Pretty Face

By Mary Hogan

I don't speak the language. I don't like meeting new people. And I have no idea where Umbria is. Who cares?! I'm going to Italy!

Hayley is overweight, and she's never felt happy in her own skin. But this summer everything is going to change. She's off to Italy, where she'll discover what real pizza tastes like, what real beauty looks like, and maybe even what true amore can be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Feb 18, 2010
• ISBN: 9781847389008

Mary Hogan

 Mary Hogan is the bestselling author of Two Sisters and the historical novel, The Woman in the Photo. Previous novels include the young adult titles, The Serious Kiss, Perfect Girl and Pretty Face (HarperCollins). Mary lives in New York City with her husband, actor Robert Hogan, and their Catahoula Leopard rescue dog, Lucy. maryhogan.com

Reviews for Pretty Face

[youngadultish · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Mary Hogan gives us a refreshing read in “Pretty Face.”The novel centers around the main character Hayley, who lives in Santa Monica and can’t stand it. Being fat makes her an outcast in California, in school, at the beach — even in her own home. Her mom urges her to fight the fat, but Hayley can’t seem to commit and doesn’t really know if she wants to.Failing at fighting the bulge and at boys, Hayley pretty much gives up until her parents decide to send her to Italy. While there, Hayley tries to find herself.A funny, witty fat teen in the lead — a character that you don’t run into enough — captivated me. I was pulling for her. I wanted her to win, to succeed, to find herself and be happy. I felt that I could really relate to Hayley and what she was going through. Her plight comes across very honest and raw.Won’t you find out if Hayley gets her happy ending?Final say: Fun, quick read.

[thekaisu · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It's a really good read for me. I fell in love with Italy and Rome and I wanted to go there if I ever had the chance. I felt envious of Hayley and I can really relate to her dilemma, having been called "fat" as well. I like how the book tells about self-acceptance and liking yourself for who you are, I've learned a lot from this. This book is worth reading!I don't like Hayley's mom though. I understand how she wants her daughter to live the way she was when she was still thin, but the way she pushes Hayley into dieting and eating healthy isn't really helping her. And her father doesn't seem to do anything about it. Why have a father like that?After reading the book, I felt like I wanted to have my own Enzo, who would love me for who I am and not just because the scale doesn't tip over every time I step on it. Guys like him are hard to find in today's world.

[4sarad_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a pretty good book. It was sort of like a cross between The Earth My Butt and Other Big Round Things and 13 Little Blue Envelopes. The main character is funny and pretty, but overweight, so most guys just end up as her friend. She goes to Italy and it changes her life and her perspective. She feels good about herself, loses a little weight, and falls for an Italian guy. Nice girly book!

[jabbie_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What can I say, I am a sucker for high school books when the girl falls for the unexpected guy. Short but sweet story of the high school overachiever crushing on the hunky jock neighbor but falling for the guy with substance.