Yolk, by Mary H.K. Choi is a great fiction novel about June and Jayne Baek, siblings with a long history of rivalry and hatred between them. June is the elder sister and thinks Jayne is too emotional, too into men, and not enough into school. Jayne, who is three years younger, thinks June is stuck up and arrogant, with a miserable but successful job. The two used to be each other's best friends when they were young but now as budding adults, they have a harrowing distance from each other. The novel is narrated by Jayne, who hasn’t spoken to June in who knows how long, but unexpectedly bumps into her at a cafe where June reveals that there is something important Jayne should know. After some stalling and stalking of the other from both of the sisters, June reluctantly reveals that she has cancer, definitely. Jayne and June now both scramble to cope with their personal, familial, and sibling conflicts, along with the big booming question: Is June going to die from her cancer? The book’s main theme is keep your family close or they may betray you.
I personally think this book is great for a more mature audience as it deals with serious topics of illness (cancer), disordered eating and body image, and has quite a bit of sexual themes. I really love Choi’s diction and dialogue which make the characters feel real and relatable. I have never seen Asian characters written this beyond a stereotype, which was definitely amazing to read. Though the book starts quite slowly at first, it eases into suspense which captures your attention.
Yolk, by Mary H. K. Choi is a great novel for anyone that is looking for a story that narrates from an Asian female’s point of view not regarding or having the plot revolve around stereotypical conflicts and story lines. This book feels like something real, like June and Jayne would be there if I went to New York. Overall, this is a great read better suited for mature or older readers because of the topics it depicts.
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