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jokehelldo's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Body shaming, Infertility, Alcohol, and Sexual harassment
sydapel's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Probably the most interesting book I read so far this month, particularly in the unique characterization of the five women who make up the novel. It's another book that offers a stark and often startling depiction of female friendship, this time through the lens of Korean culture. To me, the dialogue is where the book shines the most, how the conversations between the women exemplify the harsh, but also soft ways in which they care for one another. Where it loses me a bit is in the number of competing voices and a long wind up to a rushed finale. I would have ultimately liked to stay a bit longer in this world, even just to experience a bit of a cathartic end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Sexism, Medical content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Toxic friendship
Minor: Suicide
michelarod's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infertility and Violence
Minor: Suicide
runawry's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Drug use, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Trafficking, Pregnancy, and Sexual harassment
boomwormbrittany's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If I Had Your Face follows four women who are living in Seoul, Korea in the same office-tel. This books follows these women as they navigate their own society and the standards that are expected of women.
I want to start off by saying that I am going to be commenting on my enjoyment of this book and what I learned from reading this book. I cannot speak about the experience of living in Korea as a Korean women and cannot speak to those experiences.
I really loved this book because it was about four women who felt they could be real people. It felt like I could meet them and talk to them about their own experiences. Each character was distinct from each other and their voices were very distinct. They all come from different backgrounds and it really shaped their experiences as they progress in this book.
I found it fascinating to see how surgery was a big part of women's experience and how they compared themselves to not only idols but other girls who were considered perfect. They go through painful procedures to make sure that they can look the best they can, especially the girls who work in room salons. It was a commentary on comparing yourselves to others and I really loved how Frances Cha handled that in this book.
Along with that, it talks about relationships through marriage, dating and infatuation. I liked how Frances Cha really highlighted about the experience of fans liking Idols and not realizing they are actual humans like us. I liked how it showed this. This book also talks about cheating and keeping secrets from spouses. I think Frances Cha handled this so well.
Overall, I'm really glad I decided to read this book. I found it really interesting and I can't wait to see what else she is going to write in the future. I would highly recommend this book to everyone as it had a really interesting narrative that it was speaking on.
I want to start off by saying that I am going to be commenting on my enjoyment of this book and what I learned from reading this book. I cannot speak about the experience of living in Korea as a Korean women and cannot speak to those experiences.
I really loved this book because it was about four women who felt they could be real people. It felt like I could meet them and talk to them about their own experiences. Each character was distinct from each other and their voices were very distinct. They all come from different backgrounds and it really shaped their experiences as they progress in this book.
I found it fascinating to see how surgery was a big part of women's experience and how they compared themselves to not only idols but other girls who were considered perfect. They go through painful procedures to make sure that they can look the best they can, especially the girls who work in room salons. It was a commentary on comparing yourselves to others and I really loved how Frances Cha handled that in this book.
Along with that, it talks about relationships through marriage, dating and infatuation. I liked how Frances Cha really highlighted about the experience of fans liking Idols and not realizing they are actual humans like us. I liked how it showed this. This book also talks about cheating and keeping secrets from spouses. I think Frances Cha handled this so well.
Overall, I'm really glad I decided to read this book. I found it really interesting and I can't wait to see what else she is going to write in the future. I would highly recommend this book to everyone as it had a really interesting narrative that it was speaking on.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Infidelity
Minor: Suicide
heynonnynonnie's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Hated|Disliked|Liked|Loved|Favorited
Look I'm a sucker for a good female friendship book. I'm also a sucker for a good non-American/English culture immersion. And this book Delivered on both fronts.
Pros: strong female characters who have hopes and dreams and make mistakes and hard choices and sometimes you agree and sometimes you don't and I love them dearly. I loved how the four POV characters were extremely nuanced and sometimes typecast the other POV characters. Like it's easy to say that Miho is a daydreamer and isn't practical and sometimes the other POV characters will remark about how naive she is. But then Miho will get the reins and we'll see how she broke down every decision in her chapter. I was so excited to learn about the background story for each character. And I was so excited to see them support each other throughout the book. But even with this shiny, hopeful friend group, the author did a magnificent job of explaining and showing how cutthroat the world is for them. One thing that really strikes me is how carefully many words were used to give a non-Korean reader the exact impression of what happened. Words like "service" in the context of the room salons contrasted with the clinic. It's a subtle but thrilling difference.
Cons: A lot of what builds each POV character is their back story. The author carefully alludes to this or that to keep the reader interested in the beginning. But this kind of leads to a middle section that can drag a tiny bit because the book takes a passive shift. A lot of the character arcs are about finding hope and support, so the arcs are also at a stage where they aren't taking action. The two issues compound in the middle of the book. As a result, it can feel like not much of the actual story occurred. I think the book both is and isn't slice of life. Or at least, I think that the initial sections seem like a set up for a meatier plot, but the book ends up slice of life. I felt satisfied with the way the book ended, but I can see how someone else may be left expecting more.
Look I'm a sucker for a good female friendship book. I'm also a sucker for a good non-American/English culture immersion. And this book Delivered on both fronts.
Pros: strong female characters who have hopes and dreams and make mistakes and hard choices and sometimes you agree and sometimes you don't and I love them dearly. I loved how the four POV characters were extremely nuanced and sometimes typecast the other POV characters. Like it's easy to say that Miho is a daydreamer and isn't practical and sometimes the other POV characters will remark about how naive she is. But then Miho will get the reins and we'll see how she broke down every decision in her chapter. I was so excited to learn about the background story for each character. And I was so excited to see them support each other throughout the book. But even with this shiny, hopeful friend group, the author did a magnificent job of explaining and showing how cutthroat the world is for them. One thing that really strikes me is how carefully many words were used to give a non-Korean reader the exact impression of what happened. Words like "service" in the context of the room salons contrasted with the clinic. It's a subtle but thrilling difference.
Cons: A lot of what builds each POV character is their back story. The author carefully alludes to this or that to keep the reader interested in the beginning. But this kind of leads to a middle section that can drag a tiny bit because the book takes a passive shift. A lot of the character arcs are about finding hope and support, so the arcs are also at a stage where they aren't taking action. The two issues compound in the middle of the book. As a result, it can feel like not much of the actual story occurred. I think the book both is and isn't slice of life. Or at least, I think that the initial sections seem like a set up for a meatier plot, but the book ends up slice of life. I felt satisfied with the way the book ended, but I can see how someone else may be left expecting more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Drug use, Infertility, Misogyny, Alcohol, and Classism
sseoryn's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
i would have given it 4 stars if it weren't for the pace, the ending is somewhat satisfying, but in a way that's good bcs it gives the reader a chance to decipher their own versions of endings for each character. i would've liked to see more culture in it though, if it weren't for the characters names, occasional korean slangs i would have thought im just reading any ordinary contemporary english novel. i think it would have been a tad bit more interesting if they included ruby's pov, and maybe nami and hanbin yk? it would be really thought provoking and give a bit more insight to readers to know what goes on in a suicidal person's mind, a loving boyfriend who cheated, and a young girl who gave in early to *that* industry, personally i feel like frances wasted a lot of page count, especially on sujin? im not even sure if i got her name right, that's how much lack of background story frances gave on sujin, i couldn't get to know her as well as i knew other characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Abortion, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and Dysphoria
spoilersegmamaril's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infertility and Infidelity
Moderate: Ableism, Suicide, Violence, and Medical trauma
Minor: Miscarriage, Misogyny, and Physical abuse
shanominom's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I was looking for a book with complex female characters to sink my teeth into, and thankfully I found this one! I loved the tense, melancholy atmosphere, which, I felt, accurately depicted the constraints and challenges of being a woman in South Korea's patriarchal society. The characters were multi-faceted with unique back stories, and I liked Cha's decisions to keep specifics unknown/ambiguous!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Misogyny, Suicide, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
danajoy's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Medical content, and Alcohol
Moderate: Alcoholism, Bullying, Eating disorder, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Vomit, Pregnancy, and Abandonment
Minor: Adult/minor relationship