Reviews with content warning for Sexual violence - Natural Beauty

disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial

HOLY SHIT WHAT DID I JUST READ?! I am still processing and I am completely creeped out😭

Our nameless Chinese American main character/first-person narrator takes a new job at Holistik, a wellness and beauty store (and infamous empire!) to make more money, after her parents get into a horrible accident and she is months late on their care facilities rent. She was once a promising classical music ingenue, but gave it up because of her parents’ tragedy. From the beginning, Holistik emits a bit of a cult-like aura, and it only gets darker and darker as the novel goes on! She starts to “drink the Kool Aid,” as one would say, as she gets more and more procedures done and implements hours-long nighttime skincare routines.

Our narrator (who takes on the name Anna to appease customers/her employers) takes on a second night job within a different branch of Holistik, but she never remembers what happens during those sessions and typically just wakes up in her bed a bit woozy. She begins to uncover darker and darker secrets about the company, at dire consequences for herself and those she loves dear. I had such a dreadful feeling reading this, just knowing something more sinister was waiting for her around the corner (not an *actual* monster, but moreso the monster of beauty standards, the wellness industry & the constant sell of achieving eternal youth & beauty!

Huang's writing of the narrative voice was searing, unimpressed and straightforward. She posited our narrator as deeply caring towards her parents, but once their accident happens, she is clearly deep in the wells of her grief. I can’t say too much else without spoiling this, but I will say that I was on the edge of my seat for most of this book, and for some reason, the scene with “Anna” having to tell an unhoused man who looked like her Ba to move from the Holistik storefront has stayed with me. She became so pulled to what Holistik wanted her to be, that she strayed so far from being the kind of person that her parents would be proud of. It’s an all too familiar push and pull of being a first-generation child of immigrants who is cautiously towing the line between wanting to assimilate and feel as if they belong in predominantly white spaces, like at Holistik, or be a child that your parents are proud of, and to prove that their sacrifice paid off in you. That moment really pained me.

Anyway, I will absolutely read more of LLH’s work, and am so impressed with this piece of dark, haunting horror!

Content Warnings

mi_jiyg's review

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dark mysterious slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This book started off so well for me mainly because the first half had a decently concrete timeline. I got lost in the second half and it got so weird it reminded me briefly of Bunny (a book I never finished lol). At the 75% mark, it got even more weird and I felt so uncomfortable and violated. But honestly, I think I will think about this book and the (real) parallels it has on our society long after I finish it.

Content Warnings

caitlynischeckedout's review

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3.0

First I’d like to say: if you like weird horror, gross body horror, and powerful narratives on the beauty industry and society- I’d give this one a shot.

2.5 enjoyment level, but rounded up as I did appreciate the commentary on issues at hand and I think the messaging is important

When I picked it up I didn’t realize it was going to be so focused on gross, creepy body horror, and that’s just not quite my forte so I didn’t enjoy it as much as I think others will. I had a hard time wanting to read this because of that and other content included and it took me a rather long time to get through despite it being around 250 pages long.

The story was written in this poetic prose which was enjoyable to read, and the way it leads you into the horror I think is well done. It’s a subtle journey and drops hints here and there, and when you find out the true horrors behind the scenes it is powerful and horrific. The horror though is very real life horror and commentary on things that are truly happening, so I would read the trigger warnings beforehand so you know what you’re getting into. There is also sexual assault included at several different points which I was not quite prepared for. I’m also not sure I felt the scenes were handled as well as they could’ve been- a lot of things just seemed to happen for shock value to me.

Overall I do think the messaging included is important and worthy of notice, just wasn’t quite what I thought I was getting into.

Content Warnings