cassandrat 's review for:

If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha

4.0

relaxing fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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I was engaged from the start and couldn't put it down. The worlds of these four women were totally engrossing. It is a sequence of events in the lives of four women in Korea. Three are friends and the fourth is a neighbor, but a welcome third perspe tive on the community. I was riveted by their stories of living the low income life, sex work, plastic surgery, kpop idols, and class in South Korea. Their daily and life troubles were both mundane and dramatic, my favorite kind.

Nothing much happens, in that they don't really set out to achieve goals.

As a course of events, they generally end up with some sort of career or relationship advancement or change.

I liked it that way.

I was horrified by the obsession with plastic surgery, and I fell in love with the characters. I didn't like the actions they took, but they were friends, living their lives, and dealing with what the world throws at them.

Ara is a hair dresser who lost her voice as a child.

She is the most set and satisfied because she set such low expectations for herself. She eventually meets her celeb idol and moves on to other fandoms. She also has a nice discussion with the local man who believes in her and it is sweet.

Kyuri is jaded, working in the salon rooms.

She wants love but also doesn't trust men. She eventually seems to get a job or at least opportunity out of the sex work realm. Even though she seems disdainful she cares a lot about others. I can't remember how she got in the friend group.

Wonna grew up with a violent grandmother. Not my favorite character. I actually skimmed some of her chapters and didn't mind that she had fewer chapters.

She's the weirdest in my opinion and possibly a bit unhinged. She marries a man just because he has no living mother. She wants only a daughter, hoping I guess to do a better job. The other women somehow make friends with her?? I dunno. She was  the strangest character, but it was nice to have a very different voice that seemed a bit older and distinct. She was not part of the friend group.

Miho was my favorite, the artist.

It was such a delight when she switches to revenge. She seems so naive the whole time, but really she was just being a good person. I loved the scene with Sujin explaining to Kyuri that Miho is a Loring girl and will make things work for herself. Then she starts look out for #1