Unglamored: A Young Adult Novel Exploring Eating Disorders Within the Entertainment Industry

by Jessie Cheng

Wake up. Train. Sleep. Repeat. Socializing not encouraged. Eating not recommended.

Welcome to the life of Chinese American pop star Rose B.D. The headlines will tell you that the thin, talented, and adored Flower Princess of Shanghai has it all. No one suspects that dangerous struggles linger beneath the surface – not even Rose herself. But after crossing paths with outgoing college student Lucas, Rose’s eyes are quickly opened to the reality of what living in the spotlight means. When symptoms of an eating disorder become too much to ignore, Rose finds herself having to choose between the life she has worked so hard to build and the severe aftermath of neglecting her needs.

Through Rose’s story, Cheng shines a light on the inadequate conversation surrounding mental health within the entertainment industry. In Unglamored, beauty standards within Asian culture are challenged, the power of celebrity influence is recognized, and readers are reminded that true healing comes through vulnerability and meaningful human connection.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2021

Reviews

[Carly Newberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Unglamored, Jessie Cheng creatively combines fiction with reality. In just the first few pages, I found myself relating with the main character, Rose, who is consumed by food rules and dietary restriction. As someone who previously suffered an eating disorder, I know how damaging diet culture, or the ruthless monster that profits off our insecurities through false messaging about our worth, can be. What I appreciated about Unglamored, is it offered a new perspective for the pressure those within the pop and media industry face from not only diet culture, but their mentors, managers, and the culture at large. Unglamored is more than a book; It is an important lesson about honoring your mental health, breaking free from unrealistic standards, and proudly showing up as your authentic self.

[tabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was a really good book, and not going to lie, it opened my eyes about things going on in the entertainment industry, and how it can cause a lot of stress and bad things. This is a topic that is pretty much unspoken but this book really hits to the point and has me more aware now.

It's really good and I haven't read a good page-turner book in a while. each page had me hooked and over I recommend it. Cheers!

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may seem like a highly-entertaining novel about celebrities and all their drama. And it is. But more importantly, it's an important exploration of the mental health issues that we often may not see. The book is very easy to read and the characters were interesting.

[Dordor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in the backdrop of the idol world in Shanghai, Unglamored sets the stage for a story about a megasuper star that appears to have everything but is struggling to find her voice. In an industry that places too much value on appearances and especially body image, Rose B.D. must learn to navigate between what she wants and is expected of her. More importantly she must learn to confront her inner voice that tells her she is not good enough or skinny enough. Whether one struggles with an eating disorder, body image, or insecurities, anyone can relate to Rose B.D. Cheng does a great job of showing the internal struggles and the mental weight of having an eating disorder through the world of mega superstar Rose B.D. This is a story that needs to be told and Cheng is the right person to tell it.

[Katie Giordano · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very impressive debut novel touching on important topics! I think many readers could relate to some struggles that Rose endures, but we get the added layer of viewing her story through the entertainment industry. So happy to have read this!