aesthetica tells the story of a former influencer looking back on her turbulent past and how she became the woman she is today. the story is told in a now and then timeline, 19 year old anna and 35 year old anna. 35 year old anna is on the brink of rebranding and thinks the risky surgery process of aesthetica which reverses all prior plastic surgery is the best way to do it. if she survives. the night prior to her surgery anna is asked to help take down her former boss and lover who claims to be an ally to the me too movement.

it’s a deep dive into how destructive social media can be to girlhood. how dark and ugly the underbelly of craving the beauty and perfection you see online can be. it’s commentary on the control the patriarchy has on girls. how it festers and sours as we turn from girl to women. how we constantly feel like we have to please those around us and make them want us. it also tells the tale of how toxic loneliness really can be and the ways in which we will contort ourselves to not feel it. I very much enjoyed this book. it is 100% not for everyone, but I thought it was done in a tasteful and intelligent manner.