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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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  • 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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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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Great story!

Fun to listen to. Really enjoyed the story line and the narrators voices are really to listen to. Enjoyed it so much it went too fast!

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Surprisingly twisty

Really enjoyed this book. It took a surprising turn that I never expected & kept me interested!

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Worth it!

Excellent book with captivating story. Hard to stop listening too sometimes. Excellent narration in audible format easy to listen to and be entertained

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  • sandraleeweston
  • 2020-04-28

SO GOOD

When I saw that both Julia Whelan and Lauren Fortgang were narrating this book, I thought to myself “this Hass to be good.“, and was it ever!
This book was so good, I was finding excuses to take longer walks and even scrub my floors just so I could get another couple of chapters in to hear what was happening next! It was so very well written and thought out with so many twists and turns, And I just love the way that it ended. If you’re on the fence about purchasing this book, don’t wait any longer—You will not be disappointed.

199 people found this helpful

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  • Anonymous User
  • 2020-05-03

Loved!

I listen to so many mystery/suspense novels while I’m doing normal daily activities and this one was fantastic! Since I am typically multitasking it’s important for a book to have a manageable character load and a thought provoking plot without too many crazy lines to follow. This book ticked all the boxes for me and was such a pleasure to listen to! Well worth the credit!

175 people found this helpful

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  • ROBIN
  • 2020-05-11

OUTSTANDING!!

After years of listening and hundreds of audio books in my library, I think originality impresses me the most.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It is current, and original, with excellent character development and narration . This is probably my favorite book of 2020 so far, so I highly recommend it

137 people found this helpful

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  • Karenique
  • 2020-05-14

Wow! I want to scream it from the rooftop!

EVEN BETTER THE SECOND TIME!!!

I finished “Pretty Things,” a 16+ hour audiobook in record time. This insanely suspenseful thriller shoots to the top of my vast Audible library. Soooo good! A favorite narrator of mine, Julia Whelan, as always, does not disappoint. An introduction to Lauren Fortgang and Hillary Huber was well-received. I found it hard to take a break. I can’t stress it enough, worth a valued credit! Brilliant author Janelle Brown weaves a dazzling, psychological and addictive tale that made me think, how well do we know the ones we love? What is real? What is imagined? Many questions, twists and turns, surprises and more are revealed throughout and, to top it off, there are many jaw-dropping moments, and I didn’t want it to end. Focusing on very different perspectives from two women goes to prove how contrasting events can be recalled. Highly recommended! Screaming it from the rooftop, “Epic I say, EPIC! EPIC! EPIC!” Thank you to the magnificent authors and narrators for letting me escape my current mundane existence and welcome me into your intriguing and exhilarating world. An awesome nod to Audible for making this available.

👏✍🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍🏻🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟👏✍🏻

112 people found this helpful

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  • No Rain
  • 2020-05-15

Redundant

I’m glad I pushed through to the end, which is good. But the constant retelling of the story from the two main characters perspectives was too much. Really slowed the pace and flattened the energy.

82 people found this helpful

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  • Cassie
  • 2020-05-02

Excellent

Wow. Perfectly narrated! I’m so glad we got to experience the story from the perspective of both Nina and Vanessa. I found myself not really sure who I was rooting for and by the end I was rooting for both of them. The story is well thought out and the characters are solid. Some parts were predictable and just when you think you have it figured out, a new twist appears. Highly recommend!

55 people found this helpful

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  • Lindsey McClement
  • 2020-06-17

Meh

There are two ideas explored in this book that I find interesting.
1) Two people can look at the same thing and interpret it very differently. A few moments are recounted from both Nina's and Vanessa's viewpoint and I really enjoyed this contrast.

2) As you grow up, you realize your parents are human...and fallible. As Nina and Vanessa uncover and reconcile their parents secrets and shortcomings, it's nice to see them both start defining the world in their terms instead of living in their parent's worlds.

With that being said, the strength of the plot and growth of the characters throughout the book just didn't pack enough punch to elevate these ideas for me. The jacket bills it as a thriller, but I would say it's a cross between a coming-of-age and a heist story. Unfortunately, I didnt find it satisfying in either regard.

Also, it's just way too long. A lot of time is spent giving more information that doesn't add an equal amount of value. To me, the book would've been more enjoyable as a shorter story. The time you spend with these characters just doesn't payoff.

Both narrators do a great job!

45 people found this helpful

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  • Kula Koenig
  • 2020-05-01

Fun, exciting read

I really liked reading this book. I wanted something light but a break from my fluffy chic-lit romances and this was perfect! Love the characters, the nuances, the performance.

38 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • Kelly
  • 2020-05-03

So so good...

Great plot, great twists love the writing and the performances are fantastic. Enjoyed every minute!
If you like a good heist story, some romance, family drama, this book has it all.
Recommend...

31 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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  • J. Zacher
  • 2020-05-09

Very enjoyable

Interesting plot with characters I never hope to meet in my life. Good, logical plot twists with plenty to entertain those of us who are home bound sheltering n place. The author took a real story from the news a few years ago and took it in a very interesting and unexpected direction. Highly recommended

26 people found this helpful