This book picks up where Uglies left off - Tally and Shay were caught and made into pretties. While going to all kinds of exciting parties and living an outlandishly fun lifestyle, there are still some memories and nagging doubts in Tally's and Shay's minds about their past experiences with The Smoke. They hook up with a Pretty clique called The Crims, who are focused (as much as any pretty can be focused!) on becoming "bubbly", or clear-thinking, and do all kinds of stunts for the adrenaline rush that makes them able to think clearly for a few minutes or more at a time. Tally becomes involved with Zane, the leader of the Crims and the one most obsessed with becoming clear-headed, and when the couple remaining Smokies bring Tally a note from her past Ugly self, and some pills, she and Zane each take one right before getting caught by the city's wardens... This sequel to Uglies is a bit less action-packed than the first, but has more things to ponder, as we learn more about how their world and community works, the motivations behind the workings of the community, and the ways in which Tally, Zane, Shay, and the rest learn to take power back from the government and learn to think independently, even with the brain changes that are inflicted on pretties. I was fascinated by the book and it was well worth reading. Definitely don't bother with this if you have not read Uglies yet. You really have to read these in order.

So sequels don't always do it for me, a lot of time they are full of fluff. This may have had fluff but it was "bubbly" fluff! Obviously if you read book one you know this will start with Tally being pretty, she had the operation so she's pretty on the outside and pretty-minded on the inside! She's changed so much, her and Shay are besties and life is "bubbly." I caught on to New Pretty lingo pretty quickly there's only a handful of words they use a lot. She is in a new pretty haze for awhile so we do get to see the new pretty lifestyle! Peris is in this, Shay, and some new characters Zane and Fausto. This book is "sectioned" off. At one point Tally is completely alone and meets up with what can be described as the research for the operation which is was probably one of my favorite parts of the book! The tribe welcomes her and Andrew Simpson Smith is a really fun character. This book is definitely all about the cure! We do see David and I almost cried at their confrontation! The surprise at the end of this one is probably as big as the surprise at the end of The Uglies. It's definitely a game changer and I'm really excited to see how this turn out for Tally.

Tally is now a Pretty and she only has pretty concerns. What should I wear to the party, will the right click vote me in, etc. It has been a month since her surgery to become Pretty but something keeps nagging in the back or her mind. In her dreams the prince is Ugly how can that be it she is pretty now. She doesn't really remember her time before the surgery; it is foggy like a dream. She tells stories of going to the smoke and how she rescued Shay but they are stories and not completely true. At a party she follows someone dressed in a costume to look like Special Circumstances into the stairwell. He is `Ugly' it is a boy from her past with a note, but she has to find the note she has to think. Thinking is hard when you are pretty, there is always a fog but when the excitement is going and adrenaline is pumping thoughts become clearer. That is when Tally remembers bits from her past and David, why didn't David come for her? Why was it someone else? With the help of Zane another Pretty and leader of the Crims click Tally struggles to remember who she was before the surgery and find a way to get free of New Pretty town. This was a good follow up to Uglies. The book was interesting; it is a look into the Pretty society and how it is kept in check. The way the Pretties are distracted from anything meaningful with parties, alcohol, dresses, and fashion fads. They are all too caught up in how they look and who their friends are they don't see how foggy their lives are. That we be due to a lesion on every pretty's brain that makes them compliant, not caring and amenable. Pretties don't argue yell question they are just pretty. I missed David this book he really doesn't come in until close to the end and you don't know what is going on with him. He and Tally had such a cute little beginning in Uglies and then nothing. She goes to New Pretty Town and basically forgets about him completely. She starts dating Zane and they are never without each other after spending a little time together in the beginning of the book trying to find the note Crom left for Tally. I really would have liked to have more time on the love story with David and Tally I never really liked the connection between Zane and Tally since it seemed almost formed during `The Pretty Days' The reservation was interesting. I wanted to see more behind what they did with the information that they got from the people there. Maybe that is coming in the next book. Shay is an interesting character. She starts cutting herself so that she can become clear minded. I thought the author portrayed positive and negative ways to find clarity well. Tally did exciting things dangerous things but she did starve herself and drank way to much coffee. While Shay turned to hurting herself in order to think clearly. There are always multiple ways to get the same kind of high and the author present the light and dark side of that well imo. But again another cliff hanger at the end so I have to dive into the last book of this trilogy soon to get some resolution (I hope).

This series is jam-packed with excitement! Tally is a badass. Love all the emotions involved with David, Shay & Zane. The scenes in the wilderness with the tribe were very interesting. On to the next book!