letmetakea_shelfie_'s reviews
383 reviews

Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung

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challenging inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

5.0

historical fiction

1940s-50s China

family drama

strong women

This book was a highly anticipated 2024 read for me and I’m happy to report it lived up to my expectations! The premise caught my attention - a mother and children escaping the Communist revolution in China (a time period I don’t know much about and have never read a fictional story about).

This story is told from the perspective of Hai, a young daughter escaping with her mother and 2 younger siblings. The story takes us through some horrible experiences, many of which are historically accurate. While I loved reading from Hai’s perspective throughout the book, I would have loved to read from the perspective of her mother or her younger sibling Di.

Overall, a vibrant historical fiction read. There is a lot to unpack from military behavior, Chinese culture, regional differences, gender expectations, and more. Highly recommend it to my histfi lovers!

Lavash at First Sight by Taleen Voskuni

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funny slow-paced

3.0

One Perfect Couple by Ruth Ware

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mysterious tense fast-paced