Perfect Happiness by You-Jeong JeongMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Hooter: Perfect happiness comes at a high cost!
“Perfect Happiness” by You-Jeong Jeong is a calm, cold thriller that never quite explodes, but leaves a steady chill at the back of your neck.
We follow Yuna Shin, whose life looks like it’s been assembled for a glossy brochure – picture-perfect home, curated relationships, everything in its proper place. Very soon you realise that her idea of happiness is less about joy and more about control; anything that doesn’t fit the image is treated like an error to be deleted.
The story unfolds through multiple people around her, each offering a slightly different angle on the same quietly toxic centre. This web of voices works well to build unease, but it also slows the narrative; the tension hums, yet doesn’t always rise.
What stayed with me is the theme – the idea that “perfect” happiness can become a dangerous project, especially in a world obsessed with polished lives and curated joy. What held the book back, for me, was the pacing and the supporting characters, who sometimes feel like props arranged around Yuna rather than people you ache for.
A good, cold read if you like domestic psychological thrillers, but not quite the mind-bender the premise promises.
View all my reviews
No comments:
Post a Comment