During the first half of this book, I got the fear that the plot was going to go the same way as another book I had read (and loved) last year. They gave me very similar vibes; a deal with a god, extreme talent, the gift of influence, dysfunctional friendship, and competition. However, in the second half this book really shone and took a swift turn.
I really enjoyed this and found it to be really quite chilling. The format of the book was disorienting (in a good way!) and I found myself getting creeped out by shadows in the dark.
I felt that Sunny felt very young but she was young and her relationship with Candie felt realistic. I was very invested in the story and the relationships.

Thank you to NetGalley for sending an advanced copy for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

As a fan of K-dramas, I was initially intrigued by the synopsis for this book and had high hopes going in. This book is more of a thriller than anything else; we start off learning about why a K-pop girl group ended up breaking up while at the height of their success. We follow Sunny, who after one of our fellow group members dies and the other goes on to be quite successful, decides that she cannot leave her whole life behind. She is constantly finding herself comparing herself to Candie who she stalks online. She decides to join a K-pop competition after finding out Candie is as well.

This book is filled with mystery, obsession, friendship and scandal.

This sounded so interesting to me and I wasn't disappointed, I really enjoyed it. I loved all the folore and legend infused within it

3.5

This was such a good YA horror steeped in folklore and legends, which happens to be my favourite kind of YA horror, as it turns out. Also, I loved the commentary on beauty and pop industry, for a YA it was very well done.
I had a great time reading this book, I found the characters to be well flashed out and very believable, and their reaction extremely in synch with what had previously been through.
My only complaint is that the author chose to explain a bit too much of the horror. I personally prefer when the suspense and supernatural elements remain vague and you keep wondering whether the main character is imagining everything or if it's actually happening. I am a huge fan of unreliable narration, though, so take this with a grain of salt. Overall, the horror plot was actually very well constructed, as far as I am concerned.
I will be surely read more in the series, despite the ending being quite satisfying for me on its own.
I highly recommend this if you like K-Pop, K-Dramas, and if you enjoyed Burn Down, Rise Up by Vincent Tirado. Or even if you enjoyed Stranger Things, I wanna say.

This book was so good. It was atmospheric, it was gripping and I just loved the storyline. It hit what for me is the right balance of scary. It was creepy without keeping me up all night because I'm too scared to sleep. I'm a wuss when it comes to scary books, so this was just right for me.

I loved the main characters, I could really see the friendship between Sunny, Candie and Mina in the flashbacks and I loved the chemistry between Candie and Sunny. I would maybe have wanted a bit more of the romance, but it would have been hard to fit in to the story.

The plot was so interesting, combining the horror plot with the modern, high pressure career of K-pop idol was such a good idea and it really fit well with Candie's past as well. I think the combination worked really really well.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces emerges as a nightmare cloaked in the allure of daydreams, specifically those of glamour and fame. This sapphic YA horror is a mesmerizing experience that halts you in your tracks and commands your thoughts entirely. The narrative, saturated with blood, sweat, and tears in a literal sense, is truly arresting, leaving an indelible mark.

Cheng's skill shines in crafting an atmospheric and suspenseful tone, enveloping the reader in unease and tension. The pages feel like a precarious knife-edge, each turn delivering a visceral experience. From the gripping opening scene, it's evident that this is a book unafraid to venture into the realms of the chilling and macabre, promising a journey that refuses to hold back.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

This book follows a similar path as Every Exquisite Thing and I Feed Her To The Beast, where ambition drives a school of teenage girls apart, and something sinister is picking them off one by one. Like Exquisite, this uses a lot of body horror, and like Beast, the protagonist is a dancer.

Sunny is already famous at the start of this story, and feeling the full effects of public backlash after being seen with another star's boyfriend. Her friend and co-star Mina also died horribly, and their friend Candie hasn't spoken to Sunny since.

I had no idea where this story was going, and it took an interesting turn near the end as Sunny got swept up in the competition. I loved the sapphic elements in this story and I think a POV switch to Candie in the next book could be so interesting.

the yellowjackets comparison made me need to read this and i’m glad i did.

i loved how this book talked about issues with being famous at a young age, and specifically with appearances. i also loved that it was sapphic.

however, i wish there was more explanation of paranormal stuff/mythology as i did feel a bit confused, and i wasn’t quite as big a fan as i had hoped even though i enjoyed it

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a nightmare dressed as a daydream—specifically the dream of glamour and fame.

From just the comparison titles for this book, I was hooked. “Yellowjackets meets She Is a Haunting”—what more could you possibly ask for? Then that stunning cover burst onto the scene and I knew I needed this book in my life.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a truly arresting book as it stopped me dead in my tracks and took over my brain completely. This is a sapphic YA horror dripping with blood, sweat, and tears in a very literal sense. It has sequences that burrowed their way into my head and have not left since. Cheng excels at creating this atmospheric, suspenseful tone that oozes unease and tension. Every page feels like a knife edge. Right from that opening scene, you know this is not going to be a book that holds back.

Sunny is a brilliant protagonist. Instantly, her voice is so fragile and endearing, while there is also the sense of more than a few buried secrets hidden within her narrative. She had the fall from grace and superstardom. Trying to piece her life back together and live up to the harsh expectations placed upon her by her mother is tough. This training camp appears as a lifeline for her, but what is she truly willing to sacrifice to reach the top again? That question of what lengths you will go to in order to achieve what you want is a central one of the book.

Cheng leaves us in messy ethical territory often, with clear-cut answers not quite surfacing. This is a book revelling in the darkness between and the simmering rage of it all.

The focus on the K-Pop stardom machine is fantastic. Cheng infuses the story with an excellent exploration of the commercial machine exploiting these young people for their glimpse of stardom. All of the fantastical elements are well-executed, but could also double for the trauma inflicted on our characters. We explore this concept of celebrity culture, particularly Idol culture, through two timelines—the band and TV show and the present day training camp. Sunny, Candie, and Mina all experience very different impacts of this culture and watching that unfold was fascinating, but also nauseating.

There is a particular scene about midway through that really cements the real-life horrors Cheng is weaving into the more conceptual ideas and classic conventions of the genre. Trying to unpick the truth of what really happened between those three was something that kept me absolutely glued to the pages. I also think Cheng captured that essence of teenage friendships so well, particularly in this unique pressure cooker of a situation. When you add in complex dynamics and the exploring of sexualities as well, it builds a vivid and nuanced picture that is not quite as you first expected. Cheng delves into some heavy and impactful issues, so please check trigger warnings before reading. However, these felt like they were handled with sensitivity and care.

It all builds into an explosive final third, where the action is top notch and the twists come thick and fast. You have the past and the present collide in spectacular ways, which also nod to the throughline of battling your own traumas. It leaves you with more than a few questions, which I would expect to be explored further in the sequel. That ending was fantastic and Cheng’s continuation is a must-have for me.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a fantastic exploration of the true cost of fame, where there will be blood.

This sadly didn't live up to my expectations...

Idol competitions and camp with a hint of murder and obsession? I was so intrigued! But the cover is gorgeous despite the story not hitting the mark. I liked the writing, but the pace felt off. I didn't fully understand the character motivations and I frankly wasn't a fan of the romance since it came out of nowhere and was so under-developed!

Most of what I want to say enters the realm of spoiler territory but this was not at all what I expected in the best way possible!

Fantastically captures you and refuses to let go for the full 300+ pages.

Considering that this is aimed at young adults, it was SO viscerally gruesome in parts! I absolutely loved reading this.

The storyline was so well thought out, the characters were all genuinely interesting & the plot twist at the end was super intriguing. I appreciate that it was slightly lacking in the finer details, but I can overlook this since it is geared at a younger audience.

I’d definitely recommend this book if you’re looking for a lighter horror read.

As a fan of k pop I wanted to read this book and it didn't disappoint. It was easy to read, I didn't want to put it down.

Wow, wow and wow again. Going into this book, I thought it was gonna me a tense thriller novel about child fame, crawling and struggling back from a fall to fame, and a strained relationship with an ex-best friend; examining and criticising the harsh realities of K-Pop and the celebrity lifestyle. Never in a million years did I think it would go in the directions it did but oh my days I enjoyed it!
The novel builds and builds before finally reaching its crescendo. It takes a sharp turn from thrilling to down right frightening. Highly recommend going into this one as blind as possible!

4.25

Gorgeous gruesome faces is a story about a K-pop inspired music show where 3 teen girls audition and become Sweet Cadence: Candie, Mina and Sunny. The story starts with Sunny upset they didn’t finish the ritual and that Mina is behaving oddly and she thinks that’s what caused Mina to jump off her balcony. So scary, I don’t know what I was expecting with a title like that but it definitely wasn’t what that:

Horror x Romance wasn’t a genre I thought I’d ever read but 2023 being my year of going out of my comfort zone genres I’m so glad I did. it. I'm not a K-pop girlie, but I liked that she was able to discuss issues like racism, sexism, and body image within the K-pop industry. I never thought this would be a story I would be interested in and even though it was much scarier than I expected I was compelled to keep reading and couldn’t put it down. I needed to know what happened to Mina and what was happening with Sunny. It was so well written there were bits where I could nearly feel the cold hand on my skin giving me chills. Cheng is a brilliant writer and as scared as I am I would continue reading the series.

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is an enthralling debut novel by Linda Cheng.
We’re introduced to a defeated and disgraced Sunny Lee, a former K-pop icon in the US. Her world fell apart after a scandal and the tragic death of her co-star, Minnie.

The aftermath of these events is brutal. In the depth of a well-illustrated depression, now eighteen-year-old Sunny spends her day reflecting on her former glory and cyberstalking her ex-bestie and remaining groupmate, Candie.

Once closer than ever, the death of Minnie changes everything. Candie is now unreachable, and the distance between the remaining groupmates is colossal.

On seeing Candie’s latest venture online, Sunny sees an opportunity for redemption and reconnection. Despite her hesitation, she too auditions for a competitive idol workshop, tackling her trauma head-on.

However, things are not quite what they seem. Sunny is haunted by more than just past mistakes, co-dependant relationships and unrequited sapphic love.

The novel is told from Sunny’s perspective with dual timelines. Each chapter alternates between a vivid present or past account. In doing this, Cheng does an incredible job of building tension, pacing the story and world-building.

These alternating timelines illustrate the depth of the co-stars’ relationships. When at their worst, they are explosive with teenage hormones, mean-girl cattiness and complexity.

The novel presents a brilliant portrayal of idol culture’s appeal, pressures and toxicity. Combine this K-pop glamour and ruthlessness, a thrilling story full of twists and a dash of occult horror, and you’re in for a magnificent debut (novel).

Gorgeous Gruesome Faces by Linda Cheng will be released on November 7, 2023, via Roaring Brook Press.

Linda Cheng’s debut Gorgeous Gruesome Faces initially caught my eye because of its connections with the South Korean brand of music, K-Pop (which I know a fair bit about via my teenage daughter) wondering how this could be spun into a YA horror novel. However, in reality it does not have much to do with K-Pop itself, as the entire novel is set in America and centres around teenage girls auditioning through boot-camp talent and dance routines in the hope of getting chosen for future TV shows. This is certainly the manner in which TV and music bigwigs use to select the members of manufactured K-Pop bands or for related TV shows and the book beautifully portrays the manner in which youngsters are brutally dropped when they do not make the cut. Interestingly, the main character Sunny Lee has already had one shot at fame on a reality TV show and squandered it after a scandal with dodgy photos and making a move on a singer who already had a girlfriend (this sort of thing is a big no-no in the world of K-Pop). The story jumps between ‘now’ when eighteen-year-old Sunny is in bootcamp for a new show and ‘then’ which jumps back three or four years when her TV show and three-piece girl band were on the cusp of stardom before their downfall.

There is a lot going on in Gorgeous Gruesome Faces and I thought this was a very clever novel in which it takes its delicious time in revealing its supernatural intentions. Although brief, it does feature some very gory and shocking sequences. Although South Korea is not featured in the story directly, the supernatural angle the story takes most definitely does have a Chinese or Far Eastern flavour. I enjoyed the way this novel was not in a rush, which also features a LGBTQIA+ story which is developed convincingly, delicately and slowly. Even before the supernatural story arrived this was an unnerving book, main character Sunny Lee was very much alone when in the audition bootcamp with all the girls desperate for success in a totally cutthroat industry, which really shone through. The backstory on how everything unravelled in the ‘then’ story was totally convincing and I loved the manner in which it circled around to the ‘now’ narrative. Sunny Lee was American Taiwanese and the novel also investigated the culture of pushy mothers trying to turn their daughters into the next star. Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is guaranteed to get under your skin, even if you do not like horror much, the idea of being on the scrapheap at seventeen or eighteen was very sad, but sensitively explored. AGE RANGE 13+

I ended up really enjoying Gorgeous Gruesome Faces!
Also look at that cover! It's gorgeous!

I could not put this book down and as it was really fast paced, i ended up finishing it in a day.
I'm definitely really excited for the sequel!
I also thought the writing was really good and so were the characters!
I really especially loved the main character, Sunny.

I definitely recommend this YA horror book!
Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Hachette and NetGalley for the digital ARC!

Don't let the pretty cover fool you...this has plenty of horror for all the horror lovers! Our main character is Sunny Lee, an 18-year-old Taiwanese-American girl who used to be on a hit k-pop musical show when she was younger. The death of the third member of her group results in the cancellation of the show and everything else, and Sunny hasn't done anything big since. On top of that, she hasn't talked to the remaining member of her trio, Candie, in years.

A vlog from Candie talks about how she's going to a camp with an agency in the hopes of eventually going to Korea to debut. Sunny decides that she has to go, too, if only to try and get Candie to talk to her. Only the camp isn't what she expects - girls keep getting injured randomly and odd things keep happening.

Overall, I really enjoyed this! I devoured it in a day, and was fully immersed in this world of training and horror. The story is split between now and the past, going through the formation of the show Sunny was on and leading up to the death of Mina. You slowly start to understand what's happening, and I'm pretty sure no one will expect what happens. There is a supernatural twist that has a Chinese flair, which I really enjoyed and I can see this being a great film or short TV show.

The side characters were equally interesting, with Faye and Eugenia taking a big role in the present whilst Mina and Candie in the past. Candie is obviously present in the now, but it's more of a minor role.

Another thing to note is that this is a sapphic book! I didn't realise that going in, but if you're looking for a great POC queer horror book then this is definitely one to check out. There's also a great theme of trying to appease parents and cultural expectations. This is framed from an Asian-American perspective, so you have Sunny with her desire to feel wanted and loved with her mum, who only seems to be interested when her daughter is of value to furthering her own career. Sunny's grandparents don't pay attention due to disappointment in her mum's career choices, and her dad is absent. Candie has her own expectations leveller on her, for very different reasons and you slowly see both characters come to realise that they need to do what will make them happy, instead of their family.

My only complaint is that this is advertised as being k-pop inspired, and Sunny was on a k-pop musical show when younger. Despite that, there's almost nothing Korean in the book - having finished it, I understand why in the present, but I don't get why there wasn't more emphasis on Korean culture for the past? Mina is Korean, and a male character is a k-pop idol, but that's it. There's no mention of having to learn Korean or anything, which was a bit odd for a k-pop inspired show. But it wasn't enough to break my immersion, and I enjoyed it all anyway! The lack of Korean in the present will make sense once you read it, but just something to note!

I'm looking forward to seeing what the author does next!

Trigger Warnings: self-harm (characters cutting at their faces, bodies), not sure how to tag it without giving away spoilers, but I’ll say suicide as a character jumps to their death, gore/torture (on page, graphic — pulling out teeth, shaving head to the skin), ritualistic murder and attempted murder, breach of consent (nude photos leaked), body shaming


Gorgeous Gruesome Faces is a riveting read from start to finish, there was no point when reading this where I wanted to put it down. No, I wanted to keep going until I found out the truth of what happened between Sunny, Candie and Mina. And how twisty and tragic it was!

I loved the exploration of Idol culture and celebrity, and how it impacted Sunny, Candie and Mina differently. I thought it was great to contrast the girls experience in their band/their tv show, to the boot camp that Candie and Sunny later became a part of.

Sunny and Candie most certainly have a complicated relationship, and I loved how their story was told (and how the wider plot unfolded) through flashbacks and present scenes. We slowly began to see how their relationship unraveled and became the messed up, tense thing that we saw at the beginning of the book. More importantly, I loved how we began to see their relationship grow over the course of the book. I do wish we had a bit more towards the end, and I liked that it ended without everything 100% resolved between them, but with them committing to work together to heal from the wounds they had inflicted on each other (and had inflicted on them by the world).

This book had moments where the writing truly terrified me! The descriptions were so vivid and so, dare I say, gruesome. At once point my whole body physically CRINGED at what was happening on page and I had to read while squinting my eyes closed because I couldn’t bare to look.

I loved the friendship that developed between Genie and Sunny, just wanted to throw that in there. For a second I did wonder if they were going to become romantically involved, but I’m happy with where the book ended for them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. The plot was riveting and fast paced, and I really enjoyed all the twists. The writing was captivating, and the characters were complex.