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thebakerbookworm's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was a stunning debut! Told from dual perspectives, the story alternates between Min's story, as he deals with the aftermath of Yu-jin's death and tries to determine if she actually committed suicide or if something more sinister happened, and Yu-jin's story, as she grows up an only child to a powerful government-official father and all the expectations that come with that, leading up to her eventual death.
I really liked the writing style of this one. There's a lot of room for reflection and the main characters are given space to breathe and grow and be complex. There are a few surprises, but while there is a mystery aspect, it's definitely more literary fiction, with the slower pace and character-driven plot. I really liked Min and Yu-jin and the journey that they both go on.
I do wish we'd gotten to spend a bit more time with some of the side characters, particularly Misaki and Detective Park, as I thought they also had interesting stories. I kinda wished we'd gotten some Misaki POV chapters.
We know from the beginning that Yu-jin is dead, and while this book isn't a sob fest, it's definitely a sad story, so don't read if you're not in the right mindset. There are several mentions and discussions of suicide. It's worth reading though, especially for all the reflections on identity and self-reflection and family and culture.
Thanks so much to Dutton Books for sending me this ARC!
I really liked the writing style of this one. There's a lot of room for reflection and the main characters are given space to breathe and grow and be complex. There are a few surprises, but while there is a mystery aspect, it's definitely more literary fiction, with the slower pace and character-driven plot. I really liked Min and Yu-jin and the journey that they both go on.
I do wish we'd gotten to spend a bit more time with some of the side characters, particularly Misaki and Detective Park, as I thought they also had interesting stories. I kinda wished we'd gotten some Misaki POV chapters.
We know from the beginning that Yu-jin is dead, and while this book isn't a sob fest, it's definitely a sad story, so don't read if you're not in the right mindset. There are several mentions and discussions of suicide. It's worth reading though, especially for all the reflections on identity and self-reflection and family and culture.
Thanks so much to Dutton Books for sending me this ARC!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Grief, Emotional abuse, and Homophobia
kamin8882's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-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
"Sometimes at night the darkness and silence weighs upon me. Peace frightens me; perhaps I fear it most of all. I feel it is only a facade hiding the face of hell."
I loved this book so much. I have been obsessed with all things Asian culture lately, so when I saw this book was set in Korea, I knew I needed it. This book was told form two POV's -- Min in present day third person, and flashbacks form Yu-Jin in the first person. I loved this style of writing because while Min was in the present day trying to figure out what why Yu-Jin would take her own life, we were getting the back story from Yu-Jin explaining her upbringing-- being an only child, a female, daughter to the minister of defense in Korea-- and how that affected her actions and feelings leading up to her suicide. I loved that Wiley explored a LGBTQ relationship in Korea and how it is not acceptable in Korea.. This explored the conflict between respecting your parents and honoring your family, and being true to yourself and feeling free to be who you really are, which was not easy for Yu-Jin at all.
Everyone in this story-- Min, So Ra, Yu-Jin, Misaki-- all were looking for themselves and trying to discover who they were outside their families and the restrictions of their culture. It was a beautiful story of love, identity and honor.
I loved this book so much. I have been obsessed with all things Asian culture lately, so when I saw this book was set in Korea, I knew I needed it. This book was told form two POV's -- Min in present day third person, and flashbacks form Yu-Jin in the first person. I loved this style of writing because while Min was in the present day trying to figure out what why Yu-Jin would take her own life, we were getting the back story from Yu-Jin explaining her upbringing-- being an only child, a female, daughter to the minister of defense in Korea-- and how that affected her actions and feelings leading up to her suicide. I loved that Wiley explored a LGBTQ relationship in Korea and how it is not acceptable in Korea.. This explored the conflict between respecting your parents and honoring your family, and being true to yourself and feeling free to be who you really are, which was not easy for Yu-Jin at all.
Everyone in this story-- Min, So Ra, Yu-Jin, Misaki-- all were looking for themselves and trying to discover who they were outside their families and the restrictions of their culture. It was a beautiful story of love, identity and honor.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Grief, Outing, and Suicide
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