Thank you netgalley, Monika Kim and Kensington Books, Erewhon Books for the arc of The Eyes are the Best Part.

This was a great, fun quick, gory read of Ji- Won and her increasing obsession of blue eyes after she tastes her first fish eye at home. The narrative was medium paced at the beginning picking up to a fast pace from half way through the book. The descriptive gore when Ji-won starts realising she's addicted to eyes is well done, because it's added with the dread and the build up of the obsession.

I feel that this book also tackles loss, grief, mental heath and abuse very well. The Korean culture and expectations was interweaved within the narrative beautifully and made for a wonderful tense read. I loved the ending !
Would love to see this released into the audiobook world!

This was such a fun read! The gore was gross at times which I loved, the characters were great and I really enjoyed this book!

This is the story of Ji-Won, a first-generation Korean American. When the story opens Ji-Won's life is kind of falling apart. Her father has left, her mother is not doing so well, she is not having the best of times. I really enjoyed the themes exploring racism and sexism and microaggressions and fetishism and all of that and how it all tied together. There were some really great scenes where Ji-Won sees how other women react to certain things and maybe the subconscious lessons her mother taught her are not always correct. I really enjoyed that especially with the further context of being Korean American.

The story moves at a quick pace, was just fun to read. The gore was great (there is not a lot, but eye stuff grosses me out! I loved it!), the characters I enjoyed (even though her sister always seemed much younger than she is), it was great. The ending was...I thought for a moment the author was going to completely ruin it, but luckily it was okay. Not amazing, mainly because there is no way everything would have worked out like that, but eh. I enjoyed it enough I didn't mind that much. I look forward to more books from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book

This book centers on a Korean-American Family living In Southern California. The main character, Ji-Won is the eldest daughter of two, to Immigrant parents. Ji-Won is a loner and just started college, and as a fellow loner, I felt much of what she was going through. As the story progresses, Ji-Won let’s her intrusive thoughts get the best of her. It is quite entertaining, and yet highly disgusting at the same time. This book had me squirming and gagging, in the best way.

My favorite part of this book was the family dynamic, and getting a little peek into the life of first & second-generation Americans. I also need to give praise for writing the quintessential middle-aged white guy who fetishizes Asian women. And of course, the sticker on his truck was the perfect detail to add, bravo! 4/5 stars!

such a fast paced, interesting read. the gore and descriptions were so vivid and effective. I loved the writing and found Ji-won so fascinating. I wish there were a few less dream sequences and more of a focus on Ji-won's killings but overall, I loved this and will be anxiously awaiting the authors next book!

"If there's a monster in this apartment, it's me."
The eyes are the best part is all about eyes. The obsession of it. Ji-won's mother eats fish eyes because it is said it is good luck. Here, Ji-won tastes it and along with it comes her obsession with eyes. Her mother and father aren't together anymore, so who is this new guy George her mom is dating?

From the first page, I was hooked. It definitely had the My Sister, the Serial Killer vibe, and I was high key rooting for the MC Ji-won. Her obsession with eyes was disgusting and fascinating. And I too hated George with a passion. He was absolutely gross. This book sold me, I am definitely going to read more from [author:Monika Kim|40411798]!

Happy reading!♥️

This booook is sooo good and it was so unexpected in the direction it took! It’s going to be a 2024 fave for sure!

WOW WOW WOW!
This book was incredible! I read it in one sitting - couldn't put it down.

I will be real - I am not squeamish about anything *except* eyeballs. This story tested my resolve in ways I have never experienced before. Despite the gut churning reaction I had to the eyeball parts in this story (and there were many), I was rooting for our protagonist until the very end. When I finally got to the end of the book and released the breath I had been holding, all I could think was, "good for her". There were surprises in this story I never saw coming and so many times caught myself holding my breath, waiting for the worst. I was pleased with, what I feel, is a happy ending. First born daughters will feel this book in a big way, especially those from broken homes. I loved the insight into the cultural expectations for Korean women as well the protagonist's quest for justice amidst patriarchal forces that continue to underestimate her.
The eyes were the best, and worst part. 10/10. No notes.

I thought this sounded like a fresh, new-age take on the horror genre. And it is. A very well done one at that. I also greatly underestimated my apparent squeamishness with eyeballs.

This was bizarre in the best way. A true origin story of a female serial killer and what pushes her to make those decisions, both logical and not. When Ji-won”s appa deserts the family things start to go downhill, her mother is crumpling under the loss and only she and her sister are there to help. Would you eat a fish eye to make your mother smile? When it feels like she’s on the verge of a breakdown that’s just what she does and how she learns she actually has a taste for them. But when her mother brings home another man who fetishises their culture and treats them as objects Ji-won is pushed further and further to her limit and the one thing truly haunting her is her mothers boyfriends beautiful blue eyes.

Thank you NetGalley for the arc
Once I heard a favorite booktoker mention this being her favorite thriller of last year I was intrigued.

Unhinged definitely the word for this one but I enjoyed it.
An interesting take on a mother/wife and 2 daughters falling apart in different ways after their husband/father leaves them. How and what would you do to protect and take care of your family and yourself?

Only critique is it is a bit of a slow burn.

Ooooo this is delicious if I do say so myself!! If you are a fan of Bunny by Mona Awad or Maeve Fly by C. J. Leede this is the book for you.

The body horror/gore is so so good. detailed without being overly gratuitous. There’s much to be said about the MC relationships with either parents/friends/sibling and how those shape her. The flashbacks give just enough insight that by the end you are left with a complete understanding of her decisions as horrid as they may be (maybe that’s just me because I too am mad at men).

oh yeah this is very much a man hating book and not for softy ‘well, actually’ types. be warned!

overall a stellar debut and will be checking this author out again!

Thank you to Kensington/Erewhon books and Netgalley for the eArc for an honest review!

I received this book as an ARC. Thank you!

I was on-edge the entire time I was reading this. Ji-won is a really fun combination of deeply unlikeable and highly compelling. The intimate sensory details of what Ji-won goes through is an absolute highlight of the prose, although I cannot go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. Please be rest assured: this book delivers everything the cover promises and more.

As a Chinese-American myself, I related to much of the pressure Ji-won is under (with the caveat I understand Korea is its own culture, people, and nuance layered into this story in ways I likely miss as a non-Korean). The lack of respect to herself as a person with boundaries and agency is reflected in just about every aspect of her existence, driving her away from every human connection available to her. She has to be a wonderful, educated daughter, a stabilizing older sister, a fun and understanding Asian Friend (tm), among other roles.

I did have questions about the logistics of how Ji-won pushes the plot forward, especially as the tension escalates. There are times when I desperately wished Ji-won's mother had more agency and character development, although because we are entirely in Ji-won's head it may just be that the perspective is too biased to portray her (the mother) in any other way.

The ending was delightful and thoroughly satisfying. Ji-won doesn't disappoint.

Received as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher Kensington Books (thank you, both) in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

A deep dive into the hardships of a second generation woman struggling keep herself and her family together as her mind unravels and begins to hunger not only for her own autonomy, but for eyeballs.

Ji-won’s life is crumbling around her - she's self sabotaged her relationship with her childhood friends, she can barely keep her grades up let alone forge new friendship or partnerships, her father abandoned the family for another woman, and now her mother is dating a man with an Asian fetish. Nothing could be worse, until she starts dreaming of eyeballs, hungering for eyeballs.

The gore wasn't overly descriptive, but it worked just enough to keep me squirming whenever it came up. I will most definitely be having nightmares about eyeballs after reading this book.

The first half of the book was a slow build up in which we learned about the characters, their background, how the family ended up in the position they're in now - and then it ramps up with Ji-won spiraling out of control until the end. But it ended rather abruptly and it left me wanting more!

Overall, it was a great read and a wonderful debut. I look forward to reading more from the author in the future.

Grotesque, but in the best way possible. Hated and loved every second of it. Definitely will be recommending to everyone who doesn’t have a weak stomach.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

This was great! Twisty, surreal, and GROSS. It was fast paced, but still built tension as the characters fought, and you really had a good mix of sympathy for the main character, despite her actions. Plus the twists at the end! Really well done.

This was GOOD. Like really, really good. I read this feminist psychological horror as an ARC on NetGalley and will absolutely be purchasing a physical copy on release day.

In the wake of that ridiculous woman’s now-infamous BookTok rant about the stupidity of diversifying one’s reading, I made a personal commitment to intentionally pick up works from diverse authors to expand my own horizons. I’m happy to report that this book, the story of an unhinged Korean-American woman on the edge, was a raging success. It’s dark, intentional, nuanced, anxiety-inducing, and genuinely grotesque. The body horror was perfectly-executed, and I can’t wait until this book graces my shelves!

Thank you Netgalley and kensington books for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

OMG!!! What did I just read!!! What the fresh hell was this???

The eyes are the best part by Monika Kim was totally unexpected read. It is kind of body horror with gory details so I would suggest if those who find it difficult to read should stay away from it.

I enjoy these kind of books. I have really enjoyed books by Eric LaRocca so this wasn't really new to me and yet I flinched at few descriptions which I found unappetizingly horrible.

What I loved most about the book is that the language is very simple. First I found myself getting distracted by the simple prose but later I just adored the simpleness of the whole book. It made me enjoy the book even more.

You know lot many times author talks in some poetic , coded way so that you have to try hard to understand what does author wants "you" to "understand" or "not understand". This plain and easy language made it an even better read.

If you are fine with the triggers mentioned above, this book is something I will totally and highly recommend you reading.

A strong debut with some fun (read: disgusting) horror moments and a compelling protagonist. Perfect for fans of 'good for her' villain origin stories.

What I enjoyed:
- The dynamic between Jiwon, Jihyun, and their mother
- The truly gnarly eyeball moments
- The searing critique of white men who objectify Asian women
- The range of misogyny and fetishisation shown, from the overt to the men who've learned to use the language of feminism against women

What I didn't enjoy:
- The pacing of this book felt a little sluggish and disjointed. At the 40% mark I was waiting for something more to happen.
- The characterisation outside of Jihyun felt flat and a lot of the character interactions felt repetititive.
- For a thriller, this story felt too predictable, and for a horror, it didn't feel consistently horrific enough.

Thank you to Erewhon, Kensington, and Netgalley for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was the perfect mix of gore, character development, and great writing.

Ji-won was such a unique character. Between gaslighting those closest to her and being an anti-hero, I was constantly on the edge of my seat to find out what she would do next.

Also the descriptions in this book will make you squirm if you can’t handle people talking about touching eyes. Coming from someone who can’t even put a contact in her eye, it definitely made me uneasy at times.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the eARC

Ji-won's life is falling apart, first her Appa (father) has an affair and leaves her Umma (mother), her sister is an emotional mess, her grades in her first year of college are not so great and there's a creepy guy in her class that she cant get away from things just can't get any worse, oh wait they do. When Ji-won's mother meets George, the new man in her life things just go from worse to horrible. George is a big time creep, he objectifies Asian women disrespectfully, he's crass and disgusting and he's going to marry Ji-won's mother, these horrible events are what serves as the catalyst for Ji-won becoming unhinged and a killer obsessed with the juicy, delicious eyeballs of her victims.
This was a story like no other for me, it was tantalizing and riveting and of course a little morbid.

A big thank you to author Monica Kim and NetGalley for sending me a copy of this fantastic read in exchange for my review.