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libraryoflanelle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-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
4.0
‘The Eyes Are the Best Part’ is a psychological horror novel following Ji-won through a tough period in life, during which things gradually become very unhinged.
Having read the blurb in it’s entirety after finishing the book, I am grateful that I started this book knowing very little beyond the title, cover, and the involvement of eyeballs. If you haven't read the description yet, I would strongly encourage you to do the same, provided it feels safe for you.
As expected, there are many eyeballs involved, usually in very gory ways, so consider yourself warned.
Beyond the absolutely unhinged spiral into madness and rage, I found myself truly appreciating the social commentaries, from critiques of the patriarchy and the family unit to the exploration of the fetishisation of Asian women and cultural belonging.
I will note that the book has a very slow start, where the pacing feels somewhat stunted. However, once it picks up, it REALLY picks up. I also found myself craving more detail around certain plot points but felt fairly satiated… ;) by the end.
I am already excited for whatever Monika Kim writes next. Her writing style is incredibly gripping and vivid—some might say even a little too vivid at times!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the e-arc. All opinions are my own.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Gore, and Murder
Moderate: Blood, Confinement, Racism, and Death
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
brea's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, and Racism
samantha_sahm_reads's review against another edition
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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Gore, Racism, Cannibalism, and Body horror
Moderate: Gaslighting and Stalking
Minor: Pedophilia
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
As an API woman during API heritage month, let me just say I again, support women’s wrongs, specifically Ji-won’s wrongs 💅🏽
This horror/thriller novel revolves around Ji-won who begins to fixate on and dream about blue eyes, as she navigates college, her parents’ separation, her mom dating, sexism, fetishization of API women, racism, and more. I love seeing fictional yt men suffer tbh.
Though it has a slow start, I ended up reading it in one sitting & would absolutely read from Monika Kim again!
As an API woman during API heritage month, let me just say I again, support women’s wrongs, specifically Ji-won’s wrongs 💅🏽
This horror/thriller novel revolves around Ji-won who begins to fixate on and dream about blue eyes, as she navigates college, her parents’ separation, her mom dating, sexism, fetishization of API women, racism, and more. I love seeing fictional yt men suffer tbh.
Though it has a slow start, I ended up reading it in one sitting & would absolutely read from Monika Kim again!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cannibalism, Body horror, and Gore
Moderate: Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Racism, Stalking, Misogyny, and Cancer
ellulin's review against another edition
4.0
The Eyes are the Best Part is a short and fast paced horror novel about a young korean-american woman trying to navigate college in the midst of her parents separating. Her mom starts dating a new guy who does not seem like a great pick, she is starting to have weird dream about blue blue eyes, and her little sister is starting to notice something is not right with her.
This novel deals with how children deal with their parents separating and how it impacts them even if they are already adults. It also talks a lot about racism and the hypersexualisation of asian women. Queer characters are implied.
At the beginning of this book I was a little confused about why it was classified as horror but it is just due to a slow beggining (in terms of horror). If you are squeamish about eyes, please do not pick up this book, even the descriptions about eating fish eyes were a lot so I am warning you. There is not a lot of body horror besides eye stuff.
I think that the main character, Ji-won, and her mother are well written but most of the other characters are unfortunately very one tone. For the villains I don't really mind honestly as it drives the point home harder, but I was sad not to learn more about her sister or her friend Alexis. The ending was also veryyyy fast paced and there is huge reveal that is kind of brushed under the rug and that felt a bit weird.
Overall I like the gross body horror, the ending even if it was a bit rushed, and having an unhinged female character. It could have benefited from being a little longer but it is a fun short read and I would definitely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
This novel deals with how children deal with their parents separating and how it impacts them even if they are already adults. It also talks a lot about racism and the hypersexualisation of asian women. Queer characters are implied.
At the beginning of this book I was a little confused about why it was classified as horror but it is just due to a slow beggining (in terms of horror). If you are squeamish about eyes, please do not pick up this book, even the descriptions about eating fish eyes were a lot so I am warning you. There is not a lot of body horror besides eye stuff.
I think that the main character, Ji-won, and her mother are well written but most of the other characters are unfortunately very one tone. For the villains I don't really mind honestly as it drives the point home harder, but I was sad not to learn more about her sister or her friend Alexis. The ending was also veryyyy fast paced and there is huge reveal that is kind of brushed under the rug and that felt a bit weird.
Overall I like the gross body horror, the ending even if it was a bit rushed, and having an unhinged female character. It could have benefited from being a little longer but it is a fun short read and I would definitely recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cannibalism, Murder, and Gore
Moderate: Toxic friendship, Sexual harassment, Racism, Cultural appropriation, and Misogyny
sidekicksam's review against another edition
dark
funny
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
🥢 The Eyes Are The Best Part 🥢
New unhinged girlie book alert!!!!!I devoured this book as Ji-won devours blue eyes.
I loved how this book started off with me asking myself 'huh, this is not horror? where is the story i expected to get?' and it unraveled and spiraled quickly (but not too quickly!) into the most bonkers of stories. The Eyes Are The Best Part is a story of grief, complicated family dynamics, obsession, the fetishization of Asian women, immigration trauma, cultural differences, and of course: body horror!!!
George, and everything he stands for, was such a hilarious addition to the story. Both his misogyistic and fetishizing tendendies, but also his relationship to Ji-won's mom and the confusing relationship she has with him, made him such a great side character and clear cause (the catalyst really) of her descent into madness. I think this summarizes their rapport pretty well: "Oriental? What am I, a rug?"
God, I loved this book! Exactly my kind of weird, unsettling, far-fetched and gory story. If you loved books like Chlorine, A Certain Hunger and those written by Mariana Enriquez, get this on your tbr now!!!!
New unhinged girlie book alert!!!!!
I loved how this book started off with me asking myself 'huh, this is not horror? where is the story i expected to get?' and it unraveled and spiraled quickly (but not too quickly!) into the most bonkers of stories. The Eyes Are The Best Part is a story of grief, complicated family dynamics, obsession, the fetishization of Asian women, immigration trauma, cultural differences, and of course: body horror!!!
George, and everything he stands for, was such a hilarious addition to the story. Both his misogyistic and fetishizing tendendies, but also his relationship to Ji-won's mom and the confusing relationship she has with him, made him such a great side character and clear cause (the catalyst really) of her descent into madness. I think this summarizes their rapport pretty well: "Oriental? What am I, a rug?"
God, I loved this book! Exactly my kind of weird, unsettling, far-fetched and gory story. If you loved books like Chlorine, A Certain Hunger and those written by Mariana Enriquez, get this on your tbr now!!!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Gore, and Racism
nstyner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
“In Korean, the word for ‘fortune’ is paljua.”
The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim follows Ji-Won as she navigates relationships, family, and………her appetite.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is DEFINITELY within the body horror genre so be prepared diving in. You may want to check trigger warnings beforehand. I enjoyed the descriptiveness of certain scenes in the story (LOL) and this is the first book to actually make me have a physical reaction.
In addition to the shock value of the story, I really liked how the topics around fetishism, self-proclaimed allyship, family dynamics, and “I’m a good guy” are explored and the effects these things can have on women, especially women of color.
My favorite thing about this book is that Ji-Won isn’t as “innocent” as one may think. Her character is VERY complex in how I understood 100% where she was coming from and have very well felt the same in some situations BUT she also did some messed up things herself……BUUUUUT I still understood what her actions were rooted in LOL. I was going through a constant back-and-forth with her character.
If you want a fast-paced, horror/body horror story with a complex character and interesting societal topics, then this book is for you! If you’ve ever had a white man say “I’ve never been with a [insert minority identity] before” OR “I heard [insert minority identity] enjoy XYZ” OR “I’m not like those other guys you’ve dated”, then you will find camaraderie within Ji-Won’s story.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC!!
The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim follows Ji-Won as she navigates relationships, family, and………her appetite.
I enjoyed reading this book. It is DEFINITELY within the body horror genre so be prepared diving in. You may want to check trigger warnings beforehand. I enjoyed the descriptiveness of certain scenes in the story (LOL) and this is the first book to actually make me have a physical reaction.
In addition to the shock value of the story, I really liked how the topics around fetishism, self-proclaimed allyship, family dynamics, and “I’m a good guy” are explored and the effects these things can have on women, especially women of color.
My favorite thing about this book is that Ji-Won isn’t as “innocent” as one may think. Her character is VERY complex in how I understood 100% where she was coming from and have very well felt the same in some situations BUT she also did some messed up things herself……BUUUUUT I still understood what her actions were rooted in LOL. I was going through a constant back-and-forth with her character.
If you want a fast-paced, horror/body horror story with a complex character and interesting societal topics, then this book is for you! If you’ve ever had a white man say “I’ve never been with a [insert minority identity] before” OR “I heard [insert minority identity] enjoy XYZ” OR “I’m not like those other guys you’ve dated”, then you will find camaraderie within Ji-Won’s story.
Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC!!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
lochnessvhs's review against another edition
dark
funny
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Add another incredible character to the Unhinged Women Literary Universe!
Ji-won is a first-year college student living at home with her parents and younger sister. When her father suddenly leaves the family, they are all set on a path none of them expected. Ji-won's mother meets George, a disgusting white man with an insidious Asian fetish and Ji-won does everything she can to hold what remains of her family together. Unfortunately the hardest person to keep in check is herself.
I loved every second of this book. The path to destruction Ji-won walks feels at once sudden and gradual. Her obsession with blue eyeballs rockets her into actions she would never have thought possible, but somehow I was rooting for her the entire way.
I support women's wrongs, especially Ji-won's wrongs!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kengsington Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Ji-won is a first-year college student living at home with her parents and younger sister. When her father suddenly leaves the family, they are all set on a path none of them expected. Ji-won's mother meets George, a disgusting white man with an insidious Asian fetish and Ji-won does everything she can to hold what remains of her family together. Unfortunately the hardest person to keep in check is herself.
I loved every second of this book. The path to destruction Ji-won walks feels at once sudden and gradual. Her obsession with blue eyeballs rockets her into actions she would never have thought possible, but somehow I was rooting for her the entire way.
I support women's wrongs, especially Ji-won's wrongs!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kengsington Books for providing an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Cultural appropriation, Murder, Toxic friendship, Cannibalism, Death, Gore, and Racism
whatsbridiereading's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Both the plot and the horror aspect of this book kept me hooked from the start. This is one of my favourite ‘female rage’ books- the kind where the MC has a reason for her rage, and where even when she’s doing despicable things you feel for her. I can’t wait to see what Monika Kim does next!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Racism, Body horror, Xenophobia, Blood, and Gore