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somelesbianwriter's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Grief, Death, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Gun violence, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Body shaming
bookishmillennial's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
This was such a fascinating book, and nothing I was expecting.
This book follows Sunny Lee, whose bright career was cut short after her bandmate and fellow cast member of a beloved Kpop-inspired tv show, Minnie, died by suicide. Sunny follows her other former bandmate Candie on her YouTube page (where she had amassed a following well before their group stardom), and sees that Candie is auditioning for a 5-week Kpop workshop in her hometown in Atlanta, Georgia. This is bizarre because Sunny's mom literally moved them back to Atlanta to get away from the scandal, and out of all the places for a Kpop workshop, the one that Candie decides to pursue is in Atlanta. Wild. Curious. Not suspicious at all. (lol I am being facetious)
Anyway, because Sunny desperately wants answers and closure from Candie about Minnie's behavior and death, she applies for the same workshop in hopes of reuniting. However, Sunny had no idea what she was signing up for because once the workshop begins, nefarious things begin happening to the other competitors with little to no explanation. Sunny does not believe these are accidents, and refuses to accept anything but the truth, so she seeks it out. Candie continues to be elusive, and there are some strong sapphic undertones in this rivalry and ex-friendship.
I did not realize this was horror (I saw the cover and thought "high school thriller" so that's on me), but I was delightfully surprised. The backstory of one of the character's powers was a fun reveal, and then the backstory behind the Maiden was even more fascinating. I did think the last 10% of the book moved *so* fast, like I got whiplash. However, I appreciate a fast-paced, chaotic, messy final act, so I am not complaining, just noting it. The flashbacks were executed really well, because it had the same effect that This Is Us (weird comparison, I know, but it's the only piece of media I can compare it to that weaved in flashbacks perfectly) had in sharing specific backstory as to why Sunny made the choices she was making. Overall, this was a wild ride, and I had a lot of fun. I would read from Linda Cheng again!
Thank you to my friend @waggybookworm who gifted me an annotated and tabbed copy <3
Graphic: Classism, Body shaming, Murder, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Suicide attempt, Body horror, Fatphobia, Toxic relationship, Dysphoria, Self harm, Gore, Death, Suicide, Infidelity, and Bullying
lexcellent's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Blood, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, Body horror, Gore, Death, Gaslighting, Suicide, Violence, Dysphoria, Self harm, Injury/Injury detail, and Gun violence
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury, Stalking, and Gaslighting
lizies03's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail and Suicide
Moderate: Sexual harassment and Body shaming
Minor: Stalking and Death of parent
simplyammee's review against another edition
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Body horror, Sexual content, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Fatphobia
kurumipanda's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicide, and Torture
Moderate: Gun violence, Infidelity, Sexism, Violence, Grief, Fatphobia, Death, Body horror, Blood, Sexual harassment, and Confinement
Minor: Body shaming, Eating disorder, and Stalking
aliciagrasby's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Gore, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
amy_salieri's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Gore, Mental illness, Death, Grief, Blood, Torture, Suicide, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Body shaming and Bullying
devynreadsnovels's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Murder, Sexual violence, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Bullying, Infidelity, Child death, Body horror, Violence, Gore, Suicide, Toxic friendship, Death, Grief, and Blood
Moderate: Dysphoria, Torture, and Abandonment
likeagilmoregirl's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
The story centers around Sunny, a fallen-from-grace star, as she navigates the gruesome incidents happening to the girls she’s competing with in a K-Pop competition. A completion she joined to reunite with her estranged best friend (and former co-star) Candie who disappeared from her life after the tragic loss of their other friend and co-star, Mina.
Told in alternating chapters of Then and Now, the competition continues as the number of victims grows and the past events leading up to Sunny and Candie’s estrangement are unraveled.
Filled with drama, scandal, and gore, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a fantastic example of YA Thrillers. I loved the concept and the writing.
This book ended up being 4 stars for me because I felt that while the novel as a whole was structured well, the pace of the novel fluctuated inconsistently. Some parts felt more rushed than I found myself hoping them to be. And there were moments I felt that I had missed something or wished that more time had been spent detailing some events or character relationships.
I was given the chance to read this book in audiobook format and the narrator was fantastic!
Overall, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a wonderful, fun read that I would recommend to anyone who enjoys YA thrillers. Especially with a little scandal involved.
*Huge thanks to Linda Cheng, Macmillan Audio, and Netgalley for providing the ARC of Gorgeous Gruesome Faces in audiobook format*
Graphic: Death, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, and Gore
Moderate: Body horror, Toxic friendship, Suicide, and Suicide attempt