India, Oct. 3 -- First there was #ThatGirl, with her eucalyptus-scented mists, Stanley cup full of green juice and massages that doubled as workouts. The aesthetic went viral on social media in 2021 and was criticised for promoting unattainable ideals of perfection in the guise of self-care.

#ThatGirl was succeeded by #CleanGirl, a minimalist focused on self-improvement.

This can become a relentless quest too. The dark side of the drive to be the best version of oneself has lately spawned a new sub-genre of literary fiction. It's called "dark wellness". Take a look.

.

The hidden costs of bliss: One of Our Kind (2024)

Public defender Jasmyn Williams has just moved to Liberty, a Los Angeles suburb alive with Black culture, in the bests...