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Book Review of Beautiful Stranger: A Memoir of an Obsession with Perfection

Beautiful Stranger: A Memoir of an Obsession with Perfection
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This book is not easy to review, nor was it easy to read. That's not to say it's not well written or interesting, it definitely is! The book presents some shocking realities regarding the LA cosmetic surgery industry as well as mental illness. The author, Hope, is brutally honest and I commend her for this. She tells us her deepest, darkest thoughts, which are not endearing at all, yet she is still brave enough to voice them. The story is not really about the extremes that the author will go to in order to perfect outward beauty, although they are described in shocking detail. Rather, it is about the horrifying depths she will go to in order to try to fill an inner emptiness. Hope eventually goes to therapy which does help, and towards the end of the book she visits a psychiatrist who diagnoses obsessive compulsive disorder and she receives medication for this as well as for her depression. I imagine that the writing of this book, provided additional healing. The only thing I kept hoping was that she would be able to fill some of her emptiness, not with a wonderful husband, or four children, or medication, but with the genuine love and peace that comes from an inner spiritual journey. Although this wasn't the case in the book, this is my wish for Hope. I truly commend her for sharing her sincere story and I think it will be helpful to so many other woman.