Reviews - The Storm We Made

1.6k reviews for:

The Storm We Made

Vanessa Chan

3.9 AVERAGE

cammo5's review against another edition

3.75

challenging medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

thefictionphysician's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense 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: Yes

readwithbell's review against another edition

3.75

challenging dark reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

A harrowing read, but the writing and the delivery leave something to be desired.

starstuff's review against another edition

3.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense

Relentlessly bleak…

Content Warnings

myinfinitetbr's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional informative mysterious sad tense medium-paced

I love when historical fiction brings to light a part of history I knew nothing about. Extra points when it's not set in WWII France. Sorry not sorry 😏

The Storm We Made takes place in Malaya (now Malaysia), in alternating timelines between the British invasion in 1935 and the Japanese invasion in 1941.

Told in the perspectives of Cecily (past and present), and her three children Abel, Jujube, and Jasmine. It was such a heartbreaking but compelling read, around family, guilt, desperation, survival, and the dehumanization of war.

I absolutely loved the writing and the characterization, what an incredible debut! These characters endured so much, but they were courageous in their own ways. The dichotomy between adult and child POVs was especially interesting, and maybe a reason I was so emotionally invested.

This is a fantastic book club pick. There was so much to discuss, and I loved unpacking it and hearing others’ thoughts with @bookfriendsbookclub on IG (as always).

Can't wait to see what Chan does next!

Thank you Book Club Favorites and Simon & Schuster for my gifted copy!

kduhy's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

kellilee's review against another edition

3.75

informative

lucifersfavoritechild's review against another edition

4.0

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: N/A

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

qiaosilin's review against another edition

3.0

adventurous dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

ashleysilver7's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional informative sad tense 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: Complicated

This was a difficult book to read, and definitely not a good book to read right before bedtime. It's about a family who lived through Japanese occupation during WWII, and the trials this family had to endure. It also tells about Cecily, the mother, who harbors a lot of guilt for her actions leading up to the Japanese occupation, circa 1935-38. After Japan surrendered to the US in August, they still occupied Malaysia until early September. Afterwards, the British came back to colonize, so it's a very difficult (and not often told) story and hardship. I learned a lot, and I enjoyed the author's prose.

Content Warnings

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