Nicole Kidman isn’t known for her string of dud projects – so when it was announced that she and Amazon had secured the rights to adapt Pretty Things by American author Janelle Brown (W&N) before the novel was released in the US last year, it’s no surprise that it went on to become a New York Times bestseller. Now, it’s finally out in the UK. Set in the wealthy environs of Lake Tahoe in California, it’s the perfect staycation read – giving a glimpse into a murky world of con artists, influencers and extreme privilege, mixed with a generous dollop of revenge.
Nina is determined to make a better life for herself after growing up with a sketchy, itinerant mother, but when her mum becomes ill with cancer, she finds herself swindling the impossibly rich to pay for her treatment. With mounting medical bills and the police sniffing around, Nina and her charming Irish boyfriend Lachlan decide to do one last job in the hope of getting their hands on $1 million – but their target, an heiress-turned-influencer called Vanessa, isn’t quite as easy to scam as she seems. “Fans of Big Little Lies, Gossip Girl and 2018’s exposé of New York socialite scammer Anna Delvey will love Pretty Things,” says Stylist Loves content director Gemma Crisp. “Told from the viewpoints of Nina and Vanessa, the twists and turns will keep you guessing right to the very end – but it’s also a handy reminder that money doesn’t automatically equal happiness.” £8.99, Bookshop.org