The Eyes Are the Best Part By Monika Kim

In Monika Kim’s electrifying debut, "The Eyes Are the Best Part," Ji-won's life descends into chaos following her father's affair and departure. Her mother is distraught, her sister hurt, and Ji-won herself struggles with failing grades and horrifying dreams that both repel and fascinate her. In these dreams, she navigates bloody rooms filled with eyes—particularly George's eyes, the obnoxious new boyfriend of her mother, Umma.

George, with his condescending demeanor and entitlement, has disrupted their family's already cramped apartment, showing off his consulting job and objectifying Asian women. He embodies everything Ji-won resents, and she becomes consumed by a dark hunger and rage that demand satisfaction.

As victims accumulate around her college campus and Ji-won delves deeper into deception and manipulation, her descent into darkness accelerates. The novel explores themes of family disintegration, the quest for revenge, and the unsettling allure of violence from a Korean-American perspective, offering a feminist psychological horror narrative that challenges and captivates.

Monika Kim’s writing is both inventive and subversive, presenting Ji-won as a complex protagonist unraveling amidst her tumultuous emotions and twisted dreams. "The Eyes Are the Best Part" promises to be a gripping exploration of horror, family dynamics, and the blurred lines between victim and perpetrator, showcasing Kim as a bold new voice in the genre, sure to leave readers spellbound and eagerly anticipating her next work. 📚❤️