Stumbling through all of Edie’s decisions with her will make you feel like you’re back in your post-college years, trying to figure out — well, basically everything. This is an uncomfortable read — but it will make you think about all the ways life changes, and all the darkness that ensues along the way. It’s raw and frankly disturbing in places, but written with a transparency that makes you actually feel like you are honestly in Edie’s brain. Life is messy and ugly and uncomfortable and Raven Leilani’s debut manages that message beautifully and disturbingly. Also appreciate that the character in her 20’s isn’t any more fucked up than the characters who have bank accounts and homes.

First and foremost, I really enjoyed Leilani's writing. It was colorful and witty and was beautifully written. I just struggled with the story itself. The beginning hooked me in, and the narrative told her story well. The main character is complex and intriguing, but really, she’s a hot mess. I found it be unbelievable, and it became very distracting.

The basics of the books is a story about a young Black woman who is an aspiring artist. She was just fired from a publishing job based on her conduct and is living day-to-day. She then gets evicted from her apartment. Eric is someone she met online. He is a white man who is older than her, successful, and has an open marriage. She eventually meets Eric’s wife, Rebecca, and this is where the story takes a bizarre turn. In another twist, the couple has an adopted daughter who is Black.

I feel like the author tried to accomplish too much in writing this book. That left it feeling unfinished. I would read Leilani again. I just couldn't get engaged with this story.

Thanks to Picador for an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

It is so uncomfortable to read about someone else’s sexual journal. Especially when they are being judged on their actions. And they put weight on those judgements. However. This book was empowering and necessary on when you should say no, a woman finding her life, love and a family. Many twists and turns. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Could not get into this one at all. Soooooo much hype for this book and it just wasn’t for me. Read a few chapters but the characters seemed so fake. I could not anticipate where this was going but had no patience to follow.

A stunningly good debut novel from Leilani. It perfectly encapsulates how weird and awkward relationships can get, albeit within the context of an open marriage. Edie seems to make one terrible decision after another, but somehow it works. Rather than getting annoyed with her I wanted her to keep going on her trajectory, because it was sort of working, this fiery dismantling of everything a life in your twenties should be. Edie is hilariously and searingly insightful, the observations she makes about love, sex, race, jobs, apartments, are spot on. I loved this! I can't wait for Leilani's next book.

This was a hard book for me to read, feel like i didn't get the point for most of the book, like why was she lusting after this man, and reading about three detached people in a detached style, while there were moments that were interesting and towards the end i started caring about her, it was a struggle for me to read the book. I like to be more emotionally involved with the characters

* I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review *

WOW. Let's start there, shall we?

I have seen a lot of buzz about this book on Goodreads. Based on the tiny blurb on Goodreads, it didn't immediately register as a title that sounded like it would be my usual kind of read (blurbs, man, they can be deceptive.)

2 lessons reading Luster taught me:

1. Was I ever wrong
2. Don't let a vague blurb dissuade you from picking up a great read

I subscribe to Electric Lit, and about 2 weeks ago they published an excerpt from Chapter 2. I figured, "What the hell, I've got 10 minutes, let me see why this book is everywhere." So lesson 2 is -- read things you subscribe to. And suspend what you think your own expectations are. I was thrilled and surprised that the publisher provided a review copy, though I am 100% going to buy a copy as well and probably gift it, because it's that good.


A few more things to note: I think anyone reading this whose 20s are behind them will agree, I'm glad my 20's are over. And as someone on the more Rebecca spectrum of identity, I also want to say: it sounds like being in your 20s right now is so much more difficult than it was before -- and for that, I have nothing but respect for Millenials and Gen Z. Your 20s are a terrible, wonderful confusing time full of big heartbreaks and disappointments and all the things you learn by fire.

I'm glad women in their 20s, and especially women of color in their 20s (or about to enter their 20s) have this book. Edie is perfectly imperfect, a work-in-progress, doing her best to build something better for herself in a world that is set up to knock her down at every turn.

Edie is honest (painfully so at times, but also hilariously so). She is funny and petty in equal amounts, she is strong and vulnerable in the same distribution. There are passages that read like a text message from your most sarcastic/smart friend, and I mean that in the best possible way. Edie feels real, in all her glorious "figuring it out-ness".

Luster never has a moment where the suspension of disbelief slips and you remember that this is a story, there's an author behind the curtain pulling all the strings. Every character feels very distinct, very authentic, and has their own arc that reveals some truths and keeps other truths hidden -- which is exactly how things like that play out in real life. There wasn't a neat bow wrapping things up, but the narrative arc felt complete.

Her voice, her sense of humor, her emotional calluses and soft places are all compulsively readable. I read this book in 36 hours and when it was over, I both wished there were more to read and also admired the author for their restraint, for leaving the reader with that sense of wanting -- which is perfect, because that's what Edie herself is left with.

The book description makes a bigger deal of the sex than it feels when you're reading it. Yes, there's sex, a fair amount of it, and some of the descriptions are pretty raw and unfiltered. But for a book whose central conceit is being wrapped up in someone else's open marriage -- in a lot of ways, the sex (with Eric, and everyone else) is kind of an afterthought, which I believe is intentional.

Women in their 20s right now have an overwhelming amount of contradictions they're expected to reconcile, and for women of color this overwhelming amount of contradictions is doubled, tripled, quadrupled. The author, through Edie and her experiences and observations, makes no bones about this. That's a good thing for readers of any age or identity, because no matter where you fall on that spectrum, there's something solid you can take away from this book and integrate with how you move through the world and engage with the people in it.

I love Edie because she hasn't got it all figured out yet, and it's okay. I'm confident that she will, and more than anything, I want her to. That's a message that all women in their 20s should hear, and for some readers, this may be one of the first times they ever hear that message from the main character in a book.

Final note: This is Raven Leilani's DEBUT book. If she's this good out of the gate -- I can't wait to see what the future holds for her body of work.

Just wow! This was magical. Such a unique voice and powerful writing. Incredible character development. Again, wow!!

In the midst of a reading slump, Luster will pull you from your slump and send sparks back into your reading life. With gorgeous prose, unexpected plot development, and more - Raven Leilani's debut will leave you wishing for more, more, more.

Edie is a twenty-something who works a desk job, and wishes she didn't. Sure, it pays the bills - but art? That's what really stirs her soul. The only problem is, she hasn't quite figured out how to pave her own way. Amidst the normal stumbles of a twenty-something life, Edie meets Eric. Eric is married, has a house in New Jersey - and a meticulous autopsist wife. When Edie finds herself unemployed and out of luck, it's Eric's wife who brings her even further into the fold.

Funny, excellently paced, and razor sharp, Leilani writes about the struggles of figuring out who you are with a deft, and skilled hand.

Luster is the kind of book best consumed in one sitting or a few long ones. I was so mad every time I had to put it down. It' the story of Edie, who is young, directionless and black. This book manages to be so specific and universal at once. There are so many passages I highlighted because they're just so candid. Edie feels like a living breathing person and I can't wait to read Raven Leilani's next book.

I did not like this book. I thought the premise was interesting, but the story fell flat for me. The writing was a little hard to follow with extremely long paragraphs and lots of run-on thoughts. It was kind of depressing overall.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book!

Unfortunately this was not the book for me. I put it down half-way through and could not finish it. I didn’t care much for the writing style and I absolutely hated the main character. She is very unlikeable and makes many questionable decisions. There were also a few shock factor moments where I had to pause and go “what did I just read?” The plot was very strange and I just didn’t care for it.

It is no secret that I adore books with a difficult female main character, so it’s no surprise that I was beyond excited to get to this book – and I adored (seriously adored) the first thirty percent: Edie is wonderfully flawed and interesting and her narration is pitch-perfect. I adored the mix between long run-on sentences and shorter, punchier ones. I was certain this would be my favourite book of the year. I am not quite sure what happened then but by the end I was not quite as enamored and ultimately I was glad to be done with it. Maybe it was the endless parade of humiliations (I get a very bad case of secondhand embarrassment that makes reading something like this very difficult), maybe it was the way in which the narrative became unfocussed – but even if I didn’t love it the whole way through; what an impressive debut. As my thoughts are all over the place, so will be my review, but please bear with me as I am trying to figure out my exact feelings (and rating).

The biggest draw of a book like this is always the main character and Edie fits wonderfully in the canon of what Rachel has called “disaster women” – or rather, she expands on it. Because as a Black woman, her decisions have more far reaching consequences, more dangerous implications. And for this alone, I loved this book. I loved how Edie is unflinchingly aware of what being a Black woman in the middle of a difficult personal time entails. Unflinchingly aware is a good way to describe Edie in general; she is always aware of what her decisions might mean and then she does stupid things anyways – I appreciated that facet of her personality.

Ultimately, this is a book about loneliness; unbearable, all-encompassing loneliness is what defines all four of the book’s main characters, but most of all Edie who has lost her (difficult) parents young and does not know what she wants out of her life. Her loneliness is most obvious when she chooses to remain in situations that are humiliating beyond measure just to avoid being alone. But the married couple she gets entangled with is also lonely, even in their coupledom, and their adopted daughter seems to have accepted her own loneliness in a way that made my heart hurt.

Overall, an incredibly impressive debut that thankfully is getting the accolades it deserves. I will for sure be reading whatever Raven Leilani publishes next because this mix of incredible prose and interesting characters is my literary fiction catnip.

Content warnings: violent sex, vomit, miscarriage, asphyxiation, loss of a loved one (backstory), racism, police brutality, cheating

Goodreads review here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3323736003

WILD. This shit was wiiiild. I really liked this book. It's not a "pretty" story. It's laugh out loud hysterical, devastating, infuriating. The book perfectly captures the soullessness of just trying to get by in late stage capitalism in the US. After a certain point, work, love, money, it all feels meaningless. I can understand why folks are calling this a "great American millennial novel." It was uncomfortably relatable and embarrassing for me to read and see parts of my life reflected.

If you're looking for a book that encapsulates the millennial experience (at least for many), or specifically the Black millennial experience, Leilani NAILS it. I love Edie. She is messy and complicated and really, really trying... Her relationship with Akila warmed my damn heart (when they play video games together and go to ComicCon together... weeping).

The writing has a frenetic energy to it. It reads how my thoughts feel in my head when I'm having an intense ADHD moment. Or when I'm writing and I don't have the time or energy for punctuation because I'm trying to keep track of how quickly my thoughts are racing. I love Leilani's writing style. Real, ugly, goofy, raw, honest. Her sentences are FULL of things to analyze and pick apart, if you're in to that kind of thing. And it's completely unique.

The novel illustrates how and why being alive right now can feel crushing. It sounds dramatic, but whew, the vibe of this book is SO RELATABLE. How pointless things can feel. Edie is an artist, wants to find real human connection, belonging, wants to impact others. But there's soaring rent costs. Student loans. Daily microaggressions, racism, sexism. Navigating the joys of insurance companies and coverage. Everyday bull shit. Bull shit jobs, the gig economy, low pay. All of these barriers to stability, to joy, to meaning and belonging. It's the bread and butter of life as a millennial, as a young Black woman, for Edie. People are just trying to survive and have enough cash leftover to MAYBE have *some* amount of fun. Enough cash leftover to buy a chance encounter with beauty, laughter, maybe satisfaction, however fleeting. Again, on a VERY occasional basis. That's the best we feel we can expect.

What a killer first novel. Can't wait to read more from Raven Leilani.

Thanks to #NetGalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for giving me a copy of this book to review in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel introduces a brave, compelling, new voice to the world of literary fiction. Luster follows Edie, a young black woman stifling under the weight and desperation of her isolation and loneliness. The narrative voice is nuanced, dark, yet earnest, in its efforts to provide sharp insights into human reality within mounting chaos. The writer's biting observations provide both humor and a searing sense of reality. Leilani crafts a gorgeous story about intimacy and art that moves you, breaks you and stays with you long after the last chapter.

The synopsis of the book had me interested but I felt this book fell flat for me personally. The plot was interesting but I found myself confused by which way the book was going. It just wasn't my type of book but maybe others would like it.

There’s been so many positive reviews about this book, I’ve spent several days pondering why I didn’t like it as well as I had assumed I would. I knew there was going to be a book with plenty of sex in it. I knew it was about a black woman who had an affair with a married white man and that the wife would invite the girlfriend to move in with them. I think that there are two things that most troubled me about this book. Everyone’s life seemed so joyless and that I could identify with no one. The most joyous aspect of this book was raven Lelaini’s ability to write equals that of an artist with paint, she can paint words that in a short time tell a story about a girl who cannot find herself.

Ahhh this was so twisted and uncomfortable but comforting at the same time??

Ownvoices review: https://youtu.be/pLFxk_mtNn8

Content warnings: cheating elements, surprise pregnancy, miscarriage, asphyxiation, racism against a Black women & girls, violent cop encounter, overdose, drug use

Edie is a 20-something, Black aspiring artist in New York. But working a dead-end job and having a series of ill-advised sexual relationships with coworkers has left her adrift. When she starts seeing Eric, she agrees to the rules of his open marriage. But before long, she becomes entangled in his whole family's dirty laundry as a strange kind of friend to his wife and mentor to his adopted Black daughter.

HOLY SHIT THIS BOOK. It's cringey and messy and chaotic and sooooooo good. Edie is full of contradictions, but everything about her voice is perfection. Eric, Rebecca, and Akila.... how can this family possibly have so much nuance in so few words? There were so many moments when I just yelled "THIS IS SO GOOD!!!" at the top of my lungs. (And I agree with Roxane Gay. Thank god my 20s are over!)

TL;DR REVIEW:

Luster is a searing, unflinching novel about art and sex and racism and womanhood that looks its characters right in the face. It was so good.

For you if: You like novels that don’t shy away from hard, messy things.

FULL REVIEW:

“It’s not that I want exactly this, to have a husband or home security system that, for the length of our marriage, never goes off. It’s that there are gray, anonymous hours like this. Hours when I am desperate, when I am ravenous, when I know how a star becomes a void.”


So, wow. This book absolutely lives up to the hype that’s been built around it. I honestly can’t believe that it’s a debut. Leilani is masterful.

The story is about a character named Edie, who is a young 20-something Black woman battling the balance between adulting and living unrestrained. She works in an underpaid role in a stifling office environment, within view of the job she really wants but can’t quite get. She struggles to paint. She seeks thrills that tend to land her in a bit of trouble. And then she starts dating Eric, who’s in his 40s and has permission from his wife to start dating other women, as long as he follows her rules. Edie ends up thrust into their lives and home in an unexpected way that changes them all (except maybe Eric, lol) forever.

From the very first chapter, I was swept off my feet by her sentences — “I only wish I could write sentences like this,” I thought. And that’s still true. But after a few chapters I realized that her real genius is at the paragraph level; her ability to build dizzying sets of sentences that burst open at the end, to use paragraphs like weapons — pages and pages long weapons, in some cases — to break off paragraphs where it’s going to cut deepest.

I wasn’t expecting but absolutely loved Edie’s relationship with Eric’s wife, Rebecca. She is fascinating, and I absolutely LOVED studying her through Edie’s eyes. And as the novel went on, focusing much more on Edie and Rebecca and Edie and Akila (Eric and Rebecca’s adopted daughter, who is Black), and less and less on Edie and Eric, I was drawn in even more.

There is just so much here. I think that this book will be a favorite by those who love both cerebral and commercial fiction. I think Raven Leilani is a force to be reckoned with. And I think I need to re-read this book a few times to get everything that it has to offer me. Read it.



TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Borderline-consensual sexual violence; Miscarriage; Racism and microaggressions