Tuesday, January 22, 2013

The Pretty One

Title:  The Pretty One
Author:  Lucinda Rosenfeld
Publication Information:  Little, Brown and Company, Hatchette Book Group. 2012. 305 pages.

Book Source:  I received this book through the GoodReads First Reads program free of cost in exchange for an honest review. The book arrived as a a paperback uncorrected proof.

Favorite Quote:  "In recent years, Olympia had become so unreachable, so cold ultimately .... She was like a house with no doors or windows: it was impossible to get inside to see if it was even heated."

The Pretty One is a story of sisters - Perri, Pia, and Gus. Perri is the one with the successful business, a solid marriage, and accomplished kids. Olympia or Pia is the beautiful one choosing to be a single mother. Gus is the free spirit in the throes of a breakup.

However, sometimes all is not what it seems. All three have aspects of their lives they keep hidden - an old flame returning, an affair, and other things. Their relationships ebb and flow with love and resentment mixed together. Through it all and at the end of it all, they are sisters and all that entails.

I expected to relate to the characters in the book and their relationships. I did not. The characters seemed somewhat one dimensional and tailored to stereotypes. They do not really evolve or develop as the book progresses.

They also sounded self-indulgent and sometimes petty and mostly very negative. Unfortunately, that feeling seemed to permeate through the book making it not an enjoyable read.

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