We wanted to do another bookish meme on Wednesday and after doing Can’t Wait Wednesday a few times we decided that would be a fun one to bring around more often! About twice a month you’ll see this meme on our blog.

Can’t Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

A feminist YA horror-thriller-romance retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray by the TikTok sensation and author of The Society for Soulless Girls…

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.

I adore Laura Steven, both as a person and as a writer, so I’m always excited when she has a new release. Even when I haven’t finished her previous book yet haha. I saw the announcement for this new release on Tiktok, Laura was talking about her enemies-to-lovers being way too vicious so we shouldn’t ship them. So you can bet everyone will be shipping them haha.

This is a sapphic dark academia retelling of the Picture of Dorian Gray and that alone is enough for me to be interested. I have never read the Picture of Dorian Gray (should I maybe do that?) but I do know the story. Also, it was one of my favorite side stories in the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. And we all know I love a good dark academia story.

Lastly, this is Laura Steven’s ‘review’ on Goodreads:

this book is dedicated to ‘the girls who were born hungry’ and I’m so proud of it!! some things you can expect to find:

???? extremely vicious sapphic enemies-to-lovers (and on-page ????️)
???? dark academia retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray
???? fast-paced murder mystery, slow-burn romance
???? haunted drama school with a sentient art gallery
???? deep-dive into body image and beauty standards
???? body horror, supernatural swans and liminal worlds
???? drag queens, queer rep & found family

I hope you love it as much as I do ✨

There is no way you’re not interested in it now! Had you heard about this one yet? And have you read anything by Laura Steven before? Would love to hear from you in the comments!