Of all of Mary H. K. Choi's works, this is the one that most appealed to me. A nuanced look in to two wildly different sisters who each bring so much to this story.
The writing is beautiful and the story impactful and moving.

This is my favourite book of the authors, i would definitely recommend Yolk to other readers.

Yolk
By Mary H.K. Choi
Pub date March 4 2021
This is a beautiful book well written. The author new to me and I will definitely read more from this author in the future. The writing style was beautiful written. This book will make you smile and cry the same time. There so many plots and drama in this book every chapter is so different. I loved the relationship between the two sisters the bond and chemistry was amazing . The story covers topics such as eating disorders anxiety cancer there quite allot of emotion read on these topics. I really enjoyed the book and would read more from this author in the future.

I absolutely loved this! Yolk completely sucked me into the story of the two sisters as they meet again in New York after being estranged, their lives becoming entangled as they navigate health struggles and relationship issues as well as family issues from their childhood impacting their current relationship as they reconnect.
I truly loved the balance of humour and heartbreak in this novel and immediately went and bought Choi’s other books which I can’t wait to read!

Thank you Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Mary H K Choi, for the opportunity to read Yolk in exchange for my impartial review.
I really loved reading Choi's Yolk. It made me snort-laugh and it made me cry. The language veers between beautifully realised descriptions and deep, astute statements on the human condition, and modern slang and references. Choi strikes the balance beautifully though, and the end result is a well written, literary YA/New Adult novel. I think any members of any diaspora will relate, as well as 17 to 30 year olds. Choi captures the duality of being young in a big city - the main character is both wise and oblivious, utterly in love with New York and so lost, so knowing and yet so unable to see clearly.
The relationship between the sisters, and between them and their mother was so brilliantly crafted. It was at the same time so familiar and real, and also completely specific to them. The book was a masterclass in writing nuanced, complicated family dynamics.
I hated where the book ended because I wanted to read more and I wanted to know more. I believe that's a sign of an excellent book.

Yolk was one of my most anticipated march release! I needed time to gather my thoughts toward this book because it was really hard to read. I advise you to check the TW before reading it. I'm glad I did because I had to put the book down during some parts, just to breathe.

As always Mary H.K Choi delivers us some sharp yet important messages through Yolk. Our main character Jayne is one of the most intriguing and chaotic protagonist I read about in a long time. She is not the kind of character I usually like nor feel connected to. Still, she touched me in a beautiful way (thanks Mary H.K Choi's writing). This story is intense, complex, deep, beautiful, hard, kind, universal and most of all: authentic. Jayne is flawed, not everything around her is perfect and I liked that.

I really appreciate following her and her sister, seeing how their relationship evolves, trying to understand both of them too.

The only thing preventing me from giving 5/5 is strictly personal and has to do with my personal experiences. Because of it, I really struggle to read some part as mentioned earlier.

TWs: Eating disorders, depression and anxiety, cancer, bulimia and female fertility

This is the second book by Mary H.K. Choi that I have read and throughly enjoyed. Her writing is beautiful and captivating and when you pair that with a set of interesting characters and a unique storyline, you know you are in for a good read.

Yolk is the story of two sisters. The sisters have never been friends, let alone close. They could not be more different. Jayne, a girl who has always known popularity, the feeling of emptiness and lives life like it is a constant tornado. June, a high-achiever with an impressive job and seemingly perfect life. Both of them live in New York, but do not know much about each other and never talk.


Mary H.K. Choi has very quickly become an instant-buy and instant-read author for me. I have Emergency Contact on my shelves and you bet after reading this I will be finding time to read that as soon as I can. Mary’s books always dive into deep and meaningful topics and more often than not feature young adults on the older end of the ‘young adult’ scale as they are just about to enter adulthood. Something you have to know going in to this authors books is, they are not a light read and they do not have naive characters. I find that refreshing even though it can be very dark.

Jayne is a compelling and wonderful character to read about. She is flawed and she is human which helped to make her character feel truly authentic. Jayne is struggling with a lot of emotional issues that I will not go into detail on as I think they need to be read instead. The pain she feels is so visceral and it is so visible even though she tries to hide it. Jayne is a wonderful character.

The relationship between Jayne and June is where this novel excels for me. The relationship between the two of them is written is such careful detail, with a lot of emotion and incredible sensitivity. The love that the two sisters share is intertwined with jealousy, hatred and deep feelings of inadequacy. This book really does not shy away from showing the complexities of sisterly love and I loved it a lot.

Please be aware that this book does provide a deep insight into bulimia and issues that surround body dysmorphia. Therefore, if this is a potentially triggering subject for you, be gentle with yourself and read only if you feel you are supported and can discuss anything upsetting that you may experience. This book also follows a female reproductive system cancer which touches on issues of infertility and dysmenorrhea, so again, please be aware if this is a triggering subject for you.

Yolk is beautiful, heartfelt and at times quite painful to read. This book shows us that we can survive the circumstances we are put it, ask for help and accept the idea that we matter enough no matter what. We all deserve to take up space in this world.

Overall, I would highly recommend this book for anyone looking for a story about an imperfect sister relationship and with deep and hard-hitting topics and themes. I throughly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what Mary H.K. Choi writes next.

I finished Yolk this morning and while I enjoyed parts of it I didn't love the story as a whole. At first I disliked the sisters but as the book progressed I came to love them as they are funny, caring, thoughtful strong women. Mary did an excellent job covering both Cancer and Bulimia and I really champion her for that and for the sisters relationship! Not my favourite but I would recommend it!

Goodreads Blurb:
Jayne Baek is barely getting by. She shuffles through fashion school, saddled with a deadbeat boyfriend, clout-chasing friends, and a wretched eating disorder that she’s not fully ready to confront. But that’s New York City, right? At least she isn’t in Texas anymore, and is finally living in a city that feels right for her.

On the other hand, her sister June is dazzlingly rich with a high-flying finance job and a massive apartment. Unlike Jayne, June has never struggled a day in her life. Until she’s diagnosed with uterine cancer.

Suddenly, these estranged sisters who have nothing in common are living together. Because sisterly obligations are kind of important when one of you is dying.



Things I liked:
1) Jayne- I did think she was pretty hard on herself. She kept comparing herself to other people. By the end of the book for me she got her stuff together. She really grew as a character.

2) I really loved the relationship between the sisters. They are living such different lives but when it comes down to it they are always supportive of each other.

3) The Texas references- I live in Texas and I absolutely could relate to all the things that were mentioned.

4) The Korean representation- I have always been fascinated with Asian culture. It was crazy to see how many things I new in this book. Especially food wise!



Things I was not a fan of:

1) Jeremy- I don't know why this guy was in this book. Worst character in so many ways.

2) What was that ending? I'm literally still thinking about it!



My rating: ❤️❤️❤️❤️



* I did receive this book for free from Netgalley, in exchange for a review*

Yolk by Mary H K Choi is a YA book about Jayne, a Korean protagonist who has graduated high school in Texas and moved to New York to attend a fashion school.

Although she is now living in the same city as her older sister, June, who left home before her, despite their shared upbringing they continue to live separate lives. Jayne feels both ashamed of June and inferior to her at the same time. The age based cultural hierarchy their family follows doesn’t help Jayne’s feelings of inadequacy, but it is not the sole cause of it.

When June uncharacteristically seeks her out, Jayne isn’t sure what to think. She definitely isn’t prepared for the news that her sister has cancer.

Covering subjects including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, grief, family dynamics, cultural experiences, self worth, denial, social status and relationships, Yolk addresses some serious topics while also being a surprisingly addictive read.

If you expect this to be a ‘typical’ story about a main character with a terminal condition you are wrong. Instead, it is a very raw look at how our relationship with ourselves impacts absolutely everything.

Now available for purchase, Yolk has been much more thought provoking that I anticipated.

4/5 🌟

Thank you Netgalley, Little, Brown Book Group UK, and Mary H K Choi, for the opportunity to read Yolk in exchange for my impartial review.

Over the years, I've read all of Choi's work and dare I say, Yolk might have been my favorite so far. Permanent Record was one of my most unexpected 5 star reads a few years ago and somehow, Choi keeps on writing stories that completely take my heart, body and soul. I don't even have to think before diving into her newest novels because I know that they will surprise me, but never disappoint.
I recommend everyone to go blindly into this (I know, I know, synopses are important) because I loved discovering the relationships (both the great ones and the toxic ones) without too much input on where the story was going.
What readers can expect from this is Choi's unapologetic, holding-no-punches writing, emotional rollercoasters and importance on relationships and self-love.

This book was so good !
I'm not a contemporary reader, especially YA contemporary, but for some reason Mary H K Choi's books always compell me. I truly loved her first book Emergency Contact. Mary H K Choi has a way with words that just hit differently, it's very relatable but still brrings something new on the table. I love the representation and the fact that the author doesn't shy from mental illnesses. Ths writing is superbe and i would truly read anything from Mary H K Choi !

First of all this is a heavy read. It deals with all kinds of tough topics and it gave me a headache when I was reading it. The heaviness just never seemed to ease. Secondly, I didn't particularly feel that attached to any of the characters and honestly, I kind of hated them all.
There were some scenes in the book that were hard to read, and some that genuinely made me feel sick and anxious, but ultimately I didn't fully enjoy the book. I'm not sure who I would recommend this to because it's full of triggers and it hasn't exactly left me feeling upbeat or 'fulfilled.'

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars.

This book was heart-wrenchingly honest and packed with emotion, and I know I won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.

Yolk follows Jayne, a Korean-American fashion student living in New York. She struggles in day to day life, dealing with complicated relationships, including how she sees herself – all in stark contrast to the perfect life of her older sister, June. The two sisters are brought together when June is diagnosed with cancer, and over the course the book we watch their relationship shift and develop because of this.

While reading, I felt like I really got to know Jayne. Although, in theory, she is not necessarily the most likeable protagonist, I ended up loving her and was thoroughly invested in her development as a character. It was really interesting to see how, over the course of the book, she grew as a person, and how her relationships grew too. Jayne is, all in all, an unreliable, obnoxious, chaotic and cynical character – but she herself is extremely aware of that. She was far from perfect but she felt so real, so tangible, and because of that I couldn’t help but love her. She broke my heart on multiple occasions and I genuinely feel that she deserves so much.

Another really interesting aspect of the book was Jayne’s relationships – familial, platonic and romantic – perhaps the most notable of these being the ever-changing dynamic of her relationship with her older sister, June. Their relationship is complicated, to say the least, and was an important aspect of the plot. Alongside this sibling relationship, the book also explores Jayne’s romantic relationships with extraordinarily depth and feeling, as well as her relationship with her parents – and, with that, her relationship with her culture.

I will forever struggle to truly sum up the essence of this book. It genuinely was an incredible emotional journey, and dealt with more things than I will ever be able to fit into a review. Yolk has more than it’s fair share of moments that will make you cry, or at the very least want to, but also has moments which will have you straight-up cackling. It’s packed with spite and cynicism, but at the heart of it there is love.

My only complaint would be that I found the book slightly slow paced at times, so it took me a while to read. However, I definitely feel that overall it was worth it.

Content warnings: eating disorders (bulimia), cancer (sibling with cancer), death, racism, mental health, body dysmorphia, manipulation, family estrangement.

Yolk is the story of two sisters. They have never been close, or friends. They couldn't be more different; one, a girl who has always known popularity and the feeling of emptiness and lives life as a tornado, the other, a high-achiever with an impressive job and a seemingly perfect life. Both in New York. Both not really knowing each other much at all. Both never speaking.

I have both of Choi's books on my TBR shelf, but this is the one I picked up first. I don't know why. It just felt right. Yolk was wonderfully written, it reads more as a New Adult book than Young Adult and I feel the themes and intricacies of it are catered more toward that market.

Reading this book was heartbreaking, comforting, sad, bittersweet. I really got a feel for Jayne, her personality, her life, her thoughts and inability to see herself. It also spoke really well about family dynamics, grief, trauma, love and ambivalence. Nothing in this book is easy for anyone. Everything is complicated, especially all of the emotions. Like a happiness tinged with tears. I loved that about it. Emotions aren't always clear, or easy to navigate or understand. Feelings aren't.

If I had to choose one word to sum up this novel? Messy. But so worth it. Just like the protagonist. I also loved the title. From what I gather it is a very clever choice, based on the egg (Yolk) being the root of both sisters problems. Beautiful and genious.

I adored this, and I expect to adore anything else penned by Choi. Luckily I have two other novels already on my shelf by her to indulge in.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for giving me an early copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.

The writing and story were absolutely beautiful however, I had to stop reading because it was triggering my eating disorder quite badly but, I know that if it hadn’t, this would have been a solid 4 or 5* read!

"Secrets are like wishes. Everyone knows they don't work if you tell."
**TRIGGER WARNINGS** For eating disorders, medical content, cancer diagnosis, walk out of a parent and more, also make sure to check out Korean and Korean American reviews of this book as well.
Overall I thought was a unique read whilst still being painfully relatable. Don't get me wrong it is hard to read in places, and will make you equally angry in others, however it touches on some really important topics and handles the messiness of life in a really organic way.
Our main character Jayne was so messy and out of control it was like reading the equivalent of driving past a car crash, you know you shouldn't watch but you also cannot bear to draw your eyes away. But at the same time you are rooting for her, you want her to heal and do well in life, you want her to be happy and feel content and purposeful. Her flaws and flawed relationships make her all the more human.
The plot and pacing was not quite what I was expecting, in the sense that I think the synopsis gives too much away. This book is best to go into knowing as little as possible, just so you can experience it along with the characters. It will definitely be more impactful this way as it is not a plot driven story in any sense of the word and really there is very little structure in the traditional sense of a beginning middle and end, it is much more nuanced.
I enjoyed the writing style but I wouldn't say it was anything profound and I do think it could have been more reflective perhaps however that could have taken away from the story. I would be intrigued to read the authors other works to see if the style and tone was different based on the storyline.
I was also pleasantly surprised by the small amount romance we got in this book. In no way does it dominate the story as more than anything it is about the complexities of family, if anything it provides lighter breaks from the heavy topics within the book. For this reason I would also like to check out the authors more romance heavy books as they have the potential to really resonate with me.
Overall not one that I think is for everyone but definitely one that makes you reflect on your own life.
Rated:3 Stars

Mary H.K. Choi's books just get better and better. She is bridging the gap between traditional YA and the confusing genre of New Adult. She does an incredible job of exploring characters that are at seminal points in their life. It's so hard to capture all the wonderful things about this book: the strained relationship between two sisters, a blossoming second-chance romance, and the struggle of being unsure of your identity. Choi's writing is beautiful and complex with the push and pull of Jayne and June as they are navigating through this new point in their relationship.

All Jayne wanted was to get out of her Texas town and move to NYC, but she's struggling through art school, aN unhealthy one-sided relationship, and a lingering eating disorder. Her successful older sister June, also lives in NYC with a huge job and a lucrative career, but now she needs Jayne's help.

It's hard to think ill will of someone with cancer, but June is not a likable character. She's harsh and bitter, but as the story plays out, you notice that this might just be used as a defense mechanism with dealing with the pressures of being the perfect eldest asian daughter. June's relationship with her sister is so contentious, but in times of trouble Jayne must set aside her hurt feelings and be there for her sister.

I would do anything for Jayne. She's insecure yet extremely self-aware. She knows that what she does to her body and how she lets people treat her isn't right, but she doesn't have enough self-esteem to choose better. She wrestles with being Korean American but never feeling Korean or American enough to her peers. I wanted to hug Jayne. Her anxiety and disordered eating has followed her through childhood to young adulthood. No one in her family sees the real her.

If you enjoyed Mary H.K. Choi's other books even a little bit, I definitely recommend picking this up.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Book Brown Group UK for providing me with an eArc in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very character driven story. We follow Jayne. No aspect of her and her sister’s personalities is hidden, it’s very human, maybe? That’s why even though at times one might find the protagonist unlikeable, there’s still that need tuggin your heart to keep turning pages. Jayne in particular is very honest, even to herself (in some aspects, and not so much in others) to the point where reading her inner thoughts became painful, she’s just as aware as the reader. That is why some readers migh find the book very triggering. The “not so much in others” is due to the fact that even though this book centers around about the things most her problems come from, we spend the majority of the book blocking her eating disorder out. I think Choi captured a very accurate portrayal of how much can something overrule and control our lives, yet not be acknowledged, not even to ourselves. The author did this very meticulously, it was a pumping problem all throughout the novel, the self-hatred is there all along but it isn’t until the 75% mark where the problem with food is slaping us across the face.

One of the many heart-wrenching wonders about this book is that inspite (or because of?) all the pain, it’s a great exploration of human relationships and connections. There’s a lot of dialogue in the book, it’s a raw look at it. Especially with family. The ambivalence with everything, the many many sides. Also, something I think it has to be mentioned is that this story also explores what it’s like to be a korean-american woman. Furtheremore, the author isn’t scared to show the complexities of sisterhood. And the reader can see how Choi intersects everything, in the same beautiful and painful way as all of the other factors in this book.

It’s a very multilayered story.

Nevetheless, the ending portion of this book is cathartic. There’s no better way to explain it. The light at the end of the tunnel (I sound so cheesy, sorry, but IT’S TRUE). A lot of what will connect the reader to the story is that they’ll finally have words for so many feelings some may not even be aware that they’re being hunted by. The protagonist herself will explain the feeling the reader is getting, the being understood or more so, being explained. For people like me, this book will feel like a mirror. Not in the way we use it as a tool to hurt ourselves, but to help us see light in the dark corners we might be too scared to recognize.

Yolk is Mary H K Choi's third novel, following on from Emergency Contact and Permanent Record (the latter of which I have read and enjoyed). Choi's novels are exactly what I look for in contemporary YA fiction: realistic protagonists who feel like genuine people and not characters in a novel, flawed in real and relatable ways and struggling with finding themselves in their early 20s.

Choi's latest offering follows college student Jayne, studying fashion in New York City. Jayne lives in a crappy illegal sublet with a guy she used to be sleeping with and which rarely has hot water and is ridden with cockroaches. Her elder sister, June, also lives in the city, although the two don't speak often due to their fraught older/younger sibling relationship and different lifestyles and values. However the two are forced back together after June is diagnosed with cancer and she is forced into revealing a few secrets which bind the two sisters back together. Alongside this, June has also got back in touch with a childhood friend from church called Patrick, another Korean-American from her hometown in Texas who has also moved to NYC, and they begin meeting up again. All this is happening to a backdrop of Jayne barely coping on a personal level - she has a longstanding eating disorder, drinks too much, isn't quite over said douchey roommate who keeps using her bed to have sex with random girls, and has always had a youngest sibling complex when it comes to her very traditional Korean parents.

I thought Choi did a brilliant job of weaving the various plot lines together and conveying exactly how sibling relationships can change in a heartbeat (often for totally arbitrary reasons) and the self-destructive tendencies people can develop when they're unhappy or don't feel in control of their lives. I devoured this novel in less than a day, and would recommend it if you're in the mood for a smart, sad and at times funny contemporary YA with a sprinkling of romance.

Yolk is a multi-layered story which explores many areas of Jayne's life, including mental illness, family, identity and relationships. The graphic depiction of eating disorders explored how they manifest in all areas of life, including your perception of yourself. Jayne particularly struggled with her image, as she navigated her Korean-American identity and feeling like she didn't quite belong anywhere, as well as how her romantic relationships affected her worth. On top of all this insight, the book examines Jayne's complex dynamic with her sister and forces them to confront their relationship and reliance on each other. It was refreshing how flawed and real the characters were, and although it took a while for me to get into the story, I became attached to the characters and their growth. The ending was satisfying but also very emotional, so be prepared with tissues!

content warnings: eating disorders, cancer