I had the pleasure of diving into the twisted world of "YouthJuice" thanks to an advanced reader copy from NetGalley and RB Media, and let me tell you, this book is going to have a cult following akin to Mona Awad’s "Bunny."

E.K. Sathue takes us on a darkly satirical journey through the glittering but sinister realm of New York City's It-girl culture. With shades of "American Psycho" meeting "The Devil Wears Prada," Sathue's debut novel explores the horrors lurking beneath the surface of the beauty industry.

From the moment Sophia Bannion steps into the sleek offices of HEBE, a luxury skincare company, the reader senses something unsettling. Yet, like Sophia herself, we're drawn deeper into this world of glamour and allure. As Sophia becomes entangled in the web of HEBE's charismatic CEO and the addictive allure of youthjuice, a horrifying truth emerges, forcing her to confront the price of eternal beauty.

Sathue's writing is incisive and stomach-churning, offering a scathing commentary on female friendship, the beauty industry's obsession with youth, and society's insatiable appetite for perfection. The parallels drawn between Sophia and Patrick Bateman are chillingly apt, adding a layer of psychological depth to the narrative.

What sets "YouthJuice" apart is its ability to balance suspense and horror without descending into gratuitous gore. Instead, the story unfolds with a relentless sense of tension, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final page.

As a lover of horror and dark satire, I found myself enthralled by "YouthJuice." It's a gripping, demented tale that lingers long after the final chapter. With its soft pink cover and hints of darkness, this book is a must-read for anyone looking to delve into the darker side of beauty and obsession. "YouthJuice" is undoubtedly one of the best horror books of the year and a worthy addition to any collection.

youthjuice explores womanhood through the extremes of wellness culture and the obsession of youth. The story is overall fun, if a bit obvious.

I greatly enjoyed Sophia as our POV character, as she represents how deep and anxiety inducing the fact of being in a woman-shaped body in NYC. I found the writing beautiful and artistic and felt it added to the level of discomfort. The book was compulsively readable and a great time but I walked in thinking this would a bit nastier with more on page violence.

Comparing this book to American Psycho, is, I think, a mistake. The book version of AP is great and disgusting, and I’m in the group that find the movie darkly hilarious. Patrick Bateman at the start of the book/movie is deeply misogynistic and obsessed with the performance of appearing human. He’s openly hostile to others and no one seems to notice or care about any of his actions because they’re also obsessed with self-image. While others at HEBE are self-involved, I don’t see that as the core of the book and instead see something like, Mean Girls, at that part where Cady dreams of attacking Regina—but here, she actually does it. Something like that as a set up for readers makes more sense as the book (to me) focuses on the destruction of women and obsession of a woman's value by her age.

The structure of the book was overall good but I did feel that there were places where parts could be simplified or better arranged. I did not understand the inclusion of Mona and sometimes confused her story with Dom’s as they read very similar. A recommendation would be to streamline the two of them into one character or clarify why Sophia’s interactions with Mona define her relationship with and to Dom.

With comparisons to American Psycho, Mona Awad's Rouge, Brett Easton Ellis, and mentions of body horror, this book was made for MEEEE. And boy was it fun to read! There were moments where it felt like the plot was jumping around in ways that might have been easier to follow if I wasn't doing the audio book, there were moments that dragged longer than others for me, and at times the plot felt predictable, but who CARES I had FUN! It was gross and unsettling and stressfull, and I'll absolutely read this authors next book.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley! Rounding up from 3.75.

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 one 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 and 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 than 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.

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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 thought the book had a really interesting premise but I thought it fell a bit flat.

Thank you to the Publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

youthjuice

Smart, cynical, and macabre, this satire exposes those who lust for beauty , perfection, luminescence, and perhaps even perpetual youth no matter the disturbing , unethical cost. HEBE’s skin care and cosmetics company promises pearlescent skin and beauty. And just like the deity for which the company is named customers purchase products to stay the aging of mere mortals.

Employees eschew smoking unless turmeric root fills the vape pen. They shun meat in their diet along with sugar, carbs, and dairy, they stretch into yoga posses, and forego alcohol. These young woman will yield whatever it takes for the end prize of eternity. Will they inject Botox, smear retinal?
Or is the magic elixir far more nefarious and horrific , but one that exfoliates death?

4 stars. *

This book was crazy, and bizarre and I really liked it.

youthjuice is horror wrapped up in observational dark humor. It is the story of Sophia, a New Yorker approaching 30 who lands a job with fictional luxury skincare company HEBE. She tells the story alternating between the now of her life with her trustfunder, influencer, addict roommate and flashbacks to 2008 and her twisted friendship with her childhood best friend.

As the reader you get the sense that all is not right with Sophia, but the darkly funny way that she descends into violence is written cleverly. This story was macabre in the best way.

*With thanks to NetGally for the audio ARC in exchange for this honest review.

**Expected Release June 4, 2024.

I will be paying very close attention to my skincare from now on..

youthjuice had me guessing right up until the end. A story of beauty, passion, and what some will do to achieve that youthful glow.

I am grateful to have had the chance to review this book early as an ARC reader. From the very beginning I could not get enough. I fully believe at one point or another, most women have been in Sophia’s shoes. Longing to fit in and remove any sign of aging, Sophia learns that the true cost of beauty may not always be worth the price.

This will be shelved alongside my favorite horror stories from here on out.

I have been intrigued by the horror genre for a bit and decided to try this book. This would be a great intro to horror for someone who is just getting started in the genre. It wasn't gory although there are moments that made me squirm. The concept is interesting especially with younger and younger people thinking they need a twenty step skincare routine to maintain their youth.

I would liken this to Bunny as it has a similar fever dream feel. I will say I liked Bunny way more. This at the end fell flat to me. The flashbacks to Sophia's relationship with her best friend took away from the main storyline for me. I wish the author had gone more into the current day plot. I did enjoy the audiobook and it has opened my eyes to trying more audiobooks.

Thank you RBmedia, Netgalley and EK Sathue for the audio Arc of YouthJuice.
Narrated by Suzy Jackson.

Thank you RBmedia, Netgalley and EK Sathue for the audio Arc of YouthJuice.
Narrated by Suzy Jackson.

As a person that originally trained as a Beauty Therapist 35 yrs ago and don't wear any sorted of makeup or false nails etc , I loved the aspect of this book, especially the horror. I had a fair idea of what direction the narrative would go and really enjoyed it. Suzy Jackson narrated this book really well and loved her voice.

The book itself is medium paced, the horror aspects deal with the very real direction of beauty in the 21st century. The pursuit of everlasting beauty, youthfulness, maybe even agelessness? But what is the consequences of this. And who is responsible for the ingredients that goes into Youthjuice?


I felt the characters were well fleshed out, mainly revolving around Sophia, Her new employer, Tree and the friends she makes in this all consuming community. The horror aspects aren't overly gory, but some of the body horror makes you squirm a bit. I loved the ending,

3.75 stars rounded up to 4

Thank you to RB Media and NetGalley for a free audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Initially, this book could be likened to Rouge by Mona Awad - the need for beauty and eternal youth giving way to a much more sinister world is a prevalent theme in both - yet this book is somehow a little more enjoyable due to some of the more grounded relatability. Yes, there is some requirement for suspension of disbelief, but there is something a little more raw about youth juice that makes it such an easy read.

Suzy Jackson captures the character of Sophia well and her intonation and subtle changes in her voice throughout really adds to the story.

For the most part, this is an enjoyable experience, even if some of the imagery of Sophia's compulsion and some of the acts she finds herself taking part in through HEBE are a little bit unsettling. The only downside is that the flashback/subplot could have been punchier as, frankly, it didn't add much to the version of Sophia that we see today.

I was intrigued by the premise of this horror novel. Marketed as “American Psycho meets The Devil Wears Prada: outrageous body horror for the goop generation.” 29-year old Sophia finds out the lengths women will go to in order to maintain their youth when she goes to work at HEBE, a luxury skincare/wellness company. Sophia has skeletons in her own closet, revealed in flashbacks, and seems to have no problem getting her hands even more dirty on behalf of the company. I have mixed feelings about this novel, as it was funny at times, when it poked fun at the ridiculousness of the wellness industry, gruesome at times, but also slow at times. This novel will not be for everyone. The voice actor for the audio version did a great job. ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an audio advanced copy.

An interesting story and I did quite enjoy it. I do, however, feel that it was a bit too long - or rather that it went around in circles and occasionally didn't seem to be going anywhere
I enjoyed the morally corrupt nature of the main character. It's always fun when you are allowed inside a disturbing mind like hers. I do wish that there had been more signs of this corrupt nature earlier on in the book so that there was so foreshadowing.
Overall, the book could have improved significantly with another round of editing. In many ways, it still felt like a draft and it could have been tidied up a bit more.
The writing itself was very pleasent and the narrator for the audiobook did a great job.

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.

This premise sounded very exciting to me but missed the mark. I didn't really understand the purpose of the flashback chapters and I also do not think we got a proper view into why Sophia would go along so readily with HEBE and Tree. Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for the ARC!

DNF this book at 46%

I was listening to this on audio. I am not a fan of the narrator. The story has a lot of potential but I don't feel like there is anything special or pulling my interest. Not a fan of the FMC's constant flashbacks just to answer a simple question. I feel like my twenty something daughter or a person who is not familiar with the history of Elizabeth Bathory would be more intrigued.

I love reading books that poke at our tendency to prioritize feminine youth and beauty at any cost. Youthjuice is creepy and pointed. The protagonist is imperfect and fearful. I enjoyed this book greatly.

Upon joining the storytelling team at HEBE, a high=end skincare and wellness brand nestled in New York's chic SoHo district, Sophia Bannion senses an underlying disarray. Despite her seemingly enchanted lifestyle and nearing her thirties, Sophia yearns for greater purpose in her mundane existence and a solution to her relentless nail-biting habit. At HEBE, she discovers both fulfillment and companionship in the form of Tree Whitestone, the magnetic founder and CEO.
Soon after starting this new job Tree gives Sophia a new creme that she just created and to take notes on the effects. It's called Youthjuice. Once she starts using the product things start to spiral and she ends up deeper in the company than she imagined. Discovering things she didn't know existed, all for being young and beautiful. How far will Sophia go to stay youthful and attractive?
Cons: The story was very slow. It was hard to keep my interest at some points of the story. I was going to DNF the book when I realized that there was only thirty minutes left to the story. We get flashbacks to her past with a friend that is no longer and I'm not really sure what that had to do with the story. I was much more interested in her new job than anything else. Sometimes the story would go into a flashback or jump time without warning. For example one minute she's in the office and then the next paragraph she's walking around a party. It was confusing and it didn't make the story flow.
Pros: I love the idea of this story more than the actual story. I liked reading about her coming to grips with getting older. I did do a bit of eye-rolling over hitting thirty then I remembered I hit a mid life crisis when I turned thirty lol
I gave this book 3 stars and that's being generous. One star is because I don't think I was the target audience for this book. Yes it is horror but you don't get any of that until you are more than half way through the book. I do however think this story would make for a great movie.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early arc copy in exchange for my honest review.

Overall a mixed feeling on this one.

On the plus side the premise, cover and language are all really good. The main character has depth and is interesting and some of the undertones of feminism are thoughtful. I particularly enjoyed the exploration of female friendship in the flashbacks to childhood with Mona.

The lipstick naming was also brilliant - both part way through and at the end! Very clever and subversive.

In terms of things that were less appealing, it’s fairly clear from the outset what will happen. It’s also not as ‘dark’ as I think it wants to be - certainly no comparison to American Psycho for me. I think it could take some heavier descriptions and imagery over the implications.

While I appreciate the purpose of the ample descriptions of make-up as someone who has never worn it and was laborious in parts.

The function of Chase was done weakly too in my view.

Narration was solid. Would consider recommending to some of my fellow readers but definitely not for all.

here we go, another entry in the ever-growing pantheon of beauty-related horror books, joining the likes of Rouge, Aesthetica, and so on.

in this story, we have sophia bannion, new employee at a new york-based skin company called HEBE. after meeting the company figurehead tree whitestone, sophia is given a new product to try - youthjuice - a serum that has absolutely incredible impacts.

this story oscillates between two timelines - her current day job at HEBE and hanging out with her ridiculously wealthy addict best friend and beauty influencer roommate dom, then back in 2008 where she and her frenemy? mona discuss boys (a specific line about pete wentz made me side-eye) and try to navigate the world without catching the negative attention of the mean girls in town.

right off the bat, you know that sophia's past is important and something within it contributes to the fact that she's always in gloves; her hands are scarred and replete with self-inflicted wounds. pretty soon into her youthjuice skincare regimen, sophia realizes that the scars on her hands are... healing? no, they're disappearing. what's in that sauce?

you may have heard the name elizabeth bathory referencing this one and if so, you already know where this one is going. (soylent green is people, etc.)

there was some weird, unhinged stuff in this to be sure, especially what's going on with sophia and her roommate in her roommate's bathroom. honestly though, with a comp title like american psycho, i think i was expecting this to go a little bit harder than it did.

i'm a big fan of books like Kill for Love and Boy Parts, both of which felt like they'd have a similar vibe to this book. this book, for me, ended up being just okay, like a thriller author tried to dabble at horror and couldn't quite escape the confines of their original genre. like, don't get me wrong - this is a good book, but i do think that the horror could have been more horrific. i wanted to be surprised. i wanted to be horrified! i was neither of those things and felt like i was calling every reveal before i read them.

let's bright side this, though - if you're not a horror person, this is the book that you need on your radar. you'll get the creeps and it'll work for you. good for me, great for most.