First, thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC. I don’t even really know how to review this book. The author is clearly incredibly talented, but it was just too far out of my wheelhouse to give it a fair review.

I know I am in the minority, but I did not like this book. The author is talented but I felt that each chapter was one long train of thought run on sentence. I guess that between her style and the subject matter it just did not appeal to me. The main character is a you black woman having an affair with an older, white married man in an open marriage. She becomes very involved in his home and personal life and things get very messy. It is a short book, so I did finish it. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read it early.

Of course the description is why I chose this book it captured my attention immediately. Then I began to read and the author’s word play is viscous, a very welcoming surprise. I was interested then a little too early on I lost interest in the character and story all together. I was hoping that the story would pull be back in at some point but at 64% it did not. Edie’s lack of a back bone was a bit disturbing for me personally. She at times would just exist in certain situations that I felt required a more engaged reaction. There was no real development in Edie’s character she was just going through the motions. Edie was ultimately the same woman from the beginning of the book. Luster while a great title is ill fitting for this book and Edie’s life as a young traumatized black woman in NY sleeping with an older married white man. The ending didn’t leave me desiring more, I’m not sad that it’s over. The book wasn’t bad but it wasn’t good either. I am still an advocate for the author’s word play just not the story.

Raven Leilani’s hypnotic debut novel, Luster, is every bit as cathartic as it is cerebral in its devotion to one Black woman’s pursuit of harmless passion and purpose in an era inured to uncertainty. Such is the plight of a young woman named Edie who — staggering over the hurdles of misogynoir as an editorial coordinator and aspiring artist — wills herself into an open marriage at the temptation of an older white man she meets online named Eric. Suddenly homeless and unemployed, Edie is surprised when, after being caught rummaging through her home, Rebecca — the wife — meets Edie’s cynicism with compassion, permits their tryst to continue (under her terms), and extends shelter and money in exchange for one request: serve as confidante to their adopted Black teenage daughter, Akila. What emerges from this extraordinary invitation — the incubus of Edie’s suffering and rueful affection, a blood-deep sisterhood between Black girls — is the pulverizing story of a woman discovering the ways her weaknesses can set her free.

Luster marks the arrival of a writer who inflames her pages with an infinite scroll of pathos and precision that made this debut novel mercilessly unputdownable. So it should come as no surprise when Leilani takes her place on the front lines of the new literary generation. Mark my words, Raven is a phoenix on the rise.

Exceptional writing - very much loved the narrator’s voice - but struggled with some plot elements that I didn’t find engrossing enough to sustain my attention/care for these characters.

What an insane book. I don't know how to make sense of every thing I just read. Sure, there was comprehension, but the absurdity of this book negates its every little intelligible thing, making for a wildly perplexing read. The story is familiar enough, but certain innovations to this tired old story are made, which are amazing. Which makes this book fresh. New. Original. 

Also, can I just say that I wasn't expecting this book to be so funny? Like laugh-out-loud funny? But I guess with the ridiculous premise of the story, it's bound to be hilarious in one way or another. There were times when I found myself going back to some lines to laugh again. I'm so stoked for Raven Leilani and her debut novel and excited for more stories from this new writer. 

Huge thanks to Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley for the ARC of Luster by Raven Leilani.

I loved this book. What a fantastic, impressive debut! Leilani spins an intriguing tale of a young black woman in New York City who's a bit lost and trying to figure out who she is. Edie is contradictory--she's contrary and eager please, aimless and driven, keenly observant yet often oblivious when it comes to introspection; in other words, she's a true, three dimensional character. Long sentences and paragraphs by lesser authors often leave me either distracted or drained, but Leilani's gorgeously-constructed run-on sentences kept my eyes glued to the each page. Leilani is definitely an author to watch, and I'm so looking forward to reading whatever she writes next!

I saw Luster on Buzzfeed's most anticipated books of 2020 and knew I had to get it. The concept of an open marriage is intriguing to me and I wanted to read a little more about it.

I enjoyed this book and the complexities of the relationships in it!

The author of this debut novel has a sharp and well-formed voice that is a pleasure to read and is certainly one to watch in the future. However, I found myself bogged down in this book by the relentless depressive voice -- even as she's living through a pretty unlikely series of events, Edie's outlook doesn't transform much. She's funny and a sharp observer but lives at a remove from herself and everyone else until an occurrence near the end of the book that inspires her to make more art and finally lightens up the tone; my experience was that it was a bit of a slog to get to that point, and then I appreciated the end of the book.
Thanks NetGalley for the e-ARC.

I am in awe. This debut novel is complex, hilarious, beautiful, and difficult, while being gorgeously written with every sentence. It’s hard for me to review this book as I feel anything I say or adjectives I apply won’t do it justice, but overall, I am simply so glad I read it. Raven Leilani an excellent writer (and artist!), crafting a wholly original and moving story about a young black woman discovering herself amidst complicated circumstances (to put it simply). The narrator, Edie, is one of my favorite characters in recent memory. This book joins Real Life by Brandon Taylor as one of my favorite reads of the year (and they are both debuts!). I hope you all read this incredible novel upon release in August.

Leilani’s "Luster" is a hypnotic and cathartic debut novel, its predominant theme being the pursuit of passion and purpose in an era inured to uncertainty.

This book was exactly what I needed. The voice is completely immersive. Fresh, honest, ugly, and beautiful. In the end, I wondered if more could've happened plot-wise, but then i realized, the voice is so strong and the style is so brutal and unique, it didn't have to rely as much on plot twists as other books do. What an incredible first novel. Just incredible. My jaw was dropping. Smart, heavy-hitting, and just real.

A great story well written and very original and unique. Would definitely recommend and read more from this author

Sharp and well written, this debut showcases a talented writer. Edie's story is a familiar one brought up to date with the mores of today. I have to say, however, that I'm not the right audience for this book and was unable to generate much sympathy for the character.

This book was just an okay read for me.

The main character and her actions were just ridiculous and she didn't seem to be smart at all based on her actions.

I don't think I would recommend this book.

Right off the bat, for all intents and purposes, Luster is a more eloquent version of Candice Carty-Williams’ Queenie. Both feature young Black women with complicated families, who both happen to work in publishing and are dangerously close to getting fired and continually enter risque sexual relationships because they’re struggling with a sense of self. Where these novels differ is in the execution and presentation of their lead.

Queenie was one of the most frustrating experiences I’ve ever had reading a book because I could not wrap my head around her stupidity. This isn’t to say I didn’t like the book - seeing a Black woman being portrayed as an emotionally unstable anxious wreck is actually quite revolutionary given the stereotype of “the strong Black Woman” - but god if Queenie didn’t work on my nerves.

In the case of Luster, we have a protagonist who we’re told has gone through a series of bad hookups but we don’t see it. It’s easier not to judge Edie for sleeping with her entire office because we never see it play out, we don’t know how she came to make those decisions, we don’t know what the immediate aftermath was - all we know is that these encounters happen and that she has to deal with the consequences.

I’d even argue that the information is presented in such a way that even though you know and understand why this thing happens to her, you’re still sympathetic and worried about where she’s able to go from there.

Now, without leaning too heavily into spoilers about the open marriage, I will say that while I was confused, I eventually came to accept that this was a necessary decision on Edie’s end. I can’t say at what point the arrangement becomes more functional than sexual, but there is an undercurrent of eroticism for the entirety of the novel that undoubtedly plays a part in why Edie does what she does.

She wants to have sex. She wants to make art. She wants to connect to other Black women and girls around her but also needs to survive.

In a novel that could’ve easily - and started out - heavily fetishizating the desires of a young Black woman, there is actually a lot of melancholy and solace in the uncertainty of living through your early twenties and wanting to be more than you currently are.

I know that I compared this book to Queenie - and make no mistake - Luster is basically in conversation with that novel from beginning to end HOWEVER, having had time to sit with this book and think on it, this is really a modern day Giovanni’s Room.

Luster is definitely a recommendation from me with ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ out of five.

Sadly this book did nothing for me. I committed to reading the book for an honest review. I did indeed finish it. It just feels flat and not one I cared for anyone. Humor was a filler and tried far too hard to be bigger than it was.

Luster is a must read thriller! Wish it was way closer to publication date so I could give more in depth details.
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

I really wanted to like this one- the themes are great but the execution did not come together. There are much better books exploring these concerns out there. 2.5 rounded up

Dnf based on the flow and other reviews. The description pulled me in and it failed to meet expectations.