This is a hard one for me to review as I don’t typically read horror. It was too weird for me, but the writing was good. While this wasn’t my cup of tea, I can see others enjoying it!

There's a killer in the suburbs of Atlanta where Lila lives with her mother Caroline. Nobody know what they look like or why they strike. Only thing known is that young girls like Lila are being snatched and rumor has it mutilated. These murders strike too close to home for Lila's mom, Caroline who left New Orleans after girls were being murdered there. Can Caroline protect Lila so that she does not meet the same fate. I urge you to pick up Such A Pretty Smile and find out.

I thoroughly enjoyed Such A Pretty Smile. I loved the use monster metaphors which masked the real life horrors of humanity in this intricately plotted horror tale. It's social horror at its finest with a powerful feminist twist. DeMeester proves we definitely need more women in horror, I look forward to more of her work. Well Done!!!!!

This is a tough one for me to review. It started out as a great page turner. There were girls going missing and turning up dead. Then the main characters turned crazy. There was no warning. It just happened. And there was a supernatural twist that I wasn't expecting. Maybe I didn't read the synopsis well enough ahead of time. I enjoy supernatural elements in novels, but this one almost seemed forced.
Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read this novel in advance in exchange for a free and honest review.

I enjoyed reading this book but at the same time it was a little strange to me. Maybe it’s because I don’t read a lot of horror. I would recommend this to other readers just may be make them aware it is dark.

This book was, in short, a wild ride. Promoted as horror, mystery and thriller, it definitely did not fail to meet all of these expectations.

The cover definitely gives the message of dark and foreboding. Through that and the synopsis provided by the author, I was excited to dive into a little bit of thrill. Part of my brain must have overlooked the horror tag, as it essentially side-swiped me. Spine-tingling, skin-crawling, stomach-turning horror has become a new favourite of mine.

Such a Pretty Smile is told in a first-person in a dual timeline and POV format. Rife with unreliable narrators, the suspense is carried throughout as the psychological fear mixes with crime horror and the unknown. I don't think I could choose between the two viewpoints.

Lila Sawyer is first introduced as a timid girl just trying to fit in with her peers. She lives with her mother in Atlanta, Georgia, attending school and battling with her internal expectations. She pushes her personal boundaries and comfort levels to impress her friend (and crush). Thought feeling pressured to disobey and break out of her comfort zone, a large part of her is directly tied to her single mother, Caroline, and her desire to respect her mother's wishes.

Caroline Sawyer is an artist with a wounded past. As the story progresses, you're given bits and pieces of evidence to what really happened in her past. Rooted in mystery, her POV is told from 15 years in the past in New Orleans, Louisiana, prior to the catastrophe of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Her fear is palpable, and as a mother trying to protect her child, begins to manifest in different ways that expose hidden trauma. Her experiences and symptoms cause her credibility to be tainted, leading the reader to make assumptions and/or lose direction in where everything is headed.

I really enjoyed the psychological aspect of this book. There were times where even I was looking over my own shoulder as a chill crawled up my back. This would be incredible translated into film - horror buffs would jump at the chance to be thrilled and chilled. Mix that with the setting - an abandoned Jazzland in the depths of the Louisiana bayou - there would be amazing opportunity to delve into the creepy and macabre.

One aspect I wish she expanded on is the history of the area where Jazzland is located. At one point, a report about the area is a focal point, speaking about the unjust actions of people against the witches and natives of the area. Aside from this brief mention, it isn't really returned to later on as the mystery unravels. I think intertwining that folklore into the grisly events of the book would have made it an absolutely perfect read.

The author does a really good job at emphasizing the fight against social issues: the place of women in the family/society, including the treatment of mental illness in women, the expectation of women to be soft and permissive, and the gender gaps between men and women in relation to work and success. I've seen other ratings calling this writing ferociously and unashamedly feminine (Sadie Hartmann, author) and I can't help but agree!

I'd recommend this book to those who love psychological and suspenseful horror; however, I would caution future readers to read any trigger or content warnings before diving in.

3.5/5

This novel utilizes the “social commentary as horror” with astounding effect. If you hate the patriarchal mentality and norms that most people can’t seem to forget, then this will be right up your alley. However, it was a bit like having a heavy-handed person wielding a hammer beating me to death, but those moments weren’t terribly too often. Thank god for that.

Dual timelines. Coming of age. Serial killer. Beautiful prose. Feminist horror at its finest.

Need I say more? Alright, I'll say a little more, but not much more.

There's a killer on the loose; girls are being found mangled. Lila, 13, who lives with her mother Caroline, suspects her mother knows more than she's letting on when she starts acting extremely protective and behaving strangely whenever the killer comes up. They both have secrets they're keeping from each other. They're both experiencing things they can't explain. What's the connection? Could it be that Caroline remembers the last time these murders happened when she was younger in a different city?

I loved so much about this novel. The characterization was top-notch, the pacing was just right, and I had no idea how it was going to end. I cared about the characters, their struggles, and their safety. Learning a little more about what's happening as the chapters alternated between Lila in 2019 and her mother in 2004 made this book seem a lot shorter than it was and I mean that in the best way possible. I appreciated this book's message, though it made me angry...at toxic masculinity, at the patriarchy, at men that dismiss women. Some might find parts of the story a little heavy-handed, but I think it was just right.

You know what else makes me angry? That I waited this long to read Kristi's work. Don't be like me.

Such a Pretty Smile is deftly written by Kristi DeMeester. I kept thinking the resolution would be different, but this book managed to surprise me a few times, which means it was a very good story. Having Damien Angelica Walters read and reread the book before publication was a touch of genius, and there were a few parts that read like her.

The ultimate conclusion was satisfying in a feminist way. I won't spoil the ending by explaining it, but suffice it to say that rich, white men are definitely the problem.

I wanted to love this, I SHOULD have loved this, but... man. This just wasn't for me.

Intriguing premise and I do appreciate what it's trying to say, but the delivery hits a little too Lifetime-y for my taste. A bit more substance, a bit more teeth (ha!), and this might have hit just right. I'll be interested to see if this lands better with thriller prone readers as opposed to horror genre junkies.

This book was one crazy ride. It's told in two time periods by two different narrators. The first is Caroline and the second, her daughter Lila. The story revolves around a series of brutal murders that occur every fifteen years. The theory is that it's a serial killer, but authorities are baffled by the recurrences.

As the book progresses, you realize that Caroline is definitely connected in some way and now Lila is being pulled into this strange mystery as well. There are unusual goings ons, rumors about noises, visions and folk lore about mysterious beasts with yellow eyes and sharp teeth.

This is definitely a horror story with a mystery blended into it. But it's also much more. The author doesn't shy away from addressing topics where women are frequently minimized in society by men. How they are often placated and patted on the hand, given some medicine to "make it all better" and sent on their way. This story lays bare the fact that strong women are often feared and therefore reviled. It's all done cleverly and in a way that you don't expect.

This book was a slow progression which may frustrate some people. But I'd encourage readers to stick with it. The manner in which this story gradually evolves and ultimately resolves itself is worth the buildup.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

This book is not at all what I expected! It’s what I would call a hoodie/psychological thriller. It’s told by alternating POV’s and alternating timelines. It’s dark and twisty and disturbing in all the right ways! There’s a strong message weaved amongst the horror; one, as a woman, I absolutely relate to. Highly recommend!

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy.

This is the fifth book that I have read in 2022. However, this is the first book in a long time that has left me confused. Which is good and bad in equal measure. Bad in the sense that for a good 70% I was confused and good because this might be the one book I will want to read again just to see if I can get more out of it. Now before the author and the readers of this review get too upset with me this is a three-star read for me and that is still okay in my book. Let me explain my thought process, When I was approved for this book I was thrilled considering I had planned on buying it so win-win right? Yes at least for me. I just had a very hard time following it until the last 20%

Such a Pretty Smile focuses on two women (Lila and her mother Caroline) at two different points in time. Both are experiencing sights and sounds they can’t quite explain. Both are essentially told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty by the world around them as they search to find the reason for their experiences. When I first started reading, I thought the daughter was part of a multiple personality disorder. That’s how confused I was. Which would have been a strong concept had I been right. That being said the highlights and strength of this novel are its creepy factor. . I was drawn into what they were each experiencing, as I tried to puzzle out what was happening. Hints were dropped in the early parts of the story that pointed toward an origin in the distant past. Which made this easy to read in just a few days. Where I struggled is the development of characters. While both women had a voice the splitting chapters made it confusing. While the two main women are well done, the men all annoyed me and the main villain was just a total loss. I will be waiting to see if this turns into a series because it does have that potential. I eagerly await to see what's next for this writer and hope the next one is something I can connect with better.
Thank you, NetGalley for my arc. This is a toss-up but if you come across it I suggest giving it a chance.

Book Review: Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester

Such a Pretty Smile is a horror novel with feminist overtones. It is told in alternating POV’s between a teenager in the Atlanta suburbs in 2019 and an adult woman in 2004 pre-Katrina New Orleans.
In 2019, Lila struggles with a toxic friendship with best friend Macie and her own sexuality. It is an unequal relationship in a lot of ways with Macie the more powerful of the two having both popularity and beauty.
In 2004, adult Caroline trying to care for her ailing father, work on her sculptures and pay the bills by tutoring an often difficult young student. Her relationship with fellow artist and fiancé Daniel suffers as she starts to have disturbing images and struggle sleeping.
Both Lila and Caroline (despite being separated by 15 years and nearly 500 miles) are hearing barking dogs, have visions of snapping teeth and lolling tongues and the local news is reporting young girls being found dead miles from home with wounds similar to an animal attack. Buried in Caroline’s past and in the dark history of New Orleans lies the answer to both of their unease.
Such a Pretty Smile is a difficult book to review. The two main protagonists are struggling with dark thoughts and images of blood, gore and the ravaged bodies of pre-pubescent girls. The reader is left constantly questioning what is real, what is paranormal and what is a mental illness. But I do recommend this for readers that enjoy darker reads with elements of paranormal horror, coming of age and feminist themes.
3.75 stars rounded to 4

Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester is a standalone horror novel. The story in this one is one that is told in two different timelines one in 2004 and one in 2019. Of course there are also changes to the point of view in the story too.

Back in 2004 Caroline Sawyer is an artist who is married when she begins to see and hear things no one else does. Caroline struggles with hearing dogs barking and a dog faced man hiding in the shadows watching her until she finally gets help and medicine to calm the nightmares.

In 2019 Lila Sawyer is wanting nothing more than some trust from her mother who uses protecting as an excuse to say no to everything. Lila doesn’t know of her mother’s past and why Caroline wants to protect her so much but when Lila goes behind her mother’s back and begins seeing the dog faced man herself the last thing she wants to do is admit it to her mother.

Such a Pretty Smile by Kristi DeMeester seems to be one of those books that people are either loving or hating and somehow I found myself siding with both. There were times I was so engaged to the story that I thought I would end up loving this one but on the other hand I finished and felt letdown. To me the book almost worked but missed something there to make that come together and while I didn’t dislike it completely I did come away feeling I needed more and also seeing why others were disappointed.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was so looking forward to this and I managed to hit the 40% mark, but I am not enjoying it and struggling with how it unfolds.

I have just finished this and I am sitting here trying to decide how I felt about it.

At first, I did not want to put the book down. I was loving thirteen year old Lila, who didn't quite fit in and was acting out to impress her friend that was popular-ish. I was down for it. Absolutely could relate. I was loving the creepy vibe. Girls disappearing and being torn to bits, gross, but cool (and obviously fiction). I also applaud the underlying message of "down with the patriarchy".

I think my main issue was the believability and I didn't feel like things were properly tied up at the end. Maybe that's just the accountant in me, but I wanted a clearer explanation and better reasoning behind everything that happened.

I look forward to seeing what else Kristi DeMeester has up her sleeve.

A special thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Kristi DeMeester for providing me with an ARC.

"Mothers, mind your daughters. Keep them sweet and polite and mannered, and it will keep the teeth from the door."

Ahhh, feminist horror, I adore you.

The novel divides into two time frames. Opening in 2019, we are introduced to Lila, the daughter of Caroline, an artist known for her visceral, often macabre, sculptures. A series of disappearances of girls in Georgia coincides with a darkness inside Lila awakening. We are then taken to 2004, a strikingly similar disappearance of girls in New Orleans draws a darkness from Caroline. She is seeing things, hearing things, having loss of memory. Are they hallucinations or are they real? Where did they come from? How can this be happening again? How did The Cur follow her?

DeMeester's talent in conveying such intense imagery and emotion through her writing left me so uneasy and queasy as if I was experiencing the growing darkness. Constantly questioning reality of what I read, but everything is in such vivid detail. The two timelines reeled me in at just the right exchange. Build up, respite, culmination, repeat.

This book was a rush and I want to thank the author & publisher for providing the opportunity for me to read this. Though reading it before bed produced some very intense dreams. This is not for the faint at heart.

Thank you to St. Martins Press for an electronic ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story is a sinisterly dark, jaw dropping, complex read that will leave you reeling and adrift as you process the utter insanity of this book... and I mean that as a compliment as this was definitely a great start to my new year reads. Kristi DeMeester is a new to me author who I will most certainly be picking up again. She has woven a tale of dual timelines with a mother, Caroline, and her daughter, Lila. There are secrets and murder and moments of intense uneasiness that just escalates as the story unfolds.

This story is bizarre, brutal, and the perfect horror story that touches on social commentary and feminism and it does it well. This will definitely not be for everyone as it is pretty graphic but if your like me and can not only handle that stuff but enjoy it than you should most definitely pick up a copy of this book.

REVIEW:

✨This was a wild ride to say the least. It has been a long time since I read a story with an unreliable narrator like this one. I forgot how much that tends to twist my mind and make me doubt every little thing in a story.

✨This book was also a bit more on the horror side of the genre than I realized. I went into this read thinking it was a domestic thriller but then the delusions and paranoia and much more started to set in.

✨I think this book had a lot to say about womanhood, motherhood, and anti patriarchy. All things that are complex and vilified. Some for good reason and some because of another.

✨This would be a perfect read for thriller, but more for, horror readers. Those who enjoy feeling uneasy and not sure of what is actually going on in the story. I also think that some of the descriptions require a tough stomach. I might just be a little weak though 🤣

✨Thank you too NetGalley and St Martins Press for allowing me to read this copy ahead of publication date for an honest review.

WOW. DeMeester really knows how to write a dark, sinister and jaw-dropping book! I was engrossed from the very beginning (where we start off with a description of a brutal crime scene). This book takes you on a wild ride, and also is an excellent portrayal of powerful and strong women!