Natural Beauty cover art

Natural Beauty

A Novel

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About this listen

 Winner of the Lambda Literary Award in Bisexual Fiction

Longlisted for the PEN/Hemingway Award for Debut Novel

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 gives her 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. Horror Literature & Fiction Psychological Satire Thriller & Suspense United States World Literature Natural Beauty
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Loved this so much, spooky horror in the best way and so detailed, great mystery and queer love stories woven in 5 stars loved it

Love

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the story unfolds at a good pace. the story twists and turns, gripping you as it continues to unfold. I enjoyed the elements of horror reflected in a culture of wellness and beauty that requires our devoted attention and sacrifice. I really recommend it.

a wonderous book

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The concept was good, the seedy underbelly of the rich and privileged in a bid to stay young. Great body horror but the story wandered at times for me.

Interesting Concept

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a lot of books have 'startlingly original' as a tagline on the cover, but in this case of this one it is actually true. I was surprised at multiple points by the direction the story was taking; it kept taking me to stranger and stranger places, but when you look back you realise they were all parts of an intricate puzzle that fit together beautifully at the end. I'm very grateful to have found this book and will revisit it soon.

startlingly original

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