by Ian Halperin
First published 1999
The modeling world's glittering surface conceals a web of exploitation and ambition. When aspiring models arrive in the fashion capitals, they discover that success demands more than perfect features and graceful walks. The industry's power brokers control careers through manipulation, financial dependency, and carefully orchestrated scandals. Behind closed doors, photographers, agents, and designers create a system where young women must navigate dangerous territory to reach the top. Personal relationships become transactions. Professional opportunities carry hidden costs. The characters who survive learn to play the game, while others find themselves discarded when they refuse to comply. The story reveals how the pursuit of fame and beauty transforms both predator and prey, showing the human cost of an industry built on image and desire.
Genres: fiction, abuse, contemporary, thriller, 21st-century, fashion
Vibes: dark, emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, power-imbalance
297 pages · Paperback · Beaumont
Content warnings: abuse, sexual-content