Wow wow wow

This was a fast paced read. I was engrossed in the book from the beginning. I loved the ending.

I wanted to love this book, and I still adore the premise and angry energy behind it. The execution didn't truly work for me. It was more of a slow build than I'd expected, which threw me a bit. (I wanted murder MUCH faster, whatever that says about me.)

The Eyes Are the Best Part was a fast-paced and horrific story about a Korean-American college student, Ji-won, and her mother and sister. After her father leaves, her mother begins dating George, a man who fetishizes Asian women and is truly unbearable. Ji-won starts spiraling and begins dreaming of eating George’s big, blue eyes.

I really enjoyed the author’s exploration of the theme of racial fetishization through George, and I loved Ji-won’s slow descent into madness. I particularly enjoyed the plot twist at the end, and still loved Ji-won even if she is completely unhinged. The only thing I wanted more of was Ji-won’s relationships with her friends, but I loved seeing her relationship with her sister.

Thanks to the publisher, I received an eARC through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Available June 25, 2024!

Horror fans are going to love this debut! I love a great story about a female serial killer and this one did not disappoint. Ji-won’s life begins to spiral out of control when her father has an affair and leaves the family. Her mother begins to date misogynistic and racist George and he quickly wears out his welcome around their home. With all the upheaval, Ji-won’s grades in college plummet and she is plagued every night by visions of eyeballs; specifically blue eyes that resemble George’s. This book begins with a bang with Ji-won’s mom demonstrating how to eat fish eyeballs to her two daughters and never lets up till that fantastic ending. This story is extremely graphic, disturbing, and very well written. For such a short book, it covers a lot of themes and packs a big punch. I am not a huge horror fan so the gory images made me squeamish. But the overall story and message is amazing. This is definitely a new author to watch! Thank you Netgalley, Kensington Books, and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on June 25, 2024

This is a twisted, sympathetic portrayal of someone whose life is coming apart at the seams, by no fault of their own. It has memorable characters, identifiable in their ubiquity but still feeling individual and genuine, and a well-paced story that builds on itself as its main character finds herself lost on the threshold of grief and madness.

There is something to be said about the pacing. The first hints of what might be identified as the traditional horror elements don’t even come until we are about forty percent into the story. This actually works well for the story, we get a strong sense of character and environment, we see all the pieces coming into place even without knowing what they will end up building. However, the blurb about the book revealed so much of the story and set up certain genre expectations that I started the story with different pacing expectations. This is more a marketing problem than a narrative one, I think the story builds itself up and then rips itself apart at what feels like a good pace. If you read the book summary and expect something that jumps into the horror from the get-go, however, you may be disappointed.

There are a few chapters where the book feels a little didactic, being blunt in explaining how racial and gender micro and macro aggressions are continually experienced. In most chapters these are wonderfully displayed with just enough narrative commentary that as a reader we see the intricacies at play, the insidious actions, traumas, and potential consequences. The few places where it felt didactic just feel a little clumsy in what was otherwise a really smooth exploration of a character’s breaking apart under countless external and internal pressures. That said, there were only a handful of chapters like this, and they stuck out in their change in tone or style but weren’t enough to sink the book. Most of the chapters were quite short, and that really propelled me along as a reader, even when the events of the story weren’t always as frenetic. Things unfolded and were revealed at their own pace, but the story kept moving in a delightful way. This novel was a lot of fun to read, and I look forward to enjoying more from this author!

I want to thank the author, the publisher Kensington Books, Erewhon Books, and NetGalley, who provided a complimentary eARC for review. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5 star rating.
In this anxiety-inducing look at a young Korean-American’s nosedive, the reader is treated to squirming social interactions, cathartic acts of racial justice, and deeply authentic family dynamics, with streams of gore flowing throughout. The descriptions utilized in this novel are truly hair-raising in their mastery of sounds, textures, and tastes as Ji-won acts out her deepest, most disturbing desires. Choked full of commentary centered around Asian-American discrimination, this novel, and Ji-won specifically, sort of bite back (pun intended) against dehumanizing fetishization. Perfect for those who enjoy a purgative feminist horror filled with blood, rage, and acute slips into madness.

i devoured this book. fast-paced, funny, horrific, and oh-so-satisfying (call me what you will), this gave me what it promised and so much more; even the somewhat heavy-handed ways that it handles racism and sexism only added to the outlandishness of the novel while still being grounded in the terrifying reality of it all.
without giving away major spoilers, i’m just a bit confused about the exploration of ji-won’s other relationships, specifically her friendships, since there wasn’t really much of a ‘resolution’ as such, though there was potential to draw parallels between past and present (only that it’d take away from the otherwise tight plotting). regardless, all i can say is: good for her!
body horror mixed with intersectional social commentary with a truly unhinged woman as the mc is my new favourite niche.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved the main character, Ji-Won. Even though she was flawed and unhinged I understood her motives. She was smart and clever. Even though her situation was hard she never complained or felt sorry for herself. She just took matters into her own hands. I loved the dream scenes, and the imagery of the eyes. I really hope there is a sequel. Ji-Won is an amazing leading character!

This book was quite the journey. We meet Ji-won at a time in her life where the pressure is great, and her life seems to be falling apart. She comes across as timid and meek-afraid to fall below perfect student and daughter. But she quickly escalates to no nonsense rage as the taste for eyes drives her mercilessly forward. There are a number of things the author hits on that makes us squirm and quite frankly, angry. White guy with Asian fetish, misogyny, the “nice guy” who feels like you owe him something, the mom who forces a role reversal, overbearing expectations-they all come out swinging and try to beat Ji-won down. But what the author gives the protagonist is a chance to fight back and shake off her mousy demeanor. Kim molds Ji-won into a feminist powerhouse and twisted antihero. Ji-won is not looking to be right and proper-she wants revenge. Her story becomes bloody and gruesome, and ends on a morally grey note. As a horror novel, it packs quite a punch. However, I felt that as a whole, Ji-won’s rapid chance was a bit jarring and shaky. She went from 0-60 almost too quickly. A slightly slower and more refined transition would have worked better. But overall, this debut was pretty well written and developed. 4 stars rounded down to 3.5.

Thank you Monika Kim and NetGalley for my advanced copy. My opinion is my own.

I’d like to thank this book for getting me out of a reading slump. 😆 It’s very easy to get into and written in a very accessible style.

This is about Ji-won and her increasing unhealthy obsession with eyes, especially blue eyes. She’s made a lot of poor decisions, leaving her without friends, and her family is a mess. She is not ok, and things just get worse from there.

As noted, this is a very readable book. The style is very simple and clear, which I did like. I also liked the overarching plot for the most part because I like a story of slow mental unraveling. Geoffrey was oof - so effectively THE WORST. The ending, including the bits about Geoffrey, was great.

My struggle with this one was with a couple main things:

1. While the style was very accessible, I found it quite wooden. Scenes zip past and often feel too quickly resolved. Dialogue felt unnatural. It was serviceable, but awkward. Something about it felt overly told instead of shown.
2. I wish this was novella length instead. The pacing/escalation was odd. The first half felt quite repetitive without a steady increase in intensity, so I wish it was shortened. There are some side plots (like Alexis and Ji-won’s old friendships) that feel shallow anyway and could be cut.

I like the plot of this book in theory, so I’d still be curious to try more from Kim in the future if she keeps writing horror. But maybe not if her writing style continues in this vein.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

4.25 stars
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌘

Thanks NetGalley, Kensington Books publisher, and the authors for a great advance copy of the book in exchange for my honest review!

🧠 My thoughts
Wow, this book hooked me from the start to the end. This was one of the rare books that touched on the racial fetishism topic, especially the fetishization of Asian women. While reading, I couldn't help nodding along because what happened in the book I have seen in real life as well. After finishing reading, it took me a few days to really understand everything, especially the ending. The gore parts played a crucial role in the deep meaning layer of the story and it wasn't excessive.

On the other hand, since this is the author's debut, the writing wasn't that smooth. The writing style was a bit choppy to read at some points

👍 What I like
- Successfully portray the racial fetishization of Asian women
- Powerful story

👎 What I don't like
- Choppy and not smooth writing
- Rather weak storyline

wow!! this book is something else. watching as jiwon’s anger and rage grows throughout the story is so enthralling and heart pounding. are we born cursed? do we have freewill? can different choices lead you onto a new predetermined path? what happens when the anger starts overflowing? i really admire the writing and the twists and turns we went on throughout the story and could not set it down after the 25% mark!! just the perfect amount of grossness sprinkled in this elegantly written peak into jiwons chaotic life coming down around her
definitely recommend picking up a copy once it’s out

Ji-won's life is slowly falling apart. Her father has left, she doesn't have any friends, and she's started to have these weird dreams about eyes...

Part revenge fantasy, part body horror, part racist-sexist intersectional tale, The Eyes Are The Best Part was a highly compelling read. The descriptions are visceral and evocative, from the descriptions of eyes popping between teeth to the skin-crawling fetishization Ji-won experiences.

Stay away if you're squeamish!

I wanted to read this solely because I read an article saying if you liked certain elements of Butcher and Blackbird, you'll enjoy this book. Well guess what? I LOVED it! The imagery was stunningly clear, I love when authors write like that. It's also funny, spiraling, and sometimes a little gross/disturbing. Great read!

Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim. This book had me enthralled. I couldn’t put it down. I really didn’t know what to expect, but it was gross and creepy. The images of the eyes made me so squeamish. I liked how Kim kept the suspense slow and steady and the reader didn’t really know what was real and what was an illusion. Part of the horror also included real life horror of sexism and racism that Kim expertly intertwined with the story.

Ji-won lives with her mother and sister. Her father leaves the family and has an affair with. Her mother starts dating a white man with an Asian fetish whose racism and sexism makes Ji-won uncomfortable. Ji-won dreams about eyes and her rage multiplies as she kills more and more people.

Thank you to Netgalley, Monika Kim and Erewhon Books for the arc !

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed this book! It's so fast paced, funny, horrific, poignant, weird and bloody! Add to the growing list of books that A24 should adapt! Such a fresh and unique take on the thriller genre, it's so needed right now when a lot of contemporary thrillers are blurring together with the same formulas.

There is a lot of great commentary as well as a bloody spree type kills !

I also LOVED the ending. I will definitely pick up my own copy when this comes out!

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW! WOW! WOW! I absolutely loved this book! I had heard about this one through several horror book reviewers that I follow on different social media platforms. The cover definitely intrigued me and once I read the synopsis, I was even further interested in getting my hands on a copy of this.

The story is a slow and quiet story but it definitely packs a punch. I love the commentary that Kim injects into the story regarding Asian culture, specifically the misconceptions and biases placed on Asian women.

If you are a fan of Maeve Fly, American Psycho, fiction about unhinged women, this is the book for you,

I will definitely be wanting a finished copy of this when it is published.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of this book.

This book was hard to read, not because it wasn't good but because the characters and the imagery were so clear it was difficult to get through without flinching. In high school we dissected sheep's eyes and I've never wished more that I didn't know what it feels like to hold and cut into an eyeball as I did while reading this book.
I do wish the queer coded scenes with Ji-won and Alexis went a little bit further as they just sort of end up as an aside to the main story. The main story though really tells of a woman who simply has reached the edge and snapped and honestly who can blame her.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I've wanted to read this book since I saw its query letter on Reddit once and it did not disappoint. It was an eery, yet propulsive read. It was also darkly funny, which I didn't expect.

Ji-Won as a protagonist is more than a little unhinged, but you can't help but root for her(to eat those delicious eyes). I am not going to spoil it, but there is more than one man in this book that you are likely to root for getting what is coming for them. The family dynamics in the book were also fascinating to read about and more than a little relatable as an Asian woman.

The book is very straightforward in its messaging, and it does not hold back. A lot of the interactions involve very real forms of misogyny and racism, it's a wonder why more of us aren't eating eyes really.

There's something very dreamlike overall about the book, even outside of all the dream sequences, that often made me question how much of it was actually happening.


Overall, The Eyes Are The Best Part is a really strong debut from an author to watch out for. If you like reading about unhinged women(who just might be gay, which is really more reason to root for her) and feminine rage or enjoy psychological horror, I'd highly recommend picking this book up.

4.5 stars.

Thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley, I was able to secure an eARC of Monika Kim’s debut novel, ‘The Eyes Are the Best Part’. The cover of this book has intrigued me since I first saw it a few weeks ago (yes, I will judge a book by the cover). #TheEyesAretheBestPart #NetGalley.
•
‘The Eyes Are the Best Part’ is what you would get if you blended together ‘Crying in H-Mart’ and ‘Maeve Fly’. This book is the definition of ‘support women’s rights AND women’s wrongs’. Throughout the story we are shown some of the complex nuances of divorce, from the perspective of the eldest daughter, Ji-won. Through her eyes, we see a glimpse of how deeply people can be affected by racism, misogyny, and their personal family dynamics. This is an extremely strong debut from Monika Kim; I can’t wait to see what she does next!