Reviews with content warning for Body shaming - Yolk

4 / 5

I have to admit that I really enjoyed reading Yolk. Although I found some of the storytelling and characters to be a bit pretentious and unlikeable, the overall story was very engaging and kept me hooked until the end.

The story is told in a way that keeps you engaged from beginning to end, even if you're not a big fan of the characters. The book explores a range of complex issues, from sisterhood to mental health, and the author handles each one with sensitivity and insight.

While I can see how some readers may not connect with the characters, I found myself invested in their stories and rooting for them throughout the book. I think that Yolk is a great read for anyone who enjoys contemporary fiction with a touch of humor and heart.

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readingwithkelsey's review against another edition

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4.25

As usual, I enjoyed another book by Choi. She just has a way with characters that I really appreciate. They are extremely flawed and, while it might be a bit jarring at first, I think they are extremely realistic. I always relate to her characters in a really meaningful way. Another element I love about Choi's novels is her family relationships. In this one in particular, I really appreciated the relationship between the sisters. It is something I always love in books, and this book was no exception. Jayne and June have a very real sibling relationship. It can be slightly tough to read (particularly because June is struggling with cancer and Jayne is struggling with an eating disorder). The sisters have their own personal issues, but the way that they are there for one another and their problems really hit a spot for me. I also really enjoyed the side relationship in the novel, I think it was handled pretty maturely and added to Jayne's character overall instead of weighing her down. The plot is a very simple slice of life tale as the two sisters navigate their strained relationship and their own issues, but Choi continues to impress me with every book I read.

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xyloblue's review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad 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

3.5

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halfblood13's review against another edition

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emotional reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

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chavonnwshen's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful tense 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

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thehappybookwyrm's review against another edition

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4.0

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anniefwrites's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense 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

There's really no one who can beat the intricacy of Mary H. K. Choi's language. Her writing oozes intelligence, and her details are always microscopically specific. She weaves together a story so tightly wound that, when it finally unravels, it feels like a breath of fresh air. She humanizes her characters so fully, and when they do things that surprise you, it turns out to be exactly in line with who they are. An excellent read.

Content Warnings

nehaperi's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad

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

be sure to heed the trigger warnings for this one, if you read it! it is incredibly heavy.

this was just....so much, in the best sense of the words. so raw, and gritty, and just....messy, and i absolutely loved that? the characters were complex and unlikable and absolutely infuriating at times, and that felt like the point. i also really loved how asian culture kind of played into jayne and june's relationship. there were a lot of moments where what they were saying and doing, and what jayne was thinking, felt so relatable and specific to the way first gen asian american kids are raised.

as for jayne and june as a whole......just, wow. i've never seen someone do complicated sibling relationships so right. everything wasn't tied up neatly by the end, there were definitely things that still needed to be said and hashed out, conversations throughout were derailed and cut off and didn't feel finished, and all of it seemed really intentional. this is what having a sibling is like, and moreso, having a sibling you don't really get along well with, is like. reminded me of myself and my brother, for sure.

jayne's voice was so distinct and unique and i loved experiencing the world through her eyes. i was angry at her and then hurting for her and overall just hoping for the best for her. her struggles were so raw and so real. i loved how honest of a portrayal this was of struggling with disordered eating.

i was solid on a 4 until the last 100 or so pages, and then the last few made me cry, so....4.5, pretty much 5, for sure.

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