Reviews

Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li

bookworm_713's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

atsumeri's review

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emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

estellecool's review against another edition

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4.25

This book just felt so effortless, we were moving between perspectives and it was interesting and easy to read and just like all the characters felt so real. The only reason it was a 5 star is I just didn’t get quite emotionally invested enough, just felt more muted about the ending than I would have guessed at the beginning.

bexellency's review against another edition

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Unfortunately I started this audiobook while sick and between it reminding me of that and having lost the plot while listening while ill I won’t be carrying on.

moshalala's review against another edition

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mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

jannechien's review against another edition

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Echt 15 namen en meer dan de helft begint met Ah ervoor. 
Verwarrend man

readwithdrb's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

I was looking forward to reading this book because it's set in Rockville, Maryland (where I lived for several years before moving a few towns over). I was incredibly bored throughout most of the story (my interest piqued here and there). There was a lot of drama among family members in this particular Chinese restaurant, from the elders whose dream it was to open up shop all the way to the children and grandchildren who were getting into their own troubles. Overall, I did feel like the story is very true to the intergenerational family dynamics within an Asian family (I see this in my own), but I was unfortunately let down with this read. 

ashleyholcomb's review against another edition

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tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

sara_shocks's review against another edition

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3.0

3/5 stars

Fun, faster read. The author does a great job with food descriptions (do not read on an empty stomach), complicated family relationships, and describing a different side of DC than is normally covered in the news.

maijaka's review against another edition

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I just could not find myself caring about the characters because I didn’t like any of them. I almost got into it right before I quit and was actually excited to read the next chapter, and then was immediately let down by a series of gross choices the main character made. They just weren’t likable enough for me be curious about their flaws or root for them. This was my second attempt to read it.