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…But poison is everywhere, even in the places you least expect it: Reviewing The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika Kim

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well. Yesterday, I went to a local book festival and had a wonderful time. Obviously, I did not walk away empty-handed. I got The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook (Book 3 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series) by Matt Dinniman, Our Share of the Night by Mariana Enriquez, Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito, and The Looking Glass Theory by Vivian Cafield. Ms. Catfield is an indie author whom I had the pleasure of meeting and her books sound immensely interesting to me. I will talk about all of those in the future. In the meantime, let’s talk about The Eyes Are The Best Part.

Content Warning: Violence and Gore, Discussions and Depictions of Misogyny, Disturbing Imagery, Strong Language, Discussions of Racism

Ji-won’s life is falling apart. Her father abruptly leaves after revealing that he was having an affair. This revelation leaves her mother in shambles and barely able to function. Between trying to mend her broken family and the pressures of college, Ji-won feels like a shell of who she once was. She begins having strange and disturbing dreams about rooms full of blue eyes. She tries to reason with herself that these dreams are a result of all the stress she is experiencing and tries to move past them. Ji-won’s life only gets exponentially more difficult when her mother starts dating a white man named George. He is obnoxious and self-important. He also clearly has a fetish for Asian women. Ji-won is disgusted with him, but finds herself captivated by his eyes. His eyes look just like the ones that she had seen in her dreams. She realizes then that maybe her dreams do mean something. Ji-won will finally satisfy her hunger for revenge…among other things.

It’s been a little bit since I’ve read a “good for her” horror novel, and The Eyes Are The Best Part is one of the best “good for her” books I have read in a while. Monika Kim’s award-winning horror thriller novel is a tense, exciting, and nauseating tale of rage and revenge. This book tackles plenty of issues, like the power imbalance between men and women, the dangers of “nice men,” and the insidiousness of racism. All of this is told through a fast-paced and visceral narrative. The highlight of the book, though, is its protagonist. Kim created a perfectly complex character in Ji-won Lim, who is a perfect balance of relatable and unhinged. I would be lying if I said I found the character to be unlikable. If anything, I found her to be a very sympathetic character (disregarding some of her more disturbing actions). It’s hard to find well-written, complex female characters, but Monika Kim delivers on this aspect of the novel as well as everything else. It is safe for you to assume that I loved The Eyes Are The Best Part and I truly think that you will too.

Posted on by bookreviews628

For the thing which I greatly feared is come upon me…: Reviewing If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You by Leigh Stein

Hey everyone! I hope you are all doing well in this heat wave. In some recent news, I turned 30! It feels a bit weird to say out loud, but it’s exciting. I thought about doing a post about 30 books everyone must read, or something like that. I, however, decided to simply enjoy the day. With all of that being said, I have another review for you. Let’s talk about If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.

Content Warning: Some Strong Language, Sexual Content, Substance Use, Mental Health Crisis

Dayna Lev is having the worst day. Her entire life is turned upside down when she finds out her boyfriend wants to break up with her via a Reddit post. With nothing to lose, she decides to take up an offer with an old friend. She would become a content manager for young influencers at an up-and-coming hype house that was formerly a Hollywood landmark. Dayna sees the potential to turn this crumbling manor full of twenty-somethings into a spectacle. The house, though, is missing one key component. Becca Chambers, a tarot influencer, disappeared after posting a cryptic message. Dayna is not the only one interested in finding Becca. Nineteen-year-old Olivia is a burgeoning influencer and one of Becca’s biggest fans. Dayna and Olivia dig through the secrets of the house and its occupants (past and present) to find out what happened to Becca.

Typically, I am hesitant to read books that heavily feature social media in the narrative. Books like those tend to feel dated before you even finish reading them. If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You is not like that at all. It feels refreshing in a time when everyone is trying to make their novels as specific to the modern age as possible. Leigh Stein brilliantly explores the dangers of making one’s life available to the public, whether that be through traditional media or social media. While platforms like TikTok and Instagram play a role in the novel, those don’t distract from the atmosphere that Stein has created. The Gothic influences are undeniably present. I saw glimpses of Brontë’s Jane Eyre, Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House, and Perkins-Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper, among other notable works. Everything from the past and present blended together seamlessly in this endlessly interesting depiction of the state of social media. I was genuinely surprised and satisfied by this novel. I am certainly going to recommend If You’re Seeing This, It’s Meant For You.