Reviews with content warning for Death of parent - Victim

Between reading VICTIM and, previously, YELLOWFACE, I'm starting to think I have a thing for satire. VICTIM was a fun, cringe-filled ride that—despite being *very* contemporary—had a literary fiction-esque way of subtly exploring race, victimhood, stereotypes, socioeconomic disparities, the US justice system, etc.

I really liked how VICTIM is a strong commentary on our culture's obsession with minority communities' trauma. I wanted to shake Javier (the main character) many times, but the pressure he felt and his desire to feed the "machine" accurately reflects what we see in the publishing industry, popular on-screen narratives, etc. I had a hard time putting this book down even though it wasn't the most tightly written, unpredictable story ever. I was entertained! 👏🏽 I'd recommend this to those who enjoyed YELLOWFACE, SUCH A FUN AGE, or ERASURE/the movie American Fiction.

*Disclaimer: The team at Doubleday sent me an ARC of this title. All opinions are 100% my own.

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I absolutely loved this book. I think folks, like me, who liked Yellowface but found that book to not quite hit it out of the park will really enjoy this one. VICTIM examines the exploitation of POC trauma for personal gain, particularly when it comes to accessing elite, predominantly white spaces. The question is who these trauma stories serve, whether they're reductionist narratives that paint individuals as mere objects without agency.

This is a great book for those who love an unlikable character--the narrator has few, if any, redeeming characteristics but instead is used as a means of thinking through what it means to be a "victim." This is not going to be a book that you can consume idly, though; it forces readers to think critically about the themes presented and does not force anyone to come to any conclusions. I think the last couple of pages tied everything up a little too neatly but other than that, I don't have too many complaints!

Thanks so much to Doubleday for the gifted ARC!

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