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micaela11's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent
kat_smith24's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death of parent
nightsparks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Moderate: Death of parent
Tw: agoraphobianzmerchant's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Although I was a bit disappointed in the lapses of cultural understanding? Based on my own experiences with the Chinese culture in Singapore, chrysanthemums are only given at funerals and it’s in bad faith to give someone a bouquet of chrysanthemums. So I’m not sure why Natalie was receiving them as a congratulatory kinda thing? Also I admittedly sped read this a little towards the end. Her dad’s identity was a huge reveal though!
Graphic: Grief, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
raaahella's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
radhikag's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I found Natalie to be quite relatable in her stubbornness, I appreciated the magical realism that seems to be present in many of Lim’s stories, and I loved the details about food and the inclusion of each recipe. The neighbours are charming and make the story fun and it feels a bit like going to actual Chinatown.
For what I didn’t love — I do feel some of the prose around her grief got repetitive, the language of tiny crystals came up a lot and while that may have been a magical realism thing, I do wish there was just a bit more variety I guess? It just felt like I’d read it before in this book not too long before it came up again. I don’t think that the storyline with Daniel, her romantic interest, was unnecessary but the end did feel a bit fast — I would have liked it to be an opening or beginning of something rather than how it seemed to end but it wasn’t a huge bother. I do appreciate honestly that the love story was NOT a major focus because I think her story with her mother and grandmother and neighbours is far more compelling. I loved the backstory about her parents and that reveal felt sweet and well done!
I really enjoyed this story and want more Roselle Lim books! I would definitely give this one a chance and just let yourself be swept up in the story. And then check out Vanessa Yu & Sophie Go’s respective stories also by Roselle Lim!
Moderate: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Death and Death of parent
carpenocteminfinite's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Minor: Death of parent
crystalb's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
starlitpage's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I also didn't appreciate the romance plotline; even if the love interest us appealing, it felt an unnecessary addition to a story about the community of neighborhood and of family.
Graphic: Death of parent
Moderate: Abandonment
moniipeters's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury