Pretty Perfect

Pretty Perfect is a southern comedy about small town pageant girls who will do anything to win.

Book Title: Pretty Perfect, by JoAnna Illingworth

Genre: Young Adult - Southern Comedy

Release Date: 8th of April, 2025

Where to Buy It: 

Author website

Amazon

Bookshop.org (upon the book's release date)

From the Blurb:

In the picturesque town of Friendly, Tennessee, the Miss Friendly Pageant is a beloved institution. Girls dream about being crowned Miss Friendly as soon as they’re old enough to do the wave-and-cry.

Contestant June Bell understands what it takes to be a winner. She’s spent eighteen years perfecting her beauty walk, running interview questions and practicing her one-woman handbell solo. Expertly trained by her mother, who won the pageant as a teen, the family motto has been drilled into June since birth - you must be perfect in every way. But as more and more contestants are injured in strange and coincidental accidents, suspicions point to June and her inflated ambition. As the whole town turns against her, June finds solace in swoony, confident Casey, the cute bakery boy from the next town over. 

With the pageant days away, tensions mount and friendships are tested. June must figure out who’s attacking the pageant or lose the crown she was born to win.

About the Author:

JoAnna Illingworth writes funny, swoony stories for adults and young adults. She lives in Nashville's suburbia with her husband and two boys.

More About JoAnna Illingworth:

How long does it take you to write a book? How long does each stage of the process usually take?

I'm a slow writer. Once I have a strong idea, it takes about year from start to finish.

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What is your favourite type of character to write?

Friend groups - I love writing the dynamic between friends.

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What do you do when you find yourself in a bit of a writing rut? Is there any strategy you find works for you to help the words start flowing again? 

Reading! I always find inspiration in other stories, including movies and TV.

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What is something you wish you had known earlier on in your writing career?

Taking the leap is the hardest part. Once you leap, all the pieces start to fall into place. 

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Do you mine your own life for ideas, settings and/or characters? 

Most of my main characters have some of me in them. In my latest book, Pretty Perfect, the main friend group is an amalgamation of my friend group...with some liberties!

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What is your favourite writing resource?

Other writers. Making friends with other writers who are in the trenches with you is invaluable. We all learn from each other and lift each other up.

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What authors or books inspire you the most?

Jeff Zentner, Rainbow Rowell, Casey McQuiston - all masters of voice and character.

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What's next for your writing?

I'm working on the next book in my Music City Rom-Com series.