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ariep's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
This was a weird book. I really like the writing, i found it to be a very compelling read. It was challenging though, to be in that mindset of such strong self loathing and envy. It was especially challenging to read about wanting to have lighter skin; it brought me right back into the mindset I had when I was younger, wishing I wasn’t a brown girl. It was very interesting and emotional. I don’t know that I liked it, or that I’d recommend it, but it did evoke a lot of strong emotions in me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Dysphoria, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Blood, Mental illness, Violence, Death of parent, Sexual harassment, Death, and Body shaming
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Classism, Cultural appropriation, Body horror, Bullying, Animal cruelty, Gore, Religious bigotry, and Sexual content
grrrcait's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Body horror, and Death of parent
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Animal death
kathrynnnnnn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
This was great. It is brain bending and had some real gross bits.
Content Warnings
Minor: Body horror
lindadreams's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death of parent, and Grief
Moderate: Racism
just_one_more_paige's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Mona Awad has been in my awareness for a few years now. Some readers whose reviews I really trust have loved a few of her previous works; Bunny, specifically, so I've been meaning to pick that up. But when this most recent release was an option as an ALC through Lifo.fm, I decided to start with it instead. The ease of access won me over. Haha
Borrowing from Goodreads for the blurb again: "For as long as she can remember, Belle has been insidiously obsessed with her skin and skincare videos. When her estranged mother Noelle mysteriously dies, Belle finds herself back in Southern California, dealing with her mother’s considerable debts and grappling with lingering questions about her death. The stakes escalate when a strange woman in red appears at the funeral, offering a tantalizing clue about her mother’s demise, followed by a cryptic video about a transformative spa experience. With the help of a pair of red shoes, Belle is lured into the barbed embrace of La Maison de Méduse, the same lavish, culty spa to which her mother was devoted. There, Belle discovers the frightening secret behind her (and her mother’s) obsession with the mirror—and the great shimmering depths (and demons) that lurk on the other side of the glass."
Phew, this was trippy and creepy. And if that's what you're looking for, it delivers. I knew going in that was the vibe of Awad's writing, so I was ready for it, and got exactly what I wanted out of this reading experience. From the very start, and consistently throughout, the dark and claustrophobic fairy tale atmosphere was everywhere, with nods to Cinderella and The Wizard of Oz (magical, red shoes), Rapunzel/Tangled (there was a hella strong Mother Gothel feel to Noelle), Beauty and the Beast (at least for me, the rose/jellyfish situation was aesthetically reminiscent, plus Belle's name), and - through the stories Belle loves from her childhood - the general feel of the "perfect princess" and the unattainability of that IRL. These aspects combine with a thematically overbearing focus on skincare and the beauty industry, and the reality of dealing with grief over the loss of a parent (even, and particularly, when that relationship wasn't particularly healthy or smooth) in a way that creates a perfect fever dream of a novel. I was never totally sure what was real - what was actually happening,and what was an imaginative exaggeration or a hallucination or a dream - in a way that created a psychological spiral that was impossible to fully grasp. But in the best way. And the fantastical aspects were really uniquely intertwined with a very real the ebb and flow of mental health, especially around grief and the complexities of parent-child (mother-daughter) relationships. Altogether, the disconnect of unreality that is infused throughout this entire novel was unmooringly stunning.
Other than the atmospheric vibes, the novel's major theme was the "health" and beauty industry. It's an industry I have very little direct/personal knowledge of (I have never worn makeup and my skin care is basically nonexistent). But I, of course, am not immune to the body messages that media and celebrity sells, and have had my moments of unhappiness with how I look as a result (I feel like it's an unreal expectation that it would be possible to not internalize some of that). Just...keep that framing in mind, as you read through my thoughts on this part of the book. I thought it was great. The way beauty standards intimidate and low key terrify and make you feel bad about yourself as you swim in inadequacies that you hate/regret/wish you could defend against better is demonstrated terrifyingly well. Similarly, the insidiousness of the universal approval we get when our “efforts” to remain looking young as we age are deemed “successful,” based on an arbitrary and external and a somehow-applicable-to-every-woman standard, hits the reader like a brick (though not an overdone one, IMO). Especially in the way this affects young girls, Awad interrogates that dark reality in such a creepily stunning fashion. Like I said, I know nothing about skin care products, so I have no idea how much of those mentioned are real and how much are sarcastic/exaggerated/satirical, but it FELT overdone and I *loved* that (it’s honestly what it feels like to me when people pyramid scheme/peddle beauty products...which, full disclosure, I despise). This aspect, too, was tied in so well with the complex and kind of unhealthy relationship the author had with her mother. The messages young (girls) with darker skin get about their own beauty (or lack thereof) from so many "public" sources was compounded interestingly here, since she and her mother looked so different from each other, and her perspective of "beauty" was skewed even further. This allowed for a fascinating additional, kind of side-commentary, on the myths we build up around those we fear, or admire.
I have a few other more random thoughts that I'll just mash up here together at the end. First, the cover was simply dazzling. So eye-catching and perfect for the book, with the rose and jellyfish combination. The word mix-ups that Belle experiences were a phenomenal literary touch, super well-used to portray a sense of displacement both that Belle was experiencing and for the reader. I was less a fan of the attempt to add a romance storyline; it was fine all the way through, with the weird pull/connection, but then the ending just felt like, too real, after the unreality of the rest of the novel. I also thought the inclusion of "Tom Cruise" was jarring. Like, I liked the role he (the character with his name) played/had, but I wish a less famous/notable name had been employed, because his name conjures so many other things that it took me out of this story a bit sometimes.
Overall, I finished this book feeling very disconcerted and unsettled, but very satisfied with the story that made me feel that way. It was exactly what I'd anticipated and wanted from this read. This perversion of “self care,” the fantastic unreliable narrator, the "longing for delusion" that was palpable and the ending of being “saved ourselves from the nightmare of our most magnificent selves” (I mean, what a concept?!) was all just so good. A promised, and delivered, wildly unpleasant read...when that's what reading mood you're in, give this one a go.
“No one knows what’s inside grief. Anything at all can be there.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Mental illness, Death of parent, Body shaming, and Body horror
bookishraccoon's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- 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 actually listened to the audiobook version of this book. Sophie Amoss did a fantastic job narrating this one! Normally I feel like these drone on, but her narration kept me invested.
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!
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!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Body horror
suchallie's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- 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
Generally I liked this. I felt like the lore was clearer/stronger than All’s Well and Bunny. I didn’t get as lost or skip over the dream/magic nonsense sequences like I did in those. I was worried the skincare trope would be overly ick but it transitioned out of that quickly after it was established. I wanted more from the ending though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Animal cruelty, Cultural appropriation, Blood, Body horror, Death, Grief, and Death of parent
ashlesschaps7's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- 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
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Death, Body shaming, Blood, Death of parent, Murder, Body horror, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Dysphoria, Addiction, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Medical trauma, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Eating disorder
Minor: Racial slurs
danimacuk's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Abandonment, Gore, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Body horror, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Confinement, Sexual content, Bullying, Cursing, Racism, Alcohol, and Cultural appropriation
glassflowrr's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- 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
Another absolute masterpiece from Mona Awad. I love how dreamy and confusing it feels at times, and how well I'm able to feel Mirabelle's almost hypnotized state through the prose. The climax had me biting my nails and crying. Awad could write a book about a sentient shampoo bottle and I'd love it. It is definitely a challenging read if you aren't used to Awad's fever dream prose but I highly recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, and Animal death
Moderate: Racism and Alcohol
Minor: Body horror, Gore, Classism, Blood, and Body shaming