A review by mamadaughterbookclub
Shanghailanders by Juli Min

emotional reflective fast-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? Yes

3.75

This is such an interesting book and premise! It starts in 2040 and ends in 2025 and is about a prominent Shanghai family - successful businessman father, Japanese-French artistic mother, and 3 daughters. I devoured it quickly, but I'm not sure I liked the timeline moving backwards. I kind of wanted to know more about the daughters in the future, and each year seemed to go so quickly, and then just when I was invested in that year and character's story, it jump to the previous year. 

Very interesting premise and I think it was written and executed well, I just wish there had been an epilogue in 2045 or something to give some closure to the open ended storylines.