Natural Beauty

February 15, 2023
In this debut novel, a former pianist takes a job at a groundbreaking holistic wellness company, where she learns the extent to which her new employers will go to make their privileged clients happy. The unnamed narrator of the book--who eventually takes the name Anna when her employers claim her given Chinese name is too complicated--is the daughter of immigrants who fled China following the Cultural Revolution. Her parents worked as piano teachers, and when the narrator shows skill at the instrument, they devote their limited time and energy to helping her develop it. That skill eventually lands her a place at the prestigious Conservatory in New York City, where she is shunned by her peers due to her talent and bullied for her lack of wealth. When returning to New Jersey following one of her recitals, her parents are in a devastating car accident that requires they be placed in a care facility, and the narrator stops playing piano to take on minimum wage jobs to pay for their care. But when Saje, the face of the wellness company Holistik, comes into the restaurant where the narrator is working and offers her a job, her life begins to change. Given the most cutting-edge supplements and treatments, the narrator begins to see her own body morph into a Westernized ideal of beauty. But as she becomes more enmeshed in Holistik--becoming friends with the owner's niece, taking on additional tasks that show her parts of the company others don't see--she begins to question the moral core of what they do. This dystopian horror story poses questions about race, wellness culture, privilege, and beauty, but it struggles to do so in a way that provides deep consideration. A lack of setup makes the story hard to follow; the author rushes key aspects, from details such as what gift the narrator is given by a friend to larger considerations such as why a stranger offered the narrator a job on the spot that she accepted without question. Although it will keep the reader guessing, this novel ultimately moves too quickly to provide a satisfactory payoff on the many mysteries it lays out. The sinister side of the wellness industry is rich ground for a horror novel, but this debut falls short.

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Starred review from February 20, 2023
A young Chinese American woman learns the secrets of a sinister wellness company in Huang’s incisive and disquieting debut. After the unnamed narrator’s parents are involved in a severe car accident, she abandons her classical music career to focus on their care. She receives an auspicious invitation to work at a Goop-esque Holistik outlet, where she becomes one of a bevy of salesgirls, hocking everything from face creams to emotional support ducklings, and her employer pressures her into taking the workplace name Anna for the ease of customers who struggled with her given name. As the narrator tries the treatments, she notices surreal changes to her appearance, including lighter skin, longer legs, and bigger breasts. She also forms a close friendship with Helen, the owner’s niece, and develops an attraction to Helen while giving her piano lessons. Eventually, Helen reveals clues about Holistik’s nefarious machinations. Insidious Western standards, fears about bodily autonomy, and queer desire intersect as Huang’s precise and subtle portrayal of the beauty industry builds to an explosive climax. Alternatingly poignant and deeply unsettling, this is an outstanding first outing for an immensely talented author. Agent: Kirby Kim, Janklow & Nesbit Assoc.

Starred review from March 15, 2023
An unnamed narrator takes the stage in this haunting and immersive novel. Her childhood was intrinsically linked to the piano, as she studied with her talented parents and became a prodigy herself. But her studies at the prestigious conservatory were interrupted by an accident, and now she must give up a life of music for a steady income. She is recruited by Holistik, a boutique company providing innovative skin care and health supplements to consumers. At first, the job seems innocuous, a simple way to earn the money she needs. She becomes immediately infatuated with the shop's potter, Helen; she learns about miracle salves and creams that can stop aging and completely change a person's face. But the deeper she is pulled into Holistik's net, the more she realizes that the company has a sinister side. Huang, an accomplished violinist, brings expertise to her debut, which has already been optioned for television. The novel seamlessly blends sf, literary fiction, suspense, and body horror while also exploring the oppression of the beauty industry and the Chinese immigrant experience in America. The writing is lyrical even when plot events are profoundly tragic, and the protagonist's journey will captivate readers throughout. Highly recommended.

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