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

emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

There’s so much to love here, and honestly I’m not disappointed by what was a five-star prediction. But while the writing is utterly breathtaking, without question,  there were so many missed opportunities I could see where the book stuck close to the original Gatsby text rather than exploring the new elements it was bringing to the table especially with respect to the marginalized identities these reinvented characters bore (e.g., I felt like Jordan’s perspective and her characterization as a transracial adoptee were a bit lacking past the discussions of how she was exoticized constantly, and there was a throwaway section about Jay Gatsby having a half-Native mother that I desperately wished for more from).