The Eyes Are The Best Part: The Sunday Times bestselling 'good for her' novel

I was really excited to read this one. The short sharp chapters got me hooked straight away and I didn’t want to put it down.Ji-Won’s spiraling madness, accompanied by acts of cannibalism and murder, was depicted so so well! Her internal monologue, marked by escalating obsession, paranoia, and self-justification, combined with surreal dream sequences - created an unsettling, immersive atmosphere that was both fascinating and disturbing. Despite her manipulative nature and heinous deeds (and this doesn’t even include the murdering), I found myself inexplicably rooting for her.What I will say is, I’m glad I have a strong stomach. Because there was some seriously vividly detailed and gruesome descriptions. But they were both shocking, gruesome and completely compelling, making it hard to turn away.The book offers sharp social commentary. Covering issues like racism and misogyny to fetishes and the objectification of Asian women - plus elements of mental health issues and trauma. Everything building up to really add on to the discomfort and relevance to the reading experience.The way everything comes together at the end is so well done. Giving you a proper satisfying ending to the read. Overall, this uniquely bizarre and grotesque story was utterly captivating and impossible to put down.

The Eyes Are The Best Part by Monika KimRating: 4.5/5Ji-won's life is in disarray. Her father's affair has ripped her family to shreds, leaving her to piece their crappy lives back together.So, when her mother's obnoxious new white boyfriend enters the scene, bragging about his flawed knowledge of Korean culture and ogling Asian waitresses in restaurants, Ji-won's hold over her emotions strains. As he gawks at her and her sister around their claustrophobic apartment, Ji-won becomes more and more obsessed with his brilliant blue eyeballs.As her fixation and rage grow, Ji-won decides that she must do the one thing that will save her family... and also curb her cravings.This debut novel was completely unhinged and I loved every single moment of it.Kim did an incredible job crafting all the characters as well as the narrative to this absolutely compelling story. The FMC, Ji-won, was just perfect in my eyes. As she lost control of herself, so did I. As she sought revenge, I longed for it too. At the same time, her spiralling need to keep her head above the water, whilst still trying to care for her mother and sister, just showed how clearly empathic this protagonist was.Supporting characters also played a significant role in the narrative. George, Ji-won’s stalker, toyed that line between infatuation and obsession, which in turn kept me glued to each page, wondering just how unhinged his next move would be.Alexis, Ji-won’s best friend, also stands out as a key character. Her unwavering support, regardless of circumstances, demonstrates the depth of true friendship.I also love how the author dealt with sensitive topics day-to-day topics. Kim skilfully uses characters such as Alexis to introduce a fresh perspective on racism and social exclusion, adding another layer to the narrative. There was no in your face agenda-pushing or heavy-handed exposition. In fact this was the first time in a long time that I felt moved by such topics, wishing and wanting more change in today’s society.Overall, I recommend this book whole heartedly. This book was anything but predictable. The writing style flowed, and each twist and turn kept you fully immersed.Pick up a copy, indulge in it, you will not be disappointed at all.

A young Korean American woman struggles to contain all life's tribulations (family, friendships, romance, studies) and starts falling apart. Her descent into madness is fuelled by a culture of fetishisation of Asian women, making her want to assert dominance over men via violent means.The story is a quaint take on the more run-of-the-mill contemporary "tortured soul" narrative, with vengeance, violence, and hyper aggression thrown in. This is the story's main unique characteristic, making it stand out against an otherwise bland background. The writing is punchy and vibrant, making it an easy read, taking the reader a journey of madness and mayhem. The main character is also quite vivid and come across as genuine and multi dimensional.I struggled with the tone of the book, though. This trend of vilifying men and assuming that they are all sex obsessed and emotion free is just tiring. I don't know if this was supposed to be written satirically, but the way it came across is angry and full of vitriol. This was most annoying in the way that the male characters were portrayed - lacking dimensionality and complexity, and acting as archetypical predators. The shallow depiction also extended to most other characters, expect the protagonist. It's clear that the author has the skill to write good characters, making the fact that she didn't deploy this skill consistently particularly annoying.There are for sure some people that will like the book and will enjoy the anti men themes. I didn't like it much myself.

THE EYES ARE THE BEST PARTMonika KimI’ve got a horror stunner for you today. I read it in early summer, and it might have been the highlight of my trip.Let’s talk about it.Usually, a divorce means separating from the spouse and not the children but when Ji-won’s dad left his wife he left everyone else. And in his place, in his wake a hole formed so deep and so wide no one else could fill it. And in that hole things started to fall in and become part of the darkness and the vastness of it.Grief manifests in Ji-won as an obsession with the eyes. How they look, how they smell, the way they taste and feel between her teeth and going down her throat. Seeing everything they pass, somehow consuming all the while being consumed.THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART is about what it means when someone could so easily up and leave you. How it affects the way you see yourself. The more Ji-won starts to feel herself disappearing the more she becomes obsessed with being seen.THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART is the ultimate psychological horror book. Rarely do horror books come this polished with no confusion or meandering. It was straightforward and fantastic.Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Books | Erewhon Books for the advanced copy and the opportunity to provide feedback!THE EYES ARE THE BEST PART…⭐⭐⭐⭐

Ji-won is a deeply flawed character whose responses to certain situations are at times vexing yet also understandable. She commits some truly heinous acts and yet I felt an empathy and understanding for her I don't often feel for characters.Maybe it's because I understand some of her rage and resentment towards men and in particular her father as well as George who reminds me a lot of my own father. When my mom was dying of cancer my dad was cheating on her with a wealthy woman. He slipped seamlessly from our family who he deeply hurt and traumatized throughout the years to another family where ended up getting everything he ever wanted, a 6 figure job from his business owner wife, living in a million dollar home, with an older stepson that hasn't been damaged by his years of abuse. He abandoned my teenage brother without a thought and me while we struggled to come to terms with our mothers death. Almost 8 years later my rage is still palpable.Ji-wons father abandons his wife and family so he can have a new one. It sends her into a deep psychosis and despair, as she and her sister and mother are left to pick up the pieces and move on.Like my mother, Ji-wons mother is weak and dependent on horrible, awful men who do nothing but mistreat and use women. She puts her daughters at risk when she starts dating George, a predatory white guy that's a relentless cheat who like my father would openly leer at and objectify women. Like my mother Ji-wons mother says nothing and never stands up for herself which further fuels her rage.Ji-wons anger and rage becomes an obsession. While I can't condone her actions I too feel a deep rage and resentment towards the men my mother put in my life and it makes her pain all too understandable. Having a mother do nothing in the face of such misogyny fueled my rage. How could she let this happen? How could she do nothing? How could she sacrifice my brother and I at the altar of her weakness?I shouldn't like Ji-won, whose actions are reprehensible and yet I feel I can relate to her and understand her more than any other character I've ever read.

Reads like an author’s first published novel. Maybe it is. I love horror but this was not for me.

It was thought provoking about the prejudice on Asians and the revenge was served in cold blood. It was meticulously planned and in the end she wins. Alexa! Play “Alibi”

An unflinching and brutal story-- one that we have long needed. Ji-won is the incarnation of the rage I and many Asian women in America feel in the face of racist fetishization. She is all at once horrifying, relatable, and empowering. I devoured (haha) this book because I've never seen a story that really accesses and validates this anger. It's the same sorrow and outrage I've felt on too many days, but especially the awful day of the Atlanta spa shootings. This is horror at its best-- unapologetic, vulnerable, and unsettling.