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Gorgeous Gruesome Faces
Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting in this debut speculative thriller that follows a disgraced teen idol who comes face-to-face with the demons of her past in a glittering, cutthroat K-pop competition.
After a shocking scandal that abruptly ended her teen popstar career, eighteen-year-old Sunny Lee spends her days longing for her former life and cyberstalking her ex-BFF and groupmate, Candie. The two were once inseparable, but that was then—before the tragedy and heartache they left in their wake.
In the here and now, Sunny is surprised to discover that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop in her hometown. Candie might be there chasing stardom, but Sunny can’t resist the chance to join her and finally confront their traumatic history. Because she still can’t figure out what happened that horrible night when Mina, the third in their tight-knit trio, jumped to her death. Or if the dark and otherworldly secrets she and Candie were keeping had something to do with it . . .
But the workshop doesn’t bring the answers Sunny had hoped for, nor a happy reunion with Candie. Instead, Sunny finds herself haunted by ghostly visions while strange injuries start happening to her competitors—followed by even stranger mutilations to their bodies. In her race to survive, Sunny will have to expose just who is behind the carnage—and if Candie is out for blood once more—in Linda Cheng’s spellbinding sapphic thriller that will have readers screaming and swooning for more.
After a shocking scandal that abruptly ended her teen popstar career, eighteen-year-old Sunny Lee spends her days longing for her former life and cyberstalking her ex-BFF and groupmate, Candie. The two were once inseparable, but that was then—before the tragedy and heartache they left in their wake.
In the here and now, Sunny is surprised to discover that Candie is attending a new K-pop workshop in her hometown. Candie might be there chasing stardom, but Sunny can’t resist the chance to join her and finally confront their traumatic history. Because she still can’t figure out what happened that horrible night when Mina, the third in their tight-knit trio, jumped to her death. Or if the dark and otherworldly secrets she and Candie were keeping had something to do with it . . .
But the workshop doesn’t bring the answers Sunny had hoped for, nor a happy reunion with Candie. Instead, Sunny finds herself haunted by ghostly visions while strange injuries start happening to her competitors—followed by even stranger mutilations to their bodies. In her race to survive, Sunny will have to expose just who is behind the carnage—and if Candie is out for blood once more—in Linda Cheng’s spellbinding sapphic thriller that will have readers screaming and swooning for more.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 7, 2023
91 people are currently reading
9899 people want to read
About the author
Linda Cheng
4 books134 followersLinda Cheng was born in Taiwan and spent her childhood moving between cultures and continents. She received her BFA from the Savannah College of Art and Design, and worked as an art director across South Carolina and Georgia where she developed a deep love for sweet tea, grits, and Southern Gothic stories. She currently resides in Vancouver, Canada with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 606 reviews
November 13, 2023
A sapphic horror with a K-Pop twist!
Sunny Lee was once part of a popular teen pop group that captured the hearts of fans all over the world. Unfortunately, rumors and scandals began to swirl around her, and her once-shining image was tarnished. As if that wasn't enough, tragedy struck the group when Mina, one of their beloved bandmates, passed away. The news devastated everyone, especially Sunny, who had been close to Mina. She was unable to cope with the loss and withdrew from the public eye.
However, when Sunny heard that Candie, her former best friend and bandmate, had joined a K-Pop workshop, she knew she had to follow suit. She had a feeling that Candie held the key to uncovering the truth about Mina's death. Sunny was determined to get to the bottom of things, and with Candie's help, she hoped to finally find the closure she needed to move on.
I love the story and find it quite compelling, especially with the incorporation of Asian folklore. However, the first half could benefit from a faster pace.
Overall, an entertaining read! Highly recommend to those who enjoyed I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me or sapphic horror with Asian folklore.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Cheng, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
Sunny Lee was once part of a popular teen pop group that captured the hearts of fans all over the world. Unfortunately, rumors and scandals began to swirl around her, and her once-shining image was tarnished. As if that wasn't enough, tragedy struck the group when Mina, one of their beloved bandmates, passed away. The news devastated everyone, especially Sunny, who had been close to Mina. She was unable to cope with the loss and withdrew from the public eye.
However, when Sunny heard that Candie, her former best friend and bandmate, had joined a K-Pop workshop, she knew she had to follow suit. She had a feeling that Candie held the key to uncovering the truth about Mina's death. Sunny was determined to get to the bottom of things, and with Candie's help, she hoped to finally find the closure she needed to move on.
I love the story and find it quite compelling, especially with the incorporation of Asian folklore. However, the first half could benefit from a faster pace.
Overall, an entertaining read! Highly recommend to those who enjoyed I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast Is Me or sapphic horror with Asian folklore.
***Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Cheng, and Macmillan Audio for graciously sending me the audiobook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***
January 30, 2024
i am so kind and gracious in my cautious attempts to love YA again but the YA books do not love me back
2.5 stars
2.5 stars
January 9, 2025
When the book finally made sense, I really enjoyed it. Until then, I was angry the whole time for the perfectionism women are subjected to from a young age and for all that is taken from them by the patriarchy. This was a really strong book on feminism, with a very light touch of racism (how all Asians look alike).
My only gripe is the cover. All the characters are Asian, yet the girl on the cover has a blue eye. I remember when I was about six years old, another Korean girl told me she wished she had blonde hair. Asian people are beautiful without having to look white. The blue eye on the cover suggests otherwise.
Very excited to read the sequel!
My only gripe is the cover. All the characters are Asian, yet the girl on the cover has a blue eye. I remember when I was about six years old, another Korean girl told me she wished she had blonde hair. Asian people are beautiful without having to look white. The blue eye on the cover suggests otherwise.
Very excited to read the sequel!
November 9, 2023
Given that this sapphic horror story is set around k-pop I expected more k-pop vibes and less horror vibes and I was never more glad to be wrong. There was a lot going on and I did think it was a little muddled at times, but I loved the creepy mythological vibes. I liked the characters a lot and I liked the way the story came together through the past and present even if things were a little confusing for a bit they really came together beautifully. The ending had quite a bit open and really was perfect. One small thing that really bugged me the typing in any of the text bubbles was super hard to read. Sunny hasn’t seen her former best friend in about two years since their other best friend Minnie died and their show and tour was canceled. When Candie posts that she is going to do a retreat/audition Sunny is submitting her own application before she even knows what she is doing. But Sunny may not be as ready for show business as she thinks and Candie may still have secrets.
December 25, 2023
Ooo this was a super eerie, yet intriguing look at the harsh societal expectations associated with the K-Pop community as well as the implications of forced rigid beauty standards and femininity. Interesting concept and delivery. CW: gory scenes, self-harm, suicide
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces was not originally on my list of anticipated reads; however, after hearing a little more about the description, I became intrigued. The story follows main character Sunny Lee after her fall from grace in the K-Pop world. Not only has she lost her stardom, but she also has a fractured relationship with her former bandmate and best friend Candie. When a local workshop is hosted in their hometown, Sunny seeks out admission to the program to finally handle the traumatic incidents of her past with Candie. What ensues is more than anything Sunny Lee could have bargained for.
What Worked:Oh man, this book is creepy and atmospheric and I appreciated the tone that Linda Cheng set for the book. There were also these amazing discussions about fame and imposed femininity as well as stringent and detrimental beauty standards. Cheng had a very unique way of keeping readers engaged in the more spooky and horrific elements of the novel while also pushing back on societal standards and expectations. The inclusion of myths/lore was not something that I was anticipating, but I think that it worked well in the context of this narrative. While I can't say much about the way in which the story unravels (too many spoilers), I appreciate the way readers are able to explore the relationship dynamics between Sunny and Candie. It's not what it appears to be.
What Didn't Work: I think that this suffered from inconsistent pacing. The first half of the novel is extremely slow while the second half is fast paced in engaging. This could potentially lead to a lot of readers becoming disengaged with the text. Although the first half of the book sets the stage for the ultimate face off in the second half of the book, it was hard to feel a connection to and appreciate the slow burn at first.
Overall, this was a solid read. If you're looking for a disturbing, horrific, sapphic tale with a k-pop twist, I would recommend checking this out!
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces was not originally on my list of anticipated reads; however, after hearing a little more about the description, I became intrigued. The story follows main character Sunny Lee after her fall from grace in the K-Pop world. Not only has she lost her stardom, but she also has a fractured relationship with her former bandmate and best friend Candie. When a local workshop is hosted in their hometown, Sunny seeks out admission to the program to finally handle the traumatic incidents of her past with Candie. What ensues is more than anything Sunny Lee could have bargained for.
What Worked:Oh man, this book is creepy and atmospheric and I appreciated the tone that Linda Cheng set for the book. There were also these amazing discussions about fame and imposed femininity as well as stringent and detrimental beauty standards. Cheng had a very unique way of keeping readers engaged in the more spooky and horrific elements of the novel while also pushing back on societal standards and expectations. The inclusion of myths/lore was not something that I was anticipating, but I think that it worked well in the context of this narrative. While I can't say much about the way in which the story unravels (too many spoilers), I appreciate the way readers are able to explore the relationship dynamics between Sunny and Candie. It's not what it appears to be.
What Didn't Work: I think that this suffered from inconsistent pacing. The first half of the novel is extremely slow while the second half is fast paced in engaging. This could potentially lead to a lot of readers becoming disengaged with the text. Although the first half of the book sets the stage for the ultimate face off in the second half of the book, it was hard to feel a connection to and appreciate the slow burn at first.
Overall, this was a solid read. If you're looking for a disturbing, horrific, sapphic tale with a k-pop twist, I would recommend checking this out!
October 26, 2023
4.5 stars rounded up
This queer, contemporary take on gothic horror spotlights the pressure to perform femininity and live up to impossible beauty standards in the K-pop world, and it delivers on gothic atmosphere and horror.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces- I'll be honest, I don't love the title and think it's a bit on the nose- but it follows Sunny- a former member of a music group formed for reality TV. In the past timeline she's bubbly and excited to prove herself to the beautiful and already famous Candie. In the present, the tragic and disturbing death of their third bandmate Mina, plus a PR crisis led to the breakup of the group and Sunny becoming a pariah. But now she sees that Candie is attending a special performance workshop and thinks this might be her one chance to repair their relationship and find closure. But things are not quite what they seem and accidents keep harming the girls in the workshop, while Sunny keeps seeing a spectre of Mina's ghost...
I love a gothic horror novel. And something that does social commentary well. And then make it queer? Love it. This is a great entrypoint to the genre for teen readers with a pretty interesting mythology underpinning it. Definitely would recommend and the audio narration is excellent. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
This queer, contemporary take on gothic horror spotlights the pressure to perform femininity and live up to impossible beauty standards in the K-pop world, and it delivers on gothic atmosphere and horror.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces- I'll be honest, I don't love the title and think it's a bit on the nose- but it follows Sunny- a former member of a music group formed for reality TV. In the past timeline she's bubbly and excited to prove herself to the beautiful and already famous Candie. In the present, the tragic and disturbing death of their third bandmate Mina, plus a PR crisis led to the breakup of the group and Sunny becoming a pariah. But now she sees that Candie is attending a special performance workshop and thinks this might be her one chance to repair their relationship and find closure. But things are not quite what they seem and accidents keep harming the girls in the workshop, while Sunny keeps seeing a spectre of Mina's ghost...
I love a gothic horror novel. And something that does social commentary well. And then make it queer? Love it. This is a great entrypoint to the genre for teen readers with a pretty interesting mythology underpinning it. Definitely would recommend and the audio narration is excellent. I received an audio copy of this book for review via NetGalley, all opinions are my own.
June 5, 2024
toxic homoerotic sapphics in horror settings i love you
August 20, 2023
Thank you to Macmillan and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Now this is how you write a K-pop-inspired novel! Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng is an amazing YA thriller that will give you chills all over. The story revolves around Sunny, who used to be part of a bestselling music trio when she was a kid. Then, something tragic happened to Mina, one of the girls in the trio. Now, Sunny is trying to get back in the game. She decides to compete in a popstar competition against her former groupmate, Candie. Can the two figure out what really happened to Mina?
Here is a terrifying excerpt from the opening chapter:
"“It’s not right,” Mina mumbles.
“What’s not right? Are you feeling sick?” I brush my hand across Mina’s forehead, and then I flinch. “Oh my god, Minnie, you’re burning up! Here, lie down, I’ll get you some ice—”
“Ice won’t help,” Candie says. “She needs to come with me.”
“To where?” I snap. “And you better say the hospital!”
Mina looks up, finally, and I suck in a breath. Her face looks … different."
Overall, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is an amazing #ownvoices thriller that every reader of YA should add to their TBR lists. One highlight of this book is how it is #ownvoices. I am a huge of fan of Asian American authors writing YA thriller/horror, and I am so excited to support this debut author. There need to be more Asian American characters in YA, and it is especially important to have them written by Asian American authors.
Out of all the YA books I've read that have been inspired by K-pop, this is definitely one of my favorites - just because of how original its K-pop meets horror premise is. Another highlight of this book is the LGBT rep, which is also underrepresented in the YA thriller space. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA horror in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in November!
Now this is how you write a K-pop-inspired novel! Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng is an amazing YA thriller that will give you chills all over. The story revolves around Sunny, who used to be part of a bestselling music trio when she was a kid. Then, something tragic happened to Mina, one of the girls in the trio. Now, Sunny is trying to get back in the game. She decides to compete in a popstar competition against her former groupmate, Candie. Can the two figure out what really happened to Mina?
Here is a terrifying excerpt from the opening chapter:
"“It’s not right,” Mina mumbles.
“What’s not right? Are you feeling sick?” I brush my hand across Mina’s forehead, and then I flinch. “Oh my god, Minnie, you’re burning up! Here, lie down, I’ll get you some ice—”
“Ice won’t help,” Candie says. “She needs to come with me.”
“To where?” I snap. “And you better say the hospital!”
Mina looks up, finally, and I suck in a breath. Her face looks … different."
Overall, Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is an amazing #ownvoices thriller that every reader of YA should add to their TBR lists. One highlight of this book is how it is #ownvoices. I am a huge of fan of Asian American authors writing YA thriller/horror, and I am so excited to support this debut author. There need to be more Asian American characters in YA, and it is especially important to have them written by Asian American authors.
Out of all the YA books I've read that have been inspired by K-pop, this is definitely one of my favorites - just because of how original its K-pop meets horror premise is. Another highlight of this book is the LGBT rep, which is also underrepresented in the YA thriller space. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA horror in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in November!
Want to read
July 25, 2023Streets are saying this is SAPPHIC horror set during a K-pop training/survival program? TAKE MY MONEY!
November 21, 2023
I would just like to take a moment to explain to you how beautiful this book is. The cover just draws you in! It’s vibrant metallic colors make you brain think you need to read it right away. I was worried that this book wouldn’t be for me because it’s about an all girl K-pop band/actresses. But in reality it was a pretty good thriller. There are three girls in a band, but tragedy strikes them just as they’re climbing to the top. One of the band members commits suicide (trigger warning) leaving the other two band members with nothing and officially ending everyone’s careers leaving the living members estranged. After several years go by, the two remaining band members, end up, competing against each other to become K-pop stars again. But hidden in these pages is a tale of friendship, and these friends will do anything for each other, including putting themselves in harms way.
April 20, 2024
4 Stars for Gorgeous Gruesome Faces (audiobook) by Linda Cheng read by Elaine Wang.
At a K-Pop workshop some supernatural abilities are revealed. Not only are they battling for fame but they’re fighting sinister forces. And then a little romance ensues.
At a K-Pop workshop some supernatural abilities are revealed. Not only are they battling for fame but they’re fighting sinister forces. And then a little romance ensues.
March 9, 2024
an idol competition + murder + sapphics—this is EVERYTHING i never knew i needed in one book
February 9, 2024
I am a relative newbie when it comes to the horror genre but have really been enjoying the horror books I’ve read recently. I was so excited when I heard about Gorgeous Gruesome Faces. I adore a good deadly competition and this one was full of twists and turns I hadn’t encountered before.
The story is told through the past and the present, flickering back and forth between the two. While it was a little confusing in the beginning, the payoff was magnificent, and once I reached the conclusion of the book everything made perfect sense. I wondered why the author had decided to tell the story that way, but it ended up being an excellent decision when the big twist unravelled. The final arc of the story was completely thrilling. There was a definite sense of danger, and I really felt the creepy and ‘gruesome’ atmosphere throughout the story. The descriptions of peeling flesh and decaying faces were eerie and magnificently written.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is the most horrifying book I’ve read from the horror genre. I really appreciated the disturbing portrayal of the Idol industry and how the big machine exploits the hopes and dreams of young women. These themes tied into the traditional horror elements and made for a really satisfying narrative. The discussions around the cost of fame and costly beauty standards aided the creepy atmosphere.
I loved the queer representation in Gorgeous Gruesome Faces and thought the characters were well-developed. Sunny was an engaging protagonist, and I enjoyed her strong sense of conviction. Her focus on Candie was borderline obsessive and made for a gripping romance. The slow burn was brilliant, and I adored how quietly their desire grew. Candie spent a lot of the ‘present’ portion of the novel on the periphery and felt out of reach. Sunny wanted answers, and as the events of the past were revealed, I did too. Candie was mysterious and perhaps one of the most horrifying elements of the novel. I truly did not know what she was capable of, and I loved every second of it.
Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
The story is told through the past and the present, flickering back and forth between the two. While it was a little confusing in the beginning, the payoff was magnificent, and once I reached the conclusion of the book everything made perfect sense. I wondered why the author had decided to tell the story that way, but it ended up being an excellent decision when the big twist unravelled. The final arc of the story was completely thrilling. There was a definite sense of danger, and I really felt the creepy and ‘gruesome’ atmosphere throughout the story. The descriptions of peeling flesh and decaying faces were eerie and magnificently written.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is the most horrifying book I’ve read from the horror genre. I really appreciated the disturbing portrayal of the Idol industry and how the big machine exploits the hopes and dreams of young women. These themes tied into the traditional horror elements and made for a really satisfying narrative. The discussions around the cost of fame and costly beauty standards aided the creepy atmosphere.
I loved the queer representation in Gorgeous Gruesome Faces and thought the characters were well-developed. Sunny was an engaging protagonist, and I enjoyed her strong sense of conviction. Her focus on Candie was borderline obsessive and made for a gripping romance. The slow burn was brilliant, and I adored how quietly their desire grew. Candie spent a lot of the ‘present’ portion of the novel on the periphery and felt out of reach. Sunny wanted answers, and as the events of the past were revealed, I did too. Candie was mysterious and perhaps one of the most horrifying elements of the novel. I truly did not know what she was capable of, and I loved every second of it.
Thank you to Hachette Children’s Group for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review!
I post about queer books on: Instagram Twitter TikTok
November 15, 2023
3.5
2023 reads: 345/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
two years ago, sunny lee’s chance at stardom blew up. she can’t let the past—including her former best friend and groupmate, candie—go, which leads her to participating in a k-pop workshop. she’s expecting this workshop to be difficult, but not deadly. now, she’s trying to stay on top while also trying to survive.
i loved the social commentary about stardom, friendship, and more. the k-pop industry is definitely cutthroat, though this book takes that term a bit more literally. i really liked sunny as a main character. i also enjoyed how the story unfurled, with some chapters set in the present and some set in the past. this book didn’t captivate me quite as much as i hoped it would, but i would still recommend to YA readers.
2023 reads: 345/350
i received a digital review copy from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review. this did not affect my rating.
two years ago, sunny lee’s chance at stardom blew up. she can’t let the past—including her former best friend and groupmate, candie—go, which leads her to participating in a k-pop workshop. she’s expecting this workshop to be difficult, but not deadly. now, she’s trying to stay on top while also trying to survive.
i loved the social commentary about stardom, friendship, and more. the k-pop industry is definitely cutthroat, though this book takes that term a bit more literally. i really liked sunny as a main character. i also enjoyed how the story unfurled, with some chapters set in the present and some set in the past. this book didn’t captivate me quite as much as i hoped it would, but i would still recommend to YA readers.
November 14, 2023
K-Pop + Black Swanish horror + folklore + friendship + sapphic + cliffhanger
Please sequel please!!!!!
What a fun read. The narration was wonderful. I really liked the MC and mythology.
I would love a prequel or a sequel !
Thanks NetGalley. Highly recommend this read!
Please sequel please!!!!!
What a fun read. The narration was wonderful. I really liked the MC and mythology.
I would love a prequel or a sequel !
Thanks NetGalley. Highly recommend this read!
September 14, 2023
yea she's a nepo baby but she's queer so it cancels out. pemdas or whatever (3.5 stars)
November 2, 2023
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces peels away the seemingly flawless skin of pop stardom and exposes the grisly insides of navigating an industry known to sacrifice hopes and dreams at the altar of fame. Chen delivers an unflinching look at the struggle of coming of age in the spotlight under the crushing pressure to succeed and at the same time delivers an emotional story of first love and genuine female friendships. Cinematic, gripping, and downright terrifying, this is a performance that you won’t want to miss.
July 13, 2025
this took me back to 2015, when I was 18 & nobody could tell me suga was not my man. Ok, this was a a good time. the kpop, the sapphic romance, the creepy dead girl lurking & culty vibes???
this had me thinking I was Sherlock Holmes trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. while i was right on some things(Faye & Ms Tao), I also had no idea what was going on. I did not see the ending cominggg. i need book two like right neow because what is really going on!? I need answers.
3.5 rounded up ✨
this had me thinking I was Sherlock Holmes trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. while i was right on some things(Faye & Ms Tao), I also had no idea what was going on. I did not see the ending cominggg. i need book two like right neow because what is really going on!? I need answers.
3.5 rounded up ✨
July 15, 2025
✨️ 3.5 stars ✨️
Oh, how I've missed YA horror 😌
(Spoilers Ahead 🤫)
Full disclaimer, I only learned about this book from IG: sapphicallyreads, because I was in a K-pop Demon Hunters withdrawal 😭 so shout out to them 😊‼️
Overall, I really did like the book, the horror was exactly my vibe since I'll always love something speculative, paranormal, and folk horrorish 🤭 And the backdrop of the novel being a K-pop boot camp competition was the perfect drama to build the suspenseeee 👻
Now, I swear I don't want to complain about every book I read 😭 but there are some things I do wanna talk about: 😅
- I'm still on the fence about the whole Sunny-Candie romance plot line 🫣 Pls don't be mad, but after all the talk about how Sunny, Candie, and Mina were growing so close together as friends that they were essentially becoming family, and with how protective Candie and Mina were over Sunny, it just felt weiiiiird 😓 Toward the end of the book, I can kinda start to see how the vibes now work, especially with shifts in power dynamics, but still... dare I say that I think the sapphic romance should have been with someone else 👀
- I also kinda wish we got more backstory with the maiden, especially since most of her lore got dropped right toward the end, but I do see a sequel is coming out this year so I'm very excited to read that and hopefully see that plot develop 🤭
- I'll say it, we should have seen Jin-hwan ✂️ his 🍆 no one would have been mad 😤
- Also, random thought, the overall vibe of this book really reminded me of I Feed Her to The Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea! Ancient rituals, fighting for your place in the performing arts, budding romances... I think these books would be friends 😌
All this being said 😋 I'm excited to read the next book in this series, as it's definitely kept my interest! So I guess I'll catch y'all in the next one 🙌
Oh, how I've missed YA horror 😌
(Spoilers Ahead 🤫)
Full disclaimer, I only learned about this book from IG: sapphicallyreads, because I was in a K-pop Demon Hunters withdrawal 😭 so shout out to them 😊‼️
Overall, I really did like the book, the horror was exactly my vibe since I'll always love something speculative, paranormal, and folk horrorish 🤭 And the backdrop of the novel being a K-pop boot camp competition was the perfect drama to build the suspenseeee 👻
Now, I swear I don't want to complain about every book I read 😭 but there are some things I do wanna talk about: 😅
- I'm still on the fence about the whole Sunny-Candie romance plot line 🫣 Pls don't be mad, but after all the talk about how Sunny, Candie, and Mina were growing so close together as friends that they were essentially becoming family, and with how protective Candie and Mina were over Sunny, it just felt weiiiiird 😓 Toward the end of the book, I can kinda start to see how the vibes now work, especially with shifts in power dynamics, but still... dare I say that I think the sapphic romance should have been with someone else 👀
- I also kinda wish we got more backstory with the maiden, especially since most of her lore got dropped right toward the end, but I do see a sequel is coming out this year so I'm very excited to read that and hopefully see that plot develop 🤭
- I'll say it, we should have seen Jin-hwan ✂️ his 🍆 no one would have been mad 😤
- Also, random thought, the overall vibe of this book really reminded me of I Feed Her to The Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea! Ancient rituals, fighting for your place in the performing arts, budding romances... I think these books would be friends 😌
All this being said 😋 I'm excited to read the next book in this series, as it's definitely kept my interest! So I guess I'll catch y'all in the next one 🙌
July 17, 2024
"You'll love them to death"
Read via audiobook🎧
When I heard that there was a sapphic k-pop horror novel coming out, I knew I had to read it immediately. And this book lived up and surpassed every expectation I had for it!
Sunny and Candie are former members of Sweet Cadence, a tv-show to real world k-pop inspired group. However, after a scandal and a tragedy, Sunny and Candie are dealing with the fall out. When Sunny finds out there Candie will be attending a k-pop training camp competition, she jumps on the chance to reconnect with her former best friend and get to the bottom of what really happened when Sweet Cadence fell apart.
Oh gosh, this was everything. It was an examination of the strict beauty standards in k-pop and what girls will do to themselves in their pursuit. It also explored the effect that fame and attention and living under public scrutiny can do to young women. It got gory and scary as the book presented further twists and turns. I was gripped the entire time I was reading it. The book also flips between Then and Now timelines, and we get to see Sweet Caydence's rise to fame and subsequent downfall, as well as the girls striving to re-invent themselves. The two stories were weaved together expertly to create a suspension, and I flew through this book because I needed to know what was going to happen again. At the heart of the story is Sunny and Candie, and their desperation for each other throughout their not so great actions and all of the horrifying circumstances.
This book was honestly perfect and I loved it so much!!!
Read via audiobook🎧
When I heard that there was a sapphic k-pop horror novel coming out, I knew I had to read it immediately. And this book lived up and surpassed every expectation I had for it!
Sunny and Candie are former members of Sweet Cadence, a tv-show to real world k-pop inspired group. However, after a scandal and a tragedy, Sunny and Candie are dealing with the fall out. When Sunny finds out there Candie will be attending a k-pop training camp competition, she jumps on the chance to reconnect with her former best friend and get to the bottom of what really happened when Sweet Cadence fell apart.
Oh gosh, this was everything. It was an examination of the strict beauty standards in k-pop and what girls will do to themselves in their pursuit. It also explored the effect that fame and attention and living under public scrutiny can do to young women. It got gory and scary as the book presented further twists and turns. I was gripped the entire time I was reading it. The book also flips between Then and Now timelines, and we get to see Sweet Caydence's rise to fame and subsequent downfall, as well as the girls striving to re-invent themselves. The two stories were weaved together expertly to create a suspension, and I flew through this book because I needed to know what was going to happen again. At the heart of the story is Sunny and Candie, and their desperation for each other throughout their not so great actions and all of the horrifying circumstances.
This book was honestly perfect and I loved it so much!!!
November 17, 2023
The book’s description didn’t hint that the novel would include a sapphic romance. But there it was. And truth be told, I’m not a fan.
The narrative started out fun and creepy with behind the scenes stage action. And I did enjoy reading what it takes to become a pop star and maintain that level of stardom. Toward the end, however, the narrative took a surreal turn into fantasyland. I would have been satisfied if the novel stayed on its paranormal course. So the fantasy aspect just killed it for me.
There are numerous characters that come into play during the course of the narrative. And because of that, there probably wasn’t enough time to fully develop them — even the main characters. They all seemed generic to me. But luckily I got to listen to the audiobook version and that’s when I was able to distinguish each character from the other.
Generous Gruesome Faces is the first novel in the series. And because of the finale, it probably can’t be read as a standalone novel. Would I continue on with the series? Probably not. There wasn’t anything noteworthy and the finale didn’t leave me wanting more. Two okay stars.
I received a finished copy of the novel from Roaring Book Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
The narrative started out fun and creepy with behind the scenes stage action. And I did enjoy reading what it takes to become a pop star and maintain that level of stardom. Toward the end, however, the narrative took a surreal turn into fantasyland. I would have been satisfied if the novel stayed on its paranormal course. So the fantasy aspect just killed it for me.
There are numerous characters that come into play during the course of the narrative. And because of that, there probably wasn’t enough time to fully develop them — even the main characters. They all seemed generic to me. But luckily I got to listen to the audiobook version and that’s when I was able to distinguish each character from the other.
Generous Gruesome Faces is the first novel in the series. And because of the finale, it probably can’t be read as a standalone novel. Would I continue on with the series? Probably not. There wasn’t anything noteworthy and the finale didn’t leave me wanting more. Two okay stars.
I received a finished copy of the novel from Roaring Book Press through the BookishFirst Raffle. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
February 7, 2024
gorgeous, gruesome, and gay !! we won !!!!!!!!!!!
3.5 / 5
3.5 / 5
October 28, 2023
thank you to both netgalley and macmillian audio for the advanced audio copy of this one.
this fun, queer little spooky book is available for sale on november 7, 2023.
--
well, i'm shook.
i haven't read a lot of young adult in recent years, particularly horror/thriller, as i feel like i've aged out of appreciating the genre, but the plot to this one intrigued me.
sunny is in social ruins. a cheating scandal obliterates her career and soon after, mina, one of her trio, jumps to her death. candie, the other remaining member of her k-pop group, won't return sunny's texts or calls, so when sunny hears that candie's going to be attenting a k-pop workshop in her town, she can't stop herself from attending so she can uncover the truth of what happened years ago.
reunited and it feels so... bad? candie wants nothing to do with sunny anymore. to top things off, sunny's starting to see things and her competition starts getting mysteriously and violently taken out.
sunny knows a secret about candie and her ability and suspects that she's behind all the violence, but before she exposes her for what she is, she's first got to prove it.
this was deliciously spooky with a bit of unhinged girl violence which is, of course, my fave. throw in some social commentary about how men are treated publicly vs. how women are treated publicly and a cute little sapphic romance? i'm sat, i'm ready. this took me so pleasantly surprise and i can't wait to see what happens in the future.
there's one EXCELLENT scene of unhingedness that was giving jennifer's body. this was a fantastic read for halloween, also.
this fun, queer little spooky book is available for sale on november 7, 2023.
--
well, i'm shook.
i haven't read a lot of young adult in recent years, particularly horror/thriller, as i feel like i've aged out of appreciating the genre, but the plot to this one intrigued me.
sunny is in social ruins. a cheating scandal obliterates her career and soon after, mina, one of her trio, jumps to her death. candie, the other remaining member of her k-pop group, won't return sunny's texts or calls, so when sunny hears that candie's going to be attenting a k-pop workshop in her town, she can't stop herself from attending so she can uncover the truth of what happened years ago.
reunited and it feels so... bad? candie wants nothing to do with sunny anymore. to top things off, sunny's starting to see things and her competition starts getting mysteriously and violently taken out.
sunny knows a secret about candie and her ability and suspects that she's behind all the violence, but before she exposes her for what she is, she's first got to prove it.
this was deliciously spooky with a bit of unhinged girl violence which is, of course, my fave. throw in some social commentary about how men are treated publicly vs. how women are treated publicly and a cute little sapphic romance? i'm sat, i'm ready. this took me so pleasantly surprise and i can't wait to see what happens in the future.
there's one EXCELLENT scene of unhingedness that was giving jennifer's body. this was a fantastic read for halloween, also.
October 28, 2023
Lots of behind the scenes K-pop star goodness in this YA horror debut but for me this book felt kind of all over the place. Part myth-based cult story, part queer romance, part revenge tale. I sort of wished the author would have picked a lane and stuck to it.
I liked that it pulled the veil off the nitty and gritty of this world of fame and popularity and the high toll it takes on the stars (sex scandals, cancel culture, etc.). Plus the huge emphasis on beauty at all costs (and the cost is HIGH in this book)!
Good on audio and recommended for fans of Kpop as an industry and books like I feed her to the beast and the beast is me by Jamison Shea or She is a haunting by Trang Thanh Tran.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm interested to see where this might go next as a series!
⚠️CW: some graphic/gruesome scenes
I liked that it pulled the veil off the nitty and gritty of this world of fame and popularity and the high toll it takes on the stars (sex scandals, cancel culture, etc.). Plus the huge emphasis on beauty at all costs (and the cost is HIGH in this book)!
Good on audio and recommended for fans of Kpop as an industry and books like I feed her to the beast and the beast is me by Jamison Shea or She is a haunting by Trang Thanh Tran.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review! I'm interested to see where this might go next as a series!
⚠️CW: some graphic/gruesome scenes
March 11, 2024
This book is so good!!
I am not a mystery or thriller girl, but as soon as I read the premise I knew I needed to read this ASAP. The ex idol, ex sapphic crush rivalry and a mysterious death?? I was hooked from page one and absolutely flew through this book. It’s perfectly eerie, thrilling and gay all at once! With the way the chapters are organised, you learn a little more about the girls past as the story continues, which makes things in the present click more- and I loved how it was done! The characters are all really appealing and you really root for them. In addition, despite the idol training program/ competition setting, there was a lot of solidarity and support amongst the main cast! We love seeing girls supporting each other:)
I can’t wait for the second book (I CANT EVEN BELIEVE WE’RE BEING BLESSED WITH A PART 2) and I beg you all to read this book right away! (If it’s something you’re interested in ofc lol)
I am not a mystery or thriller girl, but as soon as I read the premise I knew I needed to read this ASAP. The ex idol, ex sapphic crush rivalry and a mysterious death?? I was hooked from page one and absolutely flew through this book. It’s perfectly eerie, thrilling and gay all at once! With the way the chapters are organised, you learn a little more about the girls past as the story continues, which makes things in the present click more- and I loved how it was done! The characters are all really appealing and you really root for them. In addition, despite the idol training program/ competition setting, there was a lot of solidarity and support amongst the main cast! We love seeing girls supporting each other:)
I can’t wait for the second book (I CANT EVEN BELIEVE WE’RE BEING BLESSED WITH A PART 2) and I beg you all to read this book right away! (If it’s something you’re interested in ofc lol)
June 14, 2025
4 / 5 🌟
“she turns to me, her face half gone. her eyes are two blinking islands of pale skin in a gory sea, her nose nearly skinned. she smiles that blinding white smile.”
i thought this was gonna be more kpop with horror elements but it was the entire opposite. i was so shocked. the author writes atmosphere incredibly well. when it was time to bring in the horror aspect she did NOT miss at all! this was incredibly entertaining and tense. i hope the second book will be just as good if not even better.
“she turns to me, her face half gone. her eyes are two blinking islands of pale skin in a gory sea, her nose nearly skinned. she smiles that blinding white smile.”
i thought this was gonna be more kpop with horror elements but it was the entire opposite. i was so shocked. the author writes atmosphere incredibly well. when it was time to bring in the horror aspect she did NOT miss at all! this was incredibly entertaining and tense. i hope the second book will be just as good if not even better.
June 8, 2025
Horror, K-pop, and sapphic love blend together in this aberrant yet unique thriller that is sure to satisfy fans of horror, Asian culture, and ya novels.
Want to read
April 7, 2023This spoke to my bloody, violent soul. It was just the kind of wild, off the walls nuts that I so deeply enjoy.
April 1, 2024
3.5 stars
This needed to bring in the thriller/maiden aspect way earlier for a better pay off - the end just felt so rushed
This needed to bring in the thriller/maiden aspect way earlier for a better pay off - the end just felt so rushed
January 15, 2024
I always think it’s so funny when I go into a book knowing next to nothing about it and then I have to sit there staring at a wall shocked out of my mind because I didn’t realise that the book had supernatural elements.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces was unlike anything that I have ever read. I don’t think I have ever read Speculative Fiction before but this was such a fantastic introduction to the genre. The way Mythology was tied into this was fantastic.
I loved that it also delved into some topics surrounding the pressures that some artists are put under, especially about the beauty standards that a lot of them are forced to uphold.
The sapphic romance subplot? Chef’s kiss. It was done in such a beautiful way and I was so happy about the pacing of it.
I saw that this is now marked as part of a series and based on how this one ended? I was so excited and intrigued to read more.
Gorgeous Gruesome Faces was unlike anything that I have ever read. I don’t think I have ever read Speculative Fiction before but this was such a fantastic introduction to the genre. The way Mythology was tied into this was fantastic.
I loved that it also delved into some topics surrounding the pressures that some artists are put under, especially about the beauty standards that a lot of them are forced to uphold.
The sapphic romance subplot? Chef’s kiss. It was done in such a beautiful way and I was so happy about the pacing of it.
I saw that this is now marked as part of a series and based on how this one ended? I was so excited and intrigued to read more.
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