Let me start off by saying I adored this book. I picked it up because the cover caught my attention but stuck around for the story thick in historical and mythological context. Prior to reading this, I had never read about life in Singapore or Malayasia, let alone read about the lives of mui tsai in the 1931. It was an eye opening dive into classism, hierarchy, and racism in Asia.

There was a lot that I loved about this book, the first being our protagonist Lin Mei Mei (or Ah Mei). It was an experience to witness this story through her eyes from being ripped from her family into the life of a mui tsai and uncovering the dark secrets of the Lee household and eventually being part of the reason the women in the Lee household were given rights. I absolutely loved her love story with Hassan and how the author discussed the taboo of their intercultural romance without ever making them question their devotion to one another. I also loved Percy, the heir to the Lee family, using his power and privilege for good and advocating for mui tsai rights. Very rarely do I root for the rich man, but Percy is alright I’m my book. 

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Thank you to Love Books Tours, Eva Wong Nava, and Penguin Random House for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review and a friendly reminder that this is an #AllAsianCast because #RepresentationMatters