Two Novels Take on the Post-American Dream
Sarah Wang's debut novel *New Skin* explores the complex relationship between a daughter, Linli, and her mother, Fanny, a Taiwanese immigrant obsessed with plastic surgery, set against the backdrop of Los Angeles' cosmetic industry and a reality TV show. As Fanny faces federal charges related to illegal cosmetic injections, Linli confronts her family's immigrant struggles, systemic pressures, and her own estranged feelings toward her mother. The novel blends dark humor and social critique to examine identity, assimilation, and the physical and emotional costs of the American Dream.
- ▪Fanny, Linli's mother, is addicted to plastic surgery and faces federal indictment over illegal cosmetic injections.
- ▪Linli returns to Los Angeles to care for her mother, sacrificing her professional ambitions.
- ▪Fanny is accepted as a contestant on *America’s Beauty Extreme*, a reality show for people with botched plastic surgeries.
- ▪The novel connects personal trauma with broader historical and systemic issues, including immigration and cultural displacement.
- ▪Sarah Wang uses grotesque, satirical imagery to critique beauty standards and the commodification of identity.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
Books Two Novels Take on the Post-American Dream Plus, more international fiction releases in May. May 1, 2026, 2:00 PM By Chloe Hadavas, a senior editor at Foreign Policy, and Allison Meakem, a senior editor at Foreign Policy. A collage of ten various book covers is arranged against a background divided horizontally into cream and olive green. The covers for New Skin and Babylon, South Dakota are the largest and most prominent in the center. Other visible titles include John of John, Prestige Drama, All Them Dogs, and Glyph. The covers vary in style, featuring abstract graphics, landscape photography, and illustrated portraits.
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