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You Are What You Eat
Not yet published
Expected 13 Jul 27Joan has been invisible long enough to memorize the office hierarchy by jawline, where only the beautiful rise through the ranks. A junior editor at a ruthless NYC fashion magazine, she clocks in on time, eats lunch alone and waits for a promotion that never comes. Until she discovers a ritual in an online forum that changes everything.
The process is simple: want to look like them? Eat them.
Suddenly, she’s glowing: coveted campaigns, a gorgeous model’s attention and a flood of followers. The rush is intoxicating, but the results fade fast. What starts as a curious experiment becomes an escalating appetite. As her new life takes hold, the sacrifices get stranger, bloodier and more personal.
A hungry body horror and viscerally unsettling, this is a story about the impossible beauty standards women are expected to swallow and the monstrous lengths we go to be seen.
The process is simple: want to look like them? Eat them.
Suddenly, she’s glowing: coveted campaigns, a gorgeous model’s attention and a flood of followers. The rush is intoxicating, but the results fade fast. What starts as a curious experiment becomes an escalating appetite. As her new life takes hold, the sacrifices get stranger, bloodier and more personal.
A hungry body horror and viscerally unsettling, this is a story about the impossible beauty standards women are expected to swallow and the monstrous lengths we go to be seen.
384 pages, Paperback
Expected publication July 13, 2027
About the author
Carey Starling
1 book12 followersCarey Starling writes the gory, sick kind of horror, with a literary streak that it can't quite hide. They live in a small corner of Aotearoa New Zealand, writing at a desk that looks out onto a garden full of birds, with kiwifruit orchards beyond. When not writing they collect bugs and bones, dote on their pigeon called Sora and wonder what else a human body can be made to do. They also write under the name Wren Lennox.
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was captivated by this book, from start to finish. I just couldn't look away, not matter how uncomfortable it made me.
I won't go into too much details because I don't want to spoil it, but I found the writing of the main character really interesting, especially her perception of other women.
Fair warning, this gets very graphic.
I won't go into too much details because I don't want to spoil it, but I found the writing of the main character really interesting, especially her perception of other women.
Fair warning, this gets very graphic.
September 27, 2026
I devoured this book in two days and was absolutely captivated by the gory and intoxicating story. "You Are What You Eat" feels like what would happen if The Substance was available to Linda Liddle from Send Help (and she was dropped into The Devil Wears Prada universe), which is to say that it's my favorite combination of unhinged woman + body horror + navigating corporate bullshit. Starling's descriptions are vivid to the point that I was involuntarily making faces at the gruesome events unfolding—but she also taps into something very emotionally resonant when it comes the social benefits of beauty. I'm around the same age as Joan is in the book, and can relate to her struggles to be valued in the office. The 180 turn of how she's treated once her transformation begins is genuinely heartbreaking. So much access to life is blocked behind physical appearance, and Starling shows just how intoxicating it is when you finally have that chance at the shiny, new world while also living with the sorrow and anxiety that none of that world is deeper than physical appearance. The cost for Joan is much deadlier than plastic surgery or the typical trappings of real-life beauty transformation, but it's easy to understand why she falls deeper and deeper into the bloody consequences, even if you can see the disaster coming a mile away. Finally getting love and adoration after being denied it for so long will have you doing anything you can—to your own personal, moral, and physical detriment—to keep chasing that high. The body horror story is a terrifying and entertaining romp on its own, but the underlying symbolism of how beauty devours women is going to stick with me for a long time.
Review of advance copy received from Author
A profound examination of culture, hunger, control, women's bodies--stunning and gruesome!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
"I spent years waiting to become the right sort of person before I allowed my life to begin.
Thinner. Prettier. Less strange. Less loud. Less this. Less that. Whatever version of a person people happened to be rewarding that decade... Somebody moves the finish line every few years."
You Are What You Eat is an incredibly fast-paced, engaging, and well-thought-out psychological thriller. The author's writing flow, accessible wording, and vivid descriptions make it an effortlessly smooth read that absolutely nails the visceral intensity of body horror. However, what truly elevates this book from a standard thriller is its profound, sharp sense of societal retrospection.
Throughout the narrative, the protagonist takes the reader on a harrowing journey to become exactly what society demands, regardless of the cost-and that cost is devastatingly high. At its core, the book explores the terrifying process of "becoming," leaving the reader to ultimately decide whether the character has transformed into something beautiful or into a monster.
As a woman navigating today's world, I found this narrative theme deeply and personally relatable. Everything we consume in modern society is curated for a perfection that does not exist, yet we are constantly conditioned to measure ourselves against these impossible standards. The author has effectively and brilliantly portrayed what that internal struggle looks like in a sometimes smarmy, high-octane home run. A spectacular, twisted, and deeply philosophical 5-star read that I cannot recommend highly enough.
Thinner. Prettier. Less strange. Less loud. Less this. Less that. Whatever version of a person people happened to be rewarding that decade... Somebody moves the finish line every few years."
You Are What You Eat is an incredibly fast-paced, engaging, and well-thought-out psychological thriller. The author's writing flow, accessible wording, and vivid descriptions make it an effortlessly smooth read that absolutely nails the visceral intensity of body horror. However, what truly elevates this book from a standard thriller is its profound, sharp sense of societal retrospection.
Throughout the narrative, the protagonist takes the reader on a harrowing journey to become exactly what society demands, regardless of the cost-and that cost is devastatingly high. At its core, the book explores the terrifying process of "becoming," leaving the reader to ultimately decide whether the character has transformed into something beautiful or into a monster.
As a woman navigating today's world, I found this narrative theme deeply and personally relatable. Everything we consume in modern society is curated for a perfection that does not exist, yet we are constantly conditioned to measure ourselves against these impossible standards. The author has effectively and brilliantly portrayed what that internal struggle looks like in a sometimes smarmy, high-octane home run. A spectacular, twisted, and deeply philosophical 5-star read that I cannot recommend highly enough.
October 1, 2026
Starling's execution elevates an unputdownable premise into a gory, shocking, and genuinely moving commentary on womanhood and the price of beauty. I picked this up and did not put it down until the final page-- this is an author to watch!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have a weird pit in my stomach after finishing this novel. I feel seen in a way few other works ever have.
I won't mince words (and the author acknowledges as much in their end note) that Joan is what happens when you let self-hatred for your body fester for a lifetime. But she's a difficult woman to hate as she continues doing as she does, because you entirely understand why. If you have ever hated yourself in the mirror, ever withered under someone's clear survey and disapproval of your body, or felt somehow less because of the pressures of this world to be a certain size, shape, color, you will understand Joan and why she continues. Because she can't stop. Frankly, I'm sure anyone in her position wouldn't be able to stop, either.
Everything else in the novel is fantastic as well. The tension thrumming throughout, access to the dark web (and not just explaining it away--the author is detailed in the use of TOR, onion links, VPNs, etc), gritty and visceral sequences as Joan fights to get what she wants. The settings are rendered in such a way that you, too, are being photographed by professionals or ignored by people whose coffee you've gotten for two years or have pee in your tracksuit. The relationships Joan has to manage, and how they change when she changes...her own internal monologue throughout as well, how it threads in and out as her desperation mounts.
This is saying nothing on the overall message of the book, and what social commentary the author is going. It's clear from the byline: to be beautiful, you have to consume others. You Are What You Eat is a more violent portrayal of our dog-eat-dog world, as everyone struggles to be the ideal human being. Other works have tackled this idea too, but this...this one struck home for me.
I won't mince words (and the author acknowledges as much in their end note) that Joan is what happens when you let self-hatred for your body fester for a lifetime. But she's a difficult woman to hate as she continues doing as she does, because you entirely understand why. If you have ever hated yourself in the mirror, ever withered under someone's clear survey and disapproval of your body, or felt somehow less because of the pressures of this world to be a certain size, shape, color, you will understand Joan and why she continues. Because she can't stop. Frankly, I'm sure anyone in her position wouldn't be able to stop, either.
Everything else in the novel is fantastic as well. The tension thrumming throughout, access to the dark web (and not just explaining it away--the author is detailed in the use of TOR, onion links, VPNs, etc), gritty and visceral sequences as Joan fights to get what she wants. The settings are rendered in such a way that you, too, are being photographed by professionals or ignored by people whose coffee you've gotten for two years or have pee in your tracksuit. The relationships Joan has to manage, and how they change when she changes...her own internal monologue throughout as well, how it threads in and out as her desperation mounts.
This is saying nothing on the overall message of the book, and what social commentary the author is going. It's clear from the byline: to be beautiful, you have to consume others. You Are What You Eat is a more violent portrayal of our dog-eat-dog world, as everyone struggles to be the ideal human being. Other works have tackled this idea too, but this...this one struck home for me.
October 27, 2026
Thank you NetGalley and Harper 360 for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Holy friggin crap WHAT A DEBUT!! This is easily the best body horror I’ve ever read and one of the most nuanced horror novels I’ve come across. Carey Starling, this is brilliant.
Joan is kind of ordinary and has often found herself overlooked. One day she’s had enough and a dark web ritual that promises to give her all she desires finds her and suddenly she has everything she’s ever wanted.
Want to look like them? Eat them!
You Are What You Eat is an examination of a culture that examines women’s bodies and keeps them at an arms length, critiquing, poking, prodding, giving unwanted advice like it’s a favor and turns it on its head. Joan is remarkably driven and complex and her history is relatable. Like many other women, she is a victim of a system put in place that benefits no women. I may have never felt so seen by a character before.
I think this novel is near perfect. My only issue was pacing toward the end. I felt the horror elements were as gruesome as they were well researched. I fully believed the magical elements. Absolutely well done.
Holy friggin crap WHAT A DEBUT!! This is easily the best body horror I’ve ever read and one of the most nuanced horror novels I’ve come across. Carey Starling, this is brilliant.
Joan is kind of ordinary and has often found herself overlooked. One day she’s had enough and a dark web ritual that promises to give her all she desires finds her and suddenly she has everything she’s ever wanted.
Want to look like them? Eat them!
You Are What You Eat is an examination of a culture that examines women’s bodies and keeps them at an arms length, critiquing, poking, prodding, giving unwanted advice like it’s a favor and turns it on its head. Joan is remarkably driven and complex and her history is relatable. Like many other women, she is a victim of a system put in place that benefits no women. I may have never felt so seen by a character before.
I think this novel is near perfect. My only issue was pacing toward the end. I felt the horror elements were as gruesome as they were well researched. I fully believed the magical elements. Absolutely well done.
November 2, 2026
You Are What You Eat — ARC Review
⭐️- 4.75
🌶️- 0.5
• Feminine Rage
• Body Horror
• Psychological — Gripping
• Thought-Provoking
Chapter 1 — Psychologically unsettling right from the beginning. Intrigued enough to jump straight in after approval.
The self-deprecation in the FMC immediately draws you into wondering, “Sweetie, who hurt you?” There’s a creeping undercurrent of self-loathing, and it intermingles with her also feeling underappreciated in her work life.
The darkness and insidious despair that live inside of Joan are becoming a monster that seeps out faster than she can consume “that which makes her feel worthy.”
The beauty standards that women live under can make us feel like we are less than if we aren’t what the media deems “traditionally beautiful.” This book shines a blaring spotlight on what living under that pressure can do to a woman’s psyche.
How heavily our worth can feel tied up in our appearance is a plight for women who don’t look like the models or actresses that we fawn over, and this book makes you really see the ugliness of longing for something that you can’t change.
Chapter 12 —
This is where things began taking a turn for the repulsive. I found myself literally covering my mouth, eyes bulging as I read the lows that Joan’s depravity had reached and wondered… “Where will it end?” “How far will she go?” The writing is so intriguing and sinister! I can’t get enough!
The symbolism of “women stepping on each other’s heads to climb to the top” was definitely front and center here. It shone a glaringly ugly spotlight on the effects of what that leads to. The rot it causes within us. That even when we are getting what we aimed for, there’s a wrongness felt below the surface.
One critique. I was slightly annoyed with the pacing of how quickly the “worms” seemed to return. The writer made a point of Joan doing the math on how long things could last before she needed to “feed the worms” again, but it felt like she was doing it faster than what the math required. Perhaps that was intentional on the part of the author to symbolize greed? I’m not entirely sure, but it did somewhat bug me.
As someone who has not read a body horror book before, this has been deeply unsettling, gripping, and so uncomfortable in the sickest, most horrific, amazing way.
The realization by Joan that the patriarchal society that we live in has been made by men off the backs of women and that she has fallen into their trap with her “wanting” was poignant and profound.
After reading this book, I am reminded deeply and wholly that the woman that I am is enough. She always has been and always will be. To any ladies who brave picking up this book, by the end of it, I hope you too will be able to recognize that you too are enough. As you are. In this moment.
Thank you to Carey Starling for this wonderfully sickening book!! You’ve got a forever fan here!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review.
⭐️- 4.75
🌶️- 0.5
• Feminine Rage
• Body Horror
• Psychological — Gripping
• Thought-Provoking
Chapter 1 — Psychologically unsettling right from the beginning. Intrigued enough to jump straight in after approval.
The self-deprecation in the FMC immediately draws you into wondering, “Sweetie, who hurt you?” There’s a creeping undercurrent of self-loathing, and it intermingles with her also feeling underappreciated in her work life.
The darkness and insidious despair that live inside of Joan are becoming a monster that seeps out faster than she can consume “that which makes her feel worthy.”
The beauty standards that women live under can make us feel like we are less than if we aren’t what the media deems “traditionally beautiful.” This book shines a blaring spotlight on what living under that pressure can do to a woman’s psyche.
How heavily our worth can feel tied up in our appearance is a plight for women who don’t look like the models or actresses that we fawn over, and this book makes you really see the ugliness of longing for something that you can’t change.
Chapter 12 —
This is where things began taking a turn for the repulsive. I found myself literally covering my mouth, eyes bulging as I read the lows that Joan’s depravity had reached and wondered… “Where will it end?” “How far will she go?” The writing is so intriguing and sinister! I can’t get enough!
The symbolism of “women stepping on each other’s heads to climb to the top” was definitely front and center here. It shone a glaringly ugly spotlight on the effects of what that leads to. The rot it causes within us. That even when we are getting what we aimed for, there’s a wrongness felt below the surface.
One critique. I was slightly annoyed with the pacing of how quickly the “worms” seemed to return. The writer made a point of Joan doing the math on how long things could last before she needed to “feed the worms” again, but it felt like she was doing it faster than what the math required. Perhaps that was intentional on the part of the author to symbolize greed? I’m not entirely sure, but it did somewhat bug me.
As someone who has not read a body horror book before, this has been deeply unsettling, gripping, and so uncomfortable in the sickest, most horrific, amazing way.
The realization by Joan that the patriarchal society that we live in has been made by men off the backs of women and that she has fallen into their trap with her “wanting” was poignant and profound.
After reading this book, I am reminded deeply and wholly that the woman that I am is enough. She always has been and always will be. To any ladies who brave picking up this book, by the end of it, I hope you too will be able to recognize that you too are enough. As you are. In this moment.
Thank you to Carey Starling for this wonderfully sickening book!! You’ve got a forever fan here!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC and give my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you netgalley & publisher for the arc of this book 🥩🍷🍯🩸
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
I had told the truth to warn them, but the truth was a lit window. Nothing draws the hungry like a lit window.
What a masterpiece, i don't have enough words how much i felt throughout the whole book, this is indeed body horror done right, but a horror and gore where I support both the main characters, womens wrongs are always womens right idc, the society forces us to follow the certain standards to even exsist or flourish or we are nothing but useless beings and when women like joan are forced to feel bneath they whould go ahead to the lengths to get to that beauty even it cost life, even if it make them lose their last bit of humanity along the way.
I just love how Sutton played that part, despite being so beautiful, when she faced the lows, she wanted everything even if blackmail to get her beauty back even if those were the footsteps of joan, but the ending, the godamn last 2 chapters, why did I tear up? It made me so sad for these women, I even related to them. The desperate attempt to reattach to the beauty, reality and everything in between to it ending like that? I somehow felt joan losing the concept of reality to she felt really not so reliable to me that what we are being told about things may not be true.
But despite the book having blood, gore and whatnot the authors note in the end made me so emotional because as a women myself I have faced my fair share of scrutiny myself like all women do who are not models, who are humans equally by men or other women, but despite that the warning made me laugh and sad on how we women should never set our self up to such harsh standards or maybe choose ways of joan?
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
I had told the truth to warn them, but the truth was a lit window. Nothing draws the hungry like a lit window.
What a masterpiece, i don't have enough words how much i felt throughout the whole book, this is indeed body horror done right, but a horror and gore where I support both the main characters, womens wrongs are always womens right idc, the society forces us to follow the certain standards to even exsist or flourish or we are nothing but useless beings and when women like joan are forced to feel bneath they whould go ahead to the lengths to get to that beauty even it cost life, even if it make them lose their last bit of humanity along the way.
I just love how Sutton played that part, despite being so beautiful, when she faced the lows, she wanted everything even if blackmail to get her beauty back even if those were the footsteps of joan, but the ending, the godamn last 2 chapters, why did I tear up? It made me so sad for these women, I even related to them. The desperate attempt to reattach to the beauty, reality and everything in between to it ending like that? I somehow felt joan losing the concept of reality to she felt really not so reliable to me that what we are being told about things may not be true.
But despite the book having blood, gore and whatnot the authors note in the end made me so emotional because as a women myself I have faced my fair share of scrutiny myself like all women do who are not models, who are humans equally by men or other women, but despite that the warning made me laugh and sad on how we women should never set our self up to such harsh standards or maybe choose ways of joan?
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
If the movie The Substance and Weird Girl Literature had a beautifully grotesque love child, it would be You Are What You Eat.
Joan is absolutely batshit crazy, and I was captivated by every increasingly unhinged decision of hers. Carey Starling's writing is beautiful, but don't let that fool you. This is a wonderfully disturbing exploration of beauty standards and the lengths women are pushed to go to in order to meet them. The body horror isn't just there for shock value; it serves a much bigger purpose, making the story's commentary on beauty, obsession, and the consumption of women's bodies all the more terrifying. I loved the contrast between the gorgeous prose and the increasingly horrifying nature of the story. It left me contemplating how much we're willing to sacrifice to be beautiful.
This was an easy five stars for me. This is certainly my most anticipated Weird Girl book release of 2027; I can't wait to buy my physical copy! If you love weird-girl lit, thought-provoking body horror, and stories that make you deeply uncomfortable, You Are What You Eat by Carey Starling should be on your radar.
Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for providing an advance copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Joan is absolutely batshit crazy, and I was captivated by every increasingly unhinged decision of hers. Carey Starling's writing is beautiful, but don't let that fool you. This is a wonderfully disturbing exploration of beauty standards and the lengths women are pushed to go to in order to meet them. The body horror isn't just there for shock value; it serves a much bigger purpose, making the story's commentary on beauty, obsession, and the consumption of women's bodies all the more terrifying. I loved the contrast between the gorgeous prose and the increasingly horrifying nature of the story. It left me contemplating how much we're willing to sacrifice to be beautiful.
This was an easy five stars for me. This is certainly my most anticipated Weird Girl book release of 2027; I can't wait to buy my physical copy! If you love weird-girl lit, thought-provoking body horror, and stories that make you deeply uncomfortable, You Are What You Eat by Carey Starling should be on your radar.
Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for providing an advance copy for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
fully walked out of the office bc I was at the 60% mark and said i kinda have to know what happens next actually, that’s a business critical mission for me. it’s…..visceral. and gory. and difficult. and insane. the author says it herself, Joan is NOT an easy woman to sit with, except she’s also a lil voice we all hear sometimes. I genuinely can’t believe this is not only a debut but one I got to access early because it had the voice of a Seasoned horror author, someone who took the concept of beauty and pain and womanhood and cost and brought out all its ugliest goriest elements in a really well done way. hoping this one gets its flowers as one of the best weird girl books of 2027.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
*Review of Advanced Copy Received from NetGalley**
This book was disgusting in the best way possible. This js actually the first book I’ve written wear I’ve had to physically put the phone down just to take a couple deep breaths but honestly that’s what I loved about it. The way Carey writes is absolutely beautiful. If the grotesque wasn’t keeping me glued to the page (screen?) then the prose was. Also I was absolutely right to start this book on Halloween!
This book was disgusting in the best way possible. This js actually the first book I’ve written wear I’ve had to physically put the phone down just to take a couple deep breaths but honestly that’s what I loved about it. The way Carey writes is absolutely beautiful. If the grotesque wasn’t keeping me glued to the page (screen?) then the prose was. Also I was absolutely right to start this book on Halloween!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I meant to read one chapter before bed. That was a lie I told myself several nights in a row, and the bags under my eyes would like a word with Carey Starling.
Joan works at a fashion magazine where everyone seems to believe talent is optional and cheekbones are mandatory. She does the work, fetches the coffee, and goes largely unseen. Then she stumbles onto a dark web ritual with one very simple, very terrible rule: if you want to look like someone, you have to eat them. And here’s the problem. It works.
What makes this book so hard to put down isn’t just the gore, though there’s plenty of it, and some scenes had me physically leaning away from the page like that would help. It’s Joan. She’s petty, desperate, jealous, and frequently awful, and I understood her completely. Starling never lets her off the hook, but she never lets the world around her off the hook either. Every time Joan gets a little more of what she wants, the people around her get a little more honest about what they valued all along, and that’s its own kind of horror.
The prose is sharp and surprisingly beautiful for a book this grisly, and the pacing kept pulling me forward even when my better judgment was asking to go to sleep. By the end I wasn’t sure whether to cheer for Joan, mourn her, or call someone on her behalf. Probably all three. The author’s note at the end added a layer of weight I didn’t expect and gave me even more to chew on. (Sorry. I had to.)
For a debut, this is remarkably confident. It’s grotesque, smart, and uncomfortably relatable, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Possibly while looking at my coworkers a little differently.
Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. My sleep schedule may never recover, and I regret nothing.
Joan works at a fashion magazine where everyone seems to believe talent is optional and cheekbones are mandatory. She does the work, fetches the coffee, and goes largely unseen. Then she stumbles onto a dark web ritual with one very simple, very terrible rule: if you want to look like someone, you have to eat them. And here’s the problem. It works.
What makes this book so hard to put down isn’t just the gore, though there’s plenty of it, and some scenes had me physically leaning away from the page like that would help. It’s Joan. She’s petty, desperate, jealous, and frequently awful, and I understood her completely. Starling never lets her off the hook, but she never lets the world around her off the hook either. Every time Joan gets a little more of what she wants, the people around her get a little more honest about what they valued all along, and that’s its own kind of horror.
The prose is sharp and surprisingly beautiful for a book this grisly, and the pacing kept pulling me forward even when my better judgment was asking to go to sleep. By the end I wasn’t sure whether to cheer for Joan, mourn her, or call someone on her behalf. Probably all three. The author’s note at the end added a layer of weight I didn’t expect and gave me even more to chew on. (Sorry. I had to.)
For a debut, this is remarkably confident. It’s grotesque, smart, and uncomfortably relatable, and I’ll be thinking about it for a long time. Possibly while looking at my coworkers a little differently.
Thank you to Harper360 and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. My sleep schedule may never recover, and I regret nothing.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2026
In her debut novel, You Are What You Eat, Starling goes into depth what happens when self-hatred is left to fester inside over long periods of time. The story follows Joan, who has been overlooked countless times because of her looks. When she discovers a ritual online, she realizes to be them is to eat them.
When I first discovered this book I was excited. It was described as a twist on The Devil Wears Prada, which is a film that I enjoy. I wish I would have done more research or looked at content warnings. There was just something about premise that allured me.
At the start of the book, there were instances where I was reminded of Night Bitch based on some of her actions. There have been many moments in my life, which I’m sure most people have experienced, where I have looked at myself in the mirror and was unhappy with what I saw. However, the self-hatred that Joan had surprised me. I know that I have been privileged with being as what people call “cute” and “pretty” (terms which I feel are subjective), I never have had to worry about my looks at work, or have had to worry about being judged/ignored based on my looks.
I think about my sorority sisters and how they have always encouraged me and hyped me up. From my experience, I try to not surround myself with people like Joan who self-hatred with overwhelming. However, it’s understandable in the world we live in. Where we are constantly pushed products and procedures that we’re told will make us beautiful and that much of our value is unfortunately tied to our beauty.
I’m still quite unsure about my rating. I’m not used to gore and know that this is one reason I struggled with this book. I also feel that there are many different books with the same premise.
When I first discovered this book I was excited. It was described as a twist on The Devil Wears Prada, which is a film that I enjoy. I wish I would have done more research or looked at content warnings. There was just something about premise that allured me.
At the start of the book, there were instances where I was reminded of Night Bitch based on some of her actions. There have been many moments in my life, which I’m sure most people have experienced, where I have looked at myself in the mirror and was unhappy with what I saw. However, the self-hatred that Joan had surprised me. I know that I have been privileged with being as what people call “cute” and “pretty” (terms which I feel are subjective), I never have had to worry about my looks at work, or have had to worry about being judged/ignored based on my looks.
I think about my sorority sisters and how they have always encouraged me and hyped me up. From my experience, I try to not surround myself with people like Joan who self-hatred with overwhelming. However, it’s understandable in the world we live in. Where we are constantly pushed products and procedures that we’re told will make us beautiful and that much of our value is unfortunately tied to our beauty.
I’m still quite unsure about my rating. I’m not used to gore and know that this is one reason I struggled with this book. I also feel that there are many different books with the same premise.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
What a thrill ride! From beginning to end, this book had me absolutely gripped in its clutches. Even now, after finishing the book, it’s still got its claws in me as I continue to soak in what I read.
From the start, you’re sucked in by an all too relatable Joan who’s struggling with anyone seeing her worth, least of all herself. In a world where appearance is everything, especially when employed by a fashion/beauty publication, it’s hard to fit in and be acknowledged when you’re not traditionally attractive. The plot proceeds with Joan discovering a way to make herself attractive and upon her success, her desperation and obsession only increases as she spirals.
The pacing of the story was perfect! It moved speedily while also having things progress at what felt like a natural rate of progression for the story. Not only was the pace great, but the author’s writing was fantastic! She wrote with such lovely prose and the words just flowed so well. I would love to read anything written by this author with her writing as lush and vibrant as it was.
I could not put this book down! Not only did I enjoy the writing and the plot itself, but the content as well. Yes, there’s cannibalism, and yes I freaking loved it! I would recommend this to everyone who loves horror and especially those that struggle to find their place in the world.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC.
From the start, you’re sucked in by an all too relatable Joan who’s struggling with anyone seeing her worth, least of all herself. In a world where appearance is everything, especially when employed by a fashion/beauty publication, it’s hard to fit in and be acknowledged when you’re not traditionally attractive. The plot proceeds with Joan discovering a way to make herself attractive and upon her success, her desperation and obsession only increases as she spirals.
The pacing of the story was perfect! It moved speedily while also having things progress at what felt like a natural rate of progression for the story. Not only was the pace great, but the author’s writing was fantastic! She wrote with such lovely prose and the words just flowed so well. I would love to read anything written by this author with her writing as lush and vibrant as it was.
I could not put this book down! Not only did I enjoy the writing and the plot itself, but the content as well. Yes, there’s cannibalism, and yes I freaking loved it! I would recommend this to everyone who loves horror and especially those that struggle to find their place in the world.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an eARC.
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November 6, 2026Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for thr E-arc
The premise of this book was so good, and there were definitely moments when I found myself completely caught up in the story and unable to put it down. However, I struggled at times with the amount of description throughout the book. The author is clearly talented and does an excellent job creating atmosphere and painting a picture for the reader, but for my personal reading preferences, some of the descriptions felt a little excessive and slowed the pacing.
I know there are readers who absolutely love getting every little detail, and I can appreciate that style of writing, even if it’s not necessarily for me. I found myself skimming portions of the book at times, which is unfortunate because the underlying story had so much potential.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept and thought the plot was good. I just wish the pacing had been a little tighter. This was one of those books I could get completely absorbed in one minute and struggle to pick up the next.
The premise of this book was so good, and there were definitely moments when I found myself completely caught up in the story and unable to put it down. However, I struggled at times with the amount of description throughout the book. The author is clearly talented and does an excellent job creating atmosphere and painting a picture for the reader, but for my personal reading preferences, some of the descriptions felt a little excessive and slowed the pacing.
I know there are readers who absolutely love getting every little detail, and I can appreciate that style of writing, even if it’s not necessarily for me. I found myself skimming portions of the book at times, which is unfortunate because the underlying story had so much potential.
Overall, I enjoyed the concept and thought the plot was good. I just wish the pacing had been a little tighter. This was one of those books I could get completely absorbed in one minute and struggle to pick up the next.
November 7, 2026
You Are What You Eat is classic body horror that leaves your skin crawling and your mind wondering. The beginning very much reminded me of Send Help with Rachel McAdams and Dylan O’Brien. A woman being passed over at her fashion magazine job because she isn’t beautiful, skinny, or charming.
31 year old Joan figures out a way to become beautiful and thin. The cost? Eating nail clipping, hair, and used tissues from pretty women. The worms crawl under her skin to work their magic. She realizes she needs MORE. She needs meat to be beautiful.
It’s a reflection on the sacrifices we make to be beautiful for other people and how we put that onto others as well. The ending was interesting, and I appreciated the author’s note.
Favorite quotes:
“My body was a draft version of womanhood, annotated with errors.”
“Desperation didn’t feel dramatic when it lived inside you. It felt practical.”
“Both of us destroyed ourselves and each other in the service of a standard neither of us had authored. She was the victim of it. So was I.”
31 year old Joan figures out a way to become beautiful and thin. The cost? Eating nail clipping, hair, and used tissues from pretty women. The worms crawl under her skin to work their magic. She realizes she needs MORE. She needs meat to be beautiful.
It’s a reflection on the sacrifices we make to be beautiful for other people and how we put that onto others as well. The ending was interesting, and I appreciated the author’s note.
Favorite quotes:
“My body was a draft version of womanhood, annotated with errors.”
“Desperation didn’t feel dramatic when it lived inside you. It felt practical.”
“Both of us destroyed ourselves and each other in the service of a standard neither of us had authored. She was the victim of it. So was I.”
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I really liked this one!
Characters: Pretty good overall. Sometimes the characters' actions didn't make sense to me in a way that couldn't be explained by the genre, which distracted me from the horrors themselves. The protagonist was morbidly fascinating (as evidenced by the length of my forum posts analyzing her) but her (clearly deliberate, to be fair) inconsistencies bothered me. Ultimately though, the whole cast was compelling and served their roles well.
Plot: I wished that the balance of certain plot elements had been different, but the storyline was interesting, well-paced, and satisfying.
Prose: Absolutely excellent. Evocative and thoughtful but not overwrought. This was my favorite part of the book. It really elevated all of the gruesome scenes and sharpened the social commentary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Characters: Pretty good overall. Sometimes the characters' actions didn't make sense to me in a way that couldn't be explained by the genre, which distracted me from the horrors themselves. The protagonist was morbidly fascinating (as evidenced by the length of my forum posts analyzing her) but her (clearly deliberate, to be fair) inconsistencies bothered me. Ultimately though, the whole cast was compelling and served their roles well.
Plot: I wished that the balance of certain plot elements had been different, but the storyline was interesting, well-paced, and satisfying.
Prose: Absolutely excellent. Evocative and thoughtful but not overwrought. This was my favorite part of the book. It really elevated all of the gruesome scenes and sharpened the social commentary.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper360 for providing this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Thank you to Edelweiss for the ARC!
Note: I almost didn't pick this up because of the cover, it doesn't really do justice to the nuance of the story!
This was a total blast of weird girl fiction. I loved how thick and illustrative the writing was, it really took its time to lay out a scene in horrifying detail. The main character is relatable and not at all likeable, in the sense that everyone knows what it feels like to be lesser than to some extent. I'm glad this went as far as it did, and committed to the ending. Though I will say, several parts at the end did drag in the prose department and got fairly repetitive.
Note: I almost didn't pick this up because of the cover, it doesn't really do justice to the nuance of the story!
This was a total blast of weird girl fiction. I loved how thick and illustrative the writing was, it really took its time to lay out a scene in horrifying detail. The main character is relatable and not at all likeable, in the sense that everyone knows what it feels like to be lesser than to some extent. I'm glad this went as far as it did, and committed to the ending. Though I will say, several parts at the end did drag in the prose department and got fairly repetitive.
October 29, 2026
Girl so confusing by Charli xcx, but with cannibalism.
This was super fast paced and easy to read. I always love cannibalism as a metaphor to explore womanhood, but since I read this theme fairly often, this particular book didn't feel revolutionary to me.
With that being said, I still had a great time reading it and genuinely enjoyed the story. I just don't think it's one that will stay with me long term. If you loved the movie The Substance, you'll probably really enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was super fast paced and easy to read. I always love cannibalism as a metaphor to explore womanhood, but since I read this theme fairly often, this particular book didn't feel revolutionary to me.
With that being said, I still had a great time reading it and genuinely enjoyed the story. I just don't think it's one that will stay with me long term. If you loved the movie The Substance, you'll probably really enjoy this one.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Heartbreaking and absolutely wonderfully disgusting story about the cost of beauty and success. This is one of the very few books that made me physically cringe while reading it, the gore and body horror was brilliantly written and truly horrific at points. Joans internal monologue was a little bit rambly at times but it really did show the price that she was willing to pay and her descent into selfish destruction of herself and the people around her. Brilliant story.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher and Carey Starling for the ARC.
A bloody, visceral look into beauty standards, and the lengths we would reach to fit them.
This was a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it! Fast paced and utterly gripping, it was so hard to put down.
A fantastic read for anyone looking for a horror with bite. I can't wait to see what the author publishes next.
A bloody, visceral look into beauty standards, and the lengths we would reach to fit them.
This was a wild ride, and I loved every minute of it! Fast paced and utterly gripping, it was so hard to put down.
A fantastic read for anyone looking for a horror with bite. I can't wait to see what the author publishes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
oh my goodness this was amazing. i was hooked from the
first chapter. i loved everything about this from the plot and
even the main character. and i personally loved how gruesome
it was and it was very binge able and easy to read
first chapter. i loved everything about this from the plot and
even the main character. and i personally loved how gruesome
it was and it was very binge able and easy to read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book was absolutely AMAZING.
Remember to take up space and love who YOU are — never let anyone make you feel less than.
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Remember to take up space and love who YOU are — never let anyone make you feel less than.
Huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
November 5, 2026
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.
The perfect blend of horror and the darkness that lies within the beauty industry. Couldn’t put this one down; even when parts were uncomfortable/disgusting.
The perfect blend of horror and the darkness that lies within the beauty industry. Couldn’t put this one down; even when parts were uncomfortable/disgusting.
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