Reviews - The Storm We Made

1.61k reviews for:

The Storm We Made

Vanessa Chan

3.9 AVERAGE

guylou's review against another edition

5.0

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

My husband and I will be visiting Malaysia in a few weeks, and I thought it would be appropriate to read THE STORM WE MADE by Vanessa Chan. This novel offers a deeply emotional exploration of the Alcantara family's life during the brutal Japanese occupation of British-colonized Malaya in 1945. Cecily, the matriarch haunted by past decisions, grapples with guilt as her family faces peril. The narrative skillfully unfolds through the perspectives of Cecily and her three children, offering a poignant portrayal of their struggles, sacrifices, and the blurred lines between right and wrong in the pursuit of survival. Chan's eloquent prose vividly captures the characters' bravery and torment, delivering a touching tale of family, loss, and the grim realities of war. THE STORM WE MADE is a beautifully written, impactful saga that resonates with the complexities of human relationships and the enduring spirit of survival amid unimaginable challenges.

alexmoody's review against another edition

4.5

emotional informative 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

anxietee9's review against another edition

DID NOT FINISH: 10%

Got to an on-page rape and didn't need to keep going.

Content Warnings

bischoff2's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

indiareadsalot's review against another edition

4.0

dark sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

christinaaangelina's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional sad 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: Complicated

This was an incredible debut novel. It centered in British occupied Malaysia and then Japanese occupied during WWII. The story was inspired by Chan’s family who experienced the occupations, but were unable or unwilling to talk about it with subsequent generations. You can tell Chan put her heart and soul into this novel, along with a ton of research. This book is so important and special. My favorite book of 2024 so far.

between_2worlds's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional informative sad fast-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

Content Warnings

zoecrainfields's review against another edition

4.25

dark 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: Complicated

mrscorytee's review against another edition

3.75

emotional sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Content Warnings

jga1002's review against another edition

3.5

dark emotional medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: N/A

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