goaskellice 's review for:

Luster by Raven Leilani

3.0

---

It’s late but I wanted to get down how I feel about this one now as I’ve just finished it, despite the fact I’m completely indifferent about it I feel? It started off very exciting to me, and I was really hoping for and expecting something juicy but it became completely mundane and almost boring(?) from the middle onwards. Spent a bit too much time going on about the things I don’t care about, like video games and intestinal problems lol? And god I cared so little about the painting… which made up like 40% of the bloody book, give me more sex and excitement and misery please. But really I wanted to know more about the dynamic of this bizarre love triangle / open marriage situation that the narrator got herself into. Loved how raw, open and honest it was about normal feelings and thoughts and the ongoing spotlight it puts upon casual and system racism is completely necessary. I just wanted more to actually happen…. And I’m not entirely sure I liked the character description like there was so much said about them yet I also feel like I hardly even knew them at all. Weird one to get my head around. 3/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️