Book Review - Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

Title: Natural Beauty
Author: Ling Ling Huang
Genre: Horror/ Fiction
Published: 2023
 
Description: Our narrator produces a sound from the piano no one else at the Conservatory can. She employs a technique she learned from her parents – who fled China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. But when an accident leaves her parents debilitated, she abandons her future for a job at a high-end beauty and wellness store in New York City.
 
Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures – from remoras that suck out cheap Botox to eyelash extensions made of spider silk – and her new job affords her entry into a world of privilege and a long-awaited sense of belonging. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik’s charismatic owner, and the two strike up a friendship that hazily veers into more. All the while our narrator is plied with products that slim her thighs smooth her skin, and lighten her hair. But beneath these creams and tinctures lies something sinister.
 
Review: In “Natural Beauty”, debut author Ling Ling Huang delivers a razor-sharp, surreal critique of the modern wellness industry that lingers long after the past page has been turned. This books is much more than your average horror; it is an uncomfortable mix of body horror, social commentary, and a deep meditation on art and identity.
 
The story follows an unnamed narrator, a piano prodigy and daughter of Chinese immigrants. When a tragic accident leaves her parents disabled, she must give up her musical dream to pay for their care. She finds work at Holistik, an elite wellness store in New York City where the world’s richest spend fortunes on bizarre treatments. As she is drawn deeper into the world of owner Saje and her mysterious niece Helen, she begins to use the products herself, transforming her appearance to a Western ideal of beauty. But beneath the glossy surface of optimal health lies a gruesome truth that threatens to cost her everything.  
 
The focus on the experience of a first-generation Chinese-American woman adds a crucial layer. The book explores how cultural identiy is brushed away in the pursuit of a universal (read: Western) standard of beauty.
 
For fans of body horror, this is a treat. The transformations and medical procedures are described with a clinical coldness that makes the reader shudder. But despite the sometimes grotesque content, the prose is beautiful and poetic, creating a fascinating contrast to the dark plot twists.
 
This book is a bit of a slow burn and you really need to have some patience, because it takes some time for things to get really interesting. But once you’re there, it’s worth every minute.
 
It’s a disturbing story that makes you think twice before putting that new miracle cream on your face.
 
Rating: 4/ 5
 

00s Movie Review - Mean Girls

Director: Mark Waters
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 97 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Lindsay Lohan, Rachle McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, Tiny Fey, Tim Meadows, Amy Poehler, Lizzy Caplan, Johnatan Bennett

Description: Cady Heron (Lindsay Lohan) is a hit with The Plastics, the A-list girl clique at her new school until she makes the mistake of falling for Aaron (Jonathan Bennett), the ex-boyfriend of alpha Plastic Regina George (Rachel McAdams).

Review: “Mean Girls” is the ultimate high school survival guide that remains razor sharo more than twenty years later.

Casy Heron has lived in Africa with her parents and has always been home schooled. She has never experiences life at an actual high school, until they move back to America. Here she learns that there are several different cliques in high-school. The most important one: The Plastics, led by Regina George.
Tina Fey’s script transforms the teen genre into a clever satire full of iconic one-liners that have become part of our collective memory.

Lindsay Lohan is at her best as the naïve Cady, but Rachel McAdams steals the show as the terrifying Regina George. The film brilliantly (and painfully) exposes the social hierarchy and the ‘girls’ world without even losing its humor. It is colorful, witty and surprisingly relatable for anyone who has survived high school.

One of the better teen comedies of the 00s.

Rating: 4/ 5

TV Show Review - Heated Rivalry (Season 1)

Season: 1
Genre: Drama/ Romance
Number of episodes: 6
Year: 2026
Starring: Hudson Williams, Connor Storrie, François Arnaud, Christina Chang, Dylan Walsh, Robbie G.K.

Description: Two rival hockey stars at the top of their game face an unexpected challenge when they develop feelings for each other, complicating their careers and the sport’s expectations.

Review: This ice hockey series about hot and dignified love is the only logical response to a world ruled by fascist pedophiles.

“Heated Rivalry” doesn’t beat around the bush: it’s a very steamy series about two ice hockey rivals developing feelings for each other. It’s not accidentally exciting; on the contrary, it revels in it. There is no long, chaste courtship that last for seasons: they are getting hot and heavy within the first twenty minutes. The rest is love, fun, a little hockey, and above all, exciting, uncertain, painful desire. The series became unexpectedly and suddenly very popular, and rightly so.

Shane (Hudson Williams) and Ilya (Connor Storrie) are the captains and star players of rival hockey teams. The extreme competition forces them close together, on the hockey rink. This forced proximity allows the opposites to see themselves reflected in each other: how much work it takes to be the best, and the pressure and loneliness that comes with it. The homophobic macho culture of top-level sport reinforces these feelings, making it difficult, even unsafe, for them to be open about their sexuality, let along their love.

Off the ice, Ilya and Shane are also hard on each other, especially in the beginning. Closeness leads to friction. They are aggressive, controlling. They pus boundaries. At the same time, it feels safe and respectful; there is no loss of control or authority.

There is also a subplot about another, slightly older, player, Scott Hunter, who is also struggling with his sexuality, when he meets a young man named Kip and falling in love with him. Not wanting to come out yet. One episode is dedicated to his story and I am low-key obsessed with Scott and Kip. One specific moment, later in the season, made me cry so hard.

“Heated Rivalry” is moving and innovative simply by being honest about today’s world. The extraordinary chemistry between Williams and Storrie is the most enchanting aspect. Both actors are so believable in their desire.

Book Review - 107 Days by Kamala Harris

Title: 107 Days
Author: Kamala Harris
Genre: Non-Fiction/ Memoir
Published: 2023
 
Description: For the first time, and with surprising and revealing insights, Kamala Harris tells the story of one of the wildest and most consequential presidential campaigns in American history.
 
Review: In “107 Days”, former Vice President Kamala Harris offers an unprecedentedly candid look at the shortest and most turbulent presidential campaign in modern American history. The book covers the intense period from July 21^st 2024, the day Joe Biden withdrew, to Election Day on November 5^th 2024.
 
Harris has crafted a narrative that reads like a political thriller. She describes the chaos of the first 24 hours, during which she frantically called Democratic leaders to secure her nomination. But also describes her somber 60^th birthday, just 16 days before the election, where exhaustion led to a heated argument with her husband Doug. Moments like these humanize a politician who has often been labeled as reserved.
 
Harris does not shy away from confrontation in this book. She is surprisingly candid about the tension within the White House. She reflects on her loyalty on to Joe Biden, but insinuates that this loyalty was not always reciprocated by his staff. She expresses her frustration about moments when the president unintentionally thwarted her campaign, such as the incident where he wore a Maga cap. She is critical of Trump, but also of Joe Biden.
 
While Harris acknowledges some strategic mistakes, such as her much discussed interview on The View, she remains fiercely defensive about her broader vision for the country.
 
“107 Days” is an essential historical document. It captures the spirit of divided America and the enormous pressure of a national campaign in record time. For anyone who wants to understand what it feels like to be in the eye of a political storm, this book is highly recommended. Adding to the fact that Kamala Harris is a black woman, who supports reproductive freedom, LGBTQ+ rights, climate change action and gun safety, my respect for her standing her ground in a male dominated world grew further while reading this book. Kamala Harris is a truly inspiring woman, even if she didn’t win the election. It was an impossible task within the 107 days she had.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

00s Movie Review - Man on Fire

Director: Tony Scott  
Genre: Actie/ Drama/ Crime
Runtime: 146 minutes
Year: 2004
Starring: Denzel Washington, Dakota Fanning, Radha Mitchell, Marc Anthony, Christopher Walken, Mickey Rourke

Description: In Mexico City, a former CIA operative  (Denzel Washington) swears vengeance on those who committed and unspeakable act against the family he was hired to protect.

Review: “Man on Fire” is an intense, stylish action film directed by Tony Scott. It’s one of my favorite films starring Denzel Washington. He plays a traumatized bodyguard who seeks revenge in Mexico City after the kidnapping the young Pita, daughter of the family he has to protect.

My favorite thing about the film is the emotional bond Washington’s John Creasy forms with Pita. When Pita is taken, that makes Creasy’s quest for revenge even more intense. The film has a grim and gritty atmosphere.

Denzel Washington, but also his young counterpart Dakota Fannings are both very strong. The visual style is typical for Tony Scott. It fits the film. The film has a very quiet, emotional build-up and  has a violent, action-packed second half. The film is a tad too long with its 2,5 hours, but “Man on Fire” is a great piece of cinema.

Rating: 4/ 5

Book Review - The Outsider by Stephen King

Title: The Outsider (Holly Gibney # 1)
Author: Stephen King
Genre: Horror/ Thriller
Published: 2018
 
Description: An eleven-year-old boy’s violated corpse is found in a town parl. Eyewitnesses and fingerprints point unmistakably to one of Flint City’s most popular citizens. He is Terry Maitland, Little League Coach, husband and father of two girls. Detective Ralph Anderson, whose son Maitland once coached, orders a quick and very public arrest. Maitland has an alibi, but Anderson and the district attorney soon add DNA evidence to go with the fingerprints and witnesses. Their case seems ironclad.
 
As the investigation expands and horrifying answers begin to emerge, King’s propulsive story kicks into high gear, generating strong tension and almost unbearable suspense. Terry Maitland seems like a nice guy, but is he wearing another face?

Review: “The Outsider” is a masterful blend of hard-boiled police thriller and classic supernatural horror, a genre for which Stephen King is renowned. The book grabs you by the throat from the very first page and doesn’t let go.
 
The story starts in Flint City, with the gruesome discovery of the body of an 11-year-old boy. All the evidence – fingerprints, DNA and eyewitnesses – point to Terry Maitland: the popular teacher, father and coach of the Little League team. Detective Ralph Anderson arrests him in a very public manner. However, Maitland has a watertight alibi; at the time of the murder, he was miles aways at a conference, and there is even video footage to prove it. The central question that drives the investigation is how can someone be in two places at once?
 
Stephen King succeeds in creating an oppressive atmosphere of mistrust and sadness in a small community. What begins as a realistic whodunnit slowly but surely slips into a sinister, supernatural nightmare.
 
The build-up to the mystery is phenomenal, the final confrontation and explanation feel a bit rushed and less satisfying then the rock-solid first part of the story.
 
If you are a fan of horror and thriller, this dark investigation into the nature of evil and the limits of our belief and logic is an absolute recommendation. A solid four-star book.
 
Rating: 4/ 5

Movie Review - Wuthering Heights

Director: Emerald Fennell
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 136 minutes
Year: 2026
Starring: Margot Robbie, Jacob Elordi
 
Description: A passionate and tumultuous love story set against the backdrop of the Yorkshire moors, exploring the intense and destructive relationship between Heathcliff (Jacob Elordi) and Catherine Earnshaw (Margot Robbie).
 
Review: The 2026 film adaptation of “Wuthering Heights”, directed by Emerald Fennell (known for “Saltburn”), is a visual spectacle that unfortunately sacrifices the emotional depth of Emily Brontë’s masterpiece for style and provocation.

The film is undoubtedly beautiful to look at. The cinematography captures the rugged Yorkshire moors with and almost tangible atmosphere, and the costumes are Oscar-worthy. The addition of modern music by Charli XCX gives the film a bold, contemporary energy that will appeal especially to a younger generation.

Margot Robbie is the strongest element of the film. Robbie portrays Cathy torn between social expectations and wild desire. Cathy is highly unlikeable, complex character and Robbie really captured that.

Although Jacob Elordi, as Heathcliff, perfectly embodies the brooding heartthrob, his performance lacks the raw, exclusion-fueled pain that is essential to the character. As a result, he often comes across as a toxic, privileged man rather than the tormented orphan from the book.

That this adaptation is nothing like the book is an understatement. It’s a very bold interpretation of Brontë novel. The biggest flaw is that the film prioritizes sensuality over emotional depth. Fennell opts for shocking image and explicit scenes that distract rather than reinforce the tragic love story. I cannot even call it a love story, Cathy and Heathcliff are so toxic. There is really something wrong with you if you think what these two have in this movie is romantic.

“Wuthering Heights” is a bold, stylized reinterpretation that is great or the eyes but leaves the heart cold. It is and interesting film for those who love modern costume dramas, but those looking for the true soul of Brontë would do better to reread the book. Which I am definitely planning on doing.  

Rating: 3/ 5