ABOUT THE BOOK:
Frances Metcalfe is struggling to stay afloat. A stay-at-home mom whose troubled son is her full-time job, she thought that the day he got accepted into the elite Forrester Academy would be the day she started living her life. Overweight, insecure, and lonely, she is desperate to fit into Forrester’s world, but after a disturbing incident at the school leads the other children and their families to ostracize the Metcalfes, she feels more alone than ever before--until she meets Kate Randolph. Kate is everything Frances is not: beautiful, wealthy, powerful, and confident. And for some reason, she’s not interested in being friends with any of the other Forrester moms—only Frances. As the two bond over their disdain of the Forrester snobs and the fierce love they have for their sons, a startling secret threatens to tear them apart.
LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT:
MY REVIEW:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Unsettling and engrossing!
Frances carries a lot of repressed burdens on her shoulders, which has manifested into comfort eating and weight gain. Her son has also faced a few serious challenges, but is now attending the prestigious Forrester Academy. Frances had hoped his acceptance into the school would change things for her family, but neither she, nor her son, has been well received by the other moms.
The only bright spot in Frances’s life is her friendship with Kate. Kate could quite easily fit in with the other mothers at the school, but instead she’s shunned them in favor of befriending Frances.
The two women forge a bond over their children, while refusing to conform to the Forrester Academy elitism. However, a stunning discovery could damage their relationship forever….
This is another book I pulled from the middle of my mountainous TBR pile. I’d seen mostly positive reviews for this one, but I believe it might have been one of the last psychological or ‘Domestic’ thrillers I added before making a conscious decision to take an extended break from books in this category.
Now, I’m having fun going back and plucking out a handful of the better sounding books in those categories and mixing them into my current reading schedule.
While somewhat understated, the story is told through various narratives and perspectives, while examining several intriguing themes and viewpoints. While certainly absorbing, the suspense is far from gripping, as the mystery is not much of a mystery.
Although I quickly ascertained the lay of the land, it didn't lessen the impact of the alarming set of circumstances that began to emerge as the story developed. I was left with a definite feeling of unease, despite the more positive progress made by many of the characters in the book.
The story does lack something I can’t quite articulate, but it had more substance and depth, and was more thought provoking, than I had anticipated.
Overall, a solid psychological/ domestic thriller that is a cut above for this category.
4 stars
View all my reviews
GRAB A COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Her-Pretty-Face-Robyn-Harding-ebook/dp/B075RT1VKD/
https://www.amazon.com/Her-Pretty-Face/dp/B07CMKYDQ7/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/her-pretty-face-robyn-harding/1127273347
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Robyn Harding is the author of several books and has written and executive produced an independent film. She lives in Vancouver, BC with her husband and two children.