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weirdstars_inheaven's review against another edition
4.5
started the book during the summer i went to college, and i remember feeling it drag a bit…then i came back from college and read it all in one day (today) and my biggest thought was “damn did i read the book or did the book read me” and “YEOUCH”
tea_librarian's review against another edition
dark
emotional
slow-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
4.0
mariahistryingtoread's review against another edition
3.0
TW: Jayne has had a severe eating disorder for years. This affects every aspect of the book and is relevant on pretty much every page. Her mental health is very poor; her disordered eating is part of how she self-harms and copes. It is described almost obliquely for half the book, but it becomes increasingly direct as the book continues.
The problem with Yolk for me was how much of the estrangement was just Jayne.
The book is clearly supposed to be about a complex, dysfunctional sisterhood. You are meant to observe how the two sisters equally aid and obstruct their dynamic; the impact their well meaning imperfect parents had on their long term development.
All I saw was Jayne being irrationally hateful of her (potentially) dying sister for uncharitable reasons that, as we got more details on, were manifestly her own fault.
As Jayne is established to be an unreliable narrator any explanation she gave already had my hackles up. The grievous sin June committed to kickstart Jayne's willful detestation would have to be particularly bad for me to feel like it wasn't simply Jayne projecting onto the situation. And ultimately, that's what the majority of the conflict was. While June did contribute, the level of vitriol and contempt Jayne had for June predated June ever doing or saying anything.
I'm fine with an unlikable protagonist - even if I spend the whole book frustrated - as long as it it serves the story. In that regard Jayne delivered tremendously. The only part of the puzzle that was missing was more on June. In a book that is about sisterly conflict it's largely about Jayne's internal struggles. Ironic considering the fact that June's biggest criticism of Jayne is that she's so self absorbed.
I would have appreciated a dual point of view to get insight into June's perspective, particularly when it came to the cancer. Being a career woman seemed to be a guiding light for June, how did having cancer affect that mindset? Especially a cancer so rooted in many cisgender women's idea of womanhood. Did she have regrets about her choices up until that point? Did she mourn the loss of biological children? Did she resent the fact that she did not get to choose whether or not she had biological children? What about long-term partner potential? Was she worried about what this might meant for finding a long-term partner? Was it difficult already for her to find someone given the fact that men are often threatened by a woman they perceive to be 'too intelligent'? How did it feel to realize she had no one to lean on in this time of extreme distress and fear except her unreliable sister? How did it feel to actually have cancer? What did it do to her mental state? Her body? What did it feel like to be so sick so relatively young? There is so much that could have been explored in June's own words that was ignored in favor of Jayne's 'idea' of what was happening with June.
The synopsis suggests that the two sisters are committing insurance fraud to save June's life. This is only somewhat true: June commits the fraud without Jayne's consent before Jayne even enters the picture. Jayne is now forced to go along with it. The only reason I bring it up when typically I'd just chalk a revelation like this up to a twist is that the framing of it by the synopsis changes the tenor of the story. By framing it like the two sisters are in on it, it projects a kind of socially critical us-against-the-world vibe to the story that is nonexistent. These two were not united on anything for more than two seconds. It was exceptionally easy for June to defraud the hospital. There was never any tangible risk of getting found out. While the healthcare system in the United States is medieval, criticism of it was very rudimentary because it was clear a hard hitting critique was not Choi's intention. I was not expecting an all out thriller and/or no holds barred social commentary, but I did go in thinking it'd be more like My Sister The Serial Killer (note: I've never read this book, but I'm talking about the general vibes it gave off).
As alluded to above, the cancer is merely set dressing. Most of the book Jayne is murky on the details (ie. she doesn't bother asking) and June generally unforthcoming. The cancer is background noise to Jayne's untreated mental illness. She cares about it in relation to herself: how will she feel losing her sister? A valid point of course because obviously she will be a wreck if her sister dies. However, the book is very ambivalent in its description of cancer comparatively. Really the catalyst for contact might as well have been a car accident June needed help recovering from. Not to say Choi is not allowed to pick whatever she wants to be the tragic circumstance that brings the two together, but if you're going to choose cancer I expect cancer to have more involvement in character or plot progression. June's life barely changes at all over the duration of the book and like I said before, it's not like we get her opinion on it overall either way. If she is lucky enough to not be suffering too much I still want to hear about how how her experience differs.
Ultimately, though this book is well written my enjoyment was tempered by the fact that Jayne is a deeply unwell, miserable person. A mentally ill person who refuses to take accountability or get treatment is an exhausting person to be around. Being inside Jayne's mind was an exercise in willpower. She had a victim complex a mile long. She was avoidant to a fault. She was frequently jealous and spiteful. Her negative self-talk while understandable due to the literal chemical imbalance in her brain was also annoying because you knew she wasn't going to try to improve. She was unbelievably selfish to the point she couldn't even comfort a friend who opened up to her about her previous abusive relationship because she enjoyed the superiority of the girl wanting her validation in that moment. She finds out she's the other woman and is only upset that he might not be choosing her than the fact that this guy has to be a scumbag. She was so allergic to vulnerability she couldn't even properly be there for June her cancer-ridden sister who Jayne had no good or valid reason for not supporting, if she loved her like she purported to.
At the end of the book, at the very least, you can say that Jayne is actually trying now. I commend Choi for writing such a realistic portrayal when mental health continues to atrophy over a broad expanse of time. Tackling deep-seated trauma and a lifetime of internalized racial hatred on top of that will be an ugly, long process in which Jayne will still probably be a nightmare of a person for awhile as she learns healthy coping skills. It makes sense that she is not all right as rain by the end of the book nor would I want her to be so quickly. That said, it's a heavy, often upsetting read as a result. For all of the honesty in the depiction, it did not make Jayne any less bleak to read about for so long. Keep that in mind if you choose to pick it up.
The problem with Yolk for me was how much of the estrangement was just Jayne.
The book is clearly supposed to be about a complex, dysfunctional sisterhood. You are meant to observe how the two sisters equally aid and obstruct their dynamic; the impact their well meaning imperfect parents had on their long term development.
All I saw was Jayne being irrationally hateful of her (potentially) dying sister for uncharitable reasons that, as we got more details on, were manifestly her own fault.
As Jayne is established to be an unreliable narrator any explanation she gave already had my hackles up. The grievous sin June committed to kickstart Jayne's willful detestation would have to be particularly bad for me to feel like it wasn't simply Jayne projecting onto the situation. And ultimately, that's what the majority of the conflict was. While June did contribute, the level of vitriol and contempt Jayne had for June predated June ever doing or saying anything.
I'm fine with an unlikable protagonist - even if I spend the whole book frustrated - as long as it it serves the story. In that regard Jayne delivered tremendously. The only part of the puzzle that was missing was more on June. In a book that is about sisterly conflict it's largely about Jayne's internal struggles. Ironic considering the fact that June's biggest criticism of Jayne is that she's so self absorbed.
I would have appreciated a dual point of view to get insight into June's perspective, particularly when it came to the cancer. Being a career woman seemed to be a guiding light for June, how did having cancer affect that mindset? Especially a cancer so rooted in many cisgender women's idea of womanhood. Did she have regrets about her choices up until that point? Did she mourn the loss of biological children? Did she resent the fact that she did not get to choose whether or not she had biological children? What about long-term partner potential? Was she worried about what this might meant for finding a long-term partner? Was it difficult already for her to find someone given the fact that men are often threatened by a woman they perceive to be 'too intelligent'? How did it feel to realize she had no one to lean on in this time of extreme distress and fear except her unreliable sister? How did it feel to actually have cancer? What did it do to her mental state? Her body? What did it feel like to be so sick so relatively young? There is so much that could have been explored in June's own words that was ignored in favor of Jayne's 'idea' of what was happening with June.
The synopsis suggests that the two sisters are committing insurance fraud to save June's life. This is only somewhat true: June commits the fraud without Jayne's consent before Jayne even enters the picture. Jayne is now forced to go along with it. The only reason I bring it up when typically I'd just chalk a revelation like this up to a twist is that the framing of it by the synopsis changes the tenor of the story. By framing it like the two sisters are in on it, it projects a kind of socially critical us-against-the-world vibe to the story that is nonexistent. These two were not united on anything for more than two seconds. It was exceptionally easy for June to defraud the hospital. There was never any tangible risk of getting found out. While the healthcare system in the United States is medieval, criticism of it was very rudimentary because it was clear a hard hitting critique was not Choi's intention. I was not expecting an all out thriller and/or no holds barred social commentary, but I did go in thinking it'd be more like My Sister The Serial Killer (note: I've never read this book, but I'm talking about the general vibes it gave off).
As alluded to above, the cancer is merely set dressing. Most of the book Jayne is murky on the details (ie. she doesn't bother asking) and June generally unforthcoming. The cancer is background noise to Jayne's untreated mental illness. She cares about it in relation to herself: how will she feel losing her sister? A valid point of course because obviously she will be a wreck if her sister dies. However, the book is very ambivalent in its description of cancer comparatively. Really the catalyst for contact might as well have been a car accident June needed help recovering from. Not to say Choi is not allowed to pick whatever she wants to be the tragic circumstance that brings the two together, but if you're going to choose cancer I expect cancer to have more involvement in character or plot progression. June's life barely changes at all over the duration of the book and like I said before, it's not like we get her opinion on it overall either way. If she is lucky enough to not be suffering too much I still want to hear about how how her experience differs.
Ultimately, though this book is well written my enjoyment was tempered by the fact that Jayne is a deeply unwell, miserable person. A mentally ill person who refuses to take accountability or get treatment is an exhausting person to be around. Being inside Jayne's mind was an exercise in willpower. She had a victim complex a mile long. She was avoidant to a fault. She was frequently jealous and spiteful. Her negative self-talk while understandable due to the literal chemical imbalance in her brain was also annoying because you knew she wasn't going to try to improve. She was unbelievably selfish to the point she couldn't even comfort a friend who opened up to her about her previous abusive relationship because she enjoyed the superiority of the girl wanting her validation in that moment. She finds out she's the other woman and is only upset that he might not be choosing her than the fact that this guy has to be a scumbag. She was so allergic to vulnerability she couldn't even properly be there for June her cancer-ridden sister who Jayne had no good or valid reason for not supporting, if she loved her like she purported to.
At the end of the book, at the very least, you can say that Jayne is actually trying now. I commend Choi for writing such a realistic portrayal when mental health continues to atrophy over a broad expanse of time. Tackling deep-seated trauma and a lifetime of internalized racial hatred on top of that will be an ugly, long process in which Jayne will still probably be a nightmare of a person for awhile as she learns healthy coping skills. It makes sense that she is not all right as rain by the end of the book nor would I want her to be so quickly. That said, it's a heavy, often upsetting read as a result. For all of the honesty in the depiction, it did not make Jayne any less bleak to read about for so long. Keep that in mind if you choose to pick it up.
poppyedition's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
plumjam's review against another edition
4.0
Yolk is a very personal book that felt like a letter Choi was writing to her younger self. Jayne's self-image, behavior in relations, and how she utilizes them as a method of self-harm is raw and done bluntly. It genuinely feels like Jayne is laying out her bare thoughts without any form of flowery diction. Although the writing is clunky at times and the pacing wasn't the best, things improve by the second half and progressively get more emotional. This might be the first time a book had me crying the day after finishing it. I might carry the last chapter with me forever- .
Spoiler
that moment of motherly love and reassurance that most of us can reminisce and/or yearn forsherry_shaji's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
makennahbristow's review against another edition
emotional
funny
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
edreyes's review against another edition
5.0
Loved this book! Definitely my new favorite from her. I laughed, cried and enjoyed every page of this book.
theythemsam's review against another edition
4.75
This was such a tender and loving book😭. I loved how there were so many things it tackled like eating disorders, sisterhood, love, being in your early 20s, etc. I could feel the undoing of Jayne through her and Patrick’s sex scene. It was way more than sex, but the undoing of all the negative things she’s felt about sex and herself in that moment. That was one of the most rawest and beautiful sex scenes I’ve ever read and it was so honest. June in the tub while Jayne takes care of her was such a beautiful scene. There were so many tender moments in this book, my heart. June saying she knows Jayne is still dealing with her ED because she notices her sniffing her fingers😭. Jayne bringing their mom for the surgery last minute 😭. June throwing her prized possession, the porcelain doll, so Jayne could learn her lesson to not go out in the flowerbeds anymore in Seoul. I just love so many of the moments shared between the sisters and Jayne and Patrick. I felt like I experienced the sisters lives unfold right in front of me.