In The Power of Glamour, author Virginia Postrel writes, "Glamour is not something you possess, but something you perceive." It's a magic trick, casting a rose-tinted veil over the eyes of the beholder. However, even though glamour itself may be a fantasy, it's effects are very real; it intensifies desire and stokes ambition. It's also a currency, and your market value is based on the worth that society has placed on your attributes.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Another in a long line of novels that try and ultimately fail to capture the "feel" of the internet. I am becoming equal parts fascinated by and exhausted with these attempts and trying to figure out what about them doesn't quite connect. All of that said, I do think this is more successful than most. Where most fail is in treating the internet like it's twitter--disconnected thoughts in short bursts that are supposed to somehow form a cohesive narrative. Think Lockwood's No One Is Talking About This and Kasulke's Several People Are Typing. Joukosky's work takes a different approach and hits on the vastness of the internet. Referencing art, threading from piece to piece recreates the feeling that nearly all curious readers of the internet have of jumping from Wikipedia article to another, all while there is an actual plot going on in the foreground.

Overall, I don't know that we have made it quite to *The* definitive "Internet Novel," but The Portrait of a Mirror is a step in the right direction.

I'm sure a lot of readers will enjoy this book, but it wasn't for me. I was prepared for a satire with unlikable characters; however, those elements combined with the writing style made it hard to connect with the story. Ultimately, a DNF for me.

The writing ended up not being for me, despite a a high concept premise that I thought was very interesting. I'm glad I tried this one out, sad that it wasn't the one.

A dense, complicated, but ultimately riveting novel, THE PORTRAIT OF A MIRROR is almost too smart for its own good. Set squarely and obviously in 2015, the book is about two couples to become intertwined in dangerous ways. These one-percenters are obnoxious and vain (Narcissus is the grounding persona of the book), and often extremely eye-rolly. But Joukovsky's writing is fresh and hilarious, and though I often found myself getting lost in the words and unsure about what was going on, I did enjoy the journey and the unique layout of the book. The prose is witty, and the story sharp. Can't wait for more from this author.

“Ma’am, this is a museum, not a Dress Barn.”

Portrait of a Mirror is an exceptionally sharp and funny piece of Literary Fiction that plots modern characters into a reimagining of the myth of Narcissus.

Worth a read for the snappy dialogue and wry observations alone, the story gets rolling with the accidental near murder of a service Pomeranian, and only gets funnier and more intriguing from there.

The style and tone remind me a lot of Lucy Ives’ work, perhaps with a dash of Tom Wolfe. There is a segment of the reading population who will likely consider this book pedantic and vaguely obnoxious, but I absolutely adored it.

It’s a smart, terrifically well-plotted novel that gets funnier as funnier as the story progresses, and an excellent homage to the myth as it would likely manifest in the modern world.

This was a really fun, modern interpretation. I wasn't expecting to like it so much! Would reccomend

Unfortunately this book just didn't grip me and I didn't finish it. For sure, ther readers may enjoy this one more.

I absolutely loved this book! I was so engrossed by the characters right off the bat. A. Natasha Joukovsky's writing is out of this world, if you've been in a reading slump this is a great place to start, it absolutely blew me away!

A 3.5 stars. Although the main story is enjoyable, my reading experience was hindered by the constant business talk. The highly privileged world view of the characters, despite being a requirement for this particular book, didn't help the matters. The characters are memorable and the writing is exquisite, it still couldn't completely pull me in.

The main conflict of the story was well sketched out but didn't reach anywhere satisfactory in the climax. There were only two possible endings to this book and unfortunately I was rooting for the one our author didn't go for.

Still, the portrait of a mirror is a well written book with adequate amount of art talk. Read it for it's take on art, privilege and fidelity.

There were parts of this novel I really liked. It starts well, I enjoyed the art exhibition sections and some of the humour. The dialogue is mostly well done, but the main characters are so unlikeable. Which is the point of course, they’re a bunch of rich, elitist narcissists. I seemed to get bogged down in the middle of the book until it returned to the Art and Myth stuff again, where all four of the main characters are finally brought together. Then the last two chapters were redundant. So it’s clever and entertaining but ultimately a bit disappointing.

I was interested in reading a Narcissus retelling but I wouldn't really call this much of a retelling - it's a separate story all together, so am confused there.

DNF @ ~ 30% I tried but couldn't get into it and found the technology writing a bit jarring. I just couldn't connect.

SUCH a beautiful story! I don't normally love romance-based stories, but I love the almost Sally Rooney-esque way where everyone is both likeable and so unlikeable, so doing their best for themselves at that moment while also doing something objectively immoral. The writing was cleverly funny - with insightful historical references mixed with modern dilemmas - and moving at times, without being sappy or to deliberate. I love books that cut from traditional narrative form, and the the chapters that diverged from this were always so fun and well-done to add to this fictional universe in a way that kept me interested and believing the story.

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy!

Unfortunately, I was not able to finish this book. I did not enjoy the characters and I did not enjoy the writing style. I found it was trying a bit to hard to be literary in parts.

A struggle to get through - a 'Marmite' book that some readers will love but personally I found the narration style a little too unconventional.

I was initially drawn to the book because it was a modern story of Narcissus, but ultimately had a hard time liking and connecting with the main characters. It also took me a while to get into the story itself.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Unfortunately this book just did not grip me and I did not finish it. Other readers may enjoy this one more

This reads like something written by someone who just graduated. As in, it comes across as really 'trying'. It is self-indulgent and verbose. The satire is so overdone that it no longer feels like satire. The arch and knowing tone is grating and so are the web pages incorporated in the text (who cares about someone's linkedin profile? not moi). Also, what audience is this book for? One needs a certain amount knowledge in the art history department to be able to know what the author is writing about...but then I believe that someone with an art history background will find the author's observations and descriptions on paintings&artists superficial.

This book was a lot of fun to read, and honestly, I had been putting it off because I wasn't attracted to the cover. (I know, I know, don't judge a book by its cover, but it's hard!) A clever and humorous story that really does hold a mirror up to many of the things we do now. The book is over-the-top but in the most perfect way that really keeps you immersed in the story.

4/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and ABRAMS, The Overlook Press for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.