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Not My Skin
A Psychological Horror for Fans of "Nightbitch," "My Year of Rest and Relaxation," and "Boy Parts"
Ana Leighs is falling apart.
Her skin is flaking, peeling, and tearing, while her dead-end bookshop job barely keeps her afloat. Cut off from her insufferably wealthy parents, Ana spends her nights sinking into alcohol, drugs, and the haunting gaze of her demonic reflection. When she’s forced into a journalism internship in Maine to prove she can do something with her life, it should feel like a chance to reset. Instead, it reignites a dangerous obsession.
Lila Nielson — the successful, enviable former classmate from Columbia, that Ana can’t stand — is everything Ana isn’t: accomplished, beautiful, and adored. But Ana doesn’t just envy Lila; she wants to become her. As Ana’s grip on reality weakens, her obsession consumes her, driving her to dangerous lengths in her relentless pursuit of perfection. Her skin isn’t the only thing rotting, and as her reflection’s whispers grow louder, Ana must confront the monstrous truth of who she is — and what she’s willing to do to escape herself.
Not My Skin is a searing psychological horror, a pitch-black satire of envy, self-destruction, and the monstrous side of girlhood. Both grotesque and magnetic, it fearlessly explores the shadows of identity and the cost of being born bad.
Ana Leighs is falling apart.
Her skin is flaking, peeling, and tearing, while her dead-end bookshop job barely keeps her afloat. Cut off from her insufferably wealthy parents, Ana spends her nights sinking into alcohol, drugs, and the haunting gaze of her demonic reflection. When she’s forced into a journalism internship in Maine to prove she can do something with her life, it should feel like a chance to reset. Instead, it reignites a dangerous obsession.
Lila Nielson — the successful, enviable former classmate from Columbia, that Ana can’t stand — is everything Ana isn’t: accomplished, beautiful, and adored. But Ana doesn’t just envy Lila; she wants to become her. As Ana’s grip on reality weakens, her obsession consumes her, driving her to dangerous lengths in her relentless pursuit of perfection. Her skin isn’t the only thing rotting, and as her reflection’s whispers grow louder, Ana must confront the monstrous truth of who she is — and what she’s willing to do to escape herself.
Not My Skin is a searing psychological horror, a pitch-black satire of envy, self-destruction, and the monstrous side of girlhood. Both grotesque and magnetic, it fearlessly explores the shadows of identity and the cost of being born bad.
296 pages, Paperback
Published February 11, 2025
12 people are currently reading
385 people want to read
About the author
E.L. Black
8 books34 followersE.L. Black is a student and self-published author from a small town in Hampshire, England. Specialising in psychological horror, thrillers, satire, and feminist fiction, her writing is defined by its sharp focus on female representation and unapologetically complex characters. Currently studying English Literature and Creative Writing, she plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Journalism. Black’s work often explores themes of female rage, revenge, and power, weaving feminist undertones throughout her stories. Her debut novel, Rage Ruins Pretty Girls, is a gripping feminist legal thriller that delves into the dark corners of justice, empowerment, and the complexities of womanhood.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 26, 2025
i knew i’d love everything about this book the second i picked it up. psychological horror isn’t a genre i often find myself reading, but even just from the first few pages, i could already feel it wrapping itself around me in the way only really special books do. i am so glad i stepped out of reading my usual. i felt such a deep, painful connection to ana, even when she was doing the most disturbing, messed up things. honestly, especially then. it wasn’t about relating to every action she took, but rather about the rawness of the emotions underneath. the way jealousy, envy, longing, and loneliness just poured out of her and took over her completely. it felt so human, so ugly, and so real that it honestly scared me a little for my own sake, as well as hers. it made me feel seen in a way i wasn’t ready for.
ana is the kind of messy, misunderstood, and morally grey character that i always find myself drawn to. she’s selfish, desperate, angry, and obsessive, yet you still can’t help but ache for her. she’s so misunderstood and so deeply real. there’s something about the way e.l. black wrote her that perfectly captured the rot of girlhood; the quiet violence of it, the longing to be loved so badly it curdles inside you, and especially the way you hurt yourself and others just trying to be enough for once. it wasn’t just a character, it felt like someone taking all the ugliest, most vulnerable parts of girlhood and laying them out into a person. and somehow, making it beautiful.
i honestly can’t get over how insanely talented e.l black is. the writing itself was so stunning, so raw but still so lyrical. there’s this sharp, aching beauty to every sentence that makes you want to underline and tab the entire book, which haha, i pretty much did. you can feel how much care and understanding went into every word. she didn’t just write a story, she built a whole feeling, a whole ache that lingers in your chest long after you finish. i genuinely think this is one of those books that will stay with me forever. e. l. black is for sure going places, and i can’t wait to see it happen.
if you’ve ever wanted to feel completely understood and completely wrecked at the same time, you need to read this book. it’s beautiful, it’s brutal, and it will stay with you long after you finish the last page. i wish i could read it all over again for the first time.
ana is the kind of messy, misunderstood, and morally grey character that i always find myself drawn to. she’s selfish, desperate, angry, and obsessive, yet you still can’t help but ache for her. she’s so misunderstood and so deeply real. there’s something about the way e.l. black wrote her that perfectly captured the rot of girlhood; the quiet violence of it, the longing to be loved so badly it curdles inside you, and especially the way you hurt yourself and others just trying to be enough for once. it wasn’t just a character, it felt like someone taking all the ugliest, most vulnerable parts of girlhood and laying them out into a person. and somehow, making it beautiful.
i honestly can’t get over how insanely talented e.l black is. the writing itself was so stunning, so raw but still so lyrical. there’s this sharp, aching beauty to every sentence that makes you want to underline and tab the entire book, which haha, i pretty much did. you can feel how much care and understanding went into every word. she didn’t just write a story, she built a whole feeling, a whole ache that lingers in your chest long after you finish. i genuinely think this is one of those books that will stay with me forever. e. l. black is for sure going places, and i can’t wait to see it happen.
if you’ve ever wanted to feel completely understood and completely wrecked at the same time, you need to read this book. it’s beautiful, it’s brutal, and it will stay with you long after you finish the last page. i wish i could read it all over again for the first time.
January 24, 2025
(ARC) ‘Not My Skin’ took me through the twist and turns of all things cruel in the world of obsession and not wanting to be yourself. The character development of Ana was likeable and disgusting at the same time. One minute you relate, the next you are shocked by her thoughts / actions. E.L. Black sure knows how to write a plot twist and amazing characters! You did it again! 100% recommend for those who love gore and thought provoking novels.
February 18, 2025
This book is so beautifully horrifying it leaves you feeling uncomfortable yet wanting to continue reading the plot. E.L. Black knows exactly how to keep a reader hooked by using the theme of body horror to unpick societal standards and challenges that people face but most won’t want to address. This book was so intriguing and I cannot wait to read what this author next publishes!!
February 16, 2025
5/5 stars. proper review is coming after i had some hours of sleep. this was amazing.
[thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review]
[thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review]
May 7, 2025
Ana Leighs is one of the most disturbing and compelling narrators I’ve encountered in a long time. Her decay (both literal and emotional) is rendered with grotesque beauty, peeling back layers of class anxiety, self loathing, and female rage. The body horror is gruesome, yes, but it’s also symbolic: a woman unraveling in a world that never made space for her in the first place. And her relationship with Lila isn’t just envy—it’s a desperate hunger to be seen, to be something, to be anyone else.
What makes this book hit so hard is how familiar it all feels: the hollow performance of success, the gnawing sense of inadequacy, the slow erosion of identity in a world obsessed with perfection. The prose is biting, confident, and steeped in dread. Fans of American Psycho or Boy Parts will recognize the sharp, stylish nihilism, but E.L. Black seriously brings something uniquely hers to the genre.
If you like your horror messy, feminine, and dripping with rot, this one will ruin you in the best way!
What makes this book hit so hard is how familiar it all feels: the hollow performance of success, the gnawing sense of inadequacy, the slow erosion of identity in a world obsessed with perfection. The prose is biting, confident, and steeped in dread. Fans of American Psycho or Boy Parts will recognize the sharp, stylish nihilism, but E.L. Black seriously brings something uniquely hers to the genre.
If you like your horror messy, feminine, and dripping with rot, this one will ruin you in the best way!
April 1, 2025
I can’t fix her 3
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews