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A review by nicolem_young
The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim
4.0
Book/Story: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TRIGGER(S): CANNIBALISIM, MURDER, MISOGYNY, CULTURAL FETISH, RACISM, MENTAL HEALTH, INFIDELITY, GORE, DIVORCE
POV: Singular, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Tropes: None
Spice: None
Genre: Horror
Debut Novel: Yes
Safe or Dark: Dark (I tried to add all the triggers I could remember above)
I know we are told to never judge a book by its cover, but I bet a lot of people will pick this one up because of it. It’s so weird and gorgeous with vibrant colors. I love it!
At times this book made me want to rage and my thoughts are all over the place so this review might make zero sense.
MY FELLOW UNHINGED FEMALES, THIS IS OUR BOOK!
I knew what this book was about before I started reading it, but I think it would be so much more fun if you went into this blind.
This story is a slow burn that boils over into absolute CHAOS. Fellow readers, the burn was so good. The pacing was just right. Not so slow that you lose interest in what’s happening, but not so fast that everything is rushed and blurs together. We really get to see how our FMC, Ji-won Lim, deals with the deterioration of her mental health. We are witnessing her life spiral out of control.
This book is easy to read, but still very well written. The chapters are short, so you can get a lot read in one sitting. While not all of them end on an intense cliffhanger, the book keeps you interested enough to want to keep reading to find out what happens.
Although this is ultimately a horror novel, it has an incredible number of layers. Quite a few heavy topics are being covered here. Shit gets deep. There are cultural themes, which were done wonderfully. The portrayal of how people of other cultures are viewed and, at times, treated in the Western world was so well done.
The eldest daughters will sympathize with our FMC on quite a few levels. I would know, because I am one. She feels the need to take care of her mom and younger sister in the wake of their dad walking out on them. She takes on the responsibility of piecing her mom together and hiding her bouts of depression from her sibling. Ji-won takes on the role of protector and nurturer within her small family unit. She does her best to keep the peace in the home all while trying to balance college and a (minimal) social life.
It screams FIRST BORN DAUGHTER ENERGY!
It really hits homes with men (and women) fetishizing women (and men) from different cultures. As a Persian-American, I was also able to relate to this in a few ways. It doesn’t happen to me very often, but it has happened.
I guess my point is that Monika Kim made this book a very relatable one.
The author makes it so easy for you to cheer on the characters you’re supposed to like and hate the ones you aren't supposed to be fans of. The personalities, characteristics, and vibes of each character are nicely built. They shine throughout the story. You truly see each person for who they are.
I’m not a feminist by any means but the men in this book were DISGUSTING. They made my skin crawl. Again, we aren’t supposed to like them and we DON’T.
As I mentioned above, this book has LAYERS. It gets rather tense at times, and honestly, you should make sure you’re in the right headspace before diving into it.
Sometimes dream sequence scenes can fall flat and be rather boring, but these were written so well. At times, I felt like I was in the nightmares with Ji-won. I really enjoyed diving into her subconscious mind.
Ji-Won gets satisfying revenge on the men who wronged her (and her family). GOOD FOR YOU, GIRL! GOOD
Book Cover: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
TRIGGER(S): CANNIBALISIM, MURDER, MISOGYNY, CULTURAL FETISH, RACISM, MENTAL HEALTH, INFIDELITY, GORE, DIVORCE
POV: Singular, First Person
Series/Standalone: Standalone
Tropes: None
Spice: None
Genre: Horror
Debut Novel: Yes
Safe or Dark: Dark (I tried to add all the triggers I could remember above)
I know we are told to never judge a book by its cover, but I bet a lot of people will pick this one up because of it. It’s so weird and gorgeous with vibrant colors. I love it!
At times this book made me want to rage and my thoughts are all over the place so this review might make zero sense.
MY FELLOW UNHINGED FEMALES, THIS IS OUR BOOK!
I knew what this book was about before I started reading it, but I think it would be so much more fun if you went into this blind.
This story is a slow burn that boils over into absolute CHAOS. Fellow readers, the burn was so good. The pacing was just right. Not so slow that you lose interest in what’s happening, but not so fast that everything is rushed and blurs together. We really get to see how our FMC, Ji-won Lim, deals with the deterioration of her mental health. We are witnessing her life spiral out of control.
This book is easy to read, but still very well written. The chapters are short, so you can get a lot read in one sitting. While not all of them end on an intense cliffhanger, the book keeps you interested enough to want to keep reading to find out what happens.
Although this is ultimately a horror novel, it has an incredible number of layers. Quite a few heavy topics are being covered here. Shit gets deep. There are cultural themes, which were done wonderfully. The portrayal of how people of other cultures are viewed and, at times, treated in the Western world was so well done.
The eldest daughters will sympathize with our FMC on quite a few levels. I would know, because I am one. She feels the need to take care of her mom and younger sister in the wake of their dad walking out on them. She takes on the responsibility of piecing her mom together and hiding her bouts of depression from her sibling. Ji-won takes on the role of protector and nurturer within her small family unit. She does her best to keep the peace in the home all while trying to balance college and a (minimal) social life.
It screams FIRST BORN DAUGHTER ENERGY!
It really hits homes with men (and women) fetishizing women (and men) from different cultures. As a Persian-American, I was also able to relate to this in a few ways. It doesn’t happen to me very often, but it has happened.
I guess my point is that Monika Kim made this book a very relatable one.
The author makes it so easy for you to cheer on the characters you’re supposed to like and hate the ones you aren't supposed to be fans of. The personalities, characteristics, and vibes of each character are nicely built. They shine throughout the story. You truly see each person for who they are.
I’m not a feminist by any means but the men in this book were DISGUSTING. They made my skin crawl. Again, we aren’t supposed to like them and we DON’T.
As I mentioned above, this book has LAYERS. It gets rather tense at times, and honestly, you should make sure you’re in the right headspace before diving into it.
Sometimes dream sequence scenes can fall flat and be rather boring, but these were written so well. At times, I felt like I was in the nightmares with Ji-won. I really enjoyed diving into her subconscious mind.
Ji-Won gets satisfying revenge on the men who wronged her (and her family). GOOD FOR YOU, GIRL! GOOD