Pretty in Ink

Pretty in Ink has everything you could want in a novel. It's smart, though-provoking, beautifully written, and heartfelt, but at the same time it's very entertaining and fun to read. The characters are vivid and multi-dimensional, and you really come to care about them, even the less likable ones. Although the story takes place within the magazine industry (as it struggles to survive in the internet age), the themes go beyond the inner-workings of that industry and are relatable for anyone who is navigating the dynamics of a high-pressure career or trying to figure out what ideal work-life balance means to them. I really liked the format of the novel--each chapter is a first-person narrative from alternative characters, so we get the intimacy of first-person but also get to see a range of perspectives and distinct (and sometimes hilarious) voices. I don't want to spoil the ending, so I will just say that there are a couple great twists that I didn't see coming but fit perfectly and were very satisfying. I absolutely loved this first novel and can't wait to read more by the author.

I'd give this one 3 to 3 1/2 stars. I learned a lot about the publishing world. But the multiple narrator perspectives weren't that successful. There were too many characters and the voices sounded so similar that I couldn't tell them apart. In my book club, some of the members felt that there was a lot of good stuff on balancing careers with motherhood. It was readable and there were some fun parts, but the plot wasn't too compelling. Okay for a beach read, but not my favourite of all time. My book club didn't seem to enjoy it that much and the discussion was rather short. It was fine, like pasta with jar sauce that you make at home. Gets the job done but you maybe wouldn't rave about it to your friends.

I was so excited to buy and read, PRETTY IN INK. I receive many books for free to review and in this case I paid for it. I was looking forward to reading it because I come from a similar, but different cutthroat background, television news. It was fun to a point because it gives you an inside look at the "glamorous" women's magazine business, but there are entirely too many characters. They're separated by chapters, but there are too many and they aren't different enough, so it's easy to get mixed up. I actually found myself taking notes. All in all, I look forward to reading Lindsey's next novel.

Lindsey J. Palmer gives us a riveting read. As the author artfully shares with us the colorful characters’ inner dialogues, Pretty in Ink takes us far beyond the characters’ bitingly humorous antics to a more complex reading experience. These are true-to-life people who are fighting for their jobs while trying to hold on to their self-respect and respect for their co-workers. We laugh our way through this lively story, and we smile in recognition of the characters’ very familiar struggles. We are left feeling hungry for more, as we hope to see Pretty in Ink on the big screen.

I really liked how the books changed points of view but there were too many points of view and I found myself having to constantly look at the table of contents to figure out who was writing what. Other than that the story was interesting and it was a real page turner.

There are a lot of characters in this book, and I initially had a hard time remembering who was who. However, each narrator has her own distinct voice and the story told in an easy, conversational style. A fun look at the inner workings of a magazine and office politics.

I could not put this book down! The character development is so well done and you really start to care for (or at least sympathize with) all of the different personalities. It felt like I had just made some new friends and I wanted to keep in touch with them after the book ended to make sure they were all doing ok! Lindsey's writing is extremely witty and entertaining, with many laugh out loud moments that just make this book such a joy to read. Can't wait for her next one!

While the topic is interesting, a reader finds it hard to identify with any particular character. It is not until the final chapter does the primary character really emerge. Not having that strong character development allowing the reader to identify with and feel a part of the story, makes it feel more documentary rather than a book of the "I couldn't put it down" nature.

I really liked how each chapter was written from a different character's point of view. Lots of characters though so found I sometimes had to remind myself who was who. Interesting, well written, perfect for the beach!

I was disappointed as the reviews were strong and the book was given good ratings by other readers. I found the characters superficial and mostly indistinguishable, despite the novel being told from multiple points of view. And, no, it wasn't funny.

But if you want a no brainier and not a deep book this is the one for you . Enjoy