📓 Her Pretty Face is a character-driven, suburban thriller that reminded me of Paul Bernado and Karla Homolka’s Canadian murder case.. 📚 😌

 

Title: Her Pretty Face

Author: Robyn Harding

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Publisher: Gallery/Scout Press

Date published: July 10, 2018

Page Count: 352

“Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat.

A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world. But after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before.

Until she meets Kate Randolph.

Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. And for some reason, she’s not interested in being friends with any of the other Forrester moms—only Frances. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart.

Because one of these women is not who she seems. Her real name is Amber Kunik. And she’s a murderer.

In her masterful follow-up to The Party, Robyn Harding spins a web of lies, deceit, and betrayal, asking the question: Can people ever change? And even if they can, is it possible to forgive the past?”

Her Pretty Face, which takes place in Seattle, is about marriage, parenting, friendship, loyalty, secrets, and betrayal. How well do you think you know your spouse? Family? Friends? If you found out they did something horrible many years ago, could you forgive them? Would you keep their secrets?

Jason and Frances’s marriage has become mundane. Frances doesn’t have any friends, and is insecure about her weight. She’s a stay-at-home mom focused on her family. Jason is a workaholic, yet attentive husband and father. Their son, Marcus, diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder, is adjusting to his first year at private school, Forrester Academy.

Kate and Robert have two kids, Daisy and Charles. Charles is also new at Forrester. Kate and Frances bond over their hatred towards the snobby Forrester moms. Fourteen year old Daisy feels like her mother doesn’t love her, and her insecurities get her into a lot of trouble.

DJ is a little boy who has his whole world come crumbling down around him after his sister’s raped, tortured, and killed.

Her Pretty Face, told from Frances, Daisy, and DJ’s perspectives, flips back and forth between THEN and NOW. Thankfully, each chapter clearly provides the perspective and time period.

Daisy, Frances, and Kate are well-written, interesting characters. I can relate to them, and understand their motivations. DJ, Jason, Robert, Marcus, and Charles, are bland, one-dimensional characters. My favourite characters are Daisy and “Amber”. They are intriguing, complicated, well-rounded characters.

I did not like the constant comments of weight insecurities. It’s mentioned MANY times that Frances, DJ, and Marcus all had weight problems that made them “invisible”. From what I remember, it’s specified that Frances is five foot six inches and has an extra twenty pounds? I mean…come on. An extra twenty pounds don’t make her “hefty” or a “fat girl”. There is also inconsistency with describing Marcus. Throughout the novel he’s described as overweight, yet at the end of the book he’s suddenly “gangly”.

Also, why is it mentioned multiple times that Daisy’s vegan friend was pale? She’s described as ghostly. “Pale, vegan Mia was there…” “Mia and the rosy-cheeked carnivore”. I know a lot of vegans, and I don’t find them any more pale than meat-eaters LOL This was ludicrous and I have absolutely no idea why it’s in the story.

🌟🌟 It was OK.

Her Pretty Face is a quick read centered around a simple mystery – Did Frances or Kate kill Courtney? This is a brand new release that will make a great summer read.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion. Thank you to the publisher, author, and NetGalley, for allowing me to review.

Robyn Harding is the author several books including international bestseller, The Party. She’s married with two kids, and lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/344233.Robyn_Harding

To learn more about Robyn’s books visit: http://www.robynharding.com