Challenge Corner discussion

A biting novel from an electrifying new voice, Such a Pretty Smile is a heart-stopping tour-de-force about powerful women, angry men, and all the ways in which girls fight against the forces that try to silence them.

There’s something out there that’s killing. Known only as The Cur, he leaves no traces, save for the torn bodies of girls, on the verge of becoming women, who are known as trouble-makers; those who refuse to conform, to know their place. Girls who don’t know when to shut up.

2019: Thirteen-year-old Lila Sawyer has secrets she can’t share with anyone. Not the school psychologist she’s seeing. Not her father, who has a new wife, and a new baby. And not her mother—the infamous Caroline Sawyer, a unique artist whose eerie sculptures, made from bent twigs and crimped leaves, have made her a local celebrity. But soon Lila feels haunted from within, terrorized by a delicious evil that shows her how to find her voice—until she is punished for using it.

2004: Caroline Sawyer hears dogs everywhere. Snarling, barking, teeth snapping that no one else seems to notice. At first, she blames the phantom sounds on her insomnia and her acute stress in caring for her ailing father. But then the delusions begin to take shape—both in her waking hours, and in the violent, visceral sculptures she creates while in a trance-like state. Her fiancé is convinced she needs help. Her new psychiatrist waves her “problem” away with pills. But Caroline’s past is a dark cellar, filled with repressed memories and a lurking horror that the men around her can’t understand.

As past demons become a present threat, both Caroline and Lila must chase the source of this unrelenting, oppressive power to its malignant core. Brilliantly paced, unsettling to the bone, and unapologetically fierce, Such a Pretty Smile is a powerful allegory for what it can mean to be a woman, and an untamed rallying cry for anyone ever told to sit down, shut up, and smile pretty

Ch 4 (Lila) (view spoiler)[Well this has certainly been a weird and crazy start. I honestly have no idea what’s really going on with Lila, her “inner beast”, and all the weird sightings and sounds she’s been witnessing. I’d also like to know what the hell has her mom so scared? I mean she’s been letting Lila go out with her friend 🤷🏼‍♀️ What was that creepy sculpture Lila found? And damnit what was up with that weird as hell scene in the kitchen 😳. Maybe we’ll get some answers now from her moms POV in the past. (hide spoiler)]

Through Chapter 4

I completely AGREE!! (view spoiler)[ what the hell is going on here?? I mean, is Lila changing in to something? Or close to the change? Is the thing attacking actually her mom? or . . . I don't have a lot of guesses.

and Lila's not wrong - her friend is a complete turd lol (hide spoiler)]

I really like this one so far!

Ch 13 (view spoiler)[Halfway through and I’m even more at a loss lol. This is one weird out there story and I’m curious to see where the author will take this. Honestly I’d think it some broad elaboration on puberty but her and her mom are totally different ages when going through this so I have no clue lmao (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Through Chapter 4

I completely AGREE!! what the hell is going on here?? I mean, is Lila changing in to something? Or close to the change? Is the thing attacking actually her mom? or . . . I don't..."

(view spoiler)[Yeah I’m not exactly hating it but I do need some answers at this point lol. And you’re not wrong about her friend, tricking Lila like that was not cool. (hide spoiler)]

Starting this after I finish Timber

Aly wrote: "Starting this after I finish Timber"

Omg can't wait to get your thoughts on that one, the ending.... well, just wait!!!!! This one too for that matter, very weird book so far that's for sure!

I read this over the weekend! I'll add my comments after all my meetings today!

Ch 24 (view spoiler)[What in the world is going on? Is it like a curse going after these 'naughty' girls? Why did Caroline not recognize what's going on with Lila since she went through the same thing? And why does she say she wants to help her, but she's not. Then Daniel, well let's just say I am not a fan of the man!! I'm worried what Lila will find going to the park but it's past the point of me needing answers so I'm ready lol (hide spoiler)]

Finished (view spoiler)[ Hmmm well this was weird as hell. I'm not a fan of the end with her dad being a horrible father and then her mother ending up sacrificing herself to save Lila. Then there's this beast thing that reminds me of IT in a way, the creature comes back after X amount of years and stalks young girls. Plus the way it leaves some, marks others and now there is a group of survivors is just sooooo, well, WEIRD lol. It bothers me the most how her mother kept suspecting something but never just demanded answers or truly saw what Lila was going through because she was in denial. Not sure what the overall purpose of the book is supposed to be. Kinda depressing especially now knowing this will only continue on throughout the years. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 1-5: (view spoiler)[I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many questions.

Side note - I don't like Macie. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 6-10: (view spoiler)[I wonder if she's really hearing the dogs or not? Like if it's a sign of bad things coming if it's real or if it's all in their head? I have so many freaking questions. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 11-15: (view spoiler)[Oh, okay, so her and her mom have the same mental illness? I guess that makes sense. I'm still confused though. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 16-20: (view spoiler)[Hmm I'm honestly not a huge fan of her dad but I get that he has a new family and such.. but still. He needs to try and not just her ya know? (hide spoiler)]

Ch 21-25: (view spoiler)[Yiiiiiiiiiiikes she was harsh to Rebecca and her dad but damn.. I'm slightly proud that she told him he doesn't act like she exists. Even if it might just be in her head. I DON'T KNOW. Also that guy in the car taking her to Jazzland? Fucking creep. (hide spoiler)]

Ch 26-Finish: (view spoiler)[Well.. what the fuck. Her mom died and her dad gets a participation trophy for being a parent? I want revenge on the rat bastard who killed her mom. (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 4 (Lila) [spoilers removed]"

I feel like I still need answers lol

Trisha wrote: "Through Chapter 4

I completely AGREE!! .."

MACIE? Ugh, I didn't like her.

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 13 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah it was definitely weird to see how it all went down between them.

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 24 [spoilers removed]"

Daniel seriously needs to parent up or shut up. Also, maybe her mom was just in her own head most of the time? I don't really know though.

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Finished [spoilers removed]"

YES to all of this.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many questions.

Side note - I don't like ..."

Great thought, I didn’t think of it that way.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 6-10: [spoilers removed]"

Question after question, they certainly piled up lol

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many questions.

Side note ..."

Red riding or bipolar?

Alaina wrote: "Ch 16-20: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[I hated her dad. Seeing him from Carolines POV back in the day only made him look worse. (hide spoiler)]

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 6-10: [spoilers removed]"

Question after question, they certainly piled up lol"

Omg yes!!

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 16-20: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yes they really did. It definitely made me dislike him even more.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 21-25: [spoilers removed]"

(view spoiler)[Yeah that was a proud moment for me too. While I agree she was harsh, I also kinda hate on Rebecca for treating her so badly and influencing her hubby to do the same. I mean she’s a mom now too damnit and at the end of the day Lila is still a child who had every right to call them out 😜 (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 24 [spoilers removed]"

Daniel seriously needs to parent up or shut up. Also, maybe her mom was just in her own head most of the time? I don't really know though."

Some group therapy would have suited them best lol

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 21-25: [spoilers removed]"

[spoilers removed]"

Yeah I didn’t like either of them when it came to her

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Ch 24 [spoilers removed]"

Daniel seriously needs to parent up or shut up. Also, maybe her mom was just in her own head most of the time? I don't really know th..."

Hahaha yes

Alaina wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many ..."

The fairytale lol, then again I wasn’t thinking very coherently while reading this, doubt I’d have even thought that if she had a red hood 🤣

❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "❀ Crystal ✿ - wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? ..."

😂😂😂

through Chapter 13
(view spoiler)[ so I'm even more confused. I'm not sure if this "beast" in her is supposed to be repressed women - is this a pro-woman thing?! lol

Or is this really paranormal and she's a best?
Or is this schizophrenia?! Ugh.

I'm so mad that Macie got a shitty pass on what a turd she is. I hope she gets away from her. (hide spoiler)]

Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many questions.

Side note - I don't like ..."

Same here! (view spoiler)[ I can't decide if she's a wolf or just has some mental illness happening. I hope she's a wolf! (hide spoiler)]

Ch 1-5 (view spoiler)[ I wonder if she's schizophrenic or mentally ill somehow and has inherited it from her mom? Or maybe they're werewolves. Either way, pretty crazy things happening. (hide spoiler)]

I'm done and (view spoiler)[ I don't think I liked it as much as you guys.

I liked the message - don't be small women, be big and be the beast we are. Fight back, bite.

But I hated that we didn't really know what was going on. Guy with big teeth eat girls? a sexual predator that the girls couldn't admit was happening? Or was the real monster just the small slights like men who dismiss or don't listen to us, doctors who think just because we're upset "we're hysterical" and need to be medicated? because we're stifling girls at puberty?

so confusing (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "through Chapter 13..."

lol lots of confusion around all those things.

Aly wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 1-5: I'm already so confused lol. Is this like a red riding hood retelling and she's the beast in a way? Or is she like bipolar or something? I have so many questions.

Side note ..."

Heck yeah! That would've been cool

Aly wrote: "Ch 1-5 [spoilers removed]"

Yeah, so many questions about this family.

Alaina wrote: "Ch 26-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

ooh man, her dad (view spoiler)[ I'm mad too, that he got a participation trophy at the end and got to raise her
I mean, good on him for choosing to learn from his mistakes and be a better person but too bad he stifled his first wife and was super manipulative
and then was so so horrible to his first daughter (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "I'm done and ..."

Honestly, this was a hard book to rate because I was so confused about most of this book and the messages.

Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm done and ..."

Honestly, this was a hard book to rate because I was so confused about most of this book and the messages."

I agree!!! Such a missed opportunity if we're all still confused lol

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 26-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

ooh man, her dad."

YEAH I'M NOT A FAN OF HIM.

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm done and ..."

Honestly, this was a hard book to rate because I was so confused about most of this book and the messages."

I agree!!! Such a missed opportunity if..."

Unless she wants the reader to be confused?!?! lol

Trisha wrote: "through Chapter 13
so I'm even more confused. I'm not sure if this "beast" in her is supposed to be repressed women - is this a pro-woman thing?! lol

Or is this really paranormal and she's a best..."

(view spoiler)[Makes me happy we all went through some of the same wild thoughts with this book lol (hide spoiler)]

Trisha wrote: "Alaina wrote: "Ch 26-Finish: [spoilers removed]"

ooh man, her dad I'm mad too, that he got a participation trophy at the end and got to raise her
I mean, good on him for choosing to learn from hi..."

Yeah he didnt deserve a second chance!

Alaina wrote: "Trisha wrote: "I'm done and ..."

Honestly, this was a hard book to rate because I was so confused about most of this book and the messages."

I second this lmao

Ch 6-12 (view spoiler)[ So we know that supposedly Caroline had delusions before and they may be back now. Maybe it's hereditary and her daughter has them now too? I don't know, I'm so confused! (hide spoiler)]

Aly wrote: "Ch 6-12 [spoilers removed]"

Welcome to the confusion club girl!