A wonderfully original and strange book, in the best way!

I was surprised from the acknowledgments that (if I understood correctly), Susan's story was not meant to be an original part of the book. Susan is the beating heart of the story and it feels deliberate that she is more vibrant and sympathetic than the shiny veneer of Marilyn that claws through. Her love story with Charles was tremendously sweet and understated. I loved how ok she was with aging and how she didn't love the attention Marilyn brought her. If anything,

I would have liked a little more conflict between Susan and Marilyn - it felt as if it needed a scene or two showing Susan fighting hard to keep control instead of giving in with the hope it would sate Marilyn. It threw up some interesting themes and questions that could have been developed a little more - I thought a bit about how the entertainment industry insists we resurrect celebrities via AI, about the tension between an extraordinary-but-unsatisfied life versus a contented-but-ordinary one. I also wondered if Marilyn had any yearning for the contentment of Susan's life that she always seemed to be missing.

Overall though it was incredibly interesting and the story (and Susan) will stick with me for a while yet.

Her New Eyes by by T. J. Martinson is an interesting premise - what if you had eye replacement surgery and your new eyes are Marilyn Monroe's? And you start flashing back to her memories and her life? None of how this was happening was ever really explained, but I did want to know where it was going. The ending was clever (but also the how not really explained). A bit of a letdown, tbh.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.75/5

I really dont know how I feel about this book. Although this was such an intriguing idea for a book, it unfortunately fell a bit flat to me. I couldn't find myself connecting to the story, and I felt myself skimming over the Marilyn parts with disinterest. The ending also was not my favorite. Still, a very unique story and worth a read.

Thank you NetGalley and CLASH Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher! Wow this was unique and interesting. I think it sometimes had a little too much explaining. I like more of just magical realism type where I just get to believe this can happen, but the writing was very good!

I am not totally sure how I felt about this book. I kept on reading trying to find a deeper meaning, trying to understand if this event had a deeper meaning behind it. It could have been something for Susan, as she could have been trying to escape her old age. But it wasn't that. Marilyn Monroe was definitely an iconic character, and I definitely do not know enough about her career or her life to fully appreciate her story. But two people we're left behind in a way, and I felt like that was unfair to them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All the comments made above are my own. #NetGalley

When I came across the premise of the book, I felt a strong urge to dive into its pages. As I began reading, I noticed a sense of discomfort creeping in. The story was beautifully crafted, and while the flashbacks added depth, they also left me a little confused. It's evident that the author poured a lot of thought and research into developing the characters. I found myself feeling uneasy, particularly because Marilyn's experiences were shared in such an intimate way; it almost felt like we were intruding on her privacy. Despite this, I found the narrative to be captivating and engaging overall. #HerNewEyes #NetGalley

This was certainly an interesting and very creative story. I’ve never read anything like it, the idea of Marilyn Monroe living through someone else’s eyes. As she slowly takes over her counterpart’s body, her visions of a past life become clearer and her dreams turn into vivid memories. This was a very adventurous approach to exploring Monroe’s infamous life in a different way. I enjoyed the story itself, and the bittersweet ending, I almost wish it was longer with a bit more depth.

Some of the flashbacks were a little confusing and overwritten and the science behind it was surface level and almost felt unnecessary, if this book had gone with the whimsy and unbelievable nature that this story demanded. But still, a brave and interesting book.