Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2) by Scott…

Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2) (edition 2005)

by Scott Westerfeld

Series: Uglies (2)

Members	Reviews	Popularity	Average rating	Conversations / Mentions
9,439	281	824	(3.82)	1 / 229

Leia-Ann's review

When I started reading this book, I was like "YES! This is what I wanted Uglies to be! Thanks Scott!" Tally's unease in her new life, her nagging feeling that there's something more, something other than partying and being pretty all the time. Suddenly, Tally's shallow self-involved cowardice and dullness which so irritated me in the first book fit perfectly here, and together with the nebulous but unshakable knowledge that there's something more, that being "pretty" isn't everything, isn't all it's cracked up to be but her inability to put her finger on exactly what, serves to make her sympathetic to the max - with the understanding, of course, that she'll learn and grown and grow out of these things.

Right?

Sigh. Sadly not, it turns out.

For a long time I strongly felt that the beginning of this novel should have started the series. You actually care about the viewpoint character, you are shown the disconnect between what she knows subconsciously and what she is told to believe, you get sucked into her life and root for her all the time. Even her love for Zane would have made a great triangle once she got back with David.

However, I am very sorry to say, that is exactly where the problem came in. Suddenly, now that she's all prettied up, now she loves Zane more because, according to Tally, they had 'shared so much'. Sure, they did, and I like Zane a lot too, but David and Tally went through so much more and shared such a special connection that I came to the same conclusion that David did - she was sticking with Zane because he was pretty and he wasn't.

Further, the unconvincing use of anorexia to escape the City, the gratuitous physical mutilation and danger to achieve and maintain a sense of "realness" and release and the overall shallowness - it was all just a little too casual, just a bit too flip. The emotions, consequences and reality of these elements were just nowhere to be found, for me. Further further, the of the point of view character. Oh good grief. She never grows up, never learns anything other than how to make everything work out nicely for herself, never willingly sacrifices anything. No, with her it's all "what's in it for me?" and it frustrated the crap out of me.

I will not be reading the third book, as I'm sure I'll just be further frustrated. I was so hopeful when starting this book that it feels like an extra-large letdown that Tally remained the same shallow, heartless, power-hungry conformist that she always was. (

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Leia-Ann | Apr 27, 2015 |

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I was right about the worldbuilding expanding in future novels. I like how complex everything is getting, and how Tally is coming to understand that neither side is 100% right. I liked Tally and Zane's relationship, but the love triangle is a little meh. I will give it grace seeing how these books were published in 2005, long before certain famous books over did the love triangle.

There was some language used that I also wasn't a fan of. I will give it a partial pass, again because of when the novel was written, but since I'm reading original editions, I'm curious if the language was changed in future editions. (

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BarnesBookshelf | Mar 11, 2024 |

Dystopia

BooksInMirror | Feb 19, 2024 |

A good continuation of the trilogy begun in [b:Uglies|24770|Uglies (Uglies, #1)|Scott Westerfeld|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255574770s/24770.jpg|2895388]. I thought the pacing was a bit too slow even for me; I'm not sure how a real YA would react. (Audiobook note: The narrator's habit of having almost all the characters stre-e-e-e-etch out the first syllable of a sentence's first word is really beginning to annoy me. I'll almost certainly listen to the 3rd book, [b:Specials|968|The Da Vinci Code (Robert Langdon, #2)|Dan Brown|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255581720s/968.jpg|2982101], but I'm not certain I'll be able to endure the narration all the way through. I might have to resort to print.] (

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Treebeard_404 | Jan 23, 2024 |

Well... can't say I didn't expect this after Uglies, but still anything like pretty-world is giving me shivers. It's like disgust slightly clouded by rationalization. It's something I can't really like no matter the reasons. And besides, level of selfdoubting in this book is through the roof for me. (

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WorkLastDay | Dec 17, 2023 |

Same comment as I gave to the first installment. This one was a quick and very entertaining read. Really loved the flip perspective from ugly to pretty! The pace was right on track and the new characters added a nice layer of depth to the narrative. Can't wait to read #3! :) (

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BreePye | Oct 6, 2023 |

I read the Uglies quartet back in middle school and absolutely adored them. I must have reread them at least twice, but I hadn't done so again in a while. I was at a library yesterday and saw Westerfeld and picked up Pretties to kill time. As is the case with all fast paced books, I had almost finished it by the time I left. This remains one of the strongest dystopian series I've read, and I daresay I've read a few.

The premise behind this world is that all kids have a surgery on their sixteenth birthday that beautifies them, and also obviously does something else--otherwise the new pretties wouldn't be running around with no cares in the world but partying and having fun.

One of the strongest aspects of Westerfeld's writing comes in his world making. Tally is one of the "new-pretties" and as such lives in New Pretty town and will until she's a middle pretty. There, the utmost care is taken with safety for the various completely dangerous activities that residents can partake in. Tally's clique, the Crims, engages in a stunt that melts a floating ice rink and sends them all crashing to the ground, but as they were all wearing bungee jackets, they were safe.

The plot is fast paced and action packed. As soon as we're finished hearing about the antics in New Pretty Town, Westerfeld throws us into drama and exciting events, and from there on, there's no stopping.

There's enough romance to satisfy me without distracting from the plot or making it a star, which is a refreshing balance.

For anyone into dystopias, this series is a must read. Just make sure you have all four books at your hands when you do so! (

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whakaora | Mar 5, 2023 |

2nd book as good as the first. I'm going to read one more! (

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kslade | Dec 8, 2022 |

The beginning of the book was difficult to get through, mostly because of the 'pretty' language. I understand what the author was going for, but it felt like a lack of imagination on his part. Bubbly-making, nervous-making, pretty-making, etc. was irritating and I do not think it added to the story itself. Take the language annoyance out and you have another good story. (

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ArcherKel | Aug 17, 2022 |

I hadn't realized how crucial David was to my enjoyment of the series until he was a non-entity in Pretties. Despite the fact that Zane is practically a carbon copy in every other way, I missed David's maturity and perspective to balance Tally's pretty worldview. Without him---and without much likelihood of seeing him play a significant role in the series again---I don't think I'll be continuing to read the books. (

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slimikin | Mar 27, 2022 |

Once again an interesting mix of scifi and social commentary.

Warning for self harm in the appropriately titled chapter Cutters mid book. (

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mutantpudding | Dec 26, 2021 |

Assessment booklet by the publisher.

BLTSbraille | Oct 21, 2021 |

Tally has now been turned into a Special, engineered to keep the uglies down and the pretties stupid.

BLTSbraille | Sep 27, 2021 |

Even more YA (

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codykh | Jun 28, 2021 |

This was good, though I may have liked Uglies better. I wasn't happy with the ending, though I figured that something like it had to happen. (Sometimes knowing the title of the sequel is not such a good thing.) (

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ssperson | Apr 3, 2021 |

This continues the 'Uglies' story; very well written, tautly plotted dysfunctional society book. (

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StephenKimber | Mar 5, 2021 |

I'm kind of sucked into the story, but I still feel a bit detached from the characters. I'm not sure if this is me or if it's something about the books. I will definitely finish the trilogy, but I'm kind of hoping for something more all the time... (

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RankkaApina | Feb 22, 2021 |

And by ok, I mean a quick read that kept my attention. I just really don't find myself connecting or sympathizing with Tally, and that makes it very difficult to get at all invested in her story even when I find myself loving the way the world around her unfolds. I'll definitely be reading [b:Specials|3|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter, #1)|J.K. Rowling|http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51VC8RPZA2L._SL75_.jpg|4640799] soon though. (

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bookbrig | Aug 5, 2020 |

Having everything is can sometimes make it seem like you have nothing. Addressing the superficial world, as we follow her into this next world. Slower than Uglies. (

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Sovranty | Jun 21, 2020 |

So, unlike the first book in the trilogy, this did not live up to my fond memories of it.

I think the main problem is the plot. Second instalments of trilogies often seem a bit difficult, and this isn't the first time I've read one where there's a giant disconnect between the first half and the second, such that it seems really jarring. That's exactly what happens here. The first half is about Tally's new life as a pretty, and struggling against it – and then the second half is practically the first book redux. Only, this time around she meets a "primitive tribe" which seems to serve purely as a vehicle for Westerfeld to ruminate on the violence and self-destructiveness he sees as inherent to human nature.

As I recall, the first book could be preachy too, but this one is even preachier. Tally is suddenly full of exposition and philosophical ramblings, and it's just... well, it doesn't appeal very much. The conclusion of this book is literally a re-run of the conclusion to the last book. I just don't think we, as the reader, made a lot of progress.

I also didn't care much at all for the love triangle, and I thought it was absurd that kissing Zane, and falling in love with Zane should improve Tally's clarity of thought. That makes no sense. But really, nothing about the brain damage inflicted on pretties nor the cure makes any sense, and I preferred the last book which didn't spend so much time dwelling on this nonsensical cure.

I'd also have liked to have seen more on the dynamic between Tally and Shay, and the sense of betrayal that Shay has every right to feel, honestly. Then the end of the book was far too rushed – considering that the romantic subplot about Tally and David was so central to the last book, in this one they reunite and break up again in what, thirty pages? and she's excessively nasty to him too? WHAT IS THIS. Maybe more time should have been spent on this, and less on camping in the woods.

So while it saddens me to give this book such a low star rating, I can't really justify giving it any higher. It was a fast read, which made it a nice change, but it just didn't hold up for me. (

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Jayeless | May 27, 2020 |

Tally is a Pretty now; all memory of her time as an Ugly erased or suppressed. But even as she shifts into the carefree, party-filled world of the Pretties, she gets the nagging feeling that there's something more she needs to be doing.

When she meets Zane, the head of a daredevil, rebellious clique called the Crims, Tally thinks that she may have uncovered a key. Zane is handsome, clever, and unafraid to break the rules, and more than that, he and the Crims have discovered a state of mind called "bubbly," which helps stave off the vapid mindset of the Pretty operation. With Zane's help, and her growing attraction for him, Tally begins to remember clues about the past, including the experimental nanos that could free her mind permanently.

But the dark Dr. Cable and Special Circumstances are still on her tail, determined to keep Tally from remembering David and the Smoke. Can Tally ever go back to what she chose to leave behind when she became Pretty? Or is the only thing to do to move forward?

Not quite as riveting as "Uglies," but with more character development and explanation of the bigger picture, "Pretties" is the ominous precursor to the final book in Tally's trilogy. (

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booksong | Mar 18, 2020 |

The second book in the series, following Tally Youngblood in her life as a New Pretty. (

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TAPearson | Feb 24, 2020 |

this one was kinda boring in retrospect of the first one, I hope specials is better. (

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hixxup79 | Feb 23, 2020 |

The main character seems very much "wrong place wrong time", I don't think she's strong enough to warrant a lead role. Still fascinated with the changes in society the book shows. (

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Linyarai | Feb 16, 2020 |

I hope to never hear the words "bubbly" and "bogus" again. (

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Kayla.Krantz | Feb 14, 2020 |

The Writing and Worldbuilding

It builds on the world Uglies established, expanding and giving insight into the behind the scenes of the society. I was annoyed with the whole ~love cures all~ thing, as well as aspects of the love triangle, as, at this point, they're very old tropes, but since this came out over ten years ago, before The Hunger Games even, I'll give it some free passes. The slight glorification of Zane's undernourishment and gaunt appearance wasn't okay, though. I understand why he was gaunt, but I don't understand why Tally thought it was attractive.

The Characters

Tally: My sister warned me that she is very annoying as a Pretty, but honestly, she wasn't really, and if she was, it wasn't for very long. She was just as proactive as she had been in book 1, and I still really liked her.

Zane: I'm not a fan of love triangles, but he was a super nice and I loved him. He was distinct from David and lovable in his own way.

Shay: I'm so sad my hyper, lovable Shay is gone forever :(

Fausto: I loved him! He wasn't super important, but he was funny and even in his few appearances, I got a good feel for his character.

Andrew Simpson Smith: My lovable caveman! ❤❤❤ I don't care that he's stereotypical and a sexist, I love him.

Conclusion

I read this in almost one sitting and in less than 24 hours, so I think they gives a general idea of how engrossed I was in this, and how much I generally really liked it, but I didn't totally love it or anything. To put it in pretty speech: It wasn't totally love-making (which sounds dirty, but I swear it isn't) (

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Faith_Murri | Dec 9, 2019 |

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