All My Mother's Lovers

Not sure if this is the right fit?

Consider The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. Recommended by 6 sources.

“Wilde's prose alternates between gleaming, epigram-packed dialogue and lush Gothic description, producing a reading experience that is as theatrical as it is unsettling. What works best is its concentrated set pieces: sharp paradoxes about beauty, influence, and corruption that are easy to underline and debate. The main limitation is pacing and repetition — the novel circles the same moral tensions frequently, and the plot sometimes bends toward melodrama rather than sustained psychological realism, which can frustrate readers seeking modern subtlety.”