Kristi DeMeester

A Novel

Such a Pretty Smile

Alexa M

2.5 rounded down. 

 this did not give what it was supposed to have gave. i saw "feminist horror" and immediately purchased. while it did provide horror, the feminist part was lacking. i can see what the authors intention was but for me, it didn't work. i feel like the synopsis of this paints a very different story. i was bored many times throughout reading and while i did care to finish, i thought the ending was very cheesy and rushed and lackluster. so sad this didn't work :(

Kristen Claiborn

I honestly have no idea how this book ended up as a loan on my library’s ebook access site. Apparently, I recommended it, and it was added to my loans the day it was released. I finally got to it yesterday (Saturday Jan. 29), sacrificed sleep and other efforts of productivity, to finish it ASAP. I had to know what happened, nothing else was as important as this book. 
	I have made multiple complaints about the back and forth between narrators and timelines. It has become so commonplace, every time I read a book with a linear chronological format, I want to hug the author. Most of the time I find the back and forth tedious and unnecessary. However, this book wouldn’t function without those alternating voices and timelines. 
	The underlying message of pure misogyny is spot on. Even the title fits in how women tend to be treated on a regular basis. We constantly being told to smile so we’re prettier. We’re told not to argue, not to be too loud, not to take up too much space. Most women are familiar with the messages here, but DeMeester takes it a step further and assigns a consequence. Her dogs, the “beasts” are truly terrifying. 
	DeMeester’s descriptions of the dogs and the sculptures gave me the creeps. I had to put the book down and color every now and then just to get that imagery out of my mind. I haven’t read a book with such intense and grotesque images in years, and I loved every word. I was so into the story, I wanted to reach through the kindle and slap that damn doctor for being so condescending and dismissive. I wanted to slap Daniel for just being a jackass. I wanted to slap Macie for being so stupid. This story sucked me all the way in, shackled me, and wouldn’t let me go until I was done…and even then, I want more. This is one of the best new horrors I have read in a while (Chuck Wendig’s The Book of Accidents is good, but not this good). I am looking forward to future works by this thrilling new voice in horror.

danielle bush

When I first started this book I wasn't really sure what direction it was headed, but the further I read, the writing and plot sucked me in. We are following both Lila age 13 in the present and her mother Caroline mostly in the past, but she has some chapters in the present as well.. 

As long as your smile and dont cause any problems you'll be allowed to live, but the moment you begin to cause trouble you die.. 

Children are being murdered.. they are found with strange wounds that look like bite marks on the inside of their thighs.. This brings up memories from Carolines past.. In both the past and present we arent sure if there is truly some supernatural elements coming into play or if Caroline is just an unreliable narrorator. Which you really start to think about more when her daughter starts acting strange.. Seeing and hearing things she can't explain.. The anger inside building until it spills over onto her best friend and family.. What is happening? Is this something supernatural.. or something just happening in both of their heads?

 Lila can feel that something is wrong with her, and she thinks that if she can uncover her mothers past that it will explain everything thats happening now..Little does she know what will happen when she finally finds out the truth.
Im happy I decided to read this one in October as it definitely gives spooky and ominious vibes, and keeps you guessing until the very end when the story comes full circle.

Such a Pretty Smile A Novel

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