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A review by whatellisreadnext
Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi
emotional
funny
hopeful
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
5.0
๐ ๐ฅ๐ช๐ฅ๐ฏ'๐ต ๐ฌ๐ฏ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐ ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฅ ๐ข ๐ฉ๐ฐ๐ญ๐ฆ ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ฎ๐บ ๐ฉ๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ต ๐ช๐ฏ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ด๐ฉ๐ข๐ฑ๐ฆ ๐ฐ๐ง ๐ข๐ฏ ๐ข๐ท๐ฐ๐ค๐ข๐ฅ๐ฐ ๐ฆ๐จ๐จ ๐ต๐ช๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ณ.
Jayne and June are sisters, and have moved from Seoul to San Antonio to New York together. They used to be thick as thieves, but haven't spoken in years. Until June gets cancer, and Jayne is the only person who can help her.
I love this book with my whole heart. I was so attached to these sisters, that at 1am last night when I finished it, I just sat on my sofa crying for 20+ minutes. I just couldn't believe that I wouldn't be with Jayne and June again ๐ญ
YA contemporary is not a genre I ever read or gravitate towards, but I knew I needed this book as soon as I saw it. Not only is it a beautiful book, the writing is incredible. Choi writes such realistic characters, full of so much depth and inner conflict.
The main protagonist Jayne, struggles with an eating disorder, which makes the book really hard to read at times. Choi writes a note to the reader at the beginning of the book, that she herself has struggled with disordered eating in the past, warning the reader that it could be an emotionally expensive story for some, and for people to be gentle with themselves. This translates in her writing, and even before having read her other two books, she is a new favourite author for me. That is how much I adored this story.
I loved how the book touched on the girl's parents, and how much they sacrificed immigrating so that their daughters could have better lives. I even enjoyed the romantic arc of the book, I know right, who even am I? Jayne spends most of her life thinking she doesn't deserve love, and when she finds it, I was pumping my fist in the air like John Bender in The Breakfast Club. Get it girl ๐
I am so thankful to Rosie @bristolianbooks for sending me a surprise copy of Yolk, you made my week. I've realised since that books about sisters reconnecting might be my new favourite trope. This is a tough read, but a super important one too๐งก
Jayne and June are sisters, and have moved from Seoul to San Antonio to New York together. They used to be thick as thieves, but haven't spoken in years. Until June gets cancer, and Jayne is the only person who can help her.
I love this book with my whole heart. I was so attached to these sisters, that at 1am last night when I finished it, I just sat on my sofa crying for 20+ minutes. I just couldn't believe that I wouldn't be with Jayne and June again ๐ญ
YA contemporary is not a genre I ever read or gravitate towards, but I knew I needed this book as soon as I saw it. Not only is it a beautiful book, the writing is incredible. Choi writes such realistic characters, full of so much depth and inner conflict.
The main protagonist Jayne, struggles with an eating disorder, which makes the book really hard to read at times. Choi writes a note to the reader at the beginning of the book, that she herself has struggled with disordered eating in the past, warning the reader that it could be an emotionally expensive story for some, and for people to be gentle with themselves. This translates in her writing, and even before having read her other two books, she is a new favourite author for me. That is how much I adored this story.
I loved how the book touched on the girl's parents, and how much they sacrificed immigrating so that their daughters could have better lives. I even enjoyed the romantic arc of the book, I know right, who even am I? Jayne spends most of her life thinking she doesn't deserve love, and when she finds it, I was pumping my fist in the air like John Bender in The Breakfast Club. Get it girl ๐
I am so thankful to Rosie @bristolianbooks for sending me a surprise copy of Yolk, you made my week. I've realised since that books about sisters reconnecting might be my new favourite trope. This is a tough read, but a super important one too๐งก
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cancer, Eating disorder, Mental illness, and Medical content
Minor: Miscarriage