unhingedbookbitch's reviews
316 reviews

5⭐️

I AM TRIPPING. EVERYONE IN THIS BOOK NEEDS TO TOUCH GRASS FR. It calls tf out on people who legit obsess with beauty standards to the point of consumerism I’M LOOKING AT YOU GWENYTH PALTROW. 

Tags: contemporary horror fiction, body horror, queer Chinese-American FMC, beauty and wellness, cultural identity, piano prodigy, capitalism

Triggers: s*icidal thoughts, depression, loss of family members, animal ab*se, human experimentations, s*xual ass*ult, drugging, forced impregnation, c*nnibalism, blood, PTSD, anxiety, r*cism, bullying (in past), non-con scenes, dis*rdered eating, hospitalization of loved ones, lots of body horror, Asian American diaspora, micro aggressions, gaslighting, denied ab*rtion and d*ath of a mother, bodily violation

First off. That cover? Gagatron 3000. I love it sm😩

Literally from the moment I started this book, I was hooked. I listened to the audiobook on 2.25 cause I just needed to consume tf out of it which is ironic since this book explores the toxicity of consumerism lol. SHIT WAS WILD. The book kept leveling up in fever dream-ness as it went on and I loved it. Like when the really crazy shit started happening I was like is this a metaphor?? Technically yes outside of book, but in book THESE PEOPLE FR TRYING TO LOOK LIKE THEIR FAVE ANIMAL. They trying to be like the cover of those Animorphs books. Like there’s this one part of the book where the evil mastermind behind everything was like profiting off both “standard beauty” and “against the grain beauty” standards and like it just made me so mad cause I know people do that irl. The writing is soooo good. I loved that we learn more about the MC and her lore through flashbacks triggered by present circumstances. The story takes a lot of creepy twists that make you go oh god we live in a society I’m scared. 

It was also cool to see the parallels between the MC’s piano talent and the beauty standards she’s held to. She legit born with this talent that is cultivated by her parents but when, she starts going to school for it, everyone tries to figure out and/or change how she plays. A METAPHOR! I’m also not that good at first seeing symbolism so I’m sure in a year I’ll be like oh hey that symbolized that. 

I just know I’ll have this book on my mind for a long time. Lots of heavy topics and trauma are throughout the book so please read trigger warnings!

This was such a beautiful story. It was short and easy to follow but filled with so much meaning and emotion. You can tell the author is a poet by how beautifully creative this book was written.