What do you think?
Eternal Glow: A Novel
When a Mormon wife undergoes a new beauty procedure, the cost of perfection proves all too high, in this thriller from the reality TV star and bestselling author.
Celeste built herself up from ridiculed outsider to pillar of the local Mormon mom group. Even among these perfectly polished and affluent women, her life appears utterly flawless, but the competition is stiff and the fall from the top is a long one. When Celeste’s husband is suddenly laid off and her credit cards are maxed out, her pristine façade quickly begins to crumble.
Desperate to conceal her darkening undereye bags and escape the mockery of her past, Celeste is eager for a quick fix. And her prayers are answered when she’s invited to participate in the ultra-exclusive beta testing of a mysterious procedure. Known as the “Eternal Glow,” it’s guaranteed to be the hottest new beauty trend. After agreeing to tell no one about the treatment, Celeste receives the full VIP experience and is completely transformed free of charge.
Now back on the scene with an enviable glow-up, Celeste receives all the admiration she’s been missing. Her husband dotes on her again, and her renewed social standing has earned her the title of chairwoman of an upcoming fundraiser. But then gruesome side effects begin to deform her face, and soon Celeste suspects a shadowy figure of stalking her every move. As she clings to the last vestiges of her dream life, one thing becomes painfully her “quick fix” comes at an unholy cost.
Blending campy body horror with satire and a deliciously unexpected twist, this chilling thriller from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star and New York Times–bestselling author of Bad Mormon is perfect for fans of The Substance and Big Little Lies.
Celeste built herself up from ridiculed outsider to pillar of the local Mormon mom group. Even among these perfectly polished and affluent women, her life appears utterly flawless, but the competition is stiff and the fall from the top is a long one. When Celeste’s husband is suddenly laid off and her credit cards are maxed out, her pristine façade quickly begins to crumble.
Desperate to conceal her darkening undereye bags and escape the mockery of her past, Celeste is eager for a quick fix. And her prayers are answered when she’s invited to participate in the ultra-exclusive beta testing of a mysterious procedure. Known as the “Eternal Glow,” it’s guaranteed to be the hottest new beauty trend. After agreeing to tell no one about the treatment, Celeste receives the full VIP experience and is completely transformed free of charge.
Now back on the scene with an enviable glow-up, Celeste receives all the admiration she’s been missing. Her husband dotes on her again, and her renewed social standing has earned her the title of chairwoman of an upcoming fundraiser. But then gruesome side effects begin to deform her face, and soon Celeste suspects a shadowy figure of stalking her every move. As she clings to the last vestiges of her dream life, one thing becomes painfully her “quick fix” comes at an unholy cost.
Blending campy body horror with satire and a deliciously unexpected twist, this chilling thriller from the Real Housewives of Salt Lake City star and New York Times–bestselling author of Bad Mormon is perfect for fans of The Substance and Big Little Lies.
279 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
Heather Gay
3 books267 followersHeather Gay is the New York Times–bestselling author of Bad Mormon and a breakout star of Bravo’s The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City. She is also the founder of Beauty Lab + Laser, an innovative cosmetic medical practice based in Salt Lake City, and the executive producer and host of the docuseries Surviving Mormonism. A graduate of Brigham Young University, Gay lives in Salt Lake City and is the mother of three daughters.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews
Read
September 26, 2026Physical ARC, eARC, and ALC provided by Podium Entertainment.
I really enjoyed Eternal Glow. Following Celeste through her life and watching how badly she wanted to be seen as more was probably one of the most interesting parts for me. The need to be perfect, keep up with your circle and even outdo them, while constantly comparing yourself to everyone around you felt like such believable human behavior.
The progression was great and kept me invested throughout. I also really liked how the story explored beauty, perfection, comparison, and the lengths people will go to feel like they belong or finally measure up. There were definitely moments I expected, but it still managed to surprise me.
I love when authors narrate their own books, and Heather Gay narrating this one adds something extra for me. There’s something really cool about hearing the characters exactly how the person who created them imagined them, especially their personalities and delivery.
Overall, this was such an interesting, increasingly unhinged story built around some very believable human behavior.
I recommend this for readers who like dark satire, messy characters, body horror, and stories that take our obsession with perfection somewhere much darker.
I really enjoyed Eternal Glow. Following Celeste through her life and watching how badly she wanted to be seen as more was probably one of the most interesting parts for me. The need to be perfect, keep up with your circle and even outdo them, while constantly comparing yourself to everyone around you felt like such believable human behavior.
The progression was great and kept me invested throughout. I also really liked how the story explored beauty, perfection, comparison, and the lengths people will go to feel like they belong or finally measure up. There were definitely moments I expected, but it still managed to surprise me.
I love when authors narrate their own books, and Heather Gay narrating this one adds something extra for me. There’s something really cool about hearing the characters exactly how the person who created them imagined them, especially their personalities and delivery.
Overall, this was such an interesting, increasingly unhinged story built around some very believable human behavior.
I recommend this for readers who like dark satire, messy characters, body horror, and stories that take our obsession with perfection somewhere much darker.
August 4, 2026
Wow. That was weird, intense, and absolutely nasty. If something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
Perfection and beauty can be such a disease. Some people would kill or do anything—to have both. The perfect life, perfect car, perfect wife or husband, perfect kids… perfect everything. But at what cost? How much perfection do we really need to be happy and content? Are we living in a superficial reality warped by judgment, envy, and false friendships?
I really loved this book. I just felt so moved by Celeste. Her character—so pathetically desperate, spoke to me in ways I didn’t expect. Her desire to be loved, adored, accepted, and to simply belong was both sad and heartbreaking. Watching the crescendo of her success and her inevitable ruin stayed with me.
This is a story about beauty, revenge, envy, vanity, and the price we pay when we don’t love ourselves enough.
Such an amazing read.
Perfection and beauty can be such a disease. Some people would kill or do anything—to have both. The perfect life, perfect car, perfect wife or husband, perfect kids… perfect everything. But at what cost? How much perfection do we really need to be happy and content? Are we living in a superficial reality warped by judgment, envy, and false friendships?
I really loved this book. I just felt so moved by Celeste. Her character—so pathetically desperate, spoke to me in ways I didn’t expect. Her desire to be loved, adored, accepted, and to simply belong was both sad and heartbreaking. Watching the crescendo of her success and her inevitable ruin stayed with me.
This is a story about beauty, revenge, envy, vanity, and the price we pay when we don’t love ourselves enough.
Such an amazing read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Celeste’s credit card gets declined at the med spa and, instead of taking that as a financial warning from God, she signs up for a secret experimental beauty treatment because apparently humiliation is scarier than informed consent.
That is the energy of Eternal Glow. Celeste has spent years building herself into exactly the kind of woman nobody gets to laugh at anymore. She has the husband, the friends, the house, the whole polished Mormon-mom package, and every inch of it feels like she is holding the seams together with both hands. Then her husband loses his job, the cards are maxed, and suddenly her perfect life has the structural integrity of a damp paper bag.
But Celeste cannot let anybody SEE that. Absolutely not. She would rather let a mysterious beauty clinic inject, laser, peel, vaporize, or spiritually reorganize her face than let one of these women clock an under-eye bag. And when the clinic offers her the Eternal Glow for FREE as long as she tells nobody, I was screaming. Free experimental cosmetic procedure plus NDA? That is not a blessing. That is how you wake up in act three of The Substance asking where your original cheekbone went.
And then, insultingly, it WORKS. Celeste comes back looking incredible. Her husband is suddenly interested again. The women who matter start orbiting her. Her social standing gets a fresh coat of paint. She lands the keynote spot at the Women’s Conference. This woman gets one glow-up and immediately starts moving through the world like the heavens personally endorsed her serum. Meanwhile I am sitting there thinking, ma’am, the invoice has not arrived yet.
The mom-group dynamics are the scariest part because everybody is smiling while quietly ranking each other. Nobody has to say, “I am better than you.” They say it with countertops. Husbands. Skin. Vacations. Volunteer positions. The entire social structure runs on plausible deniability and perfect teeth. Celeste has already lived through being the woman everybody mocked, so she is not chasing beauty. She is chasing immunity.
And that is why she keeps hiding the side effects when her face starts going completely off-script. Because once your whole identity depends on people envying you, admitting that the thing making you enviable is literally deforming you becomes impossible. She got the Eternal Glow so nobody would see weakness. Now weakness is happening on her FACE.
The body-horror stuff is where I wanted to live. Give me skin doing betrayal. Give me mirrors becoming enemies. Give me Celeste trying to hold a normal conversation while privately wondering whether part of her face is about to detach. That tension between “I must look perfect” and “something is medically wrong with me” is so gross and so good because she keeps choosing presentation over survival in ways that made me want to physically confiscate her concealer.
Then she starts thinking somebody is watching her, and suddenly the whole thing shifts from “bad beauty decision” to “you are being hunted while your face is falling apart.” Everybody around her starts looking suspicious because Celeste’s entire world is already built on people watching one another. She is used to being observed. She is used to being judged. She just has no idea when the looking stopped being social and started being dangerous.
What got me, though, was how sad Celeste’s obsession really is. She believes being admired means being safe. If her marriage looks perfect, maybe it cannot fail. If her face looks perfect, maybe nobody can humiliate her. If she stays at the top, maybe she never has to become the girl they laughed at again. That is such an exhausting way to live because there is no point where she gets to relax and enjoy anything. She is always defending the image.
There were places where I wanted this to go even meaner. More social carnage. More gross-out consequences. More women smiling across a church function while quietly destroying one another with compliment tone. And the ending had me sitting there like, yes, I see what you did...but I also have alternate notes. Still, I stayed nosy because Celeste’s desperation kept escalating in exactly the way bad decisions do when you refuse to admit they were bad.
Eternal Glow lands at 4 stars for me. I wanted the horror to bite a little harder, but I had a very good time watching beauty culture, status anxiety, money panic, and Mormon mom perfectionism form a little circle around Celeste and chant “you’re fine” while absolutely nothing was fine. Babe, next time the med spa says “exclusive beta test,” leave.
Whodunity Award: For Making “You Look So Good, What Did You Have Done?” Sound Like the First Question in a Police Interview
Huge thanks to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the ARC and for confirming that if a med spa ever offers me a free secret procedure with an NDA, I am keeping the dark circles. They have shown up for me consistently and, unlike Eternal Glow, have never tried to ruin my life.
That is the energy of Eternal Glow. Celeste has spent years building herself into exactly the kind of woman nobody gets to laugh at anymore. She has the husband, the friends, the house, the whole polished Mormon-mom package, and every inch of it feels like she is holding the seams together with both hands. Then her husband loses his job, the cards are maxed, and suddenly her perfect life has the structural integrity of a damp paper bag.
But Celeste cannot let anybody SEE that. Absolutely not. She would rather let a mysterious beauty clinic inject, laser, peel, vaporize, or spiritually reorganize her face than let one of these women clock an under-eye bag. And when the clinic offers her the Eternal Glow for FREE as long as she tells nobody, I was screaming. Free experimental cosmetic procedure plus NDA? That is not a blessing. That is how you wake up in act three of The Substance asking where your original cheekbone went.
And then, insultingly, it WORKS. Celeste comes back looking incredible. Her husband is suddenly interested again. The women who matter start orbiting her. Her social standing gets a fresh coat of paint. She lands the keynote spot at the Women’s Conference. This woman gets one glow-up and immediately starts moving through the world like the heavens personally endorsed her serum. Meanwhile I am sitting there thinking, ma’am, the invoice has not arrived yet.
The mom-group dynamics are the scariest part because everybody is smiling while quietly ranking each other. Nobody has to say, “I am better than you.” They say it with countertops. Husbands. Skin. Vacations. Volunteer positions. The entire social structure runs on plausible deniability and perfect teeth. Celeste has already lived through being the woman everybody mocked, so she is not chasing beauty. She is chasing immunity.
And that is why she keeps hiding the side effects when her face starts going completely off-script. Because once your whole identity depends on people envying you, admitting that the thing making you enviable is literally deforming you becomes impossible. She got the Eternal Glow so nobody would see weakness. Now weakness is happening on her FACE.
The body-horror stuff is where I wanted to live. Give me skin doing betrayal. Give me mirrors becoming enemies. Give me Celeste trying to hold a normal conversation while privately wondering whether part of her face is about to detach. That tension between “I must look perfect” and “something is medically wrong with me” is so gross and so good because she keeps choosing presentation over survival in ways that made me want to physically confiscate her concealer.
Then she starts thinking somebody is watching her, and suddenly the whole thing shifts from “bad beauty decision” to “you are being hunted while your face is falling apart.” Everybody around her starts looking suspicious because Celeste’s entire world is already built on people watching one another. She is used to being observed. She is used to being judged. She just has no idea when the looking stopped being social and started being dangerous.
What got me, though, was how sad Celeste’s obsession really is. She believes being admired means being safe. If her marriage looks perfect, maybe it cannot fail. If her face looks perfect, maybe nobody can humiliate her. If she stays at the top, maybe she never has to become the girl they laughed at again. That is such an exhausting way to live because there is no point where she gets to relax and enjoy anything. She is always defending the image.
There were places where I wanted this to go even meaner. More social carnage. More gross-out consequences. More women smiling across a church function while quietly destroying one another with compliment tone. And the ending had me sitting there like, yes, I see what you did...but I also have alternate notes. Still, I stayed nosy because Celeste’s desperation kept escalating in exactly the way bad decisions do when you refuse to admit they were bad.
Eternal Glow lands at 4 stars for me. I wanted the horror to bite a little harder, but I had a very good time watching beauty culture, status anxiety, money panic, and Mormon mom perfectionism form a little circle around Celeste and chant “you’re fine” while absolutely nothing was fine. Babe, next time the med spa says “exclusive beta test,” leave.
Whodunity Award: For Making “You Look So Good, What Did You Have Done?” Sound Like the First Question in a Police Interview
Huge thanks to Podium Entertainment and NetGalley for the ARC and for confirming that if a med spa ever offers me a free secret procedure with an NDA, I am keeping the dark circles. They have shown up for me consistently and, unlike Eternal Glow, have never tried to ruin my life.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I never thought I’d be giving a Real Housewife’s novel a “glowing” review, but here we are. WOW. Heather Gay’s fiction debut, ETERNAL GLOW, was freaking awesome. This bingeable, juicy, campy satire is The Substance meets Death Becomes Her—outrageous, dark, funny, and completely committed to the bit. I read this in TWO SITTINGS. It’s a popcorn thriller/horror through and through, and I could not get enough. If this is what we can expect from Heather Gay as a fiction writer, I can’t wait to see what she has in store next.
Thank you @PodiumEntertainment for my gifted copy! 💉✨
Thank you @PodiumEntertainment for my gifted copy! 💉✨
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Eternal Glow by Heather Gay. Thanks to podium for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Celeste has always felt like the outsider in her local Mormon mom group. They are all wealthy and perfectly polished. Desperate to fit in with their flawless appearances, Celeste undergoes a beta cosmetic procedure. Suddenly she’s glowing with beauty and her secret, but side effects soon start.
This was a fun and wild ride. It reminded me of the movie The Substance but instead of the celebrity lifestyle, it’s the Mormon housewife community; possibly even more demanding and dramatic. None of the women are friends; they are all frenemies, which was actually a bit sad as I was reading. I found their belief that vanity is a sin, and then ongoing quest to remain quiet and humble about any procedures typical of many. There’s a few unexpected twists, and the ending is perfect. While a fast read, it’s definitely perfectly campy and satirical.
“Secrets have a way of coming out, and it feels like mine are starting to whisper not only in the dark, but in the mirror.”
Read if you like:
-Frenemies and women drama
- Commentary or satire on beauty standards
-Mormon lifestyle stories
-Body horror
Eternal Glow comes out 10/6.
Celeste has always felt like the outsider in her local Mormon mom group. They are all wealthy and perfectly polished. Desperate to fit in with their flawless appearances, Celeste undergoes a beta cosmetic procedure. Suddenly she’s glowing with beauty and her secret, but side effects soon start.
This was a fun and wild ride. It reminded me of the movie The Substance but instead of the celebrity lifestyle, it’s the Mormon housewife community; possibly even more demanding and dramatic. None of the women are friends; they are all frenemies, which was actually a bit sad as I was reading. I found their belief that vanity is a sin, and then ongoing quest to remain quiet and humble about any procedures typical of many. There’s a few unexpected twists, and the ending is perfect. While a fast read, it’s definitely perfectly campy and satirical.
“Secrets have a way of coming out, and it feels like mine are starting to whisper not only in the dark, but in the mirror.”
Read if you like:
-Frenemies and women drama
- Commentary or satire on beauty standards
-Mormon lifestyle stories
-Body horror
Eternal Glow comes out 10/6.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The queen of Salt Lake City has traded receipt books for pure, unadulterated nightmare fuel, and I am utterly obsessed. ❄️💎
If you thought reality TV drama was cutthroat, Eternal Glow by Real Housewife Heather Gay proves that the beauty standards in affluent Mormon subculture are downright fatal.
Here’s the tea: Celeste is the undisputed alpha of her polished Utah mom circle. But behind the perfectly curated façade? Her husband just lost his job, her credit cards are completely maxed out, and the stress is showing up right under her eyes. Enter: Eternal Glow, an ultra-exclusive, top-secret beta beauty procedure promised to erase all her flaws completely free of charge, as long as she keeps her mouth shut.
Naturally, she accepts. Wouldn't you?!
At first, the results are giving full VIP revival. Celeste is glowing, her husband is doting, and she’s running the town’s premier fundraiser like the HBIC she was born to be. But this isn't just a glam session, it's a campy, biting, deeply suspenseful thriller. When gruesome side effects start melting away her perfect face and a shadowy figure begins stalking her every move, the descent into horror is delicious, absurd, and terrifying. The cost of perfection here isn't just a heavy credit card bill, it's straight-up unholy.
Heather Gay writes with the exact same sharp, self-aware wit we love her for on screen but dials the suspense up to an absolute 10. It’s soapy, grotesque, suspenseful, and scathingly funny. I devoured it in one sitting!
A huge THANK YOU to Podium Entertainment and Heather Gay for sharing Eternal Glow with me! You truly made my reality-TV-obsessed heart soar. 🎧💖
If you thought reality TV drama was cutthroat, Eternal Glow by Real Housewife Heather Gay proves that the beauty standards in affluent Mormon subculture are downright fatal.
Here’s the tea: Celeste is the undisputed alpha of her polished Utah mom circle. But behind the perfectly curated façade? Her husband just lost his job, her credit cards are completely maxed out, and the stress is showing up right under her eyes. Enter: Eternal Glow, an ultra-exclusive, top-secret beta beauty procedure promised to erase all her flaws completely free of charge, as long as she keeps her mouth shut.
Naturally, she accepts. Wouldn't you?!
At first, the results are giving full VIP revival. Celeste is glowing, her husband is doting, and she’s running the town’s premier fundraiser like the HBIC she was born to be. But this isn't just a glam session, it's a campy, biting, deeply suspenseful thriller. When gruesome side effects start melting away her perfect face and a shadowy figure begins stalking her every move, the descent into horror is delicious, absurd, and terrifying. The cost of perfection here isn't just a heavy credit card bill, it's straight-up unholy.
Heather Gay writes with the exact same sharp, self-aware wit we love her for on screen but dials the suspense up to an absolute 10. It’s soapy, grotesque, suspenseful, and scathingly funny. I devoured it in one sitting!
A huge THANK YOU to Podium Entertainment and Heather Gay for sharing Eternal Glow with me! You truly made my reality-TV-obsessed heart soar. 🎧💖
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
O.M.G!! I loved this book so much!! The catty Mormon Mom clique with mean girl personalities had me from the start. Living for perfection at all costs, Celeste makes a desperate decision to ‘fit in’.
Fully unhinged, grotesque body horror I couldn’t get enough of and jaw dropping twists that had my head spinning!
Dark, humorous, reality tv vibes, {literally} oozing with medical terrors. Narration by the author was like a cherry on top of the sundae. So good I literally binged it in one day! Highly recommend!!
Thank you to @podiumentertainment for this unsettling audio! It was so fun!
Fully unhinged, grotesque body horror I couldn’t get enough of and jaw dropping twists that had my head spinning!
Dark, humorous, reality tv vibes, {literally} oozing with medical terrors. Narration by the author was like a cherry on top of the sundae. So good I literally binged it in one day! Highly recommend!!
Thank you to @podiumentertainment for this unsettling audio! It was so fun!
June 26, 2026
“You smell like hospital.”
“But that is high-body count hair.”
Alright I have to say going into it I expected a good book but not as good of one as Heather Gay wrote. I haven’t read either of her memoirs but I couldn’t say no to a thriller by a housewife from one of my favorite shows. Heather did an amazing job on this novel, it was twisty and suspenseful and wove everything together so well. The added bits about the Mormon church and their rules on vanity (and shout outs to dirty soda) pulled you in more because I really didn’t know all of the rules. But following Celeste and her transformation and the negatives that came with it? Amazing. I really didn’t see the ending coming and that evidence of a great book.
Also I loved the RHOSL quotes thrown in there, they gave me a giggle. I fully recommend this book and I’m so glad I got an easy copy.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for the advanced copy of this novel.
“But that is high-body count hair.”
Alright I have to say going into it I expected a good book but not as good of one as Heather Gay wrote. I haven’t read either of her memoirs but I couldn’t say no to a thriller by a housewife from one of my favorite shows. Heather did an amazing job on this novel, it was twisty and suspenseful and wove everything together so well. The added bits about the Mormon church and their rules on vanity (and shout outs to dirty soda) pulled you in more because I really didn’t know all of the rules. But following Celeste and her transformation and the negatives that came with it? Amazing. I really didn’t see the ending coming and that evidence of a great book.
Also I loved the RHOSL quotes thrown in there, they gave me a giggle. I fully recommend this book and I’m so glad I got an easy copy.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Edelweiss for the advanced copy of this novel.
October 6, 2026
When Celeste’s card gets declined at the med spa, she takes it as a sign to sign up for a secret experimental treatment, because apparently unvetted procedures are far less terrifying than minor public humiliation.
The real question isn't whether it worked, but what price her self worth (and face) ultimately paid.
As if the practices and beliefs of the Mormon Church weren't unsettling enough, Heather Gay goes and writes a book about religious insecurities and a mysterious cosmetic surgery disaster, and it worked! Reading this book put me in full detective mode. You end up feeling borderline crazy, right along with Celeste, trying to figure out who wronged her so permanently, and why.
I'm actually shocked at how subtle and unsettling the body horror scenes were in this book. Nothing in my mind pointed to the direction it was going in, but I loved it! Watching a main character’s own face turn into her biggest enemy. The tension when Celeste casually nods her way through polite small talk while inwardly panicking that a chunk of her cheek might literally slide off onto the floor. Feeling something creep and crawl under her skin, while having to remain cool, calm, and collected on the outside. The battle between "I have to look flawless" and "I need an emergency room right now" is dark and sick. Mostly because Celeste prioritizes aesthetics over basic health.
Beyond the drama and body horror, Heather Gay takes the cultural expectations of the church and shows how easily they get transformed into deep, quiet insecurities. The kind shared by thousands of women who are far too terrified to ever say them out loud.
What makes the book actually fun to read, though is Heather’s voice. I loved that she narrated her own book. She writes with the dark, dry humor of someone who has survived the trauma of the LDS Church and decided to laugh about it rather than cry. That's also what makes this book so unsettling to me. Knowing that she did experience some of these insecurities.
As someone who enjoys reality tv, specifically Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, I loved that this took place in that city. Also loved the little easter eggs she threw into the book. Her line from a few seasons ago about having "receipts, proof, timeline, screenshots" made me giggle. Also, the "rumors and nastiness" line, a nod to Meredith Marks. I thought those were a nice touch to blend some reality into fiction.
Thank you Podium for this alc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
The real question isn't whether it worked, but what price her self worth (and face) ultimately paid.
As if the practices and beliefs of the Mormon Church weren't unsettling enough, Heather Gay goes and writes a book about religious insecurities and a mysterious cosmetic surgery disaster, and it worked! Reading this book put me in full detective mode. You end up feeling borderline crazy, right along with Celeste, trying to figure out who wronged her so permanently, and why.
I'm actually shocked at how subtle and unsettling the body horror scenes were in this book. Nothing in my mind pointed to the direction it was going in, but I loved it! Watching a main character’s own face turn into her biggest enemy. The tension when Celeste casually nods her way through polite small talk while inwardly panicking that a chunk of her cheek might literally slide off onto the floor. Feeling something creep and crawl under her skin, while having to remain cool, calm, and collected on the outside. The battle between "I have to look flawless" and "I need an emergency room right now" is dark and sick. Mostly because Celeste prioritizes aesthetics over basic health.
Beyond the drama and body horror, Heather Gay takes the cultural expectations of the church and shows how easily they get transformed into deep, quiet insecurities. The kind shared by thousands of women who are far too terrified to ever say them out loud.
What makes the book actually fun to read, though is Heather’s voice. I loved that she narrated her own book. She writes with the dark, dry humor of someone who has survived the trauma of the LDS Church and decided to laugh about it rather than cry. That's also what makes this book so unsettling to me. Knowing that she did experience some of these insecurities.
As someone who enjoys reality tv, specifically Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, I loved that this took place in that city. Also loved the little easter eggs she threw into the book. Her line from a few seasons ago about having "receipts, proof, timeline, screenshots" made me giggle. Also, the "rumors and nastiness" line, a nod to Meredith Marks. I thought those were a nice touch to blend some reality into fiction.
Thank you Podium for this alc in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Podium Entertainment for the ARC in exchange for my little review!
After two successful memoirs Bad Mormon and Good Time Girl, Heather Gay is debuting her first foray into fiction with the simmering Eternal Glow. Gay is famous for her time on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and has made a reputation for herself as an opinionated truthteller and loyal friend (sometimes to a fault and a black eye). For those who have watched her the last few years on TV, you know she has often felt at odds with the Mormon religion and with the other women of her faith. In the early seasons, Heather was our protagonist and entry point who remained relatable despite her specific upbringing. It’s not a far jump in Eternal Glow to find a discontent woman at the center, one who feels on the outside and is grappling with the opportunity to change.
I know the Lord doesn’t look upon our outward appearance, but today–this perfect day–seems to be proof of what I’ve long suspected: our outward appearances are directly tied to our hearts, how worthy we are in the Church and Heavenly Father’s eyes. I finally look the part–happy, joyful, righteous–and my good fortune is reflecting that.
Celeste is part of a Mormon mommy group, one that is just as toxic and hypocritical as you’d expect – hyperfixated on aging and appearance, while performing their role in the church community like a bad faith actor. Celeste is not quite a newcomer but also not fully indoctrinated, sipping the koolaid but determined to still be able to look at herself in the mirror. If only the mirror didn’t betray her faults and the ways she is coming up short in comparison to the other women of her circle. She decides to trade her pride for a little vanity and winds up agreeing to test a new product called eternal glow. Will her new face stop her frenemies from being two-faced? And how long will it be before she pays the price for her appearance? There’s always a cost…
Like The Substance mixed with RHOSLC, Eternal Glow is a twisty, tasty dose of everything that makes reality TV unmissable. What has made it a fixture for all these years could be chalked up to a lot of different reasons (fights! wealth! betrayal!), but what makes it ageless, endless, is perhaps its most important quality: women. There’s nothing like a woman finding herself, finding her place, and finding her line she won’t cross. At least not in the wrong shoes.
After two successful memoirs Bad Mormon and Good Time Girl, Heather Gay is debuting her first foray into fiction with the simmering Eternal Glow. Gay is famous for her time on The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City and has made a reputation for herself as an opinionated truthteller and loyal friend (sometimes to a fault and a black eye). For those who have watched her the last few years on TV, you know she has often felt at odds with the Mormon religion and with the other women of her faith. In the early seasons, Heather was our protagonist and entry point who remained relatable despite her specific upbringing. It’s not a far jump in Eternal Glow to find a discontent woman at the center, one who feels on the outside and is grappling with the opportunity to change.
I know the Lord doesn’t look upon our outward appearance, but today–this perfect day–seems to be proof of what I’ve long suspected: our outward appearances are directly tied to our hearts, how worthy we are in the Church and Heavenly Father’s eyes. I finally look the part–happy, joyful, righteous–and my good fortune is reflecting that.
Celeste is part of a Mormon mommy group, one that is just as toxic and hypocritical as you’d expect – hyperfixated on aging and appearance, while performing their role in the church community like a bad faith actor. Celeste is not quite a newcomer but also not fully indoctrinated, sipping the koolaid but determined to still be able to look at herself in the mirror. If only the mirror didn’t betray her faults and the ways she is coming up short in comparison to the other women of her circle. She decides to trade her pride for a little vanity and winds up agreeing to test a new product called eternal glow. Will her new face stop her frenemies from being two-faced? And how long will it be before she pays the price for her appearance? There’s always a cost…
Like The Substance mixed with RHOSLC, Eternal Glow is a twisty, tasty dose of everything that makes reality TV unmissable. What has made it a fixture for all these years could be chalked up to a lot of different reasons (fights! wealth! betrayal!), but what makes it ageless, endless, is perhaps its most important quality: women. There’s nothing like a woman finding herself, finding her place, and finding her line she won’t cross. At least not in the wrong shoes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
🪞"Whoever said beauty is only skin deep was lying— or they had a hell of a plastic surgeon."
3.25 ⭐
In short, this is a thriller about a Mormon housewife who is deeply insecure and is trying to fit in with the "it" crowd by using plastic surgery and looking like she has it all together! She'll do WHATEVER IT TAKES to fit in with the crowd!
Here's what I enjoyed:
+ I read this book in a little over a day! It kept me hooked the whole time. I was very immersed in this story and NEEDED to know what was going to happen next!
+ I related so much to the Mormon background. I grew up Mormon so I understood the pressure and trying to fit in that Celeste feels. I am very curious of those who aren't Mormon who read this book if they will understand the lingo. I LOVED the little innuendos Heather Gay added like "the flower unfurled like a blessing" LOL there are just so many clever idioms or metaphors that Mormons use. It was the perfect nod to the common phrases found in the culture.
+ This is definitely a new kind of thriller I haven't experienced before! Beauty horror is a new fear unlocked for me LOL
+ I loved the twisted ideology and past that slowly unfurls of this "friend group". Like, they are 'friends' but really should be labeled frenemies.
Here's where I struggled:
- The ending felt a little rushed to me and didn't give me the final closure I was hoping for.
Overall I think this is worth the read! Especially if you are familiar with the Mormon culture.
I would say this is an entertaining thriller palette cleanser and I look forward to reading more of Heather Gay's books!
💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
🪞 beauty horror/thriller
🪞 friend group but they're really "frenemies"
🪞 FMC who is VERY stressed about fitting in
🪞 haunted past
🪞 single POV
🪞 Mormon culture
🪞 'Vanity is a sin' 👀
3.25 ⭐
In short, this is a thriller about a Mormon housewife who is deeply insecure and is trying to fit in with the "it" crowd by using plastic surgery and looking like she has it all together! She'll do WHATEVER IT TAKES to fit in with the crowd!
Here's what I enjoyed:
+ I read this book in a little over a day! It kept me hooked the whole time. I was very immersed in this story and NEEDED to know what was going to happen next!
+ I related so much to the Mormon background. I grew up Mormon so I understood the pressure and trying to fit in that Celeste feels. I am very curious of those who aren't Mormon who read this book if they will understand the lingo. I LOVED the little innuendos Heather Gay added like "the flower unfurled like a blessing" LOL there are just so many clever idioms or metaphors that Mormons use. It was the perfect nod to the common phrases found in the culture.
+ This is definitely a new kind of thriller I haven't experienced before! Beauty horror is a new fear unlocked for me LOL
+ I loved the twisted ideology and past that slowly unfurls of this "friend group". Like, they are 'friends' but really should be labeled frenemies.
Here's where I struggled:
- The ending felt a little rushed to me and didn't give me the final closure I was hoping for.
Overall I think this is worth the read! Especially if you are familiar with the Mormon culture.
I would say this is an entertaining thriller palette cleanser and I look forward to reading more of Heather Gay's books!
💕You will enjoy this if you are into:
🪞 beauty horror/thriller
🪞 friend group but they're really "frenemies"
🪞 FMC who is VERY stressed about fitting in
🪞 haunted past
🪞 single POV
🪞 Mormon culture
🪞 'Vanity is a sin' 👀
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.75 stars
When it comes to RHOSLC, I'm a HUGE Heather Gay fan. I love that franchise, and she is one of many reasons why. But her skills as a thriller writer? I'll admit that I came into this read with some skepticism, and I'm thrilled to learn it was unwarranted. This is a fun adventure.
Celeste is a good Mormon wife and mother, and according to the world established in the book (and that's how I'll refer to it because Mormonism is not part of my life in any way and I have no idea what goes on there), that includes a strong external focus on perfection regardless of what's happening under the surface. Sounds like a total recipe for disaster, and that proves true quickly.
Like many women, Celeste is notably hard on herself, and she attempts to refine her looks and ways through an emerging cosmetic opportunity. There are some shady circumstances, and there are hints of some of these recent looks maxxing media portrayals (_The Substance_, _The Beauty_), but this also possesses some intriguing originality. It doesn't feel derivative based on the way things evolve, and I'm glad since that was an initial concern.
There are many moments at which I cracked up - as I believe was intended - over the author's use of RHOSLC inside jokes and famous lines. While that made me enjoy the read even more, these are by no means necessary to appreciate what's happening. Readers who've never seen an episode will be just fine (though folks in that situation are REALLY missing out).
I enjoyed this read, which feels both entertaining and timely.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
When it comes to RHOSLC, I'm a HUGE Heather Gay fan. I love that franchise, and she is one of many reasons why. But her skills as a thriller writer? I'll admit that I came into this read with some skepticism, and I'm thrilled to learn it was unwarranted. This is a fun adventure.
Celeste is a good Mormon wife and mother, and according to the world established in the book (and that's how I'll refer to it because Mormonism is not part of my life in any way and I have no idea what goes on there), that includes a strong external focus on perfection regardless of what's happening under the surface. Sounds like a total recipe for disaster, and that proves true quickly.
Like many women, Celeste is notably hard on herself, and she attempts to refine her looks and ways through an emerging cosmetic opportunity. There are some shady circumstances, and there are hints of some of these recent looks maxxing media portrayals (_The Substance_, _The Beauty_), but this also possesses some intriguing originality. It doesn't feel derivative based on the way things evolve, and I'm glad since that was an initial concern.
There are many moments at which I cracked up - as I believe was intended - over the author's use of RHOSLC inside jokes and famous lines. While that made me enjoy the read even more, these are by no means necessary to appreciate what's happening. Readers who've never seen an episode will be just fine (though folks in that situation are REALLY missing out).
I enjoyed this read, which feels both entertaining and timely.
*Special thanks to NetGalley and Podium Publishing for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
September 25, 2026
This book was WILD! It felt like the fictional, thriller/horror version of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, probably because I’ve been watching that show and loving it so much while reading this. The Mormon culture, the toxic friendships, the competition, the obsession with appearances…it all felt very familiar in the best way.
This was such an entertaining read and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I was constantly waiting to see what was going to happen next as Celeste became more and more desperate to maintain her perfect image. And underneath all the drama and craziness, I actually found myself thinking a lot about how far some women will go in the pursuit of beauty and perfection, and what they’re willing to risk to feel accepted, admired, and beautiful.
The campy, creepy body-horror element made the whole story feel completely unhinged.
If you like books about Mormon culture, beauty standards, complicated friendships, and the pressure to appear perfect, with a side of crazy, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you Podium Entertainment for the gifted ARC and ALC. This review is my honest opinion and voluntarily given.
This was such an entertaining read and definitely kept me on the edge of my seat. I was constantly waiting to see what was going to happen next as Celeste became more and more desperate to maintain her perfect image. And underneath all the drama and craziness, I actually found myself thinking a lot about how far some women will go in the pursuit of beauty and perfection, and what they’re willing to risk to feel accepted, admired, and beautiful.
The campy, creepy body-horror element made the whole story feel completely unhinged.
If you like books about Mormon culture, beauty standards, complicated friendships, and the pressure to appear perfect, with a side of crazy, definitely add this one to your TBR!
Thank you Podium Entertainment for the gifted ARC and ALC. This review is my honest opinion and voluntarily given.
July 30, 2026
Thank you to Edelweiss and Podium Publishing for an ARC of this book!
A thriller by Heather Gay?! This was a wild ride! I was so excited to read this one. The amount of hilarious quotes she wove into this book from the real housewives franchise was so fun. I felt like a few of the twists you could see coming but it still was an enjoyable story. There were so many aspects of the Utah life and brought to light how cut throat the women can be. Some of the characters had an interesting arc that weren’t quite believable with the shift in their motives. I loved peeling back the layers of Celeste and her family and what made her tick. Celeste was an easy character to feel empathy towards. She has done some messed up things in her past but has also really struggled with her own mental health and motherhood journey. I really hope we will get more books from Heather because this was a really fun read that was hard to put down!
A thriller by Heather Gay?! This was a wild ride! I was so excited to read this one. The amount of hilarious quotes she wove into this book from the real housewives franchise was so fun. I felt like a few of the twists you could see coming but it still was an enjoyable story. There were so many aspects of the Utah life and brought to light how cut throat the women can be. Some of the characters had an interesting arc that weren’t quite believable with the shift in their motives. I loved peeling back the layers of Celeste and her family and what made her tick. Celeste was an easy character to feel empathy towards. She has done some messed up things in her past but has also really struggled with her own mental health and motherhood journey. I really hope we will get more books from Heather because this was a really fun read that was hard to put down!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
GOLD OOZE. I will never look at a skincare ad the same way again.
Mormon mom clique in Utah competing over houses, husbands, bodies and church standing? The cattiness is so good. Heather Gay clearly knows this world
The body horror is gross and weird but like in a good way? I was cringing and could not stop reading.
Vanity culture inside a religion that preaches against vanity, plus misogyny, marriage and all the pressure on moms. It's way more than an evil beauty treatment story.
Celeste is not likable and that's the point. But her need to feel worthy honestly broke my heart a little, especially with her daughter.
And that ending... the twist landed, I CANNOT
Campy, satirical, nasty in the best way. If you love Housewives drama or satirical horror, go read this one.
Mormon mom clique in Utah competing over houses, husbands, bodies and church standing? The cattiness is so good. Heather Gay clearly knows this world
The body horror is gross and weird but like in a good way? I was cringing and could not stop reading.
Vanity culture inside a religion that preaches against vanity, plus misogyny, marriage and all the pressure on moms. It's way more than an evil beauty treatment story.
Celeste is not likable and that's the point. But her need to feel worthy honestly broke my heart a little, especially with her daughter.
And that ending... the twist landed, I CANNOT
Campy, satirical, nasty in the best way. If you love Housewives drama or satirical horror, go read this one.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I listened to this one on audio, and the author did such a great job narrating it. It’s always a pleasant surprise when an author narrates their own book and absolutely nails it!
I really loved this one! The campy body horror mixed with the satirical take on beauty standards and the pressure to look perfect worked so well. I loved how it played with the lengths people will go to for the perfect appearance and how quickly that can turn into something horrifying. It was over the top in the best way without feeling like it was trying too hard.
It was fast paced, fun, gross in all the right ways, and never took itself too seriously. The twist was a good one too and made me love it even more. Such a fun read with a little something to say underneath all the chaos.
Thanks to Podium Audio for the free audiobook!
I really loved this one! The campy body horror mixed with the satirical take on beauty standards and the pressure to look perfect worked so well. I loved how it played with the lengths people will go to for the perfect appearance and how quickly that can turn into something horrifying. It was over the top in the best way without feeling like it was trying too hard.
It was fast paced, fun, gross in all the right ways, and never took itself too seriously. The twist was a good one too and made me love it even more. Such a fun read with a little something to say underneath all the chaos.
Thanks to Podium Audio for the free audiobook!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Thank you to @netgalley, Podium Entertainment, and the author for this #gifted eARC!
When I first read the synopsis, I was definitely intrigued. I didn't put two and two together and realize it was written by a Bravo housewife. To be honest, that had me a little worried at first, but I’m so happy to say that this book was really good and so well written.
This book shines a light on where we are today, with everyone so concerned about how they look and finding the next great beauty product or procedure. It explores the dark side and consequences of trying to meet those beauty standards and also how we treat people.
It was campy and witty, with vapid and self-centered characters and great suspense!
When I first read the synopsis, I was definitely intrigued. I didn't put two and two together and realize it was written by a Bravo housewife. To be honest, that had me a little worried at first, but I’m so happy to say that this book was really good and so well written.
This book shines a light on where we are today, with everyone so concerned about how they look and finding the next great beauty product or procedure. It explores the dark side and consequences of trying to meet those beauty standards and also how we treat people.
It was campy and witty, with vapid and self-centered characters and great suspense!
July 23, 2026
One look at the cover and blurb and I knew I had to read this! This definitely had Secret Lives of Mormon Wives plus Pretty Little Liars vibes. This was fast paced with so many “oh no” moments. I’m torn on the ending though. I get it, but wish it would have went a different way. That’s what ultimately brought my rating from a 4 to a 3.
Celest is busy trying to keep up with her friends but her life is falling apart and she is in desperate need of a visit to the med spa. After her card declines she’s given the opportunity to get in on a new procedure that she can’t tell anyone about and is definitely too good to be true.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
Celest is busy trying to keep up with her friends but her life is falling apart and she is in desperate need of a visit to the med spa. After her card declines she’s given the opportunity to get in on a new procedure that she can’t tell anyone about and is definitely too good to be true.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!
October 3, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and Podium I feel so lucky to have gotten my hands on Heather’s new book. I love real housewives of Salt Lake so much and was so excited for her fiction novel debut. There were a few housewives references for the fans but also not so housewives focused that it doesn’t feel unappealing to people reading it outside of the fandom. It did a great job of keeping me entertained and I recommend it. My only thing I will say as a complainant is that it’s quite body horror heavy so if that’s not your thing I would steer clear. It also is very Mormon culture forward so if you don’t have a good grasp on how the church community works you might get a little lost
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
First, I would like to thank Netgalley for the ARC. Below is my honest review on this book.
Absolutely loved the body horror this book served! Along with the downfall of the elite, or what is considered "perfect" for this Mormon moms group.
It was weirdly beautiful with its hidden meaning of beauty. It's an odd message of loving yourself for you who you are, inside and out, and the price we pay to love ourselves is never enough. I honestly did expect so much gore; but I'm glad for it. Literally what made it horrifying.
Absolutely loved the body horror this book served! Along with the downfall of the elite, or what is considered "perfect" for this Mormon moms group.
It was weirdly beautiful with its hidden meaning of beauty. It's an odd message of loving yourself for you who you are, inside and out, and the price we pay to love ourselves is never enough. I honestly did expect so much gore; but I'm glad for it. Literally what made it horrifying.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
What a wild ride!
How far would you go to feel socially accepted?
I really enjoyed how fast paced this read was. I will say I did figure out what was happening early on, but I did not expect the final twist in this one! I also never did feel attached to any of the characters either. Outside of that the plot kept me interested enough to keep listening!
Thank you Podium Entertainment for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this one early!
How far would you go to feel socially accepted?
I really enjoyed how fast paced this read was. I will say I did figure out what was happening early on, but I did not expect the final twist in this one! I also never did feel attached to any of the characters either. Outside of that the plot kept me interested enough to keep listening!
Thank you Podium Entertainment for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this one early!
September 18, 2026
Pretty unremarkable and met my expectations going in. It was readable and easy to get through just a very average thriller. I think if you picked this up and didn’t know Heather from RHOSLC you would be bored by it so that did help me enjoy it more than I normally would. I found the characters flat and the plot predictable.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
thank you so much to podium for the arc!
This book gave me the creeps!! (In a good way)
It was basically secret lives of Mormon wives but in a thriller kind of way. I enjoyed this!
This book gave me the creeps!! (In a good way)
It was basically secret lives of Mormon wives but in a thriller kind of way. I enjoyed this!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you NetGalley and Podium Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
“Eternal Glow” by Heather Gay is basically what happens when you take Mormon mom culture, beauty standards, and a suspiciously free experimental cosmetic procedure and throw them into a blender. And honestly? I was very entertained by the chaos.
Celeste is the kind of protagonist you're not necessarily supposed to like, but you can absolutely understand. She is obsessed with looking perfect because, in her world, appearances are everything. Her friendships are basically a never-ending competition involving houses, husbands, bodies, vacations, church status, and who can look the most effortlessly put together. Everyone is smiling, but you can practically hear the knives sharpening behind their backs.
And Celeste desperately wants to win. Her life starts falling apart when her husband loses his job and the money situation gets ugly, but admitting that she's struggling would mean letting everyone see that her carefully constructed perfect life isn't actually perfect. So when she gets offered a secret experimental beauty treatment called Eternal Glow for free, her response is immediate.
And, naturally, it works. Suddenly Celeste is gorgeous, people are paying attention to her again, her husband seems interested in her, and her social status is climbing. She's finally getting everything she's wanted. Clearly this is going to go wonderfully. Except this is a horror novel.
The body horror is probably my favorite part. Celeste starts experiencing increasingly bizarre side effects, including some truly unsettling changes to her face and that wonderfully gross image of gold liquid coming from her skin. Her body is rebelling all while Celeste is desperately trying to pretend everything is fine because admitting something is wrong would ruin the image she's worked so hard to create.
And that's what makes the story work for me. The horror isn't just about the weird things happening to Celeste's body. It's about how badly she wants to be beautiful, accepted, admired, and safe from judgment. She believes that if she can just be perfect enough, nobody can hurt or reject her again. Watching that obsession consume her is honestly pretty sad.
I also really liked the religious/social commentary. There's an interesting contradiction between being taught that vanity is wrong while simultaneously being surrounded by an environment where women are constantly pressured to look and behave a certain way. Celeste and her friends are terrified of aging and losing their place in the social hierarchy, and they'll go to some pretty extreme lengths to maintain that image. The book also digs into misogyny, marriage, motherhood, and the expectations placed on women, which gives the horror more to chew on than just “evil beauty treatment is evil.”
That said, the first half was definitely slower than I wanted it to be. It took me a while to get invested, and some of the developments felt predictable. Once things really started going off the rails, though, I was much more into it. The second half has the weirdness, paranoia, body horror that I was waiting for.
Celeste's relationship with motherhood also adds another layer. Her obsession with maintaining her appearance and social position sometimes gets in the way of being present for her daughter, and we gradually see how much of this is connected to her struggles after becoming a mother. She's a deeply flawed person, but there's something genuinely heartbreaking about how badly she wants to feel worthy and accepted.
And the ending? I liked it. One twist was fairly easy to see coming, but the final twist was much more satisfying and really drove home the consequences of letting vanity consume everything. It also leaves the horror feeling like it isn't completely finished, which felt very appropriate.
Overall, “Eternal Glow” is a weird, campy, satirical body-horror thriller about beauty, vanity, religion, status, and the absolutely terrible things people will do to avoid being seen as imperfect. It isn't perfect itself, like how the pacing could have been tighter and I occasionally wanted the horror to go even harder, but once it gets moving, it's a ridiculously fun story.
“Eternal Glow” by Heather Gay is basically what happens when you take Mormon mom culture, beauty standards, and a suspiciously free experimental cosmetic procedure and throw them into a blender. And honestly? I was very entertained by the chaos.
Celeste is the kind of protagonist you're not necessarily supposed to like, but you can absolutely understand. She is obsessed with looking perfect because, in her world, appearances are everything. Her friendships are basically a never-ending competition involving houses, husbands, bodies, vacations, church status, and who can look the most effortlessly put together. Everyone is smiling, but you can practically hear the knives sharpening behind their backs.
And Celeste desperately wants to win. Her life starts falling apart when her husband loses his job and the money situation gets ugly, but admitting that she's struggling would mean letting everyone see that her carefully constructed perfect life isn't actually perfect. So when she gets offered a secret experimental beauty treatment called Eternal Glow for free, her response is immediate.
And, naturally, it works. Suddenly Celeste is gorgeous, people are paying attention to her again, her husband seems interested in her, and her social status is climbing. She's finally getting everything she's wanted. Clearly this is going to go wonderfully. Except this is a horror novel.
The body horror is probably my favorite part. Celeste starts experiencing increasingly bizarre side effects, including some truly unsettling changes to her face and that wonderfully gross image of gold liquid coming from her skin. Her body is rebelling all while Celeste is desperately trying to pretend everything is fine because admitting something is wrong would ruin the image she's worked so hard to create.
And that's what makes the story work for me. The horror isn't just about the weird things happening to Celeste's body. It's about how badly she wants to be beautiful, accepted, admired, and safe from judgment. She believes that if she can just be perfect enough, nobody can hurt or reject her again. Watching that obsession consume her is honestly pretty sad.
I also really liked the religious/social commentary. There's an interesting contradiction between being taught that vanity is wrong while simultaneously being surrounded by an environment where women are constantly pressured to look and behave a certain way. Celeste and her friends are terrified of aging and losing their place in the social hierarchy, and they'll go to some pretty extreme lengths to maintain that image. The book also digs into misogyny, marriage, motherhood, and the expectations placed on women, which gives the horror more to chew on than just “evil beauty treatment is evil.”
That said, the first half was definitely slower than I wanted it to be. It took me a while to get invested, and some of the developments felt predictable. Once things really started going off the rails, though, I was much more into it. The second half has the weirdness, paranoia, body horror that I was waiting for.
Celeste's relationship with motherhood also adds another layer. Her obsession with maintaining her appearance and social position sometimes gets in the way of being present for her daughter, and we gradually see how much of this is connected to her struggles after becoming a mother. She's a deeply flawed person, but there's something genuinely heartbreaking about how badly she wants to feel worthy and accepted.
And the ending? I liked it. One twist was fairly easy to see coming, but the final twist was much more satisfying and really drove home the consequences of letting vanity consume everything. It also leaves the horror feeling like it isn't completely finished, which felt very appropriate.
Overall, “Eternal Glow” is a weird, campy, satirical body-horror thriller about beauty, vanity, religion, status, and the absolutely terrible things people will do to avoid being seen as imperfect. It isn't perfect itself, like how the pacing could have been tighter and I occasionally wanted the horror to go even harder, but once it gets moving, it's a ridiculously fun story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of *Eternal Glow* before publication. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
*Eternal Glow* was much darker and stranger than I expected, and I mean that in a good way. Celeste is a Mormon wife living in Salt Lake City who feels constantly surrounded by women who are prettier, wealthier and seemingly more perfect than she is. Her husband has lost his job, money is becoming increasingly tight, and she is desperate to maintain the appearance that everything in her life is exactly as it should be.
What really worked for me was the way the book explores beauty, perfection and the pressure to belong. Celeste is so desperate to be accepted by the women around her that when she is offered the opportunity to take part in an experimental beauty treatment, she is willing to overlook almost every warning sign. The results initially seem miraculous, but unsurprisingly, something that promises perfection comes with a very disturbing price.
Celeste is not always particularly likeable, but I actually found that part of the book interesting. She can be jealous, vain and incredibly focused on what other people think of her, yet there were also moments where I genuinely felt sorry for her. So much of her self-worth has become tied to her appearance, her marriage and her position within her community that it becomes easy to understand how she ends up making increasingly extreme decisions.
I also liked the satire of the beauty industry and the social expectations within Celeste’s Mormon community. There is a real contradiction between being taught that vanity is sinful while simultaneously feeling enormous pressure to look perfect, have the right family and project a flawless life. The body-horror element takes that obsession to an extreme, but the ideas underneath it feel very current.
The pacing was generally strong and the story became increasingly unhinged as it went along. There were a few moments where the themes felt slightly repetitive, and some plot developments were easier to predict or a little too convenient. But I was still very curious to see just how far Celeste would go and what the real cost of the Eternal Glow treatment would be.
Overall, *Eternal Glow* was weird, dark, entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking. I expected a fairly straightforward thriller but got something much more satirical and disturbing. The combination of beauty obsession, religion, social pressure and body horror made it feel different from a lot of thrillers I have read recently, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
*Eternal Glow* was much darker and stranger than I expected, and I mean that in a good way. Celeste is a Mormon wife living in Salt Lake City who feels constantly surrounded by women who are prettier, wealthier and seemingly more perfect than she is. Her husband has lost his job, money is becoming increasingly tight, and she is desperate to maintain the appearance that everything in her life is exactly as it should be.
What really worked for me was the way the book explores beauty, perfection and the pressure to belong. Celeste is so desperate to be accepted by the women around her that when she is offered the opportunity to take part in an experimental beauty treatment, she is willing to overlook almost every warning sign. The results initially seem miraculous, but unsurprisingly, something that promises perfection comes with a very disturbing price.
Celeste is not always particularly likeable, but I actually found that part of the book interesting. She can be jealous, vain and incredibly focused on what other people think of her, yet there were also moments where I genuinely felt sorry for her. So much of her self-worth has become tied to her appearance, her marriage and her position within her community that it becomes easy to understand how she ends up making increasingly extreme decisions.
I also liked the satire of the beauty industry and the social expectations within Celeste’s Mormon community. There is a real contradiction between being taught that vanity is sinful while simultaneously feeling enormous pressure to look perfect, have the right family and project a flawless life. The body-horror element takes that obsession to an extreme, but the ideas underneath it feel very current.
The pacing was generally strong and the story became increasingly unhinged as it went along. There were a few moments where the themes felt slightly repetitive, and some plot developments were easier to predict or a little too convenient. But I was still very curious to see just how far Celeste would go and what the real cost of the Eternal Glow treatment would be.
Overall, *Eternal Glow* was weird, dark, entertaining and surprisingly thought-provoking. I expected a fairly straightforward thriller but got something much more satirical and disturbing. The combination of beauty obsession, religion, social pressure and body horror made it feel different from a lot of thrillers I have read recently, and I enjoyed it more than I expected to.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Heather Gay, and the team at Podium Entertainment for providing me access to this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Final rating: 4.25 stars
The premise of Eternal Glow is intriguing from the offset, and is what drew me to the book. The plot follows Celeste, a Mormon woman who has spent her entire life trying to fit into her close-knit but often judgemental community, particularly when it comes to beauty standards. In an act of desperation, she accepts a stranger's offer for free cosmetic work to make her look perfect - but is all as it seems?
The character of Celeste is fascinating and something the author does an amazing job of exploring. Celeste is inherently unlikeable - she is vain and self-centred, and entirely dependent on what others think of her, which leads her to commit desperate and very poorly thought through acts to try and win over her community's acceptance. She doesn't show much empathy towards others and only considers her own struggles. The writing is clever enough to understand all of this, weave it through, while still making you feel sympathetic towards her and understand her thought processes throughout. Even if you want to scream at her throughout the book about her terrible decisions, she is a consistent and very well planned out character that it remains enjoyable and interesting enough to read. You simultaneously root for her to win, and also root for her downfall.
I also really enjoyed the vast amounts of commentary peppered throughout this book. I felt it had a lot to say about hypocrisy within close-knit communities, female power dynamics, and the beauty industry as a whole. Showing the desperation of these women, the insecurities they face, the constant dopamine feedback of acceptance amongst those who have "made it", and trying to make it look effortless makes the novel rich in thematic dissection and leaves a lot of food for thought.
The main reason I did not give the book a complete 5 stars is I felt that the ending became rather rushed and started lacking coherency. There are some twists that were very well-done and enjoyable. I just felt there was more that could have been done with it and there was further room for explanation for some character motivations.
Overall, a really well-done novel and a fascinating character analysis. For fans of Yesteryear who enjoy unlikeable and complex female characters, I highly recommend.
Final rating: 4.25 stars
The premise of Eternal Glow is intriguing from the offset, and is what drew me to the book. The plot follows Celeste, a Mormon woman who has spent her entire life trying to fit into her close-knit but often judgemental community, particularly when it comes to beauty standards. In an act of desperation, she accepts a stranger's offer for free cosmetic work to make her look perfect - but is all as it seems?
The character of Celeste is fascinating and something the author does an amazing job of exploring. Celeste is inherently unlikeable - she is vain and self-centred, and entirely dependent on what others think of her, which leads her to commit desperate and very poorly thought through acts to try and win over her community's acceptance. She doesn't show much empathy towards others and only considers her own struggles. The writing is clever enough to understand all of this, weave it through, while still making you feel sympathetic towards her and understand her thought processes throughout. Even if you want to scream at her throughout the book about her terrible decisions, she is a consistent and very well planned out character that it remains enjoyable and interesting enough to read. You simultaneously root for her to win, and also root for her downfall.
I also really enjoyed the vast amounts of commentary peppered throughout this book. I felt it had a lot to say about hypocrisy within close-knit communities, female power dynamics, and the beauty industry as a whole. Showing the desperation of these women, the insecurities they face, the constant dopamine feedback of acceptance amongst those who have "made it", and trying to make it look effortless makes the novel rich in thematic dissection and leaves a lot of food for thought.
The main reason I did not give the book a complete 5 stars is I felt that the ending became rather rushed and started lacking coherency. There are some twists that were very well-done and enjoyable. I just felt there was more that could have been done with it and there was further room for explanation for some character motivations.
Overall, a really well-done novel and a fascinating character analysis. For fans of Yesteryear who enjoy unlikeable and complex female characters, I highly recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
***I received an ARC from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
Celeste gave up her best friend Abby in middle school in order to become one of the group of popular girls. She even went so far as to torment & publicly shame her former bestie in order to score points. Now she is married and has a daughter of her own, and she is still part of that same friend group, and is still trying to claw her way towards the top of it. These Mormon moms are all affluent, beautiful, and they always look perfectly flawless. Meanwhile Celeste's husband is out of work, he treats her like she is invisible, their credit cards are maxed out, and she has a stack of late slips in her glove box from being tardy in picking her daughter up from school. She gets a referral to an exclusive beauty lab for some much needed rejuvenation, but after she has to leave in shame when her credit card is declined, she is approached by a doctor from the clinic who offers her ultra-exclusive beta testing of a mysterious procedure. Known as the “Eternal Glow,” it’s guaranteed to be the hottest new beauty trend. After agreeing to a full non-disclosure, she is treated to the full VIP treatment at no charge. At first, everyone is effusive with compliments on her luminous skin, even her husband starts paying attention to her again. Then he lands a new job & she is awarded the keynote speaker position at the upcoming Women’s Conference. But then gruesome side effects begin to deform her face, and soon Celeste suspects a shadowy figure of stalking her every move. As she desperately clings to her dream life, one thing becomes painfully clear: her “quick fix” comes at a price that she can't, and won't pay.
Wow. I devoured this book. This was the first thriller by this RHOSLC author, but hopefully not the last. I had a feeling towards the end about who was behind everything, but there was no proof until right at the end. I did and didn't like the way it ended.... not that it wasn't well-written, just that, I wish it didn't turn out that way. But then the final page, kind of made me change my mind. Oh well, you will see for yourself when you read it, and you can let me know what you think. The effects from the procedure, once it started deforming her face, had me cringing. I loved this one,, and I think you will too!
Celeste gave up her best friend Abby in middle school in order to become one of the group of popular girls. She even went so far as to torment & publicly shame her former bestie in order to score points. Now she is married and has a daughter of her own, and she is still part of that same friend group, and is still trying to claw her way towards the top of it. These Mormon moms are all affluent, beautiful, and they always look perfectly flawless. Meanwhile Celeste's husband is out of work, he treats her like she is invisible, their credit cards are maxed out, and she has a stack of late slips in her glove box from being tardy in picking her daughter up from school. She gets a referral to an exclusive beauty lab for some much needed rejuvenation, but after she has to leave in shame when her credit card is declined, she is approached by a doctor from the clinic who offers her ultra-exclusive beta testing of a mysterious procedure. Known as the “Eternal Glow,” it’s guaranteed to be the hottest new beauty trend. After agreeing to a full non-disclosure, she is treated to the full VIP treatment at no charge. At first, everyone is effusive with compliments on her luminous skin, even her husband starts paying attention to her again. Then he lands a new job & she is awarded the keynote speaker position at the upcoming Women’s Conference. But then gruesome side effects begin to deform her face, and soon Celeste suspects a shadowy figure of stalking her every move. As she desperately clings to her dream life, one thing becomes painfully clear: her “quick fix” comes at a price that she can't, and won't pay.
Wow. I devoured this book. This was the first thriller by this RHOSLC author, but hopefully not the last. I had a feeling towards the end about who was behind everything, but there was no proof until right at the end. I did and didn't like the way it ended.... not that it wasn't well-written, just that, I wish it didn't turn out that way. But then the final page, kind of made me change my mind. Oh well, you will see for yourself when you read it, and you can let me know what you think. The effects from the procedure, once it started deforming her face, had me cringing. I loved this one,, and I think you will too!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Heather Gay’s Eternal Glow kept me company on my dark, early-morning commute, and WOW—this was not the polite little celebrity thriller I half expected. Thank you so much to Podium Entertainment for my gifted ALC. What would it take for you to agree to a mysterious beauty treatment offered by a stranger, because apparently Celeste and I have VERY different standards for informed consent?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Celeste has spent years creating a flawless life and earning her place among a wealthy circle of Mormon moms. But when her husband loses his job, the credit cards are maxed out, and that carefully maintained image begins to crack, she becomes desperate for a quick fix.
Then she’s offered Eternal Glow, a secret experimental procedure promising a complete transformation for free.
Free. Experimental. Secret. Three words that should have sent her running—but where would the fun be in that?
At first, the results are everything Celeste wanted. She’s glowing, her husband notices her again, and the women who once looked down on her suddenly want her secret. Then things beneath that beautiful new surface begin going VERY wrong.
I’ll be honest: Celeste frustrated me more than once. I wanted to reach through my earbuds and remind her that social status is not worth sacrificing your face—or your common sense. But I also felt for her. Her need to be admired wasn’t simply vanity; it came from wanting to belong and believing perfection could protect her from rejection. Watching her cling to that illusion as everything became increasingly grotesque was surprisingly sad.
This was campy, catty, dark, and wonderfully weird. The body horror made me squirm, the Mormon mom group had all the backstabbing energy of reality television, and the commentary on beauty culture hit close enough to be uncomfortable. I caught a few turns before Celeste did, but the final reveal still gave me a satisfying surprise.
Heather narrating her own novel added another layer of fun. She knew exactly how to deliver the sharp remarks, absurd moments, and darker emotions, and I could hear how much of her own experience informed this world.
What is the wildest “too good to be true” decision you’ve ever seen a fictional character make?
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Celeste has spent years creating a flawless life and earning her place among a wealthy circle of Mormon moms. But when her husband loses his job, the credit cards are maxed out, and that carefully maintained image begins to crack, she becomes desperate for a quick fix.
Then she’s offered Eternal Glow, a secret experimental procedure promising a complete transformation for free.
Free. Experimental. Secret. Three words that should have sent her running—but where would the fun be in that?
At first, the results are everything Celeste wanted. She’s glowing, her husband notices her again, and the women who once looked down on her suddenly want her secret. Then things beneath that beautiful new surface begin going VERY wrong.
I’ll be honest: Celeste frustrated me more than once. I wanted to reach through my earbuds and remind her that social status is not worth sacrificing your face—or your common sense. But I also felt for her. Her need to be admired wasn’t simply vanity; it came from wanting to belong and believing perfection could protect her from rejection. Watching her cling to that illusion as everything became increasingly grotesque was surprisingly sad.
This was campy, catty, dark, and wonderfully weird. The body horror made me squirm, the Mormon mom group had all the backstabbing energy of reality television, and the commentary on beauty culture hit close enough to be uncomfortable. I caught a few turns before Celeste did, but the final reveal still gave me a satisfying surprise.
Heather narrating her own novel added another layer of fun. She knew exactly how to deliver the sharp remarks, absurd moments, and darker emotions, and I could hear how much of her own experience informed this world.
What is the wildest “too good to be true” decision you’ve ever seen a fictional character make?
October 8, 2026
💄 Eternal Glow 💄
(( SPOILER-FREE ALC REVIEW))
Title- Eternal Glow
Author- Heather Gay
Genre- Thriller, Body Horror
Format- Audiobook 39 Chapters
Performed by- Author Heather Gay
Trope City-
✨ Mormon Mom Club
✨ Extreme Beauty Culture
✨ Social Pressures
✨ Bullying
✨ Religious Expectations
✨ Self Image/ Self Worth Struggles
Trigger Warnings ⚠️
• Talk of Suicide
• Financial Distress/ Debt
• Body Horror
• Graphic Physical Side Effects
• Religious Trauma
“Vanity is the original sin… and they will all pay for it.” 💄😘
Heather Gay is so connected to this story she’s written. She performed it so well. I felt it in my toes! Celeste (FMC) is a Mormon mom living in a world where every woman looks pristine, is volunteering, on time, working well, happily married and easily made pregnant. Celeste had an incredibly challenging time with postpartum depression and an incident that is life changing. She was forced in to psychiatric treatment and has since been able to keep that part of her life somewhat private. Celeste’s husband lost his job and they’ve been living using credit cards. The debt has piled on. All she wants to do is go get the latest beauty treatment done so she can at the very least, look like she has it all together. When her credit card is declined, she leaves the medical center feeling so embarrassed. When it seems all hope is lost, she’s given a card and referral to seek Eternal Glow. After signing numerous NDAs, Celeste undergoes her sketchy beauty procedure and is given very specific follow up and care instructions. She starts hallucinating, sleeping through pick ups, feeling phantom pains in her face and neck. Her symptoms become so severe at the worst possible time- leading her to further investigate this sketchy doctor and scammy procedure. What she uncovers is truly shocking! This story is satirical, gives you laugh out loud moments and makes you want to cry. Women are expected to be so much to so many. Societal pressures are placed on women from such young ages. You never truly recover from feeling less than in this life. Add religious expectations and a catty group of perfect moms? That’s a recipe for a real disaster in the form of a botched face and major trauma.
Thank you Podium Entertainment for sharing this ALC with me! What a ride 🫶🏻💄
(( SPOILER-FREE ALC REVIEW))
Title- Eternal Glow
Author- Heather Gay
Genre- Thriller, Body Horror
Format- Audiobook 39 Chapters
Performed by- Author Heather Gay
Trope City-
✨ Mormon Mom Club
✨ Extreme Beauty Culture
✨ Social Pressures
✨ Bullying
✨ Religious Expectations
✨ Self Image/ Self Worth Struggles
Trigger Warnings ⚠️
• Talk of Suicide
• Financial Distress/ Debt
• Body Horror
• Graphic Physical Side Effects
• Religious Trauma
“Vanity is the original sin… and they will all pay for it.” 💄😘
Heather Gay is so connected to this story she’s written. She performed it so well. I felt it in my toes! Celeste (FMC) is a Mormon mom living in a world where every woman looks pristine, is volunteering, on time, working well, happily married and easily made pregnant. Celeste had an incredibly challenging time with postpartum depression and an incident that is life changing. She was forced in to psychiatric treatment and has since been able to keep that part of her life somewhat private. Celeste’s husband lost his job and they’ve been living using credit cards. The debt has piled on. All she wants to do is go get the latest beauty treatment done so she can at the very least, look like she has it all together. When her credit card is declined, she leaves the medical center feeling so embarrassed. When it seems all hope is lost, she’s given a card and referral to seek Eternal Glow. After signing numerous NDAs, Celeste undergoes her sketchy beauty procedure and is given very specific follow up and care instructions. She starts hallucinating, sleeping through pick ups, feeling phantom pains in her face and neck. Her symptoms become so severe at the worst possible time- leading her to further investigate this sketchy doctor and scammy procedure. What she uncovers is truly shocking! This story is satirical, gives you laugh out loud moments and makes you want to cry. Women are expected to be so much to so many. Societal pressures are placed on women from such young ages. You never truly recover from feeling less than in this life. Add religious expectations and a catty group of perfect moms? That’s a recipe for a real disaster in the form of a botched face and major trauma.
Thank you Podium Entertainment for sharing this ALC with me! What a ride 🫶🏻💄
October 6, 2026
They said it was weird girl lit food. Your girl here was promised dinner. It was supposed to be an unhinged smorgasbord of Mormon momtok drama, toxic perfectionism, social climbing and body horror levels of wrongness, but it didn’t eat. It’s a Substance copy-paste. A recycled trope playbook.
We all know the story, it’s pretty basic. Celeste is fighting for her life trying to look perfect while her life is crumbling. She’s offered a free trial to this gatekept exclusive beauty treatment that promises the ultimate life hack. But surprise! The glow up comes with heavy Ts and Cs.
Look it’s a fun, low stakes popcorn read. Campy, self aware, and I loved it when it went full feral with the gore. If you’re already hyper-fixated on the Real Housewives cinematic universe I suspect the Utah Momtok lore gives you extra (the Easter Eggs were sadly lost on me).
This is popcorn horror rather than transgressive body horror which is where the vibe died for me. The aesthetic was there but it just wasn’t weird enough for this freak and Celeste’s grotesque transformation only comes about because she wants to conform to the patriarchy. She doesn’t have that autonomous, unhinged energy I need in my weird girl FMCs… she’s just so… basic 😬
Look the concept carried, the execution for me flopped. Anti-aging as horror, and beauty as violence is a well trodden path in the weird girl universe. Eternal Glow refuses to dig deeper. The body horror follows a totally predictable script, and the social commentary stays disappointingly surface-level 🙂↔️
The third act chooses chaos and absolute WTF moments, but unfortunately it was too late for me I was already checked out. My attention had wandered way too many times. The vibe was already gone.
I wanted it to be stronger, sharper, more transgressive. I wanted to absorb Eternal Glow but it mostly just sat on top of my skin like a greasy film. However, I think fans of The Real Housewives will absolutely eat with abandoned joy and leave no crumbs, and will probably come for me in the comments 😭💀
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, but I fear I won’t remember it next week. So 3 stars.
Thank you @NetGalley @PodiumEntertainment
We all know the story, it’s pretty basic. Celeste is fighting for her life trying to look perfect while her life is crumbling. She’s offered a free trial to this gatekept exclusive beauty treatment that promises the ultimate life hack. But surprise! The glow up comes with heavy Ts and Cs.
Look it’s a fun, low stakes popcorn read. Campy, self aware, and I loved it when it went full feral with the gore. If you’re already hyper-fixated on the Real Housewives cinematic universe I suspect the Utah Momtok lore gives you extra (the Easter Eggs were sadly lost on me).
This is popcorn horror rather than transgressive body horror which is where the vibe died for me. The aesthetic was there but it just wasn’t weird enough for this freak and Celeste’s grotesque transformation only comes about because she wants to conform to the patriarchy. She doesn’t have that autonomous, unhinged energy I need in my weird girl FMCs… she’s just so… basic 😬
Look the concept carried, the execution for me flopped. Anti-aging as horror, and beauty as violence is a well trodden path in the weird girl universe. Eternal Glow refuses to dig deeper. The body horror follows a totally predictable script, and the social commentary stays disappointingly surface-level 🙂↔️
The third act chooses chaos and absolute WTF moments, but unfortunately it was too late for me I was already checked out. My attention had wandered way too many times. The vibe was already gone.
I wanted it to be stronger, sharper, more transgressive. I wanted to absorb Eternal Glow but it mostly just sat on top of my skin like a greasy film. However, I think fans of The Real Housewives will absolutely eat with abandoned joy and leave no crumbs, and will probably come for me in the comments 😭💀
Didn’t love it, didn’t hate it, but I fear I won’t remember it next week. So 3 stars.
Thank you @NetGalley @PodiumEntertainment
Displaying 1 - 30 of 84 reviews