Yes, Chris travels too much, in his career as an investment banker, but for the most part, this works for Heidi, too, as she has her own career teaching literacy classes. She loves helping the underprivileged, and even before we see what happens next, we are ready. Ready for her to do the unthinkable.
So one day, when Heidi spots a young woman with a baby near the train station, looking cold…and possibly homeless, she is drawn to them. She begins seeing them over and over until the night that she decides to do something about it.
What Heidi does next seems completely out of the box, and seemingly without a second thought, she takes the plunge anyway. Does she realize that she could be threatening everything she has and all the people she knows? What dark moments in Heidi’s past have contributed to the empty space inside that is suddenly filled by the presence of Willow and baby Ruby, in her life and in her home?
Narrated alternately by Heidi, by Chris, and then by Willow, Pretty Baby is a mesmerizing tale that takes the reader to the dark side.
Especially in Willow’s narrative, when we learn much more about her past, what events informed her life, and what contributed to the train wreck her life has become. But is she a reliable narrator? Or could she be fictionalizing events for her own purposes?
The characters were completely believable, and I found myself connecting more to Heidi than I would have imagined I could. Chris was someone whose behavior annoyed me, even as I could understand how he would resent the intrusion of Willow and the baby. But his attraction to his colleague Cassidy, who traveled with him and other co-workers, made him seem like the kind of man who reacts when his needs are not immediately met.
Even though I rooted for Heidi, I also found her behavior frightening. What would she risk to help a stranger? Even when I knew about what had happened to her in the past, it was hard for me to conceive of some of her actions. And then, as more of the story unfolds, we see her descend into a morass from which she might never escape.
Zoe, the twelve-year-old, was an annoying pre-teen, and her behavior was so stereotypical, with the scowls, the eye rolls, and the belligerence, that I pretty much dismissed her. Who can relate to someone so cardboard-like?
Despite the frustrations I felt with the characters, I could not put this book down. Completely engaging, and even though I put the pieces together before the end, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. 5 stars.
I’ve wondered about this book, so was very pleased to read your review and find out about it. Mmm 5 stars, interesting. Might be a bit too raw for me, but will put it on my ‘consider’ list.
LikeLike
Yes, “raw” would be a good description….but it totally engaged me. Thanks for stopping by, Kathryn, and if you do read it, I hope you enjoy it.
LikeLike
Nice, even review, Laurel. I’ll keep this book in mind for when I want to read something a bit different from my usual fare.
LikeLike
Thanks, Mary, and I actually enjoyed this one even more than The Good Girl.
LikeLike
Wow…you have made it sound really good! Intense! Scary! Haunting!
LikeLike
Yes, it was the perfect read during a week when I am distracted easily….better than The Good Girl, IMO. Thanks for stopping by, Patty. Getting Craig and Gabi from the train this morning!
LikeLike
Isn’t it funny how even annoying characters can’t deter you from enjoying a good plot.
LikeLike
So true, Kimba….thanks for stopping by, and enjoy your reading.
LikeLike
I have this one to read quite soon and I’m interested to see how I react to the frustrating characters…
LikeLike
Oh, I am eager to read your thoughts! For me, despite my frustrations, it was unforgettable. Thanks for stopping by, Cleopatra.
LikeLike
This one was definitely one of my faves this year. Very unexpected, and Heidi was so compelling. She walked the path of completely believable and helpful and “woah what is she doing” very well.
LikeLike
Oh, yes, Heidi was such an interesting character, and I kept hoping everything would work out…so even though I suspected what would happen, it was still a stunning ending. Thanks for stopping by, Sydney.
LikeLike