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lexie_edmunds's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcohol, Child death, Racism, and Bullying
vedpears's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
5.0
I think I have become a Celeste Ng fan girl now. The writing is beautiful and mesmerizing - such great storytelling! I disliked every character except Nathan and Hannah (spelling? I consumed this book via audiobook). Narcissists all around. I recognized so many scenarios from my own family dynamics and those of my friends'. I find it interesting that some reviews I have read said these characters weren't believable. I whole-heartedly disagree with that sentiment and am certain that those reviewers aren't paying attention to others in their lives, are like one of the parents in the book themselves, or live very fortunately charmed lives.
I think Celeste Ng does a great job threading context/ characters' histories into the current narrative. That story telling tool often irritates me but she does it so well that it doesn't feel like an interruption.
I think Celeste Ng does a great job threading context/ characters' histories into the current narrative. That story telling tool often irritates me but she does it so well that it doesn't feel like an interruption.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Murder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Suicide, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Vomit
quietlex's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
I don’t know, I found this read pretty boring. The main struggles really all result from Marilyn running away, which in turn soiled her children’s relationships with each other and herself. The beloved middle child put on a pedestal, the eldest tolerated, and the youngest completely overlooked and forgotten. I enjoyed getting to know each character more, but there was so little to find out, in reality. It seems the reoccurring theme is running away: Marilyn from her old life being a housewife instead of a doctor, James from constant racism and his sad wife who never seems satisfied with what he can offer, Nath from being at home and disappointing his parents, and Lydia from the crushing weight her parents put on her to be exactly what the other didn’t want, being popular/fitting in vs standing out/ being different. Lydia took on the responsibility of holding her parents relationship together, trying to be everything her mother wanted, as long as she wouldn’t abandon them again. Marilyn became obsessive once she lost her chance at medical school, forcing Lydia to become everything she wanted to be and more. I cannot believe the treatment of Hannah, the poor youngest. Literally and figuratively pushed away at every turn, just trying to find her place in the family and in the world. She is the magnum opus of the family, the one reason why Marilyn was forced to come back home, the one mistake that cost her her last chance of becoming a doctor. She is the real victim in the story. The infidelity is wrapped up rather hastily, with James swearing to never speak to Louisa again, making it seem like it was purely physical, like he was only cheating because his wife wasn’t putting out. There was so much more there, with her being the literal only other Asian in town, or baking handmade treats from James’s childhood. They had been close for so long, the emotional and sexual tension was downplayed a lot. And then the reveal of how Lydia actually died, I think sums up this book overall. Drawn out, not very exciting, just a bit of a let down. Overall, disappointing and predictable. You’re left with a hollow ending, like, “Welp, bad things happen, life goes on and then you die.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Suicide, Abandonment, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Racism, Infidelity, and Death
agirlnamedellie's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
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
I found this to be more of a slow paced read for me but nethertheless I enjoyed the read anyway. This is the first novel I have read of Ng's and I can see why it is a best seller. The story covers the secrets of one family slowly becoming uncovered when the family's eldest daughter suddenly passes away. Lots of different topics covered in this novel that although the story was set in the 1970's unfortunately still resonate today - racism, social pressures and norms, children feeling pressure to succeed etc. I thought it was really beautifully done and gave a real snapshot of what a family could have been like at this period in time as their secrets begin to unravel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Racism, Bullying, Child death, Racial slurs, and Infidelity
Moderate: Alcohol
ameliaflint's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I did enjoy this book, it was definitely a good and powerful read. However, I rate it a little lower because I was a little disappointed after reading Little Fires Everywhere. However, still an excellent book that delves into themes like interracial marriage in the 70s, Asian-American identity, and parental pressure.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Grief
Moderate: Child death
Minor: Alcohol
katymat18's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, Child death, Death, Infidelity, Sexual content, and Racism
Minor: Alcohol
bryelle's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A girl goes missing and her body is found in a lake. Her family goes through grief trying to figure out what happened and coping with the lose of their loved one.
This books has many themes of internal struggle. All the characters are going through their own journeys of what their lives are.
Lydia, the girl who goes missing, wants to live up to her parents expectations. She pushes her self and only feels like she has her brother to support her.
Nath, going away to Harvard soon, feels like he is in Lydia’s shadow. His father hit him when he is young and he can never look at him the same.
Hannah, the baby that brought her mother back after she ran away to accomplish her dreams. No one pays attention to her, but she loves them all the same.
Marilyn, wanted to be a doctor, but fell in love and got pregnant. She pushed her goals on her daughter Lydia.
James, Asian man in a mostly white community. Always knows everyone is looking at him and his children.
This books has many themes of internal struggle. All the characters are going through their own journeys of what their lives are.
Lydia, the girl who goes missing, wants to live up to her parents expectations. She pushes her self and only feels like she has her brother to support her.
Nath, going away to Harvard soon, feels like he is in Lydia’s shadow. His father hit him when he is young and he can never look at him the same.
Hannah, the baby that brought her mother back after she ran away to accomplish her dreams. No one pays attention to her, but she loves them all the same.
Marilyn, wanted to be a doctor, but fell in love and got pregnant. She pushed her goals on her daughter Lydia.
James, Asian man in a mostly white community. Always knows everyone is looking at him and his children.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, Racism, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Infidelity, Emotional abuse, Child death, Bullying, and Alcohol
Moderate: Outing
amandas_bookshelf's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
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
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Child death, Death, Racism, Grief, Racial slurs, Infidelity, Sexism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual harassment, Death of parent, and Alcohol
ojreads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.75
Ng does a beautiful job tying together all the pieces known and unknown tied to the loss of a child/sibling. Allowing the history of messes to intertwine and become known slowly as if laying out suggestions for the loss, before enlightening the reader and depicting scenes of not quite peace but an acceptance of being broken.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Child death, and Alcohol
loanedliterature's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Racism, Infidelity, Alcohol, Racial slurs, and Sexism