Scan barcode
nzmerchant's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I enjoyed the recipes and the self development aspects of this book. It was an extremely easy read with a lovely ensemble cast. Also made me hungry and crave for Chinese food lol. Love to see some Asian representation in the publishing world!
Although I was a bit disappointed in the lapses of cultural understanding? Based on my own experiences with the Chinese culture in Singapore, chrysanthemums are only given at funerals and it’s in bad faith to give someone a bouquet of chrysanthemums. So I’m not sure why Natalie was receiving them as a congratulatory kinda thing? Also I admittedly sped read this a little towards the end. Her dad’s identity was a huge reveal though!
Although I was a bit disappointed in the lapses of cultural understanding? Based on my own experiences with the Chinese culture in Singapore, chrysanthemums are only given at funerals and it’s in bad faith to give someone a bouquet of chrysanthemums. So I’m not sure why Natalie was receiving them as a congratulatory kinda thing? Also I admittedly sped read this a little towards the end. Her dad’s identity was a huge reveal though!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, and Grief
raaahella's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-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
Interesting and sad to read. The story was a bit annoying at times, but had a good wholesome finish.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
radhikag's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
4.0
I love Roselle Lim! And her debut is no different :’) I’ll admit, it took me a chapter or two to really get into the flow but once I did, I was invested! Let me start by saying I do NOT think this is the authors strongest work *AND* it’s still very good + in my mind speaks to her talent in that she’s only ever improved from her debut.
I found Natalie to be quite relatable in her stubbornness, I appreciated the magical realism that seems to be present in many of Lim’s stories, and I loved the details about food and the inclusion of each recipe. The neighbours are charming and make the story fun and it feels a bit like going to actual Chinatown.
For what I didn’t love — I do feel some of the prose around her grief got repetitive, the language of tiny crystals came up a lot and while that may have been a magical realism thing, I do wish there was just a bit more variety I guess? It just felt like I’d read it before in this book not too long before it came up again. I don’t think that the storyline with Daniel, her romantic interest, was unnecessary but the end did feel a bit fast — I would have liked it to be an opening or beginning of something rather than how it seemed to end but it wasn’t a huge bother. I do appreciate honestly that the love story was NOT a major focus because I think her story with her mother and grandmother and neighbours is far more compelling. I loved the backstory about her parents and that reveal felt sweet and well done!
I really enjoyed this story and want more Roselle Lim books! I would definitely give this one a chance and just let yourself be swept up in the story. And then check out Vanessa Yu & Sophie Go’s respective stories also by Roselle Lim!
I found Natalie to be quite relatable in her stubbornness, I appreciated the magical realism that seems to be present in many of Lim’s stories, and I loved the details about food and the inclusion of each recipe. The neighbours are charming and make the story fun and it feels a bit like going to actual Chinatown.
For what I didn’t love — I do feel some of the prose around her grief got repetitive, the language of tiny crystals came up a lot and while that may have been a magical realism thing, I do wish there was just a bit more variety I guess? It just felt like I’d read it before in this book not too long before it came up again. I don’t think that the storyline with Daniel, her romantic interest, was unnecessary but the end did feel a bit fast — I would have liked it to be an opening or beginning of something rather than how it seemed to end but it wasn’t a huge bother. I do appreciate honestly that the love story was NOT a major focus because I think her story with her mother and grandmother and neighbours is far more compelling. I loved the backstory about her parents and that reveal felt sweet and well done!
I really enjoyed this story and want more Roselle Lim books! I would definitely give this one a chance and just let yourself be swept up in the story. And then check out Vanessa Yu & Sophie Go’s respective stories also by Roselle Lim!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death and Death of parent
carpenocteminfinite's review
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Great cozy read. This is the first book I've read by Roselle Lim but I've already got another one in my cart. Very heartfelt and moving story about a young adult woman going through big life changes and learning who she wants to be. A neighborhood filled with fun characters. Would recommend this for anyone who wants to get back into reading, or just wants something light while on vacation.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death of parent
crystalb's review
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
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? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Death
starlitpage's review
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
It gets better as it moves towards the ending and mysteries are revealed, but this book didn't grab me. It does a lot more telling than showing, and the writing, especially dialogue, often feels stilted. The payoff to certain mysteries was interesting and unexpected, but I didn't get invested enough in the mysteries before that point.
I also didn't appreciate the romance plotline; even if the love interest us appealing, it felt an unnecessary addition to a story about the community of neighborhood and of family.
I also didn't appreciate the romance plotline; even if the love interest us appealing, it felt an unnecessary addition to a story about the community of neighborhood and of family.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
moniipeters's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Grief, Mental illness, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
jenndazzle's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Car accident
nytephoenyx's review against another edition
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-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
4.0
Overall, a good piece of magical realism. There were some things that came about too easily, and early on I was worried that it was going to become a strictly romance book. Roselle Lim did a good job balancing both elements. The pacing was a little slow for my tastes, but the descriptions of food were tantalizing. Some of the narration got redundant. But, there was a twist at the end I wasn't expecting (mostly because I kept forgetting about the mystery, by no fault of the author). Overall, a good read. It won't go down as one of my favorites of all time, but I'm glad I read it and would recommend it to others.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Death
Moderate: Mental illness and Abandonment
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
angeldawn's review
emotional
hopeful
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent