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jaydiebug's review
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
umbranrealness's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this a lot! It takes a wee bit of time to get to grips with and feel like you get the characters, but once you do you just want them all to be honest and get the love they want.
The way Jayne's eating disorder is described is interesting - other books I've read (e.g. Milk Fed) relay a constant obsession with food and calories. To start with, the fact that Jayne hasn't eaten all day is only really referred to in passing sentences and that slowly ramps up as the book goes on.
The ending was PERFECT.
The way Jayne's eating disorder is described is interesting - other books I've read (e.g. Milk Fed) relay a constant obsession with food and calories. To start with, the fact that Jayne hasn't eaten all day is only really referred to in passing sentences and that slowly ramps up as the book goes on.
The ending was PERFECT.
loriluo's review against another edition
4.0
Yolk is not an easy read.
The novel is told from the perspective of Jayne Baek, a Korean-American student in NYC. She's long been in the shadow of her accomplished older sister, who lives in the same city as her and has an esteemed job at a hedge fund, and is struggling to live her day-to-day life with a number of familiar difficulties: affording rent, living with a sort-of-boyfriend who doesn't pay rent, and being away from her family in Texas. Jayne's story is slowly pieced together as time goes on, and we see the complex and difficult love-hate relationship she has both with her sister and with herself.
I really appreciated how Mary Choi handled the topic of eating disorders here; throughout most of the novel, it's very rarely touched upon and only occasional hints of something wrong are subtlety thrown in throughout Jayne's thoughts. It's only at the end that we, the reader, realize for just how long Jayne has struggled, and the ways that her experiences and relationships have contributed to it.
The writing felt a bit terse at times, and I would have loved more insight into Jayne's feelings and past experiences, but this was nonetheless a novel I blazed through.
The novel is told from the perspective of Jayne Baek, a Korean-American student in NYC. She's long been in the shadow of her accomplished older sister, who lives in the same city as her and has an esteemed job at a hedge fund, and is struggling to live her day-to-day life with a number of familiar difficulties: affording rent, living with a sort-of-boyfriend who doesn't pay rent, and being away from her family in Texas. Jayne's story is slowly pieced together as time goes on, and we see the complex and difficult love-hate relationship she has both with her sister and with herself.
I really appreciated how Mary Choi handled the topic of eating disorders here; throughout most of the novel, it's very rarely touched upon and only occasional hints of something wrong are subtlety thrown in throughout Jayne's thoughts. It's only at the end that we, the reader, realize for just how long Jayne has struggled, and the ways that her experiences and relationships have contributed to it.
The writing felt a bit terse at times, and I would have loved more insight into Jayne's feelings and past experiences, but this was nonetheless a novel I blazed through.
monarchsandmyths's review against another edition
5.0
Ugh I have so many feelings about this book and thus am very unsure about the rating. It's definitely good. It's also very raw and hard to read, but god it's so real and complex.
taylormoore6's review against another edition
emotional
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
4.5
A novel about two sisters who are polar opposites. They must work together when one of them has a health crisis. This book was about being young and messy, while trying to get ahold of your life. I loved the sibling dynamics and the interrogation of their Korean upbringing.
marie_cure's review against another edition
5.0
I'm one of those people who could sit in a car feeling nauseated for hours, yet never throw up. It chalks down to tilting my chin upwards, swallowing back the saliva that precedes vomit and refusing to let the contents of my stomach rise. Similarly, I can read dozens and dozens of depressing novels, feeling the urge to cry, staring at the wall thinking "this is a good time to sob" before I realize I won't shed any tears. Admittedly, I do not force back my tears, but the result is the same. Nausea, no vomit. Sadness, no tears.
With that being said, I cried twice while reading Yolk. Once when Jayne described her mother as unknowable, and a second time when Jayne's mom explained why she took the trip in Jayne's sophomore year. In many relationships, a character takes a definitive stance. Love, hate, indifference. Yet, much like real life, the relationship between a character and those who raised them feels muddled and tangled with mixed emotions. I adored how the author chose to center Jayne's mother in this novel. It prevented Jayne's romantic relationship from dominating the story and made the novel feel more realistic.
Lastly, the portrayal of Jayne's binge eating disorder was so excellently written. We always receive the aftermath of Jayne's binges, from the trash she disposed of to how she concealed it from others. Yet, at the climax, we finally have her in the act of eating, which makes each bite feel so raw and untethered. I can only sit in admiration for Choi's writing, hoping I practice this lesson in craft in my own stories.
With that being said, I cried twice while reading Yolk. Once when Jayne described her mother as unknowable, and a second time when Jayne's mom explained why she took the trip in Jayne's sophomore year. In many relationships, a character takes a definitive stance. Love, hate, indifference. Yet, much like real life, the relationship between a character and those who raised them feels muddled and tangled with mixed emotions. I adored how the author chose to center Jayne's mother in this novel. It prevented Jayne's romantic relationship from dominating the story and made the novel feel more realistic.
Lastly, the portrayal of Jayne's binge eating disorder was so excellently written. We always receive the aftermath of Jayne's binges, from the trash she disposed of to how she concealed it from others. Yet, at the climax, we finally have her in the act of eating, which makes each bite feel so raw and untethered. I can only sit in admiration for Choi's writing, hoping I practice this lesson in craft in my own stories.
semi's review
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
this is not a quick, cute read like at all. please read the trigger warnings before picking this up.
this was a painful kaleidoscope of self-loathing, complicated sister dynamics, eating disorders, being Korean-American, immigrant parents, grief, family bonds, and coming to terms with oneself. the characters are not likable, but that didn’t ruin my reading experience tbh but i can see why it would deter people away from the book. you also gotta stick with the details. what may feel like random side comments connect at the end to create a more hopeful, tender conclusion to this novel.
this was a painful kaleidoscope of self-loathing, complicated sister dynamics, eating disorders, being Korean-American, immigrant parents, grief, family bonds, and coming to terms with oneself. the characters are not likable, but that didn’t ruin my reading experience tbh but i can see why it would deter people away from the book. you also gotta stick with the details. what may feel like random side comments connect at the end to create a more hopeful, tender conclusion to this novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder, Vomit, Toxic relationship, and Cancer
Moderate: Infertility, Abandonment, and Racism
Minor: Body shaming
asteroidfields's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
j3ssica's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
5.0
honestly at first i was like how is this gonna end like WHAT and well you keep reading and it’s honestly just a really good book in my opinion. i would totally reccomend this book to anyone. i really do love this book so please give it a try!