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The Beauty of Us
September 1984, Thornton College private school.
After 15-year-old Zahabiya’s father remarries, she can’t wait to leave home and convinces him to send her away to boarding school. But will she fit in? She joins a clique of smart students but isn’t sure if she measures up or how to read the mixed messages from a guy she’s crushing on.
Seventeen-year-old Leesa has been at Thornton since middle school after her parents’ messy divorce. She’s been climbing the school’s social ladder with equal measures of meanness and manipulation. She’s also guarding a big secret that she has to work overtime to keep from her friends.
Fresh out of university, this is Nahla’s first real teaching job, and she’s drowning. She has her distractions the flirty art teacher and a cryptic notebook left behind by her deceased predecessor, Mademoiselle Leblanc.
Zahabiya and her friends — all racialized girls and victims of Leesa’s bullying — uncover Leesa’s secret. But can they help Leesa? Nahla, too, is embroiled in her own mystery, assisted by Mademoiselle Leblanc’s ghost. Each is indelibly changed by what they learn.
Masterfully crafted, The Beauty of Us is a gripping novel about surviving hardship, the power of friendship, and growing up.
After 15-year-old Zahabiya’s father remarries, she can’t wait to leave home and convinces him to send her away to boarding school. But will she fit in? She joins a clique of smart students but isn’t sure if she measures up or how to read the mixed messages from a guy she’s crushing on.
Seventeen-year-old Leesa has been at Thornton since middle school after her parents’ messy divorce. She’s been climbing the school’s social ladder with equal measures of meanness and manipulation. She’s also guarding a big secret that she has to work overtime to keep from her friends.
Fresh out of university, this is Nahla’s first real teaching job, and she’s drowning. She has her distractions the flirty art teacher and a cryptic notebook left behind by her deceased predecessor, Mademoiselle Leblanc.
Zahabiya and her friends — all racialized girls and victims of Leesa’s bullying — uncover Leesa’s secret. But can they help Leesa? Nahla, too, is embroiled in her own mystery, assisted by Mademoiselle Leblanc’s ghost. Each is indelibly changed by what they learn.
Masterfully crafted, The Beauty of Us is a gripping novel about surviving hardship, the power of friendship, and growing up.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2024
26 people are currently reading
9092 people want to read
About the author
Farzana Doctor
14 books337 followers I'm the author of Stealing Nasreen (Inanna 2007) and Six Metres of Pavement (Dundurn, 2011), All Inclusive (Dundurn, 2015) and Seven (2020).
My poetry collection, You Still Look The Same, will be released in 2022.
My poetry collection, You Still Look The Same, will be released in 2022.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
July 6, 2024
A page turner YA mystery centered around girls at a boarding school and their new French teacher. Zahabiya and her roommate, Mei, are new to the school, and gets tricked by Leesa, a Queen Bee, into switching room. Slowly, Zahabiya, finds her place and friends, informally referring themselves as a Benetton ad. They stumble upon a secret and bullying, as well as race and power come into play. This also gave off a lot of Lois Duncan vibes and I was hooked from the beginning.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
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September 4, 2024content warning: grooming, abuse, bullying, harassment
I loved the multiple povs that happen and the mystery type elements within this story. This story is complex and the author shows the nuances and hardships that come from abusive relationships & grooming. This story also focuses on friendships and found family. We see each character struggle to find themselves within the school and within their family unit.
Zahabiya finds a community at her new school and it helps her learn more about herself. She starts to form strong connections with her family as well which was lovely to see. I really loved the moments with Zahabiya and her friends and the moments she reflected about her family.
Leesa‘s character is complex as she does not realize that she is being taken advantage of. She feels abandoned by her family and with that comes her sense of finding worth in being one of the ‘it’ girls. I found her character arc to be interesting and at times painful to read about.
Nahla tries to also find a community within the school as she starts her new job as a teacher and is isolated from her family. Her father isn’t impressed that she got a new job away from home and has decided not to answer her calls. Leaving her feeling alone in a new environment. There is also a mystery element that she starts to uncover while working at the school. I found that bit very intriguing. I really liked Nahla and her POV.
This is a book I recommend reading! It deals with important issues and shows the significance of speaking up for yourself and others. It kept me turning the pages but definitely check content warnings as it deals with intense subject matter and may be triggering.
Thank you ECW Press for the advanced readers copy. This releases September 17, 2024.
I loved the multiple povs that happen and the mystery type elements within this story. This story is complex and the author shows the nuances and hardships that come from abusive relationships & grooming. This story also focuses on friendships and found family. We see each character struggle to find themselves within the school and within their family unit.
Zahabiya finds a community at her new school and it helps her learn more about herself. She starts to form strong connections with her family as well which was lovely to see. I really loved the moments with Zahabiya and her friends and the moments she reflected about her family.
Leesa‘s character is complex as she does not realize that she is being taken advantage of. She feels abandoned by her family and with that comes her sense of finding worth in being one of the ‘it’ girls. I found her character arc to be interesting and at times painful to read about.
Nahla tries to also find a community within the school as she starts her new job as a teacher and is isolated from her family. Her father isn’t impressed that she got a new job away from home and has decided not to answer her calls. Leaving her feeling alone in a new environment. There is also a mystery element that she starts to uncover while working at the school. I found that bit very intriguing. I really liked Nahla and her POV.
This is a book I recommend reading! It deals with important issues and shows the significance of speaking up for yourself and others. It kept me turning the pages but definitely check content warnings as it deals with intense subject matter and may be triggering.
Thank you ECW Press for the advanced readers copy. This releases September 17, 2024.
May 9, 2024
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.
"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.
May 7, 2024
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.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 5, 2024
Thank you to ECW Press for providing an ARC of THE BEAUTY OF US.
Thornton College is the private school that 15 year-old Zahabiya has convinced her father to let her attend. Zahabiya has lost her mother, her father has remarried and she can’t wait to leave the family home. Boarding school feels like the perfect answer.
Following her paren’s divorce, Leesa has been at Thornton since middle elementary school. Now seventeen, Leesa has established herself as one of the top girls through any means possible. However, Leesa has a secret no one can find out about even her closest friends.
Nahala secures her first real teaching position at Thornton after the unexpected passing of Mademoiselle Leblanc, the school’s resident French teacher. Nahala’s leaving home to take the job has upset her family. Determined to find her own way in the world, Nahala quickly finds her self overwhelmed. She comes to rely the lesson plans Mademoiselle left behind and is intrigued by the notebook filled with cryptic observations.
THE BEAUTY OF US is told from these three female voice. It is a beautifully told story about friendship, coming of age and getting through life’s more difficult moments.
I loved this story and couldn’t read it fast enough.
Thornton College is the private school that 15 year-old Zahabiya has convinced her father to let her attend. Zahabiya has lost her mother, her father has remarried and she can’t wait to leave the family home. Boarding school feels like the perfect answer.
Following her paren’s divorce, Leesa has been at Thornton since middle elementary school. Now seventeen, Leesa has established herself as one of the top girls through any means possible. However, Leesa has a secret no one can find out about even her closest friends.
Nahala secures her first real teaching position at Thornton after the unexpected passing of Mademoiselle Leblanc, the school’s resident French teacher. Nahala’s leaving home to take the job has upset her family. Determined to find her own way in the world, Nahala quickly finds her self overwhelmed. She comes to rely the lesson plans Mademoiselle left behind and is intrigued by the notebook filled with cryptic observations.
THE BEAUTY OF US is told from these three female voice. It is a beautifully told story about friendship, coming of age and getting through life’s more difficult moments.
I loved this story and couldn’t read it fast enough.
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October 6, 2024I received a copy of this book from the publisher
THE BEAUTY OF US was a book with many different layers. Being set in the 80s alone offered some intriguing commentary, especially because the main cast of characters were very diverse--which I can only imagine what life was like back then as a minority. Another great layer was the dark academia atmosphere that was haunted by the ghost of a past teacher and a life-altering mystery that has some powerful consequences. I found that THE BEAUTY OF US would make a great Autumn read, to be completely honest.
One of the strongest parts of this book was that it was written in multiple perspectives, giving us a very rounded sense of what was happening. We not only got to learn about the different experiences had in this school, but we also were given insight into how the big mystery of the book eventually affected these characters in different ways.
Another strong part of THE BEAUTY OF US were the core themes of the book surrounding families (found and biological), tradition, language, race, and culture. This school was such a wonderful collection of students from all over the world and since it's set in a small Canadian town in the 80s, I was surprised. But there are obviously moments of racism and one particular character just being a vile person--however, I also understand that she was a teenager and a product of her upbringing and who she surrounded herself with.
THE BEAUTY OF US straddles that fine line of young adult and adult--sometimes veering a little more into the adult side. Some of the topics, like the inappropriate relationship between two characters that is an abuse of power, may be a bit on the older side BUT I also think it's important for teens to read these stories. They might find parallels in their own experiences--not just in the inappropriate relationship, but in how they perceive themselves when surrounded by others who don't look like them or come from similar backgrounds.
Read this if you like dark academia set in the 80s that features a lot of diversity, multiple POVs, and deeper topics that might straddle that line between young adult and new adult.
Happy reading!
THE BEAUTY OF US was a book with many different layers. Being set in the 80s alone offered some intriguing commentary, especially because the main cast of characters were very diverse--which I can only imagine what life was like back then as a minority. Another great layer was the dark academia atmosphere that was haunted by the ghost of a past teacher and a life-altering mystery that has some powerful consequences. I found that THE BEAUTY OF US would make a great Autumn read, to be completely honest.
One of the strongest parts of this book was that it was written in multiple perspectives, giving us a very rounded sense of what was happening. We not only got to learn about the different experiences had in this school, but we also were given insight into how the big mystery of the book eventually affected these characters in different ways.
Another strong part of THE BEAUTY OF US were the core themes of the book surrounding families (found and biological), tradition, language, race, and culture. This school was such a wonderful collection of students from all over the world and since it's set in a small Canadian town in the 80s, I was surprised. But there are obviously moments of racism and one particular character just being a vile person--however, I also understand that she was a teenager and a product of her upbringing and who she surrounded herself with.
THE BEAUTY OF US straddles that fine line of young adult and adult--sometimes veering a little more into the adult side. Some of the topics, like the inappropriate relationship between two characters that is an abuse of power, may be a bit on the older side BUT I also think it's important for teens to read these stories. They might find parallels in their own experiences--not just in the inappropriate relationship, but in how they perceive themselves when surrounded by others who don't look like them or come from similar backgrounds.
Read this if you like dark academia set in the 80s that features a lot of diversity, multiple POVs, and deeper topics that might straddle that line between young adult and new adult.
Happy reading!
June 3, 2025
THE BEAUTY OF US is a novel told from three different perspectives at a private school in a fictional town in Ontario in 1984. Nahla joins the school after university having chosen a life for herself rather than one determined by her family. As the new French teacher, she is thrown into a mystery when she discovers an old teacher’s encoded journal, and she starts communicating with the woman’s ghost.
15-year-old Zahabiya’s mother dies, and she applies to the private school to get away from her father’s new wife and the home that she no longer feels is home. Leesa, also going on sixteen, is the popular girl come bully of the school, but when a horrible truth is revealed, we’re left to wonder if bullies are only ever just bullies. A novel that centers racialized girls/women who discover a terrible truth, AND themselves while navigating grief, abandonment, and family expectations.
Farzana Doctor has turned her skill in women-centred adult fiction and an eye for poetry into a novel that speaks to all the insecurities and hope in teenage-hood.
15-year-old Zahabiya’s mother dies, and she applies to the private school to get away from her father’s new wife and the home that she no longer feels is home. Leesa, also going on sixteen, is the popular girl come bully of the school, but when a horrible truth is revealed, we’re left to wonder if bullies are only ever just bullies. A novel that centers racialized girls/women who discover a terrible truth, AND themselves while navigating grief, abandonment, and family expectations.
Farzana Doctor has turned her skill in women-centred adult fiction and an eye for poetry into a novel that speaks to all the insecurities and hope in teenage-hood.
September 10, 2024
I received a digital ARC from the publisher (ECW Press) through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This book primarily tells the story of three women: Leesa and Zahabiya, who are students, and Nahla, who is a teacher at their school. All of them are struggling with a conflict and have varying levels of support. I thought the atmosphere of an elite boarding school was captured pretty well, and that the conversations of how different abuse victims can react were handled with sensitivity. The book takes place over one school term, and I liked the overall arc of each woman's journey during that time. Although it was a very small part of the book, one of my favorite aspects of it were the hints of supernatural interaction and aid. This book is a thought-provoking read about abuse of power, grooming, and the trust necessary to report.
This book primarily tells the story of three women: Leesa and Zahabiya, who are students, and Nahla, who is a teacher at their school. All of them are struggling with a conflict and have varying levels of support. I thought the atmosphere of an elite boarding school was captured pretty well, and that the conversations of how different abuse victims can react were handled with sensitivity. The book takes place over one school term, and I liked the overall arc of each woman's journey during that time. Although it was a very small part of the book, one of my favorite aspects of it were the hints of supernatural interaction and aid. This book is a thought-provoking read about abuse of power, grooming, and the trust necessary to report.
September 24, 2024
The Beauty of Us is a story about 3 characters who are all at Thorton private school. A teacher arrives after a opening at the school because available after the French teacher passes, and a new student comes to Thorton for a change after a massive family upheaval. These characters are taken through the events of misdeeds happening at the school and are guided by the ghost of the deceased French teacher.
I thought this novel was pretty good. It dealt with very harsh topics of abuse, trauma and how to identify calls for help. I found this novel took a really long time to get started but once it did I was in it. It was predictable but I don't think it was really trying to misdirect really. This book is a solid 3 stars for me and would recommend to anyone who likes contemporary fiction with gothic undertones.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC Access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I thought this novel was pretty good. It dealt with very harsh topics of abuse, trauma and how to identify calls for help. I found this novel took a really long time to get started but once it did I was in it. It was predictable but I don't think it was really trying to misdirect really. This book is a solid 3 stars for me and would recommend to anyone who likes contemporary fiction with gothic undertones.
I would like to thank NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me ARC Access to this novel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
July 12, 2024
The Beauty of Us is a multi POV YA story set in the 1980s at a boarding school in rural Ontario. One of the POV characters is a student engaged in risky sexual behaviour and the story is how some of her peers and a young teacher discover and react to it as the exploitation that it is. The subject matter is so sensitive and difficult, but in the author’s hands, all the nuanced complexity is explored. This is such a powerful story! I love how it evokes such sympathy for the naivete of our younger selves. I also love how the diverse cast of characters and multi POV structure works so well with the historical setting. Nostalgia allows readers to identify with the characters more deeply. I definitely recommend this story!
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February 15, 2025Lit fic. A boarding school novel set in small-city Ontario in the 1980s. Told from the perspectives of a new teacher and a new student at the school, and also another student who has gone to the school for years. I'm not sure if this was Doctor's intent or not, but what really struck me about this book was the way that it dealt directly with grooming and sexual predation and with racism, but did so in a way that didn't overshadow possibilities for thriving in the face of them and that made quietly clear the enormous difference that solidarity can make. As someone who went to high school in Ontario a few years after this was set, I also appreciated the quite-different-from-my-experience window it gave into such spaces.
May 13, 2024
3.5 ⭐️ The story begins with Nahla, a young and enthusiastic teacher, who arrives at Thornton College to teach French, replacing previous teacher Sylvie. As Nahla settles into her new role, she discovers Sylvie’s journal, which with the help of several students begins to unveil a dark secret. The story is told from multiple perspectives, including Nahla, an authoritative figure, and two students, providing a multi-faceted view of the events at the boarding school.
The author creates a narrative that is thought-provoking, addressing serious issues such as abuse of power, the ethics of teacher-student relationships, and the courage it takes to stand up against wrongdoing.
The author creates a narrative that is thought-provoking, addressing serious issues such as abuse of power, the ethics of teacher-student relationships, and the courage it takes to stand up against wrongdoing.
October 20, 2025
YOU ARE SICK. AND YOURE MARRIED. AND YOU MIGHT BE DYING.
girls be like “this is my comfort character” and the character is leesa.
dont ever come for leesa pls!! hes is so so so sos soo evil dont anyome ever talk to him again
leesa is my angel and her perspective hurt my soul so bad she deserves the world
omfg enought about lisa i finished this book in under 24 hours and seeing as ive been on the same book since july (it is now october, and i was in a reading slump) THIS BOOK MEANS SO MUCH TO ME ????
life is strange blackwell academy without the powers i swear.
!!! 💍💒💒💒💒💒💒💒 i have no words all of the girls deserve a hug
girls be like “this is my comfort character” and the character is leesa.
dont ever come for leesa pls!! hes is so so so sos soo evil dont anyome ever talk to him again
leesa is my angel and her perspective hurt my soul so bad she deserves the world
omfg enought about lisa i finished this book in under 24 hours and seeing as ive been on the same book since july (it is now october, and i was in a reading slump) THIS BOOK MEANS SO MUCH TO ME ????
life is strange blackwell academy without the powers i swear.
!!! 💍💒💒💒💒💒💒💒 i have no words all of the girls deserve a hug
April 12, 2025
I really liked this one.
Set at an Ontario boarding school in 1984, The Beauty of Us uses three different perspectives to tell the story of a school year. Zahabiya, a young Indian-Canadian girl filled with a quiet rebelliousness; Leesa, a popular bully with neglectful parents; and Nahla, their new French teacher, a young Beiruti teacher breaking free of her father's influence.
Farzana Doctor has a lovely writing style, bringing you into these quiet character moments, imbuing them with meaning.
Set at an Ontario boarding school in 1984, The Beauty of Us uses three different perspectives to tell the story of a school year. Zahabiya, a young Indian-Canadian girl filled with a quiet rebelliousness; Leesa, a popular bully with neglectful parents; and Nahla, their new French teacher, a young Beiruti teacher breaking free of her father's influence.
Farzana Doctor has a lovely writing style, bringing you into these quiet character moments, imbuing them with meaning.
September 1, 2024
This is a fine piece of fiction for teenager readers and up. Set in a boarding school, but could have been any school really. It works on many levels - as a teenager coming of age story, a finding your place and being accepted amongst pupil peers, and as a maybe warning and finding strength to speak out for yourself and others. Thank you to ECW Press and NetGalley for the ARC. The views expressed are all mine, freely given.
September 22, 2024
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc of this book. I enjoyed this book but something was just missing for me a bit. I liked all of the different povs but i feel like something was just off about the main plot line that i don’t know how to put into words. i liked the different characters and their arcs and i think that was one of the main positives of the book. please check trigger warnings before going into this.
October 13, 2024
This was an interesting story centered on three young women at a Canadian boarding school in the 1980s. I found it easy to tell all three leads apart from the start, which is always a plus in this kind of book. Their stories were interesting and timely in a post-me too way. I thought the ending tied things up nicely, but I would've liked to see an epilogue showing what the girls were up to in the future.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
September 15, 2024
This book follows three main characters within a boarding school.
A teacher, and two students are the POV we see within this.
There is a hint of supernatural aid with the previous teacher that helps the new one figure out a messy situation.
This book touches on hard topics and shows how it was handled and how each student was protected.
I really enjoyed this read and it was a page turner!
A teacher, and two students are the POV we see within this.
There is a hint of supernatural aid with the previous teacher that helps the new one figure out a messy situation.
This book touches on hard topics and shows how it was handled and how each student was protected.
I really enjoyed this read and it was a page turner!
December 22, 2025
4/5.. The Beauty of Us is an emotional YA romance about love, grief, and healing in the age of social media. It follows two people who find comfort in each other while dealing with loss. The writing is gentle and romantic, though the story moves slowly at times. A good choice for readers who enjoy emotional, character-focused romance.
October 11, 2024
I have mixed feelings about this one. I picked it up specifically for the boarding school setting. Unfortunately, I didn't love any of the characters, which greatly hindered my enjoyment. The story itself was pretty good, but I didn't like the ending. It left me feeling confused and mad.
November 3, 2024
A disturbingly necessary read that should be discussed in every classroom.
November 12, 2024
I liked the friendship groups supporting each other. Otherwise, it was a little bland.
July 31, 2025
round up to 3.5
September 25, 2025
I think every girl should read this. Grooming is something serious and is not taken into consideration. Parents please look out for your children.
October 3, 2025
I came for the goodreads bookmark stayed for the DRAMAAAA
November 2, 2025
Enjoyed the multiple POV’s & I love a boarding school setting
November 20, 2025
Well written, raw truths, about an important issue.
August 27, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 - An atmospheric, diverse YA mystery set in a 1980s boarding school 💜
My favourite thing about this book is how engaging it is. Upon reading the first few pages I was immediately transported into the halls of Thornton boarding school. There are several POVs but it was through Zahabiya’s I felt most connected to. The anxiety and excitement I’m sure we’ve all felt when starting up school again, especially a new one, was palpable, revolving around themes of belonging, identity, family dynamics, young love, and what it means to be a true friend.
The 80s vibes are incredibly vivid with the fashion, dialogue, music, and events described. The relationships between the new friends are heartwarming and relatable. I also really enjoyed the diversity of the cast of characters, which was incorporated in an authentic and compelling way.
As for the mystery component, this story will no doubt remind you of My Dark Vanessa due to the teacher-student relationship and the grooming that takes place before your very eyes. The spectrum of responses and reactions from both Leesa’s peers, teachers, and family members felt very realistic - uncomfortable, frustrating, and hopeful in equal measure. Her character arc was emotional as you witness her bleeding vulnerability and desire to feel seen, so you can’t help but root for her at every turn.
I do wish we had more time with Mademoiselle LeBlanc! 👻
The Beauty of Us comes out September 17 and is the perfect read for a cozy night in the fall.
My favourite thing about this book is how engaging it is. Upon reading the first few pages I was immediately transported into the halls of Thornton boarding school. There are several POVs but it was through Zahabiya’s I felt most connected to. The anxiety and excitement I’m sure we’ve all felt when starting up school again, especially a new one, was palpable, revolving around themes of belonging, identity, family dynamics, young love, and what it means to be a true friend.
The 80s vibes are incredibly vivid with the fashion, dialogue, music, and events described. The relationships between the new friends are heartwarming and relatable. I also really enjoyed the diversity of the cast of characters, which was incorporated in an authentic and compelling way.
As for the mystery component, this story will no doubt remind you of My Dark Vanessa due to the teacher-student relationship and the grooming that takes place before your very eyes. The spectrum of responses and reactions from both Leesa’s peers, teachers, and family members felt very realistic - uncomfortable, frustrating, and hopeful in equal measure. Her character arc was emotional as you witness her bleeding vulnerability and desire to feel seen, so you can’t help but root for her at every turn.
I do wish we had more time with Mademoiselle LeBlanc! 👻
The Beauty of Us comes out September 17 and is the perfect read for a cozy night in the fall.
November 8, 2024
I think this is a really easy to read book, while still being quite thoughtful. For me, this didn't really add anything new, but that's not necessarily bad; I just don't think this book is one with a lot of emotional impact. I liked the mystery, even though it was pretty easy to figure out. The author had a lot of compassion for her characters, but the plot was also pretty simplistic. I think that it's a fine book, but nothing super special.
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