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Pretty Things cover art

Pretty Things

Written by: Janelle Brown
Narrated by: Julia Whelan, Lauren Fortgang, Hillary Huber
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Publisher's Summary

New York Times Best Seller

Who’s really following you on social media? The scam of a lifetime brings together two wildly different women in this page-turning thriller about greed, legacy, and betrayal from the New York Times bestselling author of Watch Me Disappear.

An ID Book Club Selection • “It’s Dynasty meets Patricia Highsmith.” (The Washington Post)

Nina once bought into the idea that her fancy liberal arts degree would lead to a fulfilling career. When that dream crashed, she turned to stealing from rich kids in LA alongside her wily Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. Nina learned from the best: Her mother was the original con artist, hustling to give her daughter a decent childhood despite their wayward life. But when her mom gets sick, Nina puts everything on the line to help her, even if it means running her most audacious, dangerous scam yet.

Vanessa is a privileged young heiress who wanted to make her mark in the world. Instead she becomes an Instagram influencer - traveling the globe, receiving free clothes and products, and posing for pictures in exotic locales. But behind the covetable façade is a life marked by tragedy. After a broken engagement, Vanessa retreats to her family’s sprawling mountain estate, Stonehaven: a mansion of dark secrets not just from Vanessa’s past, but from that of a lost and troubled girl named Nina.

Nina’s, Vanessa’s, and Lachlan’s paths collide here, on the cold shores of Lake Tahoe, where their intertwined lives give way to a winter of aspiration and desire, duplicity and revenge.

This dazzling, twisty, mesmerizing novel showcases acclaimed author Janelle Brown at her best, as two brilliant, damaged women try to survive the greatest game of deceit and destruction they will ever play.

©2020 Janelle Brown (P)2020 Random House Audio

What the critics say

"Brown offers a glittering, high-stakes drama, stacking childhood nostalgia against the power to reinvent oneself in the age of social media.... Packed with plot twists." (Booklist, starred review) 

"Fiendishly clever." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Pretty Things is awesome. Simple as that. I loved every page. Janelle Brown is your new must-read author." (Harlan Coben, New York Times best-selling author of Run Away

What listeners say about Pretty Things

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Great story

Great story. Usually I listen to books before bed, but I found myself also listening to this in the car and around the house. There were a couple of parts of the story that I didn’t think fitted the characters. For example, I think Nina would have kept up to date on Vanessa’s social platforms.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Predictable, but so fun!

The twists were fairly easy to see coming, but the writing and performances were so good, I didn’t care. I consumed this one like it was popcorn. Couldn’t put it down, couldn’t get enough. Loved it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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page turner

great story and characters. twists and turns that will keep you guessing. great narration

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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WOW!

Plenty of twists and turns, yet done with subtlety and careful nuance. Somehow both a gripping story and a slow burn. I couldn't stop listening!
Great narration!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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UNEXPECTED!!

First time listening to this author and I am happy I choose this book!
The story started off super good, it kept me interested and there were great character building. Although I feel that somewhere in the middle of the story, I had to force myself to keep listening as the story got a bit dull and lost in the character building.
However, it picked up again and It took me by complete surprise!
This book is most definitely worth the credit!!
I'm now ready to begin another book by this author.

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Great Listen

I like to listen to good stories that are not overly complicated, as I am usually multi-tasking as I listen. This was perfect. Characters interesting, very good narration, plot twists with ending that I was happy with and kept me engaged. Highly recommend.

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First time I have read this author

Loved it, unexpected storyline with great twists bringing it together at the end! Narrators were awesome!

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Really Enjoyed It!

Great story and narration. Loved the plot twists. I didn’t want to stop listening. Fell asleep listening a few times and had to rewind.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Another great narration by Lauren Fortgang!

The different perspectives created a great story with an unexpected turn in the middle!

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Surprisingly great

The story is creative and thoughtful, and the women characters are complex and interesting, despite the genre often being trite, sexist, and basic. The very ending is by no means surprising (although the climax is) but that's not a fall back of the book somehow, the writing, narrative and character development is what's catching, and the alternating narrators are also great. Highly recommend 👌🏽

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