This is my first time reading Nicola Yoon, and it did not disappoint. I see some other reviews from fans of Yoon's YA work, and perhaps it wouldn't be as well-received if you had a certain expectation based on her previous work, but to those who already know and love her, I would suggest wiping the slate clean and going in without preconceptions.

One of Our Kind is that special kind of book which is both a serious page-turner and also has something to say. Yoon manages to quickly weave together a world and characters that come alive off the page-- it's so cinematic, and the tension is so palpable, it almost felt like watching a movie rather than reading a book. While the characters are sort of archetypal, it works for the fast-paced narrative. You get exactly who each person is, their flaws and strengths, right out the gate. This isn't a slow-burn character piece; it's more about the tense atmosphere and searing cultural commentary Yoon has to offer. The central character, Jasmyn, is frustratingly judgmental-- the kind of uptight social justice warrior that is often off-putting to people regardless of race. And yet, she is fully justified. She is a Cassandra, bearing the weight of the world (or at least her peoples' struggles in the world), sounding the alarm to those who are either blind to or willfully ignorant of the societal injustices and real harm they themselves face. There's so much that can be said about what Yoon has written here, and yet, it somehow manages, even with all its critique and the horrors invovled, to be a truly fun read.

I suspect that given Yoon's track record, this will find a wide audience and be adapted to film rather quickly, and I cannot wait.

Thank you, NetGalley and Knopf, Pantheon, Vintage, and Anchor for the copy of One Of Our Kind by Nicola Yoon. This was the first book I have read by Yoon but I’m going to find her other books because this is an amazing book that was enjoyable even though I wasn’t expecting to touch my emotions the way it did. I liked how we learned about Jasmyn’s work and her home life but I was conflicted about her views that sometimes felt narrow-minded, even though her heart was in the right place. I was surprised that she wasn’t more suspicious and cautious with how smart she was. We didn’t get to know the other characters well, and I would have liked to know more about King's motivations. The story was well-paced and I gasped out loud at the reveal because it was so unexpected I was shocked. After reading the epilogue, I know this is a book that I will be thinking about for a long, long time.

Psychological thriller about racism that felt a lot like Get Out, at points it lacked depth but I enjoyed it. Thanks for the arc

Yoon, best known for her commercial success with books like The Sun Is Also a Star & Everything, Everything, is now offering a provocative thriller debut for her adult readers that would yield a dynamic discussion for any summer book club.

A wealthy young family decides to relocate into a newly created utopian community designed specifically for the Black community, offering comfort and safety for its residents that they cannot achieve in the real world setting.

As Jasmyn worries for the safety of her children, especially her son, as he gets older, she is excited for the freedom from worry this will offer them. The problem is that their family’s newly earned wealth often clashes with Jasmyn feeling removed from the dialogue and conversations around social justice issues within her old stomping grounds.

As she settles into her home, she discovers that the new neighbors seem removed from real-world issues and have a bizarre fixation on self-care and wellness. The truth about the intentions of this seemingly idyllic space starts becoming more troubling as she uncovers the origin story of the neighborhood and the people in it.

This thriller is a tense page-turning story reminiscent of Get Out. The ending will evoke a response, and much like The Other Black Girl, it is already polarizing among early readers. I don't know what more to say except that I had hoped this would end on a more empowering note than it did. But the simmering rage I felt when finishing this story was likely Yoon's intention all along.

Great concept. While the execution was a bit shaky (the ending felt a rushed), it was a thought-provoking look at race and racism in a sci-fi context.

I was so looking forward to Nicola Yoon's entrance into adult fiction, but this book fell flat for me. It feels like the story got lost within all of the details and messages Nicola was trying to make. I wanted more "showing," less telling since the narrator's voice was very matter-of-fact.

Jasmyn and Kingston Williams and their young son move to the all-Black, wealthy utopia of Liberty, California, a suburb of LA. Jasmyn, a longtime community activist struggles to find her place and like-minded people there, especially in the wake of yet another brutal police shooting. And what if the mysterious spa in the hill that has so entranced Kingston?

A twisted take on The Stepford Wives. You’ll think you know where it’s going, and you do, and yet you don’t. Entertaining and so, so dark.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc. These are my own personal opinions. This book was a lot at times. Very heavy topics related to black history. So much so I feel like the story almost got lost in it. I liked trying to figure out what was happening in the community they moved into. It reminded me a lot of Don’t Worry Darling. I didn’t love the ending but it did leave you with a lot to think about.