"Bonobo" by You-Jeong Jeong

Translated from Korean into English by Seon Jae An. This book isn't out yet, but will be in a few days. I received a digital ARC from the publisher (thank you!). This was one of my most anticipated reads, so I was excited to be able to read it early. This is a speculative fiction told from two different points of view. Half of the chapters follow a man who's been kicked out of his parents' home for being 'useless'. The other half is dedicated to a woman who has been working as a primate keeper and researcher, but gives up on the field after a certain event shakes her sense of self. And then there is a young bonobo, a stunning being who will mysteriously connect all of the characters. I was expecting a serious novel, and at its core it is. But I was surprised by the characters' delightful and unique tones. Humor and seriousness alternate, silly happenings offer a breather when tensions get high, and some very tender moments offer renewed depth after a moment of laughing. All in all,…