Another book claiming to be "American Psycho" meets something else. Always a tough claim, given that AP is one of my favorite books of all time, if not my #1. But I also love messed up stories about workplace environments and the beauty industry, so I really wanted to read this one! I will say that this one did a better job of working in the tributes without being a flat out copy, like another book I read last year. (annoyed side eye) Obviously, any time a narrator vividly describes her beauty regimen in painstaking detail she's going to remind the reader of Patrick Bateman. But luckily this only happens near the beginning of the story, with additional well-placed echoes of Bret Easton Ellis again later on that don't overstay their welcome. And I don't want to spoil anything, but E.K. Sathue did a nice job of easing me into the depravity gradually in a way I was not expecting, like sinking my legs into a steaming bathtub. Don’t expect this to be a full on horror fest from start to finish, but once the unsettling part kicks in, it goes pretty hard. This is a book that really gets unhinged the deeper you go. If you commit, you will be rewarded. There were a couple of small twists in the narrative that weren’t exactly surprising, but they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. I WAS surprised at the level of callousness that our narrator is capable of, and just how dark the story got.

<b>The things I didn't love:</b>

There were a few times that there was no transition between topics and I was completely lost. Example: when Sophia first starts talking about her friend Mona it happens out of nowhere and I had no idea what was happening, if this person was there with her or if it was a memory, etc. There was another time that Sophia suddenly went from being at work to being at a party within a paragraph and it was very confusing. A minor complaint, but something to mention.

I also found myself wondering, “Why do some of these flashbacks matter?” The book moves back and forth between a past narrative describing Sophia’s friendship with Mona and her current situation at this new job. You also learn about a relationship she had in the past, but that story develops so slowly over the course of the book that it isn’t clear for a long time why we’re supposed to care. All the stuff happening with her coworkers at the beauty company is way more strange and interesting (to me.) I personally would've preferred an entire narrative about her experience at HEBE, (the beauty company.)

This was the first book I’ve read in a minute where I thought to myself, “Does the language need to be this flowery?” But it wasn’t always a bad thing. When it comes to the horror, those scenes were vivid. The descriptions of habitual and extreme nail biting are graphic and painful to read. It’s like that one part in “Black Swan” times ten. I can’t peel the red wax off of a Babybel cheese without picturing that image, and from now on I’ll think about Natalie Portman’s finger AND this book whenever I enjoy my snack. (The actual humanity!) 

"Youthjuice" deals with quite a few themes and does that pretty well. Peer pressure in a job environment, the bankrupt morality of the beauty industry (that lipstick line they come up with oh my god), and friendship vs. personal interest are all explored in fun and unsettling ways. I do think the story rambles a bit at the end, and the conclusion is one that I’ve encountered several times, at least enough for it to feel cliche at this point. Something a bit different would've felt more refreshing.

This reminded me a bit of the book "Natural Beauty" and had sprinkles of the movie "Heathers," (minus a lot of the humor.) It was mildly funny here and there but not a laugh riot. If you like those things especially, you should check this one out! Because of one very depraved ongoing element of the plot, it also kept reminding me of books I've read by Kathe Koja. I can't explain why without spoiling things. I'm giving "Youthjuice" four stars because overall I do think it was a fun and messed up story, one of the better books in this niche.

Thanks so much to Netgalley and to the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

TW: self harm, disordered eating, body shaming, overdose, substance abuse, mentions of SA, suicide

I think the book was average. I didn't feel excited reading it, I guess I found it flat sometimes, maybe it's just me. But I also think the plot is interesting and maybe other readers might enjoy it.

This main character is SO not ok; she is disturbed and completely unwell in the head. This book often made me uncomfortable and I mean that in the best way possible. I loved reading Sophie's rapid unraveling amidst her saccharine, cult-y beauty and wellness gig. The facade can only be kept up for so long and the flashback chapters emphasize that--I thought this was absolutely brilliant.

It reminded me of a combination of Mona Awad's Rouge and Bunny and I loved both of those. Chances are if you liked those as well, you'll definitely dig this.

Gen Z's Patrick Bateman has arrived: and her name is Sophia Bannion! YouthJuice grabs you from the very start and makes you complicit in the events that unfold!

Suspiria, Death Becomes her, and the legend of Countess Elizabeth Bathory come together to make a story about a Sophia, a young woman who begins working for Hebe, a skincare brand with a dark secret as to how it's founder stays young and youthful. Sophia Bannon begins working as a creative at Hebe, a skincare and makeup brand founded by Tree Whitehouse (a popular influencer who is known for her beauty). Sophia craves perfection and beauty and working at Hebe introduces her to Youthjuice, a cream that destroys your blemishes... but the secret ingredient will cost you. Sophia wants more, she wants to be perfect like Tree, she craves the image of perfection, yet the closer she gets to Tree and the more involved she gets in the company the more she'll begin to delve into the question of how far she'll go for perfection and what price she is willing to pay. For me, this book was advertised as American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada (Two of my favorite things) but it very much did not live up to that for me, it felt closer to Suspiria and Countess Bathory with a dash of Goop. It's got some cool moments of body horror but other than that the book just kind of felt meh to me. I was expecting something else and this one just kind of fell flat to me overall. I love horror and this one just was kind of boring to me unfortunately, it definitely felt similar to Rouge by Mona Awad but a little less horror compared to that one. Overall, if you are looking for a slowish horror book with a mixture of modern beauty and a dash of Elizabeth Bathory, give this a go, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

*Thanks Netgalley and Soho Press, Hell's Hundred for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Calling this "the Gen Z American Psycho" is completely incorrect as a huge fan of that book and a huge fan of this one. Even though the Devil Wears Prada-ness of the ultimate twist is communicated in advance, the way the horrific, grotesque and hilarious turn of events plays out is...disgusting and captivating. I could not put this book down! Holy crap.

First of all, this cover is magnificent. Too bad the story didn't match. I was expecting something sharp, more along the lines of SELF CARE by Leigh Stein, but it wasn't. youthjuice was just dull.

I’m such a sucker for a soft pink cover with a little blood on it. The subtle hints that something evil and bizarre is flowing through those pages made me shiver with anticipation. Then I spotted American Psycho in the synopsis and I couldn’t contain my excitement.

Step into the world of life-changing skincare. Youthjuice will not only make you feel like a million bucks but it'll also make you appear years younger than you actually are. Ms. Báthory would love these products because they are to die for.

They were not joking when they compared this to American Psycho. Sophia is our very own female Patrick Bateman. It took me a while to see it but once you really dig deep it comes hitting you in the back of the head with a sledgehammer. I was waiting for Soph to ask her coworkers if they like Huey Lewis and the News.

The story, wow. I was blown away because it wasn't as gore-ridden as I had imagined. I didn't think that was going to fit but I was wrong. It made me a lot more interested in the story. This was one that I couldn't wait to read what happened next and it did not disappoint. It was thrilling and overall demented. A true classic of its time.

Youthjuice is one of the best horror books of the year and one I will have to purchase for my collection.

YOUTHJUICE by EK Sathue
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978164129...
Release Date: June 4th, 24
General Genre: Horror, Satire, Feminist
Sub-Genre/Themes: Interns, lifestyle brands, beauty gurus, company politics, diet culture, fast fashion, *self harm, identity issues, "miracle cures", snake oil, female friendship
Writing Style: tongue-in-cheek, black comedy, satire, dual narrative
What You Need to Know: I read a NetGalley copy and quit right around 50%
My Reading Experience: This just wasn't for me. I thought that the author has a great understanding of the premise and the message, but the execution was a little messy. There are pitch perfect, spot on moments of clarity with the bright lights shining right on the ugly side of the beauty industry and fast fashion and anti-aging, but I felt like "the big reveal" was obvious and the main character is underdeveloped despite the multiple flashbacks to her past and her best friend named, Mona. I could not get invested in that storyline.
Final Recommendation: For horror readers who love to read books poking holes in specific industries marketed toward women.
Comps: Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang (content), My Year of Rest and Relaxation (tone) by Ottessa Moshfegh, Ripe (tone) by Sarah Rose Etter

This is an odd book. I did not HATE it, but I found myself putting down and not being excited to read more.

Forced myself to finish it.

Unfortunately I did not finish this book. I like the premise but it was hard to keep track of characters and the timeline because of the constant flashbacks. I read 62% of it and I still don't know where the story is going.

I'll be honest. It started pretty slowly, but I loved the last hundred pages. I'm especially pleased with the fact that she ended on top. I love a female success story even when it involves women's wrongs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Soho Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely devoured youthjuice. The body horror is expertly written while the “it girl” skincare/wellness obsessed concept was super fun. The women in this story are unhinged and spiraling in the best way. The flashbacks in time of the female main character’s past really put you into her head and feels so nostalgic of girlhood. I think readers of horror, literary fiction, and suspense can really enjoy this one like I did!
The cover art is perfection as well! Can’t wait to snag a copy on pub day: June 4, 2024.

thanks to netgalley for a free arc of this title in exchange for an honest review. this is one that i’m going to HAVE to purchase upon release. a fearsome, gory satire of the wellness industry, youthjuice is a biting critique of consumerism, girlboss feminism, and what it means to be beautiful. sathue creates a complex, unhinged narrative through sophia, and the way her mind unravels the deeper she gets in with the hebe crew is deliciously evil. absolutely loved the tongue-in-cheek humor and delectable body horror.

Wellness culture taken to the extreme. I fully enjoyed this novel - the pace picks up about halfway through and feels like a fever dream in the best way.

In many ways this reminded me of Rouge by Mona Awad. Beauty cults gone wild. Guts, gore, glamour.

I absolutely loved the author’s writing style, and found the novel engaging. I particularly enjoyed the jumps between 2008 and present day to reveal Sophia’s past.
I didn’t find this to be a page turner, and at times the plot felt a bit lacklustre. That being said, I did still enjoy youthjuice and it’s a wicked satirical horror.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

At 30, Sophia has landed a branding job at a hot, new, goop-ish startup-- which turns out of be even more evil than most hot startups. She gets lured in and starts losing her grip on everything else: boyfriend, roommate, basic morality. Interesting premise, lurid details and imagery, but IMO missing compelling characterization and a suspenseful arc.

Wow, just wow. This book was a wild ride and I loved it!
The plot centres around Sophia Bannon and her experience as the new Creative at HEBE, a beauty company centred around youthfulness run by Tree Whitehouse. As part of her "induction" (I suppose), Tree gives Sophia a sample of a new product to try and asks her to keep track of her use and results in a notebook. Sophia uses the cream on her hands that are heavily scarred and the cream works amazingly. Her hands seem to bounce back to what they once were. But Sophia can't understand why the cream would work so well. Sophia then finds herself questioning HEBE and their products when strange things begin happening around her.

I was captured from the start of the book. The writing style was great and I loved how it would go from present day to the past for Sophia. It helped me as the reader understand her in more depth and consider how her past impacts her in the present day and also her reaction to things.
I also loved how we slowly see Sophia slip further into herself and question her sanity. It was the perfect psychological thriller (and also horror - there are some scenes that will stay in my mind for awhile).

The cover is also amazing and plays into the plot so much. Once I got into the crux of the story, I looked at the cover and it all clicked into place.
I know that I will 100% be buying a copy for my shelf when it is released!
Keep it on your radar for 2024!!

This was a wild fun ride. youthjuice is about a young woman starting a job at a skincare company, but there's something about the ingredients and the owner that makes this not your normal skincare company. For fans of Mona Awad (Rogue), The Glow, and Melissa Broder, pick this one up!

4 stars
Loved it! This was so different from what I was expecting and from anything else I’ve read. The writing was phenomenal! The end felt a bit rushed but it was fine. I really hope to see more of this author in my future.