The Fetishist is a solid observation of the ways in which Asian fetishisation devastates, and leaves women eternally changed. Kyoko, grief-stricken following the suicide of her mother (Emi) becomes obsessed with Daniel, her mother’s lover, and determines he must be killed to avenge her. Daniel’s relationships with women is almost exclusively with Asian women, and his ex-fiancé Alma is in a coma also suspected to have attempted suicide following deterioration of her health due to MS. These three women explore what it means to be the object of fetishisation, the relationships they have, and the deterioration of their psyche’s when unable to determine whether they are adored for themselves, or for their race.

The Fetishist is a glaring look at the ways in which Asian women are oppressed and mistreated by Daniel and white people in general. Kyoko’s trauma is displaced from Emi in life and transferred to her upon her death presenting the never-ending cycle of trauma of the Asian women subjected to objectification and fetishisation and its impact upon the psyche.

This novel is a fast paced read, racing through the plots of Kyoko, and the memories of Alma whilst in a coma. Whilst this novel focuses on dark themes, there’s an undercurrent of Min’s writing that allows a lightness and innocence in her storytelling. The balance between commentaries of race, rage, and the idea that our wrongs can be righted allowed the novel to convey so many emotions, and states of the human condition in the messy and imperfection of life itself.

I would also like to thank Kayla, Katherine’s daughter for working so hard in getting this book published in the wake of grief, and with a book that so poignantly displays the ways this feeling overwhelms and consumes us in the wake of an insurmountable loss.

The Fetishist is a very quick read, and one I wholeheartedly recommend.

It lives and dies by its characters, who are bright, vivid and likeable. Each of them feels like they belong in a different genre -- they serve to buoy each other, each in turn grounding the others and making them somehow seem more ridiculous. I loved Daniel, loved to hate Kyoko and understood Alma. My only criticism is that I feel like the ending would have had more punch had Alma been as charming, but more in the wrong. A story in which there is a clear wounded party is less interesting than one in which it goes both ways.

This story trod well-worn (or, more charitably, well-loved) roads that we've all seen before. The revenge story was, I think, an effective retelling of a trope. It should be noted that this book relied copiously on suicide to create dramatic tension and irony, in ways that felt a bit heavy-handed at times.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, and finding out in the afterword that the author had passed away since its writing felt like a blow. I would recommend this to people who like books about messy people and messy relationships.

The book opens with Kyoko’s failed attempt to kill Daniel. Why does this young woman want him dead? She believes he caused her late mother’s death so seeks revenge. Daniel, a successful violinist had a lengthy relationship with Alma, one-time cellist, now living on the opposite side of the USA and suffering from MS.

These are the main characters of Katherine Min’s novel which is probably one of the most entertaining novels I’ve read lately. It deals with so many aspects of the human condition: love, revenge, grief, forgiveness whilst managing to be both wildly funny and poignant. It’s main thrust is the fetishism by white men of Asian women, Daniel being the fetishist, Alma the former lover and object of his fetishism.

Then there’s punk musician, Kyoko, hell bent on killing Daniel, she now has hin captive in her basement…

How will it all end? Read this extraordinary book and see.

Well written, fast-paced, and thought-provoking.

I read this at a bit of a gallop but will go back to it before the end of the year and re-read, it’s that good.

Beautiful writing, flawed characters and a crazy plot - while the themes are indeed grim, it's a fun read with many angles.

I love a weird book and that’s what I was expecting from a cover and a title like this. It actually turned out to be less weird as such and more of a social commentary on race relations, misogyny and grief. However, it was done in a highly unique way, which I really appreciated.

The book follows three characters. Kyoko is a punk singer who is desperate to avenge her mother’s death by kidnapping the man who broke her heart. Daniel is a successful violinist and Kyoko’s target. Alma is a former cellist with multiple sclerosis and the love of Daniel’s life, who is reflecting on whether she has ever really had true love before her life is over. When Kyoko and her boyfriend manage to kidnap Daniel, absolutely nothing goes to plan.

Kyoko is ravaged by grief for her mother and she is desperate to take out the man she believes is responsible for her death. I also felt that Kyoko was also just angry at the way that Asian women like her mother are treated by white men like Daniel. It was a much bigger thing than just her mother and Daniel and that was an overriding message of the book.

As you might imagine, there is plenty of fetishization of Asian women in the book. There are assumptions, generalisations and prejudices all over the place and as they pile up, it enhances the reader’s despisal of Daniel and men like him. We become a champion for Kyoko, a woman who is committing crimes, which is a really interesting mindset to read from.

Daniel’s ex Alma, a Korean American, is also a victim of fetishization. In her reflections, she despairs at the hopelessness of finding her uniqueness if she apparently looks just like every other woman of her race. I’m not sure I’ve ever read a book that touches on this before and I’m really glad that I was exposed to Alma’s profound albeit melancholy thoughts.

Alma’s story offered a really valuable insight into how fetishization affects those who are fetishized. Alma questions whether she has ever really been truly loved or whether she has just been fantasised about, which was a really heartbreaking realisation. I have no doubt that many women of ethnic minorities have gone through the same thought processes and will find some connection there with Alma.

I also learned a lot more about MS through Alma’s chapters. Her symptoms seemed to flare up suddenly and their slow development meant that she gradually lost the ability to do what she loved and what she was good at -playing the cello. I’m sure this is how many long-term chronic conditions manifest and her experience with it won’t be unique. I understand that Katherine Min herself had breast cancer and that The Fetishist was published posthumously, so although the illnesses are not the same, a lot of the feelings and struggles were potentially similar.

The Fetishist is an exploration of how Asian women are viewed by society and how this affects them. It’s also a story of a grief-stricken daughter fighting these ideals in order to avenge her mother and the story of a woman coming to terms with how life has treated her before she leaves it all behind. It is a moving, thought-provoking read but I couldn’t help feeling that the ending was all too neat for the themes. It’s not like racial or gender prejudice has gone away or like it’s easy to quash, so having an ending that doesn’t really reflect that was a bit jarring.

It took me a while to get into this book, and then suddenly it all came together and I loved the dark humour and the anger over the fetishisation of Asian women by white men - a topic I hadn't seen so well and angrily dissected before. Yet at the core of the book is love and possible redemption and I really liked the balance the author drew.
I was very saddened to read this was a posthumous novel, it feels like a burning light has been snuffed out and I wish her daughter well
Thank you to netgalley and Little, Brown books for an advance copy of this book

The Fetishist" by Katherine Min is a provocative, hilariously savage, and poignant novel that explores themes of revenge, grief, and the complexities of human relationships. The story revolves around Kyoko, a young singer in a punk band, who is consumed by rage and grief over her mother's death. Kyoko blames a man named Daniel, a fellow violinist, for her mother's demise, believing he drove her to her death. Determined to exact revenge, Kyoko hatches a kidnapping plot against Daniel, setting in motion a series of events that take unexpected turns.

at first i was a little confused reading this, as the perspective shifts frequently, but once it got going i really enjoyed this. this is a story that has been woven together so cleverly which results in a very enjoyable read.
short chapters and multiple POVs keep the pace very fast, while also exploring important themes, namely the fetishisation of asian women. it’s interesting that the character who is really explored the most is the fetishist, rather than the asian women in the story. i wish these characters, particularly kyoko were fleshed out a bit more. i also thought the ending wasn’t fully in keeping with the tone of the rest of the book, but enjoyed it nonetheless.
an enlightening read for sure.

Hard to pin this down but I couldn't stop reading.

Trying to describe this is tricky. A three-person story really, with the now unwell Alma, a former international cellist, her ageing ex-lover Daniel now seeing his Lothario lifestyle for what it was, and the young punk singer Kyoto, daughter of a woman Daniel used and discarded.

This trio each have a past to face up to, and their stories intertwine (of course they do). Kyoto sets off events on a key evening, after Alma has contacted Daniel out of the blue and both are contemplating their own futures... while Kyoto is also contemplating Daniel's - as a kidnap victim.

Quirky, with moments of darkness but a lot of consideration for our own actions and responsibility. It doesn't delve as much into the 'fetish' part of the title as I was expecting, but I enjoyed what became the main themes instead, with some very realistic portrayals of love and infidelity, betrayal and anger.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample review copy.

When I first read about the Fetishist I knew it was right up my alley, I love stories which slowly unfold, I love getting second hand views of characters through others, I like how the backstory of a character can build before they say a single word.

I loved the unfolding of the history between Daniel and Alma, I loved how each character was motivated by grief, how Kyoko, initially driven by revenge was able to forgive and contribute to the reunion of a relationship initially broken with the influence her mother was a part of.

I liked flip between the now and before, it was hard to like Daniel’s character and I found myself connecting more with Alma and wished there was more about her memories.

Overall I loved how well it tied together and the stories became interwoven as it was initially.

Full of delicious dark humour, we follow Daniel, Alma and Kyoko as their past and present lives are interwoven, culminating in attempted suicide and kidnapping.
Sad but funny, a wonderful book that explores fetishism, love, revenge, regrets and forgiveness.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Min is fearless in her examination of the fetishisation of Asian women by white men. It is easier to frame Daniel as the ultimate villain: a privileged white man who consistently used Asian women and discarded them when he got what he wanted. To offer him some kind of redemption is such a challenge and yet, she has achieved that. How? Because Daniel acknowledges his behaviour, repents, and the narrative as a whole contemplates how this fetishisation is a systemic problem, not only the violence of one man.

I’m sad to hear that this is being published posthumously by Min’s daughter but this is such a legacy to leave. I really enjoy how Kyoko and Alma find relief in music. They both use it as a method for expressing a deep seated despair and rage, one that is hard to find words for. It divides them from Daniel, who views music as a tool for fame and fortune, and shine a light on his envy: maybe his constant pursuit of these women is because they have an authenticity he lacks, which ultimate informs their unique talent.

I think this novel is as much about gender performance as it is about race: Daniel has clearly learned that the masculine spectrum of love is possession, lust, greed, and decadence. It takes him so long to break into his underlying tenderness and devotion, so late that it’s almost unforgivable. It’s very powerful writing.

It’s probably clear in my review but upon reflection, I can’t help but feel that Daniel’s character dominates a story that is about Asian women and their fight for self-actualisation. Maybe that was intentional: for the reader to realise how much the white male ego consumes of our collective awareness, but it makes me feel… weird. It could be my own way of reading the novel - it definitely makes me question my own perspective as a reader.

I would have liked the excitement and the fun of the initial crime/thriller plot line to have continued for a bit longer. It fizzled out very quickly I know it was a bluff on purpose (a literally “aha” if you will) but I enjoyed Kyoko’s short career as a completely laughable kidnapper.

A really interesting story about the fetishization of Asian women. Its not a subject I'd ever come across before so it was quite an eye opener. The storyline itself had so much potential (I'm a big crime/murder mystery fan) but I found it fell a bit flat at the end. I also wasn't keen on how everyone was forgiven and felt like one big happy family. Its OK to keep toxic people out of your life even if you've forgiven them and moved on. You don't have to then be best friends with them.
Other than that, the beginning and the middle had me hooked.

I kept this book back until i felt like i could really enjoy it. And I did. i loved it.

I love Asian literature and different POVs so this was a perfect read.

If you like a plot driven book, this might not be for you as it's very character driven but they are well written and I fell in love with them.

In turns eloquent and agonising, The Fetishist presents a tactile tale of music and heartache as the Asian women who have been burned by fetishist Daniel seek resolution in different forms. For Kyoko, this looks like a classic revenge plot, whereas for Alma, it is a walk through memories of loving and being betrayed by him. A study of the intricacies of relationships, grief, agency, and classical music, Min offers a moving, intimate portrait of flawed characters.

Loved this book utterly and completely.

The Fetishist tells the stories of Alma Soon Ja Lee and Daniel Karmody and Kyoko and her mother Emi whose lives are bound together by love and music. It is ostensibly a love story but has so much more depth. The "fetish" refers to the attraction some men have for Oriental women which Alma refers to as "yellow fever".

The story begins at the end after Alma has been diagnosed with MS and is being cared for by Rickey. The second string to the story is that of Daniel Karmody who broke many hearts including that of Alma and Emi. Daniel is dissatisfied with his life and decides to end it. However Kyoko and her boyfriend Kornell have other ideas. Kyoko blames Daniel for her mother's suicide after her finished their affair.

It sounds a little complicated but it's not. I'm just dreadful at explaining books that have moved me. I want to tell you everything but I certainly don't have Katherine Min's delicate and elegant touch.

The writing is beautiful and if you have access to YouTube then I'd urge you to listen to the pieces of music mentioned (while you read if possible). The music, for me, enhanced the text. But either way the story is simply exquisite. I could imagine every aspect of it and Alma herself was particularly clear in my head.

It is particularly sad to know that this book has been published posthumously, Katherine Min having died from breast cancer in 2019. Her daughter has obviously had input into the novel since that time.

I can't recommend this book highly enough and thank Netgalley and Little, Brown for the advance review copy.

I wasn’t sure what to expect but this was a love story in a completely different way.

I loved the honesty of the characters and how they merged to become close.

It was an unusual choice for me to read but if there was another (sadly I don’t think there is) I would read it

From the blurb given this sounded exactly my sort of read, I read a lot of Asian fiction across several genres.

Whilst the characters were well drawn, and I was interested to read their backstory, I felt there wasn't a great deal of plot. Boy meets girl, has affair, has repercussions. As a social commentary this works well, and did give me better understanding of the author's lived experience (and many women of Asian descent). I did learn a lot about racial stereotyping, and has definitely enlightened me as a white woman dealing with white men!

Really not enough plot to keep me engaged, I was disappointed with the ending of the kidnap plot, and those two characters were really my favourite rather than Alma and Daniel.

Lit fiction with social commentary. Nice prose and charismatic writing. If you read Haruki Murakami & Kazuo Ishiguro you'd probably enjoy this.

I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

“The Fetishist” ★★★★☆

This is a poignant and captivating novel that delves into the complexities of its characters' lives while addressing the theme of fetishisation of Asian women. And as an Asian woman, I'm glad I read this book.
The story unfolds through the lives of three main characters: Daniel, Alma, and Kyoko. Each of them grapples with their past, present circumstances, and inner struggles, making this novel a character-driven masterpiece. Katherine Min's meticulous exploration of her characters leaves readers with multifaceted personalities that resist easy categorisation.
The fetishisation of Asian women theme is explored in a thought-provoking and impactful manner. While this theme dominates the narrative for a significant portion of the book, it ultimately ties into broader themes of regret, revenge, and rebuilding, culminating in a satisfying and well-crafted conclusion.
Katherine Min's writing in this novel is nothing short of beautiful. Her use of figurative and descriptive language is masterful, painting vivid pictures and capturing the reader's attention. The prose is both eloquent and evocative, drawing you into the characters' emotional landscapes and making their struggles feel intensely real.

This is a book where I thought I knew what to expect going in but it actually unspools in all kinds of unexpected directions. Most surprising is the generosity of Min's vision and the way she sculpts redemption narratives for her characters, even the distasteful Daniel, the fetishist of the title, who has a 'thing' for Asian women based on orientalising tropes.

This is also excellent on what it means to be a classical musician with a kind of visceral sense of music. Nevertheless, despite the presence of fierce Alma and lovely Kornell (is there a slight stereotyping of the big, Black, man, a sort of 'gentle giant' figure?), there's something about the style which held me at arm's length as we have a sense of an omniscient narrator telling us the story.

Or maybe I'm just more cynical and think it takes more than an 'event' to turn a life-long misogynistic player into a decent human being?