A review by whatiskatelynreading
The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

This is a dark and alluring take on the familiar Gatsby story. Told from a queer and Vietnamese Jordan Baker’s perspective, we get snippets of what Daisy would have been like before the events of West Egg and what it meant to be a part of Gatsby’s glittering world. The writing in this feels like it belongs with the original, as someone who read all of Fitzgerald’s works I find this to fit so snugly into what I expected from a Gatsby retelling, and yet there’s this simmering layer of magic and unease throughout the whole book. The fantasy element to this book feels natural, organic, like it was always meant to be a part of the story. Don’t expect there to be overt world-building or explanation of any kind of magic system, there’s simply magic underlying every interaction and hiding in the corners of the story. The queer rep in this story also makes the dynamic between the original characters much more nuanced and complex and yet still feels totally natural and true to the original. I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely be seeking out Nghi Vo’s other works. 

CW: death, homophobia, racism, mild body horror
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