Her New Eyes

by T.J. Martinson

From T.J. Martinson, author of The Reign of the Kingfisher, comes a poignant odyssey of aging, stardom, and memory explored through the literal eyes of Marilyn Monroe.

Susan Jackson’s serene life as a sixty-eight-year-old florist living in Indiana shatters following a groundbreaking eye transplant that comes with an unexpected side-effect—visions of the life of Marilyn Monroe. Initially a harmless oddity, the invasive visions swiftly escalate as she starts morphing into the iconic actress. As Susan’s transformation becomes undeniable, a battle of wills ensues between the long-dead Hollywood icon and the woman whose body she’s seized.

Her New Eyes is an evocative literary novel, playing out against the bittersweet stage of eternal Americana-icon worship. With a dreamy atmosphere and unforgettable characters, Martinson crafts a story that will provoke introspection while entertaining.

Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[AnneMarie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderfully original, strange little book!

I'm somewhat baffled by the reviews about how the fate of some characters is 'unfair' when that is very much the point? Nobody in the wider world cares about the tragedy that an ordinary woman is basically lost in another's psyche, they only care about the story of the celebrity, they think it's a good news story, not a sad one.

Susan is a wonderfully sympathetic character and her love story with Charles is sweet and understated. Though some of the themes and questions it brought up felt a little undercooked or unresolved (do we want celebrities performing for us forever? why does anyone want to live an extraordinary but memorable life in place of a perfectly content normal one?), the story will stick with me for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the advance copy.

[Sam Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moody, lyrical, surreal, dreamy.

The author had been popping up on my FYP (he has great videos on literature and writing) so I bought the book. (and my copy arrived early, which was a lovely surprise.)

I thought it was brilliant. I read it in two days (and had very strange dreams, haha). Susan is a great character in her own rite, but Marilyn Monroe steals the show (deliberately). The flashbacks read more like poetry than fiction. There were laugh out loud moments and also moments where I was near to tears. The writing is crushing and beautiful. The end is perfect--I never saw coming.

Excellent for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid's "The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo" who also want a bit more literary flair in the story. Reminded me also of "The Metamorphosis."

[Lata · Rating 4 out of 5]

When sixty-eight year old florist Susan Jackson goes for an eye checkup, she's convinced to submit to a new treatment, which involves replacing her aging eyes with a new pair. She immediately finds her eyesight is totally clear and is happy. Then she starts experiencing short visions of what appears to be someone else's life. Not very long after, her husband Charles notices that her brown eyes have turned blue, gradually, they, along with her psychologist son-in-law Brad, who submits Susan to a series of tests, figure out that Susan is sharing her body and mind with Marilyn Monroe.

And Marilyn is thrilled to be back, in a body, and no matter how hard Susan doesn’t want to give up control, she does enjoy the benefits, which entail a slow, total body transformation, to the point that Susan resembles and sounds like the Hollywood icon, and feels like she's in her twenties again. Needless to say, this causes a LOT of friction between her and Charles, as Susan fights a losing battle with Marilyn, while generating a huge amount of media interest as Marilyn.

Susan is sympathetic, and I liked the gentle relationship she had with her husband. That it gradually devolves is sad, but understandable. It was also kind of sad how much as Susan enjoyed some of her transformation, she also found herself frustrated by her loss of control and say over her life, as not only external factors played a part in pulling her away from her humble life, but also the determined attempts of Marilyn to continue to be in the spotlight.

I liked this book, and the questions it raises about celebrity worship, aging, identity, and wish fulfillment.

Thank you to Netgalley and to CLASH Books for this ARC in exchange for my review.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this weird little book. The premise is so unique and interesting. The writing is superb.

[Rachel Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting to see the moments of Marilyn’s life and see the contrast of the two women and the transition. Quality stuff !!

[Carol Roe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very imaginative! A quick read and too fun to put down.

[em · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was certainly an interesting and very creative story. I’ve never read anything like it, the idea of Marilyn Monroe living through someone else’s eyes. As she slowly takes over her counterpart’s body, her visions of a past life become clearer and her dreams turn into vivid memories. This was a very adventurous approach to exploring Monroe’s infamous life in a different way. I enjoyed the story itself, and the bittersweet ending, I almost wish it was longer with a bit more depth.

Some of the flashbacks were a little confusing and overwritten and the science behind it was surface level and almost felt unnecessary, if this book had gone with the whimsy and unbelievable nature that this story demanded. But still, a brave and interesting book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for kindly providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. #HerNewEyes #NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Zoe · Rating 5 out of 5]

three song playlist:
remember my name - mitski
linger - the cranberries
me and my husband - mitski

to say i enjoyed this book is an understatement. it was an amazingly good read and one that makes you think, yet isn't too pretentious or draggy with the introspectiveness.

"to feed the squirrels would be to abide a world that takes, and takes, and takes, endlessly and thoughtlessly, without repise and beyond reproach..."

honestly i would've read this book in one sitting if it didn't start getting too dark for me to see.

"When he drinks his cabernet he is drinking her blood, and when he cuts into his steak he is cutting her flesh..."

i didn't know how he'd beat "reign of the kingfisher," with it being an awesome action book that didn't feel like a man's fantasy, and yet here he is.

how do we feel about death and aging? how do we feel about it now after reading this revival and death wrapped into one person?

"If only God knew young boys could die, he'd have made flowers that couldn't."

love is the epitome of this book, and it does something to make your stomach reach up and swallow your heart whole.

[karla JR · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I came across the premise of the book, I felt a strong urge to dive into its pages. As I began reading, I noticed a sense of discomfort creeping in. The story was beautifully crafted, and while the flashbacks added depth, they also left me a little confused. It's evident that the author poured a lot of thought and research into developing the characters. I found myself feeling uneasy, particularly because Marilyn's experiences were shared in such an intimate way; it almost felt like we were intruding on her privacy. Despite this, I found the narrative to be captivating and engaging overall. #HerNewEyes #NetGalley

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not totally sure how I felt about this book. I kept on reading trying to find a deeper meaning, trying to understand if this event had a deeper meaning behind it. It could have been something for Susan, as she could have been trying to escape her old age. But it wasn't that. Marilyn Monroe was definitely an iconic character, and I definitely do not know enough about her career or her life to fully appreciate her story. But two people we're left behind in a way, and I felt like that was unfair to them.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. All the comments made above are my own. #NetGalley

[Kenzie Lawson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her New Eyes is one of those books that pulls you in right away and doesn’t let up! The author has an incredible talent for storytelling that is portrayed by twists and turns throughout the novel. The whole concept of the story is extremely original and the writing keeps you guessing the whole time! I love the small details that we learn with the main character along the way that show how much she had already lost of herself even from the first chapter. This is the kind of story that sticks with you! I’ll definitely be re-reading!

[Jon · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Her New Eyes author, TJ Martinson, blends a psychological surrealism with our love of iconic pop culture. This wonderful story follows Susan, a 68 year old florist from Indiana, whose eye transplant blurs her life with that of Marilyn Monroe. What begins as a second chance at sight becomes a haunting unraveling as she is drawn into Marilyn’s tragic yet glamorous life. The novel reflects on how we age and how we hold on. Aging gracefully is both an art and a constant battle

[Dave Harmon · Rating 3 out of 5]

i wasnt really captivated or interested in anything here. the story was interesting though. i imagine that if mailyn monroe is your thing you would like this more than i did. if i had read the plot description i probably wouldnt have read it at all, i couldnt care less about celebrities, especially dead ones.

[Maureen McQuillan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and can’t wait to re-read it and talk to friends about it. It involves a love story between a couple in their sixties, and the flash backs to Marilyn Monroe encourage psychological intrigue and reflection on self, identity, appearance, aging, and memory 💕🙌

[Jay Martinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story! The writing is exceptional, Martinson's descriptions are so well-crafted (yet not labored), often hitting like small dopamine hits that simply feel good. Very creative speculative fiction. Reminded me of Vonnegut but with more sentimentality. I will be reading this one again.

[Christine Buuck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t been this captivated by a book in a while. Couldn’t read Her New Eyes fast enough and then I was sad when it was over! Loved it!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days. People love the idea of those gone too soon getting second chances, yet this has a Twilight Zone vibe that makes it a bit creepy. But in the best way.

[Mo McQ · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite books ever ! so unique and captivating. a cool story about aging , memory, identity, and relationships