A review by joshlynjavier
Skinship by Yoon Choi

emotional reflective relaxing sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

a rare occasion when an anthology of eight stories means eight five star stories, each story could standalone or be expanded upon into a full story. 

this book is centered on the relationships between family and friends and the layers of beauty and heartbreak that often bind us together or drive us apart. 

yoon choi’s patience and understanding of empty space is so evident in her writing. these stories read exactly like the cover, beautiful, intentional, and skillfully uses negative space and silence to create such impactful stories.

while reading this, i was really reminded of “past lives” from a24 — one of my favorite films of last year that is so delicate on the surface but articulates so much depth and complexity in its exploration of the nuances of our asian american identities, and how they are shaped by the immigrant experience. 

tldr i super love this book and urge everyone to read it