Luster

Luster by Raven Leilani
Reviewed by Linda
📙📙📙📙📙

Many thanks to @bookbreakuk & @picadorbooks for this early copy.

A lot of good things have been said about Luster already. Believe them all. Before I get into what Luster is about, it must be noted above all else that Leilani’s writing is spectacular. There’s nothing pretty about Leilani’s penmanship by the way, it’s raw and unflinching with every imperfection of our 23 year old Black protagonist, Edie, drawn out and exposed. Leilani captures a very deep level of inner dialogue that make Edie’s character even more real.

When Edie is failing at her very white corporate publishing job, orphaned and alone, she meets an older white man online - Eric. As expected he is everything that Edie is not and here begins a series of terrible life decisions and an entanglement with not only Eric, but his wife who endorses an open marriage and invites Edie straight into their home. At this point you’ll wonder which direction the story can go from here!? And then we meet Akila, the couple’s adopted Black daughter and it gets frantic.

Against the odds this weird situationship results in some stability for Edie, but my goodness, what a journey it took to get there (even then it’s not a clear cut happy ending). I didn’t connect with Edie per se - she was detached, guarded, blasé and cavalier all at the same time but there’s no facade, she is who she is. However, she’s not confident or secure either; she is lost and jilted by the world and even unable to find inspiration for painting - her one comfort and passion.

That doesn’t make me love Edie or Luster any less. This debut will leave you stunned and for better or worse, it’s unlike anything you’ve read. I can tell you that.

P.S. Not only is Leilani a talented writer, she is a phenomenal artist. Do go and check her work out!