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Los ojos son la mejor parte
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Horror (2024), Nominee for Readers' Favorite Debut Novel (2024)Un impactante debut que combina terror, crítica social y una narrativa que no podrás soltar.
Cuando su padre abandona a la familia, la vida de Ji-won se desmorona. Su madre se consume en la desesperación, su hermana menor se viene abajo y ella se refugia en sus pesadillas. En sueños, recorre habitaciones teñidas de escarlata, rodeada de ojos azules y suculentos. Ojos idénticos a los de George, el nuevo novio de su madre, un intruso que se pasea por su hogar con arrogancia, devorándola con la mirada.
La casa se vuelve claustrofóbica; los ojos de George la persiguen dentro y fuera de sus sueños. Su obsesión alcanza tal punto que cualquier hombre con ojos azules la atrae de un modo que no comprende: fantasea con arrancárselos, con sostenerlos entre sus dedos, con probar su textura, preguntándose si al saborearlos liberarían un dulzor inesperado. Pero pronto imaginar no basta. Ji-won necesita más.
Cuando su padre abandona a la familia, la vida de Ji-won se desmorona. Su madre se consume en la desesperación, su hermana menor se viene abajo y ella se refugia en sus pesadillas. En sueños, recorre habitaciones teñidas de escarlata, rodeada de ojos azules y suculentos. Ojos idénticos a los de George, el nuevo novio de su madre, un intruso que se pasea por su hogar con arrogancia, devorándola con la mirada.
La casa se vuelve claustrofóbica; los ojos de George la persiguen dentro y fuera de sus sueños. Su obsesión alcanza tal punto que cualquier hombre con ojos azules la atrae de un modo que no comprende: fantasea con arrancárselos, con sostenerlos entre sus dedos, con probar su textura, preguntándose si al saborearlos liberarían un dulzor inesperado. Pero pronto imaginar no basta. Ji-won necesita más.
368 pages, Paperback
First published June 25, 2024
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116944 people want to read
About the author
Monika Kim
4 books1,201 followersMonika is a second-generation Korean American living in Los Angeles’s Koreatown. She learned about eating fish eyes and other Korean superstitions from her mother, who immigrated to California from Seoul in 1985.
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March 4, 2024hi. thanks for reading my book & for supporting my work. i love you and i hope both sides of your pillow are cold every night <3
August 18, 2024
Honestly? Good for her.
August 7, 2024
Firstly, let me preface this review by saying that if you want a rollercoaster of horror, screams and jump scares from page one, you’re not going to find it here. This is without a doubt a graphic revenge psychological horror story, but it's also so much more.
The Eyes Are the Best Part doesn't rush, it simmers slowly until it boils. It starts as a poignant family drama and reflection on the Korean-American immigration experience via 18-year-old FMC protagonist, Ji-won, before morphing into a phantasmagorical slow-burn eyeball horror that seeps into your psyche in a nightmarishly grotesque yet compelling way. Bring a strong stomach.
I dove into this debut expecting unsettling, unhinged and unsavoury thrills, but what I got was a surprising depth that hit closer to home than I anticipated. It’s not just your run-of-the-mill revenge horror gore-fest. Monica Kim’s narrative slices through misogyny, racism, cultural fetishisation, exoticism and hypersexualisation with surgical precision.
Reading Ji-won's narration in navigating her family values and culture, upbringing and identity in a Western world that sometimes exoticises anyone who looks different to the ‘norm’ felt like a bizarrely familiar trip down memory lane for me. (Side note: If you think calling someone exotic is a compliment, or have ever tried to playfully guess a BIPOC’s ethnicity without consent, please stop.)
I don’t want to say too much more because here is another case where it's best to dive in blindfolded. However, I will issue trigger warnings: Cannibalism—obvious, yes? Also racism, misogyny, cheating, depression, grieving, child abandonment, mentions of suicide, paedophilic phrases against young girls, gore & stalking.
My heartfelt thanks to Octopus Publishing | Brazen for the digital advanced copy and to Jillian, Mai & Zana, who alerted me to this banger. This was a brilliant debut, I can’t wait to see what Monika Kim does next.
Wrote more about The Eyes Are the Best Part here.
___
What on earth did I just read. RTC.
___
Been eyeballing this one. My thanks to Octopus Publishing | Brazen for the digital advanced copy and to Jillian, Mai & Zana who never fail to put unique reads on my radar. 👁
The Eyes Are the Best Part doesn't rush, it simmers slowly until it boils. It starts as a poignant family drama and reflection on the Korean-American immigration experience via 18-year-old FMC protagonist, Ji-won, before morphing into a phantasmagorical slow-burn eyeball horror that seeps into your psyche in a nightmarishly grotesque yet compelling way. Bring a strong stomach.
I dove into this debut expecting unsettling, unhinged and unsavoury thrills, but what I got was a surprising depth that hit closer to home than I anticipated. It’s not just your run-of-the-mill revenge horror gore-fest. Monica Kim’s narrative slices through misogyny, racism, cultural fetishisation, exoticism and hypersexualisation with surgical precision.
Reading Ji-won's narration in navigating her family values and culture, upbringing and identity in a Western world that sometimes exoticises anyone who looks different to the ‘norm’ felt like a bizarrely familiar trip down memory lane for me. (Side note: If you think calling someone exotic is a compliment, or have ever tried to playfully guess a BIPOC’s ethnicity without consent, please stop.)
I don’t want to say too much more because here is another case where it's best to dive in blindfolded. However, I will issue trigger warnings: Cannibalism—obvious, yes? Also racism, misogyny, cheating, depression, grieving, child abandonment, mentions of suicide, paedophilic phrases against young girls, gore & stalking.
My heartfelt thanks to Octopus Publishing | Brazen for the digital advanced copy and to Jillian, Mai & Zana, who alerted me to this banger. This was a brilliant debut, I can’t wait to see what Monika Kim does next.
Wrote more about The Eyes Are the Best Part here.
___
What on earth did I just read. RTC.
___
Been eyeballing this one. My thanks to Octopus Publishing | Brazen for the digital advanced copy and to Jillian, Mai & Zana who never fail to put unique reads on my radar. 👁
July 4, 2024
A salty liquid trickles down my throat. The outside is crunchy cartilage. I jam it into my left cheek and bite down with my molars; jellylike matter explodes within my mouth.
🤮 This book was not scary, but it was definitely disgusting.
I've been on a bit of a horror kick lately. I'm currently watching From and I recently finished the very creepy Incidents Around the House, so I've been on the lookout for more scary thrills. The title and cover of this one were, let's say, eye-catching. Pun intended, of course.
But, sadly, the contents of The Eyes Are the Best Part were not nearly as thrilling as the packaging. The story creeps along very slowly without any scares. We are introduced to Ji-won, her sister Ji-hyun, and her Umma, shortly after her Appa left them for another woman. Their Umma begins a relationship with a new guy called George, an asshole who fetishizes Asian women, while Ji-won becomes increasingly obsessed with eating eyeballs.
You read that correctly.
For most of the book, the only action happens in Ji-won's increasingly vivid nightmares. This is actually a pet peeve of mine-- I dislike it when author's overdo it with dream sequences in a book. I find it boring to spend so much time on stuff that is not actually happening. And does anyone truly like listening to someone else describe all their dreams?
Also, while watching a woman descend into madness and get revenge on douchebags is a vibe I can get on board with, I didn't totally buy it here. Ji-won's fixation on eyeballs was just weird. And not interesting weird. I can understand why she was mad, frustrated, exasperated, but then many women have been in her shoes... I felt like I needed a more nuanced explanation as to why she turned homicidal. I was confused as to how we arrived at the eyeball cannibalism thing, honestly.
The characterization, too, seemed lacking. Geoffrey and George were complete cardboard cutout cliches, so ridiculously over the top that I paused to wonder if, maybe, the author was aiming for satire here. I'm still not 100% sure. Ji-won, as touched upon above, made no sense to me. I didn't understand the motivations of her character and the few attempts at backstory made me more confused, not less.
The slow crawl gives way to a wild burst of action at the very end, but it was hard to welcome the change of pace when it was all so ludicrous. Not my kind of horror.
Read
December 23, 2024i wish there was a more believable mental journey leading up to the main girly being ready to eat eyeballs but still, good 4 her
February 3, 2024
We meet Ji-won in a particularly tumultuous point in life, as many things are changing around her. As we watch her lose all rationale, the mission becomes an obsessive consumption of eyeballs.
This had a lot of great commentary alongside a thrilling violence spree. Definitely recommend for those who love an unhinged woman on a revenge mission.
*An early copy was kindly provided by the publisher
Full thoughts and reaction can be found on youtube https://youtu.be/c8P2rQcfdLU?si=dUrMw...
This had a lot of great commentary alongside a thrilling violence spree. Definitely recommend for those who love an unhinged woman on a revenge mission.
*An early copy was kindly provided by the publisher
Full thoughts and reaction can be found on youtube https://youtu.be/c8P2rQcfdLU?si=dUrMw...
July 29, 2025
The Eyes Are the Best Part is definitely one of the most memorable and engaging debut novels I've ever read!
Monika Kim's haunting ideas moved me, and shall now live rent free in my brain. This story sucked me in from the start and refused to let go. I was thinking about it all the time, even when I wasn't reading it.
In this story we follow Ji-Won, who has just entered her first year of college. She lives in small apartment with her Umma and her younger sister, Ji-Hyun. Her Appa has deserted them for another woman, leaving Ji-Won as the logical next head of household.
Umma is a mess, barely holding it together enough to make it to her job at the grocery store, and Ji-Hyun is just 15-years old. Ji-Won is feeling a responsibility to care for them both.
It's not just her family situation causing her stress though. Ji-Won also didn't get into the college she once dreamed of with her best high school friends. She ended up losing those friends because of that.
Ji-Won's on her own now, at a new school, and she feels very alone. She doesn't have anyone she can open up to about all the pressures bearing down on her. She loves her sister and her Umma so much, but she needs to keep strong around them.
When Umma brings about her new boyfriend, a startlingly-obnoxious man named, George, Ji-Won can hardly believe this is her life. George starts coming by the apartment, and then beginning to stay there more often than not.
It's during this time of incredible stress and change that Ji-Won first starts thinking about the eyes. In particular, blue eyes, just like George's. She desires them. She dreams of them. She wants to consume them; all the blue eyes.
It's with no immediate plan in mind, more an act of opportunity, that Ji-Won first proceeds with these overwhelming desires. Once she starts though, it's empowering, fulfilling, and impossible to stop. Ji-Won is now the ruler of her world. It feels good.
This was incredibly immersive. Ji-Won is such a well-developed character. I loved following her story, being in her mind was a slightly disturbing place to be, but I got it.
I felt what she was going through. I empathized with her as I would a friend and frankly, I was more than happy to go on this f*ed up journey with her.
I loved the relationships that Kim created here, particularly between the sisters. Their connection was palpable. I could feel how much Ji-Won cared for her sister, even when she was being bratty. She wanted to protect her and shelter her.
It wasn't just that relationship though, every side character that Ji-Won interacted with, I felt like I knew the ins-and-outs of them. Kim took great care when creating this whole cast and it shows.
We get a couple of students, Alexis and Geoffrey, that Ji-Won meets at school and I liked watching those friendships evolve. That whole avenue of the story went in a direction I was sort of expecting, but I still loved it.
I also thought the pace was spot on. It was perfectly-crafted for maximum impact, that's for sure. Once the spiral begins, she went quickly and with great flourish.
I'm obsessed with the quality of Kim's Horror imagery most of all. The body horror was fantastic. I read a lot of body horror and this, it got me. I was cringing. I was exclaiming things out loud that I can't type here. It was perfect. I never knew what vivid description was gonna come next.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the exceptional social commentary/social horror aspects. I felt this was so well done in that regard. In expressing Ji-Won's experience as a Korean-American young woman in modern-day California, Kim got the points across she needed to make.
This is an exciting story. It's exciting in its own right, in the fact that it's a gripping, disturbing story of feminine rage, but it's also exciting because this is Monika Kim's first novel. I'm so excited for more from her.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Erewhon Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I'm so happy that talent like Monika Kim's exists in the world. This book will def be on my BESTS List for 2024!!!
Monika Kim's haunting ideas moved me, and shall now live rent free in my brain. This story sucked me in from the start and refused to let go. I was thinking about it all the time, even when I wasn't reading it.
In this story we follow Ji-Won, who has just entered her first year of college. She lives in small apartment with her Umma and her younger sister, Ji-Hyun. Her Appa has deserted them for another woman, leaving Ji-Won as the logical next head of household.
Umma is a mess, barely holding it together enough to make it to her job at the grocery store, and Ji-Hyun is just 15-years old. Ji-Won is feeling a responsibility to care for them both.
It's not just her family situation causing her stress though. Ji-Won also didn't get into the college she once dreamed of with her best high school friends. She ended up losing those friends because of that.
Ji-Won's on her own now, at a new school, and she feels very alone. She doesn't have anyone she can open up to about all the pressures bearing down on her. She loves her sister and her Umma so much, but she needs to keep strong around them.
When Umma brings about her new boyfriend, a startlingly-obnoxious man named, George, Ji-Won can hardly believe this is her life. George starts coming by the apartment, and then beginning to stay there more often than not.
It's during this time of incredible stress and change that Ji-Won first starts thinking about the eyes. In particular, blue eyes, just like George's. She desires them. She dreams of them. She wants to consume them; all the blue eyes.
It's with no immediate plan in mind, more an act of opportunity, that Ji-Won first proceeds with these overwhelming desires. Once she starts though, it's empowering, fulfilling, and impossible to stop. Ji-Won is now the ruler of her world. It feels good.
This was incredibly immersive. Ji-Won is such a well-developed character. I loved following her story, being in her mind was a slightly disturbing place to be, but I got it.
I felt what she was going through. I empathized with her as I would a friend and frankly, I was more than happy to go on this f*ed up journey with her.
I loved the relationships that Kim created here, particularly between the sisters. Their connection was palpable. I could feel how much Ji-Won cared for her sister, even when she was being bratty. She wanted to protect her and shelter her.
It wasn't just that relationship though, every side character that Ji-Won interacted with, I felt like I knew the ins-and-outs of them. Kim took great care when creating this whole cast and it shows.
We get a couple of students, Alexis and Geoffrey, that Ji-Won meets at school and I liked watching those friendships evolve. That whole avenue of the story went in a direction I was sort of expecting, but I still loved it.
I also thought the pace was spot on. It was perfectly-crafted for maximum impact, that's for sure. Once the spiral begins, she went quickly and with great flourish.
I'm obsessed with the quality of Kim's Horror imagery most of all. The body horror was fantastic. I read a lot of body horror and this, it got me. I was cringing. I was exclaiming things out loud that I can't type here. It was perfect. I never knew what vivid description was gonna come next.
Finally, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the exceptional social commentary/social horror aspects. I felt this was so well done in that regard. In expressing Ji-Won's experience as a Korean-American young woman in modern-day California, Kim got the points across she needed to make.
This is an exciting story. It's exciting in its own right, in the fact that it's a gripping, disturbing story of feminine rage, but it's also exciting because this is Monika Kim's first novel. I'm so excited for more from her.
Thank you so much to the publisher, Erewhon Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review.
I'm so happy that talent like Monika Kim's exists in the world. This book will def be on my BESTS List for 2024!!!
October 12, 2024
“The Eyes Are the Best Part” by Monika Kim started pretty interesting. The cover alone intrigued me as I am an avid horror reader. This is her first novel, and I was excited to see what would await. Unfortunately, this left much to be desired for what I look for in a typical horror novel.
Before I jump into my review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading…
- Cannibalism
- Stalking
- Sexism
- Racism
- PTSD (war)
- Infidelity
- Food insecurity
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this novel felt like a slow burn at first. I hoped it would deliver once things got scarier and to the horror parts, but it just took way too long to get there. It never came as quickly as I wanted, and ultimately, I wanted way more horror.
It’s an okay story, and I appreciated the whole family dynamic about what happens when your parents have marital issues, but this was too heavy on the story and not enough on the horror. The scary parts were very well written, which is a shame since I wish more of that had happened to redeem this novel. I credit Kim for a refreshing new take on "eye horror" because I have never read such disgusting, creepy, and insane takes on eyeballs. These parts were fantastic but got lost due to drowning in endless dialogue, dreams, texting, and things that messed up the overall pacing.
I also didn’t connect with a single character; I felt better character development was needed. Several times, things got boring while waiting for something to happen. The dream sequences also got confusing and felt out of place. This would have been significantly better if this was a more straightforward story that got right to it, grabbed you, and never let you go. Instead, it’s a few decent horror parts here and there, too much dialogue, and too much family stuff.
The novel didn’t get good until the last 30%, which frustrated me because I hoped there would be a huge payoff or insane plot twist at the end. Nope, just more of the same, straight to the ending, which was lackluster and predictable. I saw it coming a mile away, and it just left me feeling like this needed more time to be refined and polished to deliver a better horror story, with eye horror being the main focus and bringing it all together for a memorable read.
I give “The Eyes Are the Best Part” by Monika Kim a 2/5 for having a creative spin on taking eye horror to a whole new level I’ve never read before. This novel needed to be a lot scarier, have better character development to be invested in the main characters and protagonist, and have more of a backstory to certain parts of the story as they unraveled. The pacing is bad, and many parts feel out of place. It gets good, then it fizzles out. A scary part finally happens, and we go back to endless dialogue, texting, or repeating things the reader knows already happened. Hopefully, Kim will continue to write because the talent is there. The horror just needed to be amped up big time in this one.
I want to thank NetGalley, Monika Kim, Kensington Books, and Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Before I jump into my review, here are all the trigger warnings I found while reading…
- Cannibalism
- Stalking
- Sexism
- Racism
- PTSD (war)
- Infidelity
- Food insecurity
If any of these trigger you, please do not read this novel. Moving along, this novel felt like a slow burn at first. I hoped it would deliver once things got scarier and to the horror parts, but it just took way too long to get there. It never came as quickly as I wanted, and ultimately, I wanted way more horror.
It’s an okay story, and I appreciated the whole family dynamic about what happens when your parents have marital issues, but this was too heavy on the story and not enough on the horror. The scary parts were very well written, which is a shame since I wish more of that had happened to redeem this novel. I credit Kim for a refreshing new take on "eye horror" because I have never read such disgusting, creepy, and insane takes on eyeballs. These parts were fantastic but got lost due to drowning in endless dialogue, dreams, texting, and things that messed up the overall pacing.
I also didn’t connect with a single character; I felt better character development was needed. Several times, things got boring while waiting for something to happen. The dream sequences also got confusing and felt out of place. This would have been significantly better if this was a more straightforward story that got right to it, grabbed you, and never let you go. Instead, it’s a few decent horror parts here and there, too much dialogue, and too much family stuff.
The novel didn’t get good until the last 30%, which frustrated me because I hoped there would be a huge payoff or insane plot twist at the end. Nope, just more of the same, straight to the ending, which was lackluster and predictable. I saw it coming a mile away, and it just left me feeling like this needed more time to be refined and polished to deliver a better horror story, with eye horror being the main focus and bringing it all together for a memorable read.
I give “The Eyes Are the Best Part” by Monika Kim a 2/5 for having a creative spin on taking eye horror to a whole new level I’ve never read before. This novel needed to be a lot scarier, have better character development to be invested in the main characters and protagonist, and have more of a backstory to certain parts of the story as they unraveled. The pacing is bad, and many parts feel out of place. It gets good, then it fizzles out. A scary part finally happens, and we go back to endless dialogue, texting, or repeating things the reader knows already happened. Hopefully, Kim will continue to write because the talent is there. The horror just needed to be amped up big time in this one.
I want to thank NetGalley, Monika Kim, Kensington Books, and Erewhon Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 6, 2024
I had every anticipation for this to be a 5 star horror. In my top 10 of the year even. But I am very sad to tell you that I don't get the hype with this one.
We spend 75% of the book watching the mom cry and be utterly pathetic over men. The other 25% is her daughter's reactions to it, racism and a sprinkling of horror.
It felt very heavy handed in most of it's messaging. I wanted the gore and the freaky weirdness. But it happened far too late for me to be invested in any of it.
We spend 75% of the book watching the mom cry and be utterly pathetic over men. The other 25% is her daughter's reactions to it, racism and a sprinkling of horror.
It felt very heavy handed in most of it's messaging. I wanted the gore and the freaky weirdness. But it happened far too late for me to be invested in any of it.
July 26, 2024
When I picked up this book about a female serial killer, I never expected to be laughing and giggling so hard throughout the story. This dark and unexpected comedic tale follows Ji-won and her family as they navigate life after their good-for-nothing father abandons them. The impact on the family is profound, particularly on the mother, who withdraws into herself—until she meets a white man she believes will rescue them.
The depiction of the Asian fetish by a certain character was incredibly unsettling and evoked intense rage in me during several scenes. The author does a fantastic job of highlighting the grossness of such fetishization and its effects on the characters.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the accurate portrayal of life as the oldest daughter in an Asian family. Ji-won's daily struggles and responsibilities are depicted with authenticity, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
While the plot starts off a bit slow, the buildup towards the second half is well worth the wait. The story, narrated from Ji-won's point of view, keeps you on your toes, as you can't always trust what you're reading. Ji-won is unapologetically crazy and prone to hallucinations, adding an unpredictable and thrilling element to the story.
The dream sequences are particularly intense, with vivid descriptions of eyeballs and squelching noises creating an unforgettable, if somewhat disturbing, imagery. Despite the discomfort, these scenes are so well written and add to the overall dark humor and horror of the story.
By the end of the book, I found myself wholeheartedly supporting Ji-won—not just her rights, but also her wrongs. Her character is complex, flawed, and utterly fascinating!! Ji-won had some really unexpected lines of dialogue throughout the book that had me laughing out loud. The lines were crazy but the delivery was perfect!!!
Thank you Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The depiction of the Asian fetish by a certain character was incredibly unsettling and evoked intense rage in me during several scenes. The author does a fantastic job of highlighting the grossness of such fetishization and its effects on the characters.
One of my favorite aspects of the book was the accurate portrayal of life as the oldest daughter in an Asian family. Ji-won's daily struggles and responsibilities are depicted with authenticity, making her a relatable and compelling protagonist.
While the plot starts off a bit slow, the buildup towards the second half is well worth the wait. The story, narrated from Ji-won's point of view, keeps you on your toes, as you can't always trust what you're reading. Ji-won is unapologetically crazy and prone to hallucinations, adding an unpredictable and thrilling element to the story.
The dream sequences are particularly intense, with vivid descriptions of eyeballs and squelching noises creating an unforgettable, if somewhat disturbing, imagery. Despite the discomfort, these scenes are so well written and add to the overall dark humor and horror of the story.
By the end of the book, I found myself wholeheartedly supporting Ji-won—not just her rights, but also her wrongs. Her character is complex, flawed, and utterly fascinating!! Ji-won had some really unexpected lines of dialogue throughout the book that had me laughing out loud. The lines were crazy but the delivery was perfect!!!
Thank you Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
July 25, 2025
Greta Lee Sets Directorial Debut With THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART Adaptation for Searchlight
Zana crocheted me the eye from this book
--
Read this if you loved NATURAL BEAUTY. Read this if you're an Asian woman. Read this if you've experienced yellow fever from a white man. (I'm so glad I turned off comments from non-friends. A lot of you can't handle this.)
The main character is Ji-won. The setting is Los Angeles. This isn't the rich Los Angeles you're used to seeing on shows such as BEVERLY HILLS, 90210. This is the underbelly of the city, a working class Korean American family sharing cramped apartment quarters and just trying to survive.
Ji-won's father has just left her, her mother, and her younger sister in order to start a family with his affair partner. Reddit, this is not, but maybe it is.
Umma, after going through bouts of depression, and not curing any of it, decides Korean men are the problem, and unironically waxes poetic on the glories of white men. She brings one home.
George, the classic conservative middle-aged white man with yellow fever, stares at the girls, condescends to "speak" unintelligible Korean to them, and threatens to leave an American Chinese restaurant when a waitress of Chinese descent feels harassed and sends her white colleague out instead.
"'You know, I learned a lot of Korean when I was back in Seoul, but it's been such a long time...and to tell you the truth, pronunciation isn't my strong suit.'"
George is not the only self-obsessed white man. There are Ji-won's fellow students, one of whom she befriends, named Geoffrey. The longer it takes him to declare his very obvious feelings, the more wrinkles I felt grow on my skin. I will be sending the author my Botox bill.
"'I'm a nice person, okay? I'm not like those other guys you know. Like your mom's boyfriend. I don't have yellow fever if that's what you're worried about. You know how much I read. I've studied pretty much every topic relating to race and gender. Fetishization is a form of oppression. I'm not an oppressor. I'm an ally! My feelings for you—no, my love for you—goes way beyond race. I love you for who you are on the inside.'"
All the while, we get a little background on how Ji-won lost her high school friends. Her not getting accepted to UC Berkeley is miniscule in the scheme of things, but I felt it was a little overplayed how petty she behaved with people she considered her friends. At this point, I began to believe she was a bit of an unreliable narrator. Is her descent into madness real or imagined?
The ending is a wild ride, and I truly don't want to spoil anything, but we've all seen the cover, yes?
Book pairings: BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG | TANTRUM | WHAT HUNGER
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books
Zana crocheted me the eye from this book
--
Read this if you loved NATURAL BEAUTY. Read this if you're an Asian woman. Read this if you've experienced yellow fever from a white man. (I'm so glad I turned off comments from non-friends. A lot of you can't handle this.)
The main character is Ji-won. The setting is Los Angeles. This isn't the rich Los Angeles you're used to seeing on shows such as BEVERLY HILLS, 90210. This is the underbelly of the city, a working class Korean American family sharing cramped apartment quarters and just trying to survive.
Ji-won's father has just left her, her mother, and her younger sister in order to start a family with his affair partner. Reddit, this is not, but maybe it is.
Umma, after going through bouts of depression, and not curing any of it, decides Korean men are the problem, and unironically waxes poetic on the glories of white men. She brings one home.
George, the classic conservative middle-aged white man with yellow fever, stares at the girls, condescends to "speak" unintelligible Korean to them, and threatens to leave an American Chinese restaurant when a waitress of Chinese descent feels harassed and sends her white colleague out instead.
"'You know, I learned a lot of Korean when I was back in Seoul, but it's been such a long time...and to tell you the truth, pronunciation isn't my strong suit.'"
George is not the only self-obsessed white man. There are Ji-won's fellow students, one of whom she befriends, named Geoffrey. The longer it takes him to declare his very obvious feelings, the more wrinkles I felt grow on my skin. I will be sending the author my Botox bill.
"'I'm a nice person, okay? I'm not like those other guys you know. Like your mom's boyfriend. I don't have yellow fever if that's what you're worried about. You know how much I read. I've studied pretty much every topic relating to race and gender. Fetishization is a form of oppression. I'm not an oppressor. I'm an ally! My feelings for you—no, my love for you—goes way beyond race. I love you for who you are on the inside.'"
All the while, we get a little background on how Ji-won lost her high school friends. Her not getting accepted to UC Berkeley is miniscule in the scheme of things, but I felt it was a little overplayed how petty she behaved with people she considered her friends. At this point, I began to believe she was a bit of an unreliable narrator. Is her descent into madness real or imagined?
The ending is a wild ride, and I truly don't want to spoil anything, but we've all seen the cover, yes?
Book pairings: BAT EATER AND OTHER NAMES FOR CORA ZENG | TANTRUM | WHAT HUNGER
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Erewhon Books
October 8, 2024
This was my favourite book of 2024 so far!
When Korean-American college student Ji-won’s mom starts dating racist, misogynistic George, Ji-won is repulsed. But she can’t stop thinking about his beautiful blue eyes…and how much she wants to cut them out and eat them.
Yup, this book is weird! It features a main character who craves the taste of human eyeballs. And yet, it completely works. It’s beautifully written and full of twists and turns. It shrewdly skewers the racism and misogyny faced by Asian women, and Ji-won is a protagonist you’ll find yourself cheering for…cannibalism and all.
When Korean-American college student Ji-won’s mom starts dating racist, misogynistic George, Ji-won is repulsed. But she can’t stop thinking about his beautiful blue eyes…and how much she wants to cut them out and eat them.
Yup, this book is weird! It features a main character who craves the taste of human eyeballs. And yet, it completely works. It’s beautifully written and full of twists and turns. It shrewdly skewers the racism and misogyny faced by Asian women, and Ji-won is a protagonist you’ll find yourself cheering for…cannibalism and all.
April 24, 2025
This is exactly what I needed after experiencing a string of disappointing reads lately. The book was profoundly unsettling and deeply disturbing, yet I found myself completely captivated from start to finish. The plot aligned perfectly with the blurb, offering no surprises in that regard, but it was the execution that truly grabbed my attention.
The protagonist, Ji-Won, is an 18-year-old girl plagued by some truly haunting dreams. Her vivid descriptions of the nightmares are spine-chilling, particularly when she recounts her perceptions of human eyes—how they taste and the peculiar texture they possess. It's remarkable how the author brings these grotesque visions to life, but I must admit, reading about such repulsive details made my stomach churn. While I appreciate Ji-Won's fascination with eyes, I personally found myself wishing for less graphic detail. The imagery was intense, and while it added to the overall atmosphere, it definitely left me feeling a bit queasy!
George was perhaps the most revolting and loathsome character I’ve encountered in quite some time. His obsession with Korean women bordered on a disturbing fetish, revealing not only his superficial view of relationships but also a troubling objectification of an entire culture. Beneath this grotesque facade, he was steeped in misogyny, often expressing contempt for women while simultaneously using them to fulfill his own selfish desires. His hypocrisy was glaring; he held others to standards he was utterly unwilling to meet himself. To make matters worse, his predatory tendencies revealed a deeply unsettling aspect of his character—he was attracted to minors, showcasing a troubling disregard for innocence and consent. In every aspect, he embodied the worst of men, a toxic blend of entitlement, exploitation, and moral depravity.
I found myself eagerly anticipating the moment when Ji-Won would finally confront him. It was hard to contain my excitement.
And Ji-Won did not disappoint me; she delivered exactly what I wanted.
Ji-Hyun emerged as my favorite character throughout the story. There was something about her resilience and depth that resonated with me on a personal level. Perhaps it was her unwavering determination to protect her sister or the way she navigated challenges that made me feel such a strong connection to her. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.
Or maybe it was cause she wasn't eating eyes like her sister? Who knows.
The mother in this book was infuriating to the point where I often found myself wishing I could reach into the pages and give her a good slap. The emotional turmoil she inflicted on her daughters, Ji-Won and Ji-Hyun, was staggering. She constantly made them have to take the role of the parent in the relationship, and she literally ignored them when a man was involved, making their lives a cycle of dread and self-doubt. If I had been in Ji-Won or Ji-Hyun's shoes, the moment I turned 18, I would have cut all ties without a second thought. The idea of remaining in contact with someone who caused so much pain would be utterly unthinkable.
She was a profoundly sad woman, trapped in a cycle of seeking approval from men. Her entire self-worth seemed to hinge on their validation, causing her to overlook her own intrinsic value. Throughout the book, it became painfully evident that she was unable to break free from this pattern, and by the end, she had learned nothing from her experiences.
The situation became even more baffling when considering her daughter, who had nearly lost her life at the hands of a man. Despite this, she continued to lament over the same man, clinging to a toxic attachment. At that moment, I found it impossible to empathize with her plight any longer; my patience had worn thin, and I felt no compassion for her. Her choices and the lack of growth were just too frustrating to bear.
The father played a significant role in the absence of a nurturing presence within the narrative. He chose to leave his family for a younger woman, abandoning his responsibilities as a parent. This decision had lasting effects, particularly on his daughters. Despite knowing that one of his daughters was in the hospital, he showed no inclination to visit or offer support.
It honestly made me so angry, and I found him a coward.
With all that said, I must emphasize that Ji-Won was a truly inept serial killer. Her clumsiness was astounding; it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t have been apprehended almost immediately in real life. She left behind a chaotic trail of evidence at every crime scene, making it all too easy for any competent investigator to connect the dots. I appreciated the ending, as it tied up the narrative nicely, but it felt a bit too neatly resolved, almost as if everything was packaged in a shiny bow. It left me wishing for a more complex outcome that reflected the gravity of her actions.
In conclusion, I found myself completely captivated by this book. Although I don't believe it truly fits into the horror genre, it nevertheless managed to evoke a profound sense of unease within me. The atmosphere created by the author was deeply unsettling, with vivid imagery and thought-provoking themes that lingered in my mind long after I put it down. The psychological tension and moments of dread made it a compelling read that kept me on edge.
The protagonist, Ji-Won, is an 18-year-old girl plagued by some truly haunting dreams. Her vivid descriptions of the nightmares are spine-chilling, particularly when she recounts her perceptions of human eyes—how they taste and the peculiar texture they possess. It's remarkable how the author brings these grotesque visions to life, but I must admit, reading about such repulsive details made my stomach churn. While I appreciate Ji-Won's fascination with eyes, I personally found myself wishing for less graphic detail. The imagery was intense, and while it added to the overall atmosphere, it definitely left me feeling a bit queasy!
George was perhaps the most revolting and loathsome character I’ve encountered in quite some time. His obsession with Korean women bordered on a disturbing fetish, revealing not only his superficial view of relationships but also a troubling objectification of an entire culture. Beneath this grotesque facade, he was steeped in misogyny, often expressing contempt for women while simultaneously using them to fulfill his own selfish desires. His hypocrisy was glaring; he held others to standards he was utterly unwilling to meet himself. To make matters worse, his predatory tendencies revealed a deeply unsettling aspect of his character—he was attracted to minors, showcasing a troubling disregard for innocence and consent. In every aspect, he embodied the worst of men, a toxic blend of entitlement, exploitation, and moral depravity.
I found myself eagerly anticipating the moment when Ji-Won would finally confront him. It was hard to contain my excitement.
And Ji-Won did not disappoint me; she delivered exactly what I wanted.
Ji-Hyun emerged as my favorite character throughout the story. There was something about her resilience and depth that resonated with me on a personal level. Perhaps it was her unwavering determination to protect her sister or the way she navigated challenges that made me feel such a strong connection to her. Whatever the reason, I couldn’t help but root for her every step of the way.
Or maybe it was cause she wasn't eating eyes like her sister? Who knows.
The mother in this book was infuriating to the point where I often found myself wishing I could reach into the pages and give her a good slap. The emotional turmoil she inflicted on her daughters, Ji-Won and Ji-Hyun, was staggering. She constantly made them have to take the role of the parent in the relationship, and she literally ignored them when a man was involved, making their lives a cycle of dread and self-doubt. If I had been in Ji-Won or Ji-Hyun's shoes, the moment I turned 18, I would have cut all ties without a second thought. The idea of remaining in contact with someone who caused so much pain would be utterly unthinkable.
She was a profoundly sad woman, trapped in a cycle of seeking approval from men. Her entire self-worth seemed to hinge on their validation, causing her to overlook her own intrinsic value. Throughout the book, it became painfully evident that she was unable to break free from this pattern, and by the end, she had learned nothing from her experiences.
The situation became even more baffling when considering her daughter, who had nearly lost her life at the hands of a man. Despite this, she continued to lament over the same man, clinging to a toxic attachment. At that moment, I found it impossible to empathize with her plight any longer; my patience had worn thin, and I felt no compassion for her. Her choices and the lack of growth were just too frustrating to bear.
The father played a significant role in the absence of a nurturing presence within the narrative. He chose to leave his family for a younger woman, abandoning his responsibilities as a parent. This decision had lasting effects, particularly on his daughters. Despite knowing that one of his daughters was in the hospital, he showed no inclination to visit or offer support.
It honestly made me so angry, and I found him a coward.
With all that said, I must emphasize that Ji-Won was a truly inept serial killer. Her clumsiness was astounding; it’s hard to believe she wouldn’t have been apprehended almost immediately in real life. She left behind a chaotic trail of evidence at every crime scene, making it all too easy for any competent investigator to connect the dots. I appreciated the ending, as it tied up the narrative nicely, but it felt a bit too neatly resolved, almost as if everything was packaged in a shiny bow. It left me wishing for a more complex outcome that reflected the gravity of her actions.
In conclusion, I found myself completely captivated by this book. Although I don't believe it truly fits into the horror genre, it nevertheless managed to evoke a profound sense of unease within me. The atmosphere created by the author was deeply unsettling, with vivid imagery and thought-provoking themes that lingered in my mind long after I put it down. The psychological tension and moments of dread made it a compelling read that kept me on edge.
July 14, 2025
Title/Author: THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART by Monika Kim
Page Count: 284 pages
Publisher: Erewhon Books
Format: Own the physical from Night Worms | Read the Kindle Unlimited Copy
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Debut book
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978164566...
Release Date: June 25th, 2024
General Genre: Horror, Psychological, Asian American, Feminist
Sub-Genre/Themes: Serial Killer, Murder, Cannibalism, Social Commentary, extramarital affairs, college, feminine rage, Unhappy families; Real-life monsters; Body horror, Obsession
Writing Style: Own voices, Creepy; Disturbing; Suspenseful; Gruesome
What You Need to Know: With her life in disarray after her father's infidelity and eventual abandonment of his family to live with his new girlfriend, Ji-won is plagued by horrifying yet enticing dreams of bloody rooms full of eyes. This makes sense since she lives with her depressed mother who only derives joy from eating fish eyes.
"Fish eyes are good luck. If I eat them, maybe it will bring your father back."
When Ji-won's mother brings home her new boyfriend George, she is overcome by hunger and rage that can only be sated by deceit, manipulation, and murder as victims accumulate around her college campus.
My Reading Experience: The title itself gives you a clue as to where we're going with this one. And that gruesome cover! The tension builds slowly, allowing readers to savor the creeping dread before it bursts into full-blown, psychological terror about a lonely, college-age woman driven to act out in unspeakable ways. But it's not just about the acts of violence; it's about how the author explores what it means to see—and be seen. Eyes are a central theme here, not just as tools for sight, but as symbols of power, control, and sometimes, cruelty. The author uses the eyes of her characters to express or communicate a full range of emotions. It almost became like a game to catch all the uses of the words 'eye' or 'eyes'. I searched my Kindle copy and came up with 255 uses :)
For horror fans, it’s the kind of book that leaves a lasting impression because it's fresh and provocative. I enjoyed the slow build-up to the climax with the escalation of Ji-won's intrusive thoughts.
My only real complaint is the connective tissue between what has happened in Ji-Won's life and how this launches her into serial-killer mode. It seemed far-fetched. So many of the characters feel like cartoonish stereotypes--especially the mother's Republican, White, Dad-bod, Boyfriend who blatantly fetishizes Asian women.
Final Recommendation: A must-read in the category of female serial killers, cannibalism, and women who go off the rails with unhinged, insane behavior. The body horror, and descriptions of eating eyes, are very detailed and disgusting. If that sort of thing makes you squeamish, maybe sit this one out--it's a lot!
Comps: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, Maeve Fly by C. J. Leede, Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
Page Count: 284 pages
Publisher: Erewhon Books
Format: Own the physical from Night Worms | Read the Kindle Unlimited Copy
Other Books I Enjoyed by This Author: Debut book
Affiliate Link: https://bookshop.org/a/7576/978164566...
Release Date: June 25th, 2024
General Genre: Horror, Psychological, Asian American, Feminist
Sub-Genre/Themes: Serial Killer, Murder, Cannibalism, Social Commentary, extramarital affairs, college, feminine rage, Unhappy families; Real-life monsters; Body horror, Obsession
Writing Style: Own voices, Creepy; Disturbing; Suspenseful; Gruesome
What You Need to Know: With her life in disarray after her father's infidelity and eventual abandonment of his family to live with his new girlfriend, Ji-won is plagued by horrifying yet enticing dreams of bloody rooms full of eyes. This makes sense since she lives with her depressed mother who only derives joy from eating fish eyes.
"Fish eyes are good luck. If I eat them, maybe it will bring your father back."
When Ji-won's mother brings home her new boyfriend George, she is overcome by hunger and rage that can only be sated by deceit, manipulation, and murder as victims accumulate around her college campus.
My Reading Experience: The title itself gives you a clue as to where we're going with this one. And that gruesome cover! The tension builds slowly, allowing readers to savor the creeping dread before it bursts into full-blown, psychological terror about a lonely, college-age woman driven to act out in unspeakable ways. But it's not just about the acts of violence; it's about how the author explores what it means to see—and be seen. Eyes are a central theme here, not just as tools for sight, but as symbols of power, control, and sometimes, cruelty. The author uses the eyes of her characters to express or communicate a full range of emotions. It almost became like a game to catch all the uses of the words 'eye' or 'eyes'. I searched my Kindle copy and came up with 255 uses :)
For horror fans, it’s the kind of book that leaves a lasting impression because it's fresh and provocative. I enjoyed the slow build-up to the climax with the escalation of Ji-won's intrusive thoughts.
My only real complaint is the connective tissue between what has happened in Ji-Won's life and how this launches her into serial-killer mode. It seemed far-fetched. So many of the characters feel like cartoonish stereotypes--especially the mother's Republican, White, Dad-bod, Boyfriend who blatantly fetishizes Asian women.
Final Recommendation: A must-read in the category of female serial killers, cannibalism, and women who go off the rails with unhinged, insane behavior. The body horror, and descriptions of eating eyes, are very detailed and disgusting. If that sort of thing makes you squeamish, maybe sit this one out--it's a lot!
Comps: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite, I Was A Teenage Slasher by Stephen Graham Jones, Maeve Fly by C. J. Leede, Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
June 7, 2024
Ji-won’s life takes a turn when her father has an affair and leaves them. She’s a college freshman, and ends up going from a straight A student, to failing. Her dreams are horrifying, yet enticing.
In them, she walks through rooms full of eyes, specifically blue eyes. All the same shape as George, her mother’s obnoxious and racist new boyfriend.
As victims start accumulating around her on campus, Ji-won’s hunger and rage have yet to be satisfied.
This book had some very intense scenes and I loved it! One of my favorite parts was how the title was apparent throughout the book. I get so confused when I’m reading, I finish, and the title made no sense. That was not the case here, you know almost right away, and it is a theme throughout the book. This book had a lot going on for being so short, it touched on misogyny, racism, toxic relationships, cannibalism, and violence just to name a few, and they were all well done! This is a horror book where things get gory, and it made me cringe in the best way, though it isn’t one I would want to read while eating! The pacing was fast and drew me in right from the start. I stayed engaged throughout the entire story and couldn’t wait to find out how things wrapped up. I appreciated the ending and felt it was perfect for what had happened.
This book was fantastic for a debut, and I wouldn’t have guessed it; I didn’t know until the end!
Thank you to the publisher for my early copy
In them, she walks through rooms full of eyes, specifically blue eyes. All the same shape as George, her mother’s obnoxious and racist new boyfriend.
As victims start accumulating around her on campus, Ji-won’s hunger and rage have yet to be satisfied.
This book had some very intense scenes and I loved it! One of my favorite parts was how the title was apparent throughout the book. I get so confused when I’m reading, I finish, and the title made no sense. That was not the case here, you know almost right away, and it is a theme throughout the book. This book had a lot going on for being so short, it touched on misogyny, racism, toxic relationships, cannibalism, and violence just to name a few, and they were all well done! This is a horror book where things get gory, and it made me cringe in the best way, though it isn’t one I would want to read while eating! The pacing was fast and drew me in right from the start. I stayed engaged throughout the entire story and couldn’t wait to find out how things wrapped up. I appreciated the ending and felt it was perfect for what had happened.
This book was fantastic for a debut, and I wouldn’t have guessed it; I didn’t know until the end!
Thank you to the publisher for my early copy
August 23, 2024
I feel like I didn’t read this correctly 😂. So many other people loved it, but I couldn’t connect to the book or the characters. Monika Kim is a beautiful writer, and she nails pacing, character development, and reader engagement. I finished the book wanting more — what that more is, I don’t know. I’d definitely read another of Kim’s books in the future, but I would pass on re-reading this one.
April 17, 2024
Ji-won is angry. Her father has moved out to be with his mistress leaving her to console both her mother and younger sister. She's in her first year of college and is struggling in her classes. All of her high school friends have moved on, no longer needing her in their life, and she's fed up with all of it.
Then three months later her mother begins acting differently. She often overhears her on the phone in the bathroom giggling leaving Ji-won to wonder if she's met someone.
And she has. George. Let's just say when Ji-won and her sister meet George they are less than impressed. He's a white man that is obnoxious, opinionated, and that has a fetish for Asian woman and he makes them both sick with his lingering gaze. Imagine their surprise when their mother tells them he's moving into their home.
"God. I thought I was in a nightmare." "I didn't mean to scare you." "You? Scare me? he scoffs. "what's there to be afraid of? Little Oriental girls are nothing to worry about." "Oriental? What am I, a rug?" "You young kids get offended so easily. And at the silliest things. Back when I was a child, 'Asian' and 'Oriental' had the same meaning. He shakes his head and sits up. "It's nothing to be offended about. Like the word 'mongoloid'."
His words hit me like a physical blow. I should have killed you in your sleep.
There is one thing George has that Ji-won wants more than anything and that's his succulent bright blue eyes. Oh, how tasty they must be. 👀
We've all met men like George before. He's disgusting and despicable in every way imaginable so I was happy to root for Ji-won to take this bastard down. Ji-won is, after all, one of my new favorite unhinged narrators. This book touches upon sexism, racism, misogyny, and culture and Kim does an excellent job exploring all those avenues.
Beware, this is also not for the faint of heart. Gory depictions of eyeballs galore. Just look at the cover (I love it! 😍) and you've got an idea of what your getting yourself into here.
An amazingly wild debut. I'm excited to see what Monika Kim treats us to next. I know I'll devour it. *GULP* 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my complimentary copy.
Then three months later her mother begins acting differently. She often overhears her on the phone in the bathroom giggling leaving Ji-won to wonder if she's met someone.
And she has. George. Let's just say when Ji-won and her sister meet George they are less than impressed. He's a white man that is obnoxious, opinionated, and that has a fetish for Asian woman and he makes them both sick with his lingering gaze. Imagine their surprise when their mother tells them he's moving into their home.
"God. I thought I was in a nightmare." "I didn't mean to scare you." "You? Scare me? he scoffs. "what's there to be afraid of? Little Oriental girls are nothing to worry about." "Oriental? What am I, a rug?" "You young kids get offended so easily. And at the silliest things. Back when I was a child, 'Asian' and 'Oriental' had the same meaning. He shakes his head and sits up. "It's nothing to be offended about. Like the word 'mongoloid'."
His words hit me like a physical blow. I should have killed you in your sleep.
There is one thing George has that Ji-won wants more than anything and that's his succulent bright blue eyes. Oh, how tasty they must be. 👀
We've all met men like George before. He's disgusting and despicable in every way imaginable so I was happy to root for Ji-won to take this bastard down. Ji-won is, after all, one of my new favorite unhinged narrators. This book touches upon sexism, racism, misogyny, and culture and Kim does an excellent job exploring all those avenues.
Beware, this is also not for the faint of heart. Gory depictions of eyeballs galore. Just look at the cover (I love it! 😍) and you've got an idea of what your getting yourself into here.
An amazingly wild debut. I'm excited to see what Monika Kim treats us to next. I know I'll devour it. *GULP* 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my complimentary copy.
September 10, 2024
This is the unhinged woman story I didn't know I needed. Ji-won, the FMC, is my new favorite. It is a slow descent into madness. It is a revenge story in the best kind of way. It has family drama, grief, and racism that will make you cringe. Enter George, the wealthy white, lying, racist, misogynistic POS boyfriend of Ji-won's mother. It was a pleasure to hate him.
This is an incredible debut by this author. I can't say I would very widely recommend this as it's not for everyone. It's not an edge of your seat jumpscare kind of story, if that's your thing. It's slow and gets there in a subtle way. It's absolutely gross, too, which I love. The ending, I thought, was perfection 👌
This is an incredible debut by this author. I can't say I would very widely recommend this as it's not for everyone. It's not an edge of your seat jumpscare kind of story, if that's your thing. It's slow and gets there in a subtle way. It's absolutely gross, too, which I love. The ending, I thought, was perfection 👌
December 7, 2024
Slay, queen.
July 30, 2025
I wanted desperately to enjoy this, so imagine my surprise and disappointment to discover that it is one of the most poorly constructed books I've read in some time. One of my biggest complaints is the book's dogged resistance to seeding anything ahead of time; Ji-won will encounter a situation that requires a tool or an object of significance, and we will then pause for a flashback of that tool or object of significance, then resume the narrative with the tool or object of significance to hand. Why on earth am I hearing about Ji-won's pocket knife, which is apparently very important to her as a symbol of her father's love, for the first time right before she's about to use it? Are we taking a stance against foreshadowing? This also happens with Ji-won's friends and her backpack, neither of which elicit any emotional response despite the book urging the reader to react; "isn't this sad? Isn't it scary that she lost the backpack?" except it isn't, because I'm only just finding out about it now. The way the book is constructed, cluelessly, carelessly, makes this read like a discovery writer's first draft, and I take no pleasure in saying that at all, and nor does it escape me that this is not wholly the author's fault. I am mystified as to how an agent and an editor missed these glaring errors. I followed this author's journey on r/Pubtips, read her excellent query letter and first pages, and cheered her on when she received a staggering TEN offers of agent representation within days. That's an incredible achievement. I expected the book to be amazing, except it just isn't, even after presumably a round of edits with the agent and the editorial team at the publishing house. I say "presumably" because that's what's supposed to happen, though I struggle to believe it did, and "round", singular, because a book this shoddy can't have been edited more than a single time before it found its way onto shelves. It is simply impossible for it to have gone through more than one round and still come out the other side in this state. But then, I don't know how this can be the case. Short deadlines? The book deal was announced in June 2023 and the book hit shelves in June 2024, but deal announcements often face delays. The author's query post on Pubtips, i.e. the final version of the query that was sent to agents, was posted on 14/11/22, and she signed with the agent very soon after that, so... Yes, there was time to edit this. It just doesn't seem to have happened.
I will say that the structure is not the worst thing, though it is a close second, because the worst thing is the numerous formatting and grammar errors sprinkled throughout the book, for which there is absolutely no excuse. "I giggled" used as a dialogue tag; pronoun "he" capitalised within a dialogue tag, as in, "Why are you upset with me?" He asks; the wrong font used to tag a text; a whole paragraph aligned right when it should have been justified; among various other issues. This kind of shoddy writing and editing is not what I expect from a book published by an imprint of a multi-million dollar corporation. Or maybe it is and this is all darkly ironic.
What I did enjoy was this book's bold, angry stance against the fetishisation of East Asian women, even if the heavy-handedness of the messaging was at times bizarre. The rebuke of institutionalised racism and misogyny, specifically as it harms East Asian women, is furious, uncompromising, powerful; I respect that immensely. That said, I have some issues with the depiction of Alexis, of the same flavour as I had for Moira in Evocation, which is that she is written as an angelic, flawless figure, practically perfect in every way, and she herself feels more like a personal defence than a character. What purpose is she serving other than to be too pure for this world? Does she have a point of view other than "destiny is real because I said so, no I will not explain what I mean" in philosophy class?
(Also: in this book, what with its context, adding that "the men in the class were all in agreement" with Geoffrey's argument against destiny is clearly signposting that this is a sexist male viewpoint, which severely annoyed me and felt antithetical to a feminist message. The insinuation that logic and reason are male traits, and that women are naturally more spiritual and believe in magic and other baseless woo-woo is offensive and misogynistic. Point blank.)
By and large most of the characters are flat, workmanlike as narrative devices, lacking much flair or interest; at one point Ji-won rattles off a list of flowers that are blooming around her college campus, using their correct names, and it's something that might seem innocuous but to me is indicative of shallow characterisation. Does the average Jane know the names of all the flowers blooming in spring? No, probably not, so you have to explain to me why she knows them, and you could say, well, that's general knowledge, but consider this: why does Ji-won know all the specific names of the dishes her mother makes at home? Easy; she knows them because they are her cultural cuisine and she is Korean. That makes perfect sense. If she was of a different cultural background, we would want to know how she came to know what these dishes are. So we understand that her knowing the names of the dishes says something about the character, and therefore knowing the names of the flowers should also say something about the character, except it doesn't, because we never see her take an interest in plant life, or the natural environment around her, or art, or biology, or anything that would explain why she knows what the flowers are. Ji-won knows the name of the flowers because the author knows the names of the flowers. Not one iota of thought went into the construction of this character and it shows.
I don't know where to begin with the ending: the police officer waves the knife around, claiming it to be the murder weapon, even though mere minutes have passed since George's death with no forensic investigation having taken place yet; the hospital apparently does not have CCTV; Ji-won asserts that the backpack Geoffrey stole from her, which is full of her belongings, which she has been seen with on campus, which she was seen looking for in the days leading up to the murder, which contains a pocket knife that her family can confirm belongs to her and is covered in her fingerprints, will serve to convict him for murder; and Ji-won is now setting out to murder her father, who does not have blue eyes, even though the whole thematic thrust of the story was focussed on specifically destroying blue eyes as a representation of the white male gaze. Ji-won wakes up in hospital and the doctors have apparently discovered a brain tumour, and we're indirectly told that this brain tumour was causing her to obsess over eyes, because now when she pictures George's blue eyes she no longer has any desire to eat them. A single scene later, she kills George and eats his eyes. So wtf was the point in the brain tumour?
This book is marketed as "good for her" but it's not "good for her" when she murders a homeless guy. I couldn't care less about the others, because it's not as if they didn't have it coming, and they comply with the theme of attacking the systems that oppress you, but when you punch down by murdering someone sleeping rough, you can mwah, kiss your revenge theme goodbye. If Ji-won had wrestled with the incident in some way, in any way that wasn't a selfish "omg I'm so weird??", I wouldn't be saying any of this, but no. That doesn't happen. And look; I'm never opposed to books about horrible people doing bad things, because I am media literate, in fact I eat that shit up, but if you're going down that route you need to then pivot thematically because your book is no longer saying what you want it to say. It's no longer "good for her". Now it's a critique of your character as well as the system. But that's not what's going on here. There's no thematic complexity borne of this incident. Homeless Man is just a red shirt crash test dummy. I can't...quite put my finger on it...but there might be a problem with your feminism... How about we put the question to the class?
FIN
I will say that the structure is not the worst thing, though it is a close second, because the worst thing is the numerous formatting and grammar errors sprinkled throughout the book, for which there is absolutely no excuse. "I giggled" used as a dialogue tag; pronoun "he" capitalised within a dialogue tag, as in, "Why are you upset with me?" He asks; the wrong font used to tag a text; a whole paragraph aligned right when it should have been justified; among various other issues. This kind of shoddy writing and editing is not what I expect from a book published by an imprint of a multi-million dollar corporation. Or maybe it is and this is all darkly ironic.
What I did enjoy was this book's bold, angry stance against the fetishisation of East Asian women, even if the heavy-handedness of the messaging was at times bizarre. The rebuke of institutionalised racism and misogyny, specifically as it harms East Asian women, is furious, uncompromising, powerful; I respect that immensely. That said, I have some issues with the depiction of Alexis, of the same flavour as I had for Moira in Evocation, which is that she is written as an angelic, flawless figure, practically perfect in every way, and she herself feels more like a personal defence than a character. What purpose is she serving other than to be too pure for this world? Does she have a point of view other than "destiny is real because I said so, no I will not explain what I mean" in philosophy class?
(Also: in this book, what with its context, adding that "the men in the class were all in agreement" with Geoffrey's argument against destiny is clearly signposting that this is a sexist male viewpoint, which severely annoyed me and felt antithetical to a feminist message. The insinuation that logic and reason are male traits, and that women are naturally more spiritual and believe in magic and other baseless woo-woo is offensive and misogynistic. Point blank.)
By and large most of the characters are flat, workmanlike as narrative devices, lacking much flair or interest; at one point Ji-won rattles off a list of flowers that are blooming around her college campus, using their correct names, and it's something that might seem innocuous but to me is indicative of shallow characterisation. Does the average Jane know the names of all the flowers blooming in spring? No, probably not, so you have to explain to me why she knows them, and you could say, well, that's general knowledge, but consider this: why does Ji-won know all the specific names of the dishes her mother makes at home? Easy; she knows them because they are her cultural cuisine and she is Korean. That makes perfect sense. If she was of a different cultural background, we would want to know how she came to know what these dishes are. So we understand that her knowing the names of the dishes says something about the character, and therefore knowing the names of the flowers should also say something about the character, except it doesn't, because we never see her take an interest in plant life, or the natural environment around her, or art, or biology, or anything that would explain why she knows what the flowers are. Ji-won knows the name of the flowers because the author knows the names of the flowers. Not one iota of thought went into the construction of this character and it shows.
I don't know where to begin with the ending: the police officer waves the knife around, claiming it to be the murder weapon, even though mere minutes have passed since George's death with no forensic investigation having taken place yet; the hospital apparently does not have CCTV; Ji-won asserts that the backpack Geoffrey stole from her, which is full of her belongings, which she has been seen with on campus, which she was seen looking for in the days leading up to the murder, which contains a pocket knife that her family can confirm belongs to her and is covered in her fingerprints, will serve to convict him for murder; and Ji-won is now setting out to murder her father, who does not have blue eyes, even though the whole thematic thrust of the story was focussed on specifically destroying blue eyes as a representation of the white male gaze. Ji-won wakes up in hospital and the doctors have apparently discovered a brain tumour, and we're indirectly told that this brain tumour was causing her to obsess over eyes, because now when she pictures George's blue eyes she no longer has any desire to eat them. A single scene later, she kills George and eats his eyes. So wtf was the point in the brain tumour?
This book is marketed as "good for her" but it's not "good for her" when she murders a homeless guy. I couldn't care less about the others, because it's not as if they didn't have it coming, and they comply with the theme of attacking the systems that oppress you, but when you punch down by murdering someone sleeping rough, you can mwah, kiss your revenge theme goodbye. If Ji-won had wrestled with the incident in some way, in any way that wasn't a selfish "omg I'm so weird??", I wouldn't be saying any of this, but no. That doesn't happen. And look; I'm never opposed to books about horrible people doing bad things, because I am media literate, in fact I eat that shit up, but if you're going down that route you need to then pivot thematically because your book is no longer saying what you want it to say. It's no longer "good for her". Now it's a critique of your character as well as the system. But that's not what's going on here. There's no thematic complexity borne of this incident. Homeless Man is just a red shirt crash test dummy. I can't...quite put my finger on it...but there might be a problem with your feminism... How about we put the question to the class?
FIN
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2024
Another Asian buddy read with Mai~
Surprise, surprise! Mai and I absolutely loved this! (Which is high praise coming from a couple of lifelong haters.) I haven't had this much fun since reading Yellowface. The Eyes Are the Best Part easily became an instant favorite.
This is BIPOC thriller/horror at its finest. There's a satirical bent to this story that's the icing on the cake. *chef's kiss* I was expecting pure horror on a Hannibal type of scale, but in this instance, I was very pleasantly surprise that it didn't turn out to be what I'd thought it'd be.
It was more complex than just "chick goes on a killing spree and eats raw eyeballs." This story has a deeper layer and tackles both the micro and macro aggressions that comes with being BIPOC in the US, specifically being an Asian American woman.
And of course, with Mai and I being Asian American women, we both related to Ji-won's struggles.
Like Yellowface, this story is full of marginalized anger, and is a revenge story of sorts. If you can't relate to the racism, misogyny, fetishism that BIPOC women face, or if you can't even sympathize, then I truly envy you. It's hard out here.
I loved this book for its witty lines, real takes on issues like WMAF relationships, being the elder daughter, and the struggles of being a young adult in a messed up family dealing with lots of trauma.
And of course, Ji-won's slow dive into insanity was absolute perfection.
There was a twist at the end that I liked. But just as equally, I also liked how it didn't explain Ji-won's... fetish for munching on blue eyes.
I'd highly recommend for horror thriller fans looking to diversify their bookshelves.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
"How can you be an alpha male when you need your daughters to translate your bills for you, to make your doctor’s appointments for you, to help you read the billboards on the side of the road?"
Surprise, surprise! Mai and I absolutely loved this! (Which is high praise coming from a couple of lifelong haters.) I haven't had this much fun since reading Yellowface. The Eyes Are the Best Part easily became an instant favorite.
This is BIPOC thriller/horror at its finest. There's a satirical bent to this story that's the icing on the cake. *chef's kiss* I was expecting pure horror on a Hannibal type of scale, but in this instance, I was very pleasantly surprise that it didn't turn out to be what I'd thought it'd be.
It was more complex than just "chick goes on a killing spree and eats raw eyeballs." This story has a deeper layer and tackles both the micro and macro aggressions that comes with being BIPOC in the US, specifically being an Asian American woman.
And of course, with Mai and I being Asian American women, we both related to Ji-won's struggles.
'Appa always said that Thanksgiving was the most American of holidays, and that we needed to celebrate to show everyone else that we belonged, that we were good Americans, too.
“It’s harder for us because we are Asian,” Appa said solemnly. “We have more to prove.”'
Like Yellowface, this story is full of marginalized anger, and is a revenge story of sorts. If you can't relate to the racism, misogyny, fetishism that BIPOC women face, or if you can't even sympathize, then I truly envy you. It's hard out here.
I loved this book for its witty lines, real takes on issues like WMAF relationships, being the elder daughter, and the struggles of being a young adult in a messed up family dealing with lots of trauma.
And of course, Ji-won's slow dive into insanity was absolute perfection.
There was a twist at the end that I liked. But just as equally, I also liked how it didn't explain Ji-won's... fetish for munching on blue eyes.
I'd highly recommend for horror thriller fans looking to diversify their bookshelves.
Thank you to Erewhon Books and NetGalley for this arc.
May 27, 2024
3.5 Stars
This was an interesting perspective on the serial killer genre. This one is very focused on the Korean American experience. I liked those parts but I have no doubt that ownvoice readers will enjoy those aspects on a whole other level.
This is a well written novel with a heavy character focus. I liked the book but I will admit that I did not love it as much as I expected. I just found myself not connecting enough with the narrative.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
This was an interesting perspective on the serial killer genre. This one is very focused on the Korean American experience. I liked those parts but I have no doubt that ownvoice readers will enjoy those aspects on a whole other level.
This is a well written novel with a heavy character focus. I liked the book but I will admit that I did not love it as much as I expected. I just found myself not connecting enough with the narrative.
Disclaimer I received a copy of this book from the publisher
December 25, 2024
The perfect short read (under 300 pages) for those looking to let loose a little RAGE. At some point while reading this - I started loving it more and more due to the unreliable narrator. She’s sort of unhinged - but it’s one of those reads that makes you feel like she’s 100% justified??
- explore fetishes and racism
- women falling apart based on how men treat them
- a bit gory in parts (I def skimmed these parts - I have a WEAK stomach)
The ending was perfect… and felt harmonious..? Even as terrible as it was 🤣
- explore fetishes and racism
- women falling apart based on how men treat them
- a bit gory in parts (I def skimmed these parts - I have a WEAK stomach)
The ending was perfect… and felt harmonious..? Even as terrible as it was 🤣
July 30, 2024
“There’s an ugly voice inside my head. It’s not real, it hisses. None of this is. Just kill him. Taste his eyes.
I want to. More than anything. So what if it’s real?”
✦ yummy yummy in my tummy 👁️ 👄 👁️
✦ this was kinda deranged, but in a fun way. very well written. would love to read more from this author.
I want to. More than anything. So what if it’s real?”
✦ yummy yummy in my tummy 👁️ 👄 👁️
✦ this was kinda deranged, but in a fun way. very well written. would love to read more from this author.
July 18, 2025
Dark, 'weird', fiction is somewhat of an obsession of mine - and The Eyes Are The Best Part certainly fits that description. It’s a Korean, body, horror that I easily devoured in a few sittings/one weekend. Once the main character Ji-won, pointed out her Mother’s new boyfriend, George’s, blue eyes, I knew where this was going to go and it did not disappoint… 🩸👁️
The writing style is simplistic, with very short chapters, but I still felt pulled into this family’s sadness - as the Father has an affair and leaves them behind. It especially affects Ji-won’s Mother, who is grieving for her lost love badly.
Ji-won feels as though she is having to keep herself together for her Mother and her sister, Ji-hyun, but this becomes all the more difficult when a new man enters their lives - George. He isn’t understanding of their Korean heritage and disrespectful towards their language. He is a know-it-all and a misogynist, so Ji-won begins to channel all her pent up rage onto him - understandably so. It is racially insensitive how he ogles an Asian waitress at the restaurant, and insensitively tries to appropriate Asian culture - specifically Korean and Chinese.
The narrative descends into a dreamlike, nightmarish state as Ji-won’s eye-related fantasies worsen. You can feel her psyche fracturing. Will her twisted, dark, fantasies become reality?
4 Stars
The writing style is simplistic, with very short chapters, but I still felt pulled into this family’s sadness - as the Father has an affair and leaves them behind. It especially affects Ji-won’s Mother, who is grieving for her lost love badly.
Ji-won feels as though she is having to keep herself together for her Mother and her sister, Ji-hyun, but this becomes all the more difficult when a new man enters their lives - George. He isn’t understanding of their Korean heritage and disrespectful towards their language. He is a know-it-all and a misogynist, so Ji-won begins to channel all her pent up rage onto him - understandably so. It is racially insensitive how he ogles an Asian waitress at the restaurant, and insensitively tries to appropriate Asian culture - specifically Korean and Chinese.
The narrative descends into a dreamlike, nightmarish state as Ji-won’s eye-related fantasies worsen. You can feel her psyche fracturing. Will her twisted, dark, fantasies become reality?
4 Stars
April 16, 2025
4★
When her mom begins dating George, a misogynist who fetishizes Asian women, Korean-American college student Ji-won is understandably revolted. Yet, for some reason, she can't help but obsess over his dreamlike blue eyes......
after all,
the eyes are the best part.
"Maybe Ji-hyun is right. Maybe there is a curse, a toxicity lurking in our blood."
When her mom begins dating George, a misogynist who fetishizes Asian women, Korean-American college student Ji-won is understandably revolted. Yet, for some reason, she can't help but obsess over his dreamlike blue eyes......
after all,
the eyes are the best part.
"Maybe Ji-hyun is right. Maybe there is a curse, a toxicity lurking in our blood."
June 25, 2024
I've got a question for all serial killer/cannibals out there . . . how do you know the eyes are the best part if that's all of your victim you ever eat?
Seems a bit wasteful to me . . .
I guess I just prefer more frugal cannibals who use EVERY part of the corpse.
Ji-won has discovered she has a taste for eyes . . . blue eyes, anyway. I would feel a bit more sympathetic to her if she chose her victims Dexter-style: only those deserving of having their lives cut short, and their eyeballs devoured, but our heroine is a picky eater - blue eyes are the tastiest, and the ONLY eyes on the menu.
This certainly held my interest while it turned my stomach. I enjoyed Ji-won's family dynamics, and, honestly, I wouldn't mind reading a continuation of their adventures. Who knows . . . maybe our girl will develop a taste for liver with fava beans . . .
Many thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
Seems a bit wasteful to me . . .
I guess I just prefer more frugal cannibals who use EVERY part of the corpse.
Ji-won has discovered she has a taste for eyes . . . blue eyes, anyway. I would feel a bit more sympathetic to her if she chose her victims Dexter-style: only those deserving of having their lives cut short, and their eyeballs devoured, but our heroine is a picky eater - blue eyes are the tastiest, and the ONLY eyes on the menu.
This certainly held my interest while it turned my stomach. I enjoyed Ji-won's family dynamics, and, honestly, I wouldn't mind reading a continuation of their adventures. Who knows . . . maybe our girl will develop a taste for liver with fava beans . . .
Many thanks to NetGalley and Erewhon Books for the ARC.
January 13, 2025
4⭐️s
For some reason, I’m now paranoid about having my eyes devoured like an amuse-bouche. Who knew that blue eyes were the perfect starter plate?
This book was fun. Halfway through, I thought this might end up being of my favorites of the year. The second half didn’t cohere quite as well for me, and those rough edges spoiled some of my enjoyment.
The good…
A unique story with an impelling pace. A charming nod to Asian culture. Despicably crafted antagonists, whose downfalls are aggressively earned. Indelible, seat-squirming imagery that will endure long after reading.
The less good…
The second half of the book. Too many dream sequences (I have an intense, passionate dislike for them). Minimal character arc for anyone (literally nobody grew or learned anything). No backstory to give us any understanding about the sudden optical cravings.
To read, or not to read…
You should read it. It’s worth your time, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
For some reason, I’m now paranoid about having my eyes devoured like an amuse-bouche. Who knew that blue eyes were the perfect starter plate?
This book was fun. Halfway through, I thought this might end up being of my favorites of the year. The second half didn’t cohere quite as well for me, and those rough edges spoiled some of my enjoyment.
The good…
A unique story with an impelling pace. A charming nod to Asian culture. Despicably crafted antagonists, whose downfalls are aggressively earned. Indelible, seat-squirming imagery that will endure long after reading.
The less good…
The second half of the book. Too many dream sequences (I have an intense, passionate dislike for them). Minimal character arc for anyone (literally nobody grew or learned anything). No backstory to give us any understanding about the sudden optical cravings.
To read, or not to read…
You should read it. It’s worth your time, and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
July 30, 2024
Don't be scared off by the cover - this book made me hungry for two things: Korean food, and for the protagonist to get her vengeance on all the trashy men in her life.
Alternating at whiplash speeds between tantalizing descriptions of food and shockingly gory passages, this book was like a modern riff upon Hannibal - if Hannibal was a college-aged, lower middle-class Korean-American girl. It was absolutely fantastic.
If I hadn't seen the word thrown around in marketing, I would've had no idea this was a debut. I listened to the audiobook, impeccably narrated by Jaine Ye, and I highly recommend that experience, for the full effect of Korean names and dishes. I noticed none of the weird prose other reviews mentioned; the descriptions are the strongest part of the story, equal parts horrifying and mouth-watering.
And I think this is not only a riff upon classics like Hannibal - it's an improvement. The social commentary that Ji-won's particular circumstances enable is fantastic, everything from the fetishization of Asian women by white men, to the intersection of gender and immigration status in America, and the awkward transition from child to adult during those college years. There was some subtle sapphic content, too. But hang on to your seats - the plot moves along at a brisk pace, Ji-Won's descent into the tunnel vision of vengeance and violence accelerating as the story approaches the last third.
Alternating at whiplash speeds between tantalizing descriptions of food and shockingly gory passages, this book was like a modern riff upon Hannibal - if Hannibal was a college-aged, lower middle-class Korean-American girl. It was absolutely fantastic.
If I hadn't seen the word thrown around in marketing, I would've had no idea this was a debut. I listened to the audiobook, impeccably narrated by Jaine Ye, and I highly recommend that experience, for the full effect of Korean names and dishes. I noticed none of the weird prose other reviews mentioned; the descriptions are the strongest part of the story, equal parts horrifying and mouth-watering.
And I think this is not only a riff upon classics like Hannibal - it's an improvement. The social commentary that Ji-won's particular circumstances enable is fantastic, everything from the fetishization of Asian women by white men, to the intersection of gender and immigration status in America, and the awkward transition from child to adult during those college years. There was some subtle sapphic content, too. But hang on to your seats - the plot moves along at a brisk pace, Ji-Won's descent into the tunnel vision of vengeance and violence accelerating as the story approaches the last third.
April 21, 2025
WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT!
This debut novel is a literary horror story following Ji-Won and the slow beginnings of her become an unhinged bad bitch…respectfully! Ji-Won’s dad has left the home and her mother and siblings are understandably very hurt and distraught. Things only get worse when eventually Ji-won mum returns home with a man named George and frankly he is a POS! His condescending racist ways stems a newfound rage in Ji-won and we start to see how she ends up unravelling and feasting for revenge.
I don’t know what I was expecting with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is not a typical horror/thriller read but more of a literary psychological fiction. The book starts off slow as we get an intro and understanding of Ji-won and the trauma and issues she and her family has faced being a Korean-American family living in America.
When we are introduced to the foul, despicable, cretin that is George is where the story really picks up. For a short novel, the author spectacularly managed to raise themes of racism, misogyny, cannibalism, bullying, violence and so much more. The book really packed a punch.
Ji-won is not a particularly likeable character in terms of her behaviour and reaction to her friendships, but you also can’t help but root for her when it comes to her trying to get rid of George. She is so unhinged, and you already know I love me some UNHINGED WOMEN!
The latter part of the book is where it really picks up, but along the way you are completely grossed out with how the author interjects gory, icky adjectives and inner thoughts of Ji-won. (this is not a book to be read while eating btw)
I absolutely loved the ending of the book and my only critiques would be that I wish it had actual “scary” parts and there was just too many dream sequences.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The cover alone has me SHOOOOKED!
Hoping this is the perfect short horror read!
🩵🤍🩵
This debut novel is a literary horror story following Ji-Won and the slow beginnings of her become an unhinged bad bitch…respectfully! Ji-Won’s dad has left the home and her mother and siblings are understandably very hurt and distraught. Things only get worse when eventually Ji-won mum returns home with a man named George and frankly he is a POS! His condescending racist ways stems a newfound rage in Ji-won and we start to see how she ends up unravelling and feasting for revenge.
I don’t know what I was expecting with this one, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is not a typical horror/thriller read but more of a literary psychological fiction. The book starts off slow as we get an intro and understanding of Ji-won and the trauma and issues she and her family has faced being a Korean-American family living in America.
When we are introduced to the foul, despicable, cretin that is George is where the story really picks up. For a short novel, the author spectacularly managed to raise themes of racism, misogyny, cannibalism, bullying, violence and so much more. The book really packed a punch.
Ji-won is not a particularly likeable character in terms of her behaviour and reaction to her friendships, but you also can’t help but root for her when it comes to her trying to get rid of George. She is so unhinged, and you already know I love me some UNHINGED WOMEN!
The latter part of the book is where it really picks up, but along the way you are completely grossed out with how the author interjects gory, icky adjectives and inner thoughts of Ji-won. (this is not a book to be read while eating btw)
I absolutely loved the ending of the book and my only critiques would be that I wish it had actual “scary” parts and there was just too many dream sequences.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
⋆｡°✩pre read⋆｡°✩
The cover alone has me SHOOOOKED!
Hoping this is the perfect short horror read!
🩵🤍🩵
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