I read the first chapter of this book and think it’s testament to the skill of the author’s writing that I had such an emotional response to the book. I was surprised by this intense emotional reaction but have had to put my own well-being first and I’ve set this book aside. I think it will be a wonderful read and I’m glad a book has been published that explores the realities of these women’s lives. If I feel able, I hope to return to the book at a later date and I would edit my review should that happen. I don’t want to hinder the book’s success and so have left a five star review.

Enjoyed!

I enjoyed "If I Had Your Face", a debut novel by American-Korean author Frances Cha, from the very first pages. It introduced me to several fascinating characters (all of them likeable despite their flaws) and issues of beauty standards and sexism in South Korea. Frances writes about serious topics lightly and she does not preach. A couple of times while I was reading this book I had goosebumps running up and down my spine. Other times the novel felt like an entertaining comedy for millenials. Frances touches upon (sometimes fleetingly and without going into detail) very serious topics a modern young woman in a huge metropolis faces every day. Every person is a universe. Sure, it is impossible to have any such universe packed into 288 pages of the book (any book), but I was enthralled with the opportunity to have a short glimpse into the world of Korean women.

This is not “Crazy Rich Asians” (thank God for that!). It is deeper, sadder, sharper. Like a scalpel of a surgeon cutting one's jawbone tissue for a beautiful chin. Things you do to be beautiful! After all, beauty is also money.

Many thanks to the publisher and @NetGalley for providing this book for free in exchange for a fair review.

Enjoyed #IfIHadYourFace by @Frances_H_Cha so SO much! Getting to see behind the glamorous facade of South Korea was FASCINATING and I was hooked and desperate for the characters to be okay. Thank you @PenguinUKBooks and #netgalley for letting me read it!

3.5 stars.
I have to admit, I was initially drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover (I know you're not meant to judge a book by its cover but this one had my attention immediately).
I wasn't sure what to expect, especially considering the fact that I didn't know that plastic surgery was such a big thing in South Korea.
It was quite difficult to keep track of the different women and it lacked the kind of descriptive storytelling that I look for in a book. However, it was an interesting and intriguing subject matter.
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I struggled to get into this book at first but then when the author outlined the different characters, I wanted to know more about their stories. Knowing nothing about Korea this is a fascinating insight into the world of 4 women who are doing their best to navigate a world of financial inequality and a particular sense of beauty. Two of the women have plastic surgery to make themselves more desirable so they can work in a 'room salon' which is exactly as it sounds, catering to rich men who have no respect for women and drink to excess. Its not an easy book to read at times with the inequality and focus on how painful plastic surgery is the only way to get ahead for these women. This is a debut novel and at times that showed in the clumsiness of how the various strands were brought together and some elements of some stories were left unfinished but I enjoyed the characterisation of the women very much.

With thanks to Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review

I read If I Had Your Face earlier this year and immediately gave it five stars. Set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, my immediate thought was ‘Why don’t we see more books as this published?’. Through the lives of five women — the gorgeous, debt-ridden Kyuri with multiple cosmetic procedures done on her face and running a bar or ‘salon room’, the timid artist Miho who grew up in an orphanage and dating a rich heir, the mute Ara who is a die-hard fan of a K-pop idol, the generous Sujin who is saving up to to gift her friend a plastic surgery procedure and pregnant Wonna who doesn’t want to lose her baby — If I Had your Face drives a knife into beauty standards, misogyny, fandom, class and women pandering to the needs of men. If I Had your Face is very character driven, so skip this if you are plot picky. But if you aren’t (and you shouldn’t be), it is insightful, heart warming and makes you feel like a silent friend to these women. Read it for a slice of life in Seoul

This is not a book for me - I found the subject matter really quite difficult. But I can see that for some this would be a great read.

I received an ARC of this book thanks to NetGalley and publisher Penguin Books UK in exchange for an honest review.

This is a book unlike any I have ever read before, but the premise sounded so promising that I couldn't resist giving it a go. I am so glad I did. If I Had Your Face is the story of four Korean women, living in a society where plastic surgery is the norm and everyone earns a lot but saves nothing. This is not a plot-heavy book truth be told, but it is driven forward by the characters and the writing, which is incredibly compelling. It follows the typical format of having several narrators and plotlines and rotating through them, although most of the characters are close friends.

There are some flaws to this book sadly holding it back. I was 40% through the book before I reached the fourth narrator and by that point, I was slightly alarmed by the amount of time we were going to get with each storyline. As I mentioned, this is not a plot-driven book and honestly, there isn't really a plot to speak of. This is not something I consider a flaw because the book itself is still very engaging and has a lot to say. However, I would personally have cut the parts about Wonna (the pregnant neighbour) as her plot didn't go anywhere and she didn't really interact much with anyone else, so I can't say she added a lot overall. I did also find keeping track of some of the characters confusing, but that could be due to my own unfamiliarity with Korean names. In particular, I struggled to keep up with what was going on with Miho's boyfriend.

Overall, this was a refreshing and unforgettable read for me. I wish more time had been dedicated to building up the character's plotlines into a satisfying climax but putting that aside, I'm so pleased I picked this up. Frances Cha feels like an author who will go very far and I can't wait to read her next book.

Overall Rating: 4/5 stars

Frances Cha’s debut novel introduces you to the lives of five women in modern day Seoul with their stories told through four of their alternating voices - and Cha did a great job of it.

While reading I was struck by two opposing things. First, that there are some big differences in South Korean culture and society in comparison to my neck of the woods - Queensland, Australia. Second that there are some big similarities. Aussies worry about finding a partner, having kids, job security, and money. We too wonder if our partner might be cheating and whether we are beautiful enough - and plenty of botox is being injected here in the pursuit of a ‘better self’ and more opportunity. My eyes were thoroughly opened, though, when I learned how widespread plastic surgery is in South Korea. Turns out they have one of the highest plastic surgery rates in the world.

If you’ve ever wondered how room salon’s work, this book will help you to understand. A quick summary: Corporate workers take guests there to entertain and impress them while doing business. The girls drink with them - and they drink a lot! I’m not sure how much grey area there is but sounds like an unhealthy lifestyle. Also many girls end up stuck when they get into debt to management after borrowing for plastic surgery. I guess the idea is to do better by looking better though it all sounds a bit dangerous and circular.

Each character was distinct yet equally compelling as Cha takes you through their life, dreams and backstory. Not all characters are connected to the room salons. Wonna is married and pregnant, Ara is a hairdresser.

I really enjoyed this fascinating novel. Five stars from me.

3.5 rounded up

Cha's debut is a scathing indictment on how women - and, in particular their physical appearance - are viewed within contemporary Korean society. The narrative follows four young women, three of whom are friends and one who lives on the floor below them in their apartment block, and through these women we learn about the pressure to look beautiful above anything else an the importance placed on this.

One character, Wonna, is pregnant and stressed about how she can afford to raise a baby whilst holding down a job; another, Kyuri, works as a "room salon" girl being paid to drink with rich business men; Miho is an orphan who wins an art scholarship to America where she meets a chaebol daughter, Ruby, and becomes enmeshed in her life; and finally Ara, a hairdresser who becomes mute after an accident and is obsessed with a famous K-pop star.

I have to admit to finding the plot a little patchy at times, but I could forgive that for what I found to be an insightful and disheartening look at the position of women in Korea today. Having visited Korea several years ago (and watched my fair share of K-dramas...) the topic isn't new to me, but I thought Cha handled it very well. This will inevitably be compared to Kim Jiyoung, Born 1982, although if you're looking for a more plot-driven novel I'd recommend this one of the two.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was written through the perspective of 4 characters who you soon find out all live in the same building and know each other. Through each chapter you learn more about each one and their past and how it has led to them being where they are now. The stories soon connect and you get a much fuller picture. I think it is a great character led novel that will grip you as you learn more about each of these women.

This book was a really good surprise. It is very bleak at times but I loved the various characters and their back story; and I felt the author was trying to depict accurately various female experiences, without judgment, and to show the struggles of so many young women. These young women are all flewed in their own way, and they are all struggling to survive and make ends meet and the whole plot (plot is a loose word, but I did not mind) took me to a world completely different from mine. I really enjoyed it.

I cannot believe that this is a debut book.
This has been a fantastic book which I have devoured in just a few hours.
There is nothing negative I can say about this book. I have absolutely loved it.

My new favourite feminist novel. The author is brave and unflinching, and this novel could be the start of something big. Unsettling, but worth it.

'Even as a girl, I knew the only chance I had was to change my face. When I looked into the mirror, I knew everything in it had to change, even before a fortune-teller told me so." If I Had Your Face' is written from the multiple perspectives of women in their 20s attempting to navigate life in Gangnam and Seoul. Set against a background of unrealistic beauty standards that seem wild even from a Western perspective- where lip fillers are becoming the norm- in Korea if you want to get ahead in life as a woman, it seems that you must have plastic surgery. If you are beautiful you can work in one of the 'top 10%' drinking parlours (a front for prostitution) in which one of the characters works and another character is attempting to break into. From this comes money and hopefully a husband or at least gifts on becoming a rich man's mistress.

I was pulled into the weaving narrative of this story- we learn the different backgrounds and what brought these women together and how they learn to make the best of their situations. These women are bound together and appear to be 'friends' but Cha shows how female friendship sometimes involves a love/hate dynamic and those we are closet to secretly despise us at times. There is major jealousy at every turn here- the most beautiful of the group is envious of the most artistically talented. We all want what we can't have.

Other themes explored within the story include the stigma endured my women forced into prostitution, the eternal question of whether women can have it all (can you work AND be a mother?) and whether money and success as determined by capitalism or living simply is the better life are all touched upon. I wish this book had been longer and the narrative stretched over a longer time period to fully investigate these themes.

Cha brings to life the frantic bustling night life of Seoul and this is the first book I've read set in Korea that makes me want to visit and drink shochu in a packed bar. I would have liked an ending in which the characters narratives were given more finality, but in finishing the story leaving the girls as a group sitting on the steps to their apartment building, we are left to decide their fates for them. If you have a free afternoon this book is definitely worth reading and will give you a punchy introduction to 21st century big city life in Korea,

What an interesting and great first novel!

This novel explores many different aspects of the modern day culture and pressure that exists in South Korea for women especially. Cha talks about many variant subjects such as the pursuit of beauty via plastic surgery, working in room salon (places where you can drink with beautiful Korean girls and can expect to take them to a hotel after), the inequality and sexism still very much present and strong, the societal pressure of marriage and motherhood, etc.

This novel has amazing insights into the culture and I really felt more knowledgeable about South Korean mentality and food after reading it. I recommend this first novel! Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me read an advance copy.

A fresh novel about the pursuit of beauty, and how far women may go to get it.

I was intrigued by this story of four women connected by the apartment building that they live in and how their lives become entwined.

Getting a look into the salon room culture, which I had no idea about, was startling. However, the story of the mean madam who claims such a large debt needs to be repaid is a familiar story.

Ultimately, I wanted a bit more of a conclusion to these stories as we had barely scratched the surface of the four women I thought. Thanks to netgalley and Viking UK for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

«If I Had Your Face» is a debut novel, set in modern-day Seoul, South Korea, following four different women who live in the same apartment building. There is Ara, the girl who lost her voice and works in a hair salon while sharing her apartment with her childhood friends Sujin. Kyuri, the girl who works in a “room salon”, a prostitute who made it to the top of that industry. Miho, an artist who is dating one of the wealthiest heirs in Korea. And finally, Wonna, the wife whose relationship is going through a rough time.

In «If I Had Your Face» Frances Cha explores one of the most popular and controversial subjects of modern-day Korea - appearances and plastic surgery. According to many media outlets, South Korea is going through a plastic surgery boom, having the highest number of cosmetic procedures per capita. In fact, South Korea has become so famous for their K-beauty surgeries that it’s one of the top destinations for everyone around the world who is looking to perfect their features - eyes, noses, and chins, in a matter of months (maybe a year) you’ll have that perfect Korean face everyone has been so obsessed about.

If even outside of Korea, we hear a lot about that trend, I can’t honestly imagine the pressure of publicity in Seoul or other larger South Korean cities.

I think this book has come out at a perfect time, to not only raise awareness but also spread the word about the potential “normalcy” of plastic surgeries. It’s slowly becoming a day-to-day necessity for women to change their features, not only for health or self-esteem reasons but also to get more attention to their careers and boost their income.

No matter how much progress we’ve made in the last 50-60 years, women are still very often judged by their looks. I think plastic surgeries are a great tool to use for health reasons, which can be physical or mental health. If a smaller nose or less protruded chin will make someone’s life that much better than that’s the way to go. But I hate seeing plastic surgeries as a marketing tool for career growth, for conquering your place in the misogynistic world!

I also want to highlight that France Cha doesn’t directly attack the K-pop or K-beauty in her book. She lets the readers decide for themselves while providing different perspectives on the subject.

It was interesting to follow these 4 very different girls in their day-to-day life. Frances Cha created very real and unique characters. And even though the story is told from the first perspective, you could immediately see whose story you were following. Each one of them had a very distinct voice and qualities.

I could keep rambling on and on about this book, but to not bore you all, I’ll just say that if you love character-driven Literary Fiction and want to learn more about Asian (more specifically, South Korean) modern-day culture, this book will be perfect!

I thought that this book would be more interesting than it turned out to be. I kept hoping that the story would get better. Not my type of book. Sorry.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

A powerful and revealing look at the lives of women in modern South Korea, Frances Cha's novel is a fascinating and involving read. This is the story of four women who live in the same apartment block in Seoul, three of whom are friends and one, a slightly older married woman, who lives on the floor beneath. Initially, this seemed like a book that would focus solely on the three younger women's obsession with appearance, and the several plastic surgery operations that they have either had or want to have.

Kyuri works as a hostess in a 'room salon', whilst her roommate Miho is an artist with an older, rich boyfriend. Across the hall lives Ara, a hair stylist with an unhealthy obsession with K-pop superstar Taein and who, after a shocking physical assault, is mute and communicates by writing in her notebook. Downstairs is Wonna with her husband, newly pregnant but, after a series of miscarriages, afraid that she will lose this baby as well.

As their stories develop - and Cha uses the sylistic device of alternating each chapter with a first-person perspective from each of the four - the book develops into much more than just the superficial. Cha explores the role of women in the workplace, their exploitation in the 'salon' industry, the pitfalls of maternity leave and, above all, the tension between the older and younger generations in terms of expectations and filial duty. And as their stories and relationships reach some sort of conclusion, each of the four is somehow changed and looks ahead to tomorrow with a slightly different outlook.

Once the book got beyond the plastic surgery theme (ok, it's a metaphor for the whole book, I know) I really enjoyed this insight into the lives of a culture completely different to the West. And whilst the end had a kind of Sex and the City feel, as the four women sit outside their apartment block and share a moment, overall this was a really enjoyable, often powerful, novel. Definitely recommended. 4 stars.

(With thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an ARC of this title.)