Reviews with content warning for Cancer - Aesthetica

Reviews tagging 'Cancer'

Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom

19 reviews

sarah984's review

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

stellahadz's review

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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

cassie7e's review against another edition

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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