It could've been great, but it felt short. Everything was shown on a surface level: the family dynamic, the relationship between Kath and Lily

(come on, Lily spent 60% of the book actively drooling over Tommy)

even Lily herself as a character. 

There were too many characters, and none were developed enough to be compelling. The history bit could've been great but ended up being disappointing.

For instance, I had expected the so-called Chinese communist group to be more imporgant, as well as the literal fact that Lily's father could've been deported any time

There was no purpose to the flashback chapters, I'm sorry.