I regularly seek out spoilers for the books I read. I usually read the last chapter after the first few. Knowing what happens helps me enjoy reading the book for what it is. Otherwise I wonder, which is distracting.
Y/N by Esther Yi was spotlit at a bookstore. The recommendation card said to just jump in and not to read anything about the book – not even the blurb on the cover. Intrigued, I followed the directions and read against my normal habits.
Stop here and pick up the book if you trust someone who works at a bookstore more than me. Which you should. I am thoroughly unqualified to recommend books and I have no concept of how spoilers are bad.
Y/N does not mean yes/no, it means ‘your name’ and it’s a fanfiction placeholder name for the reader. Maybe this is common knowledge, but I didn’t know. Just like I was the last person in the world to find out that I Love Lucy is hilarious.
The book is about symbiotic/parasocial kpop fandom. The band might be called Pack of Boys, or that could just be how the narrator describes them because the only member they care about is named Moon. Moon is the only character who matters and the narrator is immersed in Y/N and Moon fandom.
Then Moon retires. It’s like he died. The narrator’s grief is about as healthy as everything else they do regarding Moon.
About half way through, I read the blurb on the inside flap. I could not fathom why anyone should go in knowing nothing about it. After finishing the book, I’m still not sure why. But I probably wouldn’t get it, just like I don’t get why people don’t like spoilers.
I didn’t dislike Y/N. I enjoyed the depersonalized awkward writing. And I loved the cover.
