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rachel_macak's review
challenging
emotional
mysterious
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
3.5
bookhound's review against another edition
reflective
slow-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
"Why do we do that?" he asked, his voice climbing. "Why do our minds fixate on the kinds of love we're not getting instead of the kinds of love we are? We expect it to be the thing we want it to be. And we're blind to every other form of it."
I really enjoyed this story about a taitai (housewife), her family, including a brother-in-law who might have been the "one who got away" and the staff of their building. Their lives are all shown, both past and present, making for a quiet, really worthwhile book. I loved the (even further) backstory that's revealed at the end and the different perspectives the story is told through.
Thanks to Anne Bogel for the recommendation in her summer reading guide from 2018.
I really enjoyed this story about a taitai (housewife), her family, including a brother-in-law who might have been the "one who got away" and the staff of their building. Their lives are all shown, both past and present, making for a quiet, really worthwhile book. I loved the (even further) backstory that's revealed at the end and the different perspectives the story is told through.
Thanks to Anne Bogel for the recommendation in her summer reading guide from 2018.
loveambreen's review
4.0
3.5 rated up because the audiobook is so good.
Kind of a typical "we were once poor, now we are rich and realize maybe we are corrupt and being poor made us innocent" stories, but those stories have their places. Enjoyed the character work that was put into this book.
I wish there had been more with Karen. Her character lacked the depth of the others and just seemed to be there to be a symbol of her parents' marriage. Likewise, Sunny was my favorite and I felt there wasn't enough of her and she didn't the into the story as deeply as I had been hoping she would.
Kind of a typical "we were once poor, now we are rich and realize maybe we are corrupt and being poor made us innocent" stories, but those stories have their places. Enjoyed the character work that was put into this book.
I wish there had been more with Karen. Her character lacked the depth of the others and just seemed to be there to be a symbol of her parents' marriage. Likewise, Sunny was my favorite and I felt there wasn't enough of her and she didn't the into the story as deeply as I had been hoping she would.
taylersimon22's review
3.0
An interesting story about love and how we think we do or don't deserve it.
danyabichsel's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
yuzureads's review
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
samanthamarie13's review
challenging
emotional
informative
tense
fast-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
rjsreadingnook's review
4.0
A quiet family drama that also serves as a character study and a window into 2010s Shanghai. WHAT WE WERE PROMISED is a promising debut from Lucy Tan, and I look forward to more from her.