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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
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
adventurous
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Excellent book! The plot twist threw me at first but it grew on me more the more I kept reading
2 stars - Hmmm I read some reviews that used the word “gripping” to describe this book and i am afraid i have to disagree, did not finish at 19%. The pacing was too slow for me to be interested in the characters and plot, and i was left with questions rather than answers, too many plot holes to get the story where it needed to go. The writing felt like an awkward (bad) attempt of imagery and flowery writing. It was overdone or not done right, i can’t quite pin point it.
Update: I ended up picking it up on audio book and finished it. The later half of the book’s pacing does pick up and I found the ending to be a good concussion to the story. But my point still stands on the plot holes and the bad imagery writing.
Update: I ended up picking it up on audio book and finished it. The later half of the book’s pacing does pick up and I found the ending to be a good concussion to the story. But my point still stands on the plot holes and the bad imagery writing.
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was my third choice for AAPI Heritage Month. It tells the story of two women (Rebecca and Jasmine) whose lives intersect intertwined in NYC, as Jasmine searches for the daughter who was taken from her at birth and put up for adoption.
Jasmine's story showed what it means to be a Chinese woman in America, and confronted some huge issues including international adoption, immigration, misogyny, China’s one child policy and sex-worker grooming.
Not a bad novel, but pretty slow, some confusing timelines, and a glaring plot hole. Also, this was not a thriller as it was marketed to be, but rather domestic suspense.
Jasmine's story showed what it means to be a Chinese woman in America, and confronted some huge issues including international adoption, immigration, misogyny, China’s one child policy and sex-worker grooming.
Not a bad novel, but pretty slow, some confusing timelines, and a glaring plot hole. Also, this was not a thriller as it was marketed to be, but rather domestic suspense.
A family drama/thriller centered on the Chinese One Child Policy and interracial adoption. Told from alternating viewpoints between Jasmine, a Chinese immigrant running from her abusive husband and searching for her daughter, and Rebecca, the privileged white adoptive mother. Jasmine and Rebecca make increasingly questionable choices as they stake their motherhood claim. I preferred Jasmine’s storyline as I had some difficulty identifying with the seemingly selfish, career-centered Rebecca. There’s a rather predictable twist and a dramatic, violent climax before the mostly satisfying ending. 3.5/5 ⭐️
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I finished this book with a sense of awe, but also longing fir more. Once the reveal occurs, I wish that we could have sat in that tension for longer.
Besides that, I loved the characters and just wanted what was best for them. They felt very realistic and relatable, especially in terms of their relationships.
My favorite part, unsurprisingly, was the theme of motherhood. Since becoming a mother myself I am forever a sucker for that, and it will always bring out an emotional reaction from me.
Besides that, I loved the characters and just wanted what was best for them. They felt very realistic and relatable, especially in terms of their relationships.
My favorite part, unsurprisingly, was the theme of motherhood. Since becoming a mother myself I am forever a sucker for that, and it will always bring out an emotional reaction from me.
So close to a five-star read. Really fantastic characters, and it's more literary suspense than a classic "thriller", so I was truly surprised at the many twists. There is some great characterization here about the different ways motherhood can change someone. The last chapter in particular didn't feel necessary, or at least didn't feel like that much needed to be packed into two pages. There also could have been more details throughout that placed it more directly in the 2007/2008 era; I forgot until the very end that it was a frame narrative.
The last third was so compelling I took the book to work to finish during my prep period. That's the sign of a good book.
The last third was so compelling I took the book to work to finish during my prep period. That's the sign of a good book.