A review by amyvl93
If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

challenging dark reflective medium-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? Yes

3.5

If I Had Your Face is I think one of the only books I've read set in contemporary Korea, and Frances Cha's novel really lifts the lid on the challenges of life as a woman in the country. Following the intertwining lives of different women - she explores beauty standards, popular culture, sexuality, poverty and marriage and how this impacts on the lives of women living in a still deeply patriarchal society. I think there were potentially one or two too many perspectives to really make an impact, but this novel was suitably disconcerting and I'm interested to read more of her writing in the future.