K E Z I A K O S
[k i n t s u g i]
Family. Tradition. Faith. Legacy.
Words that we throw around and use as benchmarks for our lives, but we very rarely stop to consider their meaning.
You are who you are because of those who came before you. Your life is a colorful watercolor drawn over the charcoal lines sketched by those in your past.
What is the difference between memory and history?
History is what you tell others.
Memory is what you carry within yourself.
With an accident that kills her mother and fatally wounds her father, Kez must travel back home to bury her family, unveil the past and face the elaborate fairy tales her family members cultivated throughout the years about her family, which differ greatly from her memories.
​
As she travels down the memory lane of her forefathers, she remembers where she came from, where she was and how far she has come, despite being shattered over and over by her close family.
Published on 20.12.2022
​
​
​
​
​
Eva
First I thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to have read your book. I fell enormously privileged to be given a rare chance to peek into your most intimate moments and most private and personal stories of your life.
​
It was your story, your roots, your ancestors, your family, your dreams, your happiness, your first love, your brokenness, your vulnerabilities, your heart beats... Yet there is an immensely rawness and realness to that, that I felt as if I was seeing and reliving my own story, my roots, my ancestors, my family, my dreams, my happiness, my first love, my brokenness, my vulnerabilities, my heartbeats right in front of my eyes. Your words somehow connected your Latin American culture with my Chinese ones. I can't explain but it was real.
Svenja
Just finished your book! I need the next part !!!
​
I am mad at your mom. But i was mad at her before reading your book already.
Heidi
I have finished your book yesterday and I really like the second part of it. Especially when you get into a deeper almost psychological modus. Loved it as I truly can relate. Some with love. Very nicely written, Kezia.
I liked the description of yoru father's work and him. He sounds like an amazing guy. I loved that you added quotes.
I pictured you while reading the book. The little Kezia, the 20's Kezia and the present one.
Anna
Here are some points of my review to your book: The book is enjoyable and easy to read. Interesting historical facts and personal facts. [Gabriel] Garcia Marques style. Family drama in which one can find themselves.
Every part [is] interesting in its [own] way. I guess for me it is double interesting because I know you. So it's also a way to get to know you through the book.
I like the the historical pats, but maybe because I am fond of history and past in general.
Diana
I have started with the book and read most of it in one sitting. I love it. The mixture of reality and fiction was driving me crazy. I wanted to call you while I was reading to check what was true or not. Thanks for picturing me so lovingly.
Kristin
Waiting I am absolutely impressed by Kezia's storytelling; I actually felt like I just returned from a vacation exploring new worlds and cultures after reading this book and am definitely excited to read her future work. Highly recommend and congratulations to this talented author!the next book...
Alice
Kintsugi is an emotional and powerful story about breaking free from toxic family ties and finding strength in the chaos. With raw honesty, dark humor, and heartfelt moments, it’s a moving journey of healing and self-discovery that’s both relatable and inspiring.
​
This is a raw and heartfelt journey through loss, family, and the painful beauty of healing. Kezia Kos captures the messiness of grief and the resilience required to rebuild, just like the Japanese art of kintsugi itself. The sharp humor and vivid emotions balance out the heavy themes, making it a powerful read. At times, the narrative lingers on details, but it adds depth to the story.
​
Great read filled woith emotional depth! Cutting ties with toxic relationships (family, friends) takes such an enormous amount of strength and this book goes through all the emotional ups and downs to get there. Surviving your life and finding out who you are is all within this read. Such a powerful book.
​
Kintsugi is a profoundly poignant examination of self-discovery, family ties, and resiliency. With unvarnished honesty and striking storytelling, Kez's journey from a life of corporate stability in Europe back to her complicated Brazilian beginnings is revealed. Kez wrestles with love, loyalty, and the lingering effects of a narcissistic mother as she faces her history via her moving family stories set in cotton plantations, busy cities, and the scorching dunes of Dubai. A moving book on finding beauty in brokenness and healing.
​​
this book is an absolute gem. the storytelling is raw, emotional, and beautifully written. kezia kos takes you on a journey through complex family dynamics, heartbreak, and resilience. i couldn’t put it down—kez’s story is so relatable and inspiring. the way she weaves her family’s history with her own struggles is masterful. highly recommend for anyone who loves deeply human, heartfelt stories.
​
This book is a raw and thought-provoking exploration of breaking free from a toxic family dynamic. With well-developed characters and a strong female protagonist, it weaves humor, tragedy, and insight into a story that's both tense and deeply emotional.
Its honesty and unique perspective make it a compelling, unforgettable read.
​​
What an amazing, well-written story! Once I started it, I literally couldn’t put it down. The scene with Kezia getting a call from her aunt was so real, you could literally feel all the emotions she was going through. The writing style is captivating, filled with raw emotion, vivid metaphors, and Kezia’s sharp sense of humor. This book is packed with twists, family drama, emotional depth, and Kezia’s resilience and courage as she heals from her dark past and struggles. The author’s storytelling is incredibly believable, with strong characters and well-developed circumstances. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more from this author!
​
This book is a powerful and inspiring look at how to successfully cut ties with a toxic family. It mixes real emotion with moments of humor that make it relatable and easy to connect with. The line, “We thrive in the disorder. And we don’t trust anyone,” really sticks with you, showing how different cultures handle chaos. It’s a story of survival and finding yourself, even when family tries to hold you back.
​
Kintsugi by Kezia Kos is an evocative, layered exploration of resilience, family, and the fragility of the human spirit. At the heart of the story is Kez, a corporate worker who finally achieves her dream of living in Europe, only to be pulled back into the turbulent orbit of her family in Brazil. Kos’ narrative takes readers on a journey, that is both deeply personal and culturally rich, highlighting the delicate balance Kez must strike between her ambitions and the complexities of family loyalty. In the style of “kintsugi,” the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold, Kos masterfully reveals Kez’s fractured family history in a raw and beautifully honest way. Through stories told to her manager Max during an emotionally charged deathwatch at her father’s bedside, Kez shares her memories of an eccentric and troubled family: a narcissistic mother, a mentally ill brother, a dying father, and a manipulative grandmother. The novel traverses a multitude of settings—from Pernambuco’s cotton plantations to the corporate offices in Frankfurt and São Paulo—illustrating the vast scope of Kez’s experiences and the contrasting worlds she inhabits. Kos’ prose skillfully captures the emotional intricacies of Kez’s struggle, and her characters, particularly Kez’s family members, are depicted with rich detail and empathy. Kintsugi is as much about the family’s power to fracture as it is about its ability to heal. Kez’s story resonates with themes of endurance and self-discovery, encouraging readers to consider what it truly means to rebuild oneself from life’s shattered pieces.
​
This book truly took me by surprise, revealing depths and emotions I hadn't expected. Kintsugi isn't just another family drama; it's an intense exploration of endurance and resilience in the face of overwhelming adversity. The author takes us deep into Kez’s complex family dynamics, each character marked by struggle and heartbreak, and the result is a raw, vivid portrayal of what it means to navigate family chaos while trying to maintain a sense of self.
If you’re looking for a story that is as heart-wrenching as it is honest, Kintsugi will stay with you long after you turn the last page.
​