Natural Beauty (2023) -Ling Ling
This book would be a perfect introduction to “weird fiction” and speculative horror
Content Warnings: Body horror, sexual assault, death, cannibalism, racism
Representation: Chinese, East Asian, wlw
Favorite Quote: “It’s unfortunate that I can undermine months of parental reassurance in just a few seconds, but it’s probably better for kids to learn early on that yes, monsters are real.”
Natural Beauty is a commentary on the beauty industry and Eurocentric beauty standards that utilizes body horror and aspects of speculative fiction to present a picture of unmediated technological advancements at the expense of individualism and multiculturalism. This is a story told through the lens of a daughter of Chinese immigrants raised to be a skilled pianist until a tragedy pulls her away from her musical passions.
Presented with a new opportunity to pursue the American dream her parents wished for her, this unnamed protagonist begins working for an exclusive beauty company, called Holistik, known for their experimental beauty treatments and a deep rabbit hole of dark speculation around the company’s creator and its practices. Dismissing these theories as online paranoia, however, the protagonist readily accepts the job and extensive beauty regimen that comes with it. At the same time, she befriends the niece of Holistik’s owner and becomes transfixed on this beautiful new figure in her life.
Throughout the novel, the protagonist undergoes extensive changes to her body, and while she herself resists the pull of vanity and pursuit of perfection that surrounds her, desperation leads to her being pulled deeper and deeper into the schemes of Holistik. Slowly, readers watch as the identity of this character is stripped from her as the story spirals into a darker and darker reflection of consumerism.
The protagonist’s identities as a Chinese American as well as a queer woman are ever-present and core to the novel’s message. Surrounded by women who all appear the same—light-skinned and thin with blonde hair—the protagonist easily slips into this beauty standard, unconscious of the way it steals her sense of self and cultural identity from her. At the same time, attraction, envy, and love are all conflated with one another in this environment that fosters competition amongst the women who work for this company.
Natural Beauty is a great read for fans of body horror and those who appreciate biting societal commentary in the media they consume. With just over 250 pages, this mis-size novel packs a punch and presents a lot for readers to sit with long after finishing the book. This is also a stunning debut novel for Ling Ling Huang, laying the foundation for what I hope to be equally impactful follow-up novels from this author.