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yunsq's reviews
145 reviews
Edge Case by YZ Chin
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Ah!! What a read.
Edge Case (which I’ve now learnt means an anomaly that appears when testing a tech product..?) tells the story of a Malaysian woman trying to prolong her time in the US as a legal residence. All of this alongside the relentless search for her grieving husband who left without a word.
The story is as messy as Edwina, the main character, and the main character is as messy as the story (her life). But such is life, isn’t it? Of duality,
mess, confusion, relentless fruitless pursuit? YZ Chin did a great job interweaving and layering childhood trauma, issues of gender, sexism in the tech industry, racism & xenophobia, marriage, self-image all into one character. Though sometimes hard to read, Edwina wasn’t cold, unfeeling and impossible to understand. I found the ending refreshing, and surprisingly not lost on me for how open-ended it is.
I really enjoyed the writing, and must have obsessively highlighted huge chunks of texts every other page. Particularly the descriptions of Edwina’s new found eating habits and how they manifest in the body she’s taught to disassociate from and dislike. As readers, we watch her fall, literally, falter, waver, celebrate the smallest wins with caution and tiny doses of disbelief, navigate her relationship with her mum, grow completely honest with herself and more.
Edge Case was a literary treat. And I think a mirror for introspection and reflection.
Edge Case (which I’ve now learnt means an anomaly that appears when testing a tech product..?) tells the story of a Malaysian woman trying to prolong her time in the US as a legal residence. All of this alongside the relentless search for her grieving husband who left without a word.
The story is as messy as Edwina, the main character, and the main character is as messy as the story (her life). But such is life, isn’t it? Of duality,
mess, confusion, relentless fruitless pursuit? YZ Chin did a great job interweaving and layering childhood trauma, issues of gender, sexism in the tech industry, racism & xenophobia, marriage, self-image all into one character. Though sometimes hard to read, Edwina wasn’t cold, unfeeling and impossible to understand. I found the ending refreshing, and surprisingly not lost on me for how open-ended it is.
I really enjoyed the writing, and must have obsessively highlighted huge chunks of texts every other page. Particularly the descriptions of Edwina’s new found eating habits and how they manifest in the body she’s taught to disassociate from and dislike. As readers, we watch her fall, literally, falter, waver, celebrate the smallest wins with caution and tiny doses of disbelief, navigate her relationship with her mum, grow completely honest with herself and more.
Edge Case was a literary treat. And I think a mirror for introspection and reflection.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fatphobia, Racism, and Sexism
Minor: Sexual harassment
One of the Girls by Lucy Clarke
emotional
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
4.25
My first read on my kobo and I breezed through it!
Ah! Where do I begin. Aside from the joy and convenience the kobo has brought into my life, this book was a treat. I thought it was really well written for a escapist thriller and murder mystery, with thorough world-building and character development. Each character distinct, alive and believable.
The vibes were 🧚♀️immaculate🧚♀️. My favourite were the food descriptions and Eleanor’s breakfast preps every morning. My favourite chapters were Robyn and Eleanor’s and my least favourite was Lexi’s. Ana and Fen’s chapters were the hardest to read. The irony of not caring too much about the bride’s story when the entire mystery happens during a hen weekend.
As the book progressed, it became harder to get through simply because I didn’t one any of them to be the person found dead. Perhaps because I devoured the book, but I had grown to liking them, which rarely happens to me in thrillers.
Overall, a great read! I wish I read this on holiday. Would’ve been a great plane/airport read. But an off-day reading sprint isn’t too shabby either.
Knocked off a star for the predictable ending; though it did make me teary-eyed!
Ah! Where do I begin. Aside from the joy and convenience the kobo has brought into my life, this book was a treat. I thought it was really well written for a escapist thriller and murder mystery, with thorough world-building and character development. Each character distinct, alive and believable.
The vibes were 🧚♀️immaculate🧚♀️. My favourite were the food descriptions and Eleanor’s breakfast preps every morning. My favourite chapters were Robyn and Eleanor’s and my least favourite was Lexi’s. Ana and Fen’s chapters were the hardest to read. The irony of not caring too much about the bride’s story when the entire mystery happens during a hen weekend.
As the book progressed, it became harder to get through simply because I didn’t one any of them to be the person found dead. Perhaps because I devoured the book, but I had grown to liking them, which rarely happens to me in thrillers.
Overall, a great read! I wish I read this on holiday. Would’ve been a great plane/airport read. But an off-day reading sprint isn’t too shabby either.
Knocked off a star for the predictable ending; though it did make me teary-eyed!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Bullying, Sexual assault, and Death
Moderate: Emotional abuse
Minor: Car accident
The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Read content warnings first before reading the book!!
I am struggling to rate this one. Don’t get me wrong, I devoured the book in 3 days. The fastest I’ve read since I’ve gotten into a reading slump in the last months. I say struggle because of how dark, stomach-churning and unsettling the story is, and anxiety-inducing it was for me.
Not to say that the ending was too open for my liking. I felt like I pulled through all of the front bits for no reward lol. Perhaps it was meant to replicate real life? Where there really isn’t a well-crafted ending?? Maybe we don’t really have to know how the couple would react to the news for us to acknowledge that evil exists? It also didn’t sit right with me that we quickly went from trauma-informed behaviour to born-evil conclusions. Could’ve been handled better and with more sensitivity, in my opinion.
Another review mentioned how the world-building and some of the major events were contradicting throughout the multi-POV chapters, or even just completely forgotten. This I absolutely agree with.
Overall, maybe a 3? I’m not really sure what to feel about it. Other than my lingering fear from the story maybe.
I am struggling to rate this one. Don’t get me wrong, I devoured the book in 3 days. The fastest I’ve read since I’ve gotten into a reading slump in the last months. I say struggle because of how dark, stomach-churning and unsettling the story is, and anxiety-inducing it was for me.
Not to say that the ending was too open for my liking. I felt like I pulled through all of the front bits for no reward lol. Perhaps it was meant to replicate real life? Where there really isn’t a well-crafted ending?? Maybe we don’t really have to know how the couple would react to the news for us to acknowledge that evil exists? It also didn’t sit right with me that we quickly went from trauma-informed behaviour to born-evil conclusions. Could’ve been handled better and with more sensitivity, in my opinion.
Another review mentioned how the world-building and some of the major events were contradicting throughout the multi-POV chapters, or even just completely forgotten. This I absolutely agree with.
Overall, maybe a 3? I’m not really sure what to feel about it. Other than my lingering fear from the story maybe.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Violence, Infertility, and Torture
Moderate: Death, Excrement, Animal death, and Vomit
Can't Look Away by Carola Lovering
3.0
White people suspense and drama!! Just the distraction I needed. I thought the epilogue was the best chapter out of all.
Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson
4.5
A moving, hilarious, and incredibly human book. These weird, fire kids have my heart. I wish Lillian well 🫧
The Disappearing Act by Catherine Steadman
5 audiobook stars for sure!! The effort!! The muffled voices, the voices on the other end of the phone call.. the eerie sound effects, the tangible sounds of pages flipping.. I am very impressed.
I also really loved the ending. That last and final twist. I was well spooked.
Heavy content warnings though.
I also really loved the ending. That last and final twist. I was well spooked.
Heavy content warnings though.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Car accident, and Rape