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hannahsteinberg's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Have you ever watched someone you love, do something so out of pocket for them that you thought “wow, do I really know them?”. Because that’s what Lydia’s family is asking themselves since she died. The book begins with them wondering where Lydia, our main character and most loved child of their parents, is. When they realize that she’ll never come back, they have to navigate through their life and loss. Through flashbacks we, as readers, learn what happened and how it all comes together. We learn about the family dynamics, their dreams and struggles and how it is for them to be the only Chinese-American people in the city. Especially Lydia’s father combat the feeling of being different and the need to blend in.
This book deals with pressure, neglect and jealousy. It’s about the things that die inside of us when we keep our own selfs locked and how our souls are leaving every day when we are silenced by ourselves to make others happy.
This book will make you angry and want to slap and hug the characters in it at the same time. But be aware that it’s not a murder mystery.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
elma212's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
shaleen64's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A beautiful, but saddening, portrayal of family life and dynamics. This book covers issues relating to racism, parental expectations, societal expectations and the harm that can come from everything we fail to communicate. A beautifully written book, well suited to readers who like fully developed and relatable characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Infidelity, Abandonment, and Racism
Moderate: Bullying, Murder, Emotional abuse, Child abuse, and Suicide
Minor: Pregnancy and Sexual content
angievansprang's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oof. This was a heavy read. The content is very dark and I found the family dynamics hard to read about as I just felt so awful for the kids. Really goes to show the trickle-down effects of parents not dealing with their own issues and then putting said issues on their children. VERY sad read but extremely beautiful writing. I’m excited to read more by Celeste Ng.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Grief, and Infidelity
Moderate: Abandonment, Toxic relationship, and Suicide
Minor: Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Misogyny
jrosek5's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
Moderate: Infidelity
maziemouse's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
*plays It’s Quiet Uptown on repeat*
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Racial slurs, Misogyny, Infidelity, Racism, and Child death
jessikkaha's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
This book sucked
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Grief, Death, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Suicide, Vomit, and Child death
helloitsemmy's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death and Racism
Moderate: Infidelity and Suicide
entropyseeker's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
From the jump, I knew that this was going to be rough to get through because so much of Lydia's thoughts mirrored my own as a teenager. The writing was gorgeous and moving and so easy to relate to. I loved how much I got to see from every character's perspective and how flawed they all are.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
annamay1021's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, and Infidelity
Moderate: Suicide