A review by redvelveting
China Dolls by Lisa See

3.75

This book was a wonderful glimpse into Chinese American life during World War II and even more interestingly, the history of Asian American performers and clubs. Such a fascinating part of American history that I would never have known about. It’s clear that a lot of research went into creating this book and capturing the Chinese American experience at the time.   

The book is told from three different perspectives and the author did a fantastic job of distinguishing them. I think the climax was dissatisfying (resolved quite quickly), but overall, I enjoyed the book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Toxic friendship, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Death, Racial slurs, Racism, Alcoholism, Sexual harassment, Xenophobia, War, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual content

Moderate: Murder, Misogyny, Death of parent, Classism, Bullying, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Infidelity, Grief, Cultural appropriation, Child death, and Homophobia

Minor: Slavery, Terminal illness, Confinement, and Abortion