“Sneaks up on you with its insight and poignancy.” –Entertainment Weekly From New York Times bestselling author Mary H.K. Choi comes a funny and emotional story about two estranged sisters and how far they’ll go to save one of their lives–even if it means swapping identities. Jayne and June Baek are nothing alike. June’s three years older, a classic first-born, know-it-all narc with a … a classic first-born, know-it-all narc with a problematic finance job and an equally soulless apartment (according to Jayne). Jayne is an emotionally stunted, self-obsessed basket case who lives in squalor, has egregious taste in men, and needs to get to class and stop wasting Mom and Dad’s money (if you ask June). Once thick as thieves, these sisters who moved from Seoul to San Antonio to New York together now don’t want anything to do with each other.
That is, until June gets cancer. And Jayne becomes the only one who can help her.
Flung together by circumstance, housing woes, and family secrets, will the sisters learn more about each other than they’re willing to confront? And what if while helping June, Jayne has to confront the fact that maybe she’s sick, too?
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That ending! What was with that cliffhanger ish ending? Did June’s surgery go well? Does Jayne ever tell Patrick about her disorder?
Jayne was a character that I both related to and didn’t. She felt real; she went through real problems and had real emotions. She wasn’t like these characters you read about who you can’t connect with and problems that don’t seem real. Sure Jayne was obnoxious at points and didn’t have the best taste in men (until Patrick) but she is young and still trying to find out who she is. I liked her character.
I don’t know what it is like to have a sister (yet I felt connected to both sisters while reading. I could feel their connection, even while being enstangled) or what it is like to be Asian American.
I loved that every character in this book had real flaws that they were working through (or realized they needed to at the end).
I had a tsunami of emotions while reading this story and I know that I won’t forget about it for a long time!
two: disordered eating, bulimia, parental abuse, cancer, cheating
When I read Emergency Contact three years ago, I had a couple issues with it, but ultimately enjoyed it. This is my second book by the author and I believe she’s written what will become of my top favorites from 2021. I love this book! I love it for all its dread and I love it for all its sibling rivalry, love, and snark.
Jayne (the main protagonist) is an early 20-something college student who’s completely self-absorbed, but not necessarily in an arrogant or mean spirited way. Yet, I’m sure she’ll come across that way to some. It’s a self-absorption that keeps her fixated wholly on herself – being invisible, her body image, comparing herself to others, and trying desperately to be seen as worthy. When I started reading, I was afraid I would dislike her, but instead, I was overwhelmed by my emotional attachment to her. I was not exactly this girl in college, but I was still her in so many ways and I felt everything she felt. The cringe moments, the shame, the turmoil, the fear, the invisibility. She’s trying hard on the outside to mask all that’s on the inside. This author nails it.
There’s a sweet romance in the book, but it’s ultimately about Jayne and her sister, June. These two have been somewhat estranged, but when needs arise, they have each other’s back. In all the ways a bickering, but loving sisterhood could be. Unfortunately, I could also connect with that. Lol.
Yolk was emotionally moving, funny, and so dang realistic. When I turned the final page, I just wanted to hug the book to my chest.
With tons of thought and a masterful weave, this book jumps with both legs into tough topics, jerks the emotions all over the place, and leaves a lasting impression.
Beginning college student Jayne’s life is tough, and she’s fighting an eating disorder among other things. Her sister, June, has the ‘perfect’ life of luxury…not the Jayne knows her. Jayne’s battle with her identity as a 2nd generation Korean, extreme self-critical issues, and general dislike of everything about herself, throws her from one disastrous relationship into another. Until she meets June. June has been diagnosed with cancer and has stolen Jayne’s identity to claim social health insurance payments to pay for her treatments. While the two aren’t about to spend giggly moments together, they might be exactly what they other one needs.
I expected a slightly more whimsical…or at least, not quite so harsh…tale. But this book dives into the darker side of a coming-of-age and other issues. This is not an easy, light read, and not one for less mature readers. Topics such as eating disorders and self-identity issues hit with full force. There is also no pardon when describing certain female issues. Nor is there any halt in the harsher language area. So, this is definitely not a book for everyone. But for those who are ready for such topics…well, they are in for a treat.
This is a very well-woven tale, which digs close to both characters and their issues. And these characters, especially Jayne, are not sweet. The author does an amazing job with Jayne…and not in the expected way. Jayne is a character with more sharp edges, corners and hard spots than any person should have. She is not nice, not sympathetic, and very hard to embrace. And yet, there’s something about her which makes this tale stick. I disliked her from beginning to end. Completely. But that is part of the story, and a bit of what makes it as powerful as it is.
Sibling relations, even when they aren’t smooth and nice, hold a special significance. June does her best to help Jayne get a grip on her life, and she does this while struggling with cancer. Jayne, on the other hand, doesn’t ignore her sister’s issues, either, but offers help as needed. It’s a strong tale for family and being there for each other no matter what. And that glides along with all of the other themes, each which pack their own punch. The only real criticism I have concerns the ending, which leaves June’s condition hanging. So, it feels as if things aren’t really wrapped up.
Summed up, this is a book which tackles difficult themes head-on and with grit, roughness, and without a pinch of sugar. But it’s powerful and leaves thoughts lingering behind. And that’s what a good read is also about.
I received an ARC and found it to be an interesting read.