ArivetingdebutnovelsetincontemporarySeoul,Korea,aboutfouryoungwomenmakingtheirwayinaworlddefinedbyimpossiblestandardsofbeauty,after-hoursroomsalonscateringtowealthymen,ruthlesssocialhierarchies,andK-popmania“Powerfulandprovocative...anovelaboutfemalestrength,spirit,resilience--andthesolacethatfriendshipcansometimesprovide.“--TheWashingtonPostONEOFTHEBESTBOOKSOFTHEYEAR:Time,NPR,Esquire,Bustle,BBC,NewYorkPost,InStyleKyuriisanachinglybeautifulwomanwithahard-wonjobataSeoul“roomsalon,“anexclusiveundergroundbarwheresheentertainsbusinessmenwhiletheydrink.Thoughshepridesherselfonhercold,clear-eyedapproachtolife,animpulsivemistakethreatensherlivelihood.Kyuri’sroommate,Miho,isatalentedartistwhogrewupinanorphanagebutwonascholarshiptostudyartinNewYork.ReturningtoKoreaaftercollege,shefindsherselfinaprecariousrelationshipwiththeheirtooneofthecountry’sbiggestconglomerates.DownthehallintheirbuildinglivesAra,ahairstylistwhosetwopreoccupationssustainher:anobsessionwithaboy-bandpopstar,andabestfriendwhoissavingupfortheextremeplasticsurgerythatshehopeswillchangeherlife.AndWonna,onefloorbelow,isanewlywedtryingtohaveababythatsheandherhusbandhavenoideahowtheycanaffordtoraiseinKorea’sbrutaleconomy.Together,theirstoriestellagrippingtaleatonceunfamiliarandunmistakablyuniversal,inwhichtheirtentativefriendshipsmayturnouttobethethingthatultimatelysavesthem.
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