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ariep's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Death, Mental illness, Violence, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gore, Sexual content, Religious bigotry, Cultural appropriation, and Classism
ruronisai's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Body shaming and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent
kittkat's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Marva tells us self-care is telling yourself you matter every morning in the mirror. You should talk to it. Become friends with what you see there.
Belle ist süchtig nach Skincare, weil sie schon seit ihrer Kindheit sehr unsicher war und eifersüchtig auf alle die schöner waren. Ihr größter Komplex war ihre wunderschöne Mutter, mit der sie seit eines Unfalls keinen Kontakt mehr hatte und die nun tot aufgefunden wurde. Wie ihre Mutter vor ihrem Tod wird jetzt auch Belle in eine unheimliche Spa-Sekte hineingezogen. Sie bieten ihr eine kostenlose Behandlung an, aber sie nehmen mehr von ihr als sie geben 🫣.
I envy 🌹.
Wie bei Bunny ging es in dieser Geschichte um so viel mehr als im Blurb angeteasert wurde.
- Die toxische aber vielfältige Mutter-Tochter-Beziehung.
- Erwachsenwerden.
- Erwachsenwerden ohne Vater und als Minderheit sogar im eigenen Haus.
- Der Schaden, den Neid alleine anrichten kann.
- Whitewashing und internalisierter Rassismus.
Dazu hat die Autorin noch so einen hypnotisierenden, humorvollen Schreibstil, der einen komplett in die Welt des Geschehens zieht. Auch wenn die Geschichte etwas zu lang gezogen wurde und man zwischendurch den roten Faden verliert, sehe ich das Buch irgendwie als ein Kunstwerk, das reine Interpretationssache ist.
Bonus: Mona Awad hat es wirklich geschafft so viele klassische Märchen (und sogar bisschen ägyptische Mythologie) auf die eine oder andere Art einzubauen: Dornröschen, Schneewittchen, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Der Zauberer von Oz, Ariel, … + sehr überraschend Tom Cruise,
„Oh my god, is it really you?“ - „It is really me,“ Tom Cruise whispers. Tom Cruise. Standing in Mother‘s mirror. Tom Cruise, in the flesh.
Graphic: Racism, Grief, Death of parent, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gore, Mental illness, and Blood
Minor: Body shaming and Gore
grrrcait's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Graphic: Body horror, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Animal death
lindadreams's review against another edition
- 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: Body horror, Grief, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism
linneak's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
just_one_more_paige's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Mental illness, Grief, and Death of parent
bookishraccoon's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I struggled through the book for a bit, but it picked up at the last 1/3 of the story.
Slow burn, but great build up- flashbacks throughout helped to create the depth of the story. Intentional pacing with great pay off. Interesting premise with the beauty industry being the villain, & I loved the points that could be taken from it.
The author captured the obsession, & desperation perfectly with being beautiful- & the harsh expectations the industry currently has on many women. And the crazy lengths many people will go to, along with amounts of money to achieve these looks - or having the ‘perfect’ skin. The treatments, serums, mists, lotions, cleansers… I wish this was something discussed about more, and the unattainable standards.
As somebody that used to struggle with their skin growing up, this novel spoke to me. With the feeling of desperately wanting to belong, & having that ‘glow’. I’m at a much healthier place now in my life, & looking back realizing it was a mix of hormones, genetics- things that I couldn’t control. But the beauty industry is cruel, & this novel captured that perfectly.
This book I would call a journey- filled with dark humor, sometimes difficult subjects, obsession, envy, & love. I think it’s a book people should at least experience once. With that said, the book isn’t by any means perfect.
The beginning was alittle difficult to get into, & the nonstop Tom cruise segments kinda ruined it for me (although I realize it was just supposed to be an ongoing joke). It was so much to the point that it strongly annoyed me at times (as I’m not the biggest fan of him honestly). I just didn’t understand the obsession, till I read up on the author - somebody that had a lot of admiration for him.
She loosely inspired the book from the movie Eyes Wide Open (which Tom Cruise stars in), so that made me understand it alittle more after the fact. At the time reading it though, it just took myself as the reader out of immersion. I think the story would’ve been stronger leaving that bit out honestly.
The pacing was strange at first bouncing back and forth between past & present. Once you get used to the time jumps it gets alittle easier to work yourself through.
Also, as some other reviews have discussed- there were some loose ends of the story never finished off. I always enjoyed movies & books open though- as it leaves it for the reader to figure out themselves, or have a thoughtful discussion with others.
I’m leaving this as a spoiler free review, but there were some really strong scenes in this book that made up for all of the bad in my opinion. There was some really strong gothic imagery, with a modern twist to it.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. At first I didn’t care much for it, but as the story went along it evolved. I would recommend this one to anyone on the fence!
Graphic: Body horror and Grief
dehahs's review against another edition
1.5
I liked the wordplay in the latter chapters (
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Pedophilia, Racism, Blood, Grief, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Abandonment
Moderate: Sexual content, Islamophobia, and Religious bigotry
suchallie's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Body horror, Body shaming, Death, Blood, Grief, Death of parent, and Cultural appropriation