Natural Beauty
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Book Overview
Winner of the Lambda Literary Award in Bisexual Fiction Longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel Sly, surprising, and razor-sharp, Natural Beauty follows a young musician into an elite, beauty-obsessed world where perfection comes at a staggering cost.
Our narrator produces a sound from the piano no one else at the Conservatory can. She employs a technique she learned from her parents--also talented musicians--who fled China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. But when an accident leaves her parents debilitated, she abandons her future for a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City. Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures--from remoras that suck out cheap Botox to eyelash extensions made of spider silk--and her new job affords her entry into a world of privilege and gives her a long-awaited sense of belonging. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik's charismatic owner, and the two strike up a friendship that hazily veers into more. All the while, our narrator is plied with products that slim her thighs, smooth her skin, and lighten her hair. But beneath these creams and tinctures lies something sinister. A piercing, darkly funny debut, Natural Beauty explores questions of consumerism, self-worth, race, and identity--and leaves readers with a shocking and unsettling truth.
Our narrator produces a sound from the piano no one else at the Conservatory can. She employs a technique she learned from her parents--also talented musicians--who fled China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. But when an accident leaves her parents debilitated, she abandons her future for a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City. Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures--from remoras that suck out cheap Botox to eyelash extensions made of spider silk--and her new job affords her entry into a world of privilege and gives her a long-awaited sense of belonging. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik's charismatic owner, and the two strike up a friendship that hazily veers into more. All the while, our narrator is plied with products that slim her thighs, smooth her skin, and lighten her hair. But beneath these creams and tinctures lies something sinister. A piercing, darkly funny debut, Natural Beauty explores questions of consumerism, self-worth, race, and identity--and leaves readers with a shocking and unsettling truth.
Format:Paperback
Language:English
ISBN:0593472942
ISBN13:9780593472941
Release Date:April 2024
Publisher:Dutton
Length:272 Pages
Weight:0.76 lbs.
Dimensions:0.7" x 5.4" x 8.1"
Customer Reviews
1 rating
4 stars
Published by INKwitchery , 1 month ago
NATURAL BEAUTY by Ling Ling Huang
I really enjoyed this horrifying take on beauty, the cult-like wellness industry, and Western beauty standards. It highlights just how far people are willing to go to achieve the societal ideal of perfection.
However, this isn’t just about wild experimental beauty treatments and self care; it’s about the unnamed protagonist’s search for identity, and the love and sense of duty towards her immigrant parents. The story is heartfelt yet wholly unsettling.
If you’re not into body horror or general grossness, I’d pass on this one, but honestly you’d be missing out! Recommend for those who love “weird girl” novels.
Rating: 4/5 ⭐️
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