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jess_mango's review against another edition
4.0
I won a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway. Thank you to the publisher Berkley for the giveaway of this book!
tishywishy's review against another edition
3.0
This is not a romance novel. Yes there is a romance involved but it's not the primary focus of the book...or even the secondary focus. It's like a small segue story that's happening to the protagonist and in a fast, slightly erratic way at best.
Natalie returns home after her agoraphobic mom passed away. She is saddened to see how the neighbourhood has become more and more gentrified while her long standing neighbours have suffered financially. She searches for a way to bring business and vitality back to the community - re-opening her grandmother's restaurant and finding her grandma's recipe book. The book has tons of cultural references, characters who really bring the neighbourhood to life, and is filled with magical realism, which makes the recipes even more exciting.
What irked me was the constant message that only Natalie - through her grandmother's recipes - could bring the neighbourhood back to its previous splendor. It felt as though the ENTIRE place would fall to ruins if she didn't work her cooking magic to make it happen. The story kept harping on this and at some point it got overbearing.
Then it was a romantic interest that seemed tossed in for story line sake. Frankly, it would have been just fine with out a love interest.
Natalie returns home after her agoraphobic mom passed away. She is saddened to see how the neighbourhood has become more and more gentrified while her long standing neighbours have suffered financially. She searches for a way to bring business and vitality back to the community - re-opening her grandmother's restaurant and finding her grandma's recipe book. The book has tons of cultural references, characters who really bring the neighbourhood to life, and is filled with magical realism, which makes the recipes even more exciting.
What irked me was the constant message that only Natalie - through her grandmother's recipes - could bring the neighbourhood back to its previous splendor. It felt as though the ENTIRE place would fall to ruins if she didn't work her cooking magic to make it happen. The story kept harping on this and at some point it got overbearing.
Then it was a romantic interest that seemed tossed in for story line sake. Frankly, it would have been just fine with out a love interest.
missfortune99's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 ⭐
The writing in this book is vivid and enchanting. Lim writes in beautiful prose that spark a reader's imagination, yet she has the perfect balance of descriptive writing that doesn't overload the narrative and slow the pace of the book. I found the plot both creative and relatable, and the vibrant Chinatown setting was truly a delight. My one complaint was the romantic subplot. I feel like interactions between Natalie and Daniel relied strongly on the concept of telling, not showing, and the chapters focusing on them felt rushed and sparked no emotion for me. Removing the romance entirely wouldn't have altered the plot at all, which tells me it wasn't executed well. Even with that, I'm a huge fan of Lim's writing style and beautiful story telling, and I'll definitely be back for more.
The writing in this book is vivid and enchanting. Lim writes in beautiful prose that spark a reader's imagination, yet she has the perfect balance of descriptive writing that doesn't overload the narrative and slow the pace of the book. I found the plot both creative and relatable, and the vibrant Chinatown setting was truly a delight. My one complaint was the romantic subplot. I feel like interactions between Natalie and Daniel relied strongly on the concept of telling, not showing, and the chapters focusing on them felt rushed and sparked no emotion for me. Removing the romance entirely wouldn't have altered the plot at all, which tells me it wasn't executed well. Even with that, I'm a huge fan of Lim's writing style and beautiful story telling, and I'll definitely be back for more.
lawryn's review against another edition
3.0
Yummy food and a beautiful look into the first and second generation Chinese American culture in the US.
alicebme's review against another edition
2.0
I liked the idea of this book, but it was religiously formulaic. Also, I guess I’m not into magical realism so much. But, it was a solid effort.
emmylh's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.0
The story picked up in the last bit of the book
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
4.0
“Food comforts and heals, and is the only lover I will ever take.”
Love, loss, food, heart, and a dash of magic make this truly a book that felt good for the soul. Roselle Lim’s debut novel Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune truly enchanted me! A stunning debut that will put a bit of magic in the heart of even the biggest skeptic.
Natalie Tan has been away from home for some time, when she learns of her mother’s death. Her mother was an agoraphobe, and rarely left home. I loved the bits of magic—the bird singing her mother’s favorite aria on her balcony leading Natalie to understand her mother has passed. It’s the type of magic that is subtle enough, it’s almost believable. A bit like fairy tales.
The setting in San Francisco’s Chinatown was at once contemporary and mystical. I loved the connection through food and recipe’s. Natalie’s grandmother was a successful chef, running a famous restaurant in Chinatown. But as the book opens we learn that the restaurant has been closed for some time. Following the death of her grandmother, Natalie’s mother’s illness prevented her from keeping it open. Natalie herself is a true descendent of her grandmother’s wanting to be a chef and feeling as though she needs to strike out on her own to do so, when the magic was back at home all along.
Natalie has had a difficult path as she has tried to make it on her own. When the novel opens, Natalie is estranged from her family and has suffered many disappointments and bouts of loneliness as she tries to make her way in the world. But when she returns home, that is when the magic occurs. Natalie feels the spirit of her grandmother in that neighborhood, and he begins to learn her grandmother’s recipes. Natalie comes home in more way than one.
“A gathering fog brewed at the base of the gate the way steam rises from a perfect bowl of noodle soup. I was home.”
And as she begins to cook for the people of her neighborhood—the ones she left behind—her grandmother’s food made through Natalie’s hands began to restore her and those around her. I loved the central theme of food in this book and the way it restores you not just physically, but emotionally. The way food also can bring people together, and connect us to those we can’t be with physically.
And of course, there is the enchantment. Natalie must cook three recipes of her grandmother’s for the neighbors before she can reopen the restaurant. And through Natalie’s journey she finds so much—neighbors and community, friendship, happiness, and even love.
And lest you think the love story is an afterthought, think again. Natalie and Daniel’s attraction is as bound by magic as everything else in the book. I really enjoyed Natalie’s superstition about love and misfortune. She can’t help but fall for Daniel, but that doesn’t mean that everything will work out easily. As things fall apart, she must work to put them back together. It’s such a surprising and delightful book!
Though the story itself isn’t new, Roselle’s voice is so fresh and welcoming. The way she wove magic and fortune through the story was so subtle and wonderful. Enchanting!
“The recipe is for the crestfallen, the unsmiling, and the ones who need sunshine in their souls.”
Don’t we all need a bit of sunshine in our souls?
Thank you Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
Love, loss, food, heart, and a dash of magic make this truly a book that felt good for the soul. Roselle Lim’s debut novel Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune truly enchanted me! A stunning debut that will put a bit of magic in the heart of even the biggest skeptic.
Natalie Tan has been away from home for some time, when she learns of her mother’s death. Her mother was an agoraphobe, and rarely left home. I loved the bits of magic—the bird singing her mother’s favorite aria on her balcony leading Natalie to understand her mother has passed. It’s the type of magic that is subtle enough, it’s almost believable. A bit like fairy tales.
The setting in San Francisco’s Chinatown was at once contemporary and mystical. I loved the connection through food and recipe’s. Natalie’s grandmother was a successful chef, running a famous restaurant in Chinatown. But as the book opens we learn that the restaurant has been closed for some time. Following the death of her grandmother, Natalie’s mother’s illness prevented her from keeping it open. Natalie herself is a true descendent of her grandmother’s wanting to be a chef and feeling as though she needs to strike out on her own to do so, when the magic was back at home all along.
Natalie has had a difficult path as she has tried to make it on her own. When the novel opens, Natalie is estranged from her family and has suffered many disappointments and bouts of loneliness as she tries to make her way in the world. But when she returns home, that is when the magic occurs. Natalie feels the spirit of her grandmother in that neighborhood, and he begins to learn her grandmother’s recipes. Natalie comes home in more way than one.
“A gathering fog brewed at the base of the gate the way steam rises from a perfect bowl of noodle soup. I was home.”
And as she begins to cook for the people of her neighborhood—the ones she left behind—her grandmother’s food made through Natalie’s hands began to restore her and those around her. I loved the central theme of food in this book and the way it restores you not just physically, but emotionally. The way food also can bring people together, and connect us to those we can’t be with physically.
And of course, there is the enchantment. Natalie must cook three recipes of her grandmother’s for the neighbors before she can reopen the restaurant. And through Natalie’s journey she finds so much—neighbors and community, friendship, happiness, and even love.
And lest you think the love story is an afterthought, think again. Natalie and Daniel’s attraction is as bound by magic as everything else in the book. I really enjoyed Natalie’s superstition about love and misfortune. She can’t help but fall for Daniel, but that doesn’t mean that everything will work out easily. As things fall apart, she must work to put them back together. It’s such a surprising and delightful book!
Though the story itself isn’t new, Roselle’s voice is so fresh and welcoming. The way she wove magic and fortune through the story was so subtle and wonderful. Enchanting!
“The recipe is for the crestfallen, the unsmiling, and the ones who need sunshine in their souls.”
Don’t we all need a bit of sunshine in our souls?
Thank you Berkley for my copy. Opinions are my own.
jkribbit's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
4.0
jacktardis's review against another edition
emotional
funny
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
juliaarciga's review against another edition
1.0
I hated the writing in this book. So repetitive. Full of filler. Just awful. It was almost a DNF for me but I kept pushing thru. The ending was not worth it. I mean... WHO DOESNT KNOW WHO EDITH PIAF IS?!??