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baileydouglass's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 Stars.
I decided to read this book because I read The Golden Gate, which referenced the Forbidden City club and I thought it would be interesting. This story is about 3 women who worked there and were thrown together. They have a complicated relationship and go through all kinds of horrible trauma, some at each other’s hands. I thought it was heartbreaking and glamorous and real all at once. Would recommend.
I decided to read this book because I read The Golden Gate, which referenced the Forbidden City club and I thought it would be interesting. This story is about 3 women who worked there and were thrown together. They have a complicated relationship and go through all kinds of horrible trauma, some at each other’s hands. I thought it was heartbreaking and glamorous and real all at once. Would recommend.
delagoldwein's review against another edition
funny
sad
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
4.25
Lisa See is always fantastic. Her historical fiction is engaging because of her characters. The trials and tribulations of Grace, Ruby, and Helen are no exception. Their life stories are woven together and you just can’t step away.
leahcatreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs and Racism
Moderate: Murder and War
msearlgrey7's review against another edition
medium-paced
- 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
3.75
ekp10's review against another edition
4.0
I like the historical aspect of the story. All of these are new, intriguing, and complicated. They show aspects of Chinese-American history that I didn't know before.
It took me a while to like the characters because, in the beginning, they sounded similar and the dialogue was more on-the-nose. However, as the story progress, the characters develop more and their voices come out.
The love triangle between three friends is also something new. I don't know where I stand because they can be selfish. It's rarely shown on stories how best friends can be manipulative toward each other in order to be the "best friend". It does happen in real life and it's the first time I consciously noticed it in the story. The love triangle is a theme in the story where a trio relationship kept being introduced and broken apart. The drama between them is complicated, but sometimes I find them too easy to move on. I understand that the writer is trying to be subtle and not nail the emotion of everything on the head, but there are some moments where I can't believe the characters have accepted and moved on.
Overall, I really like the historical aspect of the book that we follow through the drama of the characters.
It took me a while to like the characters because, in the beginning, they sounded similar and the dialogue was more on-the-nose. However, as the story progress, the characters develop more and their voices come out.
The love triangle between three friends is also something new. I don't know where I stand because they can be selfish. It's rarely shown on stories how best friends can be manipulative toward each other in order to be the "best friend". It does happen in real life and it's the first time I consciously noticed it in the story. The love triangle is a theme in the story where a trio relationship kept being introduced and broken apart. The drama between them is complicated, but sometimes I find them too easy to move on. I understand that the writer is trying to be subtle and not nail the emotion of everything on the head, but there are some moments where I can't believe the characters have accepted and moved on.
Overall, I really like the historical aspect of the book that we follow through the drama of the characters.
easta98's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Overall a bit slow and slightly boring but liked the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Murder, Pregnancy, and War
Minor: Confinement
reaghan527's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
aimalicious811's review against another edition
3.0
I like this book and that it gave a different perspective of the time right before and during World War II in San Francisco for Chinese people. These three girls are friends, but they are so messed up. I feel like the whole time I read this book I kept thinking to the saying, my mom would always say when I was growing up that “two is company and three is a crowd.“ What I mean by that is these girls at times behaved horribly to each other because they were jealous, or didn’t like the friendship between the other girls, and I didn’t like that. Three stars.
princessfabulous's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0