I’ve been slowing reading more of Steven’s backlist and so I knew I had to start with Every Exquisite Thing. As a major fan of The Picture of Dorian Gray, this has been on my TBR for so long! Keep reading this book review of Every Exquisite Thing for my full thoughts.
Summary
Penny Paxton is the daughter of an icon. Her supermodel mother has legions of adoring fans around the world, and Penny is ready to begin her journey to international adoration, starting with joining the elite Dorian Drama School. When Penny’s new mentor offers her an opportunity she cannot refuse, to have a portrait painted by a mysterious artist who can grant immortal beauty to all his subjects, Penny happily follows in the footsteps of Dorian’s most glittering alumni, knowing that stardom is sure to soon be hers. But when her trusted mentor is found murdered, Penny realises she’s made a terrible mistake – a sinister someone is using the uncanny portraits to kill off the subjects one by one. As more perfectly beautiful students start to fall, Penny knows her time is running out . . . A seductive and searing exploration of beauty, identity, and what the pursuit of perfection can truly cost.
Review
(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I will always read anything The Picture of Dorian Gray related. And Every Exquisite Thing has to be one of the faves. It’s a story about ambition and beauty. Similar to the original, what would we do for our ambition, for everlasting immortal beauty, for youth? What would we sacrifice even as it demands the ultimate sacrifice? Steven’s book takes these themes and explores how they intersect with girlhood, to this connection of beauty and girlhood, of this societal version of femininity. And so it’s about what we would do to get ahead, to steal that shot, to have the spotlight. But it’s also about how society pits us against each other and ourselves.
It’s a book that builds in intensity as the mystery and action come to a crescendo. Every Exquisite Thing is about illusions and veneers. The prices of beauty and mentorship. The exploitation of youth and the way society tries to hold onto it with an iron fist. To prey on insecurity as we all face the hourglass. This book is emotional from start to finish, but the themes and intensity only ramp up as the intrigue and secrecy mount. The feeling of never ending limitless hunger. Some special moments I loved was this dichotomy between beauty and goodness – one of my favorite themes in Every Exquisite Thing. Find Every Exquisite Thing on Goodreads, Storygraph, Bookshop. org, Blackwells, & Libro. fm.
Tour Schedule
| Tour Date | Tour Hosts | Type of Post |
| May 26th | @fatedheartsbookclub | Bookstagram only |
| @brittanykilinsky | Bookstagram only | |
| @a_pixie_bookshelf | Bookstagram only | |
| May 27th | @Emmim_Allbookedup | Bookstagram only |
| Utopia State of Mind | Bookstagram + Blog | |
| @ann.otatedBooks | Bookstagram + Blog | |
| May 28th | Books_and_draws_eclectic | Bookstagram only |
| @meevreads | Instagram + Tiktok | |
| @reading.with.tabitha | Bookstagram only | |
| May 29th | Bookworm.boom | Bookstagram only |
| @the.not.so.perfect.bookworm | Bookstagram only | |
| Romantasyreviews | Bookstagram only | |
| May 30th | @cherumanalil | Bookstagram feed post + Reel |
| Toftliterarysociety | Bookstagram only | |
| @readingsavvy | Bookstagram feed post + Reel | |
| May 31st | @thepageladies | Instagram + Tiktok |
| Jlreadstoperpetuity | Bookstagram only | |
| Bookswithmichellee | Instagram + Tiktok | |
| June 1st | @camis.little.library | Instagram + Tiktok |
| Julz.reads.books | Instagram + Tiktok | |
| @threelittleloveslibrary | Instagram + Tiktok | |
| June 2nd | @tralynsbookbag | Bookstagram only |
| Booksandthemes | Instagram + Tiktok | |
| CallaLilyReads | Bookstagram only |