This is a beautifully written novel with very subtle story writing. Grabbed me from the The very first line “ Lydia is dead” and held me captive to the very end.

We learn Lydia is missing and yes dead, and we are led through the story from the time her parents married to Lydia’s death. Sharing in triumphs and real lows.

I found myself yelling at the characters to pay attention!!! Ng does an outstanding job of exploring the challenges of identity and differences for both women and people of color all while not tiptoeing around the issues of race, gender, assimilation and most of all the heavy weight of expectations whether those expectation are internal or external.