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Cruelty Free
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Expected 3 Feb 26Win a free print copy of this book!
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30 copies available
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For fans of Monika Kim and Rachel Yoder, a twisted debut horror novel in which a disgraced movie star returns to Hollywood 10 years after the kidnapping of her young daughter, intent on seeking revenge.
NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN REVENGE.
Ten years ago, Lila Devlin was an A-list actress with a movie star husband and a beautiful baby girl, Josie. When Josie was kidnapped out of her home and never seen again, Lila’s previously pristine public image twisted into that of an Unfit Mother. Driven mad by the hungry press, incompetent cops, and relentless true crime–obsessed “fans,” she disappeared into anonymity.
Now, Lila Devlin returns to LA with a grand vision for a radical new skincare brand to reinvent herself and honor Josie’s legacy. She's prepared to move into the next chapter of her life with forgiveness in her heart, when an encounter with a parasitic blogger ends with him dead. Lila suddenly discovers forgiveness isn’t nearly as satisfying as a body hitting the floor.
With the help of her devoted publicist Sylvie, Lila begins a relentless, blood-soaked hunt through LA. Giving her skincare the edge it needs, they introduce a secret ingredient—revenge-sourced—from the bodies piling up. But as the company’s success skyrockets and Lila begins unraveling the truth behind her daughter’s kidnapping, her murderous side hustle threatens the life she’s painstakingly rebuilt.
Both a striking portrayal of grief and womanhood, and a twisting, cynical satire on celebrity and toxic beauty standards, Cruelty Free is an ambitious debut from a talented star on the rise.
NOTHING FEELS BETTER THAN REVENGE.
Ten years ago, Lila Devlin was an A-list actress with a movie star husband and a beautiful baby girl, Josie. When Josie was kidnapped out of her home and never seen again, Lila’s previously pristine public image twisted into that of an Unfit Mother. Driven mad by the hungry press, incompetent cops, and relentless true crime–obsessed “fans,” she disappeared into anonymity.
Now, Lila Devlin returns to LA with a grand vision for a radical new skincare brand to reinvent herself and honor Josie’s legacy. She's prepared to move into the next chapter of her life with forgiveness in her heart, when an encounter with a parasitic blogger ends with him dead. Lila suddenly discovers forgiveness isn’t nearly as satisfying as a body hitting the floor.
With the help of her devoted publicist Sylvie, Lila begins a relentless, blood-soaked hunt through LA. Giving her skincare the edge it needs, they introduce a secret ingredient—revenge-sourced—from the bodies piling up. But as the company’s success skyrockets and Lila begins unraveling the truth behind her daughter’s kidnapping, her murderous side hustle threatens the life she’s painstakingly rebuilt.
Both a striking portrayal of grief and womanhood, and a twisting, cynical satire on celebrity and toxic beauty standards, Cruelty Free is an ambitious debut from a talented star on the rise.
320 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication February 3, 2026
7113 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 101 reviews
December 8, 2025
I'm not sure what this book was trying to be. From the cover, title, description and comp titles I expected it to be an intense read about female grief turning into violent revenge. And sure, that was part of the story, but it also stayed so shallow all the time and it somehow ended up being over-the-top and ridiculous. I guess it's an enjoyable read if you just turn your brain off and don't question anything, but I really expected more than that.
The start was promising. We learn all about Lila Devlin, once a rising star actress but now only remembered as the mother of a kidnapped and murdered daughter. She had to live through the most horrific thing that can happen to a parent, but she was still heavily villainized by the press. Lila's life is recapped in form of an oral history and I liked the mixed media aspect of the story. It was well done how different people talked about the events as if they knew exactly what happened while also constantly speculating and gossiping. It was an intriguing part of the story, but it also made for the strangest pacing. The oral history is finished after a third of the book and only then does the revenge part start. Lila is of course not a fan of all the people who talk about her to make money and she eventually makes the decision that she cannot live with these people on earth. Although … 'makes the decision' is the wrong choice of words. She more or less stumbles into her revenge and then just never stops. She isn't ambitious at the start of the book and she doesn't have a strong voice, and later she just got very unlikable from one chapter to the next. There was no great exploration of her character and it all stayed very flat. That's one of my biggest issues with this book: everything was flat and superficial. It doesn't go deep into the toxicity of Hollywood or the beauty industry, and not even into the murder stuff. Especially the latter is really bumming me out, because if there is nothing else then at least give me a woman becoming her most unhinged self. But that was undermined by how ridiculous the plot got. Lila keeps killing people left and right – people who all have a public connection to her, I might add – and no one cares. I must admit that there was an entertaining quality to it all, but it also was such a strange contrast to the heavy theme of child loss. The tone of the book was very incoherent and I just don't know what to make of it. It wasn't a great read for me and it's not much of a recommendation, but it was quick and readable and might work better for other readers than it did for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
The start was promising. We learn all about Lila Devlin, once a rising star actress but now only remembered as the mother of a kidnapped and murdered daughter. She had to live through the most horrific thing that can happen to a parent, but she was still heavily villainized by the press. Lila's life is recapped in form of an oral history and I liked the mixed media aspect of the story. It was well done how different people talked about the events as if they knew exactly what happened while also constantly speculating and gossiping. It was an intriguing part of the story, but it also made for the strangest pacing. The oral history is finished after a third of the book and only then does the revenge part start. Lila is of course not a fan of all the people who talk about her to make money and she eventually makes the decision that she cannot live with these people on earth. Although … 'makes the decision' is the wrong choice of words. She more or less stumbles into her revenge and then just never stops. She isn't ambitious at the start of the book and she doesn't have a strong voice, and later she just got very unlikable from one chapter to the next. There was no great exploration of her character and it all stayed very flat. That's one of my biggest issues with this book: everything was flat and superficial. It doesn't go deep into the toxicity of Hollywood or the beauty industry, and not even into the murder stuff. Especially the latter is really bumming me out, because if there is nothing else then at least give me a woman becoming her most unhinged self. But that was undermined by how ridiculous the plot got. Lila keeps killing people left and right – people who all have a public connection to her, I might add – and no one cares. I must admit that there was an entertaining quality to it all, but it also was such a strange contrast to the heavy theme of child loss. The tone of the book was very incoherent and I just don't know what to make of it. It wasn't a great read for me and it's not much of a recommendation, but it was quick and readable and might work better for other readers than it did for me.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing a digital arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2025
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
I’m going to go ahead and say it… I don’t think these beauty products were cruelty free.
Ostensibly a book about achieving beauty by any means, it’s really a book about longing for the past and allowing that yearning to fully consume you. Even in the most devastating of circumstances, failure to move on will slowly chip away at a stony heart until only vestiges remain.
That’s very much the case for our protagonist, Lila, who is somehow an extremely sympathetic figure even while also being a sociopathic, revenge-lusting serial killer. It takes skill to create a character with that duality.
This book is good. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but sometimes a book is best experienced with no preconceptions. I completely understood the motivations of the characters, the plot was interesting and moved effortlessly, and it was just twisted enough to keep me wanting more.
An impressive debut novel, which bodes well for more to come.
I’m going to go ahead and say it… I don’t think these beauty products were cruelty free.
Ostensibly a book about achieving beauty by any means, it’s really a book about longing for the past and allowing that yearning to fully consume you. Even in the most devastating of circumstances, failure to move on will slowly chip away at a stony heart until only vestiges remain.
That’s very much the case for our protagonist, Lila, who is somehow an extremely sympathetic figure even while also being a sociopathic, revenge-lusting serial killer. It takes skill to create a character with that duality.
This book is good. I didn’t know what I was walking into, but sometimes a book is best experienced with no preconceptions. I completely understood the motivations of the characters, the plot was interesting and moved effortlessly, and it was just twisted enough to keep me wanting more.
An impressive debut novel, which bodes well for more to come.
October 16, 2025
the beginning was the best part in my opinion but it quickly fell flat for me. the excerpts in between each chapter throughout part one disrupted the flow of the story & I kept waiting for them to really connect or add to the overall plot & they didn't.
this was both too direct, as far as plot goes, but also a little ridiculous..Every character felt extremely shallow. Lila, the mc, quickly became extremely unlikeable. At first I was sympathetic because of what she went through with losing her daughter but then it quickly turned into "oh she's actually just mean & unstable & needed an excuse to be a shit person"...Her excuse to killing these people is just so stupid.
Lila is giving Joe Goldberg energy. Probably has some anger issues & definitely a little unstable..
I was also really confused with the relationship of Sylvie & Lila, it felt so forced & really came out of nowhere. It's not a bad debut, just wasn't for me & that's ok. Despite all of this, I do see the potential & will give the author another chance in the future.
2.5 rounded up for gr
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
this was both too direct, as far as plot goes, but also a little ridiculous..Every character felt extremely shallow. Lila, the mc, quickly became extremely unlikeable. At first I was sympathetic because of what she went through with losing her daughter but then it quickly turned into "oh she's actually just mean & unstable & needed an excuse to be a shit person"...Her excuse to killing these people is just so stupid.
Lila is giving Joe Goldberg energy. Probably has some anger issues & definitely a little unstable..
I was also really confused with the relationship of Sylvie & Lila, it felt so forced & really came out of nowhere. It's not a bad debut, just wasn't for me & that's ok. Despite all of this, I do see the potential & will give the author another chance in the future.
2.5 rounded up for gr
Thank you to NetGalley & the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review
September 12, 2025
ARC for review. To be published February 3, 2026.
4 stars
In this deliciously devilish novel Hollywood stars Lila Devlin and Adrian Reynolds have a small daughter, Josie, who was kidnapped. She never came home
In her grief Lila leaves Adrian and stardom behind for ten years. Then she comes back with a plan. Well, two plans, actually.
This is done in interview format combined with narrative. Some nice writing: for years the press and suits had “given her a career for being beautiful only to claw her to pieces as ugly.” Both Lila and her partner Sylvie Lightly are interesting characters and I enjoyed this.
4 stars
In this deliciously devilish novel Hollywood stars Lila Devlin and Adrian Reynolds have a small daughter, Josie, who was kidnapped. She never came home
In her grief Lila leaves Adrian and stardom behind for ten years. Then she comes back with a plan. Well, two plans, actually.
This is done in interview format combined with narrative. Some nice writing: for years the press and suits had “given her a career for being beautiful only to claw her to pieces as ugly.” Both Lila and her partner Sylvie Lightly are interesting characters and I enjoyed this.
December 9, 2025
This was so stupid to the point where it was funny. I couldn't take any of it seriously.
Don't ask me if this had a deeper, hidden meaning worthy of an English/American Studies major type of deep dive. Something about celebrity culture, unhealthy beauty standards for women in the spotlight, yadda yadda.
You know when you watch too many shows like Dexter and Hannibal that all the murder, torture, and deaths become so unbelievable and even campy?
Yeah, this has those vibes. (But featuring white women.)
I couldn't stop reacting to each ridiculous and absurd scene that the characters happen to find themselves in. Hell, the author had me right in the very beginning when the white FMC went on an Eat, Pray, Love type of pilgrimage to find herself after her daughter's death.
*** SPOILER ALERT***
*** SPOILER ENDS***
It became more and more unhinged after that. I couldn't stop reading. Was this supposed to be a dark comedy? This should definitely be marketed as a dark comedy instead of whatever serious genre they're shelving this under. Total missed opportunity.
Anyway, this was a quick read and had me rolling at its absurdity and stupidity. Would I recommend this? Only if you suspend your disbelief and keep it suspended for the entirety of the novel.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this arc.
Don't ask me if this had a deeper, hidden meaning worthy of an English/American Studies major type of deep dive. Something about celebrity culture, unhealthy beauty standards for women in the spotlight, yadda yadda.
You know when you watch too many shows like Dexter and Hannibal that all the murder, torture, and deaths become so unbelievable and even campy?
Yeah, this has those vibes. (But featuring white women.)
I couldn't stop reacting to each ridiculous and absurd scene that the characters happen to find themselves in. Hell, the author had me right in the very beginning when the white FMC went on an Eat, Pray, Love type of pilgrimage to find herself after her daughter's death.
*** SPOILER ALERT***
*** SPOILER ENDS***
It became more and more unhinged after that. I couldn't stop reading. Was this supposed to be a dark comedy? This should definitely be marketed as a dark comedy instead of whatever serious genre they're shelving this under. Total missed opportunity.
Anyway, this was a quick read and had me rolling at its absurdity and stupidity. Would I recommend this? Only if you suspend your disbelief and keep it suspended for the entirety of the novel.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for this arc.
October 22, 2025
Any theatre nerds who are fans of Sondheim specifically may find this book very interesting, as I eventually realized that the story was a blatant retelling of one of his musicals. Complete with a direct parody of one of the most well known (and best) songs. Although that epiphany pretty much told me how things were going to end, I still didn’t know the specifics for these characters or how everything would come together.
I liked the mixed media writing style that was heavy throughout the first half. It kept me invested. I was given a frustrating introduction to Lila in the horrible way that she was treated by pretty much everyone around her. That was a great way to get me on her side quickly before things really took a turn for the macabre.
Tonally, this was a little muddled. It was not quite a horror at first, more like a suspense thriller. But sometimes it also tried to be a dark comedy. There were definitely times that a serious message came across about grief or the way celebrities are put on display for our entertainment during the worst moments of their lives. Parts of the plot are grisly, even sad. Then others are silly to the point that I just couldn’t take it seriously. The last fourth of the book especially took a turn into much campier territory. And yes, it did get bloodier.
You will need to suspend ALL of your disbelief for this one. It is essentially an entertainment read.
I think this author did a good job with Lila, and gradually developing her from an innocent, tragic figure into someone blindly obsessed with revenge, no matter what the cost. But I have to say the star of the show for me personally was Sylvie.
A messy but entertaining 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Bodyshaming, Suicide, Postpartum Depression, Substance abuse, Animal harm/death
I liked the mixed media writing style that was heavy throughout the first half. It kept me invested. I was given a frustrating introduction to Lila in the horrible way that she was treated by pretty much everyone around her. That was a great way to get me on her side quickly before things really took a turn for the macabre.
Tonally, this was a little muddled. It was not quite a horror at first, more like a suspense thriller. But sometimes it also tried to be a dark comedy. There were definitely times that a serious message came across about grief or the way celebrities are put on display for our entertainment during the worst moments of their lives. Parts of the plot are grisly, even sad. Then others are silly to the point that I just couldn’t take it seriously. The last fourth of the book especially took a turn into much campier territory. And yes, it did get bloodier.
You will need to suspend ALL of your disbelief for this one. It is essentially an entertainment read.
I think this author did a good job with Lila, and gradually developing her from an innocent, tragic figure into someone blindly obsessed with revenge, no matter what the cost. But I have to say the star of the show for me personally was Sylvie.
A messy but entertaining 3.5 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the Publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
Biggest TW: Bodyshaming, Suicide, Postpartum Depression, Substance abuse, Animal harm/death
November 10, 2025
2.5? 3? Not quite sure yet tbh...
I really enjoyed this one at the beginning as there was a lot of promise for a blood-soaked revenge thriller... although it was blood-soaked I'm not quite sure what genre to place this under. Suspense? Horror? Dark comedy? A tragedy? I was tonally confused on this and that's what ultimately made this whole experience feel underdeveloped and disjointed. And the screenplay in-between chapters? Every time I came across those sections it felt I was being forcibly ripped out of the book which made getting back to the regular chapters extremely hard to get into.
Outside of the plot, the characters fell a little flat for me. With the exception of Lila and Sylvie, all the other characters felt like the same person just different fonts. There was not much development with any of them. It made it hard to care at all about the story. Although I liked Lila in the beginning, her gradually descent into madness wasn't fleshed out well enough and came off as ridiculous and annoying. From the get-go you really have to suspend your disbelief so you won't be wondering how she's getting away with any of this acting the way that she is.
Somewhere in here there is a great novel tackling the issues of celebrity culture, celebrity privacy, grief, and the sensationalism of crime. However, it doesn't quite hit that mark. Some more time honing the tone of the story, developing the characters, and really tying the mixed media format together would've done wonders for the pacing and experience of this novel. I truly think this author is talented, and this wasn't a bad debut at all. I'm excited to see them hone their craft and come out with something a little more baked in the future.
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
I really enjoyed this one at the beginning as there was a lot of promise for a blood-soaked revenge thriller... although it was blood-soaked I'm not quite sure what genre to place this under. Suspense? Horror? Dark comedy? A tragedy? I was tonally confused on this and that's what ultimately made this whole experience feel underdeveloped and disjointed. And the screenplay in-between chapters? Every time I came across those sections it felt I was being forcibly ripped out of the book which made getting back to the regular chapters extremely hard to get into.
Outside of the plot, the characters fell a little flat for me. With the exception of Lila and Sylvie, all the other characters felt like the same person just different fonts. There was not much development with any of them. It made it hard to care at all about the story. Although I liked Lila in the beginning, her gradually descent into madness wasn't fleshed out well enough and came off as ridiculous and annoying. From the get-go you really have to suspend your disbelief so you won't be wondering how she's getting away with any of this acting the way that she is.
Somewhere in here there is a great novel tackling the issues of celebrity culture, celebrity privacy, grief, and the sensationalism of crime. However, it doesn't quite hit that mark. Some more time honing the tone of the story, developing the characters, and really tying the mixed media format together would've done wonders for the pacing and experience of this novel. I truly think this author is talented, and this wasn't a bad debut at all. I'm excited to see them hone their craft and come out with something a little more baked in the future.
*Thank you to Netgalley for providing me an ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are entirely my own*
August 15, 2025
This book is a brilliant, blood-soaked debut wrapped in luxurious, clean-girl aesthetic beauty brand packaging. Think Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop owned and operated by Arya Stark as she repeats her revenge list….Joffrey, Cersei, Walder Frey, Meryn Trant, Tywin Lannister, the Red Woman….
One woman’s tragedy is entertainment for the public, and a cash cow for paparazzi and podcasters. Can you blame a slay queen for taking her power back? A-List actors are people, and LA is a candy-colored mirage in the desert.
“To use ‘humanity’ as a word for mercy was the greatest lie ever told.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC of this book! Cruelty Free set to be published Feb 3, 2026.
One woman’s tragedy is entertainment for the public, and a cash cow for paparazzi and podcasters. Can you blame a slay queen for taking her power back? A-List actors are people, and LA is a candy-colored mirage in the desert.
“To use ‘humanity’ as a word for mercy was the greatest lie ever told.”
Thank you so much to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the eARC of this book! Cruelty Free set to be published Feb 3, 2026.
November 12, 2025
Other than its eye-catching cover, this book has a very intriguing premise. I enjoyed reading this book at the beginning and was anticipating the twists I imagined would happen. Unfortunately, the more I read, the more I realized I probably wouldn't truly enjoy and love this book.
I felt that Lila, the main character, changes her mind and mood often, like she has mood swings. It's as if she can be grieving one moment, and then angry or annoyed the next. I was still enjoying it all until the middle of the book and the first murder scene, which imo happened too quickly and just lacked buildup. The reactions when that murder happened didn't feel very realistic. And just like that, in the next chapter, the tension was forgotten. This continued until I reached the 2nd part, where I felt the timeline and plot suddenly changed pace from Part 1. After that, I mostly skimmed lol.
Well, that's why I'm giving this book just 3 stars. Thank you.
I felt that Lila, the main character, changes her mind and mood often, like she has mood swings. It's as if she can be grieving one moment, and then angry or annoyed the next. I was still enjoying it all until the middle of the book and the first murder scene, which imo happened too quickly and just lacked buildup. The reactions when that murder happened didn't feel very realistic. And just like that, in the next chapter, the tension was forgotten. This continued until I reached the 2nd part, where I felt the timeline and plot suddenly changed pace from Part 1. After that, I mostly skimmed lol.
Well, that's why I'm giving this book just 3 stars. Thank you.
September 3, 2025
Rating: 4.5 Stars ★ ★ ★ ★
Release Date: February 3, 2026
No, that twitter user was right - Lila WAS serving cunt and being mother.
A darkly funny and at times poignant tale that felt like a modern Sweeney Todd. I know these types of stories have been done over and over that are filled with the same type of commentary on motherhood, beauty and aging, but I think Caroline Glenn has something unique, fresh and sharp with Cruelty Free. Which mostly has everything to do with the story itself and her writing. Caroline managed to create a compelling storyline with equally compelling characters.
To me, the first four chapters dragged a little, but I think that had more to do with it feeling like a set up for the later part of the story. By the time it hit chapter five, I couldn't put it down. An incredibly fast paced story that takes you on a whirlwind of revenge and grief. Perfectly balanced blend of witty and biting satire, brutal violence and deep humanity.
Sometimes I go around thinking I don't like lit fic and then I read something that blows my mind and makes me want to devour more. Caroline Glenn crafted such an insane and fun debut novel that I can't wait to see what else we'll get from her.
Thank you to William Morrow, Caroline Glenn and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Release Date: February 3, 2026
No, that twitter user was right - Lila WAS serving cunt and being mother.
A darkly funny and at times poignant tale that felt like a modern Sweeney Todd. I know these types of stories have been done over and over that are filled with the same type of commentary on motherhood, beauty and aging, but I think Caroline Glenn has something unique, fresh and sharp with Cruelty Free. Which mostly has everything to do with the story itself and her writing. Caroline managed to create a compelling storyline with equally compelling characters.
To me, the first four chapters dragged a little, but I think that had more to do with it feeling like a set up for the later part of the story. By the time it hit chapter five, I couldn't put it down. An incredibly fast paced story that takes you on a whirlwind of revenge and grief. Perfectly balanced blend of witty and biting satire, brutal violence and deep humanity.
Sometimes I go around thinking I don't like lit fic and then I read something that blows my mind and makes me want to devour more. Caroline Glenn crafted such an insane and fun debut novel that I can't wait to see what else we'll get from her.
Thank you to William Morrow, Caroline Glenn and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 15, 2025
Wow, I just finished and I need time to digest this, but it was AT LEAST 4.5 stars, so I'm rounding up to 5 stars for Goodreads and NetGalley without hesitation because this was very nearly a perfect read for me. I am the target demographic for this book- it's me. If you also love grief horror, femme rage, unhinged women and the like, CONGRATS, you are also the target audience; this book is a MUST read. I see this debut novel being the next viral read in the weird girl litfic niche after publishing! Caroline Glenn will be on the radar of everyone who has good taste, just saying.
Admittedly, I found the first quarter of this book a little hard to get into. Initially, we are following our main character, Lila, through both past and present traumatic events in alternating chapters. The past chapters include a mixed media element with testimonials from others involved in the event and with Lila in various ways, which slowed down the pacing a bit. However, after the author catches the audience up and we primarily focus on Lila's present descent into madness, the novel starts to really shine in my opinion; the storyline unfolding was like a car crash I couldn't look away from, and I was fully engaged. The sheer insanity of the last 25% of this book more than makes up for the slow buildup of the first 25% AND connects perfectly back to the beginning as fluidly as a circle, I promise.
Trying to describe this novel in a brief, non-spoiler way that will encourage you to read it for yourself: Lila stumbled her way into a successful and glamorous family life that she never expected, but all of that is quickly snatched away from her when her toddler goes missing in the night. After nearly a decade, she is trying to reclaim her story and find her own way to peace by launching a beauty brand that will honor her late daughter. "Cruelty Free" refuses to fit itself in a box; this book lands very solidly between the mystery/thriller and horror genres. It is unafraid to bear the ugly side of grief and the beautiful side of fame, calling to mind several notorious child kidnapping cases and other novels centering around the beauty industry, such as "youthjuice" by E.K. Sathue, "Rouge" by Mona Awad, and "Natural Beauty" by Ling Ling Huang. Trust me when I say "Cruelty Free" will appear alongside these powerhouses in the genre after release.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this debut novel! Just to make it clear, if it wasn't already... HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Admittedly, I found the first quarter of this book a little hard to get into. Initially, we are following our main character, Lila, through both past and present traumatic events in alternating chapters. The past chapters include a mixed media element with testimonials from others involved in the event and with Lila in various ways, which slowed down the pacing a bit. However, after the author catches the audience up and we primarily focus on Lila's present descent into madness, the novel starts to really shine in my opinion; the storyline unfolding was like a car crash I couldn't look away from, and I was fully engaged. The sheer insanity of the last 25% of this book more than makes up for the slow buildup of the first 25% AND connects perfectly back to the beginning as fluidly as a circle, I promise.
Trying to describe this novel in a brief, non-spoiler way that will encourage you to read it for yourself: Lila stumbled her way into a successful and glamorous family life that she never expected, but all of that is quickly snatched away from her when her toddler goes missing in the night. After nearly a decade, she is trying to reclaim her story and find her own way to peace by launching a beauty brand that will honor her late daughter. "Cruelty Free" refuses to fit itself in a box; this book lands very solidly between the mystery/thriller and horror genres. It is unafraid to bear the ugly side of grief and the beautiful side of fame, calling to mind several notorious child kidnapping cases and other novels centering around the beauty industry, such as "youthjuice" by E.K. Sathue, "Rouge" by Mona Awad, and "Natural Beauty" by Ling Ling Huang. Trust me when I say "Cruelty Free" will appear alongside these powerhouses in the genre after release.
Thank you so much to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive an ARC of this debut novel! Just to make it clear, if it wasn't already... HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Lila Devlin never wanted to be famous. She basically stumbled into acting but quickly became an A lister. However what everyone knows her by now is the woman who's baby girl was kidnapped. The paparazzi and true crime obsessed fans became to much for her and Lila ran away. Ten years later she comes back to LA to start up her skincare line. She teams up with Sylvie, a publicist with her own baggage and the two of them create Glob. With a fire for revenge over those who screwed her over, Lila discovers there is a secret ingredient that she can use for her products that take them to the next level. But as she's trying to correct the past, the truth of what happens to her daughter starts to unravel.
The problem with a book where you hear so often how shocking the twists are is that you start to play detective. Unfortunately for me that makes my mind jump to a hundred different crazy things which included everything that did happen. So I didn’t get that huge jaw dropping shocking moment that I so desperately crave in books. However I did still really enjoy this book (other than the ending if I'm being honest). The writing style was impeccable, I was fully absorbed with where everything was going.
I think we've all at one point or another really really wanted something to the point where we've let it consume us (tho maybe not as much as Lila did). The grief aspect was well done, I in particular liked how Lila kind of clinged onto Maya due to her grief. The characters were memorable, I in particular really enjoyed Sylvie, especially when she was telling the story about the mayo.
Once upon a time I was a big true crime fan and so I was into the mystery about the kidnapping and what had actually happened. I also love a woman scorned exacting revenge. But I'm not sure why but in some instances this book felt like it was trying to do to much. Like it wanted to be a "good for her" feminine rage book and but also with book with a delusional MC circling the drain of her sanity. Not saying one book can't have those but I'm not fully convinced this one fully blended for me.
Thank you to Netgalley & William Morrow for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
The problem with a book where you hear so often how shocking the twists are is that you start to play detective. Unfortunately for me that makes my mind jump to a hundred different crazy things which included everything that did happen. So I didn’t get that huge jaw dropping shocking moment that I so desperately crave in books. However I did still really enjoy this book (other than the ending if I'm being honest). The writing style was impeccable, I was fully absorbed with where everything was going.
I think we've all at one point or another really really wanted something to the point where we've let it consume us (tho maybe not as much as Lila did). The grief aspect was well done, I in particular liked how Lila kind of clinged onto Maya due to her grief. The characters were memorable, I in particular really enjoyed Sylvie, especially when she was telling the story about the mayo.
Once upon a time I was a big true crime fan and so I was into the mystery about the kidnapping and what had actually happened. I also love a woman scorned exacting revenge. But I'm not sure why but in some instances this book felt like it was trying to do to much. Like it wanted to be a "good for her" feminine rage book and but also with book with a delusional MC circling the drain of her sanity. Not saying one book can't have those but I'm not fully convinced this one fully blended for me.
Thank you to Netgalley & William Morrow for providing this arc in exchange for an honest review.
December 18, 2025
Cruelty Free is a vicious combination of grief, satire, and Hollywood rot—and Caroline Glenn absolutely commits to the bit. What begins as a faded starlet’s attempt at reinvention quickly evolves into a bloody revenge tour, and somehow the book balances both tones without completely going off the rails.
Lila Devlin is a fascinating narrator: brittle, bitter, and determined to claw back the life she lost after her daughter was kidnapped. Glenn weaponizes that grief in a way that feels both unhinged and heartbreakingly human—one review I saw called it “razor-sharp and twisted,” and that’s exactly the energy here. The commentary on celebrity culture, true-crime voyeurism, and the relentless policing of women’s pain lands hard.
The skincare-brand-from-hell plot is deliciously cynical. Watching Lila and her publicist Sylvie spin murder into marketing is so darkly funny you almost feel guilty laughing. When the bodies start stacking up—and the “secret ingredient” gives the brand its edge—the book turns into a satire about beauty standards you can’t look away from.
Where Cruelty Free shines brightest is in its emotional undercurrent. Beneath the violence and snark is a raw portrait of a mother consumed by what was stolen from her. The unraveling of Josie’s case ties everything together in a way that’s messy, tragic, and strangely tender, echoing Ling Ling Huang’s praise that this novel understands both the fullness of grief and the hollowness of vengeance.
My only critique? The plot sometimes leans more outrageous than believable—but honestly, that’s part of the charm. It’s bold, biting, and not afraid to make you uncomfortable.
A blood-soaked satire with a grieving heart—sharp, wild, and memorable. A fantastic debut and an immediate 4 star read! This was so, so enjoyable.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this eARC! I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
Lila Devlin is a fascinating narrator: brittle, bitter, and determined to claw back the life she lost after her daughter was kidnapped. Glenn weaponizes that grief in a way that feels both unhinged and heartbreakingly human—one review I saw called it “razor-sharp and twisted,” and that’s exactly the energy here. The commentary on celebrity culture, true-crime voyeurism, and the relentless policing of women’s pain lands hard.
The skincare-brand-from-hell plot is deliciously cynical. Watching Lila and her publicist Sylvie spin murder into marketing is so darkly funny you almost feel guilty laughing. When the bodies start stacking up—and the “secret ingredient” gives the brand its edge—the book turns into a satire about beauty standards you can’t look away from.
Where Cruelty Free shines brightest is in its emotional undercurrent. Beneath the violence and snark is a raw portrait of a mother consumed by what was stolen from her. The unraveling of Josie’s case ties everything together in a way that’s messy, tragic, and strangely tender, echoing Ling Ling Huang’s praise that this novel understands both the fullness of grief and the hollowness of vengeance.
My only critique? The plot sometimes leans more outrageous than believable—but honestly, that’s part of the charm. It’s bold, biting, and not afraid to make you uncomfortable.
A blood-soaked satire with a grieving heart—sharp, wild, and memorable. A fantastic debut and an immediate 4 star read! This was so, so enjoyable.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this eARC! I can’t wait to see what this author writes next.
October 2, 2025
An actress with a dark past--did she kill her daughter or was she another victim of the tragedy?
The first 40 percent of this book is written in dual timelines: when the crime took place and the present. Both are told through Lila's, the actress, point of view. I loved the past chapters. They were well written and organized, just like a true crime documentary. I was absolutely captivated by the case and the players involved.
The next half shifts, cleverly bouncing between POVs (it was thankfully clear and well organized, leaving little room for confusion). Only the present timeline remains, but things have twisted and spiraled. Lila slipped from wanting to start a beauty line and puck herself back up to something dark, surreal. And her new 'friendship' is fuel to the fire.
This was riveting. A dark mystery of two women spiraling deeper and deeper ...
The first 40 percent of this book is written in dual timelines: when the crime took place and the present. Both are told through Lila's, the actress, point of view. I loved the past chapters. They were well written and organized, just like a true crime documentary. I was absolutely captivated by the case and the players involved.
The next half shifts, cleverly bouncing between POVs (it was thankfully clear and well organized, leaving little room for confusion). Only the present timeline remains, but things have twisted and spiraled. Lila slipped from wanting to start a beauty line and puck herself back up to something dark, surreal. And her new 'friendship' is fuel to the fire.
This was riveting. A dark mystery of two women spiraling deeper and deeper ...
December 1, 2025
I had the blessing to read an ARC of this novel before it hits shelves in February. This book has it all: The glory, fame, and gore of Hollywood, a sprawling mystery, and on top of it all a story about a woman reclaiming her freedom and finding her peace. Even if that means slashing through the competition and her horrific past by any means necessary…pun intended. This novel also offered some insight for conversations we should be having about the entertainment industry and how we perceive the idea of the celebrity. I will say one of the pitfalls with this novel is that I felt some of the characters were a little shallow and needed more room to grow as their actions sometimes felt unjustifiable. Overall, a darkly funny, and bloody brilliant debut.
August 8, 2025
Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn
Pub Date Feb 03 2026 | Archive Date Mar 31 2026
William Morrow
General Fiction (Adult) | Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Cruelty Free is a fantastic, eerie, well-written debut horror novel that will forever change the way I look at the collagen peptides I put in my coffee each morning. Former movie star Lila Devlin— now a famous recluse who ran away when her child went missing and was then murdered, is back and focused on starting a game changing skin care brand named Glob in her daughter’s memory with her publicist and new business partner Sylvie. This book kicks off pretty quickly with the action- and very quickly Lila and Sylvie have a body to dispose of, along with a way to truly make their skincare unique.
This book is great because yes, our female main character is unhinged. But actually it turns out the other characters, like Sylvie, are also completely deranged, so it’s a thrill ride all around. This book is great for anyone who loves a good story about a l character or two that are just completely losing their minds. 4.5 stars from me! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
Pub Date Feb 03 2026 | Archive Date Mar 31 2026
William Morrow
General Fiction (Adult) | Horror | Mystery & Thrillers
Cruelty Free is a fantastic, eerie, well-written debut horror novel that will forever change the way I look at the collagen peptides I put in my coffee each morning. Former movie star Lila Devlin— now a famous recluse who ran away when her child went missing and was then murdered, is back and focused on starting a game changing skin care brand named Glob in her daughter’s memory with her publicist and new business partner Sylvie. This book kicks off pretty quickly with the action- and very quickly Lila and Sylvie have a body to dispose of, along with a way to truly make their skincare unique.
This book is great because yes, our female main character is unhinged. But actually it turns out the other characters, like Sylvie, are also completely deranged, so it’s a thrill ride all around. This book is great for anyone who loves a good story about a l character or two that are just completely losing their minds. 4.5 stars from me! Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.
October 6, 2025
This is such a tough one to review, because though this story was unique, kept my attention all the way through, and had a theme that I was eating up, you could really tell this was a debut novel. I can count on at least two hands the amount of plot holes or just the pure unbelievability of many, many parts of this book, which really took me out of the story. On top of it, Lila’s revenge plan just like… didn’t even make sense? I don’t want to spill too much of why I thought this to not spoil the plot for those excited to read it, so I will leave it at that. This was such a highly anticipated book for me, but it didn’t meet my expectations unfortunately. I think a couple more passes from an editor to get the plot to seem more well rounded would have made this a 4-5 star read for me. With that said, I love the unique plot and I think Glenn has the chance to write a book that I’ll love, Cruelty Free just wasn’t for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced ebook!
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced ebook!
August 21, 2025
Lila Devlin's life was what dreams are made of- discovered by chance for a lead role in a movie, skyrocketing to fame and fortune with a picturesque home, her movie star hubby, and their daughter, Josie. However the public is no longer her biggest fans after a botched investigation into her daughter's kidnapping and murder stirs up controversy, skepticism, and lots of negative attention from the tabloids and true crime podcasts. Ten years and a pilgrimage to India help to facilitate healing and peace in Lila's life and she's ready to return to LA with a passion project in Josie's memory. Diving back into a world she's been out of for so long isn't as easy as she had thought and that carefully curated internal peace only gets her so far.
This book was nuts and I couldn't put it down. I loved the birds-eye-view of the interviews especially at the beginning to establish the past from the perspectives of others, it really helped to support the idea that it didn't matter what actually happened the night Josie went missing or during the investigation, the perception of the events held much more weight in the public's eye. The prose and dialogue were well written and natural but so bizarre. Every time I got an idea where I thought I knew where the book was headed, the rug was pulled out from under me. It was a cringey car crash of a downward spiral I couldn't look away from (complimentary). Would recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley, William Morrow Books, and the author for giving me the opportunity to review the book. All opinions are my own.
This book was nuts and I couldn't put it down. I loved the birds-eye-view of the interviews especially at the beginning to establish the past from the perspectives of others, it really helped to support the idea that it didn't matter what actually happened the night Josie went missing or during the investigation, the perception of the events held much more weight in the public's eye. The prose and dialogue were well written and natural but so bizarre. Every time I got an idea where I thought I knew where the book was headed, the rug was pulled out from under me. It was a cringey car crash of a downward spiral I couldn't look away from (complimentary). Would recommend!
Thank you to Net Galley, William Morrow Books, and the author for giving me the opportunity to review the book. All opinions are my own.
December 22, 2025
Cruelty Free by Caroline Glenn follows Lila, a former Hollywood star who ran away from the spotlight after her young daughter was abducted but is returning 10 years later with grand plans of having a skincare line and perhaps some more sinister plans.
I thought this book was a solid debut. The writing was engaging and I flew through it in a day. A lot of the characters are pretty unlikable which is something I tend to enjoy in books like this. I can see a lot of people really enjoying this one.
My biggest issue is it felt like this book was trying to do too much. It was trying to have satire and good for her energy. It was kind of a horror and kind of a mystery. The main character’s motivations didn’t seem to always fit her personality. There were discussions of grief followed by really silly moments which made the tone feel uneven.
So I liked this book, I just didn’t love it. It was just a little too much. I think if it would have been 70 ish pages shorter and cut some of the extra story out, I would have enjoyed it much more. That being said, I was absorbed in the writing so I know I’ll be excited to pick up whatever this author comes out with next!
I thought this book was a solid debut. The writing was engaging and I flew through it in a day. A lot of the characters are pretty unlikable which is something I tend to enjoy in books like this. I can see a lot of people really enjoying this one.
My biggest issue is it felt like this book was trying to do too much. It was trying to have satire and good for her energy. It was kind of a horror and kind of a mystery. The main character’s motivations didn’t seem to always fit her personality. There were discussions of grief followed by really silly moments which made the tone feel uneven.
So I liked this book, I just didn’t love it. It was just a little too much. I think if it would have been 70 ish pages shorter and cut some of the extra story out, I would have enjoyed it much more. That being said, I was absorbed in the writing so I know I’ll be excited to pick up whatever this author comes out with next!
August 14, 2025
Wow, what a read! At times I thought I had uncovered the twist just to find out I was wrong. Truly doubt anyone can call this one, Caroline Glenn had the rare read that actually kept me engaged and shocked me right up to the end.
Lila Devlin was a science major helping her roommate run lines at an audition before she was catapulted to fame. She met the love of her life, had a kid, and planned to settle down, as much as someone at her level of fame could, when the unthinkable happens. Josie, her infant daughter is kidnapped from the house in the middle of the night, and never seen again. The tabloids dissect Lila as an unfit mother, doing drugs the night her daughter went missing, enjoying her fancy life, not mourning 'the right way'. Lila and her husband divorce and Lila leaves the limelight as his star continues ascending.
Years later Lila returns to Hollywood, hoping to start a beauty brand in memory of her daughter, that would be accessible for all. But when her forgiveness tour takes a bloody turn, Lila updates the recipe for her skincare, and serves it with a side of revenge. As Lila makes her way through the list of those who have wronged her, she gets closer to the truth of what happened to Josie, though she may not like what she finds.
I recommend this to fans of revenge, horror, celebrity gossip, or beauty.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
Lila Devlin was a science major helping her roommate run lines at an audition before she was catapulted to fame. She met the love of her life, had a kid, and planned to settle down, as much as someone at her level of fame could, when the unthinkable happens. Josie, her infant daughter is kidnapped from the house in the middle of the night, and never seen again. The tabloids dissect Lila as an unfit mother, doing drugs the night her daughter went missing, enjoying her fancy life, not mourning 'the right way'. Lila and her husband divorce and Lila leaves the limelight as his star continues ascending.
Years later Lila returns to Hollywood, hoping to start a beauty brand in memory of her daughter, that would be accessible for all. But when her forgiveness tour takes a bloody turn, Lila updates the recipe for her skincare, and serves it with a side of revenge. As Lila makes her way through the list of those who have wronged her, she gets closer to the truth of what happened to Josie, though she may not like what she finds.
I recommend this to fans of revenge, horror, celebrity gossip, or beauty.
Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of this book.
November 25, 2025
This book was absolutely unhinged. The first quarter is heartbreaking as Lila rises to A-list fame while falling apart inside, and things only get worse once her daughter is kidnapped and the world turns her pain into entertainment. Years later, when she returns to LA to start a skincare line, all the anger she tried to bury comes boiling back. The moment the story shifts from grief to full revenge mode feels like stepping into a fever dream and from there it becomes a bloody, chaotic thrill ride. The twist genuinely shocked me and I adored Sylvie, though I wish we had gotten more of her. Lila’s level of unhinged sometimes pushed past believable and the ending didn’t land as strongly as I hoped. Especially knowing where the story ultimately goes, but plot holes aside this was a wild and memorable debut that makes me curious to see what the author does next. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this arc
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow for this arc
November 22, 2025
I LOVED this. Revenge plot? Psychotic breaks? Body horror? Wicked references? This book feels literally made for me. I feel like me and the author would be best friends.
Cruelty Free follows Lila Devlin, a former actress who disappeared from the limelight after her daughter is kidnapped and murdered, when she moves back to LA to start a skincare brand. Since she’s back, she decides to try to forgive the people who contributed to her daughter’s death, but things get messy.
I really did not expect to love this as much as I did. The first chapter didn’t really hook me, but that quickly changed once we got to the oral history chapters. It was so enjoyable to have the interview/documentary style format between the regular chapters and it was a unique way to give us the backstory without just info dumping it all from Lila’s point of view.
The characters were all so unique and their personalities were clearly represented. The drama and pacing were wonderful, I felt hooked the entire story. There was an animal death that I didn’t love, but that’s just something I’d rather not read and it was short enough that you could skip over it. I also wish there was maybe an epilogue or maybe another oral interview kind of chapter that was about after the events of the book.
I saw in the About the Author that she’s a screenwriter and i feel like that TOTALLY translates. The entire time I was reading I was thinking about how this would make such an incredible movie and now I’m really hoping for it (and definitely interested in watching or reading any more of her work!!).
This is one of my favorite books of the year and I cannot wait to get a physical copy once it’s published!! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!!
Cruelty Free follows Lila Devlin, a former actress who disappeared from the limelight after her daughter is kidnapped and murdered, when she moves back to LA to start a skincare brand. Since she’s back, she decides to try to forgive the people who contributed to her daughter’s death, but things get messy.
I really did not expect to love this as much as I did. The first chapter didn’t really hook me, but that quickly changed once we got to the oral history chapters. It was so enjoyable to have the interview/documentary style format between the regular chapters and it was a unique way to give us the backstory without just info dumping it all from Lila’s point of view.
The characters were all so unique and their personalities were clearly represented. The drama and pacing were wonderful, I felt hooked the entire story. There was an animal death that I didn’t love, but that’s just something I’d rather not read and it was short enough that you could skip over it. I also wish there was maybe an epilogue or maybe another oral interview kind of chapter that was about after the events of the book.
I saw in the About the Author that she’s a screenwriter and i feel like that TOTALLY translates. The entire time I was reading I was thinking about how this would make such an incredible movie and now I’m really hoping for it (and definitely interested in watching or reading any more of her work!!).
This is one of my favorite books of the year and I cannot wait to get a physical copy once it’s published!! Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for my ARC copy in exchange for an honest review!!
November 23, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐✨/5
Oh this was GOOD. It's so rare that a twist actually blindsides me in a book but this one had my jaw dropped.
Cruelty Free follows Lila Devlin, a former movie star that returns to Hollywood to start a skincare brand 10 years after her baby is kidnapped and she is embroiled in a botched investigation and media frenzy that threatens to ruin her life.
The writing in this was so sharp and witty considering the subject matter, and the characters were so well fleshed out that it was hard not to root for them. Lila and Sylvie are the definition of "I support women's rights and wrongs" to me 🫶
The pop culture references felt in-touch but not in a way that I feel like is cringey or will age poorly lol. It felt very relevant to current times in tandem with the themes of beauty standards, celebrity culture, the exploitative nature of true crime creators, and rampant misogyny.
I'm astounded that this is a debut novel with how polished and well thought out it is, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Glenn's future work!
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! 💖
Oh this was GOOD. It's so rare that a twist actually blindsides me in a book but this one had my jaw dropped.
Cruelty Free follows Lila Devlin, a former movie star that returns to Hollywood to start a skincare brand 10 years after her baby is kidnapped and she is embroiled in a botched investigation and media frenzy that threatens to ruin her life.
The writing in this was so sharp and witty considering the subject matter, and the characters were so well fleshed out that it was hard not to root for them. Lila and Sylvie are the definition of "I support women's rights and wrongs" to me 🫶
The pop culture references felt in-touch but not in a way that I feel like is cringey or will age poorly lol. It felt very relevant to current times in tandem with the themes of beauty standards, celebrity culture, the exploitative nature of true crime creators, and rampant misogyny.
I'm astounded that this is a debut novel with how polished and well thought out it is, and I'll definitely be keeping an eye on Glenn's future work!
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!! 💖
August 8, 2025
Cruelty Free takes away the glamor from the beauty industry in Hollywood with the classic horror format. The writing was appropriately violent and bloody across the narrative. I appreciated Caroline Glenn’s writing, however the screenplay between each chapter felt disjointed. It did not appear to mirror the plot in the main chapters and that is where this read fell through for me.
I wanted more charm and growth throughout the protagonist experience. Furthermore, I would like to see the screenplay evolve in between the chapters or blur reality for the protagonist. An ambitious but fun read I would love to see more in depth scenes for! Thankyou Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced digital copy.
Read more recommendations and reviews on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
I wanted more charm and growth throughout the protagonist experience. Furthermore, I would like to see the screenplay evolve in between the chapters or blur reality for the protagonist. An ambitious but fun read I would love to see more in depth scenes for! Thankyou Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced digital copy.
Read more recommendations and reviews on https://brujerialibrary.wordpress.com
August 22, 2025
4.5
setting: California
Rep: sapphic protagonist
I predict this to be one of the buzziest books of 2026, especially amongst the weird girl book girlies. I was hooked from the start - I love a multimedia element - and the first part really satisfied the part of me that loves a literary story, and it slowly gets more unhinged after that. loved the unexpected queer rep with Lila's and Sylvie's relationship! I do with there had been a bit more about the beauty stuff and the collagen - it's actually a pretty tiny part of the book.
setting: California
Rep: sapphic protagonist
I predict this to be one of the buzziest books of 2026, especially amongst the weird girl book girlies. I was hooked from the start - I love a multimedia element - and the first part really satisfied the part of me that loves a literary story, and it slowly gets more unhinged after that. loved the unexpected queer rep with Lila's and Sylvie's relationship! I do with there had been a bit more about the beauty stuff and the collagen - it's actually a pretty tiny part of the book.
August 11, 2025
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
This was just a little too straight forward for me. I thought it'd be more of a deep dive into this topic, and it had moments of that, but it was mostly a cut and dry revenge plot, which didn't do much for me. I was hoping for it to get weirder or go somewhere unexpected.
This was just a little too straight forward for me. I thought it'd be more of a deep dive into this topic, and it had moments of that, but it was mostly a cut and dry revenge plot, which didn't do much for me. I was hoping for it to get weirder or go somewhere unexpected.
September 7, 2025
Four and half stars rounded up. She came back to Hollywood with a dream and a skincare line. What she didn’t pack? Mercy. Lila Devlin is back, and she’s exfoliating the past one body at a time. If Promising Young Woman had a collab with Dexter and The Substance, this would be the limited-edition serum.
December 5, 2025
This one is wild and definitely not cruelty free. lol
The premise certainly hooked me. Lila Devlin, once a Hollywood star, returns after a tragedy that tore her family apart. Now she’s determined to return with a beauty brand that is different than the others. But it turns into something much darker. Rage, revenge and grief. It’s kind of part horror/thriller part dark comedy.
If you’re into something that’s about vengeance, grief and power, check this one out!
The premise certainly hooked me. Lila Devlin, once a Hollywood star, returns after a tragedy that tore her family apart. Now she’s determined to return with a beauty brand that is different than the others. But it turns into something much darker. Rage, revenge and grief. It’s kind of part horror/thriller part dark comedy.
If you’re into something that’s about vengeance, grief and power, check this one out!
November 26, 2025
NUTTY. Super duper weird. And dark. Gross, at times.
Really enjoyed this one.
Really enjoyed this one.
tbr
September 20, 2025Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley, who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.
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