Bookseller Reviews
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An affecting debut from a talented new voice in contemporary fiction
If I Had Your Face is a deeply affecting and searing debut told through the lens of four young women living in contemporary Seoul, a culture obsessed with ... READ MORE
Stunning
A wonderful debut. I would be happy to forget every word if it meant I could read it again with fresh eyes.
I would live your life so much better than you if I had your face.
The contrasting stories of four women in Seoul, South Korea, are expertly linked together in this deeply affecting debut novel. Navigating extreme beauty s... READ MORE
Compelling Characters
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
On the whole I really enjoyed this book. It was very easy to connect with the main charac... READ MORE
A great book club choice.
Holy smokes was this a punch to the face in the best way. Full of depth and character, and a really fascinating insight into a couple of cultures that I co... READ MORE
Synopsis
Longlisted for the Swansea University International Dylan Thomas Prize 2021
A glitteringly dark and unsettling debut novel about four young women struggling to survive in South Korea
If I Had Your Face plunges us into the mesmerizing world of contemporary Seoul - a place where extreme plastic surgery is as routine as getting a haircut, where women compete for spots in secret 'room salons' to entertain wealthy businessmen after hours, where K-Pop stars are the object of all-consuming obsession, and ruthless social hierarchies dictate your every move.
Navigating this hyper-competitive city are four young women balancing on the razor-edge of survival: Kyuri, an exquisitely beautiful woman whose hard-won status at an exclusive 'room salon' is threatened by an impulsive mistake with a client; her flatmate Miho, an orphan who wins a scholarship to a prestigious art school in New York, where her life becomes tragically enmeshed with the super-wealthy offspring of the Korean elite; Wonna, their neighbour, pregnant with a child that she and her husband have no idea how they will afford to raise in a fiercely competitive economy; and Ara, a hair stylist living down the hall, whose infatuation with a fresh-faced K-Pop star drives her to violent extremes.
Publisher information
- Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
- ISBN: 9780241986356
- Number of pages: 288
- Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 19 mm
- Weight: 206g
- Languages: English
Customer Reviews
View allIntoxicating!
A fascinating insight into a world where everyone seems to be fascinated by beauty, wealth and desire. I was entranced by this well crafted novel. Strong w... READ MORE
This is one of the best novels of the year
''In the original story, the little mermaid endures unspeakable pain to gain her human legs. The Sea Witch warns her that her new feet will feel as if she ... READ MORE
A fascinating look at the dark underbelly of the Korean beauty industry
I was provided with this digital copy in exchange for an honest review! Thanks, Viking.
If I Had Your Face takes a long, hard look at the harsh beauty sta... READ MORE
A fantastic, engrossing account of the lives of different women in South Korea
I did not want this book to end and when it did, I immediately wanted to re-read it.
This book gives the reader a fascinating and vivid insight into Sou... READ MORE
An impressive debut
If I Had Your Face is an impressive debut; a compelling novel of friendship and female experience in a male-dominated world. In fact, I would never have gu... READ MORE
Tackling Stereotypes and Cultural Norms for women in South Korea
This book had me split for quite some time. Initially, I felt that all the character's seemed a bit bland, however, the development of each of their storie... READ MORE
Frances Cha’s ‘If I had your face’ is a beautifully written novel
Frances Cha’s ‘If I had your face’ is a beautifully written novel, that left me suffering book grief when it finished.
Written from the perspective of fo... READ MORE
Fascinating
Thank you to a colleague for the recommendation and securing me a review copy.
If I Had Your Face is set in modern day Seoul and in many ways is a real eye... READ MORE
Interesting
I liked this in places and thought it was interesting with how it dealt with the various viewpoints of the women. This was done well and i liked the genera... READ MORE
Read In a breeze!
It is a beautiful novel about contemporary Seoul and millennials living in South Korea, and the beauty culture and how it affects women there.
The novel fo... READ MORE
A smart and compelling debut
If I Had Your Face is an ambitious and affecting debut novel.
In a Korean setting of contemporary Seoul it explores universal themes of womanhood - nav... READ MORE
Skilful, thought provoking debut
The author uses a quartet of complex South Korean women to illustrate the lives of many ordinary women in the country. It's not a particularly easy read w... READ MORE
A book to be read in doses
Having recently become interested in all things Korean this book was a secret door to the real Korea as opposed to the guide book Korea. The story is told... READ MORE
Great Debut!
There seems to be one book every year which really stands out to me when I look back, and I can already tell this book will be 2020's. It's well written an... READ MORE
Incredibly interesting and touching
The opening up of a new world to me in this book is fascinating. South Korea is presented in an interesting and at times challenging way. The differences b... READ MORE
Skilful and thoughtful
The author uses a quartet of complex South Korean women to illustrate the lives of many ordinary women in the country. It's not a particularly easy read w... READ MORE
A bleak but engrossing read
This is a book set in Seoul which features five young women living in an Officetel in contemporary Seoul. Four of them feature as alternating first party ... READ MORE
Modern women in Korea
A powerful and revealing look at the lives of women in modern South Korea, Frances Cha's novel is a fascinating and involving read. This is the story of fo... READ MORE
Interesting book & with well developed charcters
Great insight into Korean life for young women, engaging characters that develop over the course of the book.
Eye opening a beautiful read
This book wasn't at all what I had expected just from reading the title however, this was one of the best books I've ever read.
Each character has their ... READ MORE
Intriguing glimpse at SK life
‘If I Had Your Face’ provides a fascinating glimpse into South Korea’s culture of achieving perfection through plastic surgery, through the lives of 4 very... READ MORE
It's an absorbing and enjoyable book, but some parts go nowhere
If I Had Your Face gives the reader a great insight into women's lives in contemporary Korea. Each of the women's stories is individually compelling and co... READ MORE
Entertaining read!
Set in Seoul, 'If I Had Your Face' follows four young women who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. They're all desperately trying to make it in Korea's h... READ MORE
Wonderful
Adored this book