The Eyes Are the Best Part

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review! 

3.5 stars: I went into this book thinking it would be much more intense than it was, more like an extreme thriller. The first half feels like a fiction novel, which I actually really liked! I loved reading about Ji-won and her family as they deal with their mother's new boyfriend. Some of the food imagery near the beginning was particularly good. As the story progresses you really feel for the character and side with her in her actions. 

The action really picks up in the last third of the book, and it was pretty fun. I especially liked the last little bit and the thoughtfulness behind it. George's death and how Geoffrey was framed for it was a great cinematic moment!

I didn't care for all the dream (well, nightmare) scenes that took place. As we got closer to the end there were more and more, and they kind of took me out of the story and left me a little confused on if it was really happening. 

The writing is really good and immersive, I'm excited to read more from this author! 

read for summerween 2024: vlog coming soon

the eyes are the best part by monika kim is a brilliantly inventive and subversive feminist psychological horror novel that delves deep into the making of a female serial killer from a korean-american perspective. this book is not just about the grisly and thrilling elements of ji-won’s transformation, but it also profoundly explores the daily struggles and horrors faced by women of color, making it a truly compelling read.

one of the most captivating aspects of this novel is its exploration of the unique challenges that women of color encounter every day. the true horror of the story lies in the societal pressures, microaggressions, and blatant discrimination that ji-won faces, which are hauntingly relatable and powerfully depicted. monika kim masterfully intertwines these themes with the story of an unhinged woman seeking revenge, creating a narrative that is as thought-provoking as it is thrilling.

at its core, this novel is about a young woman discovering the harsh realities of how the world treats her. ji-won feels overlooked and ignored by everyone, from her family to society at large. this sense of invisibility and the accompanying rage are palpable throughout the book, and i found myself deeply relating to her struggles. as a college student navigating a tumultuous life, i saw reflections of my own experiences in ji-won’s journey, despite the extremity of her actions.

the depiction of ji-won’s unraveling is both mesmerizing and chilling. her dreams, filled with horrifyingly vivid imagery of bloody rooms and succulent blue eyes, add an eerie and surreal layer to the story. the character of george, her mother's obnoxious new boyfriend, serves as a perfect catalyst for ji-won’s descent into madness, making her actions, though extreme, understandable in the context of her suffering and rage.

this book is a must-read for fans of unhinged women and revenge stories. monika kim’s writing is gripping, and her ability to weave together themes of familial disintegration, societal neglect, and personal vengeance is nothing short of genius. the eyes are the best part will undoubtedly be added to my list of go-to recommendations for unhinged women revenge stories. it is a powerful, evocative, and unforgettable read that will leave you craving more.

I didn’t hate this book. I did appreciate the feminist narrative and touching on the topics of racism and fetishization. The toxic masculinity that was portrayed in the book felt very generic. I think the book could’ve benefited from a more less in your face misogyny examples to help give the character more depth. Same goes for the main character, I would’ve like to have read more into how she got to this place where she goes over the edge. It just happened, which leaves me wanting a bit more out of the character. You can read between the lines a bit to understand her frustration but the level of her extremities is what I wish had more reasoning behind. The gore was great. So if you’re looking for that you will definitely get that. One small thing I don’t care for, more so at the early parts of the book was the saturation of all the food talk. Not a big deal but I was getting full from all the eating references. Overall, just an ok book.

Different and Enjoyable

I've been eagerly anticipating reading The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim for months. Life, unfortunately, got in the way, causing me to put this book on hold. Recently, I've had a bit of a love-hate relationship with the horror genre, but I am thrilled to say that this novel firmly belongs on my positive list. I would have been truly disappointed if I hadn’t enjoyed it, given how much I was looking forward to it.

Although The Eyes Are the Best Part is primarily marketed as horror, the first half of the novel feels more like a brutally candid character study with a touch of the macabre. The marketing materials mention Michelle Zauner's Crying in H-Mart, which is an apt comparison for this portion of the narrative. The character development and emotional depth in the beginning chapters are reminiscent of Zauner's work, offering a poignant and engaging read.

As the story progresses, the horror elements intensify dramatically. The second half of the book is filled with nightmare-inducing visuals that significantly ramp up the tension and fear factor. One particular scene involving an eyeball left a lasting impression on me, and I doubt I will ever see an eyeball the same way again.

My one critique lies in the novel's conclusion. It felt as though the author ran out of steam, with various plot details being resolved too conveniently and too quickly. I would have preferred a more thorough depiction of the suggested outcomes rather than the open-ended closing that was provided.

Despite this slight premature ending, The Eyes Are the Best Part was worth every late-night minute I spent reading it. I do, however, advise against reading it after midnight as I did. We live, we learn, and we continue reading.

In summary, Monika Kim's The Eyes Are the Best Part is a compelling blend of character study and horror that ultimately delivers a haunting and memorable experience.

I have to admit that I had high hopes for this book, but it ended up disappointing me. There were plot holes, the ending felt rushed, and the repeated scenes of eating eyeballs became tiresome. While I appreciate the writing style and the tragic nature of the characters, the overall execution fell short. I enjoyed reading it, but I was unhappy with how it turned out.

Just finished at work. Good fun. It's sort of like a YA/new adult book. I wouldn't even say that it's got stronger language or more gore or sex. It really doesn't. It does have a delightfully psycho main character who just...gets fed up. Yes, there are plot holes and things that strain credulity. However, I had a good time. It was a fast, fun read.

This is a book that reads like a culmination of a lifelong of experiences and discrimination and payback and feminine rage. 
Going in I was not expecting much from this book except eyeball horror (which there is plenty of) but this was so much more. 
Settling on a 4.25 rating because I found the first half a little boring but wow, I was actually SEETHING with rage for our character during the second half. 

Also I feel like this part is when you know you've finally grown up, so well written.

I know now that I was wrong to blame my mother for what happened to our family. And I don't resent her for her grief. It comes from a place of weakness, of powerlessness. Umma allowed the men in her life to control her, to tell her what to do, to make all the big decisions foe her. Without them, she's lost. Adrift at sea. 

Absolutely loved the premise for this one, and it did not disappoint. Incredibly vivid and engaging, I meant to start it before bed and finish tomorrow but couldn't put it down! The characters felt real and distinct, and the body horror was subtle and well done. The way Ji-Won described George's eyes in contrast to him as a person, the beauty and disgust, it makes me shudder to think about it.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

I was hoping to like this book more than I did. 
Usually I love a “good for her” murder/thriller, but not enough of this felt like the “good for her” I was expecting. 
Most of it was just our main character doing very questionable and fucked up things. 

Oh and the plot twist thrown in at the end really didn't do it for me and resulted in probably an entire half star knock down.