A review by goodreads_connoisseur
Our Missing Hearts by Celeste Ng

dark emotional mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No
Our Missing Hearts marks a departure from the painstakingly brilliant character development that made Ng's first two novels so impactful. I might have been contented to pass my disappointment off as me not being smart enough or otherwise chalked the lack of color up to a stylistic choice to emphasize the crush of fascism--had it not been for Sadie. From Sadie's replacement family's desire to chemically relax her hair being characterized as "well intentioned" to the throwaway mention of Indian residential schools in the author's note, this book was a bit of a shortsighted mess.

That being said, this book is a really important testament to the violence people of Asian descent face in America and highlights the real intent of anti-China policies like the proposed (and some unfortunate cases, actual) TikTok bans. Two other important things Our Missing Hearts did get right: Lucy Liu as a narrator (she's absolutely fantastic) and portrayals of librarians as superheroes (they are). 

Justice for Sadie!!!
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