Thank you Netgalley and ECW Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"The Beauty of Us" by Farzana Doctor immerses you into the world of Thornton College, an elite private school in Canada during the 1980s. Through the perspectives of Zahabiya, Leesa, and Nahla, Doctor skillfully explores themes of identity, friendship, and overcoming trauma. Before going into this review, I do want to provide a content warning for grooming and teacher-student relationship (adult teacher with an underage student). Also, one of the perspectives of this book is from a different teacher at the school (in her young 20s). So, 2 of the 3 POVs are from teenagers and 1 is from an adult. Now, getting into the review:

Zahabiya, a recent arrival at Thornton College, grapples with fitting in among her peers while navigating the complexities of her own family dynamics and the struggles of first love. Alongside a group of racially diverse students, Zahabiya faces the challenges posed by the school's social hierarchy, particularly embodied by the manipulative Leesa, who also gets a POV in the book. As Zahabiya and her friends uncover Leesa's hidden truths, they are confronted with the potential for redemption.

Meanwhile, Nahla, the new teacher at Thornton, finds herself embroiled in her own struggles, both personal and professional. Through Nahla's perspective, you are drawn into the mystery surrounding the enigmatic Mademoiselle LeBlanc and the secrets she left behind, which all tie back in to Leesa’s hidden truths. As Nahla grapples with her own past through family drama and present through a potential romance, she discovers unexpected connections that challenge her perceptions of herself and her role at the school.

Doctor's story is compelling and immersive, capturing the essence of the 1980s era while delving into timeless themes of resilience and growth . Through richly drawn characters and masterful storytelling, "The Beauty of Us" offers a relatable exploration of the human experience, reminding you of the beauty found in moments of connection and understanding. I really enjoyed the perspective of Zahabiya as she felt very relatable and realistic. While Leesa is more of an antagonist in the book as the “queen bee” of the school and some bullying of other students, I did find it unique that we got to see her perspective throughout the book as we got to see the reasoning behind Leesa’s actions. Not many books take the risk of providing the antagonist’s perspective, but the book also allowed us to see her chance of redemption.

I did find the teacher’s perspective to not fit as well just because she wasn’t a teenager (in her early 20s) and was working at the school as a faculty member. While I understand that her perspective was important, especially with her connection to Mademoiselle LeBlanc, I just wasn’t able to connect with her and/or enjoy her POV as much as the other two.

I would recommend this book to older YA readers due to some of the mature themes throughout the book (mainly grooming). I think there is a lot to learn from this book, especially with the importance of saying something when you notice an inappropriate relationship. This book also focuses on the need for friendship in order to overcome life’s struggles, especially when you’re in high school. Overall, I really enjoyed “The Beauty of Us,” and I can’t wait to read more from Doctor.

This book tells the story of a group of students and a new teacher at an elite private school in Canada. It is set in the 1980s and conjures up that era.

Zahabiya is a recent arrival and is part of a group of students from ethnic minority backgrounds who are often targeted by another girl, Leesa. She is already struggling to find stable ground after her father's recent remarriage, from which she has escaped to this school.

Amidst all this, Zahabiya is now trying to find her place, put off by the negativity of her roommate Mei, and feeling unsure of how to navigate her crush on one of the boys.

The new teacher Nahla Naim has her own problems, and is also trying to navigate her way, having come in as the replacement for the long time French teacher Mademoiselle LeBlanc, who has passed away.

All these characters, including Leesa who is hiding a big secret that is discovered by the others, must find a measure of inner peace and a way of managing the challenges they face in their external environment. And perhaps, just perhaps, they can find that way together...

This is an absorbing story well told. Farzana Doctor is a gifted storyteller, and brings alive her characters. Readers will empathise with the plight of Nahla, Zahabiya, and even, to some extent, Leesa. All in all, this novel is worth a read.