Pretty Things

Content Warning: This section of the guide contains discussions of suicide, murder, and sexual abuse.

Nina Ross is the primary protagonist of the story. Although Janelle Brown alternates between Vanessa and Nina, Nina has the first word and the last word, indicating that she, not Vanessa, is the main character. Nina primarily drives the plot; without her plan to scam Vanessa, there is no story.

Though Nina is a grifter, Brown’s writing prompts the reader to root for her and take her side. She’s not an indiscriminate criminal: She does not steal too much, and she only targets people who she considers wealthy and deserving of it. As Nina says, “don’t get greedy” and “only steal from those who can afford it” (22). This mantra turns Nina into a Robin Hood archetype. There is also a life-or-death motivation behind Nina’s grifts. Her mom’s cancer bills are approaching seven figures—robbing the wealthy is how Nina pays for her mom’s treatments. Nina puts herself in risky situations to keep her mom alive.

Like her mom, Nina can be tough, which Brown conveys through blunt language. Once she finds out about Lily’s scams, she ditches her and doesn’t look back.