AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA New York Times Notable Book of the YearWINNER of the NBCC John Leonard Prize, the Kirkus Prize, the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, the Dylan Thomas Prize, and the VCU Cabell First Novelist AwardOne of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2020A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, The New York Times Book Review, O Magazine, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, Shondaland, Boston Globe, and many more!"So delicious that it feels illicit . . . Raven Leilani’s first novel reads like summer: sentences like ice that crackle or melt into a languorous drip; plot suddenly, wildly flying forward like a bike down a hill." ―Jazmine Hughes, The New York Times Book ReviewNo one wants what no one wants.And how do we even know what we want? How do we know we’re ready to take it?Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties―sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She is also haltingly, fitfully giving heat and air to the art that simmers inside her. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage―with rules.As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren’t hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and invited into Eric’s home―though not by Eric. She becomes a hesitant ally to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie may be the only Black woman young Akila knows.Irresistibly unruly and strikingly beautiful, razor-sharp and slyly comic, sexually charged and utterly absorbing, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life―her hunger, her anger―in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent, and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.“An irreverent intergenerational tale of race and class that’s blisteringly smart and fan-yourself sexy.” ―Michelle Hart, O: The Oprah Magazine
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Luster: A Novel
von Raven Leilani
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERA New York Times Notable Book of the YearWINNER of the NBCC John Leonard Prize, the Kirkus Prize, the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, the Dylan Thomas Prize, and the VCU Cabell First Novelist AwardOne of Barack Obama's Favorite Books of 2020A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: NPR, The New York Times Book Review, O Magazine, Vanity Fair, Los Angeles Times, Glamour, Shondaland, Boston Globe, and many more!"So delicious that it feels illicit . . . Raven Leilani’s first novel reads like summer: sentences like ice that crackle or melt into a languorous drip; plot suddenly, wildly flying forward like a bike down a hill." ―Jazmine Hughes, The New York Times Book ReviewNo one wants what no one wants.And how do we even know what we want? How do we know we’re ready to take it?Edie is stumbling her way through her twenties―sharing a subpar apartment in Bushwick, clocking in and out of her admin job, making a series of inappropriate sexual choices. She is also haltingly, fitfully giving heat and air to the art that simmers inside her. And then she meets Eric, a digital archivist with a family in New Jersey, including an autopsist wife who has agreed to an open marriage―with rules.As if navigating the constantly shifting landscapes of contemporary sexual manners and racial politics weren’t hard enough, Edie finds herself unemployed and invited into Eric’s home―though not by Eric. She becomes a hesitant ally to his wife and a de facto role model to his adopted daughter. Edie may be the only Black woman young Akila knows.Irresistibly unruly and strikingly beautiful, razor-sharp and slyly comic, sexually charged and utterly absorbing, Raven Leilani’s Luster is a portrait of a young woman trying to make sense of her life―her hunger, her anger―in a tumultuous era. It is also a haunting, aching description of how hard it is to believe in your own talent, and the unexpected influences that bring us into ourselves along the way.“An irreverent intergenerational tale of race and class that’s blisteringly smart and fan-yourself sexy.” ―Michelle Hart, O: The Oprah Magazine
Aktuelle Rezensionen(6)
Rezension von Modestar Abhorsen Botta𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊, is like that one aunt at the family reunion - 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱, 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲, & 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, but you can't help but be drawn in by her weird charm. 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞, the main character, is a puzzle that's 90% annoying and 10% fascinating, but somehow, you'll still find yourself glued to the box top, trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. This book was a wild ride, folks. It's uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and guaranteed to leave you feeling emotionally drained but strangely exhilarated. Leilani explores complex themes like generational trauma, relationships, and identity with unflinching honesty. 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐄'𝐒 troubled upbringing is like a masterclass in dysfunctional family dynamics. Her parents' relationship is a toxic game of pretend, where they wear masks of religiosity and normalcy but secretly indulge in their vices.This left Edie with a twisted view of what it entails to be 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 in this society. As I read towards the end of the book, I began to understand Edie's motivations and behaviors - and let's just say, they were a 𝐌𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐆. Her journey towards self-discovery and growth was compelling, and I was invested in seeing her challenge herself and become a better person. The ending, where Edie takes a stand for herself and starts fighting for her own well-being, was satisfying and left me feeling hopeful. So, if you're ready to meet a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 who's equal parts infuriating and captivating, then "𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" is the book for you!
Rezension von yoohFosho𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊, is like that one aunt at the family reunion - 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐱, 𝐦𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐲, & 𝐬𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐲𝐬𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥, but you can't help but be drawn in by her weird charm. 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐞, the main character, is a puzzle that's 90% annoying and 10% fascinating, but somehow, you'll still find yourself glued to the box top, trying to figure out how all the pieces fit together. This book was a wild ride, folks. It's uncomfortable, thought-provoking, and guaranteed to leave you feeling emotionally drained but strangely exhilarated. Leilani explores complex themes like generational trauma, relationships, and identity with unflinching honesty. 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐄'𝐒 troubled upbringing is like a masterclass in dysfunctional family dynamics. Her parents' relationship is a toxic game of pretend, where they wear masks of religiosity and normalcy but secretly indulge in their vices.This left Edie with a twisted view of what it entails to be 𝐋𝐀𝐃𝐘𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 in this society. As I read towards the end of the book, I began to understand Edie's motivations and behaviors - and let's just say, they were a 𝐌𝐈𝐗𝐄𝐃 𝐁𝐀𝐆. Her journey towards self-discovery and growth was compelling, and I was invested in seeing her challenge herself and become a better person. The ending, where Edie takes a stand for herself and starts fighting for her own well-being, was satisfying and left me feeling hopeful. So, if you're ready to meet a 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐭 who's equal parts infuriating and captivating, then "𝐋𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫" is the book for you!
Rezension von VanessaI feel like this could've been so much more than it eventually ended up being. I cannot speak on the topics of being a black woman, obviously, but apart from that, everything else seemed disconnected and flat. Maybe that was the point? The story seems to have much more potential but wasn't fleshed out properly. I found myself skipping a lot of pages as well as wondering what the hype was about.
Rezension von Julie KuhnFirst read of 2026 (and - after over 5 years of being a Goodreads member, finally my first review, yay)! Still on the fence whether to rate Luster a 3.5 or 4 star read, leaning more towards 4 for now though. I was really enjoying Leilani‘s prose (which at time felt almost dream-like, maybe speaking to the narcotics and drugs Edie consumes throughout the story?) , it made the story both highly readable and moving. Edei‘s life falling apart right before our eyes made me feel anxious at times, however this was countered tastefully by the dry and dark humour Leilani spread throughout the story. The struggles of a Black mid-twenty year-old woman living and trying to survive in New York City, sharp societal critique, as well as a commentary on modern-day relationships and trauma shape the story. All in all I found Luster to be a truly enjoyable read, however I found myself struggling to truly get lost in the story. This might have been due to me listening the novel as an audiobook and its subpar quality (not the narrator, I truly enjoyed her, but rather the background noises audible, clearly detectable cuts and overall terrible audio quality). Currently debating on whether to acquire a physical copy and rereading to see if my opinion changes.
Rezension von catalina cortezI don’t really know why people like this book so much.