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jackbifrost's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I really enjoyed the characterisation in this story, everybody felt believable and fully fleshed out. Ji-won was a really interesting character and I liked following her story but sometimes I felt like she switched personas too instantaneously which made it hard to suspend my belief during the more violent parts.
Weirdly, I just wish the book was longer to expand upon certain plot points, her father leaving, her relationship with her sister, and her growing compulsion, to allow for a more believable and gradual descent into her obsession. That said, I’d definitely read from this author again and recommend for people looking for a short horror/thriller read, though not to those easily grossed out.
Weirdly, I just wish the book was longer to expand upon certain plot points, her father leaving, her relationship with her sister, and her growing compulsion, to allow for a more believable and gradual descent into her obsession. That said, I’d definitely read from this author again and recommend for people looking for a short horror/thriller read, though not to those easily grossed out.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Body horror, Cannibalism, Misogyny, Racism, Blood, Abandonment, Gore, and Death
Moderate: Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Self harm, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Violence, and Stalking
meltingpages's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Whatever you do, don't read this book while eating! In this book we meet Ji-won who is struggling after the separation of her parents. Her mother finds a new boyfriend who gives Ji-won and her sister the creeps, not to mention her dreams about wanting to eat the new boyfriends' eyeballs. We see Ji-won have to deal with racism and misogyny from those around her and watch her slowly spiral out of control. The horrors of racism and misogyny aren't the only kind of horror though, we also have some good old-fashioned cannibalism, tons of gore, and a serial killer. There were so many good for her revenge moments too, I found myself rooting for Ji-won the more she gave in to her impulses. And the ending will probably stay with me for quite a while! If you enjoyed Maeve Fly like I did, I think you'll definitely enjoy this one as well, and I'm really looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Racism and Sexism
hayliosreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Monika Kim’s debut novel consists of an unravelling story of female rage, racism and the loss of sanity; all while adapting to new changes in family and education. The Eyes Are the Best Part follows Ji-Won – the older sister – navigating and adjusting to the collapse of her mother’s marriage and the emptiness her father has left.
While her mother and sister try not to spiral from the abandonment, Ji-Won starts college. However, it isn’t her dream college where all her friends have gone to and this results in jealousy, manipulation and the loss of said friends. Due to this, Ji-Won struggles with her first semester, which isn’t helped with the worry of her mother and her sister.
This is all bad enough, so luckily Ji-Won befriends Alexis and Geoffery. However, there’s more to Geoffrey then it seems. But there’s also more to Ji-Won so wouldn’t this be the perfect pairing?
Ji-Wons’ mother now has a new boyfriend – George – who is a misogynistic and racist middle-aged white man. His fetishism of Asian women seeps through as predatory behaviour as the story develops. The only good thing about George are his mesmerising blue eyes.
This issue is just the tip of the iceberg Ji-Won needed in order to spiral into a state of insanity. When her dreams turn into nightmares and hallucinations, Ji-Won decides to act on them. But has she gone too far?
Monika Kims’ writing is somewhat of a masterpiece to me. Although I thought the spiral into madness started off a bit too slow, it almost made sense as it was the story itself followed the slow turn into madness that Ji-Won goes through in the novel. I do feel like the ending was somehow rushed as the readers to have a lot of information thrown at them all at once; but again this could be interpreted as the speed of how someones’ mind gathers information.
I loved this book which is why I gave it 5 stars. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions that once it started picking up after the first couple of chapters, I couldn’t put it down. While the ending does make you question some things, this also gives the opportunity of a follow up book if Monika Kim decided to do one, but it also is a perfect stand alone book if you love slow release horror.
I know it’s not even out yet, but I’m excited to see what Kim comes up with next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Racism, Death, Sexism, Murder, Blood, and Stalking
emeliaisreading_'s review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Title: The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Horror
Pub Date: June 25, 2024
⭐ 3.75/5
🥢 Descent Into Insanity
🧿 Korean FMC
🥢 Feminine Rage
We watch as a sleep deprived college student decends into insanity. A Korean college student decends into madness as the men in her life continue to disappear or disappoint. After a fateful meal with her Umma, she's consumed with the thought of eyes between her teeth.
I must admit I was confused for the beginning of the book, but once I realized what was happening it was pretty interesting. I'm not sure if I can say it necessarily fits the horror genre, but I think eyeballs make basically everyone squeamish so if you're not into descriptive horror this might not be for you! I did appreciate the feminine rage wasn't for one political side or the other because honestly, there are disgusting people on both sides 👏
Thank you so much NetGalley and Kensington Books for the review copy!🫶
Genre: Psychological Thriller/Horror
Pub Date: June 25, 2024
⭐ 3.75/5
🥢 Descent Into Insanity
🧿 Korean FMC
🥢 Feminine Rage
We watch as a sleep deprived college student decends into insanity. A Korean college student decends into madness as the men in her life continue to disappear or disappoint. After a fateful meal with her Umma, she's consumed with the thought of eyes between her teeth.
I must admit I was confused for the beginning of the book, but once I realized what was happening it was pretty interesting. I'm not sure if I can say it necessarily fits the horror genre, but I think eyeballs make basically everyone squeamish so if you're not into descriptive horror this might not be for you! I did appreciate the feminine rage wasn't for one political side or the other because honestly, there are disgusting people on both sides 👏
Thank you so much NetGalley and Kensington Books for the review copy!🫶
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Cannibalism, Mental illness, and Misogyny
Minor: Xenophobia, Sexism, and Stalking
not_another_ana's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
When Ji-won's father leaves and initiates a divorce the nomal stable life she knew implodes. Between starting college, looking out for her little sister and dealing with a severely depressed mother Ji-won is at her limit. When her mom finds herself a boyfriend, a rude white american with a fetish for asian women, she starts to unravel and develop an obsession for eyes. Bright blue eyes specifically. Her hunger grows as her life unravels to the point where she cannot contain the compulsion to possess and devour.
Come for the horror stay for the family drama. A solid debut, the writing shines when focused on the family dynamics. I especially liked the relationship between the two sisters, it rang true and real. The relationship with the mother and the cultural baggage of an immigrant parent came across well, always present without being in your face. The other side characters outside the family needed more fleshing out. Some of the commentary on racism, xenophobia, and fetishization was a bit too on the nose but I understand that some people need to have it spelled out. Plus it is true and happens every day so I don't think there was anything wrong with that.
Now for the horror elements of this story. I didn't like them but I think it's a case of good book wrong reader. Body horror/gore isn't my cup of tea, it doesn't horrify me nor delights me, and that's a huge part of the book. Prepare to read long detailed descriptions of eyes and for cuestionable things to happen to them. This was a quick read that felt rushed at the end. A lot of what happens in the last 20% or so was very clear from the start and the ending itself was wrapped up too neatly and tidy. I thought this book was going for a more open ended finale or more of a downward spiral but it pulled back at the finish line.
I think this is solid, just not for me.
When Ji-won's father leaves and initiates a divorce the nomal stable life she knew implodes. Between starting college, looking out for her little sister and dealing with a severely depressed mother Ji-won is at her limit. When her mom finds herself a boyfriend, a rude white american with a fetish for asian women, she starts to unravel and develop an obsession for eyes. Bright blue eyes specifically. Her hunger grows as her life unravels to the point where she cannot contain the compulsion to possess and devour.
Come for the horror stay for the family drama. A solid debut, the writing shines when focused on the family dynamics. I especially liked the relationship between the two sisters, it rang true and real. The relationship with the mother and the cultural baggage of an immigrant parent came across well, always present without being in your face. The other side characters outside the family needed more fleshing out. Some of the commentary on racism, xenophobia, and fetishization was a bit too on the nose but I understand that some people need to have it spelled out. Plus it is true and happens every day so I don't think there was anything wrong with that.
Now for the horror elements of this story. I didn't like them but I think it's a case of good book wrong reader. Body horror/gore isn't my cup of tea, it doesn't horrify me nor delights me, and that's a huge part of the book. Prepare to read long detailed descriptions of eyes and for cuestionable things to happen to them. This was a quick read that felt rushed at the end. A lot of what happens in the last 20% or so was very clear from the start and the ending itself was wrapped up too neatly and tidy. I thought this book was going for a more open ended finale or more of a downward spiral but it pulled back at the finish line.
I think this is solid, just not for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Gore, Mental illness, Blood, Cannibalism, Sexism, and Violence
Moderate: Xenophobia
Literally all the eye trauma, if you dislike anything related to eyes do not pick this uplauren_reads_outside's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
This book was hard to read, not because it wasn't good but because the characters and the imagery were so clear it was difficult to get through without flinching. In high school we dissected sheep's eyes and I've never wished more that I didn't know what it feels like to hold and cut into an eyeball as I did while reading this book.
I do wish the queer coded scenes with Ji-won and Alexis went a little bit further as they just sort of end up as an aside to the main story. The main story though really tells of a woman who simply has reached the edge and snapped and honestly who can blame her.
This book was hard to read, not because it wasn't good but because the characters and the imagery were so clear it was difficult to get through without flinching. In high school we dissected sheep's eyes and I've never wished more that I didn't know what it feels like to hold and cut into an eyeball as I did while reading this book.
I do wish the queer coded scenes with Ji-won and Alexis went a little bit further as they just sort of end up as an aside to the main story. The main story though really tells of a woman who simply has reached the edge and snapped and honestly who can blame her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Death, Blood, Misogyny, Infidelity, Racism, Body horror, Cannibalism, and Gore
Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, and Racial slurs
Minor: Pedophilia and Pregnancy
chrissypops's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Thank you netgalley, Monika Kim and Kensington Books, Erewhon Books for the arc of The Eyes are the Best Part.
This was a great, fun quick, gory read of Ji- Won and her increasing obsession of blue eyes after she tastes her first fish eye at home. The narrative was medium paced at the beginning picking up to a fast pace from half way through the book. The descriptive gore when Ji-won starts realising she's addicted to eyes is well done, because it's added with the dread and the build up of the obsession.
I feel that this book also tackles loss, grief, mental heath and abuse very well. The Korean culture and expectations was interweaved within the narrative beautifully and made for a wonderful tense read. Would love to see this released into the audiobook world!
This was a great, fun quick, gory read of Ji- Won and her increasing obsession of blue eyes after she tastes her first fish eye at home. The narrative was medium paced at the beginning picking up to a fast pace from half way through the book. The descriptive gore when Ji-won starts realising she's addicted to eyes is well done, because it's added with the dread and the build up of the obsession.
I feel that this book also tackles loss, grief, mental heath and abuse very well. The Korean culture and expectations was interweaved within the narrative beautifully and made for a wonderful tense read. Would love to see this released into the audiobook world!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Addiction, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Cannibalism, and Grief
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexism, Stalking, and Misogyny
devynreadsnovels's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Blood, Gore, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Death, Pedophilia, Racism, Body horror, Cannibalism, Sexism, and Stalking
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, Abandonment, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Cursing, and Gaslighting
aedoran08's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Blood, and Body horror
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Death, Sexism, Misogyny, Racism, Abandonment, and Stalking
Minor: Pedophilia, Alcoholism, Grief, and Drug abuse
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