Every Exquisite Thing
Laura Steven
Electric Monkey, September 2023
Paperback, £8.99
ISBN 9780008627355
Every Exquisite Thing by Lauren Steven is a masterful retelling of The Picture of Dorian Grey by Oscar Wilde. Penny Paxton is the daughter of a living icon, a mother with high expectations and little room for love. In an effort to follow in her footsteps, Penny enrolls in the famous, and elite, Dorian Drama Academy, hoping to earn her mother’s love. Penny’s new mentor offers her the chance to have her portrait painted by a mysterious artist – paintings which offer eternal beauty to its subject
Penny jumps at the chance, propelled by the need to fulfil modern expectations of beauty. When her mentor is found murdered – her painting destroyed – Penny’s world begins to spiral out of control.
Steven beautifully explores topics such as female beauty, identity, body image, and the interwoven expectations of beauty in society. Every character struggled or dealt with issues relating to identity, something which I absolutely loved. The author’s use of language and tone was also extremely moving, and I felt many of Penny’s feelings with her, as if I were there myself – I think the reason for this is how indicative many of these topics are to life around us now, in the 21st century. I found this novel to be really engaging, especially the relationships between various characters such as the rivalry between Davina and Penny. I absolutely loved this book and I would recommend it to anyone! This novel is perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Leigh Bardugo. A haunting, emotional and sapphic retelling, one which reels you in and doesn’t let go.
Lasairíona Scarff, 17
