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Unretouchable
Olive is spending the summer before art school at a coveted internship, helping one of the fashion industry's elite digital-imaging specialists. After a glamorous New York photo shoot, she learns that taking pictures is only the first step. She discovers the "violent verbs" (cut, crop, slice, lasso) of image retouching software and the secrets behind "virtual models." Soon Olive is fixating on her own appearance and pondering the ethics of her work behind the scenes. As college gets closer, she'll try to get out of her own head, attempt to quit the internet, and finally embrace image-making on her own terms. Unretouchable is a window into the little-known, hugely influential world of fashion photography and a tribute to self-acceptance.
152 pages, Library Binding
Published September 13, 2022
7 people are currently reading
306 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 155 reviews
November 11, 2025
Years ago a video clip showing a model's face getting edited within an inch of its life went viral. The ad this model was a part of was going to be splashed on a billboard, and by the end of the video the adjusted face was unrecognizable from its original version. As I recall, this clip was circulated as part of the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty (the one that showed scantily clad women of various sizes posed together), to call attention to how absurd and upsetting photo-tweaking is. Fast forward two decades, and the only thing that's changed is that more people know the mechanics behind photo-editing. FaceTune isn't shunned in favor of what's real; it's more popular than ever.
Unretouchable, a simple sequential-art story by Sofia Szamosi, takes on this topic. With more than a little help from her mom, college student Olive secures a plum fashion internship in New York City. All the photo-editing she's tasked with doing, and sees others doing without a second thought, leads her to an unhealthy fixation on her appearance. A social-media break follows. She learns nothing except that life is boring for her without social media. She has a heart-to-heart with her mom, whose words of wisdom are hollow clichés but that work for Olive. She returns to social media somehow stronger and more carefree.
The only readers who may get something out of this book are those who live under a rock. Olive's story is the anti-climactic story of countless social-media addicts, and her work in the fashion industry is matter-of-fact rather than a springboard for a thought-provoking conversation. Depiction of a model with bulimia is brief and shrugged-off, inserted because Szamosi realized she couldn't tell a realistic story about the fashion industry without including eating disorders. Olive is self-effacing and friendly, but that's the only good thing about Unretouchable. Her story is a tiny snapshot of work in an industry to show what everyone already knows: that it shamelessly and happily embraces "-isms" and isn't going to change that.
Unretouchable, a simple sequential-art story by Sofia Szamosi, takes on this topic. With more than a little help from her mom, college student Olive secures a plum fashion internship in New York City. All the photo-editing she's tasked with doing, and sees others doing without a second thought, leads her to an unhealthy fixation on her appearance. A social-media break follows. She learns nothing except that life is boring for her without social media. She has a heart-to-heart with her mom, whose words of wisdom are hollow clichés but that work for Olive. She returns to social media somehow stronger and more carefree.
The only readers who may get something out of this book are those who live under a rock. Olive's story is the anti-climactic story of countless social-media addicts, and her work in the fashion industry is matter-of-fact rather than a springboard for a thought-provoking conversation. Depiction of a model with bulimia is brief and shrugged-off, inserted because Szamosi realized she couldn't tell a realistic story about the fashion industry without including eating disorders. Olive is self-effacing and friendly, but that's the only good thing about Unretouchable. Her story is a tiny snapshot of work in an industry to show what everyone already knows: that it shamelessly and happily embraces "-isms" and isn't going to change that.
July 4, 2022
big big tw for eating disorders specifically bulimia
this was an interesting take on dealing with what to do after high school as well as the harmful sides of social media and the media we consume in general, getting to see olive face her body issues in a toxic environment was unique
this was an interesting take on dealing with what to do after high school as well as the harmful sides of social media and the media we consume in general, getting to see olive face her body issues in a toxic environment was unique
November 28, 2022
Olive is going to art school, but her mother gets her a summer internship retouching photos at a high profile fashion mag on the way, leading to near madness obsessing on social media, body image and dysmorphia. It feels like we must know all this stuff, that every social media image is deepfakery, but the message is important as (especially?) girls and women are forever mired in this, and self-acceptance increasingly needs to be learned. I learned about the increasing reliance industry has on virtual models--we can make images of women perfect! We can erase the need for actual female humans!
I just read Black Dahlia & White Rose by Joyce Carol Oates about tragic image-crafting in Hollywood in the forties, about Elizabeth Short and Marilyn Monroe, both small town girls dead at an early age, sex icons forever, so this damage has probably always been with us. The art has some bold, thick-lined David B. and Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) vibes to it, stark black and white.
I just read Black Dahlia & White Rose by Joyce Carol Oates about tragic image-crafting in Hollywood in the forties, about Elizabeth Short and Marilyn Monroe, both small town girls dead at an early age, sex icons forever, so this damage has probably always been with us. The art has some bold, thick-lined David B. and Marjane Satrapi (Persepolis) vibes to it, stark black and white.
June 1, 2022
Thanks to Lerner Publishing for a copy to review; Unretouchable was an unexpectedly relatable and emotional graphic novel read that's due for release on September 6th.
We follow Olive, a young student with a smartphone, constant social media presence, a cool trans best friend and tons of issues with self-image, as she starts a major internship. Five full stars for messaging, relatability and art style.
This gave me contemporary Bell Jar vibes, as the protagonist attends a fancy NYC internship that leads to self-loathing and harmful decisions, complete with the whole thing instagrammed. The sheer volume of deepfakery Olive encounters, and the narrative contemplation of what is false and what is true among the formative parts of our lives were really interesting, and the art was great. At one point Olive has an existential crisis over "having a body" at all, and I related one hundred percent with the dysphoria. By the end she has nearly lost her mind with constant photo retouching, and it really makes you want to touch grass.
I found this a touching and inspiring read - we could all use more realistic content in our lives, and probably less time on our phones too.
We follow Olive, a young student with a smartphone, constant social media presence, a cool trans best friend and tons of issues with self-image, as she starts a major internship. Five full stars for messaging, relatability and art style.
This gave me contemporary Bell Jar vibes, as the protagonist attends a fancy NYC internship that leads to self-loathing and harmful decisions, complete with the whole thing instagrammed. The sheer volume of deepfakery Olive encounters, and the narrative contemplation of what is false and what is true among the formative parts of our lives were really interesting, and the art was great. At one point Olive has an existential crisis over "having a body" at all, and I related one hundred percent with the dysphoria. By the end she has nearly lost her mind with constant photo retouching, and it really makes you want to touch grass.
I found this a touching and inspiring read - we could all use more realistic content in our lives, and probably less time on our phones too.
September 7, 2022
✨ "Social media has a way of turning everything into... everything!"
3.5⭐
This incisive graphic novel follows Olive, an aspiring artist who scores a coveted internship at a glitzy fashion magazine but becomes increasingly disillusioned with the industry. I love how Unretouchable explores the double-edged sword that is social media and the internet, as well as consumerism and the emotional manipulation involved. It also highlights the role of digital retouchers and the complexities behind the job rather than just adopting a one-dimensional stance.
I liked the black-and-white art style, which reminded me of Persepolis. But for a book that discusses body positivity and related movements, it's strangely lacking in representation. Same for how it points out that "along with people in fat, black and disabled communities, queer communities were BoPo pioneers" but there's not a single fat, BIPOC or queer character.
Another issue that kept me from giving a full 4 stars is the casual handling of eating disorders despite alluding to them at least twice. I wish the book had expanded on it more for the benefit of those with similar struggles.
Nevertheless, this is a sharp and insightful take on very relevant topics. The book was an easy read and captured Olive's inner turmoil well. I enjoyed it overall.
Thank you Lerner Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
3.5⭐
This incisive graphic novel follows Olive, an aspiring artist who scores a coveted internship at a glitzy fashion magazine but becomes increasingly disillusioned with the industry. I love how Unretouchable explores the double-edged sword that is social media and the internet, as well as consumerism and the emotional manipulation involved. It also highlights the role of digital retouchers and the complexities behind the job rather than just adopting a one-dimensional stance.
I liked the black-and-white art style, which reminded me of Persepolis. But for a book that discusses body positivity and related movements, it's strangely lacking in representation. Same for how it points out that "along with people in fat, black and disabled communities, queer communities were BoPo pioneers" but there's not a single fat, BIPOC or queer character.
Another issue that kept me from giving a full 4 stars is the casual handling of eating disorders despite alluding to them at least twice. I wish the book had expanded on it more for the benefit of those with similar struggles.
Nevertheless, this is a sharp and insightful take on very relevant topics. The book was an easy read and captured Olive's inner turmoil well. I enjoyed it overall.
Thank you Lerner Publishing Group and Netgalley for an ARC of this book.
October 20, 2022
Olive is your average 18 year old worried about her appearance, obsessed with social media, and unsure about which direction she wishes to go with her future. The summer before college she gets an internship with a fashion magazine and learns about everything that goes into finalizing a picture from a photo shoot. The experience is eye opening. The graphic novel is based on the writer’s real life and provides a great glimpse into the realities of body image and media. I honestly wasn’t a fan of the art, but I enjoyed the story.
August 23, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I don’t typically go for graphic novels but I enjoyed this quick read! I liked the art style and relevant, nuanced look at social media, the affect it has on self esteem, and body positivity.
I don’t typically go for graphic novels but I enjoyed this quick read! I liked the art style and relevant, nuanced look at social media, the affect it has on self esteem, and body positivity.
February 6, 2024
Compare n’ despair
September 26, 2023
TW: eating disorder; body image issues;
With that being said, I think the book send a very important message about the internet usage (specially around the teen years) and how good it can be to find balance when it comes to social media (it can be a great tool once you know how to use it wisely).
I don’t teach US, but would highly recommend to those that are living the turbulent ages of middle school-high school-freshman of college-everything in the between (and to the adults that want to support them as well).
Even for people that are out of this age group that I described, the book is good and it can make you think about the content you are scrolling down on your phone and how it affects you.
With that being said, I think the book send a very important message about the internet usage (specially around the teen years) and how good it can be to find balance when it comes to social media (it can be a great tool once you know how to use it wisely).
I don’t teach US, but would highly recommend to those that are living the turbulent ages of middle school-high school-freshman of college-everything in the between (and to the adults that want to support them as well).
Even for people that are out of this age group that I described, the book is good and it can make you think about the content you are scrolling down on your phone and how it affects you.
Read
September 13, 2023Se siente como la peli de Barbie - podría haber ido más a fondo pero se quedó en lo superficial
May 20, 2022
When I was a teenager, Amelia’s Notebook by Marissa Moss was my favorite graphic novel series. It taught me all kinds of valuable life lessons through the eyes of a fellow middle schooler, in cute quirky comic form. And Unretouchable? It's Amelia's Notebook 2.0, the perfect read for mature preteens and teenagers struggling with social media use, body image issues, and making art.
Szamosi has combined the magic of Amelia's Notebook with the artistic stylings of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. As a thirtysomething, at first I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of text on the page, but I quickly adjusted and stay engaged. I read the entire book in one setting, excited to see where it was headed.
This graphic novel is definitely predictable, but for its target audience, I think it's just right. I know plenty of family members and friends who would love something like this for their daughters! (Just keep in mind there are several mentions of disordered eating/bulimia/skipping meals here.)
My thanks to Sofia Szamosi, Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe, and NetGalley for an digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
Szamosi has combined the magic of Amelia's Notebook with the artistic stylings of Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis. As a thirtysomething, at first I was a bit overwhelmed by the amount of text on the page, but I quickly adjusted and stay engaged. I read the entire book in one setting, excited to see where it was headed.
This graphic novel is definitely predictable, but for its target audience, I think it's just right. I know plenty of family members and friends who would love something like this for their daughters! (Just keep in mind there are several mentions of disordered eating/bulimia/skipping meals here.)
My thanks to Sofia Szamosi, Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe, and NetGalley for an digital copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 31, 2022
CW: body image issues, bulimia
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Unretouchable details of recent high school graduate Olive’s internship with a major fashion magazine in New York City. Once she starts, she realizes the truth beyond the photo and questions her future career in art.
This read was enjoyable for me. It was a quick and easy to read book, and I was able to read it in a day. Szamosi’s illustrations in this book are just lovely and I really liked how she properly introduced each new character entering the story.
What I really like most about this book is the message it entails. It really advocates the idea of being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself. Szamosi really does a good job of describing the body positivity movement and creating a diverse set of characters to support that message. While parts of the book may seem cheesy, this is overall a worthwhile book to read.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Unretouchable details of recent high school graduate Olive’s internship with a major fashion magazine in New York City. Once she starts, she realizes the truth beyond the photo and questions her future career in art.
This read was enjoyable for me. It was a quick and easy to read book, and I was able to read it in a day. Szamosi’s illustrations in this book are just lovely and I really liked how she properly introduced each new character entering the story.
What I really like most about this book is the message it entails. It really advocates the idea of being comfortable in your own skin and loving yourself. Szamosi really does a good job of describing the body positivity movement and creating a diverse set of characters to support that message. While parts of the book may seem cheesy, this is overall a worthwhile book to read.
May 27, 2022
Al principio no entendía muy bien de que trataba pero mientras lo seguía leyendo le agarré la onda y me gustó el mensaje que transmitía. No todo lo que ves en redes sociales es la mera verdad.
Aquí nos muestran a la protagonista que está de pasantía en una agencia de modelaje y ella ayuda en un departamento donde editan por computadora un perfil de una ¨modelo¨ falsa y hacen creer que existe esa modelo. La prota empieza a tener muchos problemas y se empieza a cuestionar sobre el impacto de las redes sociales a tal grado de dejarlas.
La verdad me gustó mucho aunque el dibujo me confundía a veces pero de ahí en fuera, todo bien.
thanks to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Aquí nos muestran a la protagonista que está de pasantía en una agencia de modelaje y ella ayuda en un departamento donde editan por computadora un perfil de una ¨modelo¨ falsa y hacen creer que existe esa modelo. La prota empieza a tener muchos problemas y se empieza a cuestionar sobre el impacto de las redes sociales a tal grado de dejarlas.
La verdad me gustó mucho aunque el dibujo me confundía a veces pero de ahí en fuera, todo bien.
thanks to netgalley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
August 9, 2022
this book deals with how social media and big fashion brands have contributed to unrealistic body standards. throughout the story, Olive learns how photos for magazines are edited to give people the "perfect body" and the effect these unrealistic body standards have on ordinary people.
this is an inspiring story about learning to accept and love the body you've been given, and embracing your true self. this is an issue that I've been struggling with for years, and I definitely learned something valuable from this story.
thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
this is an inspiring story about learning to accept and love the body you've been given, and embracing your true self. this is an issue that I've been struggling with for years, and I definitely learned something valuable from this story.
thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review!
September 4, 2022
I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It follows Olive, a young girl who gets an internship editing photos at a fashion magazine. As she nips, tucks, lightens, and retouches photos of beauties models, she realizes the impact a culture of photoshop and airbrushed perfection and social media has on both her personal self-image and the women around her. This book was well drawn, engaging, and has a really great message about body positivity and self image that everyone should strive towards.
June 1, 2022
This was my first ever graphic novel! I really enjoyed it! Very relatable and the art is just 😍!!! So many good pages to quote, relate too, or even send to a friend! It touches a lot about body image which is very relevant right now most especially with social media. Very relatable, fun, quirky, and beautiful! Highly highly recommend this book!!
September 7, 2022
An accessible look at the side effects social media has on a persons self-confidence and body image that teens and young adults should read. My favorite part was the mom. She didn't give lectures or force opinions on her daughter, just simple conversation and suggestions.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing a copy for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for providing a copy for an honest review.
September 22, 2022
Truly enjoyed this book! Heavy triggers for body dysmorphia and eating disorders especially bulimia. Great and important book about finding your calling, making hard decisions and the battles we all face over social media. This totally brought me back to my freshman year of college and the pressure I felt to have everything planned and figured out without truly knowing what the world was like outside of the high school bubble. I’m excited to see how this is received!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review!
April 8, 2023
i thought this was going to be a graphic memoir--it's not! just a fictional story about a teenage girl the summer before she starts art school working as an intern with a photographer and retouching pictures. a lot of the commentary about body positivity and social media was a little on the nose but i would've eaten this shit up as a little 16 year old feminist so i'm glad it exists as a young adult graphic novel!
May 24, 2023
Excellent graphic novel about the pitfalls of fashion and the reality that what we consume on the screen isn’t real, and has been staged and touched up. Social media conversations abound with this read!
March 19, 2023
another at work quick graphic novel read!
super loved the art style in this one and I think it's great for younger folks. body image and eating disorder conversations but I wish that the ED stuff had been fleshed out a bit more. as someone who has a history w disordered eating it just kinda felt like "look people are throwing up bc of social media/societal pressure to be thin" and that was it.
super loved the art style in this one and I think it's great for younger folks. body image and eating disorder conversations but I wish that the ED stuff had been fleshed out a bit more. as someone who has a history w disordered eating it just kinda felt like "look people are throwing up bc of social media/societal pressure to be thin" and that was it.
June 3, 2022
Before I say anything else, the graphics were amazing! They were "edgy" and totally went along with the theme of the book.
The story centers around Olive, who plans to go to art school but is told she needs to take a summer job with a major fashion magazine, working behind the scenes of photo shoots. Olive becomes more and more aware of her body image and how this is shown on social media, eventually questioning what is real vs. what is not and what she should really do with her future.
It was a great, relatable story. I loved how it shows what really happens and how people's minds work when dealing with body image.. Highly recommended for anyone, as we all have these same thoughts at any age.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for this free e-arc.
The story centers around Olive, who plans to go to art school but is told she needs to take a summer job with a major fashion magazine, working behind the scenes of photo shoots. Olive becomes more and more aware of her body image and how this is shown on social media, eventually questioning what is real vs. what is not and what she should really do with her future.
It was a great, relatable story. I loved how it shows what really happens and how people's minds work when dealing with body image.. Highly recommended for anyone, as we all have these same thoughts at any age.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for this free e-arc.
June 2, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
This is such an important topic, and I appreciate that more graphic novels are tackling societal issues. The art style took about a third of the way through to really grow on me, it's not something I would typically gravitate towards. I liked how Olive was written in a way that was very real, we all have insecurities that are made worse by social media. I do feel that her working through the issues within a highly edited world was done in a super neat manner, and I would have liked for it to have been worked through a little bit more. I think the sub-plot regarding eating disorders should have either been left out completely or expanded upon, the short instances of it seemed out of place to me. The frequent scenes within the bathroom also threw me off, Olive makes a joke about it but really-why are we in the bathroom so much? Overall it was a quick, fun read, but not one that will end up sticking with me or I will re-visit.
This is such an important topic, and I appreciate that more graphic novels are tackling societal issues. The art style took about a third of the way through to really grow on me, it's not something I would typically gravitate towards. I liked how Olive was written in a way that was very real, we all have insecurities that are made worse by social media. I do feel that her working through the issues within a highly edited world was done in a super neat manner, and I would have liked for it to have been worked through a little bit more. I think the sub-plot regarding eating disorders should have either been left out completely or expanded upon, the short instances of it seemed out of place to me. The frequent scenes within the bathroom also threw me off, Olive makes a joke about it but really-why are we in the bathroom so much? Overall it was a quick, fun read, but not one that will end up sticking with me or I will re-visit.
August 15, 2022
Olive is about to go off to art school, and her mother gets her an internship with a fashion magazine, retouching photos. At first, she finds it odd, then she finds it fascinating, then she finds that she looks everywhere, wondering what has been retouched and changed.
It is interesting seeing this evolution, and how much it influences her. She thinks the way to get over it is to give up social media cold turkey, and then realizes that doesn’t solve anything.
Hard, in parts, sad in others. An interesting look into this world, and how she takes it all in, and tries to deal with it.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
It is interesting seeing this evolution, and how much it influences her. She thinks the way to get over it is to give up social media cold turkey, and then realizes that doesn’t solve anything.
Hard, in parts, sad in others. An interesting look into this world, and how she takes it all in, and tries to deal with it.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
November 18, 2023
This book was terrible. I am on a book committee and no one seemed to like it.
September 11, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and Lerner Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed the message in this graphic novel. It does a great job at showing how social media affects our self esteem and even outlook on life. I wasn't a fan of the art style but as the story progressed it just seemed to work with it. It was a fast read with a hard hitting message. It is definitely a book I will suggest everyone read.
I really enjoyed the message in this graphic novel. It does a great job at showing how social media affects our self esteem and even outlook on life. I wasn't a fan of the art style but as the story progressed it just seemed to work with it. It was a fast read with a hard hitting message. It is definitely a book I will suggest everyone read.
October 14, 2023
Miigweetch to NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group/Graphic Universe for the DRC.
The art style is very bold, distinct, and reminds me of Marjane Satrapi's “Persepolis.” I absolutely loved looking at the pages, even if sometimes the formatting was a bit strange (this may have been due to the fact that I was reading in the NetGalley app.)
I appreciated the nuanced approach to the themes addressed in this story, especially in regards to the curated images we see on social media, and the importance of not comparing our real life to someone else’s highlight reel. I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults who are struggling with social media use, the fakeness of filters and the internet, body image, and finding their own way among the crowd.
The art style is very bold, distinct, and reminds me of Marjane Satrapi's “Persepolis.” I absolutely loved looking at the pages, even if sometimes the formatting was a bit strange (this may have been due to the fact that I was reading in the NetGalley app.)
I appreciated the nuanced approach to the themes addressed in this story, especially in regards to the curated images we see on social media, and the importance of not comparing our real life to someone else’s highlight reel. I recommend this book to teenagers and young adults who are struggling with social media use, the fakeness of filters and the internet, body image, and finding their own way among the crowd.
September 20, 2022
TW FOR ED but this book was really nice.
October 12, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review! So this graphic novel was a really fun read, and although at first I didn’t prefer the art style, it actually grew on me, as did the main character Olive. This was a super quick, but impactful story that deals with the media and body image. This graphic novel sends a very important message regarding being your genuine self in a world where not everything you see online is real. Olive was very easy to relate to, and I really enjoyed her journey in the Fashion/Retouching industry!
September 11, 2022
In this memoir, the author recounts her days working as an intern for a fashion magazine where she learns about the art of retouching photos. The work makes her question her own appearance and her choice for a career in art, and how retouching feeds into unrealistic beauty standards and eating disorders. The artwork is great and has a mod quality to it. The message is a little heavy-handed but in this age of Instagram filters, the message is important.
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