The Eyes Are the Best Part

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

3.5 stars: I went into this book thinking it would be much more intense than it was, more like an extreme thriller. The first half feels like a fiction novel, which I actually really liked! I loved reading about Ji-won and her family as they deal with their mother's new boyfriend. Some of the food imagery near the beginning was particularly good. As the story progresses you really feel for the character and side with her in her actions. 

The action really picks up in the last third of the book, and it was pretty fun. I especially liked the last little bit and the thoughtfulness behind it. George's death and how Geoffrey was framed for it was a great cinematic moment!

I didn't care for all the dream (well, nightmare) scenes that took place. As we got closer to the end there were more and more, and they kind of took me out of the story and left me a little confused on if it was really happening. 

The writing is really good and immersive, I'm excited to read more from this author! 

read for summerween 2024: vlog coming soon

the eyes are the best part by monika kim is a brilliantly inventive and subversive feminist psychological horror novel that delves deep into the making of a female serial killer from a korean-american perspective. this book is not just about the grisly and thrilling elements of ji-won’s transformation, but it also profoundly explores the daily struggles and horrors faced by women of color, making it a truly compelling read.

one of the most captivating aspects of this novel is its exploration of the unique challenges that women of color encounter every day. the true horror of the story lies in the societal pressures, microaggressions, and blatant discrimination that ji-won faces, which are hauntingly relatable and powerfully depicted. monika kim masterfully intertwines these themes with the story of an unhinged woman seeking revenge, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

at its core, this novel is about a young woman discovering the harsh realities of how the world treats her. ji-won feels overlooked and ignored by everyone, from her family to society at large. this sense of invisibility and the accompanying rage are palpable throughout the book, and i found myself deeply relating to her struggles. as a college student navigating a tumultuous life, i saw reflections of my own experiences in ji-won’s journey, despite the extremity of her actions.

the depiction of ji-won’s unraveling is both mesmerizing and chilling. her dreams, filled with horrifyingly vivid imagery of bloody rooms and succulent blue eyes, add an eerie and surreal layer to the story. the character of george, her mother's obnoxious new boyfriend, serves as a perfect catalyst for ji-won’s descent into madness, making her actions, though extreme, understandable in the context of her suffering and rage.

this book is a must-read for fans of unhinged women and revenge stories. monika kim’s writing is gripping, and her ability to weave together themes of familial disintegration, societal neglect, and personal vengeance is nothing short of genius. the eyes are the best part will undoubtedly be added to my list of go-to recommendations for unhinged women revenge stories. it is a powerful, evocative, and unforgettable read that will leave you craving more.

I didn’t hate this book. I did appreciate the feminist narrative and touching on the topics of racism and fetishization. The toxic masculinity that was portrayed in the book felt very generic. I think the book could’ve benefited from a more less in your face misogyny examples to help give the character more depth. Same goes for the main character, I would’ve like to have read more into how she got to this place where she goes over the edge. It just happened, which leaves me wanting a bit more out of the character. You can read between the lines a bit to understand her frustration but the level of her extremities is what I wish had more reasoning behind. The gore was great. So if you’re looking for that you will definitely get that. One small thing I don’t care for, more so at the early parts of the book was the saturation of all the food talk. Not a big deal but I was getting full from all the eating references. Overall, just an ok book.