I am going to keep this review short for a single reason: I REALLY DISLIKED the book. Size Zero has been categorized under the crime thriller genre but that’s only half accurate. While it lives up to the crime bit, the only thrill I felt was when I FINALLY finished reading it after constantly putting it down due to boredom and just hoping for something to happen.

The plot is dark and twisted but not in an amazing thriller way and rather in the most horrid way possible. The first chapter and the blurb belies the entire plotline. It’s nasty and this book is definitely not for everyone. There are multiple triggers to be found in the book: anorexia, abuse, rape, explicit language and more. The whole time it felt as if the author was trying too hard to assault my sensibilities instead of weaving a story and I didn’t find a single character that I liked (except maybe the mouse – Firago).

The problem with the book was that no matter how crazy the fashion industry is, the only “size zero” I found in the book was the pace, practically non-existent. You keep waiting for the book to finally start moving but all you get is a slight pulse to bring you out of the boredom-coma after every 7 chapters or so during which the pace and the story has flat lined itself. I may sound very harsh about the book but I believe the book would have been a great short story or maybe even a Netflix show with all the crazy but as an entire novella it’s a disaster.

I’m rating this book 1.5 bookmarks out of 5 solely for the cover and this is probably the first book which has let me down this year.

I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me with a copy in lieu of an honest review. I would also like to wish the author the best for her next book in this series and would like to congratulate her for coming of with this book, I unfortunately wasn't the reader for it.

I got through about a third of Size Zero but it was ultimately a DNF for me. The story is somewhat interesting in a very absurdist way but it didn’t really capture my attention. You might like this book if you like absurdist or surreal stories and a sort of dark humor/horror take on the fashion industry.

Unfortunately I just could not get into the plot, or the style of writing...manybyhanks to Netgalley for this ARC

“A gas mask, a condom dress, and even an animatronic T.rex had debuted at prior Fashion Weeks. But never before had a dead body.”

Cecil LeClaire now a monk, was once a hot topic in the fashion streets of NewYork City. He was once accused of murdering his own girlfriend, Annabelle Leigh at the age of 14. Now he’s accused of stripping a human skin and making it into a jacket studded with exotic stones for his mother, Margaeux who owns Visage, a modelling agency and a fashion brand. But this time, Cecil is not going to be shunned with people calling him a murderer, so he decides to get to the bottom of what had happened to his girlfriend Annabelle. He befriends a model, Ava Germaine who also is a spy for Perdonna, Cecil’s god mother who wants her to keep an eye on Margaeux!!

“It’s all a facade. The only thing superficial about the fashion industry is the ability to make everything seem superficial.”

Together Cecil and Ava discover hard truths about the fashion industry, models and the deeply running elite prostitution of the models. There are some dark graphic scenes portrayed in this novel, which is hard to even imagine. I always kind of knew that behind that shiny facade, there was drug, addiction and abuse in the fashion industry. But this novel, took those facts to another level. The parts on fashion cruelties were well researched.

Now for the murder mystery. Two things that kept me interesting were the dysfunctional characters, their motives and the suspense behind VD (not venereal disease), who is suspected to be behind the kidnapping and killing of Annabelle. The journey that reveals this VD, could’ve been a smooth drive, if not for the unwanted bumps and plot jerks.

If you’re interested in knowing the dark truths and nuances of the exotic fashion industry and model agencies with a dash of murder mystery, this is the book for you!!

3.75/5 ⭐️

Thank you Netgalley, Visage media, Abigail Mangin for the ARC. This is my own review and not influenced in anyway!

Not what I expected. Twist and turns. Missing friend, escape from reality to be a monk
Summoned back by famous fashion family. Compulsive reading and kept me guessing but suspend reality and enjoy the roller-coaster ride.

At the beginning, I really didn’t know what to think about this story. It is absolutely not for everyone. It’s bonkers and out there. Kind of the same weirdness as “Bunny” by Mona Awad. But they are in now way similar books. I wouldn’t say this one is full of thrill and mystery, but it errs more on the side of a super dark satire of the high fashion industry. In other words, don’t take everything in this book too literally. The plot was hard to follow at times and I think it could have been shortened. But when there was about 1/4 left the story really started to pick up and twists were getting exposed and things started falling into place. Fair warning, there are a lot of difficult and heavy subject matters to get through. Also this cover?? Amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever loved a cover as much as this one. This is the first book in a new series and I am intrigued enough to check out the next one.

This is an unusual crime novel, with a wonderfully exotic cast of characters. It is set around the fashion industry, which – hopefully – is not quite as bad as it is painted in this novel. If it is, it should be shut down tomorrow and everyone should take any suggestion that their daughter could be a model and rush her, as fast as possible, in the opposite direction.

That said, this is an interesting setting for a book and the action really begins at New York fashion week, when a young model, called Ava, is thrust into the limelight wearing a coat made from a corpse. More specifically, from the body of a girl, Annabelle Leigh, who had gone missing outside the house of the LeClare family; owners of the LeClare Model Management Agency. Cecil LeClare was fourteen at the time and good friends with Annabelle, who was the daughter of a chauffeur. However, he found himself suspected of her murder and, some years later, we find him at twenty four years old, and now Brother George, training to be a monk at St Joseph’s Abbey.

Of course, the sudden reappearance of Annabelle Leigh, brings the press to his door and he finds it is not so easy to escape being heir to a fashion house, where young girls eat cotton wool, are not allowed outside and whose every encounter is monitored. Nor is it so easy to escape his family, including the larger than life Perdonna or his mother, Margaux LeClare. I found this a really interesting premise; the author managed to make this crime novel both bizarre and yet, horribly, realistic. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.

Let’s begin with talking about this gorgeous cover! I can’t lie, this creepy yet beautiful cover stopped me in my tracks when I first saw it. I had to find out more and it’s what led me to reaching out to the amazing author @abigailmangin for a review copy. I can’t thank her enough for sending me a copy to review! I’ve been dying to read and review this one for you guys.

I’ll preface this review by saying this book is NOT for everyone. It is unlike anything I’ve ever read before, in a good way. It is dark, haunting, yet funny and reflective. Size Zero is hard to classify genre wise. It’s a satirical crime thriller with some dystopian elements thrown in. It’s a very dark social commentary on the modeling world and how poorly models are treated in the industry. Mangin’s writing is alluring, descriptive, and haunting at times making it easy to lose yourself in this superficial crazy modeling world.

I really enjoyed this one! It got better as it went on, and the last 100 pages or so had me on the edge of my seat. Great twists that I didn’t see coming. More important is the commentary about the modeling industry and the satirical aspect of this novel. It’s crazy to read about how these women are viewed as property rather than as a human being with rights. Without giving anything away, it gets very very dark and is not for the faint of heart.

If any of this intrigues you, I highly recommend you get yourself a copy. This is Mangin’s first novel and it deserves all the praise! You can request a copy through Netgalley or wait until July 12th for the physical release. This is the first in a new series and I can’t wait to see what happens next!

3.5 stars rounded up to a 4
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

Thank you @abigailmangin and @visage_ny for my arc as well as @netgalley for my digital version.

This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read before and I loved it. There are some trigger warnings of rape and graphic sex in this book. I never know what would happen next and I couldn’t put it down. Abigail did a great job of showing what the model industry can be like and how easy it can be to become tied up in sex trafficking. Even though this was a “futuristic” book I felt that these scenarios could very easy play out in today’s world. The writing felt authentic and I can’t wait to read the other books in this series.

Unfortunately not for me. Although I loved the premise, 8 chapters in (19%) I just wasn't feeling any attachment. The writing seems jarring in parts and it doesn't flow well in places. I just didn't enjoy it enough or care enough to continue reading - especially knowing it's the first in a series.

I'm afraid I came away from this thinking 'what the hell did I just read?!' I hesitate to call it bad because it wasn't. It was just different. So different that I could no get a handhold. I like weird but I think this might have been too flamboyantly out there for even me. My real criticism however, is that the character's felt like a vehicle for criticism of various issues such as fashion, body image, law, and societal mores, when the story should have been a vehicle for the characters. As such, I couldn't engage with any of them. I'm sure some readers are happy to have that distance but I'm afraid I'm not one of them. I am clearly not in the target audience for this book.

This is a good book; the story is witty, the characters are well developed, and the writing is solid. I commend the author for being so brave publishing this as her first novel, as it is a very niche read. It contains very detailed, upsetting themes which may be shocking and disturbing to some readers. If you understand this sense of humour and satire, you will definitely love the novel. I can see this being developed into a HBO show, too, as it ticks all the boxes.

A strange and disturbing book. Not quite for me, but thats just my opinion and others will find it fascinating.

First in a trilogy, Size Zero is a story about the dark side of the fashion industry.
*
There was an abduction which in turn led to the main character turning to religion and becoming a monk in an attempt to heal from his loss.
Only for his old life to rear its ugly (or should I say, beautiful) head, seeing him sucked back into the thick of it to help clear his name.
*
A web of secrecy, lies and facade running rife in the industry, poisoning leading brands and its people. Dark with sinister twists centred around an underground, organised network of traffickers.
Young girls with dreams of making it as a supermodel; taken advantage of along with their parents for the benefit of agencies, designers and the super rich.
*
The story has layers, building, going back and forth from present day to past events in order to give the reader the backstory.
——————
A good ‘who done it?’ with graphic descriptions on topics that readers will likely find disturbing.
Child abuse, sex trafficking, anorexia and sexual abuse are all underlying topics addressed, that a reader may wish to consider before opening the cover.
*
Providing a different reading experience to what you’d expect from a more traditional crime/mystery.
*
Quite detailed which extended the story perhaps longer than needed to hit the crescendo and took me a couple of chapters to get into, but then I really enjoyed it.
*
Looking forward to the next instalment!

P.s. LOVE the cover too ☺️

Can we talk about the cover for just a second? It is amazing and gets you thinking about what a gruesome claw has to do with a book about fashion. Yes there are some over-worded descriptions and details but it wasn't a negative for me. I am so glad this is book one of a series. The author is also new to me and can't wait until book two! This is a dark, twisted, horrific, sci-fi/fantasy look at the pressures and spotlight of the fashion world. Yes, there is plenty of glitz, crazy accessories and luxurious fabrics; but there is also the heinous because a corpse has been turned into a coat. I love there is a thriller/crime aspect to it to stop the evil in the fashion industry which has turned to organized crime. Many awful things can happen to models when they come to NYC (or any place) to becomes part of the fashion industry.

I just didn't even know how to react to what I read; it was so shocking. This might not be for everyone because it is thriller/crime but also has a sci-fi and fantasy element to it with a lot of horror. But it was a still a worthwhile read for me and definitely different. Like I said, cant wait for book two and highly recommended if you want a book that will keep you up at night. Glad I live in a place where I don't have a need for a heavy coat ever again.

Thanks to Netgalley, Abigail Mangin and Visage Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. I definitely want a hard copy at publishing date.

Available: 7/12/20

I *think* I understand what the author was going for here, but to be honest, it just wasn't for me. I like crazy books, and I'm all for weird stuff, but this just went all over the place and really missed the mark for me.

This book was really something else!

Thanks @visage_ny & @abigailmangin for sending me a review copy!🖤

Size Zero is a dark black satire about the modelling industry, but also sharply relevant and biting.

Super overwritten, the plot bounces all over the place like a rubber ball and you want to stop reading it, but then you're dragged back in by the mention of human skin boots, or a fancy rat, or glittery tooth goo that sounds like something out of The Hunger Games...

I liked the look at the dark side of modeling aka the sex trafficking industry.
I didn't like the weird incest lusty bits and the whole monk-turned-fashion designer with a savior complex was just confusing and weird.

Will I read the next book in the series? Yup, because it was so fucking strange and I'm intrigued by what the author will come up with next.

Don't read this if you are triggered by eating disorders, sexual abuse, bizarre erotica, or just easily triggered.
This isn't a spoiler (it's a book about models) but there's hella sexual abuse and disordered eating. Being pregnant reading this was a weird experience because I simultaneously wanted to be skinny and thin again but I also read this while eating a bowl of chips and wishing I could get beignets delivered hot to me every morning.

There's some strong female characters and some really despicable ones too. Definitely a story that will keep me thinking about it for awhile.

⭐⭐⭐🌠/5 stars.

Size Zero comes out July 12th and I'd suggest putting it on your TBR if any of this intrigued you.

Wait, what? Human skin coat? Condom dress? I'm in!!
This definitely won't be for everyone, but I'm a fan of gore and morbid stories. So I thought this would be up my alley.

The story started off very strong for me, but I wasn't a fan of the religious aspect to be honest. I knew the MC was a rich boy turned monk. But I wasn't expecting THAT much coverage on church living. It made for a slower and awkward read.

Overàll, I'd still say to give it a try for those who enjoy dark thrillers like I do.

This book is legitimately creepy. I’m sure that others will love it, but I didn’t enjoy it. Rating it 2.5 stars / 5 because it is well written, but not for everyone.

Advanced copy provided courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A special thank you to NetGalley, and Visage Media for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pushing boundaries is nothing new at Fashion Week so when kidnapped model Ava Germain stumbles on the runway wearing a coat made out of a dead body, the initial reaction is that it is a deconstructionist art piece. But then it becomes apparent that the garment is real human skin.

When the body is identified as Annabelle Leigh, the teenager that disappeared a decade ago, her former boyfriend once again becomes the obvious suspect. Cecil LeClair, now a monk, makes his return to Manhattan to try and clear his name before he takes his solemn vows. As the the heir to his mother Margaux’s LeClaire Model Management, Cecil as Annabelle's killer has always been the most popular theory.

Cecil teams up with Ava to search for Annabelle's killer and clear his name. Can Cecil find the truth in a world built on lies?

Starting with one of the most shocking and horrific openings, Size Zero is a disturbing satirical comment on the disfunction and cruelty of the fashion industry. Campy and deliciously soapy, Mangin's writing is visually stunning, but exhausting. Unfortunately, the whole thing became overdramatic, desperate, and ridiculous—I grew tired of Size Zero rather quickly.

I applaud her efforts as a first time author and hope that this book finds its audience.