Reviews tagging 'Death of parent'

Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom

32 reviews

daniellemjoyce's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Trafficking, and Death of parent

blueviolin's review against another edition

dark hopeful sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent

Moderate: Sexual assault

sarah984's review against another edition

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

Very preachy and unpleasant writing, a lot of mean spirited railing against straw libfems the author imagines on Instagram. The #MeToo plotline is poorly integrated and resolves in a stupid, nothing way.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Fatphobia, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Cancer, Confinement, Eating disorder, Misogyny, Rape, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Vomit, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, and Classism

Minor: Self harm, Excrement, and Car accident

stellahadz's review against another edition

medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Aesthetica is both futuristic and deeply rooted in the present, which sounds contradictory but isn't really, given how quickly the landscape of social media changes and how trends, from clothing to makeup to body parts, seem to cycle every week. The book's premise is fascinating, and Rowbottom's prose is excellent. I'm usually wary of books that heavily reference social media or internet slang, because it immediately dates the text and runs the risk of making it obsolete within a few years. However, I think Aesthetica works because its themes (#MeToo, the dangers of social media fame, plastic surgery, and generational differences in approaches to feminism) are very timely, and the use of emojis, @ symbols, and slang actually drive the story rather than making it "cringe" as the kids say. I wonder how many articles, memoirs, and tell-all pieces we'll see in the next 10-15 years from people like the main character, Anna.

It took me some time to get into the story, and I wish the ending had provided a little more closure, but it was fantastically written and I loved how it explored important and relevant themes. 

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug use, Medical content, and Death of parent

Moderate: Addiction, Body shaming, Cancer, Eating disorder, Sexual assault, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Car accident

bibliotina's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Addiction, Drug use, Rape, and Death of parent

cassie7e's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

A social horror story wrapped in literary prose. I had a hard time getting through this one. It describes a world of social media and influencing that is both very real and very disconnected from any experience I've had. Makes me want to distance myself from social media even though my usage is nothing like that of the characters and followers in this book. The way posting on instagram takes over her mind and how she perceives every moment is unsettling.

I wish the book had focused more on life after the Aesthetica treatment and transitioning to look like a more "naturally aged" person, but this seems to just be the frame story from which we see flashbacks to the character getting swept up in the modeling/influencer trajectory that turns awful.

CW: drug abuse, sexual assault, cancer, loss of parent

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Drug use, and Sexual content

Moderate: Cancer, Sexual assault, Medical content, and Death of parent

Minor: Vomit

fatsss's review against another edition

challenging dark sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Cancer, Chronic illness, and Death of parent

Moderate: Rape

rubbercitykitten's review against another edition

challenging emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault and Death of parent

Moderate: Grief and Sexual harassment

Minor: Medical content

evelynritzi's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Whew, this one was super dark. It follows a young woman’s journey into the dark world social media influencing, where she is exploited by her manager. Without spoiling too much, this is a dark observation of the beauty/plastic surgery industry and what women give up to fit the online beauty standard, which is all fake in the first place. The ED stuff was a little upsetting for me so just be warned. 

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Eating disorder, Rape, and Death of parent

maggielawler's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse and Sexual assault

Moderate: Body shaming, Cancer, Eating disorder, and Death of parent