You Could Be So Pretty by Holly Bourne
Pub date 28.09.23

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ALL OF THE STARS FOR THIS BOOK! READ IT NOW!

Holly Bourne is one of my auto buy authors I was soooo excited to see this on Netgalley, I was a little unsure going into this book with it being dystopian as that isn't her usual genre. I love her YA books and her adult books so I needed to give it a go anyway. Just like the rest of her work this is a fast read, short chapters making it impossible to put the book down.
Even though this book is advertised as a dystopian novel it is worryingly accurate to todays society and how important looks are and the pressure on young girls to always make a effort and look their best. How they are judge on their appearance and the opportunities which arise based on how "Pretty" you are. It scares me that I have a 9 year old who is going to be under this sort of pressure soon. I will be encouraging Isla to read this in a couple of years, maybe once she starts high school.

I loved how the chapters where from a dual POV, Joni and Belle, I was rooting for both of these characters throughout.
I think this is the first book I've read where my name (Vanessa) has been in it! Woohoo! 😜 I wasn't really sure if I liked Vanessa though, she certainly wasn't the worse character but I wanted to love her as we share a name 😂
Damian urrrrrgh 🤮

I think this has been my fave Holly Bourne book so far and ive read 99.9% of her back log *chef's kiss* 💋

A huge thank you to Usborne, Holly Bourne and NetGalley for my early review copy.

#YouCouldBeSoPretty #NetGalley

I will be posting to my bookstagram in the next few days @booksbooksbooksxoxo ❤

this was incredibly powerful and chilling to read, a lot of the book made me uncomfortable, but it was great to see the author tackle these issues with so much strength, and create two diverse and opposing characters, that learnt to trust and work together. Whilst the story was at times difficult to read, there was a lot of tenderness between the characters, which made Belle so likable despite her earlier character portrayal. There were a few moments where the story felt repetitive, but the message was very important and needed, and I would recommend this to everyone.

Wowzas. I love Holly Bourne and the way she brazenly tackles big topics head on. What a powerful novel that is less dystopia and more seeing the world we live in through a slightly more magnified lens...sadly.
This is the story of how no matter whether you play by the rules or go against them, the rules will still determine every moment of your life.
We follow the lives of beautiful Belle, a slave to societal beauty and behavioural standards, and Joni, a “woke” girl in the same year whose constant battling with the system feels almost powerless. As their two worlds collide following an unexpected encounter, suddenly their lives and everything they thought they knew comes into question.
It’s a tale of the friendships that form us, the family we choose and the courage it takes to stand up.
It’s a must-read for young teens.
Read the trigger warnings.

This is good, really good. Scary, but good.
You might want to think this is set in a dystopian future...but is it.
Is this just the reality that we refuse to see, we bury our heads in the sand and pretend that this isn't what is happening around us; to our daughters, our friends, ourselves.

Belle and Joni are total opposites, one a pretty, one an objectionable.
Can Joni wake Belle up to the rules of the Doctrine?
Is there a way out of their small town, so they can live better life?

Thank you Netgalley.

This book was really different to what I usually read; it focuses on self esteem, female issues and negative social media influences which I think is important and interesting to not only just YA readers.

This book although not a dystopian fiction did have dystopia vibes to it; a bit like Divergent and Hunger Games where the city in the book was more controlled by the ‘doctrine’ and specific ways of living.

This book had a happy ending which I loved and it followed two girls (with a dual POV) in their final year of high school learning who they are and where they want to go in their lives. Overall it was a fun read, both MCs were loveable and I was routing for them until the last page.

Well if this doesn't win every award going, it will be a complete travesty! This is Holly Bourne at her phenomenal best and then some, in a story that is alarmingly real despite being listed as a dystopia.

Belle and Joni live in a world where there are only two options for girls - being a Pretty or being an Objectionable. Be perfect, wear your mask, be crowned at the ceremony, like Belle or fight the rules, leave your face bare and fight to get out to the Education like Joni.

But when Belle and Joni unexpectedly cross paths, they discover a third option, one which could destroy the Doctrine and everything it stands for - but only if they're brave enough to follow it.

This was a tough read, at times uncomfortable and down right awful. But the scariest thing about it? This is EXACTLY what young people are living through in our modern society and I have never seen it put to page in such a way that Holly Bourne has here.

I remember when I read Scythe by Neal Shusterman for the first time and being shocked about how nearly real the world he had created was - like this could be our world! But Holly Bourne has gone above that and laid open societal standards in their rawest most intense form and pulls no punches as she does.

This also has to make Holly Bourne Writer Barbie as some of the monologues in the latter part of the book are so emotive, thru deserve their own standing ovation!!

PLEASE check trigger warnings before reading this book - but this is something that needs to be put in the hands of and read by young people.This needs to be in every Library and championed by every Librarian out there. It also needs to be put in the hands of parents to see what role they can play in supporting their children to be their best selves.

Astonishing!!!!

So much to say about this book, but the main thing is that Holly Bourne continues to knock it out the park with her YA writing. A more modern and feminist version of The Handmaid’s Tale with the similarities being subtle at first, before openly showing the world that women and young girls are living in, while the sexist and masochistic behaviour of men and boys is both applauded and quietly ignored. In a few words, completely and utterly terrifying. This book will give you sleepless nights.

You Could Be So Pretty is a dystopian novel which is scarily similar to our own society. I was hooked from the very beginning as I learned to navigate the world of the Doctrine.

This book is addictive, fast-paced and doesn’t hold back. A world where misogyny is both accepted and encouraged at the expense of women - of course it’s the woman’s fault if she is sexualised for looking so good, in fact, it’s a compliment, right?

You can be a Pretty and spend your time endlessly applying your Mask, uploading images to the Ranking and making sure you keep up with Body Prayer and don’t eat too much Sin. Or you can be an Objectionable and choose not to indulge in a life of Masking.

The power of being either Pretty or Objectionable is what is so well explored in this book. The idea that looking a certain way is the only way to be successful. The idea that being Pretty means people will listen but being an Objectionable means people can barely look at you, let alone listen to what you have to say.

Joni and Belle are two of my new favourite protagonists and I feel like I’ve been on a real journey with them both in this book. From being opposites to needing each other more than they think, their journey into friendship really gets you thinking as they both need to face up to societal expectations in different ways.

This is a book which will provoke numerous emotions: awe, sadness, anger, guilt, envy. It is so cleverly written and one I will be sharing with as many people as possible!

Thank you to Usborne, Holly Bourne and NetGalley for my early review copy in exchange of a fair and honest review.

— 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 —

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: You Could Be So Pretty
𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬: N/A
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫(𝐬): Holly Bourne
𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐞: YA Feminist Dystopia
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝: 28th September 2023
𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝: 18th August 2023
𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: ★★★★★

”The Rules prescribe behaviour, not Beauty. The end result isn’t a Pretty Face, but compliant girls. Weakened girls.”

Stop what you’re doing. I’m going to need everyone in the whole wide world to read this book. It’s utterly phenomenal.

Before I continue, this book can be quite triggering. In the authors words, ”it deals with many real issues including eating disorders, domestic abuse, sexual harassment and assault, pornography and misogyny.”

But never have I related to a book so closely. A book that explores the impossibly high expectations society has on the appearance of women and girls that comes at a particularly relevant time in society; with plastic surgery and enhancements becoming more and more accessible to people and phones with apps that are bursting with face altering filters. It’s not real. None of it is real. And so often I feel like what is the point. I’ve even seen face altering filters on babies!! Babies! Cute little smushy potato-looking beings that depend on society to set norms. Well, the bar of attractiveness is one norm we could all do better to get rid of.

“They don’t have to make things illegal,” Mother always said. “If Society punishes you enough, then laws aren’t needed, and they can continue this delusion of choice.”

You Could Be So Pretty tackles inequality in a clever way. As a teen in high school, or more aptly named in the novel, your “Just Right” years, you can either be Pretty, or you can be Objectionable. This book holds a dual point of view where Belle is Pretty, someone who always wears Masks and follows strict eating habits and beauty regimes whilst being rewarded for this behaviour, and Joni is Objectionable, an outspoken, Mask-less, “abomination” who does not follow the social norms and ascribe to any beauty regime whilst being ostracized and humiliated by society.

It just goes to show that social norms provide us with an illusion of choice. Because, as Holly Bourne so competently puts it:

”Choice means nothing if you feel you have no other option than to choose what everyone chooses. Choice means nothing if there are significant consequences for not following the established path.”

So whilst this is a dystopian because it highlights a society suffering from an injustice, it’s actually a mirror of our very real realities. The reality of make up, big bums and tiny waists, lip fillers, lash enhancements, eyebrow alterations, fake hair, clothes that are too revealing and impractical, the comments that may feel threatening but are absorbed as compliments. You Could Be So Pretty shows a society that awards beauty with validation and has consequences for anyone who doesn’t fit the Criteria, including fat women, older women, women with features that aren’t acceptable, poor women, and women who are outspoken, to name a few. You Could Be So Pretty shows Western society.

—Kayleigh🤍

Ahhhh I wanted to love this book, but it didn’t quite live up to my expectations 😭 I am a huge fan of Holly Bourne and I knew YCBSP was going to be wildly different to her usual novels. I’m on board with dystopian/futuristic settings and I actually quite liked that aspect of the story, it was easy to imagine a world in which your value is placed solely on your appearance - because actually the ‘fictional’ world Bourne created has a LOT of similarities to our current reality. But parts of the story just felt quite repetitive and I struggled to get on board with the excessive terminology used (i.e. Finance, Mask, Vanilla etc.)

However I bloody loved MCs Belle, who is a Pretty, and Joni, an Objectionable - they were written perfectly and I liked both of their character developments throughout the story. Although they couldn’t be more different, their lives intersect and end up weaving together, forcing both of them to rethink their views on the regimented world they inhabit.

This book has many strong points and I know it will be adored by lots of people, it just fell a little short for me.

Huge thanks to Usborne & Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one has me torn. Some parts I really loved others, not so much.

I had high hopes for Holly Bourne’s Dystopian debut and she portrayed the main characters, Belle and Joni very well but at times o found it struggle to keep reading.

The main theme of being invisible dominates throughout but I just don’t think the story line grabbed me enough. Having said that I think a lot of young adults and adults using my library would really enjoy this.

Set in a haunting dystopian realm marred by the normalization of sexual violence and the oppressive weight of impossible beauty standards, "You Could Be So Pretty" delves into the unexpected alliance between two adversaries. As Belle and Joni confront their own biases and preconceptions, a compelling question lingers for the reader: Is this unsettling world truly distant from our own reality?

Lately, I've found myself increasingly drawn to dystopian-themed literature, a reflection perhaps of our current global circumstances. I found immense satisfaction in this narrative, which boasts eloquent prose, a gripping plotline, and intricately crafted personas.

While the eBook captivated my interest, I believe it could be elevated in user-friendliness. Incorporating navigational links for effortless chapter traversal, smoothing out any noticeable word gaps, and enhancing the visual presentation with a fitting cover design would truly transform the eBook experience. At present, it exhibits a rather document-like quality, prompting a slight reduction in my rating.

As an introductory encounter with the author's work, I am pleased to admit that this piece has left a positive impression, leaving me enthusiastic about exploring more of their literary creations. The book's visually striking cover would undoubtedly seize attention and curiosity within the aisles of a bookstore. My heartfelt gratitude extends to the author, the publishing house, and NetGalley for affording me this advance reading copy, enabling me to embark on this literary journey.

I really enjoyed this. It has shades of Scott Westerfeld's Uglies but with a more British and feminist take on the idea. It left me with lots to think about.

Ok wow this was interesting. I didn’t expect it from Hollu Bourne. The story is set in the dystopian world where sexual harrassment and violence against women is normalised. The girls and women must constantly worry about their looks in order to avoid becoming an Invisible. And girls and women who choose to not live by such Doctrine is labeled as the Objectionables, tolerated but looked down.

Does it sound familiar? Yes, this dystopian world is modelled after our real world, just some things are a bit exaggerated but not far from the reality.

I really appreciate Holly Bourne as an YA author for pushing young girls to be more aware of issues sounding mysoginism and gender inequality. The middle part dragged a bit, but loved seeing Belle growing awareness that the Doctrine she is living by is wrong and weakens her rather than empowers her. And rebel against it. It is a brilliant ending. Highly recommend this!

4 ⭐️

A horrifying look at the pressures girls and women actually face to hide their aging, to remove their body hair, to groom, to pluck and to teeter around in stupid shoes to be "acceptable".
Although the book is voiced as if it were in the future it is very clear without the Authors note that it is actually right now and has been the same for decades.
The 2 lead characters (one masked and one labelled as objectionable) are wonderfully written, with their insecurities clearly visible and their support circles (or lack of them) perfectly described.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way the friendships in the story grow and change as the girls become more aware of the other side of the dividing line and during the awakening of both young women to the fact that all is not right with the doctrine, the world and the situations they find themselves in.
If only this could be a set text for secondary schools.

Have I put on weight? When did these wrinkles appear? Should I cover up my grey hairs or can I get away with leaving them as they are?

This book is about women and the demands that a beauty-obsessed culture places upon us all. It asks what it is to be a woman, and whether we have a choice over how we look when the consequences of not conforming are rejection, ridicule and reduced life chances. It is a powerful indictment of patriarchy and the beauty myth and how they affect women. Does this sound a bit heavy? Well, it’s also a great read, with a pacy story, well-drawn characters and an opening sentence that throws you right into a dystopian world. Although there are moments when it almost tips into polemic, these sit well in the story and leave the reader in no doubt as to where the author stands.

Bourne has created an Orwellian world, where the pretty girls are called “the chosen ones” and everyone follows The Doctrine. ‘The Bad Times” when women were oppressed (states the Doctrine) are over and now women have the choice to make themselves beautiful or not. But is this really the case? We follow the stories of Jodi and Belle, who go to the same school but move in very different circles. Belle (a chosen one) has worked hard to be beautiful, strictly managing her diet and spending hours on her “mask” in the morning. Jodi, however, is an objectionable who doesn’t bother with “masks” and whose mother (an invisible) helps victims of domestic abuse. After a shocking encounter with a man on their way to school, the two girls begin to interact and find their beliefs challenged.

This very book is good, and it made me angry, sad and determined to keep challenging attitudes and beliefs that still hold back girls and women.

This one hurt. But I think it meant to?

A dystopian novel that easily could be passed as a portrayal of non-fiction.

Poses some hard-hitting questions about beauty standards, expectations and desire to please- at any cost.

As always, a captivating, yet painful book that encourages growth through reframing thinking around our societal norms.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Holly Bourne never fails to create powerful stories that tell endless tales. This one tells the story of two girls who join together to question what it means to be a woman in the world. Their experiences shape their opinions of the future of women in society. A powerful read that I can’t wait to tell my students about and use as a discussion point for self esteem, confidence, and defining what is pretty.

It is no secret that I love a dystopian novel and Holly Bourne has created something rather special and chilling in 'You Could Be So Pretty'. The vibes are certainly along the lines of another favourite of mine, Scott Westerfeld's Uglies/Pretties etc, centring on a world in which being beautiful and pouring every ounce of effort into your appearance is the most valuable thing a person can achieve. We follow Belle, who is beautiful and a shining example of following 'The Doctrine' and Joni, who is an objectionable and puts little effort into her appearance. Both are chasing a prestigious academic scholarship and so are continually thrown together, their vastly differing ideals causing both girls to learn and grow from their new proximity.

Bourne has developed a whole societal system in the novel, such as applying make-up being 'masking', The Ceremony being rather than being crowned prom queen and constant posting reels on this world's version of social media. Whilst this world is a slightly warped and darker version of our world, it is close enough to reality to be uncomfortable reading. The normalisation of sexualised language towards girls, and having to suffer through the type of sex boys feel is their right from watching explicit videos, is just one example of how Bourne magnifies actions to highlight injustices which are very real. Without spoiling anything, the plastic surgery storyline with Belle's mum is also deeply tragic and horrific.

My only slight gripe was how it did not end as I hoped it would. I think I live in a world where I would rather there be an idealised and neat end to the story which I was denied. Very skilful from Bourne. I was also applying make up the morning after finishing the book and suddenly questioning everything - am I applying this for me and my happiness or because I am expected to wear make up? Will people think less of me if I don't? This may be a YA book but even as an adult, it left me chilled and outraged!

Overall, 5 stars and a must-read for teenagers and beyond.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher who provided an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oof, there’s a lot going on here. I picked it up hoping it would be a bit of light-hearted relief in between a few heavier books I’m reading, and.. it was nothing of the sort! I’m so glad I read it though. Many, many issues are covered and I know a lot of young people who could benefit from this frank look at the way some of us present ourselves and the stories behind our ‘masks’.