Reviews with content warning for Trafficking - Natural Beauty

Oh, wow. I knew I'd like this book because it's so conceptually fascinating, but I liked it more than I thought I would, despite it being in first person.

I'll start with my issues: the pacing was off. The ending felt rushed. I was disappointed by this.

This book reminded me why I love reading women written by women. The characters are rich and well-defined yet described simplistically in a quick, punchy writing style that I just adore. I'm not generally into mysteries, but I had a ton of fun piecing together details to try to solve the plot of this horror/thriller combo. Gorgeously, gorgeously done. Exposition was provided in a perfect steady drip that captivated me. The characters are awesome. The gore is written so effectively; the horror is intrinsic, and never did I have to be told how scared or unnerved to feel. God, I love weird books. As someone who struggles with her relationship to beauty as a "hobbyist" and willing participant but still identifies as a more radical-leaning feminist, this was the book for me. Everyone quotes this, but I'll drop it here too:

"Beauty has always been one of the ways women have been able to access power, and I can't fault any of them for wanting more of it."

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cheyison's review

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Content Warnings

thecriticalreader's review against another edition

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dark mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

Context:

I borrowed Natural Beauty from my library through the Libby app.

Review:

Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang is everything that Mona Awad’s Rouge wanted to be. This book is a gorgeously written, disturbing reflection on the meaning of beauty. The book establishes the story’s stakes by following the main character as she navigates her loving but somewhat anguished relationship with her impoverished parents. Her relationship with music adds another valuable and textured layer to her character and the story. Once the story hooks the reader in with the main character’s backstory, it deftly juggles commentary on beauty and wellness culture, queer desire, monstrousness, cultural assimilation, white privilege, bodily autonomy, and corporate greed. Huang trusts her reader to pick up on the book’s commentary and thus avoids any obnoxious didacticism or preachiness. The beauty company at the center of Natural Beauty, Holistik, is deliciously devious; Huang freely combines elements of dystopia, science fiction, and fantasy to construct the villainous corporation her main character must face.

As the book nears its conclusion, the book bends to the requirements of a dramatic horror ending which adequately, if a bit predictably, wraps up the plot. The ending leaves a little bit to be desired when it comes to the main character’s relationship with herself and the other characters, but it certainly does not negate the brilliance of the rest of the book.

The Run-Down:

You will probably like Natural Beauty if. . .

· You want to read a clever and entertaining commentary on modern beauty standards

· You love classical music (piano in particular)

· You can relate to the main character as she navigates tough economic circumstances and her identity as a daughter of Chinese immigrants

· You want to reflect on what it means for something to be beautiful

You might not like Natural Beauty if . . .

· You are sick of villain tech billionaires

· You want complex and fleshed-out side characters

A Similar Book:

If you liked the concept of Rouge by Mona Awad but disliked the execution, give Natural Beauty a try! Similarities include . . .

· An ominous beauty cult organization for the wealthy that promises whiteness and beauty for a price

· A down-on-her-luck main female character with a troubled relationship with her parents

· Jellyfish

Content Warnings

renicula's review against another edition

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dark mysterious 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? It's complicated

3.25

I liked this. Disturbing in a way that cuts close to the quick. I did find the way the plot jumps and does a bit of telling-not-showing over long periods of the narrator’s employment jarring, even if it is a deliberate choice to convey her detachment. I didn’t mind that the main character is largely not a very active protagonist - it makes sense for the paralysis of grief she’s continually held in - but some of the events that step in to move the plot along are a bit… pat (at one point, critical information is revealed literally by a wayward cat jumping on a computer keyboard). That being said, it’s a quick read and viscerally fascinating.

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jaymebeetus's review

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dark mysterious reflective sad 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? No

3.5

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probablynisa's review against another edition

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dark

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

Started off strong then got really weird, like could’ve been maybe a little more poignant if the point wasn’t SO in your face. I’m also not the biggest Sci-Fi fan so that is more than likely what’s influencing me but it felt so unrealistic at the end that I feel like it took away from the point by trying to make it so clear .

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rei_reads's review

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challenging dark mysterious tense 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? It's complicated

4.0

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sophmcgraw's review

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dark tense fast-paced

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? No

4.75

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