I received an ARC copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.


Such a Pretty Smile was an interesting story with meaningful characters. It's different from your average horror story. And that's a good thing.

While I didn't actively dislike this book, I didn't vibe with the characters or writing, and I don't think it had the impact on me that it did on other readers. Such a Pretty Smile is a mother-and-daughter horror book, with chapters told from both the daughter's (Lila) and the mother's (Caroline) POV. Both of them experience hallucinations, creepy voices, wolf-like visualizations that haunt their days and whisper evil things to them. Both of them live in cities that are currently plagued by gruesome murders of young women and girls - specifically girls who have defied what it means to be a "good girl."

This book had two of my pet peeves/dislikes, which unfortunately colored my reading experience. One, when the book constantly refers to some bad event that happened in the past (e.g., "I will never talk about what happened at Jazzland") without providing any more detail until that event is actually revealed - and two, petty high school drama. On top of these, I felt a disconnect to the characters and the plot that made me lose the "disturbing" nature of the book. Sure, gory killings are described - even describing nipples being sliced off and vaginas being torn apart - but they're mentioned in passing, without any real connection to the victim or their story (which is typically what makes something disturbing to me). I'm still not sure if I enjoy an unreliable narrator or not, but I didn't think it was effective in this book.

Overall, I appreciate the premise and the moral message of the story, and this is possibly a book that would have more impact in a visual medium like a film or TV adaptation. But the reading experience was not for me.

This was a pretty creepy book. Goes back and forth between two timelines - 13 year old Lila, current, and back 15 years with her mother Caroline. There is a serial killer on the loose - or is it something more supernatural? I think I would have really liked this book if it just stuck to the horror/supernatural trope. The feminist angle seemed a bit out of nowhere; like it had to be explicitly pointed out. It just seemed forced to me, and not at all empowering (this coming from a feminist).

This was such a good read. Told from a viewpoint that most women today live in - keep quiet, don't cause too much drama, don't ruffle feathers, etc. I loved every second of this book. Perfect read for the spooky season!

Decided not to finish after hitting around the 25% mark. The story got too weird for me and I wasn’t interested in reading on.

If I had to describe this book it would be horror with a twist. Again, I think this book will be polarizing. I wasn't a fan of the storytelling.

We can't love them all. There is an audience out there for this book and author. As I stated, many enjoyed this book, and I encourage you to see out their reviews.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

The first 60 pages of this book made it seem like something in the line of horror that I normally love......but then it turned into a novel that was wrtten for a high school Mean Girl. The characters became so self centered it just thought it ended up being a waste of time, and the end was too predictable. Will not read this author (if ever again) for quite some time. 3 wasted days......too drawn out and slow for my likings.

I am torn on this book, it was definitely focused on the horror genre more than a mystery/thriller. I enjoyed it however the story is sometimes disturbing, and some people will definitely not enjoy this book. Overall I liked this book, it was a good read.

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me a chance at reviewing this book.

This book was one of those that was both confusing and interesting, too. There is a lot of feminist imagery which I did enjoy. But the 'story' that it was coiled around wasn't that strong.

It deals with two generations - mother and daughter. The mother went through a difficult period in her life where her husband ended up with a job that should have been hers. You have her daughter who is being manipulated / bossed by her so called best friend. Both of them were in positions of low-self worth and become possessed by something that turns them into vicious like hounds. The hounds are controlled by some sort of thing that was (I think) created by / brought into this world by the death of witches back in the 1700's who were wrongfully accused.

The issue I had was that I wanted to know more about the witches, I wanted to feel more of their presence instead of this man-thing that was after the mother and the daughter.

The ending was wild, though I wish that I felt more for it than I was left to feel after finishing the book. I think that a book that is paired with a lot of interesting themes should have a stronger story that connects it all

An interesting horror novel, a slower burn than I was expecting, but it makes for a continuous sense of dread. Recommend for anyone looking for a feminist take on Stephen King.

Book: “Such A Pretty Smile” by Kristi DeMeester
Publishing Info: St. Martin’s Press, January 2022
I received an eARC from NetGalley.

Such A Pretty Smile is a solid thriller that follows a very established formula— with some critical elements that set it apart. First are the undercurrents of horror. The world of the book was decorated with eerie details that lurked constantly in the periphery, successfully building up a very unsettling atmosphere.

The book leaned more into thriller and mystery than horror, but the horror elements were strong and kept me on my toes for sure. At times while reading, I found myself very anxious, jumping at any sound in my empty apartment (usually the ice maker). Sharp teeth plus strange men showing up is definitively a combo from my personal nightmares.

DeMeester’s book is also unique because she has taken a popular plot and given it a twist of magical realism, a la Carmen Maria Machado or Lauren Beukes. For the most part, the incorporation of fantastical elements works well. I’m also obsessed with the concept of girl as monster, especially pubescent girl as monster, so thank you for that, Kristi.

I know there is a heavy metaphor here about predatory men, but I was far more interested in DeMeester’s exploration of the relationships between her female characters: the central mother/daughter relationship, the intergenerational trauma and mental illness, and Lila’s role in friendships as both the manipulator and the manipulated.

My main qualm with the book is that it started out strong, but about halfway through the plot became less cohesive and increasingly drawn out. This is a bummer, because I really would like to hear the whole story of The Cur and all the girls from the past (sort of like Lauren Beukes’ The Shining Girls). As it is, this book walked a strange line between “so long as to seem excessive” and “not long enough to give a satisfying overview of the underlying mythology”. I know that we can’t always have all the answers when it comes to books, but I do wish hadn’t been left holding all these loose ends like a bunch of cut wires.

But perhaps DeMeester has set us up for a sequel! Which I think could add a lot to the story and really give this world the time and attention it deserves.

3/5 stars.

Book received for free through NetGalley

Read 18% of the way into this book but kept starting and stopping and ultimately forgot about it. Figured it was better to review as is. It was written well just not my cup of tea.

I was drawn into this one based on the description, but it just didn’t live up to my expectations. I usually love horror novels and I am not sure why I didn’t connect with this one.

It is dark and a little creepy. We have two POV characters Caroline and her daughter Lila.

Based on the reviews I read, it seems most will either love or hate this one, so I do suggest giving it a try if the synopsis intrigues you..

Thank you Netgalley for the advance reader copy of Such a Pretty Smile in exchange for an honest review. Wow. This was an amazing book and I feel bad that it took me so long to get to it. I loved it and the parallel timelines of Caroline and her daughter Lila. Beautiful story and put into words what so many women feel. This is a must read.

There is an audience out there for this book, but it was not meant for me.

The story is part horror, part hidden meanings, part a commentary on mental health, part grisly,gory descriptions.

Told from 2 different perspectives and timelines: Caroline a newly engaged artist in 2004 and also her daughter, Lila, in 2019. Both have nightmares and experiences with a dog-like creature known as The Cur, relating back to a trip to place called Jazzland.

There were chapters and parts I enjoyed, but overall this book was not for me.

I really loved the idea of this one to start with, and the clear queerness of Lila. But about halfway through, I lost the metaphor. And by the end, I felt like DeMeester lost it, too. Well paced, but I wanted more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
This was a super wild ride. It was a face paced book that got weirder and weirder as it went along, but sucked you in to know what was going to happen next.

Caroline thinks that she is schizophrenic because she hears dogs when she goes outside. This started abruptly when she was caring for her father.. She starts on medications and the episodes seem to be controlled for several years. Then she starts having hallucinations again.

When Caroline's daughter starts having similar episodes, she does not want to tell anyone about them for fear she is becoming like her mother and will need to be on medication.

This dual timeline book is full of twists and turns with each becoming more unreal than the last one.

Feminist horror, with metaphorical and actual fear-based influences, is a genre I could happily read exclusively. This book taps into every concern women face at the hands of humanity, with the addition of a fictional horror story that demands your attention. I loved it. I couldn't sleep. I was both relieved and sad for it to be over. I listened to the audiobook for a portion of the book, which was as enjoyable as the physical read. I highly recommend this book!

Weird, creepy, and kind of shocking read. Have to admit this is not what I like to read so be sure to read other reviews before delving in so you're not disappointed.

3 Stars.
I really wanted to like this more than I did. It was dark, gory, graphic, unsettling, mysterious with a horror twist -- everything I always want in a book. The idea was pretty awesome, too. A supernatural serial killer targeting those girls who refuse to shut up and conform? “Feminist horror”? Oh yeah - sign me up! This one was written for me!

Except I just didn’t enjoy it all that much. The dual storylines were a great technique, but they seemed to throw off the pacing of the story. The ending didn’t mesh with the story -- it seemed to be tacked on and didn’t really do much for me to resolve the story satisfactorily. I loved the idea of the book’s feminist and mental health message but I’m not sure the message came across as effectively as it could have.

Judging from other reviews, not everyone agrees with me, so definitely give it a try if you’re as intrigued as I was. Despite the flaws, I’m happy I read Such a Pretty Smile. I’m looking forward to reading more from Kristi DeMeester.

I am so grateful to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for the opportunity to read and review Such a Pretty Smile.