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The stream-of-consciousness diatribe on the political and social implications of buying into a racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic system in an attempt to ‘transcend� it in chapter 16 was by far the best part of this book, which was brought down significantly by the tedious, frustrating, repetitive, and distasteful plot of a terrible, volatile woman cheating on her boyfriend, whom she abuses physically and verbally, with a man who is cheating on many women, including his wife, and stalking the other women he is fucking, developing a very unhealthy obsession with them and their lives. It’s possible there’s an attempt at metaphor here, but I must admit I was so turned off by the character, her internal monologue, and the plot that I feel no urge to tease it out.

I’d love to read a collection of essays where Patel explores the social commentary here with more depth and breadth, but the fictional elements of this story were painful to get through. Luster by Raven Leilani attempts to portray a similar relationship dynamic fraught with power imbalance due to race, wealth, gender, and social status and is far more successful in a novel that is far more enjoyable to read.


Trigger/Content Warnings: stalking, infidelity, sexual assault, domestic abuse (physical, verbal, and emotional), racism, misogyny, xenophobia

Representation: *terrible* bisexual rep (MC coerces a woman into sexual acts she is uncomfortable with - a sexual assault), MC is a woman of colour


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