Unsettling Hunger, Quiet Descent: The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim

This was a solid four-star read for me—disturbing, memorable, and very easy to get into.

The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim is one of those books that pulls you in quickly because of how straightforward it is. The writing isn’t complicated, and the story doesn’t try too hard to be clever. But underneath that simplicity is something much darker. The themes are uncomfortable in a very intentional way, and the deeper you get into the story, the more unsettling it becomes.

What really stood out to me is how real the characters feel. These aren’t exaggerated personalities—they feel like people you could actually know. That familiarity makes everything hit harder, especially when the tension starts building. If you’re Korean or Asian, there are certain dynamics here that might hit extra close to home, which adds another layer to the reading experience.

The descent into obsession and psychosis was done really well. It felt gradual and believable, not rushed. You can see how everything builds over time—resentment, manipulation, and that growing sense that something isn’t right. I also appreciated that the book doesn’t overexplain things. It trusts the reader to sit with the discomfort.

There’s also a disturbing layer of control and power in how relationships are portrayed. At one point, attraction is used as a tool to manipulate and isolate, which makes the violence that follows even more unsettling. It’s not written as explicit sexual content, but the implication is there—and it adds to the overall discomfort of the story.

Another thing that added weight is how the book highlights the way some women are treated—feeling powerless, disrespected, and reduced to something lesser, especially in a racist context. That underlying tension makes the horror feel more grounded and real.

And then there’s the body horror.

Monika Kim does not hold back. The descriptions—especially involving eyes—are vivid enough to make you physically uncomfortable. It’s the kind of horror that makes you pause and go, “Okay… that’s a lot.” Let’s just say I will not be looking at fish eyeballs the same way again.

I finished this in one day because it was genuinely engaging and hard to put down. It’s not confusing or overly layered—it just tells a disturbing story really well. Not quite a five-star read for me, but definitely one that stays with you.

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Title: The Eyes Are the Best Part
Author: Monika Kim
Genre: Horror
Subgenre: Body Horror, Thriller, Mystery
Page Count: 278 pages
POV: Single
Narrative Style: First person
Series Information: Standalone

Themes and Tropes

• obsession and manipulation
• psychosis and descent into madness
• unreliable narrator
• social pressure turning toxic
• body horror

Gore Level: 4/5
Graphic and vivid—especially when it comes to eyes and food. Enough to make you uncomfortable and grossed out (in a good horror way).

Spice Level: N/A
No explicit or romantic sexual content. Suggestive manipulation and coercive dynamics (non-graphic).

Profanity: Mild to moderate.
Violence: Psychological violence, graphic body horror, disturbing imagery.
Substances: Minimal to none.

Overall Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A disturbing, easy-to-read psychological horror with vivid body horror and themes that linger long after you finish.

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