Ravishing is a bold and thought-provoking debut that explores the dark side of the beauty industry through the lens of two Indian American siblings entangled in a manipulative beauty tech company. As teenage Kashmira becomes addicted to a product that allows her to alter her features and erase the pain of her past, her brother Nikhil faces the ethical dilemmas of working within a company whose product is causing harm. With visceral storytelling and a poignant coming-of-age narrative, Ravishing offers a searing critique of body image, corporate greed, and the complex relationship we have with our own identities.

I want to thank NetGalley for sending me a ARC for me to review.

I do agree with a lot of reviewers here that I enjoyed how the book delves into how the beauty industry can affect society, and I enjoyed how got the two perspectives from outside the company and inside.

However, I did find myself finding myself not drawn to it as much as I thought I would, though wonderfully written.

3.5/5 for me.

This is a really strong debut that focuses on a brother and sister, one who dives deep into a startup that focuses on beauty technology, and his younger sister who's dealing with their father abandoning the family and the normal teenage fears, and starts using the product the brother is working on. Yes, it focuses a lot on the horrors of the corporate startup culture and what it's willing to do to the people who buy it, and what girls are told as they're growing up. But there's a unique angle in that Surya also looks hard at the grief of seeing someone who abandoned you so clearly reflected in your own features, and is honest about why she buys into what the company offers. Great debut and a name I'll be keeping an eye on.

There is so much to say about this novel, which tackles so many issues which feel pertinent — especially to those of us who feel 'othered' by western society and dominate culture. It reads much like a Black Mirror episode in many ways, which made it a personally compelling read.

Kashmira and Nikhail are siblings with whom we venture into this story — the sister who wants nothing more than the love and acceptance of her father, willing to go to extremes to transform herself into someone seemingly worthy of the things she so desperately wants. Then there is the brother who wants to change the world through the perceived empowerment of those who use Evolvoir, all the while remaining estranged from his sister, and her own needs.

The novel not only explores the ideas of self-image and the way society impacts that, but also power dynamics in many forms, as well as the true cost of 'beauty'. This was a fantastic novel that I could not stop reading, and plan to revisit in the near future.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this ARC.

I had so much fun reading this. I expected something similar to Ling Ling Huang’s Natural Beauty and an exploration of race and the beauty industry but this was different.

Rather than looking at white washing and European beauty standards, this book looks at trauma, erasure of cultural identity by your parents, neglect and abandonment, and the pain of seeing someone who’s hurt you in your reflection. I loved seeing Kashmira use Evolvoir’s products to feel comfortable engaging in her culture rather than using them to erase it like you might expect in a book like this.

I do feel that the timeline for this book just being a summer is too short. Things happen incredibly fast and character development seems to happen overnight rather than throughout the story. I also found Nikhil’s character to not quite be believable, but will enjoyed following along with him through the story.

The concept of this book is amazing. I would recommend to anyone looking for a book with commentary on beauty, age, self-concept, or self-image.

I struggled with the writing at times. The pacing seemed uneven -- at times I flew through the text and at other times it dragged on and on. The main plot is promising, and there are many subplots of dense material. By the end, it felt like the book was doing too much.

I kept thinking it might be cool to hint to the other big themes and write a completely different book bringing each of those issues to the forefront.

3.5/5

The premise and storyline of this book was unique and something I want to explore more in future reads. The book felt very much like black mirror x the substance vibes which I found to be super interesting and enjoyed.

The idea of a beauty product that can change your face to a completely different one is a really intriguing concept and one that feels like it could become a reality soon.

What I liked about this book is that we saw two different perspectives of the product and company, one from the consumer side through Kashmira and one from the corporate side through Nikhial.

I found Kashmira’s perspective to be the most interesting including her desperation to erase her features and her willingness to sacrifice almost anything to achieve this. It also serves as important commentary on issues faced in society like the obsession and fixation with changing parts of yourself and the extremities people go to achieve their “perfect look”.

In some parts, the story was quite slow and dragged on a little bit. The book also covered alot of heavy topics like generational trauma, assimilation, struggles with identifying with culture, family trauma and issues, self image issues, difficulty with relationships, corporate greed and predatory companies. Although they are all important topics, I think the wide range of topics covered made it difficult to give appropriate attention and thought to each topic.

Thank you netgalley/grove atlantic/roxane gay books for the arc!

I DNF'd the book. The writing style just wasn't for me. It's hard for me to get into a book that starts off so ambiguously. You're reading about characters that aren't named. I don't like starting out feeling so confused.

3.5 stars.

This was an interesting story. I really like the premise and themes (and this book covers a lot - self-image/identity, the beauty/tech industry, race, family, embracing culture versus assimilating, chronic illness, grief, generational trauma, self-acceptance, friendship, coming of age, and more). I struggled a little with the beginning, but really enjoyed the end.

In terms of the beginning, I was having trouble fulling immersing myself/connecting with the story. I think I wanted more on Vinod. Right away, we're introduced to the fact that he has left the family and filed for divorce, and that Kashmira struggles when she looks in the mirror and sees his face. Instead of having this told to us right off the bat, I wanted to see it play out - maybe a few scenes at the start that lead up to when he abandons the family, a few moments examining the family ties, rather than just spelling it out. I felt distant from this conflict at first because I felt distant from what really went down in the family.

Over the course of the story, there are flashbacks that fill in some of the gaps, and I appreciated those. However, I still think having a few scenes in the present moment, rather than looking back, would have decreased the distance that I felt.

I really enjoyed the sections of the book that focused on chronic illness. The depictions of the character's mental and physical state were vivid, resonant, and impactful. I also enjoyed the character growth of several characters that happened in this section. I loved seeing them grieve and grow together, making a place for their changing selves in a changing world.

I also liked that we got to see two sides of Evolvoir - the consumer side, through Kashmira's point of view, and the behind-the-scenes side, through Nikhil's point of view. It was also interesting to see how they both grappled with their relationship to their father in different ways.

Overall, Ravishing is a compelling read, although it took awhile to draw me in. I would recommend to people who want to read a Black Mirror-esque take on the beauty industry, stories that closely examine chronic illness, or stories that take a close look at personal identity in the midst of familial, cultural, and societal expectations.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Ravishing” offers a bold and incisive critique of the beauty industry’s almost cult-like obsession with youth and conformity. Eshani Surya intricately weaves a dark and surreal tapestry that delves into the labyrinthine complexities of identity, the pervasive and often invasive influence of technology, and the heavy, unrelenting toll of transformation on the human spirit. The narrative evokes a vivid portrayal of how brutal beauty standards can contort one’s very essence, leaving indelible scars on both body and soul.

At the heart of this narrative is Kashmira, whose tumultuous journey is ignited by deep-seated feelings of abandonment linked to her father’s emotional distance. His rejection looms over her like a vast chasm, severing her connection to the vibrant tapestry of their Indian heritage and abruptly cutting her off from the rich cultural ties that once shaped her identity. Rather than extinguishing her spirit, this rejection acts as a catalyst, igniting a fervent obsession with the very things she has always been denied. When the enigmatic Evolvoir—a revolutionary and almost mythical beauty elixir that promises to reshape one’s physical appearance—bursts onto the market, Kashmira seizes the opportunity. She views it as a desperate attempt to obliterate the haunting shadows of her past, embarking on a relentless quest to claim this transformative elixir, blissfully unaware of the profound consequences that her fervent desires might entail.

In stark contrast, her estranged brother Nikhil perceives Evolvoir through a different lens. For him, the elixir symbolizes empowerment, a lifeline for those imprisoned by a society that often neglects mental health resources. He envisions the alteration of one’s appearance not merely as a superficial remedy but as a significant act of self-determination—an empowering journey for the marginalized to reclaim their visual narratives in a culture that so often renders them invisible.

As unsettling revelations about the true effects of Evolvoir unfold like dark petals, the siblings are plunged into a harrowing moral and existential reckoning. They are compelled to confront profound questions: Who truly holds the power over beauty? Who has the authority to dictate which faces are considered worthy or acceptable? What existential crises emerge when individuals face a reflection so foreign that they can no longer recognize their own essence? Surya’s incisive prose strips away the glossy veneer of the beauty industry, laying bare its predatory and opportunistic core.

This narrative transcends mere self-image. It skillfully navigates themes of power dynamics, capitalist exploitation, and the disquieting implications of advancements in beauty technology. Disturbing yet invigorating, “Ravishing” unfolds as a compelling contemporary horror story, draped in the beguiling yet haunting language of self-improvement. It emerges as essential reading for anyone captivated by the intricate interplay of beauty, technology, and the ceaseless quest for autonomy in an ever-evolving cultural landscape.

Ravishing, by Eshani Surya, is the story of two siblings and their struggles to deal with a difficult father and how his edicts on separation from their cultural identity affected the sibling's identity politics and relationships with others.

Seventeen year old Kashmira sees herself as the spitting image of her father and cannot escape from his recent abandonment when she looks in the mirror. A friend introduces her to a new product called Evolvir that changes the shape of her face and she jumps at the chance to use it. At the same time her brother Nikhil is working for the company that produces the product and he sees it as a form of therapy to heal traumatic wounds. Since the siblings are not currently on speaking terms the fallout on both sides is hidden and intensely detrimental as Kashmira becomes ill and Nikhil hits turmoil at work.

Wow, this is one of those books that I simultaneously wanted to devour, and at the same time, I didn't want it to end. The story here was in many ways different from my lived experience, but I still found so much that I identified with. Such a well written, unique story that explores that complex relationships we have with our families and how it impacts our sense of self, not to mention an in depth look at beauty standards, mental health and how online culture impacts the individual. The heart of the novel explores cultural identity and how dissonance within us impacts our sense of who we are, where we belong, and our relationship with our bodies, through wellness and sickness alike.

The writing on pain, illness, hospitalizations and healing not being linear was so relatable to me as someone who has endured chronic pain and chronic illness since I was a teen. At times I thought the book could be called Ravaging instead of Ravishing with its to how illness affects our outlooks vs our inner struggles. A wonderfully written, beautifully told story. Five stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Grove Atlantic/Roxanne Gay Books (a new discovery!) for this ARC of Ravishing
by Eshani Surya.

TW: IBD

A beauty product that gives one a filtered face off-camera! Oh, yes please. Instant request.

“Maybe I’d be a more normal person if I could just forget about all my shit. But that’s impossible when I look just like my fucking dad.” Her dad who had abandoned her and their Indian heritage.

So our MFC Kashmira sums up her life’s bane.
She watches as her friend Roshni, also a beauty disappointment to her parents, rubs something onto her face and transforms it into that of which her parents would be proud.
Something white.

NuLook by Evolvoir: a magical way to erase her flaws - which to Kashmira mean her Indian heritage and her father, whom she resembles, from her face. “Evolve yourself, embrace yourself” is the company’s tagline, while it is really means to eradicate yourself and in Kashmira, her non-white race. This was Kashmira’s father’s shame and thus Kashmira’s burden.

Nikhil, Kashmira’s brother- and alternate POV - works for Evolvoir. We get the behind-the-scenes business perspective of Evolvoir and NewLook. Nikhil campaigns for a wellness approach for a diverse demographic, for POC, away from the PR image for which the company strives. In this he unwittingly curses his sister even more than her father had.

In his personal life, Nikhil tries to redirect the patriarchal legacy of internal racism - the “robust denial of their brownness” - in their family and win back his estranged sister.

The writing was consistently excellent but I was impatient to get to the fantasy of the customer second-face experiences. It never really materialized as I’d hoped. I was hoping for a Cinderella fantasy and this story is really about the capitalism of and social pressure toward ethnic homogeneity.

Kashmira’s chapters- especially her experience with (Re)NewLook - riveted me and unfortunately Nikhil’s business-end chapters, however idealistic, bored me except when detailing his interactions with coworker and love interest Michael, and until his and Kashmira’s experiences collide.

Worsening side effects happen to Kashmira and Roshni. A physical and mental price for their beauty and familial erasure. The pain is worth it; of course it is. Until it’s not. Kashmira initially tries to fight it, fearing emptiness without her new purified face. Until like a vampire this ascension to beauty has almost stolen all from her.

I found this a bit triggering because I have Crohn’s (IBD).

Three stars.

Ravishing is an excellent debut novel about the struggles and lengths women, specifically brown and Black women, may go through to fit into a society where beauty is largely defined through a white supremacist lens.

Kashmira is a teen in New Jersey who has largely been alienated from her South Asian classmates because her father Vinod has demanded complete assimilation of his family. Her brother Nikhil has left home for NYC and her mother has crumbled under the demands of their father. After Vinod leaves the family, the rest of the family is left trying to figure out who they are. In the meantime, Kashmira wishes she did not look so much like Vinod and her wish may come true after her friend who she recently reconnects with, Roshni, tells her about a new skin cream that can dramatically alter a user's facial structure. Unknown to Kashmira and Roshni, Nikhil works for this company.

While the book centers on a product with capabilities to dramatically change the appearance of a wearer (to the point where Kashmira becomes unrecognizable), it's not a body horror like The Substance. While the cream has horrific side effects, the primary focus of the story is Kashmira's alienation from her family/culture and Nikhil's difficulty in becoming his own person and connecting with others. The chapters alternate between Kashmira and Nikhil's perspectives with some brief sections from the perspective of an influencer Yukiko who popularizes the product online in addition to excerpts from press about the product.

The science aspect of this story doesn't entirely make a lot of sense, however I didn't find that a major detraction since those details weren't really relevant to the main point of the story. I liked that the book covered both the perspective of a young woman who is struggling on a personal level (Kashmira) and also the perspective of those who are trying to address these issues from a capitalistic/assimilationist perspective (Nikhil and his co-workers). The character of the blogger was interesting as well, however I wish she existed as more of her own person than just someone for Nikhil to work out his issues through.

Some of the ending dragged a little bit as those chapters each ended like they were wrapping up the story and they weren't, however overall I felt like the book flowed well.

Many thanks to Grove Atlantic/Roxane Gay Books and to NetGalley for this ARC to review. This review is my honest opinion.

Loved all the sci-fi and dystopian concepts this book dived into, exploring how far the beauty industry could go as it preys on mental health/racism. However, I found myself constantly forgetting to pick the book back up to finish. I think it just tried to cover too much, and was hoping it would explore some of the dystopian plot points a bit more rather than another overly explicit scene.

So many of us struggle with accepting how we look - what if there was a cosmetic product that could change our face? And what would you give up to use it?

Kashmira is a teenage girl who struggles with looking like her father, who repeatedly barred her from participating in her Indian culture and then abandoned her family. When Kashmira is offered the opportunity to use a new product that can change her appearance, she jumps at the chance to not be reminded of her father everyday. But soon she realizes that everything comes with a price and that this product could be impacting her for the worse.

I enjoyed the take on the idea of 'beauty being pain' and how so many, especially teenage girls, are so susceptible to anything that promises to make them fit a standard of beauty. I also appreciated the underlying theme of feeling isolated from your culture as well as the idea that some people feel the need to bottle up their emotions rather than share with people who care about them.

I think there was a valuable message in Kashmira's journey. Would recommend adding to your TBR - publication date in November!

Thank you to NetGalley/Grove Atlantic/Roxane Gay Books for the ARC!

I’ve been really fascinated lately by books that look at the grotesqueness of the beauty industry and this really hit the mark there. This book explored the extreme nature of the beauty industry but so many other topics as well; culture and diaspora, family issues and trauma, beauty standards, and more. These complex topics were really well explored without sacrificing the pacing of the story. The writing was smooth and the multiple points of view rounded out the story well.

Kashmira looks just like her father, and there’s nothing she hates more about herself. She can’t stand to look in the mirror because all she sees is her father staring back at her.
When she finds out about a new beauty product that can completely change your appearance, she instantly knows—this is exactly what she needs. But what if it isn’t as safe as it seems? Would you be able to give it all up?

Ravishing deals with so many different topics: culture, family trauma, abandonment, the struggle to accept yourself, and much more. I love how layered and complex it is.

It did take me a little while to read because of the change in POV with each chapter (I’m usually not the biggest fan of that). I think I would've liked it more if it had just been Kashmira's POV instead, because all those chapters really had me hooked.

Thank you, NetGalley and the publisher, for the e-arc

This book is about so much more than the beauty industry. Its about identity, trauma, loss, lack of identity/trust, and how we tie all those into a tool for self-sabotage. Beautifully written. At times maybe a little too expansive that the plot gets lost but easily overcome in future writing. I also kind of wonder if there was intentionality to being expansive. Perhaps the author was trying to make a case for our lack of ability to focus on anything for too long these days and the constant need for stimulation as a form of validation.

I love the way that Ravishing portrays the two siblings, Kashmira and Nikhil, dealing with what their father did. I think there were so many interesting concepts touched on in this book, like the dark side of the beauty/tech industry, how companies get around FDA guidelines, racism within mental health awareness, how the beauty industry capitalizes on insecurities and trauma, and even on invisible illnesses.

On the other hand, I think the book maybe stretched itself a little too thin for my tastes. I personally liked the concept and themes, and the writing is solid, but I think it tried to cover too much, I think that this book ended up being more about working through trauma and trying to be ok even when you're not ok, which is not bad, but it isn't what I expected based on the description of the book. I was hoping it would explore some of the other themes a bit more.

Overall, I think the plot was engaging and interesting. I look forward to reading any future releases from this Eshani Surya.

A fabulous take on the dark side of the beauty industry, "Ravishing' tells the story of a society where a face altering product can change the looks of a person. Though it feels like a peripheral idea, the book throws the reader into a pit of self conscience, asking them to be on the shoes of the person who takes the procedure, to realize what makes them do it, to understand the severity of the situation where the social standards force us to look "perfect" in the outside and scale us with that ruler.
At times this book felt like "uglies", though id never say it resonated with it. The books talks about racism, economics, human relationships, mental health, making it a realistic approach on our daily lives rather than being a pure dystopian fiction. Thank you for netgalley and Grove Atlantic for providing me the arc of this book. I'll publish the detailed book review on my goodreads when the book publishes!