Hey Guys, thank you so much for watching this video. This book was one of my most anticipated for this year and it did not live up to the hype. Let me know if you guys have read this and what your thoughts are on it too!
You have such a great way to talk about books - I really enjoyed your review. And I think the same about the book. I really loved the concept and the beginning, but was so bored by the last chapters.
I’m surprised that as a queer reviewer you didn’t discuss what I considered to be an immensely interesting commentary on gendered romance and performance. Rika’s role as “Prince” to Reiko’s (and former classmates). How fatness is perceived as a failure of womanhood but Rika’s thinness is masculinized in the eyes of both men and women. Reiko’s admittance that she wishes for Rika to be a man so they could escape the roles set out for them. I feel the undercurrents of this book are immensely queer. The interpersonal plot is resolved with a found family and Rika realigning her priorities away from what had been set out for her. I feel to consider this a thriller with some feminist 101 added is to ignore the characters and their personal journey entirely. Also this it nitpicky but we do know how much Kaji weighs - 70 kilos. I only remember bc it hurt my feelings. Anyways hope you have a nice day. I don’t usually comment and I realize it’s rude to put something long and critical as the first. Feel free to delete. If I’m shouting into the void that’s okay. Your review makes sense and if you tend to read shorter stuff then I get if the pacing felt off. I on the other hand felt elation as it continuously unfolded exploring its themes from different perspectives through the narrator (and to a slightly lesser extent Reiko and a much less extent Shinoi’s) development.
It’s good to be corrected and hear different opinions- I do agree that Reiko has queer undertones - if not queer herself. The book shows that glimps of her childhood and her relationship with her long term boyfriend is distant. I would also say her sudden all consuming thoughts about Kaji seem queer (but also am aware that this is just through her actions and character too) Although seeing Reiko realign her perspectives and having a chosen family was a perfect finish to the book it just felt a little too late for me. I enjoyed many of the stories themes - but it did flag for me. I found when she was going to Kaji’s home town slow and I think those themes would have shined through again in less pages. I also put blame on myself for not going into to this more in the video as I think my expectations where way off and I was expecting more of a thriller novel. And thank you for correcting me on the weight - I only remember Reiko talking in depth about how much she has gained/weighed. Before writing the video I usually do research through other reviews with different opinions. And people who loved this book said there is no “point” of this book, it’s just watching characters grow and understand that they can live different lives not within the patriarchy - and I got the message but in the end I just didn’t enjoy that journey because of the pacing.
Totally agree with you. This was a hot mess, way too long and all over the place really unfortunately. The potential would have been there, in theory a nice plot but I just don’t think it was well written. I had to force myself to finish it 😅 Thanks for the review :)
