There’s a lot of buzz about this debut novel and it’s well deserved. Luster is the story of Edie, who’s 23, living in a crappy apartment in NYC, and working in a low level publishing job while she’d rather focus on her painting. She’s also carrying on an affair with a Eric, a married man in his 40’s. The differences between them are stark and yet they continue to be drawn to each other in progressively interesting ways. While the sexual affair is with Eric, a different sort of affair develops when Edie moves in with Eric’s family, at the request of his wife, Rebecca.
The characters are complicated and their actions and motivations weren’t always clear to me. Especially poignant were Edie’s interactions with Akila, Eric and Rebecca’s adopted daughter. Edie is self-destructive in so many ways (some seriously bad choices in men and things she did in the office), but she’s a fighter and determined.
The book covers a wide range of topics: mental illness, infidelity, broken homes, racism, and sexuality, to name a few. But the star of the book is Ms. Leilani’s writing - lyrical and so beautiful I re-read many sections.
Thanks to Netgalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the opportunity it’s to read Luster. I look forward to Ms. Leilani’s next book!

This is a beautifully written debut novel of women that is very much in flux with her life. Edie is in her twenties, not happy in her job, is very sexually adventurous, and is at the beginning of a relationship with a married man, Eric, who is exploring having an open marriage.

What makes this even stranger, she develops a relationship with Eric’s wife. Edie finds out they have an adopted daughter Akila who is Black, and she wants Edie to help with her because she is only the other Black woman she knows.

Eventually because of circumstances, Edie moves in with them. She become an ally to the wife and eventually Akila. Eric still does not know what to think about the situation, but continues to have his relationship.

At times this book was strange, but the writing was so lyrical, that I did not want to put this book down. This book will not be for everybody, but I thoroughly enjoyed this.

Thank you NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for an Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I found Luster to be very strange. The main character’s journey in her search to become an artist is wild and tiring. I considered abandoning the book along the way but hung in there to the end. Not my cup of tea.

Touching, hilarious and painfully accurate, this is a debut novel?!?!?!?!?! It reads like a masterpiece.

This is yet another book that has me conflicted. On the one hand the narration style and the wit and sarcasm definitely appeal to me. It's nice to know you aren't the only one who thinks something sometimes.

On the other hand, I just may be too old to really care much about the sex life and wandering of a 20 year old. In my 20s I was working multiple jobs and putting myself through school. Career and family were next and I just never had patience for people who could afford to just blindly walk through their jobs and relationships like this. I guess I still don't. So, maybe it's not just an age thing.

In the end, I can see people who would easily relate to Edie. It's not that I have to connect with the character, but I must find something in the actual story that appeals to me. I didn't have that here. Good luck and best wishes that you do if you read it, because the voice is appealing.

This book made me so sad. I remember a time in my life (long, long ago) when I made bad choices because I didn't know what a good choice would be. Evie makes worse choices than I did, but she also has less options. I really liked Evie and hope she makes it through this. There are glimmers of hope at the end. Insightful and polished, this is a very good book.

LUSTER by Raven Leilani is about a young black woman, Edie who makes many poor choices in her life, aware that she is making poor choices she continues to choose the wrong path. Edie has an older married lover Eric, Eric is married to Rebecca, they have an adopted black daughter. Eric and Rebecca take Edie in when she is homeless hoping Edie will connect with their daughter. Rebecca and Eric take turns pulling Edie in and turning her away.

Lots of things going on in this book, not one of the relationships was clearly defined to me. At times I was engrossed, at times my head spun.

The writing style of this book was difficult for me to follow. Very long sentences going nowhere, fragmented sentences telling nothing. This was a difficult book for me to read but I was engrossed enough to follow it to it’s end.

What a stunning debut by Raven Leilani. I give this book 4 big stars. I really enjoyed this book about Edie who's 23 and a painter, trying to find her way in life. She is a young black woman who finds herself in the middle of a collapsing marriage, being friends with the wife, involved with the husband, who is mean and drowns himself in alcohol, and ends up working for them when she loses her job.. Edie is very depressed and I think I really connected with her character, having depression myself.. I liked the way Edie is with their daughter, Akila, who hasn't known many black people. Her depression is depressing, but she could be funny at times. Her feelings come out on her canvas and she has a very hard go of it. She's stuck in this house, in this marriage, where they use her to fight with each other. At times reading this I felt her depression, which made me feel worse. I think I liked this book a lot because of her character.. At times she could be funny as well. She's just really trying to find her place in life.

I would recommend this book. I think it's really interesting, especially for a first book and I hope to see more from this author. I was pleasantly surprised to find out she's an artist herself. Loved the cover as well.

Special thanks to Farrar, Stroud and Giroux Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

LUSTER is the story of 20-something Edie, living aimlessly in New York City when she meets Eric, an older man living in New Jersey in an open marriage. What follows is a strange look at how their relationship evolves and impacts Eric's family.

I think fans of Pizza Girl, Sweetbitter, Severance, or Catalina (by Liska Jacobs - underrated IMO) would also enjoy this one. It's a little bit of a fever dream, it's cynical, and it teeters on the line of weird, comical, and sad. But it's undeniably well written - lots intricate sentences and metaphorical language.

Thanks FSG + Netgalley for the opportunity to read/review early!

I enjoyed this novel. I think it was different than I expected. I felt like it was very movie -like. I felt like I was watching her life play out. I live in NJ, so that was a super awesome aspect too, since it takes place in NY/NJ. It details a black girl living in a primarily white neighborhood. I think she did a great job describing how life isn't perfect. She becomes a mentor to Akila, a friend to Rebecca & a somewhat lover to Eric. I think it shows how powerful the bond of womanhood can be, since that becomes her main focus. The love phases out over time, but in the beginning it mainly focuses on sex. It was a girl trying to navigate her life & show a snip-it of her early 20s. I did find that you had to really pay attention because each paragraph usually jumped to a different point in time. I found myself re-reading certain parts to see what I missed. I think this author is super talented & cannot wait to see what else she comes out with. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I suspect I will be the odd one out for this novel which has been highly praised and anticipated but frankly, I wanted to tell Edie to just stop. Edie, a 23 year old, makes a lot of bad choices-but that's ok when you are 23. She wants to be an artist but that's not happening. She meets Eric, a digital archivist, and enters into a sort of throuple thing with him and his wife Rebecca. They have an adopted daughter Akila, who is Black. The healthiest relationship here is between Edie and Akila, There are some laughs here, some sharp insights, but it also feels very familiar. There have been a number of novels in recent years about disaffected 20-somethings and to be fair, my views on this one be the result of the fact that I'm just tired of reading them. Leilani clearly has a bright future and I wish her well. Thanks to the publisher for the arc. For fans of literary fiction.

A razor sharp satire loaded with pitch black humor, Luster doesn't propel you through its story so much as shove you along with arms flailing. It's the kind of book that made me do a double take every few paragraphs to see if Raven Leilani actually "went there" followed by the awe of "yes she did." The sheer guts and confidence of her writing is impressive, and the discomfort I felt while reading it was very real. I found myself laughing often, but nervously since I knew I could so easily be her next target. Edie is an unforgettable and unconventional narrator, filled with angst, neurosis, and self loathing but also one with a sweet and endearing side if you look hard enough. In short, I loved her. The novel's ideas of sex, race, and relationships are bitter but maintain Leilani's arch sense of humor, and interestingly, the novel examines a lot of similar themes as "Such a Fun Age," another breakout of 2020, which frankly seems quaint in comparison. I can't imagine this won't be divisive, the novel has a caustic worldview that won't be for everyone, but for readers with the right sense of humor who can handle being pushed out of their comfort zone, it's one of the best debuts of the year.

Luster absolutely blew me away. Every American should pick up this book. Women, especially, will connect with Edie (her triumphs and her struggles). This is a can't miss 2020 read.

"Luster" is a glimpse into the soul of an artist, complete with creativity, chaos, and self-destruction. Edie's life is a mess. She has a "going nowhere" job, a horrible relationship with a married man, and the apparent inability to make the right choices.

The characterization of this novel is phenomenal, and the literary structure of it makes it work like a charm. It's like a stream of consciousness pushed along by a string of outrageous extended metaphors. It is the perfect canvas for the tumultuous mind of an artist. Top this off with Edie's sarcastic ability to make fun of herself, and actually be funny while doing it, seals the deal.

But characterization and structure are not the only things this novel has going for it. The plot is also incredible. The author, Raven Leilani, has mastered the art of twists and turns prefaced by a tease. That tease will grab you, and leave you wanting more.

This book will get under your skin and become a part of you. It is sure to stick with you long after you read the last page.

Thank you to the publisher and to NetGalley for providing me with this ARC.

This book follows 23 year old Edie as she begins a relationship with Eric, a married man who's decided, with his wife Rebecca, to begin an open relationship. Throughout the story, we see Edie trying to find a job to support herself and trying to find out where she belongs in general.

To be honest, I did not enjoy this story like I thought I would. My main problem was how it was written. The author writes in these long, complex sentences that I just didn't have the patience for. Looking at other reviews, it's clear that a lot of individuals did not have a problem with this, or enjoyed it. It just wasn't for me. I just want to make my way through the story, and the super long sentences were asking me to think more about what was being said which took away from me being able to just involve myself in the story.

Also, I didn't like Edie. It kind of sucks to not like the main character. I understand the author was trying to write her honestly as flawed, and I appreciate that. But how many times do I have to hear about her IBS? Also, she's shamelessly sneaky, she steals, there are a few times in the story where she actually asks for violence...I just didn't relate at all. And one of the points of the story is that she's supposed to be a role model for Akila, which didn't shine through for me. I think she became a friend to Akila, and they were able to relate to each other in a really positive way, but I don't think role model is a good word for Edie in this story. However, I did like Akila's character, and I liked Rebecca as well. I think she was really complex, but it would be hard not to have mixed feelings toward someone you know your husband is in an active relationship with.

There were many times I debated not finishing this book, but I did end up liking the ending. Edie did show some character growth and I ended up feeling hopeful for her. I was interested enough in the story to finish it, even if I can say that I didn't exactly enjoy most of it because of the writing style.

"It's that there are gray, anonymous hours like this. Hours when I am desperate, when I am ravenous, when I know how a star becomes a void."

It will be hard to review this book...it is feverish, desperate, aching, morose, sharp, funny, hyper-realistic but also dreamlike...I don't know how to adequately capture the book's essence, but that's because it's unique and ineffable and bizarre. Raven Leilani is a stunning writer of immeasurable talent, and this book is unlike anything I have experienced before. The writing is sublime. Every single sentence reads like a poem... raw and beautiful. An unbelievable debut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Raven Leilani for approving my request for an advanced reader's copy of this magnificent book!

Where do I even begin with this novel?
Edie, the main character in this book is layered to perfection.

Raven Leilani wrote a masterpiece as her debut novel. This story's structure is also very moving.

At times I felt that some paragraphs were rushed; however, as I was reading I remembered that that is exactly how Edie was thinking.

You have a twenty-three-year-old Black woman who continuously makes extremely questionable decisions. I too made questionable decisions at that age and I think that is what Leilani wants us to see.
That our decisions are only a sum of the things we have experienced.
Edie felt powerless, broke down, alone, and hurt and when you feel that way you accept any type of treatment.

Leilani really did a fantastic job of weaving the past with the present in this story. Never trying to make excuses for Edie's actions but instead letting them just linger and allowing the reader to decide to feel sympathy or not. I think that is what made the book so intriguing. The author did not try to paint her protagonist in a better light than she actually was.

Sure, there were reasons behind the actions that Edie did; however, never once did they come off as excuses.

This book does a beautiful job with truly placing bodily autonomy in the hands of the woman. We see her make humiliating decisions but they were HER choices.

It also makes me think about how we cope with things when we cannot afford therapy.

3.5 stars

I have a hard time putting into words what I think about this book. I didn't really like the characters and I found the story sad. There is quite a bit of social commentary though. Now please understand that a book does not need likeable characters to be a good book. There are some books where the only reason why I read them is because of the bad@$$ antagonist. Sometimes you need a character you love to hate to drive the novel. But Luster is not that type of novel. All the characters are suffering and throughout the book we see them archiving their loneliness and sorrow in different ways. It doesn't matter what skin they are in - young, old, black, white, rich or poor -- there is pain and desolation here. And you wait a long time for Edie to find her inner beauty and shine. In the end she discovers more about who she is, but she has not come full circle yet.

As I was reading there were sentences that stopped me in my tracks. All I could say is "Wow! That's deep!" There was poetry in the language and a depth of understanding the human condition. Then there were other times where I felt that the text was too cerebral. I felt that the writing got in the way of emoting the feelings.

From this debut it is obvious that Raven Leilani is very talented and creative. I am interested in seeing what she does next.

3.5 Stars

I want to thank Farrah, Straus and Giroux for the e-version of Luster. I really hoped to like this book more but the writing style was not my style. I loved following Edie throughout the story and my gut hurting from the anxiety of not knowing how the story will turn for her next. The honesty and rawness of her character was wonderful.

I loved this irreverent, funny, & deeply moving story of a young woman trying to find her way through the disappointments of new adulthood. This book is highly quotable—Leilani writes truly dazzling, beautiful sentences, and I was constantly highlighting and hanging on her every word, texting lines from it to a group of my female friends. We get so many stunning moments of wisdom from Edie, the protagonist, as she meditates on grief, lust, art, race, family, relationships, womanhood, etc—and I kept finding myself cracking up in these often hilariously awkward interpersonal scenes & then moments later almost sobbing, recognizing the pain of Edie's loneliness and longing. I think this book perfectly captures the feeling of throwing yourself at the world in your early 20s and hoping something sticks. I will definitely reread this one, and I look forward to Leilani's career! This was an excellent, unforgettable debut.

Thank you to FSG & Netgalley for this ARC.