Both the plot and the horror aspect of this book kept me hooked from the start. This is one of my favourite ‘female rage’ books- the kind where the MC has a reason for her rage, and where even when she’s doing despicable things you feel for her. I can’t wait to see what Monika Kim does next!

This was an absolutely incredible book to read about a young woman's obsession with the eyes of her mother's new boyfriend! It was insightful, creepy and darkly comedic, as well as being downright gross in places - but I'm really grossed out my eyes, so that's probably my problem.

I couldn't put this book down and it definitely got under my skin and made think "good for her!", just like the blurb promised!

This is a perfect example of a weird girl book and I will 100% be recommending it to everyone.

Absolutely loved the premise for this one, and it did not disappoint. Incredibly vivid and engaging, I meant to start it before bed and finish tomorrow but couldn't put it down! The characters felt real and distinct, and the body horror was subtle and well done. The way Ji-Won described George's eyes in contrast to him as a person, the beauty and disgust, it makes me shudder to think about it.

I don’t even know where to start. I am starting this review right after I finished it. This book is for sure on my favorites list and I honestly don’t think I’ll ever look at eyes (or my own eyes for that matter) the same again. I am going to do my best to talk about this without giving away spoilers.

I absolutely love the build up we get to experience with the main character as we progress through the book. It was so well written. The ending was mind blowing for me. It honestly gave me everything and more!

I was hooked and so hooked that before I knew it I was at the end. I’ll be recommending this to everyone! I can’t wait for it to be released. I NEED a physical copy.

Such an interesting, engaging and bloody read for so many reasons!

Firstly, the genre is horror, with a young woman who becomes a serial killer with a fixation on eyes. I mean – I’m already in. You KNOW that’s gonna get dark
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The young woman, Ji-won lives in a tiny apartment with her younger sister and her Umma (mum) with the story starting around the time her Uppa (dad) leaves them.

The fascination with eyes begins with a cooked fish that her mum eats for good luck – as they are, as a family, certain they are cursed with bad luck. They certainly have fallen on bad times so could do with a change in their luck.

And those eyes certainly DO change people’s luck, but not in the ways one may expect; and not just the fish eyes. Ji-Won develops a deadly fascination with eating bright blue human eyes, triggered by the eyes of her mum’s new misogynistic, pervy sex pest boyfriend who has a penchant for all Asian women and girls of all ages.

We see Ji-Won’s anger and ire grow, and her appetite for delivering retribution with it. Her boldness grows, too and we take that journey with her, savouring her baptisms of blood.

There’s the boy at her college who presents as a nice guy, but is in fact a stalker who feels that he is entitled to Ji-Won just because he likes her. We have misogynistic jocks who say bigoted things getting their just desserts in hideous ways. And hideous pedo men meeting their demise in ways Dexter would be proud of.

It's a beautifully crafted book, which taught me much about Korean culture and had me very much rooting for our Korean hero as she redresses the balance of misogyny whilst leaning into new feelings for her new female friend, Alex – all whilst trying to navigate what is real and what isn’t as she gradually unravels. It’s not for the faint hearted or easily butt hurt incels. It’s for those who rejoice in women and their fierceness!

Will she get away with it all? Let’s hope so – but you’ll have to read the book to find out.

Thank you Net Galley, Octopus Publishing and of course, the author Monika Kim for the opportunity to read this ARC. I loved it!

Wow, what did I just read?! Told from the POV of a young Korean woman coming to terms with her father abandoning the family - and being replaced by a conman who fetishises Asian women - this serial killer in the making is gross, graphic and hilarious in equal measure. Kim does an excellent job of portraying relationships in all their messy detail, as well as the protagonist's spiral into insanity as she discovers her insatiable appetite for eyes. This really ticked all the boxes for me, fantastically written, just enough grossness to put me off my lunch, and really likeable characters, whilst still managing to address a bunch of issues around feminism and race.

I just finished "The Eyes Are the Best Part" by Monika Kim, and wow, this was a surprise! The story follows Ji-won, a Korean-American college student, who's dealing with her dad leaving and her mom dating a creepy, racist guy named George. Things take an odd (REALLY odd) turn when Ji-won becomes obsessed with eating human eyes, starting with George's.

The book is dark, graphic, and surprisingly deep. Ji-won's journey into madness and revenge had me hooked. It's not just about gore; it dives into issues like misogyny, racism, and cultural identity. Kim's writing is sharp and captivating, making you root for Ji-won despite her twisted cravings.

If you’re okay with reading gory, this book is a vibe. Can't wait to see what Monika Kim comes up with next!

As I read this book i thought of a few books recommendations

1. "My Sister, the Serial Killer" by Oyinkan Braithwaite

2. "Maeve Fly" by CJ Leede

Hell hath no fury like the daughter of a woman scorned.

The Eyes Are the Best Part follows Ji-won, the eldest daughter trapped in the forlorn reality of her Appa's infidelity and subsequent abandonment. With Umma inconsolable, her younger sister, Ji-hyun, looks to her for help. After months of waiting despondently by the door, in hopes Appa will return to her, Umma turns to regularly eating fish eyes in her desperation - “Fish eyes are good luck. If I eat one, maybe it will bring your father back”. Eventually, tired of this new routine, Ji-won appeases her and eats a fish eye too. She becomes more and more enticed, compounded by horrifying yet alluring dreams of moreish blue eyes. Umma quickly falls for George, a white man with a fetish for Asian women and girls, blinded by finally being wanted again and a naive belief that "white men [are] the best...have you ever heard of a white man treating his girlfriend or wife badly? Because I haven’t!”. Their relationship gets more serious, as does Ji-won's hunger and rage, with a pile of bodies to show for it.

This book was fantastic. I'm always a fan of female rage, and this book really delivers on that. There's a slow but steady build as Ji-won mental state descends. It's easy to see why; every man in this book is the worst, showcasing a range of misogyny, racism, and entitlement. You may think them caricatures but I assure you I have met each and every one of them. A Mansplaining "feminist" who appears to be a great friend but girlfriend zones you and is a dick about it when you don't feel the same; multiple men with Asian fetishes, including Asian girls; a father who walks out on his wife and children for his mistress, etc. *Spoilers ahead:* I loved the descent into murder, with her obsession overcoming her, though I was willing her to kill George from the off. It was immersive, incredibly descriptive of every disgusting detail. There was just enough gore without risking it becoming repetitive,

I was disappointed when it turned out Ji-won had a brain tumour. It felt like a lazy excuse for her desire to kill men and eat their eyeballs. Though I am glad that she continued to get her revenge. I thought the fish eyes would be some kind of monkeys paw type magic, giving you your desires with undesirable consequences: it gave Umma a "good" white man, who was cheating on her, using her, and noncey with her kids; it gave Ji-won multiple people who cared for her when she was so alone, but not selflessly, and it gave her an outlet for her taste for revenge and eyeballs. Maybe it had some influence, but I hoped that would've been explored more.

The familial relationships were relatable: she had a good relationship with her sister, and I've read countless tales of parents dating someone awful but ignoring their kid in favour of their own rose-tinted happiness. I wish Umma grew a backbone or could see George for who he is, but it was a realistic portrayal of someone in her situation. Appa's absence was glaring and I'm glad he won't be let off the hook. The friendships were again relatively realistic, and Ji-won is desperate not to be left again that she sabotages her relationships, which is probably most evident with her school friends.

This book is brimming with anger; an anger that is very familiar and is pervasive in our lives and in society, building and building until we boil over. I loved to see Ji-won's development, not just into a killer, but in every aspect of their lives. The two sisters symbolise a new generation of girls who won't tolerate intolerance; girls who will fight back. They’re tired and they’re not going to stand for it anymore, in stark contrast to Umma and the history she represents. You could really root for them, especially Ji-won, even without her dreams and the voice urging her towards violence, you could absolutely understand her indulgence (and yes, I was also urging her on). I love a tale of vengeance, especially combined with female rage, chanting 'as she should!' in support, because god it's about time we had stories were we fight back. Not today, men. Today, we have a knife.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc. I do not wish to discuss the colour of my eyes.

Content Warning - Racial fetishisation, eye chomping, murder.

Ji-won's life spirals into chaos after her father's affair and sudden departure. Her mother is shattered, her younger sister is left hurt and confused, and Ji-won's freshman grades are in freefall.

The once-stable foundation of her family and academic life has crumbled, leaving her adrift in a sea of anger and resentment. As her reality disintegrates, her dreams transform into horrifying yet tantalizing visions, providing an unsettling escape from the turmoil.

In these nightmares, Ji-won roams through blood-drenched rooms filled with piercing blue eyes—eyes identical to George's, her mother's obnoxious new boyfriend. George has wormed his way into their cramped apartment, a constant and unwelcome presence. He flaunts his overblown consulting job, ogling Asian waitresses with a disgusting sense of entitlement, and treats Ji-won and her sister with condescension and disrespect.

He revels in her mother's adoration, basking in the glow of attention he neither earns nor deserves. Ji-won knows he is a parasite, feeding off the remnants of her broken family, and she is determined to ensure he gets what he truly deserves.

As Ji-won navigates the chaos of her waking life, her dreams become increasingly vivid and violent. She begins to see the eyes everywhere, haunting her every moment. These eyes are a constant reminder of her growing fury, pushing her closer to the edge. Her grades continue to suffer, and she withdraws further into herself, finding solace only in the dark fantasies that consume her dreams.

On campus, a series of gruesome murders shocks the community. The victims, seemingly unrelated at first, share a common thread that Ji-won cannot ignore. She feels a strange connection to these events, a pull she cannot resist. The more she delves into the details, the more she realizes that her dreams are not just fantasies—they are a blueprint for her revenge.

Ji-won begins to manipulate those around her, weaving a web of deceit and cunning.

The bodies pile up, each death bringing her a twisted sense of satisfaction. She becomes more adept at playing the role of the grieving daughter and concerned sister, all the while feeding her growing appetite for vengeance.

Read this if you like:

👁️Feminist psychological horror
🧿Korean-American perspective
👁️Transformative power of trauma
🧿Serial Killer Narrative

An excellent, swift read for fans of Eliza Clark. I really enjoyed this. Would absolutely recommended to everyone