A review by breanneporter
Jaded by Ela Lee

dark 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? It's complicated

4.5

This was hard to read but extremely compelling. I’m between a 4/4.5 but I’m rounding up because of how much I thought about this novel in between reading sessions, and how quickly I finished it. It follows Ceyda, the successful lawyer daughter of Korean and Turkish immigrant parents, in thr weeks and months after she was SA’d by a coworker at her prestigious law firm. It focuses a lot on the relationship between her and her long term (white, wealthy) boyfriend, Kit, as they struggle to communicate and move forward together after Jade’s trauma, and how this event brings several red flags to the surface. It also describes in detail her mental health challenges and the professional repercussions she faces in the aftermath. 

The subject matter is difficult to stomach, and the author does not shy away from describing the body trauma, but I think it’s a really excellent examination of how this kind of violent assault can have far-reaching effects beyond physical pain, and really paints a picture of the types of mental and emotional (and relational and professional) issues that survivors face. The novel is also a searing commentary on the prevailing impact that race and misogyny has when it comes to who is protected and who is punished, and how even “nice, feminist guys” are often (willfully) oblivious to how they can benefit from or simply ignore actions that cause harm to women, and especially to women of color. Very impressed by this debut and will look out for more from this author. 
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