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gofortori's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
“Multifaceted portraits of working women in Seoul reveal the importance of female friendships amid inequality.”
My second literary contemporary cultural debut novel this year (the first being “In Every Mirror She’s Black” which focuses on Black American and Black African women in homogeneous Sweden)! This time around, we explore the impact of impossible beauty standards and male-dominated family money on South Korean women.
I had no idea how normalized intensive plastic surgery was in South Korea. I looked it up and apparent it’s the cosmetic surgery capital of the world. I can’t imagine the pressure these expectations have on financially struggling women. Especially sad was Kyuri’s and Sujin’s ready acceptance of the side effects of their surgeries, including permanent nerve damage.
These portraits of four working-class women in modern-day Seoul reveal an array of societal constructs that are difficult to overcome, such as class, patriarchy and inequality — in addition to impossibly high beauty standards.
The story definitely highlights the differences in individualistic Western & collectivist Eastern cultures! I took a college course on Chinese culture and media, and one of the main tenets was unlearning that Western culture is better just because it’s what we grew up with. To the individuality-loving Westerner, Eastern social structures and hierarchies can seem rigid and harsh. Whereas vice versa, Easterners may view Western society as isolating and unsupportive. It’s disorienting but enlightening to read about the lives of Korean girls our age from within a Western bias.
“…a powerful and provocative rendering of contemporary South Korean society, one that might be considered bleak if not for the women themselves, who occasionally surprise with their compassion and bravery. At heart, “If I Had Your Face” is a novel about female strength, spirit, resilience — and the solace that friendship can sometimes provide.”
I’d love to know what happens to Ara, Kyuri, Wonna, and Miho — did Miho get her revenge? Did Kyuri achieve the career she never thought she’d grasp? The novel ends seemingly right before the conclusions to their arcs, but I also liked the nod to the reality that life continues on.
Moderate: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, and Abandonment
laceyc1's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Moderate: Sexism, Sexual content, Suicide, Medical content, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Minor: Eating disorder
merries's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Infidelity, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Toxic friendship and Abandonment
himangi's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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: Ableism, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexism, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
jojo_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Bullying, Child abuse, Misogyny, Violence, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Infidelity, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
Minor: Cursing, Miscarriage, Sexual content, Blood, Vomit, Grief, and Death of parent
cosmicjo's review against another edition
- 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
Minor: Ableism, Miscarriage, and Abandonment
ktrvlo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Suicide attempt, Abandonment, and Alcohol
danajoy's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Body shaming, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
andreiaoh's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I'm not saying books need to have a point but I really could not grasp the point of this book? Like, it was interesting (sort of) to read the lives of different women and how they intersected with one another but nothing really happened, there was not much character development if any, it was all just a bit glum.
2.5 because there was something intriguing about the book but I came out of it a little confused about how I felt about it. I didn't love it, didn't like it, but also didn't dislike it either??
Graphic: Miscarriage and Pregnancy
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment
Minor: Eating disorder and Abortion