In a debut novel as radiant as it is caustic, a former influencer confronts her past—and takes inventory of the damages that underpin the surface-glamour of social media. At 19, she was an Instagram celebrity. Now, at 35, she works behind the cosmetic counter at the “black and white store,” peddling anti-aging products to women seeking physical and spiritual transformation. She too is seeking rebirth. She’s about to undergo the high-risk, elective surgery Aesthetica™, a procedure that will reverse all her past plastic surgery procedures, returning her, she hopes, to a truer self. Provided she survives the knife. But on the eve of the surgery, her traumatic past resurfaces when she is asked to participate in the public takedown of her former manager/boyfriend, who has rebranded himself as a paragon of “woke” masculinity in the post-#MeToo world. With the hours ticking down to her surgery, she must confront the ugly truth about her experiences on and off the Instagram grid. Propulsive, dark, and moving, Aesthetica is a Veronica for the age of “Instagram face,” delivering a fresh, nuanced examination of feminism, #MeToo, and mother-daughter relationships, all while confronting our collective addiction to followers, filters, and faux realities.

Many have discovered the joys of living with indoor plants. They contribute not only to a healthier environment, but with proper styling, add a nice element to interior design schemes. For some living in more urban settings it is a matter of necessity as home gardens are rare. For others living in more rural or suburban surroundings it is a matter of choice. Aesthetica Botanica visits the homes of artists, florists, gardeners and other plant enthusiasts who exemplify green living and are happy to share their stories and tips on caring for and decorating with plants. With handy chapters on green plants, cacti and succulents, and flowers, this book caters to any inclination providing practical information alongside stunning photographs.

'A New History of German Literature' offers some 200 essays on events in German literary history.