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Sly, surprising, and razor-sharp, Natural Beauty follows a young musician into an elite, beauty-obsessed world where perfection comes at a staggering cost. Our narrator produces a sound from the piano no one else at the Conservatory can. She employs a technique she learned from her parents—also talented musicians—who fled China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. But when an accident leaves her parents debilitated, she abandons her future for a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City. Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures—from remoras that suck out cheap Botox to eyelash extensions made of spider silk—and her new job affords her entry into a world of privilege and a long-awaited sense of belonging. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik’s charismatic owner, and the two strike up a friendship that hazily veers into more. All the while, our narrator is plied with products that slim her thighs, smooth her skin, and lighten her hair. But beneath these creams and tinctures lies something sinister. A piercing, darkly funny debut, Natural Beauty explores questions of consumerism, self-worth, race, and identity—and leaves readers with a shocking and unsettling truth.
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A gripping tale of the beauty industry and what lurks beneath its surface... Natural Beauty explores the weaponization of womanhood, but is also a poignant love letter to (immigrant) parents. Stylistically, there were so many moments throughout the book that made me fall in love with Huang's writing.
Highly recommend!
02.5/5
I was pretty disappointed by this one. The writing was weird in that so many times sentences would hop so quickly from one thing happening at one moment to something happening literally the next day. I’m just also not really into the kind of horror that makes up this book, which I really didn’t know the specifics before reading. Not a bad book, just not for me.
0Devoured this book in one sitting on a flight. The book picks up at breakneck speed and never slows down. Things just kept getting crazier and crazier and I couldn't put it down. I felt the author could've fleshed out the racial themes a little more which would've really served the book, but I loved the way music served as a motif. Made for a great discussion in book club. The blurb doesn't do this book justice if you're thinking of picking up this book because it seems like lit fic it isnt its more horror/thriller/mystery and a little gross. Probably not for everyone but if that's your jam you'll love it! Regardless of the book's few flaws its such a unique one of a kind read!
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