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bookishkrys's review against another edition
dark
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
5.0
romethegreenwood's review
4.0
Read about 70% of this in one sitting on a very fast train and I'm not sure if it was the book or train that made me start to feel a bit ill. If it was the book, congratulations for being the first book to ever do that to me. This was very fun and engrossing but the thing is. I think I am tired of hashtag Good For Her feminine rage etc etc. There's not really any more road we can tread here, I feel, and Clytemnestra already did it back before 0 AD. And this was very much trying to do that, which is sad, because I think it has so many strengths - getting to watch the protagonist descend into madness, to see her become less concerned with anyone finding out, is fascinating. I love when a book imitates the spiral a character is going down in its pacing. This was fun, but I do wish it went further.
amacordova's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ayts's review against another edition
dark
5.0
"A fool and his eyes are easily parted." I requested this book primarily because the title and cover are so disturbing I was immediately intrigued. And the story did not disappoint. It's as disturbing and gory as a book with a human eye separated from its head on the cover should be.
We meet Ji-won and her Mother and Sister after her Father has abandoned his family for another woman. A few months afterwards her Mother announces that she's seeing someone, a white man named George. George is a disgusting person with the most enticing and delicious looking blue eyes who fetishizes Asian women. Once Ji-won realizes it's up to her to protect herself and her family from the disgusting men in the world, her mental stability quickly begins to spiral as she plots revenge against men who think "...that we are demonstrably inferior to our male counterparts. We are smaller, weaker, stupider. When we succeed, it’s only because men allow us to." Ji-won seeks to prove those fools wrong.
I read this story in one sitting! Ji-won is a fascinating unhinged fmc that I couldn't wait to read more of her descent into madness.
We meet Ji-won and her Mother and Sister after her Father has abandoned his family for another woman. A few months afterwards her Mother announces that she's seeing someone, a white man named George. George is a disgusting person with the most enticing and delicious looking blue eyes who fetishizes Asian women. Once Ji-won realizes it's up to her to protect herself and her family from the disgusting men in the world, her mental stability quickly begins to spiral as she plots revenge against men who think "...that we are demonstrably inferior to our male counterparts. We are smaller, weaker, stupider. When we succeed, it’s only because men allow us to." Ji-won seeks to prove those fools wrong.
I read this story in one sitting! Ji-won is a fascinating unhinged fmc that I couldn't wait to read more of her descent into madness.
heathenbun's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
4.0
The Eyes Are the Best Part is a disturbing novel about racism and misogyny.
I really enjoyed reading it, but it did get very graphic at times. I enjoyed the writing and the commentary. I do feel like the ending was somewhat rushed although I was still satisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books.
I really enjoyed reading it, but it did get very graphic at times. I enjoyed the writing and the commentary. I do feel like the ending was somewhat rushed although I was still satisfied.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington books.
hsheehan85's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
Fantastic! Ji-won is my favorite type of character. I loved getting to know her and her descent into what she becomes. Ji-won was a fascinating unreliable narrator.
This book actually grossed me out, but I am squeamish when it comes to eye stuff. It's like the one thing that will get me everytime. I love to push my boundaries and I am so happy I did because this book is a great read. The characters are well-developed and interesting. The storyline is intriguing and the execution of reading about Ji-won becoming more and more unhinged was done well
This book actually grossed me out, but I am squeamish when it comes to eye stuff. It's like the one thing that will get me everytime. I love to push my boundaries and I am so happy I did because this book is a great read. The characters are well-developed and interesting. The storyline is intriguing and the execution of reading about Ji-won becoming more and more unhinged was done well
bethniamh's review
3.75
Many thanks to NetGalley and Brazen for a digital ARC in exchange for a review.
I raced through this book in a single afternoon. Ji-won is an likeable but increasingly unhinged and messy narrator, and I found myself sympathising and rooting for her in her murderous pursuit of her mother's boyfriend, despite the collateral damage that built up along the way. Ji-won's activities made me feel a little nauseous at times, and I'm not sure I'll be able to enjoy hard-boiled eggs and cherry tomatoes in the same way for quite some time.
My only criticism is that the ending felt very rushed and implausible; I'm not sure a certain outcome could have been achieved without alarms alerting staff as to what was happening, and the way things panned out for Ji-won was a little too neat, as she hadn't exhibited such a calculated mindset previously. Things were left hanging unnecessarily at the last minute with Ji-won's decision as to what to do about her father. However, this doesn't overshadow how much I enjoyed the rest of the story.
I raced through this book in a single afternoon. Ji-won is an likeable but increasingly unhinged and messy narrator, and I found myself sympathising and rooting for her in her murderous pursuit of her mother's boyfriend, despite the collateral damage that built up along the way. Ji-won's activities made me feel a little nauseous at times, and I'm not sure I'll be able to enjoy hard-boiled eggs and cherry tomatoes in the same way for quite some time.
My only criticism is that the ending felt very rushed and implausible; I'm not sure a certain outcome could have been achieved without alarms alerting staff as to what was happening, and the way things panned out for Ji-won was a little too neat, as she hadn't exhibited such a calculated mindset previously. Things were left hanging unnecessarily at the last minute with Ji-won's decision as to what to do about her father. However, this doesn't overshadow how much I enjoyed the rest of the story.
trr51591's review against another edition
4.25
Ji-Won is furious. Her father just left her, her mother, and her sister for a younger woman. She's struggling in school for the first time in her life. She has no friends. And her mother has totally lost it, glomming on to a new man, George, who is literally The Worst. Pushed to the brink by having to put up with a patriarchal society that sees her as nothing but a fetish object, Ji-Won begins to focus her simmering rage on George, and starts to have nightmares--or are they dreams of desire--of eating a pair of bright blue eyes. Familiar eyes. George's eyes.
This is a visceral, gross-but-in-a-fun-way horror following Ji-Won's mental spiral that is the epitome of supporting women's rights, but more importantly women's wrongs. Pun intended when I say I ate it up. If you're squeamish you will not like this, but if you're looking for a short, snappy, feminist horror book that feels fresh and unique, definitely check this one out! I actually read the author's query draft on r/PubTips months back and was so excited to see it avaiable on NetGalley because the premise really stuck in my head, and I was not disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
This is a visceral, gross-but-in-a-fun-way horror following Ji-Won's mental spiral that is the epitome of supporting women's rights, but more importantly women's wrongs. Pun intended when I say I ate it up. If you're squeamish you will not like this, but if you're looking for a short, snappy, feminist horror book that feels fresh and unique, definitely check this one out! I actually read the author's query draft on r/PubTips months back and was so excited to see it avaiable on NetGalley because the premise really stuck in my head, and I was not disappointed. Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.