I found out about “You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine” by Alexandra Kleeman while reading through a book newsletter I receive every once in awhile. There was an author spotlight on Alexandra Kleeman with her debut novel in the newsletter that sang nothing but praises. My interest was peaked, and I did further research about both the book and Kleeman. Again, I saw mostly positive things, so I decided to give the book a chance and picked up a copy at Barnes & Noble.

The novel follows the humdrum life of a woman the reader only knows to be A. A is described as pretty and petite, but she often indulges in media, specifically television commercials featuring beauty products to reveal the “real beauty inside”. A lives in an apartment with her friend B, who is also described as pretty and petite just like A. B is very dependent on A for many things, such as what to eat or how to look, which has caused their relationship to wane and stretch thin recently. Another character in the novel is (you guessed it!) C, A’s reclusive and logical boyfriend. Their relationship is also seemingly strained, with A noting in the very beginning that they barely even see each other.

Kleeman focuses very heavily on the idea of identity from the standpoint of the person themselves, other people and society as a whole, and how identity morphs and changes with obsessions and influences. This is evident even in the very last pages of the book. The characters in their own way struggle with their identity, either with trying to reclaim it or rediscover it. A seems to be the main target of this with the book mainly centering on her and her struggles.

This focus on identity is probably the most eerie thing about the novel because of its relatability. There are many people in the world who can identify with A’s individualistic yet generic spirit, making it easy for the reader to see themselves in her place.

“You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine” is not a coming of age story. It’s a novel about the struggles of self-exploration and it heavily questions just exactly what identity is. Kleeman’s take on identity and influence is unique and refreshing to read and it’s hype is well deserved. “You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine” is easily one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time. I would recommend it to both people who think they’ve got themselves figured out and to those who don’t. It’s a novel that stresses the struggles of trying to find your inner self, yet it takes a comical and intimate look at what it’s like not to know any of those answers.