T. Greenwood’s books are a must-read for me! I love how she often takes inspiration from real people and places, and spins compelling, thought-provoking tales around them. Her novel Such a Pretty Girl seems to have been inspired by a precocious Brooke Shields, a la Pretty Baby, and the uncomfortably “innocent” Baby Soft ads of the 1970s.

In this literary masterpiece, a young girl with the extraordinary face of a woman, finds herself thrust into the spotlight when she is discovered on the streets of New York City. Ryan isn’t in NYC to become famous herself. No, that is the goal of her mother Fiona, who dreams of finding fame as an adult actress. But it is Ryan that the industry wants, and pretty soon, Ryan finds herself a preteen sensation after starring in some risqué “Baby Love” ads, which attempt to blur, soften, and erase the lines between childhood and womanhood.

Soon after, Ryan is a sought after child actress for feature films, and she enjoys much success in the industry. However, as an adult, she shies away from the spotlight, instead returning to her former childhood community and raising a daughter of her own … away from the hustle and bustle of fame. When a scandal forces her to return to New York in search of her mother, she discovers that Fiona was somehow entangled in the nefarious doings of a child predator. As Ryan recalls her childhood and the events that led them here, she attempts to uncover her mother’s role in the scandal while reexamining their tenuous relationship.

Such a Pretty Girl is an absorbing and important story about the film and modeling industries and the young girls that they consume and spit out. Told with nuance, grit, and grace, Such a Pretty Girl is also a tale about love - that of a mother and daughter - and the blind eyes we turn to ensure we see those we love exactly as how we want them to be.

Despite covering some heavy and uncomfortable ground, Such a Pretty Girl handles the tough topics through the eyes and innocence of a child, bringing us back to 1970’s NYC through Ryan’s voice and allowing us to see the world as she lived it. This is a beautifully written story about an ugly world that details the many ways we fail to protect children, instead too often putting them directly in harm’s way.

I had never read from T Greenwood before but this was a good starting point - the story unravelled slowly but I felt invested and curious. It tackles a tough subject matter, and takes place in two timelines with flashbacks.
The underlying story was good and I think topical in terms of the exploitation of girls and young women in the entertainment industry. It has a lot of emotional resonance and explores a fraught and difficult mother/daughter relationship. The questions and mystery were compelling and I wanted to find out how it would all end.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc.

I have enjoyed T Greenwood's books in the past and really liked this one as well. Apologies for the late review as I thought I had already commented. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy. Looking forward to recommending this book!

Interesting and complex. A highly unique read and I would be interested to see what else the author writes. I enjoyed the perspective and themes!

So many layers to this novel. The examination of a flawed, damaged parent's idea of love was difficult to read, but realistic. My only, tiny, issue was with the very last chapters: they were fine, but not necessary.

In the serene surroundings of Vermont, Ryan Flannigan's peaceful life is shattered when a message from her oldest friend unveils a harrowing revelation. A contentious photograph from her pre-teen years has surfaced in the possession of a wealthy investor, recently exposed as a paedophile and sex trafficker. What adds to the shock is an inscription on the back from Ryan's mother, Fiona.

As memories flood back, vivid images form of Fiona, an aspiring actress, and their relocation to the West Village in 1976. Amid the urban tapestry of wealth and poverty, high art, and seedy strip clubs, Ryan is thrust into the limelight as a promising young actress with a mature face and a child's body. The safety and comfort she once knew give way to auditions, paparazzi, and the unsettling gaze of men spanning various ages.

The suicide of Henri, the photographer who played a fatherly role, prompts Ryan to return to NYC for his memorial. This forces her to reevaluate her childhood, unravelling the intertwining fears of her youth and her mother's ambitions. The narrative oscillates between 1977, a tumultuous blackout summer, and 2019. Now Ryan's mother, Fiona, is in hiding, sought by the FBI for questioning regarding the incriminating photo and her ties to the investor-pedophile.

This poignant tale delves into a former child star's heartbreak, exploring the intricate dynamics of mother-daughter relationships. The narrative unearths the themes of stage moms, neglect, and the unsettling issue of sexualizing children. Told through two timelines, 1977 and 2019, the story navigates the complexities of a challenging past and the enduring impact it has on the characters involved.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley- thank you.

This story was poignant and thought provoking. I liked Ryan as a character, and the dual timeline worked well. I liked seeing Ryan's relationships with Gilly, Henri, and her daughter, but the way her mother treated her was heartbreaking.

NetGalley gifted me a digital copy of this book, but all opinions are my own. I have loved a T. Greenwood in the past, so I was excited to read this because it seemed to be a historical fiction version of "I'm Glad My Mom Died" by Jenette McCurdy. And it did start off that way. You have a little girl who goes to all these auditions for her mother and idolizes her mother, and then you have the POV of the little girl as an adult, learning that a sexualized picture of her as a child has been leaked and sold by someone that she previously new. I felt that the messaging was a bit heavy-handed. I wasn't quite sure what the point was. Was it a slice of life story? Was it a mystery? Was it a coming of age story? You never really get the answer. Overall, I found that this didn't really hold my attention, and I kind of wish I didn't finish it.

It was well-written, the emotion was strong, the protagonist well-developed, and the switches between past and present timelines were expertly done. The only reason I didn't finish this novel was for purely personal reasons, which I will not get into here. Let's just say that Greenwood handles the dynamics of a toxic mother-daughter relationship with stark reality and nuanced understanding that anyone with experience will appreciate for its painful (if at times brutal) honesty. I continue to be a big fan of Greenwood's work and look forward to her next novel.

Note: I received a free electronic edition of this book via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank them, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to do so.

Great introduction to a new author for me, and a wonderful addition to our collection for our patrons. THANK you!

T. Greenwood has written a riveting novel about the very complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. There is no other relationship like it, good or bad.

I did not end up reading this novel. The rating is not a reflection of the story itself, but rather an indication that other books/stories dominated my interest and reading time. Which I think is an important factor when selecting your next read.

I have read and enjoyed many of Greenwood's books. Her stories are usually heavy and gut wrenching but I find her writing absolutely beautiful. Having said this, it's been a minute since I've picked up one of her books. So when I dove into this one I expected to have a similar experience. Unfortunately, that was not the case. The premise is rather interesting; a woman who was exploited by her mother when she was a child and although consumed by jealousy, the mother would stop at nothing to get them notoriety. Whereas I didn't dislike it, I found it slow to get going and I had a hard time getting into it. Also, the ending was rather abrupt. Although I didn't think this was Greenwood's best work, I will definitely continue to read books from her catalog.

Thanks to Kensington Books, the author and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was such a beautifully well written novel about the difficulties a mother can put on a daughter, especially one who is living through them. I definitely want to read more from this author! I highly recommend!

I tried to like this one but it's a touchy subject and I just couldn't. Mother's and daughters are not always what they seem. Mother's trying to relive their lives through their daughters. It just doesn't work.

This one was interesting but just not one I enjoyed.

Thank you #NetGalley for this ARC.

3 stars from me.

At the center of the book is the complicated relationship between Ryan and her mother Fiona. As a child, Ryan was a model and actress promoted by her mother living vicariously through her. When years later a photograph is discovered in the position of a billionaire pedophile (think Jeffrey Epstein) signed by her mother which shows Ryan at her most vulnerable. The photographer, who was much like a father to her as child, commits suicide and Ryan is forced to return to NYC to face her mother and the situation.
I found this compelling and emotional about the life Ryan led as a child. It's a complicated story of a child and her mother and also comments on the exploitation of young girls at the hands of powerful men.

Ryan Flannigan is a former child model and actress, living a quiet life with her daughter when she receives news that a controversial photo from her childhood days has resurfaced. It was found in the possession of an investor recently outed as a pedophile and sex trafficker. The photo is signed by Ryan's mother on the back. When Ryan returns to New York for the funeral of a friend, she is faced with her past and must confront her mother and her childhood.

I have really come to love all books by T. Greenwood. Told in both 1977 and 2019, we are presented with Ryan as a child and her as an adult looking back. This reminds me of stories told of former child stars during this era and the abuse they suffered from the adults in the industry and their parents. It's heartbreaking at times, but also, it's heart warming to see the other relationships Ryan forms with people around her. I really enjoyed this.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advance copy of this book.

T. Greenwood is one of my favorite authors. They have not written a single book that I haven't read and loved. They are the kind of writer I dream of being and this book is no different. From the very first chapter, I felt so deeply for these characters and all they'd been through. Another triumph.

As a part of my lazy Sunday read, I picked this up on a whim. It had all the elements to captivate me but it didn't leave a strong impression on me. I was often distracted. I am thankful to Netgalley and the publishers for sharing me the e arc.

This felt like a fictional mashup of the Jeffrey Epstein case and the Jennette McCurdy book. A mother living vicariously through her daughter and jumps at every chance for one of them to become famous, Ryan Flannigan has a very complicated relationship with her mother. Mostly estranged, her whole childhood comes back under scrutiny when a big time dude is arrested for child trafficking/pedophilia. Somehow Ryan's agent and her mother become entertwined in this murky tale, and Ryan must reexamine everything she has stuffed down while growing up. It's intense and twisty and was hard to swallow at times, given that these very scenarios have played out in a courtroom over the last couple of years. We are living in some sick times and I wish we were still naive to think that a topic such as this is purely fictional.