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Hier ist es immer noch schön
Annalie traut ihren Augen kaum. Mit roter Farbe hat irgendjemand "Schlitzaugen" auf die Garage geschmiert. Es fühlt sich an wie ein Schlag in den Magen. Bisher hat Annalie in den Ferien in der örtlichen Eisdiele gejobbt und sich nichts sehnlicher gewünscht, als dass der süßeste Junge der Schule sie endlich wahrnimmt. Ihre ältere Schwester Margaret hingegen will die verschlafene Kleinstadt endlich hinter sich lassen und hat ihr Praktikum in New York auch deshalb angetreten, um ihrem Ex-Freund nicht mehr zu begegnen. Doch als die Familie Opfer eines rassistischen Anschlags wird, kommt Margaret zurück nach Hause und versucht alles, um die Verantwortlichen zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen. Annalie dagegen will so schnell wie möglich wieder zur Tagesordnung übergehen. Die Own-voices-Autorin XiXi Tian schreibt ergreifend und sensibel von alltäglichem Rassismus und der Schwierigkeit der Opfer sich dagegen zur Wehr zu setzen. Ein beeindruckendes Debüt!
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 7, 2022
77 people are currently reading
13694 people want to read
About the author
XiXi Tian
3 books121 followersXiXi Tian was born in China and immigrated to the United States when she was a year old. She grew up in central Illinois. She graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in history and then graduated from Harvard Law School. She is a tech lawyer by day and a writer by night. Although she now lives on Long Island with her husband, son, and cat, she is a lifelong Midwesterner at heart.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 473 reviews
October 31, 2022
for such a heavy and serious topic, this is one of the prettiest debuts ive read in a while. XTs writing is so, so lovely.
while the focus of the story is how a family handles a horrible act of hatred, i found the complicated relationship between the two sisters the most compelling aspect of the book. i could understand margarets need to escape her hometown and i also could empathise with annalises desire to defuse conflict by just going along with things. there are parts of each sister that i could relate to, so i really was hoping to see them work through their differences.
overall, i found the character relationships to be a great tool for discussing and analysing a topic that is so painfully relevant in todays society. and im so excited to see what XT writes next!
↠ 4 stars
while the focus of the story is how a family handles a horrible act of hatred, i found the complicated relationship between the two sisters the most compelling aspect of the book. i could understand margarets need to escape her hometown and i also could empathise with annalises desire to defuse conflict by just going along with things. there are parts of each sister that i could relate to, so i really was hoping to see them work through their differences.
overall, i found the character relationships to be a great tool for discussing and analysing a topic that is so painfully relevant in todays society. and im so excited to see what XT writes next!
↠ 4 stars
July 11, 2022
10/5 stars?? Is that an option, because this is probably the best book I've ever read because everything felt like life turned into words, like a world that was built and characters who were real all coming together to break my heart. And I don't know what to do with that right now so I'm going to review this later (edit: review now below) cause none of this is making sense, but if you didn't have this on your TBR I would recommend you add it now. Or pre-order the book. Or just scream with me cause this book hit every note, every element, I've always wanted and feared and I'm now lost.
Holy heck. This was phenomenal.
TWs: racism, bullying, racially motivated hate crime, discrimination
Rep: Second generation Chinese Americans, sisters
---
Reading the synopsis of this book, one might think that it'd be very race focused. And it is, in part. Sisters Annalie and Margaret deal with the hate crime in polar opposite ways - Margaret is ready to fight and Annalie is ready to forget and move on. The subject of race and the harm the model minority concept has is so prominent in this book without being in your face about. It's subtle, but also hits you so hard as you read and learn and digest the story and learn with the characters as they navigate this town full of memories and now hurt. But while a hate crime occurs, and the MC's are forced to confront their differences and people's opinions about race and racism, the hate crime isn't truly the focus of this story.
Told from alternating POVs between the sisters, Xixi Tian does a phenomenal job of world building through her characters' experiences. Every place they go within town has a memory attached to it, and holds some part of their history - the park isn't just some old, condemned thing, but a place Margaret and Rajiv used to go and eat ice cream and chat as they fell in love with each other; the bakery isn't just a local stop, but Annalie's favourite, which she frequents with her best friend Violet, has pastries to die for, and a grumpy owner who she thinks favours them because of their obsession with his food. Those additions provided so much history for the characters and shows how embedded the town is/was in their lives.
Beyond that, this book is about growing up and growing into yourself. And more than that, it's about life. While the hate crime affects the two sisters, it's a footnote in their full, well-developed, beautiful, and broken lives. Their differences (they're half-Chinese and half-Caucasian, with Margaret having more traditionally Chinese features and Annalie more Caucasian), also impact how they view, digest, and deal with the crime - as well as how other people around them respond to the hate crime. It definitely added another layer to their own disjointed relationship and their experiences presently and in the past as they grew up. In the end, the crime doesn't define them, it simply happened to them, and now they're trying to deal with the impact and the fallout as they move forward with their lives.
Finally, this is a story about family. Let me tell y'all - this book not only made me feel seen as a Chinese Canadian (in my case, though this takes place in America) - but it made me feel seen as the older sister in a Chinese family, as a Chinese person who grew up in a mostly Caucasian neighbourhood, as a Chinese person who does not get along with their family well because of our need to not make waves. Like holy heck, this book was so real, so moving, and so perfectly flawed, I was absolutely shocked and thrilled and so fricking seen. Annalie and Margaret's relationship grows throughout the book, as does Margaret's relationship with their mother, and their family unit as a whole. I loved seeing those moments as they battled through years of tradition, of keeping quiet, and of favouritism and expectations. Y'all, I just loved this whole book so much I want to cry.
Definitely recommend this, a thousand times over I recommend this. Such a poignant and impactful read that's so so so relevant to our world today.
Five stars, a million stars, I'm obsessed and in love and I want to scream at the top of my lungs at how much everyone needs to read this book. Simply put, phenomenal.
eARC gifted via Edelweiss by Balzer and Bray via HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
Holy heck. This was phenomenal.
TWs: racism, bullying, racially motivated hate crime, discrimination
Rep: Second generation Chinese Americans, sisters
---
Reading the synopsis of this book, one might think that it'd be very race focused. And it is, in part. Sisters Annalie and Margaret deal with the hate crime in polar opposite ways - Margaret is ready to fight and Annalie is ready to forget and move on. The subject of race and the harm the model minority concept has is so prominent in this book without being in your face about. It's subtle, but also hits you so hard as you read and learn and digest the story and learn with the characters as they navigate this town full of memories and now hurt. But while a hate crime occurs, and the MC's are forced to confront their differences and people's opinions about race and racism, the hate crime isn't truly the focus of this story.
Told from alternating POVs between the sisters, Xixi Tian does a phenomenal job of world building through her characters' experiences. Every place they go within town has a memory attached to it, and holds some part of their history - the park isn't just some old, condemned thing, but a place Margaret and Rajiv used to go and eat ice cream and chat as they fell in love with each other; the bakery isn't just a local stop, but Annalie's favourite, which she frequents with her best friend Violet, has pastries to die for, and a grumpy owner who she thinks favours them because of their obsession with his food. Those additions provided so much history for the characters and shows how embedded the town is/was in their lives.
Beyond that, this book is about growing up and growing into yourself. And more than that, it's about life. While the hate crime affects the two sisters, it's a footnote in their full, well-developed, beautiful, and broken lives. Their differences (they're half-Chinese and half-Caucasian, with Margaret having more traditionally Chinese features and Annalie more Caucasian), also impact how they view, digest, and deal with the crime - as well as how other people around them respond to the hate crime. It definitely added another layer to their own disjointed relationship and their experiences presently and in the past as they grew up. In the end, the crime doesn't define them, it simply happened to them, and now they're trying to deal with the impact and the fallout as they move forward with their lives.
Finally, this is a story about family. Let me tell y'all - this book not only made me feel seen as a Chinese Canadian (in my case, though this takes place in America) - but it made me feel seen as the older sister in a Chinese family, as a Chinese person who grew up in a mostly Caucasian neighbourhood, as a Chinese person who does not get along with their family well because of our need to not make waves. Like holy heck, this book was so real, so moving, and so perfectly flawed, I was absolutely shocked and thrilled and so fricking seen. Annalie and Margaret's relationship grows throughout the book, as does Margaret's relationship with their mother, and their family unit as a whole. I loved seeing those moments as they battled through years of tradition, of keeping quiet, and of favouritism and expectations. Y'all, I just loved this whole book so much I want to cry.
Definitely recommend this, a thousand times over I recommend this. Such a poignant and impactful read that's so so so relevant to our world today.
Five stars, a million stars, I'm obsessed and in love and I want to scream at the top of my lungs at how much everyone needs to read this book. Simply put, phenomenal.
eARC gifted via Edelweiss by Balzer and Bray via HarperCollins Canada in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2025
To this day, racism remains an unceasing, pervasive force that corrupts the minds of those who proclaim themselves righteous and elite, while fostering unease and insecurity among the marginalized. This assertion holds immense weight—especially for immigrants in foreign countries.
This Place Is Still Beautiful—a debut novel by XiXi Tian—is a tender yet unflinching exploration of racism, identity, courage, and love. The story follows two sisters: Margaret and Annalie. That summer, Margaret is in New York for her internship, while Annalie takes a summer job that brings her closer to the boy she fancies. One day, on her way home, she discovers her garage door vandalized with a hateful racial slur, setting her on a path to uncover the culprit—and along the way, she meets a new friend, Daniel.
Beyond the events themselves, Margaret emerges as impulsive, determined and courageous. Annalie, meanwhile, is curious, brave, and finds herself conflicted with her feelings while confronting painful truths of the vandalism. Through their intertwined journeys, and seen with the occasional shifts in perspective, this novel unfolds as a story that is both emotionally resonant and inspiring, highlighting the courage, growth, and resilience of its characters.
This book doesn’t shy away from portraying the pain and quiet sufferings the characters endure—it explores the deep, internalized racism present in both people of color and white people, showing that even marginalized communities can perpetuate harm.
On top of that, XiXi Tian's prose in this narrative is lyrical, eloquent, and endlessly evocative. I can't even recount the number of times I was deeply moved by the emotions she captures—the quiet heartbreak, the tender joys, and the visceral, aching truths of her characters’ lives. This story interrogates the courage one must muster to confront the harsh realities they find themselves in, and I was moved by the choices the characters make to do exactly that.
Overall, with its ambiguous ending—which alludes to a hopeful yet uncertain future for Annalie and Daniel—and its richly developed characters, I found this book to be an exquisitely crafted story that reveals the many struggles people endure and the cruel truths often overlooked; XiXi Tian presents all of this with remarkable clarity and honesty.
4.25 stars
This Place Is Still Beautiful—a debut novel by XiXi Tian—is a tender yet unflinching exploration of racism, identity, courage, and love. The story follows two sisters: Margaret and Annalie. That summer, Margaret is in New York for her internship, while Annalie takes a summer job that brings her closer to the boy she fancies. One day, on her way home, she discovers her garage door vandalized with a hateful racial slur, setting her on a path to uncover the culprit—and along the way, she meets a new friend, Daniel.
Beyond the events themselves, Margaret emerges as impulsive, determined and courageous. Annalie, meanwhile, is curious, brave, and finds herself conflicted with her feelings while confronting painful truths of the vandalism. Through their intertwined journeys, and seen with the occasional shifts in perspective, this novel unfolds as a story that is both emotionally resonant and inspiring, highlighting the courage, growth, and resilience of its characters.
This book doesn’t shy away from portraying the pain and quiet sufferings the characters endure—it explores the deep, internalized racism present in both people of color and white people, showing that even marginalized communities can perpetuate harm.
On top of that, XiXi Tian's prose in this narrative is lyrical, eloquent, and endlessly evocative. I can't even recount the number of times I was deeply moved by the emotions she captures—the quiet heartbreak, the tender joys, and the visceral, aching truths of her characters’ lives. This story interrogates the courage one must muster to confront the harsh realities they find themselves in, and I was moved by the choices the characters make to do exactly that.
Overall, with its ambiguous ending—which alludes to a hopeful yet uncertain future for Annalie and Daniel—and its richly developed characters, I found this book to be an exquisitely crafted story that reveals the many struggles people endure and the cruel truths often overlooked; XiXi Tian presents all of this with remarkable clarity and honesty.
4.25 stars
Want to read
July 5, 2021With the current state of things, this feels both relevant and necessary
June 23, 2022
this book should single-handedly convince you that we need more books about sisters with complicated relationships. also i can’t believe xixi tian made me like a british boy
June 6, 2022
You know what else is beautiful? That cover. Hoo boy. Stunning.
I waffled a bit on this rating as of writing this -- on whether to round up or not -- because while this wasn't perfect, and I was frustrated and uncomfortable and frustrated some more, I think that's the whole point. And it's important to sit with those feelings. And also acknowledge all the complex nuance that this author, and this story, definitely touches on.
"They think me talking publicly about racism is more offensive than a actual hate crime. People would rather I just kept my mouth shut and looked sad. Then they could white knight in and express sympathy without feeling uncomfortable. I'm not in the business of keeping people from feeling uncomfortable."
Not only is this a very timely story, with timely discussion, I think in general it's just not something we've seen a lot of. Racist conflicts, sure. Siblings feeling pitted against each other, while also trying to navigate complicated parental dynamics, yes. Topics surrounding white-passing, more and more. But this tackled so much more while also delving into all the above.
I found Annalie's POV and storyline the hardest to stomach not only because I was side-eyeing this guy she had been so keen to date for so long. But also because of what comes out about the hate crime and who was involved and how she, also, becomes involved. And it's in a very different way than Margaret who is, unlike her younger sister, not white-passing and also the kind of person to shout from the rooftops, rattle chains, and make noise; all of which she does.
What are second chances anyway except the ability to screw up a second time?
And despite this, or maybe because of it, I actually preferred Margaret's POV and I found her, despite how unlikeable she could be, to be more likeable as a result. Also, her own romance plot? Heartbreaking. The whole catalyst behind that is one of the main issues I was hinting at above but I'm not going to mention because spoilers.
I wish I could talk to her the way I want to. I wish I could make her understand my heart, or that I could understand hers, but between us, there is an entire ocean that we will never be able to cross.
This was definitely a more mature-leaning YA, between the subject matter and some of the topics and how they were handled, and I really appreciated that. This definitely had the right tones for the story. I'm sure I could find things to pick apart (some interactions, particularly in the beginning, didn't quite fit, and there was definitely an inconsistency or two, but this is an ARC, so, I'll let it slide, because they weren't littered throughout) but again I think the strength of this outweighs the few weaknesses.
I worried this couldn't possibly live up to the pitch (I saw the author speak to the nature and inspiration of this story and was totally mesmerized) but I'm glad this turned out to be a win. For so many reasons.
Would definitely recommend if this is already on your radar! This is a debut you don't want to miss.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
I waffled a bit on this rating as of writing this -- on whether to round up or not -- because while this wasn't perfect, and I was frustrated and uncomfortable and frustrated some more, I think that's the whole point. And it's important to sit with those feelings. And also acknowledge all the complex nuance that this author, and this story, definitely touches on.
"They think me talking publicly about racism is more offensive than a actual hate crime. People would rather I just kept my mouth shut and looked sad. Then they could white knight in and express sympathy without feeling uncomfortable. I'm not in the business of keeping people from feeling uncomfortable."
Not only is this a very timely story, with timely discussion, I think in general it's just not something we've seen a lot of. Racist conflicts, sure. Siblings feeling pitted against each other, while also trying to navigate complicated parental dynamics, yes. Topics surrounding white-passing, more and more. But this tackled so much more while also delving into all the above.
I found Annalie's POV and storyline the hardest to stomach not only because I was side-eyeing this guy she had been so keen to date for so long. But also because of what comes out about the hate crime and who was involved and how she, also, becomes involved. And it's in a very different way than Margaret who is, unlike her younger sister, not white-passing and also the kind of person to shout from the rooftops, rattle chains, and make noise; all of which she does.
What are second chances anyway except the ability to screw up a second time?
And despite this, or maybe because of it, I actually preferred Margaret's POV and I found her, despite how unlikeable she could be, to be more likeable as a result. Also, her own romance plot? Heartbreaking. The whole catalyst behind that is one of the main issues I was hinting at above but I'm not going to mention because spoilers.
I wish I could talk to her the way I want to. I wish I could make her understand my heart, or that I could understand hers, but between us, there is an entire ocean that we will never be able to cross.
This was definitely a more mature-leaning YA, between the subject matter and some of the topics and how they were handled, and I really appreciated that. This definitely had the right tones for the story. I'm sure I could find things to pick apart (some interactions, particularly in the beginning, didn't quite fit, and there was definitely an inconsistency or two, but this is an ARC, so, I'll let it slide, because they weren't littered throughout) but again I think the strength of this outweighs the few weaknesses.
I worried this couldn't possibly live up to the pitch (I saw the author speak to the nature and inspiration of this story and was totally mesmerized) but I'm glad this turned out to be a win. For so many reasons.
Would definitely recommend if this is already on your radar! This is a debut you don't want to miss.
3.5 stars
** I received an ARC from the publisher (thank you!) in exchange for an honest review. **
---
This review can also be found at A Take From Two Cities.
June 6, 2022
A story of two estranged sisters who are brought together after a hate crime is committed in their home. Upon reading the premise, I expected something powerful and moving. In my case, it wasn’t much of those.
Told in alternating POVs of the two sisters, Margaret and Annalie, through them we see two sides of a coin. It is Margaret who experiences prejudice more than Annalie does, even if they are of course, both half-Chinese. To be frank, I didn’t like the way this was handled but I’d rather not say more since this isn’t an experience I share. Aside from that, I didn’t expect this to be quite heavy on romance. On Annalie’s part, it progressed much too quickly for me and her interactions with Thom made me feel so unsettled I wanted to shake Annalie by the shoulders. Margaret on the other hand, was more confrontational and hot-headed but considering her recounted experiences I understood her want to be heard even if her sister and mother would not agree with her ways. I found everyone’s characterization quite shallow. There would be mentions here and there of their experiences, insecurities, hobbies, and a lot more but the light shed on them was surface level. I felt like there was so much to unpack, there was just no chance given. Family dynamics were also written in a way that wasn’t very believable for me.
Plot-wise, this was also a bit of a let down. Almost everything was resolved quickly, especially the hate crime mystery. The writing wasn’t exemplary either, but not bad. I don’t know how to explain but I just expected more from this?
Despite those though, this book still had its moments. I liked the ending and the conversations between Annalie and Margaret, and that of Margaret and her mother. Nevertheless, I still think this would still be enjoyed by many.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
Told in alternating POVs of the two sisters, Margaret and Annalie, through them we see two sides of a coin. It is Margaret who experiences prejudice more than Annalie does, even if they are of course, both half-Chinese. To be frank, I didn’t like the way this was handled but I’d rather not say more since this isn’t an experience I share. Aside from that, I didn’t expect this to be quite heavy on romance. On Annalie’s part, it progressed much too quickly for me and her interactions with Thom made me feel so unsettled I wanted to shake Annalie by the shoulders. Margaret on the other hand, was more confrontational and hot-headed but considering her recounted experiences I understood her want to be heard even if her sister and mother would not agree with her ways. I found everyone’s characterization quite shallow. There would be mentions here and there of their experiences, insecurities, hobbies, and a lot more but the light shed on them was surface level. I felt like there was so much to unpack, there was just no chance given. Family dynamics were also written in a way that wasn’t very believable for me.
Plot-wise, this was also a bit of a let down. Almost everything was resolved quickly, especially the hate crime mystery. The writing wasn’t exemplary either, but not bad. I don’t know how to explain but I just expected more from this?
Despite those though, this book still had its moments. I liked the ending and the conversations between Annalie and Margaret, and that of Margaret and her mother. Nevertheless, I still think this would still be enjoyed by many.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
September 5, 2022
i really loved this. was not expecting to cry but wow.
June 22, 2022
First off, the cover of this book is exquisite; then I went ahead and read the premise, and was further intrigued to pick this up. Unfortunately, the execution left much to be desired. I wanted more of the sisterly dynamic and while romance in a book is fine, this instalove plot line with Annalie and Thom did nothing for me. There were instances of poignant emotion, but nowhere nearly enough to pack the emotional punch the synopsis promised. I really wanted to love this book too, oh well.
July 5, 2024
3 / 5 🌟
“i found out being lonely is different than being alone. loneliness, it turns out, isn't quite as easy to escape."
tws: gaslighting, racism, hate crimes, misogyny, invalidation of mixed people
“i found out being lonely is different than being alone. loneliness, it turns out, isn't quite as easy to escape."
tws: gaslighting, racism, hate crimes, misogyny, invalidation of mixed people
March 18, 2023
*I've decided I won't write long book reviews for books under two stars unless it's a rant or I have a lot to say!*
<< *Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favourite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not proceeding with reading this review.>>
This is one of those reads where my assumptions caused expectations that were not met. The synopsis gave me the impression that this story would be about racism and hate crimes. I'm a mood reader who uses the "spin the wheel" website to sometimes help me pick my next book. I was excited because I was in the mood for something ground-breaking, profound, and realistic. What I got was different. A book that uses the hate crime and racism as a starting part for the book, using this as a faint background plot to a different story.
Margaret and Annalie's alternating perspectives feel like two different stories entirely. They rarely interact, and the "stiffness and tension" between them felt contrived, and wasn't even explored all that much. Margaret cares about the hate crime, but it wasn't really shown in evident ways. Her "investigation" is just a handful of clues given to her that are easy to solve. It feels almost as though the story itself forgets that the hate crime is a part of the plot before it's reminded by the next clue.
Margaret meets her ex boyfriend Rajiv. All their problems could have been avoided if they communicated. Instead, they have so many misunderstandings and bounce from the place they are now to square one. Annalie spends most of her time yearning to be with Thom Froggett (yup. that's his name🥴) and trying to impress him. There's a whole other dude added to the plot to add to the conflict. Daniel deserved better than to be a backup, rebound, or written in to create "internal struggles" for Annalie. Annalie has zero chemistry with Thom, from the start you could just see their relationship would not go in the right direction.
Anything profound in the plot is half-heartedly pushed aside or vaguely explored. It felt a lot like racism/hate crimes and the protagonists and their romance was trying to be seamlessly weaved. But the two didn't go hand in hand in this story as well as I had thought it could be. I wish both topics could intersect in the story rather than switching tones and only focusing on one. I felt like the romance aspect of the story was going in circles. Conflict after conflict was thrown at this story, and convenient plot twists to sloppily tie other aspects.
Some Quotes:
"I can't believe I said that. It almost sounds like I'm flirting with him or trying to find out if he has a girlfriend. Which I am not! On both counts. Obviously. Because I've already got a boyfrined, who I-well, if I don't exactly love him yet, I'm getting there."
I'm sorry to break to to you Annalie. You are flirting with him. You are trying to find out of if he has a girlfriend. 😐
"What does being casual even mean? I want to ask, but I don't want to come off as clingy or insecure. There's nothing more unappealing to guys than incessantly trying to define someone's level of commitment. Just thinking about it is making me feel progressively less sexy about myself."
Casual
/ˈkaZHo͞oəl/
relaxed and unconcerned, not definite or serious intentions, and occasional.
This was just not the book for me.
⛔PLOT
⛔CHARACTERS
⛔PLOT TWISTS
<< *Every single person in this world can view a work of literature and have completely different thoughts and opinions. My opinion is not meant to offend you. If you do not want to see a review criticizing your favourite book (or a book you enjoyed), then I recommend not proceeding with reading this review.>>
This is one of those reads where my assumptions caused expectations that were not met. The synopsis gave me the impression that this story would be about racism and hate crimes. I'm a mood reader who uses the "spin the wheel" website to sometimes help me pick my next book. I was excited because I was in the mood for something ground-breaking, profound, and realistic. What I got was different. A book that uses the hate crime and racism as a starting part for the book, using this as a faint background plot to a different story.
Margaret and Annalie's alternating perspectives feel like two different stories entirely. They rarely interact, and the "stiffness and tension" between them felt contrived, and wasn't even explored all that much. Margaret cares about the hate crime, but it wasn't really shown in evident ways. Her "investigation" is just a handful of clues given to her that are easy to solve. It feels almost as though the story itself forgets that the hate crime is a part of the plot before it's reminded by the next clue.
Margaret meets her ex boyfriend Rajiv. All their problems could have been avoided if they communicated. Instead, they have so many misunderstandings and bounce from the place they are now to square one. Annalie spends most of her time yearning to be with Thom Froggett (yup. that's his name🥴) and trying to impress him. There's a whole other dude added to the plot to add to the conflict. Daniel deserved better than to be a backup, rebound, or written in to create "internal struggles" for Annalie. Annalie has zero chemistry with Thom, from the start you could just see their relationship would not go in the right direction.
Anything profound in the plot is half-heartedly pushed aside or vaguely explored. It felt a lot like racism/hate crimes and the protagonists and their romance was trying to be seamlessly weaved. But the two didn't go hand in hand in this story as well as I had thought it could be. I wish both topics could intersect in the story rather than switching tones and only focusing on one. I felt like the romance aspect of the story was going in circles. Conflict after conflict was thrown at this story, and convenient plot twists to sloppily tie other aspects.
Some Quotes:
"I can't believe I said that. It almost sounds like I'm flirting with him or trying to find out if he has a girlfriend. Which I am not! On both counts. Obviously. Because I've already got a boyfrined, who I-well, if I don't exactly love him yet, I'm getting there."
I'm sorry to break to to you Annalie. You are flirting with him. You are trying to find out of if he has a girlfriend. 😐
"What does being casual even mean? I want to ask, but I don't want to come off as clingy or insecure. There's nothing more unappealing to guys than incessantly trying to define someone's level of commitment. Just thinking about it is making me feel progressively less sexy about myself."
Casual
/ˈkaZHo͞oəl/
relaxed and unconcerned, not definite or serious intentions, and occasional.
This was just not the book for me.
⛔PLOT
⛔CHARACTERS
⛔PLOT TWISTS
September 18, 2022
4.5 rounded up
Loved the characters, dialogue and writing style. This one was an emotional Rollercoaster.
Loved the characters, dialogue and writing style. This one was an emotional Rollercoaster.
May 25, 2022
Deeply moving and powerful, this is a gorgeously written story told through the perspectives of two sisters, each with their own unique and strong voice, and the different ways in which they deal/cope with the aftermath of their family being the target of a racially motivated hate crime. I adored both characters and loved the way XiXi Tian allowed them to not only have flaws, but to see them and accept them.
This Place is Still Beautiful is a story exploring racism, identity and the model minority concept, yes but it's also one of family and sisterhood, love and loss, growing up and growing into yourself, uncovering your passions and beliefs. It's a story of flaws and truths and it was outstanding.
XiXi Tian is a new voice in YA to be very excited about.
TW: racism, racially motivated hate crime
This Place is Still Beautiful is a story exploring racism, identity and the model minority concept, yes but it's also one of family and sisterhood, love and loss, growing up and growing into yourself, uncovering your passions and beliefs. It's a story of flaws and truths and it was outstanding.
XiXi Tian is a new voice in YA to be very excited about.
TW: racism, racially motivated hate crime
June 4, 2024
somewhere between 2.5 and 3 stars but not exactly 2.75
I LIKED THIS!! okay we love messy family dynamics and sisters hating eachother but then realizing oh shes just like me 😟😟😟😟😟😟😟 also the writing was nice ig...
I LIKED THIS!! okay we love messy family dynamics and sisters hating eachother but then realizing oh shes just like me 😟😟😟😟😟😟😟 also the writing was nice ig...
August 21, 2024
Wow quel roman.
Je n’ai pas énormément lu de roman traitant du sujet du racisme. Après tout je n’ai pas lu tant de contemporain que ça de manière générale.
Je trouve celui-ci incroyablement bien traité.
Nous sommes dans cette alternance de pov entre deux sœurs bien différentes. L’une est revendicatrice et a soif de justice tandis que l’autre souhaite être plus discrète.
On part d’un acte de vandalisme raciste dans cette histoire. Acte qui sera beaucoup décrit comme « une mauvaise blague » ou « fait pas des gamins stupides ». Tout pour minimiser en fait.
Et c’est ça qui rend le roman si criant de vérité et tellement bien. C’est que ce « petit » acte comme certains peuvent le décrire est bien plus que ça et impacte bien plus loin.
Tout le processus pour l’une comme pour l’autre suite à ce vandalisme était incroyable. L’évolution est personnages en l’espace de deux petits mois. J’ai trouvé ça génial.
Et surtout qu’à côté de ça on a quand même leurs petites romances et/ou traca qui montrent comment un événement affecté le reste également.
Bref franchement c’était un excellent roman que je ne peux que vous encourager de découvrir !
Je n’ai pas énormément lu de roman traitant du sujet du racisme. Après tout je n’ai pas lu tant de contemporain que ça de manière générale.
Je trouve celui-ci incroyablement bien traité.
Nous sommes dans cette alternance de pov entre deux sœurs bien différentes. L’une est revendicatrice et a soif de justice tandis que l’autre souhaite être plus discrète.
On part d’un acte de vandalisme raciste dans cette histoire. Acte qui sera beaucoup décrit comme « une mauvaise blague » ou « fait pas des gamins stupides ». Tout pour minimiser en fait.
Et c’est ça qui rend le roman si criant de vérité et tellement bien. C’est que ce « petit » acte comme certains peuvent le décrire est bien plus que ça et impacte bien plus loin.
Tout le processus pour l’une comme pour l’autre suite à ce vandalisme était incroyable. L’évolution est personnages en l’espace de deux petits mois. J’ai trouvé ça génial.
Et surtout qu’à côté de ça on a quand même leurs petites romances et/ou traca qui montrent comment un événement affecté le reste également.
Bref franchement c’était un excellent roman que je ne peux que vous encourager de découvrir !
October 11, 2022
i cried so much
xixi really said look i wrote a book about your life and i was like ow
i think i'm gonna have to reread this a million times (also the cover >>>)
anyways, i didn't think any words could fully encapsulate "hating but loving but wanting to move so far away but homesick of your small hometown and you're tired of microaggressions you see and you don't feel comfortable in your skin and you're sick of other people telling you shit about yourself that confuses you anyways and you're the polar opposite of your younger sister and even if sometimes you pretend race and looks don't matter but they always matter and you don't want to hate everybody on instinct but its a problem you have" into 360 pages but xixi tian is me and i am her so it makes sense
xixi really said look i wrote a book about your life and i was like ow
i think i'm gonna have to reread this a million times (also the cover >>>)
anyways, i didn't think any words could fully encapsulate "hating but loving but wanting to move so far away but homesick of your small hometown and you're tired of microaggressions you see and you don't feel comfortable in your skin and you're sick of other people telling you shit about yourself that confuses you anyways and you're the polar opposite of your younger sister and even if sometimes you pretend race and looks don't matter but they always matter and you don't want to hate everybody on instinct but its a problem you have" into 360 pages but xixi tian is me and i am her so it makes sense
July 5, 2022
i think this is the kind of book that needs to seep in, to stay with you for a little bit before you can finally begin to process it. so while i devoured it in a single day, i think that i'll wait a little bit to share my thoughts. <3
June 19, 2022
I like it a lot, but I think I'd have liked to see more of the sisterly dynamic.
July 1, 2022
i’ve honestly never read a book as relatable as this one. it made me feel seen in so many ways it was crazy. it’s a beautiful book that i’d recommend to anyone and everyone
October 31, 2022
This was an enjoyable read, I haven't read a lot of YA recently and this was very YA, I would have loved this about 15 years ago and really identified with parts of Annalie's personality and how unsure of herself she was, brought me back to my teenage years! The story focused more on the family relationships and in particular the relationship between the two sisters whose points of view the chapters flit between and narrates the difference in how they both deal with the hate crime that starts the novel. Interesting to read both points of view and see it from both sides of the story.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Children's UK and the author.
I received a free review copy from the publisher in exchange for my honest unedited feedback.
Thank you to Netgalley, Penguin Random House Children's UK and the author.
May 21, 2023
2023 reads: 156/350
after a racist incident at their home, sisters annalie and margaret are brought together for the summer. it was so interesting seeing this story unfold from both sisters. they both have such different views; margaret wants to find the culprit but annalie just wants this incident behind them. i loved the growth they had both as individuals and as sisters and i highly recommend this book!
after a racist incident at their home, sisters annalie and margaret are brought together for the summer. it was so interesting seeing this story unfold from both sisters. they both have such different views; margaret wants to find the culprit but annalie just wants this incident behind them. i loved the growth they had both as individuals and as sisters and i highly recommend this book!
October 2, 2022
What would you do if you arrived home one afternoon, and a racial slur was scrawled across your garage door? Would you:
A). Immediately call the police.
B). Make it your mission in life to find the perpetrators and expose them.
C.) Get the door cleaned as soon as possible, before anyone sees the damage.
D).Try your hardest not to talk about or think about this incident, ever again, with anyone.
When this happens to her family, in the neighborhood she and her family have lived all their lives. Annalie and her mom want go with options C and D; keep it on the downlow and avoid more trouble. 19-year-old Margaret, however, with righteous might, campaigns for A, B, and any other way to shed light on this hate crime.
Each sister has trouble understanding the viewpoints of the other in this situation. What will happen if they report the crime…what will happen if they let it drop? What is the difference between a “crime of hate”… and a “prank”? After all, no one was really harmed, right?
Wonderful book for encouraging thinking about what one would do in such a situation; not just from the viewpoints of the Flanagan family, but from others affected as well…
Red Flags:
I took off a star for underage drinking scenes, some vulgar language, and for some teenage sexual situations. This is definitely written for older teens, and even so I suggest adult guidance. Some pretty heavy issues are present.
A). Immediately call the police.
B). Make it your mission in life to find the perpetrators and expose them.
C.) Get the door cleaned as soon as possible, before anyone sees the damage.
D).Try your hardest not to talk about or think about this incident, ever again, with anyone.
When this happens to her family, in the neighborhood she and her family have lived all their lives. Annalie and her mom want go with options C and D; keep it on the downlow and avoid more trouble. 19-year-old Margaret, however, with righteous might, campaigns for A, B, and any other way to shed light on this hate crime.
Each sister has trouble understanding the viewpoints of the other in this situation. What will happen if they report the crime…what will happen if they let it drop? What is the difference between a “crime of hate”… and a “prank”? After all, no one was really harmed, right?
Wonderful book for encouraging thinking about what one would do in such a situation; not just from the viewpoints of the Flanagan family, but from others affected as well…
Red Flags:
I took off a star for underage drinking scenes, some vulgar language, and for some teenage sexual situations. This is definitely written for older teens, and even so I suggest adult guidance. Some pretty heavy issues are present.
January 12, 2022
This is one of those books I wish my younger self could have read. I’m so happy this exists and it feels like a reflection of many of the constant feelings I have and what it feels like being a Chinese American. It was so relatable I would find myself thinking wow the same thing has happened to me before. It makes many great points and has a varying array of perspectives.
I thought the writing was wonderful. I loved the dual POV’s. The dichotomy between the two main characters is brilliantly executed. Margaret is feisty and headstrong and wants justice which is not always easy. While Annalie is soft spoken and would rather have what is easy and doesn’t want to make waves. I loved how flawed and real both characters. I felt that this story was written beautifully without feeling preachy. It does address many of the social issues while still being a heartfelt story about family, love, and finding yourself.
Overall I loved this book. XiXi put into words so many of the feelings I’ve had but so much more eloquently. This story is like looking into a window of what many people deal with every day. It exposes many ugly truths while pairing them with real raw emotions.
Thank you XiXi for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I thought the writing was wonderful. I loved the dual POV’s. The dichotomy between the two main characters is brilliantly executed. Margaret is feisty and headstrong and wants justice which is not always easy. While Annalie is soft spoken and would rather have what is easy and doesn’t want to make waves. I loved how flawed and real both characters. I felt that this story was written beautifully without feeling preachy. It does address many of the social issues while still being a heartfelt story about family, love, and finding yourself.
Overall I loved this book. XiXi put into words so many of the feelings I’ve had but so much more eloquently. This story is like looking into a window of what many people deal with every day. It exposes many ugly truths while pairing them with real raw emotions.
Thank you XiXi for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 5, 2022
2,75 ⭐️ for this actually being a high school romance rather than a story about racism 😂😂😂
October 2, 2023
~ 4.5 stars ~
I picked up this book when I was in London due to the beautiful cover and the summary. It definitely did not disappoint.
The beautiful writing style makes reading from two very different characters easy. Even though they are both very different, I could relate to both Margaret and Annelie. It was refreshing reading from multiple point of views were I genuinely liked both characters.
This might sound a bit weird, but I loved learning about what went through their heads during the racism. Sometimes another character would react in a way that I would and it was interesting to read what the MCs thought of it. Obviously, racism is a terrible thing and I wish we talked more about it. I loved how this book tackled it and let me, as a caucasian, learn more about it. Though I definitely wanted to punch some characters in the face.
There are, I would say, four big moments in the story. The family tension, the sister tension, the ex-boyfriend tension and of course, who has done it?
They were well written and well timed! There is one “revelation” I was a bit disappointed about it, but then again, not everything has to be this huge bomb going off.
My favourite thing about this story is the character development. It was absolutely amazing seeing how the two sisters behaved in the beginning and the end. The whole book, you can relate to both of them and I just kept wishing they would talk to each other!
I found the ending a bit rushed, but still satisfied with it. There are a couple of small things I wished we would get answers on, but then it’s clear that one of the messages is: sometimes you don’t always have answers and you need to accept that, or wait. The writer did a fantastic job and I would love to read more from this writer!
I picked up this book when I was in London due to the beautiful cover and the summary. It definitely did not disappoint.
The beautiful writing style makes reading from two very different characters easy. Even though they are both very different, I could relate to both Margaret and Annelie. It was refreshing reading from multiple point of views were I genuinely liked both characters.
This might sound a bit weird, but I loved learning about what went through their heads during the racism. Sometimes another character would react in a way that I would and it was interesting to read what the MCs thought of it. Obviously, racism is a terrible thing and I wish we talked more about it. I loved how this book tackled it and let me, as a caucasian, learn more about it. Though I definitely wanted to punch some characters in the face.
There are, I would say, four big moments in the story. The family tension, the sister tension, the ex-boyfriend tension and of course, who has done it?
They were well written and well timed! There is one “revelation” I was a bit disappointed about it, but then again, not everything has to be this huge bomb going off.
My favourite thing about this story is the character development. It was absolutely amazing seeing how the two sisters behaved in the beginning and the end. The whole book, you can relate to both of them and I just kept wishing they would talk to each other!
I found the ending a bit rushed, but still satisfied with it. There are a couple of small things I wished we would get answers on, but then it’s clear that one of the messages is: sometimes you don’t always have answers and you need to accept that, or wait. The writer did a fantastic job and I would love to read more from this writer!
August 15, 2022
wow. rtc
July 17, 2023
Ich werd Margaret und Annalie als Figuren vermissen, ich hab sie sehr lieb gewonnen. Das Buch war realistisch, spannend, nachvollziehbar, emotional, lehrreich. Liebs.
March 13, 2022
(Giveaway winner.)
A beautiful exploration of race, racism, and family through two different perspectives. This Place Is Stille Beautiful tackles the aftermath of a hate crime against a Chinese American family, particularly on the effects of two sisters, Margaret and Annalie.
I really enjoyed this one, despite the difficult topic, there's a lightness to it that made it easy to fall into. The writing is pleasant and honest. But what I really enjoyed was the two sisters' perspectives. Margaret and Annalie are characters with strong voices on opposing views. Going back and forth between Margaret's ambitious and challenging nature to Annalie who's quieter and just wants to survive high school opens up a conversation. Whether it's better to be loud or to take the easy route. I'm happy there's never a "correct answer", both girls (or both sides) had equal points. While reading I kept finding myself stuck on what is the right way to go about something like this, and I think that's the dialogue XiXi Tian purposefully created.
There are a lot of great points being made, including what it means to be biracial, what it means to "look" a certain way versus passing as white. I haven't personally read something discussing these topics between sisters. It's an interesting discussion that needs to be had and that people will relate to.
Lastly, the romance aspect does add a lot to the plot. It can come off disjointed mashing heavy topics such as this with a romantic sub-plot, but XiXi Tian has a good balance. (If you're looking for a full fledge romance this is not it.)
This Place Is Stille Beautiful is something that deserves to be read.
"You're standing with a foot inside the door of whiteness, but you'll never step all the way in."
A beautiful exploration of race, racism, and family through two different perspectives. This Place Is Stille Beautiful tackles the aftermath of a hate crime against a Chinese American family, particularly on the effects of two sisters, Margaret and Annalie.
I really enjoyed this one, despite the difficult topic, there's a lightness to it that made it easy to fall into. The writing is pleasant and honest. But what I really enjoyed was the two sisters' perspectives. Margaret and Annalie are characters with strong voices on opposing views. Going back and forth between Margaret's ambitious and challenging nature to Annalie who's quieter and just wants to survive high school opens up a conversation. Whether it's better to be loud or to take the easy route. I'm happy there's never a "correct answer", both girls (or both sides) had equal points. While reading I kept finding myself stuck on what is the right way to go about something like this, and I think that's the dialogue XiXi Tian purposefully created.
There are a lot of great points being made, including what it means to be biracial, what it means to "look" a certain way versus passing as white. I haven't personally read something discussing these topics between sisters. It's an interesting discussion that needs to be had and that people will relate to.
Lastly, the romance aspect does add a lot to the plot. It can come off disjointed mashing heavy topics such as this with a romantic sub-plot, but XiXi Tian has a good balance. (If you're looking for a full fledge romance this is not it.)
This Place Is Stille Beautiful is something that deserves to be read.
June 29, 2022
What an incredible YA debut about sisterhood, small town life and the perniciousness of racism. Set in small town Ohio, two sisters are reunited for the summer as the eldest, Margaret comes home from college after vandals graffiti the family's garage with a racist Asian slur.
Margaret is determined to find out who is behind the hate crime, while younger sister Annalie just wants to forget it and move on. Born of a Chinese mother and a white father, Margaret's looks are more Asian presenting while Annalie can often pass as white with her blue eyes and blonde hair. Each sister has struggled with their identities, especially when their father abandons them - Margaret paying the ultimate price when her mother asked her to choose between her South Asian boyfriend and her family.
Alternating between Margaret and Annalie's POVs we follow each sister over the course of the summer as they navigate love, sisterhood and past traumas. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Mary H. K. Choi, Tahereh Mafi or Celeste Ng. I can't wait to read more from this debut author with a powerfully strong voice!
Margaret is determined to find out who is behind the hate crime, while younger sister Annalie just wants to forget it and move on. Born of a Chinese mother and a white father, Margaret's looks are more Asian presenting while Annalie can often pass as white with her blue eyes and blonde hair. Each sister has struggled with their identities, especially when their father abandons them - Margaret paying the ultimate price when her mother asked her to choose between her South Asian boyfriend and her family.
Alternating between Margaret and Annalie's POVs we follow each sister over the course of the summer as they navigate love, sisterhood and past traumas. Great on audio and highly recommended for fans of Mary H. K. Choi, Tahereh Mafi or Celeste Ng. I can't wait to read more from this debut author with a powerfully strong voice!
April 21, 2022
can't tell if this was 3 stars or 3.5?? i received an arc of this in a local independent bookstore for free and i hope that the official version when it's published later is polished up... a LOT. the intention was there and i loved the premise/idea/heart of the story, but the writing and execution was very meh. the timing and pacing was all off and this was extremely heavy on the exposition; the author needs to implement more "show, don't tell," because i found myself growing kind of bored throughout or speeding through. the plot wasn't predictable or basic and the characters were interesting so i'm really disappointed by this book's execution bc it had a lot of potential :'(
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