A review by cassie7e
Aesthetica by Allie Rowbottom

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
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