Luster by Raven Leilani

Title: Luster
Author: Raven Leilani
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Genre: Fiction, Literary Fiction
Year of Publication: 2020
Date of Publication: August 4, 2020
Pages: 240
ISBN-10: 0374194324
ISBN-13: 978-0374194321

Summary of Luster by Raven Leilani

Luster follows Edie, a young Black woman living in New York City, as she becomes romantically involved with Eric, a married man in an open relationship. 

Edie works at a low level job at a publishing company. She has a lot of “interactions” with a number of people at work.

The novel explores themes of race, class, and identity. It highlights Edie’s personal struggles and her complex relationship with Eric’s family.

Main Plot & Characters

Edie is a millennial struggling with financial instability and a lack of direction in her career. 

She finds herself entangled in Eric’s family life, even moving in with him, his wife, Rebecca, and their adopted Black daughter, Akila.

The book is split into two parts. The first part focuses on Edie’s life, her past, her parent’s life, and her sexual relationships at work.

In the second half of the book, the focus is on Edie’s life while living with Eric, Rebecca, and Akila. So while Eric is in an open relationship, interestingly Rebecca is not. 

Through Edie’s interactions with them, she confronts questions of self-worth, intimacy, and belonging.

Key Themes of Luster

• Identity and Self-Worth: Explores the search for validation and self-acceptance.
• Race and Class: Examines societal expectations and the intersections of race and privilege.
• Relationships and Loneliness: Highlights the complexities of modern relationships.
• Resilience and Growth: Follows Edie’s journey of self-discovery amid difficult circumstances.

Writing Style

Raven Leilani’s writing captures how much Edie is struggling at the same time you get to see her funny side. 

The book is written from Edie’s perspective and is in a first person narrative. Leilani really builds the characters in this book and as a reader, you truly get to know Edie and Rebecca on a deeper level.

It is also a short book but what one amazing fact is how the book itself is structured. Leilani uses chapter breaks, then builds on with run on words, so you can almost visually watch the pacing of the book pick up.

Impact

The novel received widespread acclaim for its unfiltered portrayal of millennial life and exploration of complex social themes. It became a bestseller and resonated with readers for its bold, fresh voice in contemporary fiction.

Have you read this book already, or is it on your list? And if you’ve read it, which scene or chapter left the biggest impression on you, and why?