*SPOILERS*

Story 4/5
Pacing 3/5
Characters 3/5

Thank you so much to Soho Press & NetGalley for this ARC

youthjuice by E.K Sathue is like Natural Beauty and Boy Parts had a weird little baby that Ottessa Moshfeigh raised. Beauty horror is a new subgenre that I have found myself engrossed in and I am a sucker for satirical horror so I was delighted to receive this ARC.

There was a lot going on in this relatively short novel, sometimes maybe too much. This novel jumps between two timelines which I liked. At times it felt a little messy by I also think the main character is messy so it works, getting a drip feed of our main character's (Sophia) past. I enjoyed Sophia's descent into madness (who knows maybe she was never sane). I really enjoyed Dom as a character and wish we saw more of her before her demise but I did like her ending. In my opinion Sophia's boyfriend was not needed at all, in fact I forgot he was in this until writing this review. I left wanting more of Tree as well but I think that might have been intentional.

As for this being a horror book I will say it grossed me out and unnerved me. Sathue's descriptions of Sophia and her hands made me gag so mission accomplished. This novel is ridiculous but in a good way. I was worried going into this as the blurb seemed very similar to Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang but within a few chapters it was apparent in wasn't going to be too similar.

If you like weird satirical horror books I would recommend this. Definitely not everyone's taste though.

This book hooked me in from the moment Sophia meets the bizarre and seemingly perfect Tree Whitestone of beauty company HEBE. This book is perfect for lovers of body horror and skeptics of the seemingly endless list of new beauty and skincare trends. I loved the overall concept of the book, as well as the critique it raises of the skincare industry.

youthjuice by E.K. Sathue missed the mark for me. I can see a lot of parallels to American Psycho, though, so it might be worth it for those who enjoyed that story. But for me, I found the story uninteresting. It wasn't compelling enough to keep my focus, and the protagonist seemed too undefined to me. I couldn't get a good feel for her personality -- other than her becoming more and more unhinged toward the end. Also, there wasn't nearly as much body horror in this as I anticipated, so that was a little bit of a letdown as well. Ultimately, it just wasn't for me.

Patrick Bateman meets Elizabeth Bathory for the Tiktok generation! I really enjoyed this homage to American Psycho. It was cleverly executed (pun mostly unintended!) and I thought the pacing worked and played out well. I found myself snortlaughing so many times over this delightfully unhinged body horror!

TW: Language, body shaming, bullying, drug use, toxic parent relationship, eating orders

*****SPOILERS*****
About the book:From Sophia Bannion’s first day on the Storytelling team at HEBE, a luxury skincare/wellness company based in New York’s trendy SoHo neighborhood, it’s clear something is deeply amiss. But Sophia, pushing thirty, has plenty of skeletons in her closet next to the designer knockoffs and doesn’t care. Though she leads an outwardly charmed life, she aches for a deeper meaning to her flat existence—and a cure for her brutal nail-biting habit. She finds it all and more at HEBE, and with Tree Whitestone, HEBE’s charismatic founder and CEO.

Soon, Sophia is addicted to her HEBE lifestyle—especially youthjuice, the fatty, soothing moisturizer Tree has asked Sophia to test. But when cracks in HEBE’s infrastructure start to worsen—and Sophia learns the gruesome secret ingredient at the heart of youthjuice—she has to decide how far she’s willing to go to stay beautiful forever.
Release Date: June 4th, 2024
Genre: Horror
Pages: 288
Rating:⭐

What I Liked:
1. Book cover is nice

What I Didn't Like:
1. Monotone mindless dimensional character (Sophia)
2. Boring
3. Not like other girls vibes
4. Where is the horror???

Overall Thoughts:
"Hebe (hee-bee): The Greek goddess of youth, daughter of Zeus and Hera.

At HEBE, we believe beauty is your birthright. You were born perfect, but life drained you of your vibrance. We return your inheritance. From the boardroom to the bar bathroom, HEBE’s products tap into your natural vitality, making you glow from within. After all, the world belongs to those who bathe in abundance.

Sophia is pretty boring. She's so far this woman who joins a MLM. She has as much personality as an envelope.

Why do all these books coming out all say they are American Psycho? This one compares itself to that Meave Fly when Meave Fly said it was like American Psycho. Full circle.

Sophia's mom was kind of a jerk. When she was a child she sold lemonade but forgot sugar - she made her return money to all the neighbors. So odd.

Of course, we have a book with triple-named bully girls - Ashley's. Did anyone else go to school with girls that had triple names that hang out? I never knew anyone in school, but it's always in books and movies.

Final Thoughts:
Honestly, I think if you like beauty gurus on Tiktok then this book might be for you. All the characters have no personality and the books superficial. I struggled to care about anything happening in this book.

I did not enjoy this book but I kept pushing myself because it was such a short(ish) book and I tend to struggle through books that are shorter. I ended up quiting at page 200 because I just couldn't anymore with this book. If there is horror in here then please show me. It was boring and dull.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hell's Hundred for the advanced ebook edition, and Recorded Books for the advanced audiobook. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm really disappointed here. This was my most anticipated book of the year and it just didn't work for me. This book does not feel like a horror book or even an adult book. This feels like it belongs in the young adult section. The narrator felt very juvenile and the "horror" felt so mild a child could read it. I can see how this will appeal to those who want something just unsettling but for me it was very bland.

At its most basic level, this novel combines the hippy-dippy Gwenyth Paltrow Goop beauty machine with we-are-soylent-green horror. Fans of horror (and maybe Paltrow) will devour it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Receiving an advanced copy was a delightful surprise. I believe both existing fans and newcomers will find it equally enjoyable.

Creepy look at the costs of beauty. A blend of American Psycho horror with Girlboss era sentimentality. Obvious critiques of goop and glossier, which are funny and funny-sad at the same time. Fast paced, I raced through it in an afternoon. Reminds me of Mona Awad's Rouge and Leigh Stein's Self Care.

Thank you to NetGalley, Soho Press, and Hell’s Hundred for providing this book, with my honest review below.

youthjuice seems to be a book that will be divisive, appealing to some readers but coming off a bit gross for others. Massive trigger warnings are needed for body dysmorphia and self harm (not quite in the traditional way). While Sophia, our main character, was interesting to get to know and I enjoyed the horror element and story, the pieces of the book describing what she was doing to herself just didn’t sit right with me.

youthjuice is a look into the obsessive culture of the beauty community. At how far people will go to look young and stay beautiful. The tagline boast American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada. I haven’t read or watched American Psycho, so this could be the perfect book for fans of that!

I just couldn’t get into this. I found it difficult to engage with Sophie, and while I enjoyed learning more about her past, I felt it didn’t add anything to her character. There were several instances throughout the book where I would start a chapter and be utterly lost. I would flip back to see if I had accidentally missed a transitional comment that led to the current situation, only to find nothing. It was jarring to feel dropped into conversations and events midway through without context. This is my first “beauty horror” book, but I think those that enjoy that genre will like this.

youthjuice is out June 4, 2024

Thanks to Soho Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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