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Pretty Baby
by
A chance encounter sparks an unrelenting web of lies in this stunning new psychological thriller from national bestselling author Mary Kubica
She sees the teenage girl on the train platform, standing in the pouring rain, clutching an infant in her arms. She boards a train and is whisked away. But she can't get the girl out of her head...
Heidi Wood has always been a charitab ...more
She sees the teenage girl on the train platform, standing in the pouring rain, clutching an infant in her arms. She boards a train and is whisked away. But she can't get the girl out of her head...
Heidi Wood has always been a charitab ...more
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A mixed read for me. I admire the structure of the plot, the slow unraveling and dissembling of the storyline, timed with the mental unraveling of a few of the main characters. But, the slowness of the plot and also the fact that I really did not much like these characters was also a stumbling block. Did feel sorry for Willow at times but there was just something that kept me from immersing myself into these characters stories. I have read other books where I didn't care for the characters and s
...more
*Reread for book challenge! Still enjoyed it!
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This book is sad on so many levels it's unreal. The thing is, so many of the things that happen in this book actually happen in the real world. We live in a world that loses track of people, loses track of what's right, loses track of it's humanity. Just from reading this book makes me think that people need to wake up and look around just a little bit more. Have a little bit more compassion with things in the world, slow down, stop rus ...more
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This book is sad on so many levels it's unreal. The thing is, so many of the things that happen in this book actually happen in the real world. We live in a world that loses track of people, loses track of what's right, loses track of it's humanity. Just from reading this book makes me think that people need to wake up and look around just a little bit more. Have a little bit more compassion with things in the world, slow down, stop rus ...more
Mary Kubica has written an intense, tightly plotted novel with more than one surprising
turn of events. I personally think this is a stronger
more interesting thought-provoking novel, that her debut: "The Good Girl".
Chris is an investment banker....cares a lot about money: who has the most...and how can he continue to get more!!! He and his family live in Chicago.
One of the things which attracted him to Heidi, before marriage - was she cared about the 'lack of money'.... caring more about the ' ...more
turn of events. I personally think this is a stronger
more interesting thought-provoking novel, that her debut: "The Good Girl".
Chris is an investment banker....cares a lot about money: who has the most...and how can he continue to get more!!! He and his family live in Chicago.
One of the things which attracted him to Heidi, before marriage - was she cared about the 'lack of money'.... caring more about the ' ...more
So much talking, so many words...WHERE'S THE ACTION? IS THERE A PLOT?
I'm really shocked this is so incredibly slow. I've been kicking myself for the last year for not reading any Kubica. I've heard people rave about her books. Well, not me. I don't even care if PRETTY BABY is not as good as her other books, I'm done.
I'm getting old and cranky and out of patience for mealy-mouthed novels. Sorry, Kubica fans. It's me, not you.
I'm really shocked this is so incredibly slow. I've been kicking myself for the last year for not reading any Kubica. I've heard people rave about her books. Well, not me. I don't even care if PRETTY BABY is not as good as her other books, I'm done.
I'm getting old and cranky and out of patience for mealy-mouthed novels. Sorry, Kubica fans. It's me, not you.
Heidi lives in Chicago with her busy corporate lawyer husband and young teenage daughter. Her husband describes her as a ‘bleeding heart’ and she spends her days looking after the needs of immigrants, many of whom don't speak any English. She had always wanted a large family, but some years ago serious illness had brought an end to this dream.
One day, as she travels to work, she spots a girl on the platform with a baby. It's biting cold and Heidi worries they look ill equipped to survive in such ...more
One day, as she travels to work, she spots a girl on the platform with a baby. It's biting cold and Heidi worries they look ill equipped to survive in such ...more
This book had me on the edge of my seat from the first page. I think I might have liked it more than The Good Girl, and that's saying something! Complex characters, a woven plot that braids perfectly in the end - do yourself a favour and read this book!
Feb 28, 2016
Riley
marked it as did-not-finish
DNF at 50%
This was just very boring.
This was just very boring.
Pretty Baby is a standalone, psychological thriller written by Mary Kubica. This story is told through three perspectives: Heidi, her husband Chris, and Heidi's newest charity case Willow. I loved Heidi's character when I began this book. She has the biggest heart and just wants to help everyone (despite her family's eye-rolls). Willow on the other hand appears deeply troubled, homeless, and eerily mysterious - worst of all, she is clearly unable to appropriately care for her baby. Obviously, Wi
...more
The Hook - Kubica’s debut The Good Girl was promising so I decided to see what she was up to now.
The Line – ”We’re like the wheels of a car: in sync but also independent.”
The Sinker – Told from multi-character point of view Pretty Baby begins its slow build of tension when Heidi spots a teen girl standing on the train platform at Fullerton station, ”Clutching an infant in her arms”. Just that word clutch gives you an idea of the edginess to come. Heidi is at first curious about the teen and bab ...more
The Line – ”We’re like the wheels of a car: in sync but also independent.”
The Sinker – Told from multi-character point of view Pretty Baby begins its slow build of tension when Heidi spots a teen girl standing on the train platform at Fullerton station, ”Clutching an infant in her arms”. Just that word clutch gives you an idea of the edginess to come. Heidi is at first curious about the teen and bab ...more
Heidi and Chris Wood are an upscale thirtysomething Chicago couple with a twelve-year-old daughter, Zoe, who exhibits typical tweenie angst. Chris is a successful investment banker and Heidi is a warm-hearted social worker who feels compelled to help everyone in need.
One rainy morning Heidi spots a teen girl with a baby and a suitcase at the train station, soaked and obviously homeless.
Heidi can't get the girl and baby out of her mind and - after seeing them a few more times - offers assistanc ...more
There's a fine line between reality and insanity...but how do you distinguish the difference?
Heidi Wood is what society would call a 'tree hugging do-gooder', often putting the needs of others over the needs of her family, which consists of over worked husband Chris and 12 year old Zoe. One day on the way to work,Heidi spots a young disheveled girl with a baby in her arms standing in the pouring rain. She can't get the image of this poor girl out of her head, so the next time she sees her again, ...more
Heidi Wood is what society would call a 'tree hugging do-gooder', often putting the needs of others over the needs of her family, which consists of over worked husband Chris and 12 year old Zoe. One day on the way to work,Heidi spots a young disheveled girl with a baby in her arms standing in the pouring rain. She can't get the image of this poor girl out of her head, so the next time she sees her again, ...more
This story is told from three POV - Heidi (the charitable wife), Chris (Heidi's husband), and Willow (the teen-age homeless girl with a baby). The narration is good and invokes intense emotions. This is a psychological thriller heavy on family drama.
Heidi befriends and eventually brings Willow and her baby Ruby to stay in her home. The problem is she doesn't really know anything about Willow or her past. Her husband seems concerned, but he is distracted with other things going on. There was a tw ...more
I was debating between giving this book one or two stars but I decided to give it one star when I realized I couldn't think of one thing I liked about this book. This book was so boring and basically nothing happens. I was expecting a suspenseful mystery thriller but this story is so slow-moving and boring. I didn't like any of the characters either.
Heidi is an over the top jealous wife who gets jealous over the dumbest shit. She spends 99% of the book going on and on about how much she loves b ...more
Heidi is an over the top jealous wife who gets jealous over the dumbest shit. She spends 99% of the book going on and on about how much she loves b ...more
I was so excited when I found this book at my local second-hand thrift store that I had to grab it right away! I haven't been disappointed yet with any of Mary Kubica's novels. I thought this had an excellent storyline which was well executed and had me interested right from the very first chapter.
The story was told from three different narratives that of Willow, Chris, & Heidi and I have to say that I enjoyed all three characters! We were teased really early on that something was going to happ ...more
The story was told from three different narratives that of Willow, Chris, & Heidi and I have to say that I enjoyed all three characters! We were teased really early on that something was going to happ ...more
I really liked this book from the start. I liked it more then Kubica's first novel THE GOOD GIRL. Really liked the multiple perspectives. There was never a boring moment..fast paced.
I would like to thank Net Galley for allowing me to review this book. I have been planning to read Mary Kubica's first book 'The Good Girl' for some time now, but for whatever reason have never actually got round to it. So when I received the opportunity to read her second book by Netgallery I jumped at it. I was so impressed with this book, both the writing style and the plot itself. I picked the book up at every possible opportunity wanting to know more. The book alternates between the three m
...more
Jul 30, 2015
Melissa (Mel’s Bookshelf)
rated it
really liked it
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review of another edition
Shelves:
netgalley
I liked this book. It has received wonderful reviews so far and I can understand why. It is extremely well written and has an engaging story and kept me turning the pages!
Heidi lives with her husband and pre-teenage daughter in Chicago. She starts witnessing what she believes to be a teenage girl on the train with a baby, braving the elements day after day with the same clothes on, and comes to the conclusion that they are homeless. Being extremely charitable, she decides to help the woman who s ...more
Heidi lives with her husband and pre-teenage daughter in Chicago. She starts witnessing what she believes to be a teenage girl on the train with a baby, braving the elements day after day with the same clothes on, and comes to the conclusion that they are homeless. Being extremely charitable, she decides to help the woman who s ...more
It's rare that I dislike a book so much and yet still feel the need to finish it. That's how I felt about this book. And let me say this from the outset - there is nothing wrong with the writing. It's just that this book was not my usual reading genre.
Pretty Baby is told from three perspectives: There's Heidi, an upper middle-class activist with a penchant for taking in strays. Her husband Chris is an investment banker who travels a lot on business. And then there is Willow, a runaway teenage m ...more
Pretty Baby is told from three perspectives: There's Heidi, an upper middle-class activist with a penchant for taking in strays. Her husband Chris is an investment banker who travels a lot on business. And then there is Willow, a runaway teenage m ...more
I like this author, a lot! I will start out with that. I gave "The Good Girl" 5 Stars. I had high expectations for "Pretty Baby" but I felt Kubica's newest novel didn't meet those expectations. It was definitely not the fastest read. I didn't run to the book as I got home. I do think the author's writing skills have sharpened but the story, the characters, the pace all felt like a 4 Star read so that's what I'm giving it. Good but not great.
If you liked "The Good Girl" definitely give it a try.
U ...more
If you liked "The Good Girl" definitely give it a try.
U ...more
Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica is a 2015 MIRA publication.
After reading the impressive novel “The Good Girl”, this author definitely had my attention. So, when this book finally became available at the overdrive library, I made sure I saved my place in line for it.
Sadly, this book didn’t quite measure up to “The Good Girl”, for me. In fact, it was kind of predictable, slow, slow, slow moving, and not all that suspenseful. When reading a book touted as a mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, i ...more
After reading the impressive novel “The Good Girl”, this author definitely had my attention. So, when this book finally became available at the overdrive library, I made sure I saved my place in line for it.
Sadly, this book didn’t quite measure up to “The Good Girl”, for me. In fact, it was kind of predictable, slow, slow, slow moving, and not all that suspenseful. When reading a book touted as a mystery, thriller, psychological thriller, i ...more
JDC Top 50 Books of 2015 "Best Hypnotic Psychological Suspense Thriller"
E N T H R A L L I N G !
Master storyteller, Mary Kubica returns with another winner, following award-winning debut, The Good Girl, with one of the most intense, all-consuming psychological domestic suspense thrillers, PRETTY BABY, landing on my Top 30 Books of 2015 , capturing you from page one to the very end!
As I have mentioned previously, on social media, Kubica is "on fire", and if you thought The Good Girl was of ...more
E N T H R A L L I N G !
Master storyteller, Mary Kubica returns with another winner, following award-winning debut, The Good Girl, with one of the most intense, all-consuming psychological domestic suspense thrillers, PRETTY BABY, landing on my Top 30 Books of 2015 , capturing you from page one to the very end!
As I have mentioned previously, on social media, Kubica is "on fire", and if you thought The Good Girl was of ...more
Heidi Wood has a good soul. Charitable by nature, she works for a non-profit organisation helping migrants and takes in stray cats. She will shock her husband Chris and young daughter Zoe, when Heidi brings into there home, a homeless girl, Willow and her baby daughter, Ruby. After seeing them originally at a local train stop, Heidi has made up her mind she want's to help the girl get back on her feet.
The fact that after a number of days, Heidi only knows the girls name and the child's along wit ...more
The fact that after a number of days, Heidi only knows the girls name and the child's along wit ...more
“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.”
----John Holmes
Mary Kubica, the national best-selling American author, pens her new psychological thriller, Pretty Baby, that unfolds a gripping and mystifying story about a woman who helps a homeless teenager and baby by providing them shelter and food in her own home, thus resulting in a unbreakable marital distance between herself and her husband, but when this teenager's story started surfacing up, things ...more
----John Holmes
Mary Kubica, the national best-selling American author, pens her new psychological thriller, Pretty Baby, that unfolds a gripping and mystifying story about a woman who helps a homeless teenager and baby by providing them shelter and food in her own home, thus resulting in a unbreakable marital distance between herself and her husband, but when this teenager's story started surfacing up, things ...more
After reading The Good Girl by this author which I absolutely loved, I was so eager to see she had another book due to release, so with some begging, her PR got me my copy via Net Galley via Harlequin
I wasn't wrong in my assumptions that this book was going to be as well written. It had a strong plot, great focus and alluring appeal to keep you turning the pages constantly wonder what is going to be revealed next.
We meet Heidi Wood, charitable person, likes to help the needy and 'do her bit' for ...more
Mary Kubica is a great storyteller as proven by her first novel “The Good Girl” – with Pretty Baby she has taken a slightly different approach whilst still writing a dark, intriguing psychological drama with great depth of character and a strong emotive edge.
Heidi is heavily into charitable acts so when she constantly spots a young mother and her baby on the streets, she becomes slightly obsessed -to the point of eventually inviting Willow into her home much to the consternation of her husband a ...more
Heidi is heavily into charitable acts so when she constantly spots a young mother and her baby on the streets, she becomes slightly obsessed -to the point of eventually inviting Willow into her home much to the consternation of her husband a ...more
‘Pretty Girl’ is the latest psychological thriller from Mary Kubica. It is beautifully written and profoundly sad.
Heidi is a kind hearted woman. Working for an adult literacy charity, and caring for her husband and daughter Zoe, her life is all about doing the right thing and thinking of others. She spots a homeless teenager one day and feels compelled to help. Willow is a homeless teenager, with a baby. Heidi takes her into her home and offers her kindness. Heidi’s family are not too impressed. ...more
Heidi is a kind hearted woman. Working for an adult literacy charity, and caring for her husband and daughter Zoe, her life is all about doing the right thing and thinking of others. She spots a homeless teenager one day and feels compelled to help. Willow is a homeless teenager, with a baby. Heidi takes her into her home and offers her kindness. Heidi’s family are not too impressed. ...more
This is one of those domestic dramas where the people are all slightly off and keeping secrets but you don’t know that at first. At first they all seem pretty normal. Getting to the reveal of all of the secrets is my favorite thing about these books. Well, that and reading about messed up people because that is always a good time.
Heidi is a do-gooder. She’s always tried to help out the less fortunate and has a decently cushy life so when she spies a young lady with an infant out in the elements ...more
Heidi is a do-gooder. She’s always tried to help out the less fortunate and has a decently cushy life so when she spies a young lady with an infant out in the elements ...more
Heidi Wood helps immigrants for her job. She tends to notice those needing help. She notices a young girl standing in the rain with a baby multiple times. She takes them to dinner and eventually into her home with her disbelieving husband, Chris, and her twelve year old daughter Zoe. Willow, the homeless girl, has piles of secrets and as Heidi tries to help her and the baby these secrets become slowly revealed. As Willow comes up to the light, Heidi goes through her own version of hell.
Wow! Dis ...more
Wow! Dis ...more
Heidi is a good woman, heavily involved in running a Chicago based charity that helps immigrants learn the English language and settle into the country. It is therefore no surprise when, much to the concern of husband Chris and daughter Zoe, she feels compelled to help a young homeless girl Willow and her baby by bringing them into the family home. The story of what happens next is told in three alternating narratives. As well as Heidi we hear from Chris, who is that little monkey on Heidi’s sho
...more
I didn’t expect this to be a really emotional, heartrending read. I was expecting a sinister, macabre read, the perpetrator of the “crime” with evil intentions- a stranger turning out to be a real danger. I was wrong. No surprise there.
It turns out the real danger is something so unexpected, so intangible. The couple did not see it coming. This is indeed a brilliant piece of a psychological thriller and I love how it almost reads like a literary fiction focusing on the changes in the lives of th ...more
It turns out the real danger is something so unexpected, so intangible. The couple did not see it coming. This is indeed a brilliant piece of a psychological thriller and I love how it almost reads like a literary fiction focusing on the changes in the lives of th ...more
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| baby The Age, The Babies and the Toys: Your Choice | 1 | 4 | Jun 11, 2019 04:26PM | |
| Play Book Tag: Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica - 4 stars | 2 | 15 | Jan 04, 2019 12:25PM | |
| Bookworm Bitches : January 2016: Pretty Baby | 55 | 327 | Nov 27, 2018 08:34AM | |
| Rolla Public Libr...: Character Motivation/Narration | 1 | 6 | Oct 10, 2018 01:37PM | |
| Rolla Public Libr...: Perspective/Foreshadowing Discussion | 1 | 5 | Oct 04, 2018 10:44AM | |
| Around the Year i...: Pretty Baby, by Mary Kubica | 3 | 38 | Feb 03, 2017 07:24PM |
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Mary Kubica knows how to write a page-turner. The author of such psychological thrillers as
The Good Girl
,
Pretty Baby
, and
Don’t You Cr...
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“Momma used to say, “We don’t have much, but at least we have each other.” And then one day, we didn’t even have that much.”
—
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“I love the quietness of the library, the gateway to knowledge, to the French language and medieval history and hydraulic engineering and fairy tales, learning in a very primitive form: books, something that's quickly giving way to modern technology.”
—
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