An intriguing and intimate story about a family and identity!
This is an intriguing and intimate story about the author’s mother, her life, and legacy, but it also explores the author’s healing journey, her relationships with family members, and her path of self-discovery.
Even though this book delves into serious topics such as unattainable beauty standards and intergenerational trauma, the author skillfully incorporates humor throughout the narrative, creating a well-balanced tone that doesn't detract from her message.
I enjoyed the insights into the author’s daily life, such as family gatherings, running the nail salon, exploring Vietnamese cuisine, and navigating often complicated family dynamics. It was interesting to read about the different ways in which people process grief. However, I think the memoir could be a bit shorter as certain sections felt repetitive, especially toward the latter part.
There’s a lot of emphasis on spirituality and psychic abilities which didn’t resonate with me, but I still found it somewhat interesting to read about.
While I admire the author's determination to learn more about her mother and understand herself through her story, I found her conclusion—that it's best to simply “let it go”— confusing and contradictory to the rest of the story. It felt as though the more negative aspects of the story were not fully processed, and as another reader noted, the author's desire to conclude the novel with an inspirational tone, to me felt like a form of toxic positivity.
Overall, this memoir offers valuable insights into the negative consequences of unrealistic beauty standards and the pressures women face, sadly often from other women in their circles. It’s a powerful story about a woman who is trying to heal while also doing everything in her power to make sure her mother’s story is never forgotten.
The cover design is eye-catching and perfectly captures the essence of the story. I especially like the colors and neon lights effect.
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Celadon Books, and author Susan Lieu for the ARC copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Even though this book delves into serious topics such as unattainable beauty standards and intergenerational trauma, the author skillfully incorporates humor throughout the narrative, creating a well-balanced tone that doesn't detract from her message.
I enjoyed the insights into the author’s daily life, such as family gatherings, running the nail salon, exploring Vietnamese cuisine, and navigating often complicated family dynamics. It was interesting to read about the different ways in which people process grief. However, I think the memoir could be a bit shorter as certain sections felt repetitive, especially toward the latter part.
There’s a lot of emphasis on spirituality and psychic abilities which didn’t resonate with me, but I still found it somewhat interesting to read about.
While I admire the author's determination to learn more about her mother and understand herself through her story, I found her conclusion—that it's best to simply “let it go”— confusing and contradictory to the rest of the story. It felt as though the more negative aspects of the story were not fully processed, and as another reader noted, the author's desire to conclude the novel with an inspirational tone, to me felt like a form of toxic positivity.
Overall, this memoir offers valuable insights into the negative consequences of unrealistic beauty standards and the pressures women face, sadly often from other women in their circles. It’s a powerful story about a woman who is trying to heal while also doing everything in her power to make sure her mother’s story is never forgotten.
The cover design is eye-catching and perfectly captures the essence of the story. I especially like the colors and neon lights effect.
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher Celadon Books, and author Susan Lieu for the ARC copy! I received a free copy of this book, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.