Book Review: Luster by Raven Leilani

Book: 128/150

Rating: 4.5/5

As if your twenties isn't hard enough: working a boring admin job, living in a less than ideal apartment in Bushwick, and inappropriate sexual encounters at work, Edie gets involved with a married man in an open marriage - with rules. She finds herself slowly getting intertwined with his wife and adopted daughter.

A coming of age story learning about what it means to believe in your talent, trying to make sense of your life, and the unexpected influences that help you find your way.

The writing in this one is beautiful. I found myself reading slower than I usually do to savour the writing. Leilani (a debut author, honestly cannot believe it based on how beautiful and sophisticated the writing is) does a masterful job portraying Edie's loneliness and want for belonging. The more I think about it though, all of the characters in the book represent varying degrees of loneliness, and come together and forge relationships in unexpected ways.

I don't really know what else to say about this one other than it is a beautiful debut!