Journalist and author Hayley Krischer tackles the dark side of the wellness industry in her new young adult thriller You Belong to Me.
Hayley is the author of The Falling Girls, Something Happened to Ali Greenleaf and the adult fiction book, Where Are You, Echo Blue? She’s also written for The New York Times, Elle and The Atlantic.
In You Belong to Me, we meet high school student Frances Bean, seemingly comfortable in her group of goth outcast friends until a rich and popular girl she’s had a crush on for years shows interest in her. Julia is the daughter of a famous wellness guru and Frances Bean is welcomed into their rich and extravagant world with open arms and positive messages of empowerment. But things quickly take a dark turn.
Hayley Krischer’s novel in particular shines a light on the wellness industry. In a recent What We’re Reading interview, Hayley noted how big the industry has become.
“Today everything is wellness. Wellness is a $480 million industry, and it's supposed to hit $9 trillion by 2028. And you know there's even a Barbie wellness collection.”
Hayley additionally noted how the industry has targeted teens via social media, marketing their products and the wellness lifestyle through celebrities with cult-like tactics, and that teens are spending more money on beauty and wellness products than in previous years.
She explained, “A lot of especially celebrity wellness brands right now--they're so incredibly influential. One of the…steadfast rules of a cult or red flag is that they have no tolerance for questions or critical inquiry.”
Hayley noted that while the wellness industry tactics do influence adult consumers, it is harder for adolescent consumers to see through marketing ploys and influence.
“A friend of mine the other day called me and said ‘Why is my 12-year-old daughter buying … [a] very expensive skin care line that sold at Sephora? The moisturizer is $70. I mean, my daughter doesn't need this.’ She spent all her money that she got from the year, like from the holidays and her birthday. But her daughter is just one of millions. This is this is a real thing right now.”
Learn more about Hayley Krischer and her work on her website.
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