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The Light That Bends Round Corners
A contemporary book club fiction novel following the lives of two women from two very different backgrounds living in Kuala Lumpur. Inspired by the author's own experiences living as a British expat.
Laura, a successful fashion journalist based in London, finds herself uprooted from the world she knows and loves after she moves with her husband and two small children to a dilapidated bungalow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Behind the house is an overgrown garden inhabited by monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards. A swimming pool sits in the shade of a beautiful jacaranda tree.
Mariel, the Filipina maid Laura hires, hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years. She’s on a mission to escape her abusive past and finally marry the man she loves despite an ongoing battle against prejudice.
Laura’s journey is one of self-discovery, Mariel’s is a fight for a better life.
Laura, a successful fashion journalist based in London, finds herself uprooted from the world she knows and loves after she moves with her husband and two small children to a dilapidated bungalow in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Behind the house is an overgrown garden inhabited by monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards. A swimming pool sits in the shade of a beautiful jacaranda tree.
Mariel, the Filipina maid Laura hires, hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years. She’s on a mission to escape her abusive past and finally marry the man she loves despite an ongoing battle against prejudice.
Laura’s journey is one of self-discovery, Mariel’s is a fight for a better life.
360 pages, Paperback
First published November 28, 2023
17 people are currently reading
145 people want to read
About the author
Alexandra Carey
4 books17 followersAlexandra Carey was inspired to write her debut novel, The Light That Bends Round Corners (published November 2023), after living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia for seven years. Set in 2006, the story follows two very different women whose lives overlap and become intrinsically linked as they both face their own troubles: Laura is a wife and mother, who finds herself having to give up her job in London as a fashion journalist and move to a beautiful but dilapidated bungalow in Kuala Lumpur. Mariel, the Filipina maid she hires, has spent her whole life dealing with injustice and abuse. Laura’s story is a journey of self-discovery. Mariel’s is a love story - a fight for a better life and to be with the man she loves. The novel sensitively touches on themes such as abuse, love, mental health and migration.
Alexandra lived in Malaysia with her family from 2006 to 2013. Whilst there she worked as a volunteer for the UNHCR and wrote two children’s books, Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats and Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo. Since returning to England, she has lived by the River Deben in Suffolk and has studied creative writing.
Her first children's book, Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats (2010) was based on the true story of a family holiday in Mumbai, India where her young daughter lost her teddy bear. This was followed in 2012 by Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo - once again based on a family holiday - this time in Japan's capital city.
Alexandra lived in Malaysia with her family from 2006 to 2013. Whilst there she worked as a volunteer for the UNHCR and wrote two children’s books, Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats and Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo. Since returning to England, she has lived by the River Deben in Suffolk and has studied creative writing.
Her first children's book, Ted Ted and the Dhobi Ghats (2010) was based on the true story of a family holiday in Mumbai, India where her young daughter lost her teddy bear. This was followed in 2012 by Ted Ted, Trouble in Tokyo - once again based on a family holiday - this time in Japan's capital city.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
January 15, 2024
Alexandra Carey, I genuinely can’t wait to read your next novel!
What a captivating, eye-opening, fun and beautifully written debut novel! I couldn’t put it down.
Alexandra Carey was inspired to write her debut novel after living in Malaysia for several years. This is a fascinating novel focussing on the widely different lives of two women: Laura, a wealthy British expat in Malaysia, and Mariel, her Filipina maid.
Each character is crafted with a lot of nuance and psychological depth, especially the women who are both very realistic, flawed and ambiguous. I think Vijay could have had a bit more texture? (but that is the only criticism I dare to make!)
Mariel is a very determined and strong woman for whom life is truly tough. She hasn’t seen her children in almost 10 years, for some obscure law reasons, and as an immigrant in Malaysia, the amount of abuse she has to get through is heartbreaking and truly eye-opening about the condition of immigrant workers, especially women.
I also loved getting to know Laura, who battles with her own struggles as an expat woman far from everything that is familiar to her and now out of a job and lonely. She has so much to learn about about immigrant workers and the life of refugees in Malaysia and about the culture in general, its contradictions, its hidden reality, as every day brings new discoveries and challenges.
As someone who has travelled a lot to South East Asia, I absolutely adored feeling like I was back there, under the frangipani trees, I could almost feel the hot and humid days, hearing the songs of exotic birds and eating the delicious food from the local markets. Alexandra Carey really conveys the atmosphere of tropical South East Asia with beauty and authenticity. I was very grateful for her to have added elements about refugees from Myanmar - this country and its people being very dear to my heart. What a pleasant surprise to read about them as well.
What an incredibly compelling tale about two women with two diametrically opposite life experiences, multi-layered and authentic, reaching the perfect balance between heartbreaking and hilarious (yes, I actually laughed a few times and that seldom happens to me when I read).
The Light That Bends Round Corners deserves so much (more) fame! I believe it might well be the most unexpected pleasant surprise of 2024, at least for me.
What a captivating, eye-opening, fun and beautifully written debut novel! I couldn’t put it down.
Alexandra Carey was inspired to write her debut novel after living in Malaysia for several years. This is a fascinating novel focussing on the widely different lives of two women: Laura, a wealthy British expat in Malaysia, and Mariel, her Filipina maid.
Each character is crafted with a lot of nuance and psychological depth, especially the women who are both very realistic, flawed and ambiguous. I think Vijay could have had a bit more texture? (but that is the only criticism I dare to make!)
Mariel is a very determined and strong woman for whom life is truly tough. She hasn’t seen her children in almost 10 years, for some obscure law reasons, and as an immigrant in Malaysia, the amount of abuse she has to get through is heartbreaking and truly eye-opening about the condition of immigrant workers, especially women.
I also loved getting to know Laura, who battles with her own struggles as an expat woman far from everything that is familiar to her and now out of a job and lonely. She has so much to learn about about immigrant workers and the life of refugees in Malaysia and about the culture in general, its contradictions, its hidden reality, as every day brings new discoveries and challenges.
As someone who has travelled a lot to South East Asia, I absolutely adored feeling like I was back there, under the frangipani trees, I could almost feel the hot and humid days, hearing the songs of exotic birds and eating the delicious food from the local markets. Alexandra Carey really conveys the atmosphere of tropical South East Asia with beauty and authenticity. I was very grateful for her to have added elements about refugees from Myanmar - this country and its people being very dear to my heart. What a pleasant surprise to read about them as well.
What an incredibly compelling tale about two women with two diametrically opposite life experiences, multi-layered and authentic, reaching the perfect balance between heartbreaking and hilarious (yes, I actually laughed a few times and that seldom happens to me when I read).
The Light That Bends Round Corners deserves so much (more) fame! I believe it might well be the most unexpected pleasant surprise of 2024, at least for me.
November 20, 2023
When her husband Peter gets a new job in Malaysia, Laura, a successful fashion journalist based in London, is uprooted from the world she knows and loves. She, Peter and their two young daughters Tilly and Aggie, move to a dilapidated bungalow in Kuala Lumpur. Behind the house is an overgrown garden inhabited by monkeys, snakes and monitor lizards. A swimming pool sits in the shade of a beautiful jacaranda tree.
Mariel, the Filipina maid Laura hires, hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years as she seeks to divorce her abusive husband and marry the man she loves, despite an ongoing battle against her family’s disapproval and prejudice.
This is a fascinating novel about two women from very diverse backgrounds and with two very different lives. Although she battles depression and is struggling to find meaning in her life in an alien country and with no job, Laura’s expat, wealthy life is one of privilege, whilst Mariel’s is one of uncertainty, vulnerability, and struggle, even though her latest employer is far more enlightened than any she has had previously.
It is no cliché to say that both of these women are on a journey: Laura’s is one of self-discovery, Mariel’s is towards a better life, and, they both have to learn understand and appreciate each other’s lives, struggles and challenges too.
Laura has much to learn about life in Malaysia from her own personal perspective. As well as her ignorance and naivete, the sense of alienation, and bewilderment that she feels there is vividly rendered by the author, as too is the sensation of the stifling heat and humidity, and the constant, underlying sense of threat from the local wildlife.
There is an equally big learning curve ahead of Laura when it comes to understanding the precarious life of refuges withing Malaysia, and especially immigrant domestic servants - this is a complete eye opener for the reader too. Without giving any plot points away there are several discoveries and events which are truly, jaw droppingly shocking; things of which this particular reader was completely ignorant. It is a journey of discovery for the reader just as much as Laura, and facets of life in Malaysia that are constantly revealed, combined with the Laura and Mariel’s stories, keep you turning the page to find out what will happen next.
Mariel too has a great deal to learn: whether that is understanding that Laura’s depression is not a weakness or self-indulgence - that mental ill health affects the privileged as well as the poor; or that even though she is a strong character with a strong mind and determination, willing something does not necessarily make it so.
The characters in this novel are complex, multi-layered, well rounded and believable, and everything feels really well observed. Alexandra Carey lived in Malaysia with her family for 7 years, so this novel is based on a great deal of personal knowledge and experience. It has enabled her to depict the lives of both women so vividly and authentically, and, gives the whole novel a feeling of being informed. It sensitively portrays the many clashes of culture within Malaysia and it hits a pitch perfect tone between humour and pathos.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. The satisfying storyline and fully rounded characters hook you in and the experiences of life in Malaysia feed your interest at the same time. I am grateful to the author and her publisher for sending me a copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review.
Mariel, the Filipina maid Laura hires, hasn’t seen her own children for nearly ten years as she seeks to divorce her abusive husband and marry the man she loves, despite an ongoing battle against her family’s disapproval and prejudice.
This is a fascinating novel about two women from very diverse backgrounds and with two very different lives. Although she battles depression and is struggling to find meaning in her life in an alien country and with no job, Laura’s expat, wealthy life is one of privilege, whilst Mariel’s is one of uncertainty, vulnerability, and struggle, even though her latest employer is far more enlightened than any she has had previously.
It is no cliché to say that both of these women are on a journey: Laura’s is one of self-discovery, Mariel’s is towards a better life, and, they both have to learn understand and appreciate each other’s lives, struggles and challenges too.
Laura has much to learn about life in Malaysia from her own personal perspective. As well as her ignorance and naivete, the sense of alienation, and bewilderment that she feels there is vividly rendered by the author, as too is the sensation of the stifling heat and humidity, and the constant, underlying sense of threat from the local wildlife.
There is an equally big learning curve ahead of Laura when it comes to understanding the precarious life of refuges withing Malaysia, and especially immigrant domestic servants - this is a complete eye opener for the reader too. Without giving any plot points away there are several discoveries and events which are truly, jaw droppingly shocking; things of which this particular reader was completely ignorant. It is a journey of discovery for the reader just as much as Laura, and facets of life in Malaysia that are constantly revealed, combined with the Laura and Mariel’s stories, keep you turning the page to find out what will happen next.
Mariel too has a great deal to learn: whether that is understanding that Laura’s depression is not a weakness or self-indulgence - that mental ill health affects the privileged as well as the poor; or that even though she is a strong character with a strong mind and determination, willing something does not necessarily make it so.
The characters in this novel are complex, multi-layered, well rounded and believable, and everything feels really well observed. Alexandra Carey lived in Malaysia with her family for 7 years, so this novel is based on a great deal of personal knowledge and experience. It has enabled her to depict the lives of both women so vividly and authentically, and, gives the whole novel a feeling of being informed. It sensitively portrays the many clashes of culture within Malaysia and it hits a pitch perfect tone between humour and pathos.
I really enjoyed reading this novel. The satisfying storyline and fully rounded characters hook you in and the experiences of life in Malaysia feed your interest at the same time. I am grateful to the author and her publisher for sending me a copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review.
July 18, 2025
Thoroughly enjoyed reading this book! It felt familiar reading about moving to a new country and trying to find your purpose whilst settling in but also the people you meet along the way. Marials character was also a great reminder of peoples stories and reasons for moving abroad are all different along with the treatment and experiences they receive. I would love to have known more about the conversation Mariel had on her return from the Phillipines as it felt rather abrupt jumping to the final chapter 'the end' and felt like I had missed a bit of the story.
March 24, 2024
3.5 stars
January 21, 2025
Disclaimer: I worked as the sensitivity reader for this book.
The Light that Bends Round Corners is an authentic, atmospheric, and charming novel that tells the tale of two women from two very different cultures, classes, and life experiences. Laura is a fashion journalist and British expat who has moved her family to Kuala Lumpur to support her husband’s career aspirations, while Mariel is a Filipina maid working to send money back home to her family in the Philippines.
I really appreciated how Alexandra Carey showed the reality of Laura's lived experiences as a British expat while also grappling with her privilege through Mariel's eyes. That was a delicate matter that was balanced quite well. More than that, unlike many books that tread in a similar genre, Carey writes Mariel as a full and nuanced human being avoiding many of the stereotypes that I usually see written about Filipina maids, specifically, and even Filipina women, in general. As a Filipina myself, this was obviously very important to me. There is even a really compelling subversion of power dynamics between these two women in the story that is quite subtle, but speaks volumes.
While this book might seem like a light read, it actually deals with a lot of serious and heavy issues around global inequities, the patriarchy, and cultural differences. Carey does a really wonderful job of weaving all of that in an absorbing story that brings you to a fascinating part of the world with two strong and vibrant women.
The Light that Bends Round Corners is an authentic, atmospheric, and charming novel that tells the tale of two women from two very different cultures, classes, and life experiences. Laura is a fashion journalist and British expat who has moved her family to Kuala Lumpur to support her husband’s career aspirations, while Mariel is a Filipina maid working to send money back home to her family in the Philippines.
I really appreciated how Alexandra Carey showed the reality of Laura's lived experiences as a British expat while also grappling with her privilege through Mariel's eyes. That was a delicate matter that was balanced quite well. More than that, unlike many books that tread in a similar genre, Carey writes Mariel as a full and nuanced human being avoiding many of the stereotypes that I usually see written about Filipina maids, specifically, and even Filipina women, in general. As a Filipina myself, this was obviously very important to me. There is even a really compelling subversion of power dynamics between these two women in the story that is quite subtle, but speaks volumes.
While this book might seem like a light read, it actually deals with a lot of serious and heavy issues around global inequities, the patriarchy, and cultural differences. Carey does a really wonderful job of weaving all of that in an absorbing story that brings you to a fascinating part of the world with two strong and vibrant women.
December 3, 2023
I really enjoyed this book with brilliant stories of two women, Laura and Mariel, in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. Laura gave up her job as a fashion journalist in London and moved to Kuala Lumpur with her husband, who got a job as an executive together with two daughters, Tilly and Aggie. Mariel, on the other hand, has been working as a caretaker/ helper in KL for almost two decades.
The two women have very different backgrounds, but they are both foreign to this city. Two things about the book I love the most are the character development and atmosphere.
As the stories move forward, both Laura and Mariel find themselves in KL. While I’m never fond of Laura, I always feel bad for her for giving up her nice job and losing herself when she first arrived in KL. Mariel’s story is also dimmed when she has to work so hard to support her family back in the Philippines and suffers various unfair situations as a foreign helper in KL.
The atmosphere of the book makes me feel I’m brought to KL to experience the humidity and scenery. The languages, such as the Malay words Mariel uses, also make the story more vivid and alive. This is probably one of the reasons I couldn't put down this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to review an eARC.
The two women have very different backgrounds, but they are both foreign to this city. Two things about the book I love the most are the character development and atmosphere.
As the stories move forward, both Laura and Mariel find themselves in KL. While I’m never fond of Laura, I always feel bad for her for giving up her nice job and losing herself when she first arrived in KL. Mariel’s story is also dimmed when she has to work so hard to support her family back in the Philippines and suffers various unfair situations as a foreign helper in KL.
The atmosphere of the book makes me feel I’m brought to KL to experience the humidity and scenery. The languages, such as the Malay words Mariel uses, also make the story more vivid and alive. This is probably one of the reasons I couldn't put down this book!
Thank you to NetGalley and The Book Guild for the opportunity to review an eARC.
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November 27, 2023I really enjoy a book that transports me to a different part of the world, and I also relish a read that teaches me about other places and cultures. The Light That Bends Round Corners certainly ticked these boxes for me and took me on a delightful journey.
Laura is a middle class successful fashion journalist who, due to her husband’s job (🙄), is uprooted from her busy and comfortable life in London, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where expat wives are not allowed to work (😱). Laura finds herself in a life completely alien – she has no career, she struggles to find food her family might eat, she endures stifling heat, monkeys steal their food, and she has to fight cockroaches daily, in a dilapidated house with an overgrown garden. She realises she doesn’t even know how to play with her two young daughters, and soon hires a Filipina maid, Mariel.
Mariel is also living in a country miles from her home. She left her family behind to escape her husband’s abuse and to one day hopefully enable herself to divorce him. But this is at a huge cost, of not seeing her children for 10 years.
The dual points of view from these two women gives a stark contrast between their lives; the wealthy expat and the immigrant domestic worker. Mariel’s life is determined by her employers, they hold her visa, and she has been abused by figures if authority, seemingly not unusual. I liked Mariel, she was determined, resilient and strong, however I could not get over how she left her children, and even seemed to choose her new love, Vijay over them later on. Perhaps this highlights my privilege that I cannot comprehend the lengths people have to go to and hard choices they have to make in awful situations. To choose anything over being with your children is something I cannot begin to imagine.
I disliked Laura a lot, she seemed very entitled, and relied heavily on Mariel to do the basics of running a household and bring up her children, however I think this was purposeful as we then watch her journey of self discovery and see her begin to re-evaluate life and her priorities, and she redeemed herself to me when she finally decided to give her time to the refugee school. This part for me was heartbreaking as we were given a glimpse into the horrific journeys and circumstances these refugee children had experienced. It made my heart ache for the thousands of families that are enduring this right now.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the atmosphere it created, and how I could smell, taste, and see the surroundings of Kuala Lumpur. I could feel the heat, and I was fascinated by the cultural references and descriptions of the plants and animals. There was also a lot of humour which balances out the struggles of the women and those they were representing.
Thank you @alexandracareywrites for the advanced copy and asking me to review this book. I enjoyed it and now want to visit Malaysia very much!
Laura is a middle class successful fashion journalist who, due to her husband’s job (🙄), is uprooted from her busy and comfortable life in London, to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia where expat wives are not allowed to work (😱). Laura finds herself in a life completely alien – she has no career, she struggles to find food her family might eat, she endures stifling heat, monkeys steal their food, and she has to fight cockroaches daily, in a dilapidated house with an overgrown garden. She realises she doesn’t even know how to play with her two young daughters, and soon hires a Filipina maid, Mariel.
Mariel is also living in a country miles from her home. She left her family behind to escape her husband’s abuse and to one day hopefully enable herself to divorce him. But this is at a huge cost, of not seeing her children for 10 years.
The dual points of view from these two women gives a stark contrast between their lives; the wealthy expat and the immigrant domestic worker. Mariel’s life is determined by her employers, they hold her visa, and she has been abused by figures if authority, seemingly not unusual. I liked Mariel, she was determined, resilient and strong, however I could not get over how she left her children, and even seemed to choose her new love, Vijay over them later on. Perhaps this highlights my privilege that I cannot comprehend the lengths people have to go to and hard choices they have to make in awful situations. To choose anything over being with your children is something I cannot begin to imagine.
I disliked Laura a lot, she seemed very entitled, and relied heavily on Mariel to do the basics of running a household and bring up her children, however I think this was purposeful as we then watch her journey of self discovery and see her begin to re-evaluate life and her priorities, and she redeemed herself to me when she finally decided to give her time to the refugee school. This part for me was heartbreaking as we were given a glimpse into the horrific journeys and circumstances these refugee children had experienced. It made my heart ache for the thousands of families that are enduring this right now.
What I enjoyed most about this book was the atmosphere it created, and how I could smell, taste, and see the surroundings of Kuala Lumpur. I could feel the heat, and I was fascinated by the cultural references and descriptions of the plants and animals. There was also a lot of humour which balances out the struggles of the women and those they were representing.
Thank you @alexandracareywrites for the advanced copy and asking me to review this book. I enjoyed it and now want to visit Malaysia very much!
May 26, 2024
This was terrific. It’s set in Malaysia in 2006. Laura and Peter are an English couple with two young daughters who have come to Kuala Lumpur for Peter’s work, meaning that Laura has had to give up her career in fashion journalism. The other central character is Mariel, their Filipino maid. She has been working in Malaysia for many years while her mother cares for her children back in the Philippines.
I loved the sense of place – the evocative descriptions of the plants, the food, the weather all transported me there.
I completely related to how Laura lost her sense of self. Pre-children, I moved to Geneva with my husband and was unable to work. Like Laura, I didn’t know how to define myself without the high flying career I’d left behind and struggled to fill my days. Eventually I found something I loved doing (as Laura also does) but it takes time, and Alexandra Carey really nails that.
I also loved the insight into the difficulties that Filipino maids face in Asian countries – having to leave their children behind, sending as much money home as they can, being subject to tight restrictions. I was familiar with how hard it is for them in Singapore, but Malaysia – at least at that time – sounds even worse.
It's not a perfect novel but I really enjoyed it. I looked forward to getting back to the characters and wondered how they were doing without me when I wasn’t reading it.
I loved the sense of place – the evocative descriptions of the plants, the food, the weather all transported me there.
I completely related to how Laura lost her sense of self. Pre-children, I moved to Geneva with my husband and was unable to work. Like Laura, I didn’t know how to define myself without the high flying career I’d left behind and struggled to fill my days. Eventually I found something I loved doing (as Laura also does) but it takes time, and Alexandra Carey really nails that.
I also loved the insight into the difficulties that Filipino maids face in Asian countries – having to leave their children behind, sending as much money home as they can, being subject to tight restrictions. I was familiar with how hard it is for them in Singapore, but Malaysia – at least at that time – sounds even worse.
It's not a perfect novel but I really enjoyed it. I looked forward to getting back to the characters and wondered how they were doing without me when I wasn’t reading it.
July 9, 2025
I liked this book because it is set in KL and about an expat family. Otherwise I would have given it a lower rating. Enough said.
November 20, 2023
Lovely book, title, and cover. Well done for a first novel. I love how two women's lives are the center of this story. Carey did a beautiful job highlighting their struggles. It was interesting to read all about an "exotic" world as well! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. I feel this would be a great book for a club to discuss too!
December 27, 2023
.
A lovely story of expat life in KL. I smiled in recognition many times of shared experiences and being transported back- the jungle with the contrast of the modern twin towers and fancy malls, playing tennis at Japan duty and the national tennis centre, volunteering with Chin refugees, the traffic, Jalan Alor, the struggles of leaving a career and fnding "usefulness", being welcomed so easily by so many in an international community... and most of all the close friendships I've made. While expat life can be both exciting and luxurious it's not without struggles that are .difficult for others to understand if they have not been in your shoes.
A lovely story of expat life in KL. I smiled in recognition many times of shared experiences and being transported back- the jungle with the contrast of the modern twin towers and fancy malls, playing tennis at Japan duty and the national tennis centre, volunteering with Chin refugees, the traffic, Jalan Alor, the struggles of leaving a career and fnding "usefulness", being welcomed so easily by so many in an international community... and most of all the close friendships I've made. While expat life can be both exciting and luxurious it's not without struggles that are .difficult for others to understand if they have not been in your shoes.
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January 26, 2024AD-PR PRODUCT
It was a privilege to be sent Alexandra Carey’s debut novel, The Light That Bends Round Corners - not least because it has an absolutely gorgeous cover, right down to the embossed title and beautiful feel. Of course, it’s much more than that (as I found out), but I do like a stunning looking book🤩
The story is set in Malaysia in 2006 and is told from two perspectives - Laura, who has just moved to Kuala Lumpur with her husband and two small children; and Mariel, Laura’s Filipina maid. Laura, a fashion journalist, reluctantly left her distinguished job in London to support her husband and his new role in an international company, and while she begins the family‘s adventure quite enthusiastically, she finds herself pining for her career and to feel useful again. Mariel, on the other hand, knows exactly what she wants in life and how to get there. She has a plan and she can’t afford for it to go wrong. She has worked hard and found herself in situations she’d rather not have been in, but she must continue to look forward and make sure all her hardship and sacrifices pay off.
Laura and Mariel clash rather spectacularly in this story of opposites. Mariel can never understand Laura’s woes - as her privileged life puts her in a position that Mariel and her peers will never attain. In turn, Laura is greatly ignorant of Mariel’s life as an immigrant worker, although she tries her best to treat her maid well. It’s not so much a story of friendship, but the two women have a relationship that is destined to survive and thrive on mutual benefit.
If you want to travel to the other side of the world and get a taste for tropical living, then this book will provide you with heat and exoticism galore! It’s so easy to picture yourself on a golden beach surrounded by palm trees while turning the pages of this great little holiday read. Close your eyes and you are there in Kuala Lumpur, with the stifling heat and humidity, the monkeys and the snakes, the beautiful flowers and vegetation, and the smells and tastes of the glorious food. Who wouldn’t want to jump into this world for a little while??
November 26, 2023
This is a story with dual POV and both have very different backgrounds. Laura has moved to Kuala Lumpur with her husband and two young children. She is a successful fashion journalist in London, but with her husband's new job in Malaysia, she has had to give up her career. Laura had envisioned an idyllic colonial romantic lifestyle as she chose to live in an old bungalow with a large jungle-edged garden. The bungalow in her mind was not the reality. Most expats live in new gated communities with air conditioning, not in a bungalow with limited air conditioning and a garden inhabited by monkeys, monitor lizards and snakes however, there was a swimming pool and a beautiful jacaranda tree, which Laura loves.
Laura soon hires a Filipino maid called Mariel. Mariel has not seen her children for 10 years, she made this sacrifice to better herself and their lives and enable her to marry the man she loves. Mariel is a determined and strong woman and the abuse she has had to endure throughout her life is horrendous.
I grew up in Brunei, which is not dissimilar to Malaysia. I have also lived in Malaysia and Indonesia, so when Alexandra approached me to read her book, I jumped at the opportunity. It was interesting to read Laura’s perspective; I haven’t really experienced culture shock as I was 4yrs old when my family moved to Brunei and when I lived in Malaysia after uni, it felt like home. I have questions I want to ask my mum though, I ran around in the long grass, jungle etc without a care in the world… I think she needs to read this book. Although I am not blind to the corruption in Malaysia, there were parts of this book that made me feel a bit naive. I have always treated maids (amah’s is the term I prefer to use) with respect and I have had interesting conversations with some during my time in Malaysia. Without saying much more, this is an eye-opening and compelling story which I couldn’t put down, a must-read for everyone!
Laura soon hires a Filipino maid called Mariel. Mariel has not seen her children for 10 years, she made this sacrifice to better herself and their lives and enable her to marry the man she loves. Mariel is a determined and strong woman and the abuse she has had to endure throughout her life is horrendous.
I grew up in Brunei, which is not dissimilar to Malaysia. I have also lived in Malaysia and Indonesia, so when Alexandra approached me to read her book, I jumped at the opportunity. It was interesting to read Laura’s perspective; I haven’t really experienced culture shock as I was 4yrs old when my family moved to Brunei and when I lived in Malaysia after uni, it felt like home. I have questions I want to ask my mum though, I ran around in the long grass, jungle etc without a care in the world… I think she needs to read this book. Although I am not blind to the corruption in Malaysia, there were parts of this book that made me feel a bit naive. I have always treated maids (amah’s is the term I prefer to use) with respect and I have had interesting conversations with some during my time in Malaysia. Without saying much more, this is an eye-opening and compelling story which I couldn’t put down, a must-read for everyone!
April 18, 2024
“The Light That Bends Round Corners” by Alexandra Carey weaves a captivating tale, intertwining the lives of two women, Laura and Mariel, hailing from diverse backgrounds. Laura, a successful fashion journalist from London, faces the challenge of uprooting her life to follow her husband’s promotion to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Meanwhile, Mariel, originally from the Philippines and now Laura’s housekeeper, has sacrificed immensely to support her family and forge a better future.
The narrative skillfully navigates the parallel journeys of these women, both together and separately, as they grapple with understanding the world around them and each other. The complexity and believability of both characters contribute to the novel’s depth.
A distinctive touch comes from the incorporation of Malay words by Mariel, adding a special layer to the narrative. The author’s meticulous research, drawn from her own expat experiences in Kuala Lumpur, is evident, enriching the story with lush scenery and highlighting cultural disparities between the protagonists.
The book effortlessly pulls readers into its pages, delivering an authentic and enjoyable narrative. As a page-turner, “The Light That Bends Round Corners” succeeds in offering readers an engaging exploration of the complexities of life, cultural differences, and the shared journey of two compelling characters.
Thank you to the author @alexandracareywrites and @netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative skillfully navigates the parallel journeys of these women, both together and separately, as they grapple with understanding the world around them and each other. The complexity and believability of both characters contribute to the novel’s depth.
A distinctive touch comes from the incorporation of Malay words by Mariel, adding a special layer to the narrative. The author’s meticulous research, drawn from her own expat experiences in Kuala Lumpur, is evident, enriching the story with lush scenery and highlighting cultural disparities between the protagonists.
The book effortlessly pulls readers into its pages, delivering an authentic and enjoyable narrative. As a page-turner, “The Light That Bends Round Corners” succeeds in offering readers an engaging exploration of the complexities of life, cultural differences, and the shared journey of two compelling characters.
Thank you to the author @alexandracareywrites and @netgalley for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2023
The Light That Bends Round Corners is a gently written tale of two women of very different backgrounds.
British fashion journalist, Laura, and her family move to Malaysia to support her husband's once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity. Due to immigration laws, she is forced to put her own career on hiatus, and struggles to adapt to a post-colonial world where she is a priveliged 'lady of leisure'.
Meanwhile Filipino maid, Mariel takes up her employment in Laura's house and is counting the days to when she is able to return to to the Philippines to divorce her abusive husband and marry her Hindu lover.
Both women face very different hardships: Mariel has been away from her children for 10 years, has been abused, and is at the mercy of Malaysia's challenging,contradictory laws. Laura is suffering from loneliness and depression, and feels herself losing her identity in the shadow of her husband's role.
Gorgeously written, this book paints a picture of both the stunning scenery and the hardships faced by different classes of immigrant women in Malaysia. But there is also hope and joy and strength in these women. A captivating read.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honesst review~
British fashion journalist, Laura, and her family move to Malaysia to support her husband's once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity. Due to immigration laws, she is forced to put her own career on hiatus, and struggles to adapt to a post-colonial world where she is a priveliged 'lady of leisure'.
Meanwhile Filipino maid, Mariel takes up her employment in Laura's house and is counting the days to when she is able to return to to the Philippines to divorce her abusive husband and marry her Hindu lover.
Both women face very different hardships: Mariel has been away from her children for 10 years, has been abused, and is at the mercy of Malaysia's challenging,contradictory laws. Laura is suffering from loneliness and depression, and feels herself losing her identity in the shadow of her husband's role.
Gorgeously written, this book paints a picture of both the stunning scenery and the hardships faced by different classes of immigrant women in Malaysia. But there is also hope and joy and strength in these women. A captivating read.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honesst review~
December 27, 2023
The Light That Bends Round Corners is a gently written tale of two women of very different backgrounds.
British fashion journalist, Laura, and her family move to Malaysia to support her husband's once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity. Due to immigration laws, she is forced to put her own career on hiatus, and struggles to adapt to a post-colonial world where she is a priveliged 'lady of leisure'.
Meanwhile Filipino maid, Mariel takes up her employment in Laura's house and is counting the days to when she is able to return to to the Philippines to divorce her abusive husband and marry her Hindu lover.
Both women face very different hardships: Mariel has been away from her children for 10 years, has been abused, and is at the mercy of Malaysia's challenging,contradictory laws. Laura is suffering from loneliness and depression, and feels herself losing her identity in the shadow of her husband's role.
Gorgeously written, this book paints a picture of both the stunning scenery and the hardships faced by different classes of immigrant women in Malaysia. But there is also hope and joy and strength in these women. A captivating read.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honesst review~
British fashion journalist, Laura, and her family move to Malaysia to support her husband's once-in-a-lifetime career opportunity. Due to immigration laws, she is forced to put her own career on hiatus, and struggles to adapt to a post-colonial world where she is a priveliged 'lady of leisure'.
Meanwhile Filipino maid, Mariel takes up her employment in Laura's house and is counting the days to when she is able to return to to the Philippines to divorce her abusive husband and marry her Hindu lover.
Both women face very different hardships: Mariel has been away from her children for 10 years, has been abused, and is at the mercy of Malaysia's challenging,contradictory laws. Laura is suffering from loneliness and depression, and feels herself losing her identity in the shadow of her husband's role.
Gorgeously written, this book paints a picture of both the stunning scenery and the hardships faced by different classes of immigrant women in Malaysia. But there is also hope and joy and strength in these women. A captivating read.
~ Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honesst review~
November 23, 2023
The Light That Bends Round Corners is a book that shows life from the perspectives of two very different women, with different backgrounds, culture and personal struggles, but who, on their journey, found strength from each other and broadened each other's horizons.
I connected a lot with the characters of this book. What stayed with the most me was the longing and desperation of Mariel to break free from her loveless marriage and the sacrifices she'd done to own her happiness.
This book is an eye opener!
Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Guild for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I connected a lot with the characters of this book. What stayed with the most me was the longing and desperation of Mariel to break free from her loveless marriage and the sacrifices she'd done to own her happiness.
This book is an eye opener!
Thanks to Netgalley and The Book Guild for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
January 8, 2024
A beautiful story of two women dealing with very different problems and their developing relationship with each other and, in a subtle way, how the culture around them changes both of them. Wonderfully evoking place both from a foreign and domestic perspective. The juxtaposition of the two women’s difficulties expertly highlighting the vast gap between their circumstances but also the possibility of a bond between them being ultimately more important.
June 25, 2024
I was given this book by a friend and absolutely loved reading it the whole way through. The writing was warm and engaging and the ending surprisingly made my heart ache. Having grown up in Malaysia myself, I loved how KL was brought to life. I’ve always wanted to delve deeper into the expat life and the story of both Mariel and Laura showed it beautifully (and at times not so beautifully!!).
(P.S I was in the same class as Martha in Y2!)
(P.S I was in the same class as Martha in Y2!)
January 24, 2024
I loved it. Quite a page turner and I felt a lot of empathy with a couple of the characters! An easy read but I learned a lot about expat life and the immigrant workers and their tough life. I quite want to go to Malaysia now too!
July 27, 2024
Mesmerising
Give me a book with strong female characters and themes around friendship, motherhood and oppression and I’m sold. I loved being in this magical world with these strong, ambitious women, fighting for their place in this world and sometimes their sanity.
Give me a book with strong female characters and themes around friendship, motherhood and oppression and I’m sold. I loved being in this magical world with these strong, ambitious women, fighting for their place in this world and sometimes their sanity.
April 10, 2024
This beautiful book is out now! I absolutely fell in love with Laura and watching these women evolve and go through their own trials. I loved how their experiences were so very different and I felt every single emotion!!!! Not to mention Look at how stunning this cover is! This is a book you will think about long after!!
November 17, 2024
It’s always nice reading a book set in this region, and it was evoked quite well, including the social/political tensions. I found myself rather frustrated with the main characters, however, especially Laura. I couldn’t warm to her at all and found her and her husband annoying. It’s hard to believe someone could move to Southeast Asia and make so little effort to contemplate the realities and complexities of her new environment.
May 11, 2025
I loved this book about the fight to survive as a foreign maid ik KL.
October 20, 2024
This book, which I read alongside a lovely buddy group for the #24countriesin2024 challenge was the debut novel of Alexandra Carey, set in Malaysia.
It tells the story of Laura, who along with her husband Peter and two young girls, gives up her successful career in fashion journalism in London to live as an ex-pat in Malaysia when her husband lands a big job in business there. The book details their move, the huge cultural differences they encounter as they set up home and the impact that such a move has on Laura, who has had to give up so much. From monkeys, cobras, lizards, all sorts of exotic birds and beautiful trees and flowers, the family must take the bad with the good, and often, it seems, the bad seems to dominate, until, at least, they understand how to deal with the bad, and can somehow reframe their ideas. The stifling humidity adds a sort of torpor to the atmosphere and is an extra challenge for the family to adapt to.
Alongside this story is that of Mariel, whom the family hire as their housekeeper. Mariel, who has had to leave her own family in the Philippines, hasn’t seen her children in ten years in an effort to divorce her abusive husband back home and build a new life for herself and her family. Determined, pragmatic and hard-working, she has endured so much in an effort to break new ground in the even more conservative Philippines.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it gave a great insight into life in Malaysia from the point of view of Laura as a British expat. The way she experiences the cultural differences from her Western standpoint are relatable and I found it an immersive read, as various facets of Malaysian life and culture were experienced by her and brought to life through the senses. We are there with her in the wet markets, the languid back garden, the street-food stalls, the rustic country house… Feeling resentful of all she has lost and feeling lost herself, in this new culture, some mental health issues resurface that are an additional challenge for her. Can she make this new life work? What must she let go?
And juxtaposed with her privileged, but unenviable position, is Mariel’s story which shows life from a completely different standpoint. How hard she must work, the injustices she must face each day, (her previous employer‘s additional ‘services’), and her marital stalemate that she is trying to negotiate. She likes to have a plan, but can she learn to think outside of this plan? While she finds it hard to tolerate Miss Laura’s moods and how easy she has it, can she widen her perspective to see that things are not always as they seem?
If I had one gripe with this book, it is that I felt the author didn’t always adhere to the “Show, don’t tell” principle, and she told the reader too much rather than letting us infer things through the action. I felt a few points were repeated that didn’t need to be, and explained to us unnecessarily.
I enjoyed it a lot. It was eye-opening, immersive and a very strong debut by this writer.
It tells the story of Laura, who along with her husband Peter and two young girls, gives up her successful career in fashion journalism in London to live as an ex-pat in Malaysia when her husband lands a big job in business there. The book details their move, the huge cultural differences they encounter as they set up home and the impact that such a move has on Laura, who has had to give up so much. From monkeys, cobras, lizards, all sorts of exotic birds and beautiful trees and flowers, the family must take the bad with the good, and often, it seems, the bad seems to dominate, until, at least, they understand how to deal with the bad, and can somehow reframe their ideas. The stifling humidity adds a sort of torpor to the atmosphere and is an extra challenge for the family to adapt to.
Alongside this story is that of Mariel, whom the family hire as their housekeeper. Mariel, who has had to leave her own family in the Philippines, hasn’t seen her children in ten years in an effort to divorce her abusive husband back home and build a new life for herself and her family. Determined, pragmatic and hard-working, she has endured so much in an effort to break new ground in the even more conservative Philippines.
I really enjoyed this book and thought it gave a great insight into life in Malaysia from the point of view of Laura as a British expat. The way she experiences the cultural differences from her Western standpoint are relatable and I found it an immersive read, as various facets of Malaysian life and culture were experienced by her and brought to life through the senses. We are there with her in the wet markets, the languid back garden, the street-food stalls, the rustic country house… Feeling resentful of all she has lost and feeling lost herself, in this new culture, some mental health issues resurface that are an additional challenge for her. Can she make this new life work? What must she let go?
And juxtaposed with her privileged, but unenviable position, is Mariel’s story which shows life from a completely different standpoint. How hard she must work, the injustices she must face each day, (her previous employer‘s additional ‘services’), and her marital stalemate that she is trying to negotiate. She likes to have a plan, but can she learn to think outside of this plan? While she finds it hard to tolerate Miss Laura’s moods and how easy she has it, can she widen her perspective to see that things are not always as they seem?
If I had one gripe with this book, it is that I felt the author didn’t always adhere to the “Show, don’t tell” principle, and she told the reader too much rather than letting us infer things through the action. I felt a few points were repeated that didn’t need to be, and explained to us unnecessarily.
I enjoyed it a lot. It was eye-opening, immersive and a very strong debut by this writer.
December 11, 2024
The book is very beautifully written. I could imagine being in Malaysia, seeing the sights and smelling the smells. The way it enlightens about cultural differences and how relationships are built is very realistic.
July 5, 2024
A beautifully written and evocative novel of life in Malaysia from two different yet intertwined perspectives. “The Light that Bends Round Corners’ (wonderful title!) depicts life in Kuala Lumpur from two expats of disparate backgrounds learning to conduct their lives and support their families in whatever way they can as they navigate an unfamiliar place. The imagery that Alexandra Carey conjures is rich and fills your senses with the sights, sounds, and sweltering heat experienced
by the two women at the heart of the novel. The story is compelling and moves seamlessly between these two characters’ lives to paint a picture of what it means to leave what you know and set out on a adventure and create a new life with meaning in a home you didn’t necessarily choose for yourself. The joys, heartbreaks, fears, and humor that accompany such an experience come through beautifully in this excellent fiction debut! Looking forward to reading much more from such a talented author!
by the two women at the heart of the novel. The story is compelling and moves seamlessly between these two characters’ lives to paint a picture of what it means to leave what you know and set out on a adventure and create a new life with meaning in a home you didn’t necessarily choose for yourself. The joys, heartbreaks, fears, and humor that accompany such an experience come through beautifully in this excellent fiction debut! Looking forward to reading much more from such a talented author!
February 27, 2024
When Laura's husband receives a job opportunity too good to refuse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, she finds herself torn away from her fulfilling job as a successful fashion journalist in London, and plunged into the ex-pat life. Suddenly expected to take on the unfamiliar role of stay at home mother to their two small children, in a ramshackle house with an overgrown jungle for a garden (complete with an alarming array of wildlife), Laura struggles to get to grips with life in a strange country.
Mariel, a Filipina maid, comes to work for the family. She has problems of her own to contend with as a foreign worker, but is determined to provide a better life for herself and the children she has not seen for over nine years, and to finally escape her abusive marriage and marry the man she loves here in Malaysia.
In this debut novel, Alexandra Carey draws on her own experiences as an ex-pat living in Malaysia to write a compelling story about two women from very different backgrounds thrown together by need.
The book begins in 2006 when Laura and her family arrive in Kuala Lumpur for an adventure that proves to be a lot more challenging for her than she has anticipated. The reality of living in a run-down house with a tropical garden and strange assortment of flora and fauna (not all of it friendly), while caring for two small children who have previously been the province of a live-in nanny, is not quite the romantic prospect she was hoping for. Mariel arrives, after a complicated process bearing an uncomfortable similarity to the transfer of ownership, and she takes charge of the house and children, much to Laura's relief - but it is soon apparent that Mariel has many trials to surmount in her own search for happiness too.
The story unfurls in a slow-burn, dual narrative that provides a stark contrast between the attitudes and expectations of Laura and Mariel. For Laura, negotiating the complex workings of a strange country, combined with the loss of purpose she feels in having had to give up her high-flying career, gradually begins to overwhelm her, sending her into a spiral of depression. Carey examines many relatable themes through her story, in terms of marriage, motherhood, and self-worth, which become part of her journey of self-discovery, but inevitably she sometimes comes across as entitled and naive next to Mariel, which makes her a tricky character to pin your colours to. In contrast, Mariel's problems carry a lot more weight. The very real issues she must face as a maid in a country which relies on foreign workers to perform low-paid work, while holding them in disdain, are very upsetting to read about. There is so much poignancy in Mariel's back story, and her simple dream to have her loving relationship with fellow migrant worker, Vijay, accepted by the family she has been separated from is very moving. My heart bled for her.
I am impressed by the way Carey weaves back and forth between the voices of both women to highlight so much about living in Asia from the points of view of the ex-pat, and the domestic workers they employ. The misunderstandings and bemusement that arises on both sides is explored beautifully, bringing moments of humour as well as shock. I found much of Mariel's story, and those of her fellow migrants, eye-opening. Themes of corruption, abuse, prejudice, control, and socio-economic gulfs are examined well, and will set you pondering. She also touches on a heart breaking storyline about refugees in Malaysia, which proves to be a quite a turn-around for Laura.
Carey does a lovely job of bringing Kuala Lumpur alive with detailed descriptions of culture, weather and environment, and you can almost feel yourself battling with the oppressive heat and humidity, stepping over cockroaches, and keeping a wary eye out for snakes, alongside the characters. There are some extremely fascinating snippets about what life in Malaysia is really like, which enriches the story no end.
For the most part, this is a quiet kind of novel, filled with the trials, tribulations, hopes and dreams of real life, but there are also moments of suspense to capture your imagination, and heartfelt scenes that hit the emotional soft spot. Carey's writing is incredibly engaging, with a gentle rhythm that pulls you right into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut, and can highly recommend it to readers who love novels with strong female characters in well rendered, exotic settings, that also touch on thought-provoking themes. And I guarantee that you will enthralled by the idea of a land filled with light that can 'bend round corners'!
Mariel, a Filipina maid, comes to work for the family. She has problems of her own to contend with as a foreign worker, but is determined to provide a better life for herself and the children she has not seen for over nine years, and to finally escape her abusive marriage and marry the man she loves here in Malaysia.
In this debut novel, Alexandra Carey draws on her own experiences as an ex-pat living in Malaysia to write a compelling story about two women from very different backgrounds thrown together by need.
The book begins in 2006 when Laura and her family arrive in Kuala Lumpur for an adventure that proves to be a lot more challenging for her than she has anticipated. The reality of living in a run-down house with a tropical garden and strange assortment of flora and fauna (not all of it friendly), while caring for two small children who have previously been the province of a live-in nanny, is not quite the romantic prospect she was hoping for. Mariel arrives, after a complicated process bearing an uncomfortable similarity to the transfer of ownership, and she takes charge of the house and children, much to Laura's relief - but it is soon apparent that Mariel has many trials to surmount in her own search for happiness too.
The story unfurls in a slow-burn, dual narrative that provides a stark contrast between the attitudes and expectations of Laura and Mariel. For Laura, negotiating the complex workings of a strange country, combined with the loss of purpose she feels in having had to give up her high-flying career, gradually begins to overwhelm her, sending her into a spiral of depression. Carey examines many relatable themes through her story, in terms of marriage, motherhood, and self-worth, which become part of her journey of self-discovery, but inevitably she sometimes comes across as entitled and naive next to Mariel, which makes her a tricky character to pin your colours to. In contrast, Mariel's problems carry a lot more weight. The very real issues she must face as a maid in a country which relies on foreign workers to perform low-paid work, while holding them in disdain, are very upsetting to read about. There is so much poignancy in Mariel's back story, and her simple dream to have her loving relationship with fellow migrant worker, Vijay, accepted by the family she has been separated from is very moving. My heart bled for her.
I am impressed by the way Carey weaves back and forth between the voices of both women to highlight so much about living in Asia from the points of view of the ex-pat, and the domestic workers they employ. The misunderstandings and bemusement that arises on both sides is explored beautifully, bringing moments of humour as well as shock. I found much of Mariel's story, and those of her fellow migrants, eye-opening. Themes of corruption, abuse, prejudice, control, and socio-economic gulfs are examined well, and will set you pondering. She also touches on a heart breaking storyline about refugees in Malaysia, which proves to be a quite a turn-around for Laura.
Carey does a lovely job of bringing Kuala Lumpur alive with detailed descriptions of culture, weather and environment, and you can almost feel yourself battling with the oppressive heat and humidity, stepping over cockroaches, and keeping a wary eye out for snakes, alongside the characters. There are some extremely fascinating snippets about what life in Malaysia is really like, which enriches the story no end.
For the most part, this is a quiet kind of novel, filled with the trials, tribulations, hopes and dreams of real life, but there are also moments of suspense to capture your imagination, and heartfelt scenes that hit the emotional soft spot. Carey's writing is incredibly engaging, with a gentle rhythm that pulls you right into the story. I thoroughly enjoyed this debut, and can highly recommend it to readers who love novels with strong female characters in well rendered, exotic settings, that also touch on thought-provoking themes. And I guarantee that you will enthralled by the idea of a land filled with light that can 'bend round corners'!
November 21, 2023
This is a story featuring two women brought together by chance in Malaysia which is the natural home for neither of them. As a consequence of her husband’s career opportunity that is “too good to turn down”, Laura is transplanted to Kuala Lumpur at short notice. Leaving behind her own successful career in London and the luxury of a nanny dutifully attending to her children’s every needs, Laura finds herself instead in uncharted territory, physically and emotionally. In complete contrast, Mariel is a Filipina who steeled herself to leave her family behind and consciously chose to work as a maid in KL to escape her abusive husband and seek a better future for herself.
Alexandra Carey’s writing brings to life the sights, sounds and smells of KL and shines a light on the cultural differences between Western European and south-east Asian lifestyles, with Mariel and Laura often silently questioning, without fully grasping, the choices made by the other. Their differences in perspectives of a situation are constantly conditioned by Laura’s privileged background and Mariel’s humble roots.
The crux of the story is the ability to adapt to new and different circumstances and the longer Laura is in KL the more she has to re-assess her situation and her aspirations. Mariel’s way of coping with change is to always have a plan, and to swiftly re-think that plan if anything threatens to get in the way of achieving her goals. There are other threads in the story that deal with emigration; the emotional upheaval of relocation, the physical trials of escaping oppressive environments and the fragile existence of displaced emigrants.
But for the most part, the storytelling is gentle in tone and rhythm, with an occasional frisson of danger, and so when a particularly shocking event occurs, the contrast with the rest of the narrative is stark and pivotal in the story.
A very enjoyable, evocative, authentic and captivating read that introduced me to a part of the world with which I am totally unfamiliar and which emphasised the importance of striving to understand, and to respect, cultural differences.
The Light That Bends Round Corners is published on 28th November. Thank you to Alexandra Carey, The Book Guild and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC.
Alexandra Carey’s writing brings to life the sights, sounds and smells of KL and shines a light on the cultural differences between Western European and south-east Asian lifestyles, with Mariel and Laura often silently questioning, without fully grasping, the choices made by the other. Their differences in perspectives of a situation are constantly conditioned by Laura’s privileged background and Mariel’s humble roots.
The crux of the story is the ability to adapt to new and different circumstances and the longer Laura is in KL the more she has to re-assess her situation and her aspirations. Mariel’s way of coping with change is to always have a plan, and to swiftly re-think that plan if anything threatens to get in the way of achieving her goals. There are other threads in the story that deal with emigration; the emotional upheaval of relocation, the physical trials of escaping oppressive environments and the fragile existence of displaced emigrants.
But for the most part, the storytelling is gentle in tone and rhythm, with an occasional frisson of danger, and so when a particularly shocking event occurs, the contrast with the rest of the narrative is stark and pivotal in the story.
A very enjoyable, evocative, authentic and captivating read that introduced me to a part of the world with which I am totally unfamiliar and which emphasised the importance of striving to understand, and to respect, cultural differences.
The Light That Bends Round Corners is published on 28th November. Thank you to Alexandra Carey, The Book Guild and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC.
May 13, 2025
I loved this book so much! Alexandra Carey’s captivating first novel explores the lives of two women from very different worlds – Laura, a British expat, and Mariel, her Filipina maid. When Laura’s husband lands a job in Kuala Lumpur, she’s uprooted from her life in London as a fashion journalist, and finds herself waking up on the first morning in a crumbling bungalow, eyeballing a monkey sitting on the sofa, surrounded by the oppressive heat and unfamiliarity of Malaysia. Isolated, jobless and adrift, she struggles with loneliness, depression, and the loss of her career identity.
Meanwhile, the life of her maid Mariel is one of hardship: she is trapped in a system that keeps her separated from her children and facing abuse, discrimination, and relentless cultural pressures. Her fight for freedom and dignity is heartbreaking and also eye-opening.
Although their lives are worlds apart – Laura’s is a life of privilege, despite her personal demons, and Mariel’s is fraught with the struggle to survive and find a better life – both women confront their own personal struggles in a way that feels authentic and relatable. Carey’s nuanced, empathetic portrayal of their evolving relationship, set against the vividly- evoked backdrop of Malaysia, is both thought-provoking, deeply moving and sometimes shocking.
This is a compelling read from start to finish. Drawing on her own years in Malaysia, Carey transports the reader to Kuala Lumpur, vividly evoking the intense heat and humidity and all the sights, sounds and smells. The book balances important themes with humour and warmth, and the sometimes absurd reality of expat life is amusingly portrayed. This is a novel that enlightens as much as it entertains, and I was genuinely sad to leave these characters behind when I finished the final page. They will stay with me for a long time.
I found this an extraordinary debut - compassionate, authentic, and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Meanwhile, the life of her maid Mariel is one of hardship: she is trapped in a system that keeps her separated from her children and facing abuse, discrimination, and relentless cultural pressures. Her fight for freedom and dignity is heartbreaking and also eye-opening.
Although their lives are worlds apart – Laura’s is a life of privilege, despite her personal demons, and Mariel’s is fraught with the struggle to survive and find a better life – both women confront their own personal struggles in a way that feels authentic and relatable. Carey’s nuanced, empathetic portrayal of their evolving relationship, set against the vividly- evoked backdrop of Malaysia, is both thought-provoking, deeply moving and sometimes shocking.
This is a compelling read from start to finish. Drawing on her own years in Malaysia, Carey transports the reader to Kuala Lumpur, vividly evoking the intense heat and humidity and all the sights, sounds and smells. The book balances important themes with humour and warmth, and the sometimes absurd reality of expat life is amusingly portrayed. This is a novel that enlightens as much as it entertains, and I was genuinely sad to leave these characters behind when I finished the final page. They will stay with me for a long time.
I found this an extraordinary debut - compassionate, authentic, and unforgettable. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews