Such a Pretty Smile

A Novel

By: Kristi DeMeester

Narrated by: Khristine Hvam

Length: 10 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

“Wonderfully well-written. The dread, the enigma, build with each scene.” (Josh Malerman)

Best Horror Books by Library Journal

A biting novel from an electrifying new voice, Kristi DeMeester's 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 waives 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.

“A righteously angry fever dream.” (Paul Tremblay)

“Brutal and shocking.” (Emily M. Danforth)

“Darkly feminist.” (Karma Brown)

“Razor-sharp. This one will cut you.” (Christopher Golden)

“Darkly visceral...will leave readers doubting reality.” (Publishers Weekly)

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press.

©2022 Kristi DeMeester (P)2022 Macmillan Audio

An EVERY woman's declaration

I personally loved it. As a bisexual WOC who has struggled with SMIs (serious mental illnesses) all her life, I can relate to every emotion, every situation, every slight...all those passive-aggressive actions and words the protagonists experienced.

We live in a Patriarchal dominant society that has very blatant, along with more subversive, expectations and stigmas. If a female is not willing to fit within those invisible boundaries, that "pretty little box", she will ultimately suffer the consequences.

In my opinion, this is a wake-up call, as clear as any Feminist Manifesto (that also calls out the racism, classicism, ableism, anti-LGBTQI+, etc.) that is a collective blight on our society.

Bravo, Ms. DeMeester. I shall definitely follow your writing career.

Mediocre

Mediocre at best. The story felt drawn out and never really had any excitement. I almost gave up on it but stuck it out and was disappointed by the whole thing. I hate to say it, but don't waste your time on this one.

Solid, intense horror

I enjoyed this book quite a bit, it had a good sense of atmosphere which kept me gripped as the story developed. My main complaint is that, much like many horror novels, the wrap-up towards the end didn't come together as well as I would've liked. Still, it was a solid read overall and a solid recommend.

Powerful with Strong Characters

Such a Pretty Smile was a slow burn at first, going between two points of view (Mother and Daughter) and two timelines. But about half way through it picks up like a rocket and I had to continue listening, even while doing yoga (not suggested).

I was on edge the last half of the book and it literally made me get anxious. I’m a single mother of a 12 year old girl so it hit right where it hurts.

I’m still thinking of the ending as I just finished a few minutes ago. Wonderful listen. I loved the narrator and her voice was perfect for the characters.

What did I just listen to?

Don’t waste your money, a credit, and most importantly, your time reading or listening to this ridiculous book. Made zero sense.

A Work of Art

Kristi DeMeester is an amazing talent who knows how to plunge a reader to the depths of anxiety and despair. This is a work of art painted in shades of fear and pain. And none of it would matter a bit if love wasn't woven throughout. Another winner for me.

MLD

Enjoyed the story although it isn’t what I was expecting!

This story is beautifully written, I loved the imagery throughout the book. Her descriptions are so visceral! I won’t spoil anything but I expected it to be more ‘true crime’ and there were some supernatural elements instead. I thought it started moving a little fast towards the end, but still a great read. I’d recommend it :)

What big teeth you have

A mother with a secret. A daughter with questions. An abandoned theme park with a dark reputation. Missing girls. What more could you ask for?

Visceral and raw!

This story captivated me from the very beginning! It was a tear jerker for sure. One of my favorite listens to date!

Feminist Horror for People who Have Never Heard of Patriarchy Before

This book is an absolute mess. To start the prose itself is lackluster, aiming for maximum ornamentation at all times even when it’s redundant or makes no sense. The story is poorly paced with stakes that are unclear up until the last hour or so of the recording. On top of all that this is the most entry-level feminist genre thing I’ve ever read, to the point it’s insulting. The author googled “Freud misogyny” once and concluded from that that all male therapeutic professionals are evil. I’m well aware of how misogyny works especially in regards to mental health and the presentation here is absolutely ridiculous and sophomoric. Every point this book makes is unsubtle to the point of farce and there’s no ultimate point to any of it. The gore writing is passable but I swear the horror scenes in this were written like a lost episode creepypasta, just repetitive to the point of boredom. What an absolute joke.