Janelle Brown
Click here to get the audiobook for free
Pretty Things Overview
Janelle Brown, a best-selling author who previously worked for major websites in the 1990s, dives into the dark side of social media and the internet in her 2020 mystery thriller, Pretty Things. The novel explores how online platforms are used for elaborate scams and manipulation, blurring the lines between truth and deception.
Pretty Things Summary
The story begins with a chilling image: a dead body disappearing into the icy depths of Lake Tahoe. We then jump to a seemingly unrelated scene – a glamorous L.A. nightclub where image-obsessed people flaunt themselves on social media. Here, we meet a woman seducing a wealthy man, only to drug and rob him. This, however, is just the introduction to Nina Ross, our protagonist and a skilled con artist.
Nina uses social media to target victims, their careless posts revealing their wealth and whereabouts. The stolen funds fuel her mother’s expensive cancer treatment. Lily, a former grifter herself, lives with Nina in a modest L.A. bungalow.
Chased by the police and burdened by escalating medical bills, Nina and her partner, Lachlan, head to Lake Tahoe for their biggest con yet. Using aliases and posing as a yoga instructor and a writer, they aim to deceive Vanessa Liebling, heiress to a real estate fortune, and steal a million dollars from her family estate’s safe.
The Lebenlings’ wealth is built on California’s booming real estate market. Nina’s past with the family surfaces: her mother once moved them to Tahoe for a chance at a «better life» near the prestigious high school attended by Vanessa’s brother, Benny. A friendship blossomed between Nina and Benny, a troubled young man ostracized for his mental health issues. However, their bond was harshly severed when Vanessa’s father discovered their teenage romance, forcing Nina and her mother to leave. Nina’s dream of a better future crumbled, replaced by a disappointing college experience and an art history degree.
Vanessa, once a Princeton dropout with bad investments, reinvented herself as a social media influencer. Breathtaking travel photos filled her Instagram, a stark contrast to her personal tragedies: a broken engagement, a mother lost to suicide, and a deceased father. Craving a fresh start, she returned to her imposing family estate, Stonehaven, in Lake Tahoe. To feel less isolated, she rented out the caretaker’s cottage.
Enter Nina and Lachlan, disguised as Ashley and Michael, who skillfully manipulated their way into becoming Vanessa’s tenants. As their fake friendship deepened, Vanessa confided in Ashley, revealing the cracks beneath the perfect social media facade. Nina began to see a vulnerable human, not the privileged monster she once imagined. Lachlan, however, remained ruthless, urging Nina to maintain her emotional distance.
Their plan unfolded smoothly at first. Hidden cameras revealed the safe’s location, but instead of the expected fortune, Nina found a shocking revelation inside: a letter from her own mother, Lily. The truth unfolded – Lily had an affair with Vanessa’s father and attempted to blackmail him. Furious and confused, Nina raced home to confront her mother.
Meanwhile, Vanessa, through an offhand Instagram comment, discovered Ashley’s true identity as Nina. This revelation, coupled with her mother’s diaries revealing the devastating affair that led to her suicide, fueled Vanessa’s desire for revenge. She targeted Lachlan, unsuspecting of his involvement in the con. Blinded by vengeance, Vanessa impulsively married him, neglecting to disclose her pregnancy or dwindling finances. Doubts surfaced about Lachlan when she confided in her troubled brother, Benny. Vanessa’s growing suspicions sent her down a path of investigation, threatening to unravel everything.
Back in Los Angeles, Lily comes clean about her affair with Vanessa’s father and witnessing Nina and Benny together. Nina, touched by Vanessa’s vulnerability, decides to abandon the con. However, Lachlan betrays her, tipping off the police. Vanessa, suspicious of Lachlan, bails Nina out. While searching for his apartment, they discover evidence of his past cons and hidden wealth.
United against their common enemy, Nina and Vanessa hatch a plan. They manipulate Lachlan, exploiting the animosity they’ve created. Lured to the spot where Vanessa’s mother died, Lachlan faces Nina, armed with her gun. It’s a bluff – the gun is empty. A violent struggle ensues, ending with Vanessa killing Lachlan using an oar. His body disappears into the depths of Lake Tahoe.
Vanessa, using Lachlan’s stolen money, secures Nina a skilled lawyer, leading to a lenient sentence. Nina joins Vanessa and her newborn daughter at Stonehaven. Vanessa offers Nina a job cataloging the estate’s belongings. An unlikely family is formed – Nina, Benny, Vanessa, and her baby. Vanessa reinvents herself as a mommy blogger, utilizing social media strategically for financial gain, not empty validation.
Click here to get the audiobook for free
Pretty Things Themes
Deception and Identity
The story revolves around characters who manipulate identities and narratives. Nina uses aliases to con people, Vanessa crafts a perfect social media persona, and Lily hides the truth about her past. The novel explores the motivations behind deception and the blurred lines between who we portray ourselves to be and who we truly are.
The Dark Side of Social Media
The novel critiques the superficiality of social media. Vanessa uses it to build a facade of a perfect life, while Nina exploits it to gather information for her cons. The story highlights how social media can be a tool for manipulation and distort reality.
Family Secrets and Trauma
The past actions of the characters’ parents have lasting consequences. Lily’s affair with Vanessa’s father shatters lives, and Benny’s mental health issues stem from his ostracized childhood. The novel explores how family secrets and past trauma can shape the present.
The Cycle of Deception and Revenge
Nina’s initial grifting is fueled by the need to pay for her mother’s treatment, a consequence of Lily’s past deception. Vanessa’s desire for revenge against Nina stems from the pain inflicted by her family’s secrets. The story explores how past wrongs can perpetuate a cycle of dishonesty and retaliation.
Redemption and Forgiveness
Despite their initial hostility, Nina and Vanessa find a way to work together and ultimately form a bond. The novel suggests the possibility of redemption even after mistakes and offers a chance for forgiveness that breaks the cycle of negativity.
Unconventional Families
The unlikely combination of Nina, Vanessa, Benny, and the baby creates a new family unit. The story challenges traditional notions of family and celebrates found families built on shared experience and understanding.
Pretty Things Characters
Central Characters
Nina Ross
The protagonist, a skilled grifter who targets wealthy individuals using information gleaned from social media. Driven by the need to pay for her mother’s expensive cancer treatment, Nina utilizes aliases and carefully crafted personas to pull off cons.
Vanessa Liebling
Initially portrayed as a superficial social media influencer, Vanessa harbors a tragic past marked by family secrets and personal loss. Her encounter with Nina forces her to confront her own flaws and seek an unconventional form of justice.
Supporting Characters
Lachlan O’Malley
Nina’s partner-in-crime and occasional romantic interest. Ruthless and money-driven, Lachlan becomes a threat to both Nina and Vanessa when his own motives come to light.
Lily Ross
Nina’s mother, a former grifter herself. Lily’s past affair with Vanessa’s father sets the stage for the present conflict, leaving a legacy of deceit and pain.
Benny Liebling
Vanessa’s troubled brother, ostracized for his mental health issues. He forms an unexpected bond with Nina, offering a glimpse into the human cost of the Liebling family’s wealth and privilege.
Additional Characters
Vanessa’s Parents (deceased)
Their actions and secrets drive much of the plot, creating a web of deceit that impacts the lives of both Nina and Vanessa.
Vanessa’s Daughter
A newborn baby who becomes a symbol of a new beginning and an unconventional family unit.
Police: Investigate Nina’s grifting activities, adding another layer of tension to the story.
Lawyer
Represents Nina and helps secure a lighter sentence.
It’s important to note that character development is a key aspect of the novel. As the story unfolds, characters like Nina and Vanessa reveal hidden depths and complexities, challenging initial impressions.
