This was a wonderful debut short story collection from Qian. I found that each story stood on its own very well, yet they all connected to each other thematically (and, in a couple cases, had some recurring characters). Qian explores themes ranging from living in a consumerist society to struggling with loneliness, bringing to the forefront particular anxieties that East Asian women face in the twenty-first century. I like that these stories really showcase the complexities of being an East Asian woman, with each character pushing at the seams of what society expects from them. Qian takes care to explore the nuances of cultural identity in contemporary times that greatly influence the way the protagonists of these stories navigate their surroundings.

Something else that stood out to me that I found especially striking was a deep reflection on one's journey through life, specifically that everyone is at different points in their lives. While these stories were delicately crafted, I found that Qian also managed to depict the messiness and weirdness of life, especially to demonstrate how things are never going to quite work out the way you want them to. And, through it all, there's still something wonderful to find in this world.