Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang

As we step into spring, a season of renewal and transformation, Natural Beauty prompts us to reflect on the costs of reinvention—both personal and societal. Ling Ling Huang’s novel explores the allure and dangers of the beauty industry, raising questions about identity, consumerism, and self-worth in a world obsessed with perfection.

​Date & Time: Saturday, 15 March, 11:00am to 1:00pm

Location: Shepherd's Bush

​About the book

Our narrator produces a wondrous sound from the piano, a gift nurtured by her parents, who fled China in the wake of the Cultural Revolution. But when an accident leaves them debilitated, she sacrifices her future to take a job at Holistik, a high-end beauty and wellness store.

​Holistik is known for its remarkable products and procedures, granting her access to an unimaginable world of privilege. She becomes transfixed by Helen, the niece of Holistik’s enigmatic owner, and the two develop a bond that drifts into something more.

​But as she is drawn deeper into Holistik’s offerings—treatments that slim her thighs, smooth her skin, and lighten her hair—she begins to sense that beneath the luxury lies something much darker...

Available on Waterstones from £10.99 or email for a free PDF copy after ticket purchase. 288 pages.

🎟️ Tickets are non-refundable and cover facilitation and platform costs. Please consider before purchasing.

🍿 Ticket price includes light refreshments.

🤐 Spoiler alert: We encourage you to read the book before attending!

​​​​​We’re committed to making the book club inclusive! If you need assistance with the ticket fee, email us at eseabookclub@gmail.com. PDF copies are available (ticket purchase required first).