pickAesthetica is a dark exploration around the culture of women altering their faces and bodies to be youthful, relevant, and trendy.
It begs the question…what are we really buying when we alter ourselves?….Love? Admiration? Safety? Security? A little more time?
pickI fully expected this to be a skewering of our social media, filtered-pictures, unrealistic appearance obsessed society and it certainly is! It went a bit darker than I was expecting, but I thought it was really good. I agree with other reviewers that it could have explored some things a bit more, but I fully enjoyed it.
pickA light pick. I absolutely LOATHE influencers and everything they stand for so I had to sort of hold my nose a bit with this. Maybe we could pass out copies to young‘uns whose life goal it is to set social media on fire? I was hoping for just a bit more “oomph” but the issues she raises are sadly all too timely.
For all of you wondering about Aardvark Book Club, here is my first experience with them. APO/FPO address holders: You might want to take note! https://bakingthroughbookclub.com/2023/01/16/trying-out-aardvark-book-club/
pick⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It‘s hard to be immune from the siren song of social media and comparing ourselves to ever-changing, unrealistic beauty standards. What is empowering, and what is only an illusion of power? I do wish some aspects had been developed more, but Aesthetica raises thought-provoking questions, explores important themes, and really leaves a lasting, unsettling impression.
pickThis was hard to rate because it hit a bit close to home. In all honesty, I'd already been reassessing my relationship with social media and the negative impact its had on my mental health and body image (excluding Litsy obvs), so this book felt like looking at myself in one of those warped funhouse mirrors and not liking my reflection. While I can see it won't be for everyone, and I wish a little more had been fleshed out, it'll stick with me.
pickI wish I could be more enthusiastic about this. The premise is so cool but the execution is low pick. #aardvark
At 19, Avery left Houston to become an Instagram star in LA. At 35, she‘s looking back negatively at all the cosmetic procedures she had and her relationship with a shady manager. She‘s back in LA to undergo Aesthetica™, a procedure that will undo the others and return her to natural aging. Dual timelines at 19 and 35. ⬇️
But I wasn‘t a child. I wasn‘t a virgin. I already knew things. Womanly things, like love is overrated and pleasure is a right.
So excited to get my #aardvark package today! Great selections this month, and y‘all know I 💜love💜 purple! I think the tagged book will be up first. Nori, our Norfolk Island Pine, demanded to be in the shot. 😉🌲
I was unsure whether I‘d make #aardvark picks this month just due to finances/Christmas spending, but I do want to support this startup, so I chose two, but Factory Girls also sounded good. Hopefully I won‘t have too much fomo. Plus I love purple! 😁💜
The #Aardvark December picks are up! I got two of the clues wrong, but the three that I got right happened to be exactly the ones I wanted most, so I'm excited! 👏🏽📚
Ok, so this was one of my #Aardvark guesses last month too but hear me out based on the synopsis...
💄 = The mc worked behind a cosmetics counter
📱 = At one point she was a social media influencer
🌴 = She moved to LA so... maybe palm trees fit?
👍 = likes on social media?
I dunno, maybe I just *really* want to read this book, sounds fascinating, and trying to make round clues fit in square holes 😂
I like that #Aardvark is giving hints but damn some of them are tough. This is the only new release I can find that sort of fits the emoji clues? 💉
Any other ideas??
Aesthetica | 
so-so
