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A review by katsbooks
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
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
4.5
“It's crazy how lonely it is to be in a family.”
“It's easier to watch myself be sad than actually feel sad.”
“We all have the same boring problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it.”
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I also have Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi on my physical TBR and now that I know how she writes, I can't wait to finally read that one too. I loved Choi's writing. It was snarky and sarcastic, sometimes quite vulgar. It made the main character and her sister feel so realistic. Their banter felt real and earned over a childhood spent together.
Jayne wasn't necessarily the most likable character ever but Choi did a great job of balancing her messy decisions with the contexts for why. I also really enjoyed how we weren't just reading from her POV but how we were genuinely in her head. As the reader, you don't necessarily notice certain things until it becomes obvious to Jayne. I didn't realize this right away so I missed some major foreshadowing and was surprised when I finally made the connection.
I also really loved the themes in this book. It touches on immigration. Jayne and her sister, June, immigrated to Texas as kids from Korea. Their culture and story played heavily into their relationship with each other and with their parents. It also touches on illnesses such as cancer and eating disorders, and all of the uncertainty that comes with. There are scenes with Jayne's therapist. I love mental health rep! I also really loved how the author describes New York. It kind of becomes its own character from Jayne's perspective.
All in all, this is an excelllent book. The story is equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. The writing is witty and absolutely excellent. I will read from this author again in the future.
“It's easier to watch myself be sad than actually feel sad.”
“We all have the same boring problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do is talk about it.”
This book was so much more than I thought it would be. I also have Emergency Contact by Mary H.K. Choi on my physical TBR and now that I know how she writes, I can't wait to finally read that one too. I loved Choi's writing. It was snarky and sarcastic, sometimes quite vulgar. It made the main character and her sister feel so realistic. Their banter felt real and earned over a childhood spent together.
Jayne wasn't necessarily the most likable character ever but Choi did a great job of balancing her messy decisions with the contexts for why. I also really enjoyed how we weren't just reading from her POV but how we were genuinely in her head. As the reader, you don't necessarily notice certain things until it becomes obvious to Jayne. I didn't realize this right away so I missed some major foreshadowing and was surprised when I finally made the connection.
I also really loved the themes in this book. It touches on immigration. Jayne and her sister, June, immigrated to Texas as kids from Korea. Their culture and story played heavily into their relationship with each other and with their parents. It also touches on illnesses such as cancer and eating disorders, and all of the uncertainty that comes with. There are scenes with Jayne's therapist. I love mental health rep! I also really loved how the author describes New York. It kind of becomes its own character from Jayne's perspective.
All in all, this is an excelllent book. The story is equal parts heart-breaking and heart-warming. The writing is witty and absolutely excellent. I will read from this author again in the future.