Cha manages to capture both the competitiveness between the women and the emotional intimacy, as well as exploring themes of escaping the past and determining one’s own future. Many of the issues the women face are universal, particularly in regards to complicated relationships, pressures from family, and career decisions. The women’s stories intersect in numerous ways. I’m sorely tempted by the ‘Strapless Package’, which includes Botox for the back of the shoulders, ‘fat kill’ injections for the underarms, and a choice between Healite II LED therapy or cryotherapy… Going down the list, I am reminded I need more armpit whitening and lip edge injections because the little curls on either side of my lips have begun to droop.

Ultimately she has no economic power and therefore is completely vulnerable.

She works to save for more procedures, hoping to secure a position at a better salon. Kyuri, who had had more cosmetic procedures than she could count, is in debt to the manager of the ‘room salon’ where she works, entertaining wealthy businessmen. It’s a character driven novel and although each of the women will stay with me for different reasons, Kyuri’s story was the most compelling. The story is set in Seoul, Korea and focuses on four young women, each grappling with Korea’s particularly high standards of beauty, strict social hierarchies, and misogynist society – the connection between beauty, money and power is hardly new, however Cha offers fresh perspective. Thankfully I don’t care about wrinkles* and nor was I in anyway offended that the acquaintance assumed Botox was on my radar!Īnyway, this is a long introduction to Frances Cha’s accomplished and fascinating debut, If I Had Your Face. Apparently you need to start young so that you never have any wrinkles to smooth out in the first place. When I was 42, a cosmetic-surgeon-acquaintance told me that Botox at my age was ‘pointless because the wrinkles were already there’.

My skin routine is essentially washing my face with water and using a supermarket moisturiser when I remember. I never had pimples as a teen and I’ve never worn makeup. I am genetically blessed with what some refer to as ‘good skin’.

If i had your face ebook