, understanding, and handsome beyond compare. However, she can't help but wonder what makes him 'perfectly imperfect,' as everyone has their flaws.
Just when Pretty thinks she has found the love and happiness she has been searching for her whole life, secrets are unveiled, and her world is turned upside down. She is taken back to the dark place in her life, a place she thought she had left behind forever. But will she emerge from this ordeal stronger or weaker?
Grab some tissues and dive into this emotionally charged novel filled with sorrow and hope to find the answers.
190 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 9, 2022
409 people are currently reading
544 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
January 8, 2025
This book will FOREVER be in my heart. I will never forget Pretty. All I want to do is cry right now. This book should be made into a movie!
"You were my favorite hello but my hardest goodbye."
♾️⭐️
"You were my favorite hello but my hardest goodbye."
♾️⭐️
December 11, 2024
While this book will def play on your emotions and have you really thinking about life as a whole and how to be kinder I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Valeria was wrong and her shortcomings as a mother is what aided in the jealousy between the sisters. Lyric had. A nasty spirit and was unkind but the mom is partially to blame. She literally states Pretty was less outgoing so she needed more attention and affection, you don’t think that’s a disservice to your eldest daughter. Lyric was very much the glass sibling and the fact that she had them both under her roof and didn’t notice that Lyric was a literal demon ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Sylas was slimey to me and deserved nothing, not a baby not a happy ending with the wife he hid NOTHINGGGGG. Man had no morals or decency and wasn’t nothing beautiful about him and Pretty. You see a patient you about take on and you realize you lusting after her and you PROCEED AT YOUR GROWN MARRIED AGE ???? No officers grab this Mf’er right NOWW. Like he could’ve just told Pretty the truth, you getting blackmailed into honesty?? Yikes not a man to swoon over or even like at all. Like the fact that he was lusting after her at the appointment just grossed me out like you a professional and someone’s husband. He took advantage of that girl and her mama floundered too. Cus basically she’s a naive girl trapped in a woman’s body, never having experienced affection or anything outside of her mama.
Lyric was VILE af and the jealous cus Pretty was beautiful and lightskin (lmao) cus the author had Lyric emphasize her own complexion gave juvenile colorist. I personally feel like in this day and age giving a character HIV to teach em a lesson is kinda wack. Knowing what we all know especially how it decimated the black community in the 80s and 90s it being a haha got you moment is trash. Knowing that people live with that illness everyday and the way modern medicine has advanced didn’t give the got cha the author wanted. Sorry, I thought she was gonna die in a car accident or something but that yeah no 🍅🍅🍅. Cus in the same breath what does that make Aja? Does she not deserve a terminal illness for going out her way to harm Lyric? Lyric was a nasty mean user but if you dishing out karma who is Aja to decide, the lesson gets lost here because it was alotta shady MF’ers in here so where is they diseases?
Overall I think the emphasis on getting mental health services and taking care of yourself while also being a kind person is important. That message got lost in a bit of mess and left me with more questions than with a heart stirring moral.
Valeria was wrong and her shortcomings as a mother is what aided in the jealousy between the sisters. Lyric had. A nasty spirit and was unkind but the mom is partially to blame. She literally states Pretty was less outgoing so she needed more attention and affection, you don’t think that’s a disservice to your eldest daughter. Lyric was very much the glass sibling and the fact that she had them both under her roof and didn’t notice that Lyric was a literal demon ABSOLUTELY NOT.
Sylas was slimey to me and deserved nothing, not a baby not a happy ending with the wife he hid NOTHINGGGGG. Man had no morals or decency and wasn’t nothing beautiful about him and Pretty. You see a patient you about take on and you realize you lusting after her and you PROCEED AT YOUR GROWN MARRIED AGE ???? No officers grab this Mf’er right NOWW. Like he could’ve just told Pretty the truth, you getting blackmailed into honesty?? Yikes not a man to swoon over or even like at all. Like the fact that he was lusting after her at the appointment just grossed me out like you a professional and someone’s husband. He took advantage of that girl and her mama floundered too. Cus basically she’s a naive girl trapped in a woman’s body, never having experienced affection or anything outside of her mama.
Lyric was VILE af and the jealous cus Pretty was beautiful and lightskin (lmao) cus the author had Lyric emphasize her own complexion gave juvenile colorist. I personally feel like in this day and age giving a character HIV to teach em a lesson is kinda wack. Knowing what we all know especially how it decimated the black community in the 80s and 90s it being a haha got you moment is trash. Knowing that people live with that illness everyday and the way modern medicine has advanced didn’t give the got cha the author wanted. Sorry, I thought she was gonna die in a car accident or something but that yeah no 🍅🍅🍅. Cus in the same breath what does that make Aja? Does she not deserve a terminal illness for going out her way to harm Lyric? Lyric was a nasty mean user but if you dishing out karma who is Aja to decide, the lesson gets lost here because it was alotta shady MF’ers in here so where is they diseases?
Overall I think the emphasis on getting mental health services and taking care of yourself while also being a kind person is important. That message got lost in a bit of mess and left me with more questions than with a heart stirring moral.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 7, 2024
*trigger warning* for self harm!
I blindly went into this book without reading the summary or the reviews. I’m glad I didn’t . This book tugged at my heart strings. Oh my heart 💔 dangggg Pretty 🥺
Just read the book ya’ll! Very emotional will have you wanting to fight some of the characters! Cough cough Lyric! Ughhhhh lol
I blindly went into this book without reading the summary or the reviews. I’m glad I didn’t . This book tugged at my heart strings. Oh my heart 💔 dangggg Pretty 🥺
Just read the book ya’ll! Very emotional will have you wanting to fight some of the characters! Cough cough Lyric! Ughhhhh lol
November 26, 2024
This was such an emotional read for me. I cried several times while reading this book. It does deal with some dark themes but it definitely has a message. I truly sympathized for Pretty and her sister Lyric was a monster. A lot of times we have to forgive for ourselves and not the other person and always remember you treat people dirty it will come back to you in a way you never imagined. A heartbreaking story but it was very touching and memorable.
August 18, 2025
This book is exactly what the title says beautiful and it hurts. Alciea J dives deep into the messy, complicated sides of love and relationships, showing both the passion and the pain without sugarcoating either.
There were moments where I had to stop, reread, and just sit in the emotion because the writing hit so hard.
By the end, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug the characters or shake them, but I cared deeply the entire time. It’s raw, emotional, and so real the kind of book that stays with you.
There were moments where I had to stop, reread, and just sit in the emotion because the writing hit so hard.
By the end, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to hug the characters or shake them, but I cared deeply the entire time. It’s raw, emotional, and so real the kind of book that stays with you.
August 31, 2022
This is such a beautiful story I don't know where to begin. Dealing with issues of low self-esteem, mental illness, disease, and so much more made it an intriguing read that I won't soon forget. All the characters were well developed, and most of them tugged at my emotions. I didn't expect the twists and turns, but every major issue made me ponder on my own life and reconsider views I've held for years. It's not often that fiction makes me think deeply about life, but this book is a winner. I'm so glad I read it and recommend it to anyone with empathy who enjoys love stories and tragedies.
December 30, 2024
Still thinking about this story days after finishing. A sad but beautifully written story.
January 16, 2025
4.5🌟
“YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE, SENT FROM ABOVE. WHEN I LOST ALL HOPE, YOU SHOWED ME, LOVE. IM CHECKING FOR YOU BOY, YOU’RE RIGHT ON TIME. ANGEL OF MINE!”😭💔
This book was SOUL CRUSHING!!!! I don’t know any other way to describe it!😭💔
Pretty wasn’t just pretty… she was the kind of soul that leaves her beautiful mark on every single person and thing she touches! I couldn’t help but feel my heart aching for her and with her during this whole journey. This book opens up on some VERY deep and heartbreaking topics so I highly suggest you read the Trigger warnings on this book before just simply jumping into it! They will be listed on my review below!
However, there is a few things that ultimately made me feel I couldn’t give it a full 5 stars even though I wanted to so badly!
The reasons are as follows:
-The language choice
-The need for more information
-The lack of having the full story in more detail
-Character Flaws
-Some missing key points
Don’t get me wrong this book has SO many very powerful elements and meaningful life lessons in its short pages that it brings to the table, but I feel if it could have been longer with more expressive detail, a few changes to the language choice, and a few changes to the characters/story, it could have been an even more exceptional and an even more powerful read! What happens in this story is extremely tragic and unforgettable. It’s something that will leave you thinking about your own life and realizing just how truly blessed you are to have all that you have around you! The people, the places, the memories! To live, breathe, and to love is a gift and a blessing that should be cherished. That being said it is an emotional and tragic story, be prepared to grab some tissues! Here are those trigger warnings I mentioned earlier! If any of these topics are sensitive for you, I highly recommend skipping this read!
⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
💔Cheating
💔Affair
💔Suicide
💔Grief
💔Race related profanity
“YOU CAME INTO MY LIFE, SENT FROM ABOVE. WHEN I LOST ALL HOPE, YOU SHOWED ME, LOVE. IM CHECKING FOR YOU BOY, YOU’RE RIGHT ON TIME. ANGEL OF MINE!”😭💔
This book was SOUL CRUSHING!!!! I don’t know any other way to describe it!😭💔
Pretty wasn’t just pretty… she was the kind of soul that leaves her beautiful mark on every single person and thing she touches! I couldn’t help but feel my heart aching for her and with her during this whole journey. This book opens up on some VERY deep and heartbreaking topics so I highly suggest you read the Trigger warnings on this book before just simply jumping into it! They will be listed on my review below!
However, there is a few things that ultimately made me feel I couldn’t give it a full 5 stars even though I wanted to so badly!
The reasons are as follows:
-The language choice
-The need for more information
-The lack of having the full story in more detail
-Character Flaws
-Some missing key points
Don’t get me wrong this book has SO many very powerful elements and meaningful life lessons in its short pages that it brings to the table, but I feel if it could have been longer with more expressive detail, a few changes to the language choice, and a few changes to the characters/story, it could have been an even more exceptional and an even more powerful read! What happens in this story is extremely tragic and unforgettable. It’s something that will leave you thinking about your own life and realizing just how truly blessed you are to have all that you have around you! The people, the places, the memories! To live, breathe, and to love is a gift and a blessing that should be cherished. That being said it is an emotional and tragic story, be prepared to grab some tissues! Here are those trigger warnings I mentioned earlier! If any of these topics are sensitive for you, I highly recommend skipping this read!
⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
💔Cheating
💔Affair
💔Suicide
💔Grief
💔Race related profanity
December 9, 2024
The story was a difficult story to read and not feel angst at every turn. The ending was justice and not really what I needed. No shade, it just wasn't my worldview.
January 17, 2025
I couldn’t stand Sylas and still don’t. The last 30% was really sad and emotional. I feel like we didn’t really get into Pretty’s emotions until the end. Felt like something was missing.
December 1, 2024
This is the 2nd book that I would say is the best yet emotional reads of 2024 for me…
This story was beautifully written and took me through a range of emotions from beginning to end. I felt my heartbreak, horror, grief, and shed ugly tears reading this book! And the many gems!
I recommend this book to anyone & everyone willing to read it! 10 out of 10!
🥹📖🎢😮💨👏🏾
Below are some of the parts that touched me the most...
•Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we're still alive.
•Sleep doesn't help when it's your soul that's tired.
•Sometimes the prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets. The prettiest eyes have cried the most tears and the kindest hearts have felt the most pain.
•Nothing hurts more than being disappointment by the one person you thought would never hurt you.
•A person doesn't know pain until they're staring at themselves in the mirror, with tears in their eyes, begging themselves to just hold on and be strong.
•First, always tell people how you feel because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye, but regrets can last a lifetime. Secondly, always leave people with kind words and better than you found them. Last but not least, whatever hatred you may have for someone, fix it.
•Life will let you get away with something for a while, but eventually, you will pay the price. Everything you do in life causes the effects that you experience. So when you get the bill, be prepared to pay.
•We can't say that we forgive a person while waiting on an apology from them or for them to change. Forgiveness is for us, not the other person.
This story was beautifully written and took me through a range of emotions from beginning to end. I felt my heartbreak, horror, grief, and shed ugly tears reading this book! And the many gems!
I recommend this book to anyone & everyone willing to read it! 10 out of 10!
🥹📖🎢😮💨👏🏾
Below are some of the parts that touched me the most...
•Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we're still alive.
•Sleep doesn't help when it's your soul that's tired.
•Sometimes the prettiest smiles hide the deepest secrets. The prettiest eyes have cried the most tears and the kindest hearts have felt the most pain.
•Nothing hurts more than being disappointment by the one person you thought would never hurt you.
•A person doesn't know pain until they're staring at themselves in the mirror, with tears in their eyes, begging themselves to just hold on and be strong.
•First, always tell people how you feel because opportunities are lost in the blink of an eye, but regrets can last a lifetime. Secondly, always leave people with kind words and better than you found them. Last but not least, whatever hatred you may have for someone, fix it.
•Life will let you get away with something for a while, but eventually, you will pay the price. Everything you do in life causes the effects that you experience. So when you get the bill, be prepared to pay.
•We can't say that we forgive a person while waiting on an apology from them or for them to change. Forgiveness is for us, not the other person.
February 12, 2025
The overwhelming amount of emotions this book pulled out of me was insane!!!
Pretty’s life is a reflection of so many girls/women that struggle with their image and self-esteem. It causes you to seek validation and love from family & friends only to be disappointed and it’s not enough
Being bullied by her sister and lied to by a man that she felt was her friend and lover was too much for Pretty to bare.
Pretty pushed through so she could create the 2 most important things in her life before she made a life changing decision that would not only change her life but those who truly loved her.
The pain & the moments of happiness that was left on every page and chapter of this book had me hoping for a happily ever after but sometimes its not packaged the way we hope.
10/10 recommend
Pretty’s life is a reflection of so many girls/women that struggle with their image and self-esteem. It causes you to seek validation and love from family & friends only to be disappointed and it’s not enough
Being bullied by her sister and lied to by a man that she felt was her friend and lover was too much for Pretty to bare.
Pretty pushed through so she could create the 2 most important things in her life before she made a life changing decision that would not only change her life but those who truly loved her.
The pain & the moments of happiness that was left on every page and chapter of this book had me hoping for a happily ever after but sometimes its not packaged the way we hope.
10/10 recommend
February 8, 2025
Dang, I really hate the ending for pretty 🥺 I do wish the gave us a trigger warning in the beginning. Giving a disclaimer at the end when we already know what happened is crazy😭 but other than that, I enjoyed this story although it was very sad
December 19, 2024
Whew, y’all…
This book absolutely needed a trigger warning. The emotional roller coaster it took me on was intense. The twists, shocks, and heartbreaks was a lot to process.
My heart hurts so much for Pretty and so many girls like her. Her tragic decision was devastating, and it’s a painful reminder of the struggles so many face in silence. This story broke me, but it also opened my eyes to how deeply words and actions can affect someone’s life 🥺💔
This book absolutely needed a trigger warning. The emotional roller coaster it took me on was intense. The twists, shocks, and heartbreaks was a lot to process.
My heart hurts so much for Pretty and so many girls like her. Her tragic decision was devastating, and it’s a painful reminder of the struggles so many face in silence. This story broke me, but it also opened my eyes to how deeply words and actions can affect someone’s life 🥺💔
January 7, 2025
Don’t know what to say, this book tore me to pieces. I’m NOT a fan of Sylas at all, I don’t care. Pretty didn’t deserve being lied to.
June 30, 2022
Get your tissues ready!
Let me take a second to get my emotions under control. Ooo Chile…. I’m not a huge fan of short books but the synopsis for this book intrigued me. I’m so glad I read it! Pretty had a rare disorder that disfigured her face when she was about 9 years old. To be faced with such a condition and to feel as though the only person she had in her corner was your mother, was a huge challenge to her mental health. My heart went out to her. Her mother was angel for real! She tried her best to affirm Pretty and speak life into her but at times it wasn’t enough. This story was so so unexpected! At times I felt it was almost predictable until it wasn’t! This story deserved more pages. I really enjoyed it! This story was an emotional read, so please get your tissues ready! There were so many gems and words of wisdom dropped throughout! Alecia J is a new to me author and I will be checking out more of her work! I highly recommend this story!
Let me take a second to get my emotions under control. Ooo Chile…. I’m not a huge fan of short books but the synopsis for this book intrigued me. I’m so glad I read it! Pretty had a rare disorder that disfigured her face when she was about 9 years old. To be faced with such a condition and to feel as though the only person she had in her corner was your mother, was a huge challenge to her mental health. My heart went out to her. Her mother was angel for real! She tried her best to affirm Pretty and speak life into her but at times it wasn’t enough. This story was so so unexpected! At times I felt it was almost predictable until it wasn’t! This story deserved more pages. I really enjoyed it! This story was an emotional read, so please get your tissues ready! There were so many gems and words of wisdom dropped throughout! Alecia J is a new to me author and I will be checking out more of her work! I highly recommend this story!
May 11, 2022
Tear tears
Ok so I just wanted to say this is the first time I have read any of your work. Girl this book right really touch my soul. Your have me sitting here crying for real like I really felt pretty pain, I was mad at syles for what he did but im glad she didn't blame him or her mom. I'm so glad lyric got the karma she deserved 😌
Ok so I just wanted to say this is the first time I have read any of your work. Girl this book right really touch my soul. Your have me sitting here crying for real like I really felt pretty pain, I was mad at syles for what he did but im glad she didn't blame him or her mom. I'm so glad lyric got the karma she deserved 😌
May 11, 2025
Heart wrenching
This story was pretty sad. Pretty Strong has felt inadequate her entire life due to rare disorder that she developed as a child that created a deformity in her face. This caused her a great deal of internal turmoil and low self esteem. It doesn’t help that she was raised with a hateful older sister, Lyric that would never let her forget how she looked on the outside. Lyric goes on to have reconstruction surgery to fix her facial deformity thinking it will cure how she felt on the inside. She ends up falling in love with her surgeon Sylas. Although, I love the way he loved Pretty, he went about it all wrong because he was married and was sort of on a break with his wife when he met Pretty. Like a typical man, Sylas failed to mention that he was married to Pretty, which caused a domino effect. Lyric was such a trash character, but I still think that Aja was wrong for how she went about the situation with her. She could have just been done with the friendship and walked away. It’s not up to us to play God and try to serve other people the karma that WE think that they deserve, Overall this was a good quick read…Although, you may shed a few tears!
This story was pretty sad. Pretty Strong has felt inadequate her entire life due to rare disorder that she developed as a child that created a deformity in her face. This caused her a great deal of internal turmoil and low self esteem. It doesn’t help that she was raised with a hateful older sister, Lyric that would never let her forget how she looked on the outside. Lyric goes on to have reconstruction surgery to fix her facial deformity thinking it will cure how she felt on the inside. She ends up falling in love with her surgeon Sylas. Although, I love the way he loved Pretty, he went about it all wrong because he was married and was sort of on a break with his wife when he met Pretty. Like a typical man, Sylas failed to mention that he was married to Pretty, which caused a domino effect. Lyric was such a trash character, but I still think that Aja was wrong for how she went about the situation with her. She could have just been done with the friendship and walked away. It’s not up to us to play God and try to serve other people the karma that WE think that they deserve, Overall this was a good quick read…Although, you may shed a few tears!
February 27, 2025
This novel started off so well within the first 30 pages. It had its moments, but ultimately fell short for me. While I appreciated the multiple POVs & the vision, the execution was horrible. I ONLY finished this book because it was so short. However, it left with me so many questions.
-The cheating trope?
-Silas being so obsessive over Pretty when he is married & barely knows this woman?
-Silas sexualizing Pretty before he even knew her?
-Knowing Pretty had a terrible disorder and Sila’s first thought was to sexualize & manipulate her?
-Impregnating Pretty on the very first date, & she was a virgin & your wife is at home chilling?
-The colorism?
-The wife attending Pretty’s funeral and allows Sylias to kiss her? After he just cheated & had a baby on her?
I wanted to love this book, but instead, I wanted to throw it across the room several times.
-The cheating trope?
-Silas being so obsessive over Pretty when he is married & barely knows this woman?
-Silas sexualizing Pretty before he even knew her?
-Knowing Pretty had a terrible disorder and Sila’s first thought was to sexualize & manipulate her?
-Impregnating Pretty on the very first date, & she was a virgin & your wife is at home chilling?
-The colorism?
-The wife attending Pretty’s funeral and allows Sylias to kiss her? After he just cheated & had a baby on her?
I wanted to love this book, but instead, I wanted to throw it across the room several times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2025
3.5⭐️🔥
If you do not like sad books, do not read this. I can say that it was written very well, but most of the things that happened in this book I predicted, besides the twist that to me happened out of nowhere. There were so many villains in this book that I can’t even name them all, out of number one being the MMC Sylas, next one Lyric for obvious reasons, next David for being a deadbeat, and last, but not least, the most surprising one of all, Aja! I took a full star off because it made me sad and I took half a star off because half of the shit they were just doing just because if you ask me.
If you do not like sad books, do not read this. I can say that it was written very well, but most of the things that happened in this book I predicted, besides the twist that to me happened out of nowhere. There were so many villains in this book that I can’t even name them all, out of number one being the MMC Sylas, next one Lyric for obvious reasons, next David for being a deadbeat, and last, but not least, the most surprising one of all, Aja! I took a full star off because it made me sad and I took half a star off because half of the shit they were just doing just because if you ask me.
January 13, 2025
3.75⭐️ I enjoyed this book, but man do I despise Sylas. I didn’t want that ending for him or Lia. I wanted karma in that sense as well. The ending chapters for her sister had me GAGGED. I loved it.
I just wish some parts were developed more. It feels like it all went way too fast. I will definitely be reading more from this author. Overall, I enjoyed it, and it only took me slightly over 2 hours to read!
I just wish some parts were developed more. It feels like it all went way too fast. I will definitely be reading more from this author. Overall, I enjoyed it, and it only took me slightly over 2 hours to read!
March 5, 2025
I have seen several posts about this book on social media and was told by a book bestie that this book was amazing and was going to give me all the feels. I went in with high expectations but sadly, this book and I did not mesh well. I think (for my personal reading experience) I may have had my hopes a little too high. I personally found the story to be very predictable (until it took that hard turn that didn't make sense for the storyline).
Pretty was a beautiful young lady with a rare condition that deformed part of her face. Although she had this condition, she had an older sister, Lyric, who was jealous of just about everything about Pretty- her body, her complexion, the portion of her face that wasn't impacted by her condition... and probably anything else she could think of. And this jealousy caused Lyric to bully and belittle Pretty at every chance she got. Pretty then gets contacted by a clinic who is willing to do surgery to reconstruct the portion of her face impacted by her condition free of charge.
I didn't feel any sympathy for the MMC, Sylas, because right off the bat the relationship between him and Pretty was highly inappropriate. As soon as Sylas was introduced and it was mentioned that he was having marital problems due to his wife not being able to have kids, I knew that he was going to be a cheater. And a cheater that I felt no sympathy for. He walked himself straight into the situation he found himself in with no thought about anyone but himself.
Shortly after Sylas "fixed" Pretty's face he was asking to take her to his family's cabin...alone. They had no previous friendship or dealings with one another. INAPPROPRIATE! While at this cabin he pretty much sets himself up in the position to sleep with Pretty (who has confessed that she has never had any friends, had a boyfriend, been in a relationship, and is still a virgin). He leads her on and doesn't once bring up the fact that HE IS MARRIED! He continues this inappropriate relationship by buying Pretty expensive gifts, paying for her birthday party, spending time with her friends and family, and continuing to have a sexual relationship with her. And there was even one scene where he's "defending" pretty to Lyric and says "I didn't fix your sister's face; I made her more beautiful than she already was." CRINGE! Not "I didn't fix your sister's face because she was already beautiful" or that her face didn't need to be "fixed"... but instead credits himself with making her "more beautiful" like he was alluding to her being less than beautiful before the surgery. IDK...maybe that's just me.
During this time Lyric finds out that Sylas is married and tries to blackmail him to sleep with her in exchange for keeping his secret. Of course the secret comes out and Sylas insists that he didn't lie to Pretty about being married...A LIE OF OMISSION IS STILL A LIE! Saying that they "never discussed the topic" was a disgusting cop out. He should have never pursued her to begin with but there were several times that he could have brought up that he was married. One of the most notable was when they ended up in an intimate setting that was about to become physical...that would have been the perfect time to bring up HIS WIFE! He literally thought about it and decided not to say anything. He decorated a hotel room with the sole purpose of having sex with her again. HE CLEARLY HAD NO INTENTION OF BRINGING UP HIS WIFE! He "reconciled" with his wife and continued to string Pretty along. Although I don't know how much of a reconciliation it was because they never formally separated. They never talked about separating and he barely tried to contact her when she went to stay with her mother. It was infuriating.
Pretty finds out shortly after she and Sylas stop talking that she's pregnant. She's pursuing a career, has a baby, has made a friend, and her reconstructive surgery has enhanced her looks. Out of nowhere she says despite her life going well, she is unhappy and decides to unalive herself. There was no build up and literally went from her being happy, to finding out Sylas is married, fast forward to having a baby (that she never told Sylas about), and then cancelling her subscription to life all within a few pages. And then postmortem she directs her mother to tell Sylas about the baby and tell him that she wants him and his wife to raise the baby...WHAAAAT!? It would have been eff that man and that baby...because...WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT ME TO RAISE YOUR AFFAIR BABY!?!
And then there is the matter of her sister. I saw her "lesson" coming from a mile away. She proceeds to thank the woman that facilitated someone giving her an incurable STD!? That lady and her cousin would have been BENEATH the jail after a severe beatdown! There were a lot of other things that happened in this book but those were the ones that stood out to me most.
There have been several books that I have enjoyed with the secret baby or cheating trope. Those books made me care about the characters before introducing me to their flaws and shortcomings. I feel that didn't happen for me in this book. I was immediately introduced to characters and at the same time their flaws were introduced. I knew the intended emotions the author was going for but I didn't get enough time with them before their issues hit to rationalize the gray area of their actions. As always, just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be a great read for someone else.
Pretty was a beautiful young lady with a rare condition that deformed part of her face. Although she had this condition, she had an older sister, Lyric, who was jealous of just about everything about Pretty- her body, her complexion, the portion of her face that wasn't impacted by her condition... and probably anything else she could think of. And this jealousy caused Lyric to bully and belittle Pretty at every chance she got. Pretty then gets contacted by a clinic who is willing to do surgery to reconstruct the portion of her face impacted by her condition free of charge.
I didn't feel any sympathy for the MMC, Sylas, because right off the bat the relationship between him and Pretty was highly inappropriate. As soon as Sylas was introduced and it was mentioned that he was having marital problems due to his wife not being able to have kids, I knew that he was going to be a cheater. And a cheater that I felt no sympathy for. He walked himself straight into the situation he found himself in with no thought about anyone but himself.
Shortly after Sylas "fixed" Pretty's face he was asking to take her to his family's cabin...alone. They had no previous friendship or dealings with one another. INAPPROPRIATE! While at this cabin he pretty much sets himself up in the position to sleep with Pretty (who has confessed that she has never had any friends, had a boyfriend, been in a relationship, and is still a virgin). He leads her on and doesn't once bring up the fact that HE IS MARRIED! He continues this inappropriate relationship by buying Pretty expensive gifts, paying for her birthday party, spending time with her friends and family, and continuing to have a sexual relationship with her. And there was even one scene where he's "defending" pretty to Lyric and says "I didn't fix your sister's face; I made her more beautiful than she already was." CRINGE! Not "I didn't fix your sister's face because she was already beautiful" or that her face didn't need to be "fixed"... but instead credits himself with making her "more beautiful" like he was alluding to her being less than beautiful before the surgery. IDK...maybe that's just me.
During this time Lyric finds out that Sylas is married and tries to blackmail him to sleep with her in exchange for keeping his secret. Of course the secret comes out and Sylas insists that he didn't lie to Pretty about being married...A LIE OF OMISSION IS STILL A LIE! Saying that they "never discussed the topic" was a disgusting cop out. He should have never pursued her to begin with but there were several times that he could have brought up that he was married. One of the most notable was when they ended up in an intimate setting that was about to become physical...that would have been the perfect time to bring up HIS WIFE! He literally thought about it and decided not to say anything. He decorated a hotel room with the sole purpose of having sex with her again. HE CLEARLY HAD NO INTENTION OF BRINGING UP HIS WIFE! He "reconciled" with his wife and continued to string Pretty along. Although I don't know how much of a reconciliation it was because they never formally separated. They never talked about separating and he barely tried to contact her when she went to stay with her mother. It was infuriating.
Pretty finds out shortly after she and Sylas stop talking that she's pregnant. She's pursuing a career, has a baby, has made a friend, and her reconstructive surgery has enhanced her looks. Out of nowhere she says despite her life going well, she is unhappy and decides to unalive herself. There was no build up and literally went from her being happy, to finding out Sylas is married, fast forward to having a baby (that she never told Sylas about), and then cancelling her subscription to life all within a few pages. And then postmortem she directs her mother to tell Sylas about the baby and tell him that she wants him and his wife to raise the baby...WHAAAAT!? It would have been eff that man and that baby...because...WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU WANT ME TO RAISE YOUR AFFAIR BABY!?!
And then there is the matter of her sister. I saw her "lesson" coming from a mile away. She proceeds to thank the woman that facilitated someone giving her an incurable STD!? That lady and her cousin would have been BENEATH the jail after a severe beatdown! There were a lot of other things that happened in this book but those were the ones that stood out to me most.
There have been several books that I have enjoyed with the secret baby or cheating trope. Those books made me care about the characters before introducing me to their flaws and shortcomings. I feel that didn't happen for me in this book. I was immediately introduced to characters and at the same time their flaws were introduced. I knew the intended emotions the author was going for but I didn't get enough time with them before their issues hit to rationalize the gray area of their actions. As always, just because it wasn't for me doesn't mean it won't be a great read for someone else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2024
wow! all in my feels
Wow! Not only was this book well written and had an amazing flow to it, the author explored very deep themes that’s going to have you in your feelings! So many valuable lessons are taught but all I’m going to say… love yourself always. I don’t want to get into spoiling anything but PLEASE read.
Wow! Not only was this book well written and had an amazing flow to it, the author explored very deep themes that’s going to have you in your feelings! So many valuable lessons are taught but all I’m going to say… love yourself always. I don’t want to get into spoiling anything but PLEASE read.
May 27, 2025
Heavy topics discussed on this book...
Pay attention to those trigger warnings...very heavy topics discussed. Family drama, jealously, hatred, suicide...and more. I laughed and cried alot reading this short story. Pretty's story was well written but a tough read as well. This book will stay with me for awhile.
Pay attention to those trigger warnings...very heavy topics discussed. Family drama, jealously, hatred, suicide...and more. I laughed and cried alot reading this short story. Pretty's story was well written but a tough read as well. This book will stay with me for awhile.
December 19, 2024
this was sadly beautiful
I don’t know, this was a hard read. While I didn’t shed a tear, I felt heavy in my heart. I almost wish I didn’t read it but it doesn’t take away from its beauty. Please take care of yourselves and remember to check on your loved ones.
I don’t know, this was a hard read. While I didn’t shed a tear, I felt heavy in my heart. I almost wish I didn’t read it but it doesn’t take away from its beauty. Please take care of yourselves and remember to check on your loved ones.
January 6, 2025
This was the prettiest hurt!!!!!
This was the prettiest hurt!!!!! Omg I was not expecting this but it was so well written that I didn’t mind. This is my first time reading anything written by Alecia J and now I feel like I have to read her entire catalog.
This was the prettiest hurt!!!!! Omg I was not expecting this but it was so well written that I didn’t mind. This is my first time reading anything written by Alecia J and now I feel like I have to read her entire catalog.
January 25, 2025
whew!!
This book was good!! I never would’ve thought it would’ve ended like that. I’ve shed a few tears but this was a beautiful book. You really never know what someone goes through until it’s too late.
This book was good!! I never would’ve thought it would’ve ended like that. I’ve shed a few tears but this was a beautiful book. You really never know what someone goes through until it’s too late.
August 19, 2025
I read this blindly and I though it would be a cute romance but but it was definitely not a happy ending 😭 he had a wife and the fmc didn’t know and she had a baby from him but kept it a secret and why did she had to die 💀and after that the mmc knew he had a baby with the fmc
December 4, 2024
Beautifully written
This book both started and ended beautifully. This story was full of so many humorous moments throughout it. Although it ended with a tragedy, it was a wonderful story to read. Pretty Hurts was filled with life lessons within every chapter. I laughed, learned, and cried. I definitely will suggest this story to those that I feel can handle such a heavy story.
This book both started and ended beautifully. This story was full of so many humorous moments throughout it. Although it ended with a tragedy, it was a wonderful story to read. Pretty Hurts was filled with life lessons within every chapter. I laughed, learned, and cried. I definitely will suggest this story to those that I feel can handle such a heavy story.
December 29, 2025
3.75 ⭐️
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