The Coin by Yasmin Zaher follows a wealthy Palestinian woman living in New York City who becomes obsessed with cleanliness and control as she struggles to navigate feelings of displacement and identity. The book explores how trauma, cultural expectations, and societal pressures shape her unraveling sense of self. Zaher’s novel touches on themes of belonging, materialism, and the tension between heritage and assimilation, offering a raw look at what it means to feel like a stranger in a foreign land.

In Natural Beauty, Ling Ling Huang delivers a chilling satire that will leave you questioning the true cost of perfection. Follow an unnamed second-generation Chinese American woman as she navigates a world where beauty and wellness standards become increasingly monstrous. Natural Beauty is a haunting exploration of what we sacrifice in the relentless pursuit of beauty.

Rouge is a horror, gothic fairy tale told from the perspective of Mirabelle, the flawed protagonist. As the story unfolds, Belle becomes deeply entrenched in the culture of an exclusive spa that promises youth and beauty. The underlying theme questions how far one is willing to go to conform to beauty ideals and at what cost.