There’s plenty of zeitgeist-y topics peppering Barnard College’s Sarah Wang’s debut fiction novel, from parental estrangement to plastic surgery obsession. But just a story about bootleg beauty procedures gone wrong wouldn’t catch the eye of blurbist Maggie Nelson, who praises the book as a “truly original debut from a seriously intelligent writer.” There’s a lot under the surface of protagonist Linli Feng’s forced return home, with her mother Fanny suffering the consequences of black-market injectables right as the film crew for a plastic surgery reality competition show bust down the door – and none of what’s lurking beneath the skin is as pretty as the American Dream promised. Wang joins author Jenny Tinghui Zhang (Superfan) in conversation at First Light, with tickets to the event including a copy of the book. Free RSVPs are also available. – James Scott
