Pretties (Uglies #2) by Scott Westerfeld

Summary from Goodreads

Gorgeous. Popular. Perfect. Perfectly wrong.

Tally has finally become pretty. Now her looks are beyond perfect, her clothes are awesome, her boyfriend is totally hot, and she's completely popular. It's everything she's ever wanted.
But beneath all the fun -- the nonstop parties, the high-tech luxury, the total freedom -- is a nagging sense that something's wrong. Something important. Then a message from Tally's ugly past arrives. Reading it, Tally remembers what's wrong with pretty life, and the fun stops cold.

Now she has to choose between fighting to forget what she knows and fighting for her life -- because the authorities don't intend to let anyone with this information survive.

Paperback, 384 pages

Published May 24th 2012 by Simon & Schuster (first published May 5th 2005)

My Review

Pretties picks up after the events of Uglies and Tally's pretty operation. Her memories of the smoke are pretty vague, until someone jogs her memory that is....

Tally has gotten everything she always wanted - to be a pretty, have her old friends back, popularity, a super hot new boyfriend and even a way into the Crims. But when bits and pieces of her memory start to resurface, she knows she needs to stay bubbly to stop herself from forgetting all over again. When she discovers all there is to uncover about Pretty life, she is left reeling and in desperate need of escape....

I really enjoyed this super adventurous instalment, Westerfeld is a very engaging writer, he knows how to excite, scare and play on emotions. I was actually sitting on the very edge of my seat in places.

I did have a couple of minor issues with this second book though. I HATED the pretty speak with a passion, it grated on my nerves and was just overly annoying....okay, I know that was kind of the intention but it wound me up. I also wasn't a huge fan of the love triangle business, yes, Tally couldn't remember one when she got with the other but it ended up a bit awkward and confusing.

What I loved was getting to know a little bit more about the super intriguing Specials. Also the strange things that Tally stumbles upon on her journey through the wilds, especially the big tribe of people. I think it added a whole deeper level of complexity and I can't wait to see it explored.

The ending was amazing...a very annoying cliff hanger but I didn't care because I already had the next book Specials just waiting to be picked up. (I have already read it and it ROCKS)

Pretties is a really good follow-up to the fantastic Uglies, it has a little bit of everything thrown into the mix and I can promise you'll never have a dull moment. I'm really excited about the direction of this exciting series!

3.5 / 5 Stars!

*Special thanks to Simon & Schuster Children's for the review copy*