Synopsis of Beautiful
When Cassie moves from the tiny town where she has always lived to a suburb of Seattle, she is determined to leave her boring, good-girl existence behind. This is Cassie’s chance to stop being invisible and become the kind of girl who’s worth noticing.
Stepping into her new identity turns out to be easier than Cassie could have ever imagined…one moment, one choice, changes everything.
Cassie’s new existence both thrills and terrifies her. Swept into a world of illicit parties and social landmines, she sheds her virginity, embraces the numbness she feels from the drugs, and floats through it all, knowing that she is now called beautiful. She ignores the dangers of her fast-paced life…but she can’t sidestep the secrets and the cruelty.
Cassie is trapped in a swift downward spiral tinged with violence and abuse, and no one—not even the one person she thought she could trust—can help her now.
Trailer
Praise for Beautiful
“BEAUTIFUL is stark, disquieting and, quite simply, riveting. Amy Reed is an author to keep on your radar.”
Ellen Hopkins, best-selling author of Crank, Burned, Glass, and Impulse
“A latter-day Go Ask Alice, BEAUTIFUL is raw, gritty, and powerful, an intense ice-pick jab to the heart. I was terrified for Cassie and captivated at the same time by Amy Reed’s luminous prose. A stunning debut and a must-read. A writer to be watched!”
R.A. Nelson, author of Teach Me
“In crisp, clean prose Amy Reed places the reader right into the heart and mind and life of a girl who makes the choice to be one of the beautiful ones. Reed gives a disturbing and concise snapshot of what it can be like today for teens struggling with self-identity and peer acceptance when in a heartbeat they follow the ‘wrong road.'”
M. Sindy Felin, National Book Award nominee for Touching Snow
“[A] roadmap to a dark but realistic underworld of young unsupervised teens drifting from one unsavory experience to another.”
Kirkus Reviews
“The gift in this book is Reed’s ability to find the perfect words and use them in ways for which the reader is not ready. The writing is lonely, haunting, sensuous, and oddly beautiful.”
VOYA
2011 YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
My Favorite Reviews and Interviews
Reviews
- …from A Good Addiction
- …from A Passion for Books
- …from Courtney Summers
- …from Library Lounge Lizard
- …from Middle Grade Ninja
- …from Queer YA
- …from The Book Scout
- …from TheBookChick
- …from YA Highway
Just wondering, will you be making Beautiful into a movie? I think that would be a good idea. Most young teenagers don’t read, but I think every girl should read/watch Beautiful. I don’t know, I just would love to see that book on the big screen.
I would love to see Beautiful made into a movie, too! Unfortunately, it’s not really up to me. A producer or film studio has to decide they want to do it first. Hopefully more teens will read the book!
Hey Cassidy, if you are interested in a movie similar to the book Beautiful then try Thirteen. It is very similar in the story line (a girl befriends another girl and her life turns upside down with drugs, boys, sex etc) and it has Nikki Reed (Rosalie from Twilight) it is amazing….. so is the book Beautiful!!!!!!!
yes , yes you should ! this would be an amazing movie ! i would love to watch it , over and over again .
moive would be amazing!!!!!!!!
This is me Kenya a 13 year old who go to Soulsville charter school and at that school the teachers influence the students to read but anyways I was finish reading the book ” Double Dutch ” and saw my friend, Jordan book laying there . The book was called ” BEAUTIFUL ” I start reading the book and never took my eyes out of it and a few days after I finish I thought that’s something close to me . When I was in 6th grade student bully me because of my baggy school pants and big shirts so that summer I wanted to be new to be seen and not hurt and that 7th grade year at Ida B. Wells Academy the little girl known as BreKenya became Sweetness, every boy’s favorite I didn’t do drugs I’m still a virgin but I had a new attitude the kind no teacher or best friend would like after that in the summer I remember being BreKenya I didn’t want to go back to her but I didn’t want to be disrespectful Sweetness . So when I go accepted to Soulsville Charter School now in the 8th grade I am only Kenya not to nerdy and not to fast but just right and that’s a life lesson well leaned ( BreKenya to Sweetness to and last Kenya )
Glad to hear you found balance, Kenya. I hope you can continue to stay true to yourself at the new school.
This really should be made into a movie! “Beautiful” was such a great book. I loved it.
I am 13 now and I can’t imagine myself doing what Cassie did at my age. I loved your book it was inspiring I feel like I should be so grateful (of course I am) for what I have/don’t have. I loved your book please write more. You’re a great writer
It’s so great to hear your response to Beautiful, and I’m so glad you were able to take that away from it. It’s wonderful that you’re so self-aware, and that you know you never have to go through what Cassie did.
i agree im 14 and beautiful is my favorite book and im excited to read more of her books! im actually doing a report on my favorite author (amy reed).
Omg!! I just read this book; Picked it up from the library, started reading it, and didn’t put it down till I finished it!
This book, plus all of Ellen Hopkins books; I’ve been able to read in one sitting. Simply amazing!
This book should DEFINITELY be made into a movie, I would love to seeing characters role playing this wonderful book.
Kudos, Amy(:
Thank you! And thanks to everyone who keeps saying Beautiful should be made into a movie. Maybe someday….
Beautiful was one of the most amazing books i have ever read, i couldn’t put it down once i started it, i really hope this book becomes a movie i’d love it (:
I just read this book and it made me so proud of myself. I’m now 14 and at 13 I had to make the decision Cassie did…who my friends would be. I chose right. I’m so thankful I was smart enough to make that decison. It was hard, but now, after years of being a nobody. I’m a happy, free somebody. Thanks for helping me to see this!
Mattie, I’m so happy to hear this! It took a lot of strength to do what you did.
Hey! Beautiful was an amazing book I read it in one day. It’s my new favorite, I’m excited to read clean 😀 For my English class I’m doing a book report on it, any ideas for what I can do for my visual aid?
Thanks Stephanie! I don’t know about a visual aid–it’s been so long since I did a book report. Good luck with it!
OMG I Loved Ur Book Beautiful i read it so many times over and over… 🙂 Ur Awesome!!
You’re welcome. I think I’m going to do pictures of like how her life was like before she got into bad things and then pictures of how it would describe her life after.
This book is amazing! My favorite book ever. Ive read it so many times over & over!! I cant wait to read Clean!! Please keep writing !!
I can honestly say this book made me cry. There were so many emotions inside of me. I can totally relate to this book and Cassie. I hope this gets made into a movie. You’re awesome, Amy! (:
this book is really amazing and i think you are an inspiration to help teenagers who are getting into all that cassie went through. i want to know where can i find the movie or how can i find the movie. i just want you to know that you are really amazing and that this book is great and that by writing this book you helped my cousin’s life!!!! thank you so much and i hope you can keep writing and if it is possible do a second part of beautiful……but yea……thanks…………
Thank you so much! Unfortunately, there is no movie of Beautiful (yet). It’s amazing to hear that my book has helped people. I wish you and your cousin the very best.
I think if you do a book tour you should come to Michigan! haha I loved your book it inspired me so much, I love your writing ❤
thanks! I actually might come to Michigan at some point. That’s where my husband’s family lives and we visit often. What part of Michigan do you think I should come to?
I just read the book and thought it was amazing. It’d be really great to see this as a movie!
Just wondering, did you base any characters in the book after anyone in real life? Is Cassie based after someone?
PS: Beautiful was VERY good.
Thanks Ashley! In a lot of ways, Cassie is based on me at that age, and the other characters are loosely based on people I knew. While some of the plot is different than my own story, I completely identified with Cassie’s feelings of fear and loneliness. I had a friend much like Alex, and it took changing schools to get away from her. It was a very difficult time in my life, but I gained a lot of strength and wisdom from surviving it.
I love your book it really opened up my eyes… the ending made me cry though… this book is really inspiring to me. I can’t wait for your next book to come out…
P.S I love Beautiful…!!
This book is phenomenal. I bought it a month ago and hadn’t had a chance to read it until the other day. I litterally sat and read the entire book in maybe 2 hours? I couldn’t stop reading it. The characters were so good, and the story was moving. I gave the book to my friend today to read, and she is so in love as well. I wish it was longer because I could have read it forever. I can’t wait for your next book to come out and hope it all goes as planned ❤
I love the book, it made me kind of un-comfy at first, but i loved it. i would LOVE to see more soon, like a second book, and hopefully a movie. 😀 I’m a little writer too, just using the E-Book internets though, considering i am young. 😛 But yes, I can’t wait to see another book with your name on it soon. [:
I love this Book, It’s Amazing!(:
I would love to see more like this soon, and it would be amazing to see it as a movie!
Hi Amy! I loved Beautiful, cannot wait for Clean! Are you going to go on a book tour anytime soon? Please do!
I may do a little tour in the fall when Clean comes out, but I haven’t thought about it much. If I did do a book tour, where should I go?
Oh, please go to Connecticut! 🙂
i just finished the book and i LOVED it. I’m not one to read books or get into them, but i just couldn’t put it down! i read it in 4 days. and i cant wait to read another one.
I cant get over how amazing the book was. I think if you would make a movie of it, it would be AMAZING!!!
I read the book in a total of 2 days or something like that. I was amazed with it, fully into it. I would absolutely love to see it made into a film. And I don’t even read that much at all! I’m a freshman in high school. It caught my eye when I saw it. Beautiful? What’s it about? So I started reading some and couldn’t put it down. I love it!
So amazing! Finished it in ONE day! 🙂 Definitely going to read “Clean.” 😀
I absolutely loved your book Beautiful. For awhile, I have been looking for a book to read like this that can help me get more of an understanding on drug use, ect. for my book I am working on. This helped a bunch and it was also just so good! My mom had to make me put the book down to go to bed, haha. Keep up the good work, I will definitely read your book Clean 🙂
Wonderful writing, I could really relate.
When I first picked up Beautiful, (as recommended to me by a friend) I was expecting something along the lines of “Go Ask Alice”- y’know, tolerable, mildly entertaining and basically another mangled ‘Just Say No!’ message. But instead, I was blown away. Your grip of metaphor and lyrical language is astounding, and Beautiful is not preachy or condescending at all. It is now one of my favorite books of all time, and my hardback copy is long since dog-eared.
On a personal level: I’m 17 now, but from the time I was 12 I was a “Cassie”. However, the looks didn’t really come into it until I started secondary school (age 13), but by the end of Elementary school I had a bottle of Smirnoff Ice stolen from my cousin’s liquor cabinet hidden in the back of my dresser to take a a wee nip from in the morning, before school. I was extremely shy and foreign, with poor social skills and not much grounding in reality. However I did- and do- very well in school. And it was thanks to school that I didn’t go completely off the rails: my English teacher referred me to the province’s Youth Addiction counseling service without busting me, on the condition that I never showed up high to her class, or high to any of my other classes, ever again. Two years later, I am doing much better. Not entirely healed, but better 🙂
Astrid, thanks so much for your kind words about Beautiful. I’m so glad you had that teacher to help you and give you another chance, and so happy to hear you’re doing better now. I wonder if she knows how much she helped you. And I wonder too if we can ever, like you said, entirely heal. Maybe the best we can do is just try to keep healing as best we can, keep getting better, and accept that we’ll always carry a bit of the old pain with us. Maybe it’s that pain and struggle that gives us depth and courage for the future. It sounds like you’re heading in the right direction, and I hope you continue to take care of yourself.
I had a couple of questions for you. I was wondering why you named the book Beautiful? Is there a reason why? I love Beautiful. I am Reading it for a project in my English class.
That’s a great question. Beautiful was a title actually suggested by my publisher. The book was untitled for a long time. I think you can find a lot of meaning behind it. For me, it’s about how Cassie thought being “beautiful” was the most important aspect of her identity, when in fact it got in the way of her realizing and appreciating all the other things she was. The word can also be seen as very ironic–by the end, very little in Cassie’s life could be seen as beautiful. Thanks for asking!
I really thought this book was special. Its not like anything else, and its a lot like real kids today. While I don’t believe that kids would be doing acid.. I like how easy it was for cassie to do this. Well I don’t like it, I just agree. Kids say they’d never do these things, because they’d never have the opportunity. But they really do. Its happened to so many kids I know. Would you ever consider having a sequel to Beautiful?
I loved this book, it’s amazing, raw, powerful, and it shows how the darker side of life can be for any 13 year old out there. I chose to do this for a book report in my Language Arts class, and I am glad I did. Beautiful is an original idea, and it could actually happen in real life. This book is amazing, I’m not sure how many times I can say that! 🙂
I love this book, it inspires me in many ways, but I thought the ending was confusing. Can you please explain it to me?
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=megansland&aq=f is also a good trailer i saw about the book you guys should check it out
Beautiful was a great book! and it was so inspiring to see after all the bad stuff she did and went through she got back up and decided to not live like that anymore and start new! Words cant describe how I felt after reading this, thats how amazing it was! And yes, it should be made into a movie or have a sequal! It took me a long time to read it because me and 4 other of my friends were all taking turns to read it but It still was great and I fell in love with the characters (no homo) lol but yupp I loved it!
I read the book a few years ago and it really touched me. Now, I just finished Go Ask Alice and OHMYGOD. I’m recommending both books to all of my friends. 🙂 I just wanted to say thanks for it. 🙂
I loved this book! i found out about it after reading Exit Here a book by Jason Myers and thought i would buy it and it was great! It was real and not holding back, and dark in a good since. cant wait to read Clean!!!
i am 13 now.and i am just like cassie.and after reading this book,i thought..and i dont want to be like her no more.im hangin w/ new/good people now and not doin anything bad no more.thank you for writtin the book beautiful,bcus w/out it,itd still be doinn bad.
I’m so glad to hear that the book inspired you to change! I wish you the best of luck
I just read beautiful. I really enjoyed the book! Now i am doing a book talk for it in english class. Im wondering what you would say the “Theme” “Moral of the story” or “Message” is?
What do you think? What was the message you heard?
amy omgzzzzzzzzzzzzzyyyur book beautiful has to be the best book ive ever read i love it. did somthing like that happen to you? anyways the book was aaaaammmmmmmmmmazzzzzzzzzzziiiiiinggggggggggg
i love yer book beautiful i sware ive read it like 100 times! i rly cant wait to read clean and crazy! please email im like ur biggest fan and it would mean sososososo much to me
Wow, that’s all i have to say.
I’m in the middle of reading the book, (a second time).
it’s just really amazing and touching.
It’s breathtaking how real and lost i feel when i read your book.
Beautiful is just captivating and really makes me think.
Cassie’s struggle actually kind of pain me too, even though i’ve never experienced those things; your book made me feel like i was part of it.
It’s really amazing.
When i grow up, i hope to become a writer like you. 🙂
Amy, Beautiful is a wonderfully written book. It is inspiring, emotional and a amazing piece of art. I am the same age as the girl in the book and I can relate to her. I never read, but the book was placed in front of me at the right time and the right place. I read it in a matter of four days and I never read that much, not even to say that fast! I cannot wait to read your other books, i hope I love them as much as I loved Beautiful.
I’m so glad you liked it! I hope you keep finding books you love
Hey, Amy! I read your book “Beautiful,” and I LOVED it! It’s an amazing story. It’s also an inspriational story. I’m 14, and I could relate to Cassie, I mean, I’m not doing bad things, but I can relate to how she wants to feel beautiful, just like I do. You’re an amazing writer. “Beautiful” was the best book I ever read in my life. Thank you for writing it!(:
Best book ever!! i just finished it!! loved it
I love this book its so good I think there should be a movie
one of the most chillingly accurate books that i have ever read..i grew up in seattle and went through something very similair to cassie. a very relatable young adult book!
Amy,
This book was SOOOOO very inspiring. It made me more aware of all the crazy things that could happen to a teen who wanted to be “cool”. I read this book on paperback as soon as it came out with one of my friends. We had a contest to see who could finish first and I won. It only took me a day and a half to finish, I COULDN’T PUT IT DOWN!!!! I spent my birthday money this past summer on Clean, and thought it was a GREAT book. In my opinion, you should just keep writing. I’m really looking forward to Crazy, and I’ll defintally buy it this upcoming summer. And I agree that Beautiful should be made into a book, I would soooooo pay to see that, over and over and over…
Keep writing, I’m a HUGE fan!
Best,
Jamie Blakeley, 13, Maryland (USA)
I loved this book! I read it in just a few hours I couldn’t put it down! I can’t wait to read clean! This really shows what teenagers feel and think, what they go through! I’m 15 years old and I’ve gone trough this many tines with my friends and always came out on top! Like all these people have said, if this became a movie it would really teach teenagers, even those who don’t read!
Amazing job Amy!
BEST FUHCKING BOOK!!
I know right i read it like 2 times thats how good it is , would never have expected this book to be that good !!!
This book is my favorite book ever.. I literally read it everyday . I really wish it gets turned into a movie and gets more recognized because it is simply amazing.
im 13 and I loved this book, i read the whole thing is just under 4 hours, i would LOVE to see it made into a movie, i would defiently watch it! 🙂
im 13 and i have read this book and i did not want to stop reading i really want to read the rest of amy reeds books they are very good. cant wait!!!!!!!! 🙂
OMG I have Amy Reed FEVER!!! I just read beautiful for a book report for my school (i know probably not the best book for a school report but i dont care!!) I have so many questions for you Amy!! O yeah, I’m 13 to and the feeling of loneliness in a new school is VERY familiar to me..so i could relate alot to that 1st part of the book…not so much the sex, drugs, and pill popping though, and after reading this book idk…excuse me, IK i never want to experiment with anything drug related!! your details on the way Cassie felt were so..vivid and realistic(sounding…idk what it’s like to do any drugs 🙂 but like i said i have questions!!
How did you come up with all the characters?
Are any of them supposed to be you? or relate to you in anyway?
How did you come up with the whole scenario for Cassie?
Were you involved one similar to Cassie’s when you were her age?
Also, I’ve noticed that the majority of your books are about drug abuse or rehab…what made you want to write about this topic so much?
Also, WHY IN THE WORLD HAVEN’T YOU MADE THIS A MOVIE YET?!?!?! ( i mean even though it would probably be R and i wouldn’t b able to see it for 4 yrs., it would be comforting just to know it’s existence is just a membership away at blockbuster 🙂
I wish Beautiful was a movie so so so bad!!
Please, if you get time Amy, could you answer my questions 🙂 ? Please? 🙂 Maybe? lol. but seriously it would mean the world to me like i can’t even tell you!!:) Thank You for making such unbelievable books Amy!! I’m like your biggest fan…i don’t care what the other people on this website say 🙂 jk…Wow!..i made this really long…k well i\I’m gonna stop this post with another please..PLEASE and a l8r Amy!! 🙂 😀 😛
~Lexi a.k.a your biggest fan 🙂
Hi Amy,
I was reading the book for the umpteenth time recently and I am wondering if Cassie is a lesbian? I mean, I know that Sarah and Cassie’s kiss could be considered innocent and a spur of the moment type thing, but there are some other things I notice: How she acts around Alex’s mum (how she thinks she is so beautiful and is really drawn to her presence), how she doesn’t seem to enjoy being intimate with her boyfriends, and also her admiration from afar for the girls at her old school. Keep up the good work!
Hi Amy,
I just wanted to tell you how much Beautiful affected me.
Just like Cassie, i moved towns when i was going into the seventh grade, and just like Cassie, my life plummeted.
While reading the book, in the back of my head, all i could think was ‘Wow. It’s as if this author has been stalking me.’ I don’t mean to sound conceited, but i feel like Cassie … Is me ,
It’s three years after 7th grade and unlike Cassie, i’m not strong enough to get out of the loop of drugs, insomnia, and starving.
I’m an avid Ridalin user also. And a constant “hospital-hopper” (That’s what my other hospital friends call it) for my anorexia.
After reading Beautiful, i burst into tears and just bawled.
If Cassie can do it.
So can I.
Love,
A Sophmore In The Bay Area (like you)
Thank you so much for your note, Sarah. It sounds like you’re dealing with a lot right now, and you’ve made the most important step by recognizing it. You are strong enough. With the help of professionals and loved ones, I know you can recover. Best of luck!
Love,
Amy
Dear Amy, ive been waanting to read “Beautiful for the longest time it seems like such a deep and interesting book hoping my mom will buy u are such a good writer keep writing your my favorite author love ya 🙂
Hello Amy, I love love loved the book beautiful. I really connected with the book. I hope it becomes a movie! This book helped me soo much in 7th and 8th grade. I too went through the exact same things that cassie went through and still am. I hear you went to garfield high school! I go to that school and its awesome to think my favorite author of all time did as well (you) What middle school or schools did you go to? Sometimes i wish cassie was a real person so we could be friends and talk about the things we’ve been through..she would understand. keep writing ur wonderful ~love a very pale and confused freshman.
I just finished Beautiful. Like literally, right now. The ending made me cry so hard. I love your writing and this book was just so amazing! I was wondering if you had considered ending the book differently? Like, don’t get me wrong, the ending was still amazing (however like I said, I cried buckets) but I was just wondering if you ever just stopped for a second like “Hmm…. maybe this should happen instead” or something. When I write, I have to create an entire flow chart to know where all my different ideas would take me 😛
I love Amy Reed! She is such an amazing author with deep writing that really speaks and relates to me!
I just finished reading Beautiful, and loved it! It brought me to tears and made me realize that there may be more to a person than meets the eye. Being 13, I could’t imagine myself doing these things. Thanks for writing the book. I greatly enjoyed it.
This is my favourite book ever. I just want to read it over and over again. It was simply perfect<3<3<3 I'm 13 and I can totally relate. All the characters were absolutely perfect. Keep writing books!!!!!!! 🙂
This is my favorite book of all time. I could not put it down. i read it in a day and i’m not a big fan of reading. this is the best book i have ever read in my life.
Beautiful is breath taking i absoultly LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!
Dear Amy Reed,
I’m gonna be 12 on June 1. When i saw Beautiful at a Barns and Noble i thought it would be a stupid little story about a pretty girl. (and boy was i wrong!). I decied to buy it anyway to keep me entertained on car rides and stuff. As i kept reading and reading i felt more and more in the book like i was there with Cassie while she went through her hardships. I cried alot while reading your book. I felt the emotions that Cassie felt. I was sooooo sad for Cassie it reminded me alot about my life i dont have sex with guys and i certainly dont smoke pot. But, i did change myself when i moved i didnt want my bad rep anymore so i became one of those girls with matching pink sweatshirts talking about Harvard. I guess alot of my change had to do with you well technically your book. When Clean came out i was very very thrilled that i would be able to read another one of your books right now im reading Crazy and can not wait until Over You comes out. Your book Beautiful is one of my favorites and is the thing that changed my grades from all F’s to all A’s by showing me what my life could have been like if i continued to spiral down.
You are an amazing author and all I have to say is KEEP WRITING!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
p.s. congrats on your beautiful baby girl 🙂
Ahhh i really want to write a screenplay for Beautiful! The imagery in it is absolutely stunning and I have never connected with a book like this on such a visual level. It would be a stunning movie to watch.
I JUST FINISHED READING YOUR BOOK AND IM FROM BOTSWANA, A COUNTRY IN AFRICA AND PLEAS COME VISIT US ONE DAY HERE IN THE CAPITAL CITY GABORONE AMY!!! YOU INSPIRE ME!! I AM 14 YEARS OLD AND I SIMPLY NEVER STOP READING YOUR BOOK BEAUTIFUL PLEAS KEEP WRITING AND COME VISIT US.. IN MAOKA COMMUNITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CAPITAL CITY GABORONE!!!!
This book was wonderful. It really helped me because I have struggled with a lot of the same things that Cassie struggles with in your book. Beautiful is definitely one of my favorite books.
What does it mean to cassie to be “Beautiful?”
hi Amy,i found this book a good couple of years ago, I read it at least 4 times and continuously lent it out to friends. I lots it last year and haven’t stopped searching, I’ve gone to every book store, I’ve finally found it, would just like to say how much your book inspired me because it was familiar to exactly what I was going through, it helped me get through a lot that I couldn’t have even imagined my self getting through. thankyou so much for being such an amazing author . there’snot a better book that I could have read,you and this book inspired me. and I wish there was words to describe my thankfulness .
Hey, Amy.
I just wanted to say that after reading it over and over again, I’ve decided “Beautiful” is my favorite book ever.
I love how you’ve portrayed Cassie as a girl who has made bad decisions, but isn’t necessarily a bad girl. Everybody makes mistakes, and you’ve done an amazing job putting it out there that you can get better afterwards. You’re an amazing writer, and I hope you continue on writing. I love reading your works.
Thanks,
Alyssa
Hi!
I really loved “Beautiful” because I’ve never related to the main character of a book more. At first, that might seem like an odd thing for me to say. I’m 17, but I’ve never felt pressured to be someone I’m not. I’ve never moved, I’ve never had a psychopathic friend, and I’ve never done drugs. I’ve never willingly had sex, either. However, like Cassie, Sarah, and Alex, I have a dysfunctional home life, and like Sarah and Cassie, I was sexually abused.
Most readers don’t pick up on Cassie’s sexual abuse (in fact, I’ve never seen it commented on), and it honestly blows my mind! I’ve seen people wonder why Cassie was so willing to become a “bad girl” or remark that they knew that there was a back story that they were missing, but they never managed to connect the pieces. Cassie, like Sarah, dissociates; she doesn’t enter full blown fugue states, but she can lock away her feelings, repress her memories, and even have out of body experiences. Her parents are obviously willing to overlook the problems that she faces, and it’s clear from the scene about the bonfire that they’re actively hiding something about her past. In the same vein, Cassie’s few shared memories about her childhood aren’t happy and don’t at all support the idea that she was a normal girl with a normal life before the move. Her terror at the confrontation that she might not be a virgin is telling, as well, as is her pattern of reactions to sex and sexuality.
Of course, if that was all that was written, it would be understandable that many wouldn’t notice it or would blame everything on her parents alone, but the sexual abuse was explicitly shown! Her Uncle Charlie cornered her alone and began talking about how beautiful she is and how they should spend time alone together. He kissed her and rubbed her back, and he was visibly terrified when she walked away from him and was in a position to tell the family what he’d done. Her reaction the scene was telling, as well. She didn’t have the flu, she was reacting as someone with PTSD! Yet I’ve never seen anyone else come to that conclusion, and I don’t understand it.
I suppose that I could chalk it up to differences in interpretation and be done with it, but it’s painful to see people slam Cassie for her decisions without recognizing how her background allowed for those decisions or even that she has a depressing background at all. It’s almost surreal. Sometimes, it makes me wonder if I’m just projecting, but if the portrayal of Cassie was accidental, you honestly couldn’t have written a survivor of sexual abuse more accurately if you’d tried. However, if your portrayal of Cassie as a survivor was intentional, I’d like to thank you for writing the most accurate representation I’ve ever come across.
Thank you for your time and for writing such a phenomenal book.
Hi!
I really loved “Beautiful” because I’ve never related to the main character of a book more. At first, that might seem like an odd thing for me to say. I’m 17, but I’ve never felt pressured to be someone I’m not. I’ve never moved, I’ve never had a psychopathic friend, and I’ve never done drugs. I’ve never willingly had sex, either. However, like Cassie, Sarah, and Alex, I have a dysfunctional home life, and like Sarah and Cassie, I was sexually abused.
Most readers don’t pick up on Cassie’s sexual abuse (in fact, I’ve never seen it commented on), and it honestly blows my mind! I’ve seen people wonder why Cassie was so willing to become a “bad girl” or remark that they knew that there was a back story that they were missing, but they never managed to connect the pieces. Cassie, like Sarah, dissociates; she doesn’t enter full blown fugue states, but she can lock away her feelings, repress her memories, and even have out of body experiences. Her parents are obviously willing to overlook the problems that she faces, and it’s clear from the scene about the bonfire that they’re actively hiding something about her past. In the same vein, Cassie’s few shared memories about her childhood aren’t happy and don’t at all support the idea that she was a normal girl with a normal life before the move. Her terror at the confrontation that she might not be a virgin is telling as well, as is her pattern of reactions to sex and sexuality.
Of course, if that was all that was written, it would be understandable that many wouldn’t notice it or would blame everything on her parents alone, but the sexual abuse was explicitly shown! Her Uncle Charlie cornered her alone and began talking about how beautiful she is and how they should spend time alone together. He kissed her and rubbed her back, and he was visibly terrified when she walked away from him and was in a position to tell the family what he’d done. Her reaction the scene was just as clear. She didn’t have the flu, she was reacting as someone with PTSD! Yet I’ve never seen anyone else come to that conclusion, and I don’t understand it.
I suppose that I could chalk it up to differences in interpretation and be done with it, but it’s painful to see people slam Cassie for her decisions without recognizing how her background allowed for those decisions or even that she has a depressing background at all. It’s almost surreal. Sometimes, it makes me wonder if I’m just projecting, but if the portrayal of Cassie was accidental, you honestly couldn’t have written a survivor of sexual abuse more accurately if you’d tried. However, if your portrayal of Cassie as a survivor was intentional, I’d like to thank you for writing the most accurate representation I’ve ever come across.
Thank you for your time and for writing such a phenomenal book.
Thank you so much for your comment. Your interpretation is totally spot on, and I too have always wondered why more people haven’t talked about this aspect of my book. I didn’t want to beat the reader over the head with the abuse, but I thought I still made it pretty obvious. But I suppose not everyone knows the signs of abuse, and I suppose people who judge Cassie for her behavior are perhaps not the right readers for my books. I wish everyone read with the same compassion as you, but I am so very sorry for where that understanding comes from. It means so much to me that you found Cassie’s story to feel true.
Thank you so much your reply! It’s actually a relief to have my interpretation confirmed. Ever since I first read “Beautiful”, it’s been the book that I return to when I’m struggling because it’s such a painful, honest book that ends with so much unexpected hope. More than anything else, it stops me from feeling alone in my situation and reactions. I honestly can’t begin to say how much I appreciate “Beautiful,” so I’m very glad to know that I wasn’t forcing a completely alternate interpretation onto it. It is sad that so many people did miss the signs of abuse, but I’m glad that at least Sarah has been so positively received. Hopefully people are still learning some compassion for survivors when they read your book.
Thank you again.
I’m 13 and I began reading this yesterday and got through 13 chapters but i haven’t read any today sadly, Anyways i would love if this was a movie!
Hi
Amy, im from Honduras.
I speak spañish but i try write this comment in English.
Im 17 years old. I read BEAUTIFUL and i love it. i love it. i love it.
Thank you, a wanna (if someday im rich :p xd) Pay you a thousand million of dollars for wrote BEAUTIFUL
Really, its so incredible, perfect…
Cassie live in me now. her thoughs, her feels, all… and i know her.
I dont now if i explain me good, but i love this book, i love it.
Hola Amy, no se si hablas español pero muchas gracias, te agradezco tanto, tanto, tanto… Cassie vive en mi, sus pensamientos, sus lecciones aprendidas, amo este libro.
Lo amo.
GRACIAS AMY.
AMY
IM FROM HONDURAS
I SPEAK SPANISH
IM IN LOVE WITH BEAUTIFUL
THANKS YOU FOR WROTE IT.
So much.
This was truly a good thing to read. I started it earlier today be just finished it, and even when at first I thought I wouldn’t like it, I loved it with all my heart, soul and body. I don’t even know how to explain in words the feelings I had with this book, and how related I felt with Cassie. I am 16 years old and I’m not into drugs or that stuff, but I knew exactly how Cassie felt, how lonely she was. And what really hit me was the fact that she wasn’t really happy with the people around her, how much she hated them and how unhappy and empty she felt around Ethan or Alex. And that’s exactly how I’m feeling right now. I’ve just started college and I’m having a really hard time finding people to click with. I hang out with lots of people and I have different friends in every class, but even like that, I feel just like Cassie: lonely. I don’t like any of that people and they don’t make me happy. I felt, while reading, that Cassie somehow switched to an automatic mode, kind of a robot way, when she was with Ethan. That’s how I feel most of the times, exactly how I feel. So yes, I really enjoyed reading this book. Thank you so much for this. Are you going to write a sequel? 🙂
Thanks so much for your note! I’m sorry you’re feeling lonely in school. Sometimes we get stuck with groups of friends that don’t really feel like our “tribe.” I bet there are people you can connect to. Maybe they’re the quiet ones. They could be the people you haven’t even noticed yet. Are there clubs or activities that interest you where you might meet new people? Something I’ve learned is that almost everyone feels lonely to some extent, and all anyone wants is for someone to take an interest in them, to truly try to see them. So remember you are not the only person feeling the way you do. As for a sequel, I don’t have anything planned. But you never know….