"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" follows Shaz, Rach and Kel at different times through each of their lives from pre adolescence to their early thirties. We follow through the POV of each character as they grapple with different defining moments and eventually, drifting apart. It's written in Yorkshire dialect, which was a bit of an adjustment. The story really captured the intricacies of young female relationships and personal evolutions. Set in post-Brexit England, it is a balanced and strong debut novel. Thank you so much to NetGalley & Henry Holt and Co. for the ARC. You can check this one out when it publishes March 04, 2025!

An exciting read that requires a lot of concentration to get through since it is written in a Yorkshire dialogue. I was challenged by the read and am not sure I liked it but I did appreciate the author's efforts. I think readers up for gritty coming of age story will enjoy.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for the opportunity to read a copy.

These characters were fantastic, but I wanted more connection emotionally between plot events. It felt like every time I really started to care about what was happening with a character, we switched it up to something else entirely.

So unfortunately this ended up being a DNF. I appreciate the authenticity of being told in a Yorkshire accent while it takes place there, but the language was too hard for me to be able to follow the story.

I made it about 25% and I loved the friendship between the 3 main characters but I was so focused on trying to read the language, I lost focus of the plot over and over again. I’m not going to give the book a bad rating because that’s not fair since it was a language thing for me but I just couldn’t get through it enough to give it a full assessment.

The writing here is quite vivid, deeply felt, and emotional. It gives a glimpse into a setting I'd never read about (though knew some about from my One Direction obsession), and it has a deep texture and sense of purpose in the coming of age narrative. What will likely be most reader's highest hurdles is that it's written in dialect from Doncaster, not just in dialogue but through the entire book. It definitely means you have to pay deeper attention and apply more brainpower than you're typically used to. While I think that some amount of friction with the reader for a stylistic choice can pay off, it is also a big point of friction, and for me, that combined with the fact that the second chapter shifted to a different character's POV and decided to utilize second person really started to lose me. I think that when you give a reader a speed bump like this, allowing them to adjust to one perspective makes it so much more hospitable than having to get used to multiple characters so quickly while still learning the language of the book. I'm just also not a fan of second person, and I tend to put books down when I discover that authorial choice. I'm sure it works for some people, but I just find it off-putting. There's a lot of great stuff here worth reading and a gorgeous richness to the development of the setting and the world these girls inhabit, but it tries to do too much all at once to feel entirely successful.

OK first things first, this was way too long. This should’ve been edited a lot and it wasn’t even actually that long page is wise, it was just too long for the story that was being told. It seemed to meander a bit at some point in the middle middle end. Secondly, this had some English accent dialect that was pretty hard for me to get into. I’d say it was more difficult than Shuggie Bain, but not quite as obnoxious as Trainspotting. For me dialect tend to take away from the experience of reading, even though it does get easier as you go along, but I just don’t really think that it adds that much to the story, I can understand why it might add something to the story for people that are familiar with these dialects and understand what it says about a person‘s geography and culture, but I am not one of those people and so I think it more often than not detracts from the story for everyone else. I appreciate the desire for authenticity but for me personally it was just a bit of a chore that I had to deal with while reading. I did appreciate a lot of the references, I think Brown managed to really place them in a point in time using the references in culture but not in a way that was too jarring as it can often be. For me this barely made a three star rating, but I think people from the UK will appreciate this much more, and any anyone else who enjoys dialect writing.

I appreciate what the author was trying to do here, but it is tough to read about characters who are in messes of their own making and also a bit insufferable. The dialect was taking persistence and stamina I don't have to spare at the moment, so I set it aside. It felt like work to get through, and the plot didn't do enough to make me interested in the results of that work!

A haunting and raw exploration of identity, power, and survival. The novel dives into the lives of its characters with unflinching honesty, examining their internal struggles and complex relationships. Brown's writing captures the emotional intensity of the narrative and the darker sides of human nature. The book’s gritty tone and poignant themes will resonate with readers who enjoy deep, character-driven stories that challenge societal norms and personal boundaries. It’s a thought-provoking and intense read that doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths.

Let me start by saying I loved the cover of this novel & it’s crazy that this is the debut for this author.

I found this a little hard to understand at first just because it’s written in Yorkshire dialect but after a few pages I got used to it & it was authentic to the story so I appreciated it. Coming of age stories are pretty hit or miss in my eyes & this one was done so well. We get to follow three friends from their teens to early thirties and all of the obstacles that come along with being a girl/woman. There are many touchy topics covered in this such as eating disorders and sexual assault so be aware of that before reading but I highly recommend this novel to anyone interested.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for the eARC

Wow I really enjoyed this one. I was unsure if I was going to be able to get into it, as it's written in Yorkshire dialect, but once I adjusted I really enjoyed the story. I felt it did a brilliant job capturing the intricacies of youth and especially the intensity of young female friendships. Things just feel so intense and serious during those years, and Brown captured it all. Also, what a stunning cover!!

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the ARC.

First off, for a debut this was phenomenal!
I enjoyed this book even though it took about 15 to 25 pages for me to get into the dialect but, after that I had to stay up and finish this! It centers around 3 teens, Kel, Shaz, and Rach, who are your typical 90 rebellious teen girls. These 3 are determined to get the most out of life and at no cost it seems. Between lots of ecstasy and trips to nightclubs that let them in, they live for trouble and excitement. The secrets and pressure they put on each other and themselves was a lot at times. They peer pressured each other to experiment with drinking, partying, lots of drugs, and sex and at times it was a lot.

A great debut coming of age novel. This is a beautiful story! It took me a while to get used to the Yorkshire dialect. It made me have to slow down to read and understand this book. Great debut!

the yorkshire feel took a bit to get used to but once i got used to it the book really shined. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

"We Pretty Pieces of Flesh" is a raw and gritty exploration of trauma, survival, and self-identity. The author’s writing is intense, capturing the protagonist's emotional turmoil with unflinching honesty. While the story is compelling in its themes, the pacing can be uneven, making parts of the narrative feel slow or disjointed. The characters, although complex, often lack sufficient development, which makes it difficult to fully connect with their struggles. The dark, gritty tone may appeal to readers who enjoy challenging stories, but the novel's heavy-handed approach and lack of resolution leave some parts feeling underwhelming. A bold but imperfect read.

This is a phenomenal debut novel! 'We Pretty Pieces of Flesh' follows three friends over a decade or so of time. It is a stunning exploration of female friendships and the way our upbringings and hometowns affect who we are. This is a book that will stay with you long after you finish.

Thank you to the publisher for the e-copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I found the dialect frustrating, but I did enjoy this book once I got used to it! I look forward to future books from this author.

I just cannot do We Pretty Pieces of Flesh, and DNF’d it a third of the way through the book. It actually has overall good reviews so far, but the subject matter is far from near and dear to my heart, which is a coming of age of three young women. If the difficulties in their lives had been the product of circumstances out of their control I might have been able to finish this. But I don’t have a desire to read about young women bickering amongst themselves and willfully doing stupid things that will inevitably end badly. The first five chapters are full of girl fights, sex, drugs, stealing and sneaking into bars underage. I didn’t have an interest in any of these things when I was actually that age and twenty five plus years later they hold even less appeal. On top of that the book is told with a Yorkshire dialect, which may make the storytelling more authentic, but makes it even harder to read something that doesn’t hold my interest in the first place. To make things even more confusing the narrator is constantly changing between the three girls, but not in a consistent way. Sometimes a whole chapter is told by one girl; in other places it seems to vary from sentence to sentence. If girls behaving badly is your thing and you want it to feel believable, knock yourself out-this is your book, but it’s a hard pass for me. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I requested and received an eARC of We Pretty Pieces of Flesh by Colwill Brown via NetGalley. I read the blurb for this book on NetGalley and I was really excited by the prospect of reading this. We Pretty Pieces of Flesh explores the adolescent years of three girls in Doncaster, a post-industrial town in Yorkshire, England. Rach, Kel, and Shaz have been best friends since childhood, adventuring and scheming together. Rach is reserved and serious, often jealous and frightened of Shaz’s boldness. Shaz comes from the rougher end of town and has garnered a reputation for her wild spirit and mouthiness. Kel often feels torn between the two and is the glue that holds the trio together.

It took a moment for me to adjust to the way this novel is written. The narrative is presented in alternating point of views, flickering back and forth in time, and told in the Yorkshire dialect that the girls speak. Once I had found my footing, however, I found that it had a really strong impact on my understanding of the book and my relationship with the characters. It provided a certain vibrancy that really made the characters feel real, while also establishing an intimacy with the reader. I found each of the protagonists to be quite compelling in their own way. Shaz shines brilliantly on the page and it’s hard to dislike her even when she makes poor choices. As the story expands and we discover more about her character and what she experiences as a teenager I became much more sympathetic. Rach initially struck me as judgmental, but Brown does an incredible job of exploring that adolescent insecurity that stokes such an attitude. I found Kel to be a bit more a mystery and I think that’s what excited me most about getting glimpses of her character. There’s a chapter near the end of the novel that takes a look at her adult life and I thought this was one of the best in the book.

There’s a rawness to the narrative that makes We Pretty Pieces of Flesh an especially interesting read. Brown’s writing style allows her to be very direct about the experiences of young women while exploring a range of issue such as economic insecurity, sexual assault, and body dysmophia, defined in their own voices. The author also manages to effectively balance the joy and the tension of adolescent friendships. The dynamic between Kels, Rach, and Shaz is well written and for me was really the heart of the book. I developed certain concerns for each character the more I read and was left with a heaviness after leaving them behind in each chapter (Shaz made me feel this way in particular.) Sometimes the the story felt a bit disjointed, but the different vignettes came into much a much clearer focus by the end of the book which was satisfying as a reader. Although I suspect those not familiar with the dialect used in the book may struggle a bit at first like I did, I think think the challenge is certainly worth the effort.

Thanks to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for the chance to read and review 'We Pretty Pieces of Flesh' by Colwill Brown.

A very powerful story about three friends growing up in the late 1990s/early 2000s in Doncaster, Yorkshire in the north of England - we first engage with them as pre-teens and then we to-and-fro through their teenage and grown up selves. The use of the local accent/dialect throughout makes it feel very genuine and really roots it in a very strong sense of place but, in reality, this could be set in any declining urban centre because it's a story of how these young girls are desperate to be popular, thin, have a boyfriend and basically to conform to every perceived 'norm' that society throws at them. On top of that they, like young girls and women everywhere, are subjected to misogyny, sexual abuse, and rape and have to deal with their own and other peoples reactions to that.

Their stories and the passage of time are told in rotation by each of the main characters and it's through those overlapping versions of the same events just how much unnecessary pain they go through due to the lack of real communication between then and the constant competition they engage in. Sometime it can be a little challenging to figure out who's talking now when that switch happens but, for me, that just bolsters the idea that they're all going through the same things and they're all 'everygirl' and deal with the same crap that every girl (or most girls) to go through as they grow up.

There's tragedy here and heartbreak and very tough times but there's humour and excitement and a really good view at 'life in a northern town' at the turn of the 21st century.

Book Review
We Pretty Pieces of Flesh
By Colwill Brown
Pub Day: March 4, 2025
Thank you to @henryholtbooks and @netgalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Synopsis: An exuberant and ribald debut novel about three adolescent girls coming of age in a gritty post-industrial town in Yorkshire, England in the ‘90s who are as sweetly vulnerable and funny as they are cunning and tough.
My thoughts: I downloaded this book through Netgalley and had the option to read or listen. I did both, I have to say that the book was good and I would recommend to anyone who grew up during the 90’s or is just curious about that time, but the dialect written and listening to it could take some getting used to.
That being said there are so many trigger warnings, but these characters all go through their own issues whether it’s abusing drugs, unplanned pregnancy, relationships, family struggles. Not much is left to the imagination.
I graduated high school in 1991 and it was interesting to see another perspective of the 90’s and all of the good and bad.