4 ⭐️

Okayyyy, soooo I could have went the rest of my life without knowing what an eyeball tastes like or how it feels in your mouth. LOL. I was literally gagging.

Ji-won's parents have recently split up and it has been difficult for her mother, "Umma," her younger sister, Ji-hyun, and herself to deal with the absence of a male figure in the home. Umma is a little lost being on her own and she reads an article about dating and what race of men are the best to date (there are racist situations and remarks sprinkled throughout the book - TW). Umma begins to date George, a middle aged white man. Neither Ji-won or Ji-hyun like him. I will end there on the plot.

The story does heavily focus on Ji-won's home life with her family, her family's culture, coping with parental divorce, her experience with her peers at college, her identity as an Asian-American woman, and a queer curiosity.

I would not label this book as horror, as it is more literary horror. It was a little slow. It wasn't as scary or creepy as I had expected, but it was VERY descriptive and GROSS. I do enjoy literary horror so I still liked this book, and I did listen to the audiobook so that might have helped with the pace of the story.

Overall, it was enjoyable. It was nasty. It was interesting. It was a great debut novel. I don't think I will EVER forget the eye eating descriptions.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for access to the arc copy. I greatly appreciate the opportunity!

A very creative but fairly violent and gruesome story...this book is a rollercoaster ride that the reader needs to be prepared for..I don't even want to say much in my review as its just best to go in and hang on. Ji Won is a character on a journey let's just say and we as the reader just are along for the ride. May not be for everyone but what a story.

Wow! This was amazing. It was so infuriating and descriptive. I loved the themes around race and feminism. Absolutely incredible!

"The Eyes Are the Best Part" begins with a slow burn, drawing us into Ji-won's tumultuous world. As she grapples with her father's abandonment, the arrival of new men in her mother's life, and her own tangled relationships amidst the pressures of college, we witness her inner turmoil unravel. Ji-won's nights are plagued by horrifying dreams and dark, unsettling thoughts that gnaw at her psyche.

The intricate web of relationships Ji-won navigates is a testament to her complexity, inviting us deep into her mind. It evokes the chilling essence of "American Psycho," but through the fierce lens of a Korean-American woman. It's a wild ride that kept me enthralled!

The body horror elements are masterfully executed, manifesting Ji-won's simmering rage and resentment towards men as a haunting obsession. I found myself drawn to Ji-won, reveling in her defiance, even knowing I shouldn’t. But honestly? Good for her. She embodies the fury and empowerment that so many of us feel, and it’s utterly exhilarating.

The Eyes Are the Best Part: A Horrifying, Haunting, and Heartfelt Exploration of Trauma

"The Eyes Are the Best Part" isn't your typical horror story. It's a visceral, gut-wrenching descent into the mind of a young woman on the brink, fueled by a potent blend of rage, grief, and a disturbing hunger.

Monika Kim masterfully weaves a narrative that is both terrifying and tender. Ji-won's transformation from a heartbroken daughter to a calculating killer is both horrifying and heartbreakingly understandable. Her gruesome acts are a twisted manifestation of her pain, a desperate attempt to reclaim control in a world that feels increasingly chaotic.

Kim doesn't shy away from exploring the darker side of the human experience. The novel delves into themes of misogyny, fetishization, and the complexities of navigating two cultures. Ji-won's story is a reflection of the societal pressures and traumas that can push someone to the edge.

But amidst the darkness, there are moments of surprising beauty and vulnerability. The bond between Ji-won and her family, though strained, is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of love.

"The Eyes Are the Best Part" is a chilling, thought-provoking read that will stay with you long after you turn the final page. It's a testament to Kim's talent as a writer and her ability to create a story that is both shocking and deeply human.

3.75

Lots of body horror ! Deep descriptions about eyeballs and uh what they might taste like or feel like in your mouth.

Enjoyed t what this book had to say and it definitely made me shiver.

Sometimes when you’re over the misogyny and being fetishized, murder and cannibalism is the only solution. I really liked this psychological/body horror novel and appreciated its humor as well.

So I originally wanted to read this book because of the title, it sounded interesting. I’m so glad I did because this was a good book. It was different but in a good way. It had me guessing the whole time and I was not expecting the way it ended. Definitely would recommend!

This book wasn't what I expected it to be. First, the cover is glorious and so good. Second, I thought the plot of this book was so interesting. There were times where I felt like things were just *happening* to the characters, rather than the sisters being active in discovery--for example, when one sister just says, "Oh I've heard mom having secret conversations," instead of having a scene where they discover it or hear her talking and actively see it playing out. On one hand, this added an eerie quality to the story. On the other hand, I felt like it was, at times, a missed opportunity to show us character development or build the relationships without telling the reader what's happening. That being said, I really enjoyed this novel and didn't want to put it down.

It was a thrilling experience from the first page. The gruesome details were described so delicately and beautifully that you can’t help but love it! The messages explored in this book are amazing and eye-opening.

Wonderful debut psychological horror. I've seen some reviews mentioning it's not scary & I think it's a matter of perspective. While this doesn't have the standard "monster" or "killer", I think it's a great character study.

The Eyes Are the Best Part offers a unique and unsettling dive into body horror and the psychological unraveling of its protagonist, Ji-won, but ultimately fell a bit short for me. Monika Kim's writing is sharp and visceral, especially in the grotesque descriptions of Ji-won's growing obsession with eyes. However, the pacing felt off—while the build-up of Ji-won's descent into madness was slow and detailed, the climax and resolution came too abruptly, leaving me wanting more depth and payoff. The family dynamics and cultural struggles added complexity, but the heavy-handedness in some of the social commentary felt a bit forced. Despite these flaws, it's a solid read for fans of body horror, and I'd definitely check out Kim's future works.

Incredible book! So morbidly enthralling, and I loved the portrayal of the complex relationship that Ji-won has with her race, nationality, gender, and sexuality. An extremely unique thriller/horror novel—would recommend for fans of Promising Young Woman and Bunny.

I was so into this story and I never wanted to put it down. But after finishing it, I was kinda left wanting more. I was expecting this book to have more of a punch at the end, and I didn't get that.

I really enjoyed reading this book. What a great noval about a female serial killer. I also enjoyed the cultural differences that was portrayed in this story. I will definitely read more from this author.

This wasn't for me, BUT I can see how other people would really enjoy it. And even though I say it wasn't for me, I did zoom through it. Be prepared for some graphic descriptions if you can't tell from the cover.

The Eyes are the Best Part is one of my favourite horror novels of 2024 so far.

Ji-won is a Korean-American girl in her first year of college when her father abandons her family and her mother begins dating George, an awful white man with tantalizingly blue eyes.

Ji-won feels so much pressure: to be an excellent student and find a job to support her family, to be a good daughter and pretend to respect her mother’s awful boyfriend, and to be a nurturing presence for her younger sister. Ji-won is also dealing with friendships complicated by race and economic standing.

Everything changes when her mother has her try eating fish eyes for the first time, and Ji-won begins to have dreams about George’s blue eyes.

The Eyes are the Best Part combined by favourite bits of Maeve Fly by C.J. Leede and Chlorine by Jade Song, exploring a female serial killer and the fetishization of Asian women through a coming of age novel.

Ji-won is such a wonderful, believable mess of a character. She and her family and classmates are so well-developed that I kept forgetting I was reading a horror novel — I just wanted the best for her.

Thank you to Netgalley and Erewhon Books for my review copy of this book.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced ARC of this book

I have heard amazing things about this book and also the premise sounded so intriguing

In this novel, we are introduced to a family that's a broken home due to the husband finding someone else to be with and see over time the oldest daughter Ji-Won over time start to change... the changes are subtle at first but in this Tumultuous time in her life you can see her sense of self has started to fracture & how she sees everyone and everything gets more distorted, people turn into nothing but unpleasantries to suffer and to make suffer and the only thing that seems really to her is the obsession we see happen (Eyes) and she only fills fulfilment when she devours eyes. This obsession shows that nothing in her life she has power over other than this and she gets off on the power trip from it ( but she also hates the man who has been dating her mother).

This is an interesting book about a young woman who has never had a life where she was wanted or needed and turns into an unhinged violent woman.

The ending was a little bit of a surprise.

This was a fast paced thriller novel featuring an unreliable and angry female main character. As a Korean woman, she watches not only as the patriarchal values of society effect herself and the women of her family, but also how racism also contributes to the harm done by these same men.

Our main character become progressively more angry as she watches 2 men fetishize Asian women. She becomes fixated with eyes, particularly blue ones, which the two main antagonists of the story have. She wants to destroy, devour, and consume them.

I really liked the use of unreliable narration to tell this story as we can see the main character battle with these feelings of violence. She is also incredibly likeable, unlike the antagonists so you find yourself rooting for her to succeed. I do think the middle got a little repetitive when we have multiple instances of almost action. Other than that I liked the character depth and plot and simply couldn't put the book down.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an eARC of The Eyes Are the Best Part in exchange for my honest review!

What a strong debut from Monika Kim here! It's a gory, squirm-inducing, heartbreaking tale that helps me empathize with Ji-won as she gradually unravels and becomes consumed by her own murderous and cannibalistic impulses. There's such a psychological level to the journey that pulls me even more deeply into her perspective, and this is why I'm not annoyed by the numerous occasions in which she undergoes nightmares. Normally, this might irritate me and yank me out of the story, but it's fitting for this book. I feel for Ji-won's mom and kid sister, too, as the three of them comprise a fleshed-out family dynamic that has to endure misogynistic Asian stereotyping and fetishization from the world around them, particularly men. In addition, I appreciate how this explores the misogyny that men are capable of—not just by showing the ways in which men can blatantly express that bigotry, but also by providing a portrait of the type of man who perpetuates toxic behavior against women despite his own passionate belief that he's a good old feminist. It's a fascinating way to shed light on the supposed "nice guys" and "good guys" who turn out to be part of the problem when you look underneath the surface.

Overall, I'm officially rating The Eyes Are the Best Part 4.5 out of 5 stars, which I'm rounding up to 5 stars. I'm absolutely awaiting more of Kim's writing.