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lauren_reads_outside's review
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you NetGalley for this audiobook
This book is absolutely bonkers, and I really liked it. Is it realistic? No but that's not the point is it. Taking the pursuit for beauty and youth in a modern company to the furthest possible extent with visuals that will have you flinching and nauseated. The narrator absolutely nailed the vapid unhinged voice and it made the book come to life. I will say that in audiobook I did lose track of a few of the characters because they seemed vaguely interchangeable but it also felt intentional that they were described that way in a sort of fever dream haze.
This book is absolutely bonkers, and I really liked it. Is it realistic? No but that's not the point is it. Taking the pursuit for beauty and youth in a modern company to the furthest possible extent with visuals that will have you flinching and nauseated. The narrator absolutely nailed the vapid unhinged voice and it made the book come to life. I will say that in audiobook I did lose track of a few of the characters because they seemed vaguely interchangeable but it also felt intentional that they were described that way in a sort of fever dream haze.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Child death, Self harm, Drug abuse, Gore, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Dysphoria, Toxic friendship, Body shaming, Addiction, Murder, Mental illness, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Drug use, Body horror, and Bullying
thereadingpan's review
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
This was a ride for sure! I really liked this book for its original plot ideas for a horror. I feel like so often we get a bunch of Halloween movie variations (not that we don’t love another summer camp killer adaptation) so youthjuice was definitely a break from that pattern.
Sophia was very unlikable, which personally is not a negative in my book, I’m happy to dislike an MC. But she was at times painfully self centered to the point of ridiculous, many of her big life choices were made solely in vain.
I loved the nose dive she took into psychosis, I honestly thought it was the best part of the book even though it was starting to drag a little in the middle of the second half.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and RB Media in exchange for my honest review. All words/opinions are my own.*
Sophia was very unlikable, which personally is not a negative in my book, I’m happy to dislike an MC. But she was at times painfully self centered to the point of ridiculous, many of her big life choices were made solely in vain.
I loved the nose dive she took into psychosis, I honestly thought it was the best part of the book even though it was starting to drag a little in the middle of the second half.
*I received this ARC from NetGalley and RB Media in exchange for my honest review. All words/opinions are my own.*
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm
Moderate: Murder and Death
Minor: Drug abuse and Body shaming
thegayestghost's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Grief, Gore, Injury/Injury detail, Blood, Self harm, Murder, Body horror, Death, Eating disorder, Toxic friendship, and Violence
sidekicksam's review
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Sophia starts her new job at Hebe, the cosmetics company that is the front runner for skincare products in New York. What she doesn't know is the lengths some people will go to in order to obtain beauty and flawless skin...
This was a fun non-scary horror book that I think will do well among BookTok and Bookstagram audiences. Not really scary but with some gory moments and horrifically vivid descriptions, the book is a funny satirical novel, first and foremost. Some of the horrors that Sophia encounters have more to do with the absurd ideas her boss has (naming a lipstick line after murdered/missing girls so 'they live on forever' is hilarious) than actual horror, but it was still horror-y in places.
I enjoyed the storyline revolving around Sophia's work and time at Hebe, and life at the company was fun to get lost in, but the exploration of Sophia's character was a bit too superficial for me to really get interested her. It was very easy to listen to the story as it's written in easy, engaging language (and the narrator is great!), but I would have loved it if the story was a bit more horror.
The comparison to American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada is a bit overreaching - I'd say it's more bits of Black Swan and The Devil Wears Prada, with influences from American Psycho in the obsession with looks and skincare routines.Some bits about murdering interns are also similar to American Psycho, but not nearly as deranged or horrific .
If you enjoy bashing beauty influencers, enjoy a quicky horrorish book or want to read something with a gorgeous pink cover - this is your book! youthjuice is out on June 4!
This was a fun non-scary horror book that I think will do well among BookTok and Bookstagram audiences. Not really scary but with some gory moments and horrifically vivid descriptions, the book is a funny satirical novel, first and foremost. Some of the horrors that Sophia encounters have more to do with the absurd ideas her boss has (naming a lipstick line after murdered/missing girls so 'they live on forever' is hilarious) than actual horror, but it was still horror-y in places.
I enjoyed the storyline revolving around Sophia's work and time at Hebe, and life at the company was fun to get lost in, but the exploration of Sophia's character was a bit too superficial for me to really get interested her. It was very easy to listen to the story as it's written in easy, engaging language (and the narrator is great!), but I would have loved it if the story was a bit more horror.
The comparison to American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada is a bit overreaching - I'd say it's more bits of Black Swan and The Devil Wears Prada, with influences from American Psycho in the obsession with looks and skincare routines.
If you enjoy bashing beauty influencers, enjoy a quicky horrorish book or want to read something with a gorgeous pink cover - this is your book! youthjuice is out on June 4!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Gore, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Death, and Murder
taylorjayne's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Murder, Cannibalism, Self harm, Drug abuse, Body horror, and Death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Addiction, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Grief, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Violence, and Eating disorder
Minor: Classism, Gaslighting, Medical content, and Vomit
karalyndawn's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Well the style of writing is certainly… unique… it felt like reading a really long poem. The language is flowery and short. The novel caught my attention at first however the detailed self harm and blood was just not for me. I was disappointed in the ending as well. I thought things would have ended differently.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Self harm, Blood, Murder, Drug abuse, and Drug use
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