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Linh Ly Is Doing Just Fine
Told with deadpan humor and brutal honesty, this debut novel follows Vietnamese-American Linh Ly’s unraveling as she reckons with the traumas of both her past and present, perfect for fans of Joan is Okay and Luster.
When 27-year-old Linh Ly’s recently-divorced mother begins dating a coworker, Linh is determined to make sure he is worthy of her mother. She’s seen the kind of men her mother ends up with—she grew up watching her unreliable and volatile alcoholic father as her mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. Linh is certain that her mother can’t do this on her own, but what begins as genuine worry quickly turns obsessive.
Following her mother and spying on her dates becomes part of Linh’s routine, especially after a university shooting at Linh’s work that leaves her feeling adrift—at least her mom’s dating life gives her something to focus on. Linh doesn’t exactly have a life of her own (dating or otherwise) and figures the best course of action is action—not how she handled the curl up in a ball and wait it out.
Linh is slowly forced to reconcile the image of her mother from her childhood with the woman she’s getting to know as an adult. Growing up Vietnamese in the middle of Texas with a broken household taught Linh a certain guarded way of living—one she never quite left behind.
Moving, insightful, and caustically funny all at once, Liinh Ly Is Doing Just Fine depicts a quarter-life crisis in deeply relatable prose.
When 27-year-old Linh Ly’s recently-divorced mother begins dating a coworker, Linh is determined to make sure he is worthy of her mother. She’s seen the kind of men her mother ends up with—she grew up watching her unreliable and volatile alcoholic father as her mother worked two jobs to make ends meet. Linh is certain that her mother can’t do this on her own, but what begins as genuine worry quickly turns obsessive.
Following her mother and spying on her dates becomes part of Linh’s routine, especially after a university shooting at Linh’s work that leaves her feeling adrift—at least her mom’s dating life gives her something to focus on. Linh doesn’t exactly have a life of her own (dating or otherwise) and figures the best course of action is action—not how she handled the curl up in a ball and wait it out.
Linh is slowly forced to reconcile the image of her mother from her childhood with the woman she’s getting to know as an adult. Growing up Vietnamese in the middle of Texas with a broken household taught Linh a certain guarded way of living—one she never quite left behind.
Moving, insightful, and caustically funny all at once, Liinh Ly Is Doing Just Fine depicts a quarter-life crisis in deeply relatable prose.
265 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 23, 2024
21 people are currently reading
4202 people want to read
About the author
Thao Votang
2 books35 followersThao Votang’s novel LINH LY IS DOING JUST FINE is forthcoming from Alcove Press (July 2024). Her work has been published in Salon, Hyperallergic, Sightlines, Southwest Contemporary, and Lucky Jefferson. When she’s not looking at art, she can be found reading one of the many books she has put in her bag or hidden under that couch cushion. Her fiction is informed by her experience as part of the Vietnamese diaspora deep in the Lone Star State, her interest in how we love our mothers, and the climate catastrophe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
October 1, 2024
I spent the entirety of this book trying to decide if I loved or hated it. There is a coldness, or disconnectedness, in Asian fiction that often lends itself to Asian American fiction. It is off-putting to white Americans, who find extroversion the norm. Linh's narrative is as such, and while I enjoyed her voice, I understand where it can be grating.
To the reviewer annoyed about every mention of the Metroplex, I see you, and I hear you. I was born in Dallas, and later returned for grad school and work, but I have never called the metro area such. Neither did any Dallas or Fort Worth natives.
Linh's parents are divorced. Her mom has begun dating. Her dad is an alcoholic. She spends quite a bit of this book following her mom to see what she ends up doing on these dates. It feels a bit Parent Trap. It feels a bit invasive.
Another plot is Linh playing tennis with her white friends, where she ends up being partnered with her mom's new boyfriend, Peter. The assumption is that Peter isn't aware of who she is. I think that's a pretty big assumption.
Born and raised in DFW, Linh goes out with former high school friends one night. They run into a different group from the same school. Chandler, a rich white man, appears to be "the catch." When his eye lands on Linh, the entire group of women is jealous. I am still unsure why. They begin a sexual relationship, which eventually leads to something more. I'm not sure how it led to anything, as Linh did a terrible job communicating. I'm not placing the blame wholly on her. They just didn't talk to each other.
Maybe you'll enjoy this more if you read it as a series of vignettes. Maybe you'll enjoy the dry narration. Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this. To be fair, I'll be thinking about it for some time.
My usual gripe with narrators not from the diaspora are that they don't pronounce anything correctly. Either Eunice Wong was coached, or she took it upon herself to learn, so, kudos.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio
To the reviewer annoyed about every mention of the Metroplex, I see you, and I hear you. I was born in Dallas, and later returned for grad school and work, but I have never called the metro area such. Neither did any Dallas or Fort Worth natives.
Linh's parents are divorced. Her mom has begun dating. Her dad is an alcoholic. She spends quite a bit of this book following her mom to see what she ends up doing on these dates. It feels a bit Parent Trap. It feels a bit invasive.
Another plot is Linh playing tennis with her white friends, where she ends up being partnered with her mom's new boyfriend, Peter. The assumption is that Peter isn't aware of who she is. I think that's a pretty big assumption.
Born and raised in DFW, Linh goes out with former high school friends one night. They run into a different group from the same school. Chandler, a rich white man, appears to be "the catch." When his eye lands on Linh, the entire group of women is jealous. I am still unsure why. They begin a sexual relationship, which eventually leads to something more. I'm not sure how it led to anything, as Linh did a terrible job communicating. I'm not placing the blame wholly on her. They just didn't talk to each other.
Maybe you'll enjoy this more if you read it as a series of vignettes. Maybe you'll enjoy the dry narration. Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate this. To be fair, I'll be thinking about it for some time.
My usual gripe with narrators not from the diaspora are that they don't pronounce anything correctly. Either Eunice Wong was coached, or she took it upon herself to learn, so, kudos.
🎧 Thank you to NetGalley and Tantor Audio
October 20, 2024
Wanted to enjoy this book at least a bit more especially because of its Vietnamese American representation, but unfortunately I found the novel rather mid. There were interesting themes related to the parent-child relationship, grief, and opening up or closing down in intimate connections. I also found the subplot about the college shooting a harrowing though unfortunately timely spin.
However, the voice in Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine dragged for me. I wonder if the author wrote her protagonist’s voice to be intentionally deadpan, though it just came across to me as dry and stilted. I also found the protagonist’s relationship with Chandler lacking in substance or depth. Three stars because I want to appreciate the effort though I don’t think I would recommend this book.
However, the voice in Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine dragged for me. I wonder if the author wrote her protagonist’s voice to be intentionally deadpan, though it just came across to me as dry and stilted. I also found the protagonist’s relationship with Chandler lacking in substance or depth. Three stars because I want to appreciate the effort though I don’t think I would recommend this book.
November 27, 2023
I really enjoyed being in Linh Ly's world. This is a truly delightful read.
December 13, 2023
4/5
Linh Ly is:
1. Not doing fine
2. A serious asshole
3. In need of immediate mental intervention
Linh Ly is:
1. Not doing fine
2. A serious asshole
3. In need of immediate mental intervention
January 25, 2024
Funerals were for those who were still living.
Linh Ly is doing just fine reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. The story is quite similar. Both are a story of a woman struggling with their mental state to live a normal life even if circumstances won't allow them to.
I get that this book is not for everyone. There are many things that can turn off the reading experience like mention of "Metroplex" very often and weird, eccentric behaviour of Linh. Apart from this what annoyed me even was author asking questions in the form of Linh's monologues to her readers after every passage. But frankly I could see where Linh was coming from.
An abusive father and a mother who's trying to make ends meet by doing two jobs. A deadly parental combination. A child scared and alone in the house everyday while her parents were working. An inattentive alcoholic father who would not care for his daughter and a caring mother who chose to stay out of the house coz of her husband. Young girl left to fend off after the needs to the father who did not even speak two words of love with his own daughter. Do you really expect the girl will be normal??
When life felt unjust, I felt that my parents had raised me to survive. In a world like this, maybe it was better not to be coddled and not to know what love was.
And to add to all that she is a Vietnamese, a colored person in the world of white privileged folks. Not a complete American even when born and brought up in America. You are judged by color of your skin first and later by other things. You don't know your culture because it has never been part of your life and you ain't even part of American culture where you have been whole your life because you are constantly reminded that you are not one of them.
Our Thanksgiving spread was like our lives. Two cultures were eaten together and swallowed with no consideration of how the flavors would or would not mix.
Of course it comes as no wonder that she has no life apart from her job and her tennis practice. She believes the whole world is out to get to her in one way or another. She has experienced racism first hand, a Vietnamese trying to make her place in white supremist world. She is what she is and she is doing just fine given the circumstances of her situation.
It wasn’t the fear of making small talk. It was the fear of being surrounded by hundreds of people and not one of them wanting to talk to you. That you could walk from room to room, and no one knew you, and everyone could tell they didn’t need to know who you were by some detail of your clothes or merely the color of your skin.
She has no one in the world apart from her mom so frankly even though her stalking behaviour annoyed hell out of me, yet part of me could understand where it was coming from. This even kept her sane in the world full of insanity and people constantly looking down upon her. And that is why she couldn't understand if someone treated her nice or said things like I missed you. Because why will anyone even like her forget about love, when her own parents could not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me totally immersed in what is going to happen next in the book. Linh was struggling it was clear. But she would definitely be okay in the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove press for this wonderful ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Some other quotes I liked
*It reminded me of how little a woman meant if she wasn’t part of the right group.
*It was hard to wash away the existence of another person. You simply had to wait until your presence became stronger than the lingering memory of theirs.
* I wanted to be alone but around other people. I wanted companionship but without the obligation of a relationship.
*Sometimes you do things you don’t like for people you care about.
*When I thought about babies, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the rising sea waters, floods, droughts, and pollution. What kind of person brings a new life into certain disaster? How delusional did you have to be? How self-assured did you have to be to think you could protect your children from the harms of the world.
*The father, presumably, was looking at his phone. The woman kept telling the children’s father about their schedule. Asking him questions about this or that, to which he responded with various versions of “you decide.” I knew what she was doing. I’d read articles about it before. She was trying to share the labor and bring him into decisions so that she wasn’t doing everything. So she could quiet the continuous list of to-dos running in the back of her mind.
*Underneath Peter’s nice surface, he was just another man who needed a woman to take care of his most basic but most necessary needs.
Linh Ly is doing just fine reminded me of Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. The story is quite similar. Both are a story of a woman struggling with their mental state to live a normal life even if circumstances won't allow them to.
I get that this book is not for everyone. There are many things that can turn off the reading experience like mention of "Metroplex" very often and weird, eccentric behaviour of Linh. Apart from this what annoyed me even was author asking questions in the form of Linh's monologues to her readers after every passage. But frankly I could see where Linh was coming from.
An abusive father and a mother who's trying to make ends meet by doing two jobs. A deadly parental combination. A child scared and alone in the house everyday while her parents were working. An inattentive alcoholic father who would not care for his daughter and a caring mother who chose to stay out of the house coz of her husband. Young girl left to fend off after the needs to the father who did not even speak two words of love with his own daughter. Do you really expect the girl will be normal??
When life felt unjust, I felt that my parents had raised me to survive. In a world like this, maybe it was better not to be coddled and not to know what love was.
And to add to all that she is a Vietnamese, a colored person in the world of white privileged folks. Not a complete American even when born and brought up in America. You are judged by color of your skin first and later by other things. You don't know your culture because it has never been part of your life and you ain't even part of American culture where you have been whole your life because you are constantly reminded that you are not one of them.
Our Thanksgiving spread was like our lives. Two cultures were eaten together and swallowed with no consideration of how the flavors would or would not mix.
Of course it comes as no wonder that she has no life apart from her job and her tennis practice. She believes the whole world is out to get to her in one way or another. She has experienced racism first hand, a Vietnamese trying to make her place in white supremist world. She is what she is and she is doing just fine given the circumstances of her situation.
It wasn’t the fear of making small talk. It was the fear of being surrounded by hundreds of people and not one of them wanting to talk to you. That you could walk from room to room, and no one knew you, and everyone could tell they didn’t need to know who you were by some detail of your clothes or merely the color of your skin.
She has no one in the world apart from her mom so frankly even though her stalking behaviour annoyed hell out of me, yet part of me could understand where it was coming from. This even kept her sane in the world full of insanity and people constantly looking down upon her. And that is why she couldn't understand if someone treated her nice or said things like I missed you. Because why will anyone even like her forget about love, when her own parents could not.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it kept me totally immersed in what is going to happen next in the book. Linh was struggling it was clear. But she would definitely be okay in the end.
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove press for this wonderful ARC in exchange of an honest review.
Some other quotes I liked
*It reminded me of how little a woman meant if she wasn’t part of the right group.
*It was hard to wash away the existence of another person. You simply had to wait until your presence became stronger than the lingering memory of theirs.
* I wanted to be alone but around other people. I wanted companionship but without the obligation of a relationship.
*Sometimes you do things you don’t like for people you care about.
*When I thought about babies, I couldn’t stop myself from thinking about the rising sea waters, floods, droughts, and pollution. What kind of person brings a new life into certain disaster? How delusional did you have to be? How self-assured did you have to be to think you could protect your children from the harms of the world.
*The father, presumably, was looking at his phone. The woman kept telling the children’s father about their schedule. Asking him questions about this or that, to which he responded with various versions of “you decide.” I knew what she was doing. I’d read articles about it before. She was trying to share the labor and bring him into decisions so that she wasn’t doing everything. So she could quiet the continuous list of to-dos running in the back of her mind.
*Underneath Peter’s nice surface, he was just another man who needed a woman to take care of his most basic but most necessary needs.
Read
February 27, 2025Dnf @ 16%
Might return to this in the future?? It just didn’t capture my interest atm
Might return to this in the future?? It just didn’t capture my interest atm
August 20, 2024
Told with deadpan humor and brutal honesty, this debut novel follows Vietnamese American Linh Ly’s unraveling as she reckons with the traumas of both her past and present, perfect for fans of Joan Is Okay and Luster.
TITLE: LINH LY IS DOING JUST FINE
AUTHOR: Thao Votang
PUB DATE: 07.23.2024 Now Available
What a fresh, funny, and fun read this was! Votang outdid herself with twenty-seven-year-old Linh Ly’s character. There were many moments of burst out laugh for me, and cringe worthy moments that just worked perfectly. I love the mother daughter relationship, and it was so relatable to not only me as an Asian American, but many other universal language of being a daughter, and the love for family. It Is also about finding strength, voice, and the person we are underneath all the struggles, challenges, and self doubt.
I truly enjoyed this beautiful writing and new voice from a talented debut author.
Simply fantastic!
TITLE: LINH LY IS DOING JUST FINE
AUTHOR: Thao Votang
PUB DATE: 07.23.2024 Now Available
What a fresh, funny, and fun read this was! Votang outdid herself with twenty-seven-year-old Linh Ly’s character. There were many moments of burst out laugh for me, and cringe worthy moments that just worked perfectly. I love the mother daughter relationship, and it was so relatable to not only me as an Asian American, but many other universal language of being a daughter, and the love for family. It Is also about finding strength, voice, and the person we are underneath all the struggles, challenges, and self doubt.
I truly enjoyed this beautiful writing and new voice from a talented debut author.
Simply fantastic!
May 3, 2024
Told with deadpan humour and brutal honesty, "Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" by Thao Votang is a remarkable debut novel, captivating exploration of identity and trauma. It follows the unraveling journey of a Vietnamese-American and Votang masterfully weaves together past and present, inviting readers into the complex world of trauma, family dynamics, and self-discovery.
When 27-year-old Linh Ly's recently-divorced mother begins dating a coworker, Linh becomes determined to ensure he is worthy of her mother's love. Having witnessed her mother's struggles with unreliable and volatile men, Linh is fiercely protective. She knows her mother can't navigate this new relationship alone, especially after growing up with an alcoholic father while her mother worked tirelessly to make ends meet.
Linh's life lacks direction, and she finds solace in following her mother and spying on her dates. The university shooting at Linh's workplace leaves her feeling adrift, but her mom's dating escapades give her something to focus on. As Linh peels back the layers of her mother's life, she confronts her own guarded upbringing as a Vietnamese-American in Texas… a legacy she never quite escaped.
Linh's Vietnamese heritage and her upbringing in Texas shape her worldview. Votang delves into the complexities of cultural identity, portraying Linh's guarded existence with sensitivity. The novel explores how trauma echoes across generations. Linh grapples with her past, her father's alcoholism, and the impact it has on her relationships. Her journey toward healing is both poignant and relatable.
Linh's relationship with her mother is at the heart of the story. The novel beautifully captures the love, tension, and sacrifices that define their bond. Votang's prose is sharp, witty, and unapologetically honest. The deadpan humor adds depth to the narrative, making Linh's struggles all the more authentic. The pacing keeps readers engaged, and the vivid descriptions transport us to Texas, where Linh's memories and present collide.
"Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" is a compelling exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of family ties. Votang's debut is a triumph. This is a novel that lingers long after the last page. Prepare to laugh, cry, and reflect on your own journey as you follow Linh Ly's unraveling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
When 27-year-old Linh Ly's recently-divorced mother begins dating a coworker, Linh becomes determined to ensure he is worthy of her mother's love. Having witnessed her mother's struggles with unreliable and volatile men, Linh is fiercely protective. She knows her mother can't navigate this new relationship alone, especially after growing up with an alcoholic father while her mother worked tirelessly to make ends meet.
Linh's life lacks direction, and she finds solace in following her mother and spying on her dates. The university shooting at Linh's workplace leaves her feeling adrift, but her mom's dating escapades give her something to focus on. As Linh peels back the layers of her mother's life, she confronts her own guarded upbringing as a Vietnamese-American in Texas… a legacy she never quite escaped.
Linh's Vietnamese heritage and her upbringing in Texas shape her worldview. Votang delves into the complexities of cultural identity, portraying Linh's guarded existence with sensitivity. The novel explores how trauma echoes across generations. Linh grapples with her past, her father's alcoholism, and the impact it has on her relationships. Her journey toward healing is both poignant and relatable.
Linh's relationship with her mother is at the heart of the story. The novel beautifully captures the love, tension, and sacrifices that define their bond. Votang's prose is sharp, witty, and unapologetically honest. The deadpan humor adds depth to the narrative, making Linh's struggles all the more authentic. The pacing keeps readers engaged, and the vivid descriptions transport us to Texas, where Linh's memories and present collide.
"Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" is a compelling exploration of resilience, vulnerability, and the messy beauty of family ties. Votang's debut is a triumph. This is a novel that lingers long after the last page. Prepare to laugh, cry, and reflect on your own journey as you follow Linh Ly's unraveling.
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
August 24, 2024
i had high hopes for this book and it did not disappoint. a fantastic representation of personal, generational, and societal trauma and growth for the characters.
someone PLEASE ask me about this book im dying to talk about it.
someone PLEASE ask me about this book im dying to talk about it.
July 2, 2024
I’m not 100% sure of my thoughts on this one. I did find it easy to read and move through, but also the story didn’t seem to really go anywhere. There wasn’t necessarily a plot, more of just uncomfortable situations that our main character found herself in and made it through. Linh herself was a very difficult character. There were times I absolutely related to her and her social anxiety/awkwardness and other times I just thought “Girl, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” I did feel like the book touched on some really important subjects like gun violence, micro aggressions and alcoholism, but it didn’t really dive in as deep as I wanted it to with them. The ending at first really baffled me because it just seemed like such an abrupt way to the story to be over, but I thought about it and it kind of fit the story. Life is weird, things happen and it will eventually be just fine. This is absolutely a character driven novel so anyone looking for a quick paced plot will be disappointed. However, like I said, it was easy to read and I did get some things out of it so I’m happy I read it overall.
Mini spoiler: nothing bad happens to the cat!
CW: school shooting, racism, alcoholism, verbal abuse, car accident, divorce
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
Mini spoiler: nothing bad happens to the cat!
CW: school shooting, racism, alcoholism, verbal abuse, car accident, divorce
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for an advanced digital reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2025
This was … different? Linh is all over the place—every chapter is something a little off and she's stalking her divorced parents? Do people actually do that? Linh is so preoccupied with the lives of others, that she pays no attention to herself. She is both overly emotional and emotionless. Some chapters were entertaining in their own way while other chapters were confusing as to how they fit in with the story. This was a bizarre and interesting journey. At least the narrator for the audiobook was good.
*Provided an ALC (advance listening copy) audiobook from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
*Provided an ALC (advance listening copy) audiobook from the publisher for review. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2024
Unfortunately, this book was not for me. It was a character driven read, and the character wasn't interesting and was completely unrelatable. She was overly paranoid, and her constant negativity was annoying. Some of her actions and dialogue actually made me cringe. I don't think I've ever disliked an MC quite as much as I disliked Linh. I, however, did feel sorry for her. I kept thinking, how can anyone go through life being so miserable? I don't DNF books and kept hoping for a happy ending, but the book ended very abruptly and left me completely unsatisfied.
January 18, 2024
This book was a wonderful read. I love Linh and her need to protect her family. Loneliness is a terrible feeling, and reading this book for some reason made me find solace in it. I would recommend this book to absolutely anyone looking for a calming, funny, chilled read.
July 20, 2024
[Copy provided by publisher]
READ IF YOU LIKE...
• Overthinking and social anxiety
• Analyzing psych cases
• Stalking people online
I THOUGHT IT WAS...
An exploration of a young woman not quite sure how to live her life, told through a novel that isn't quite sure how to tell the story. Linh is in her late 20s working in publicity at a university. When her recently divorced mother starts dating again, Linh becomes obsessed with making sure her mother stays safe. So she starts to tail her on her dates.
The first third of this novel had such potential to be a great character study. Similar to the protagonist of THE COIN, which I had read right before this, Linh clearly carries a lot of repressed feelings and anxieties, causing her to act in unhealthy ways. I was fascinated by her devotion, then obsession, with tailing her mother, a woman who seems perfectly capable of taking care of herself and eager to embrace a new chapter in her life. This foil, this flip of expectations, was something I was excited to dig into.
The beginning of the novel also features a tense moment when Linh is on campus when an active shooter situation occurs. Trapped alone in an art studio waiting it out, she spirals and there's a powerful moment when she reflects on how parenting similar to the type she experienced could be what plants the seed for future shooters to bloom. I really looked forward to exploring this and the lasting effects from this terrible experience.
Unfortunately, the farther I got in the story, the farther these elements drifted away. Linh's neuroses become too unfocused, too all encompassing. She starts to simply come off as unpleasant, one of those people who always assumes the worst in everything and is quick to point out wrongs but never makes an effort themselves to make things right. Similarly, the storytelling also loses its way -- I think it wants to be heartfelt, poignant, and earnest, yet there are some scenes so outlandish it feels more appropriate for satire.
As evidenced by books like THE COIN, the unhinged woman trope is most effective when it's focused in execution. This novel had the potential to be that, but ended up not quite hitting the mark.
READ IF YOU LIKE...
• Overthinking and social anxiety
• Analyzing psych cases
• Stalking people online
I THOUGHT IT WAS...
An exploration of a young woman not quite sure how to live her life, told through a novel that isn't quite sure how to tell the story. Linh is in her late 20s working in publicity at a university. When her recently divorced mother starts dating again, Linh becomes obsessed with making sure her mother stays safe. So she starts to tail her on her dates.
The first third of this novel had such potential to be a great character study. Similar to the protagonist of THE COIN, which I had read right before this, Linh clearly carries a lot of repressed feelings and anxieties, causing her to act in unhealthy ways. I was fascinated by her devotion, then obsession, with tailing her mother, a woman who seems perfectly capable of taking care of herself and eager to embrace a new chapter in her life. This foil, this flip of expectations, was something I was excited to dig into.
The beginning of the novel also features a tense moment when Linh is on campus when an active shooter situation occurs. Trapped alone in an art studio waiting it out, she spirals and there's a powerful moment when she reflects on how parenting similar to the type she experienced could be what plants the seed for future shooters to bloom. I really looked forward to exploring this and the lasting effects from this terrible experience.
Unfortunately, the farther I got in the story, the farther these elements drifted away. Linh's neuroses become too unfocused, too all encompassing. She starts to simply come off as unpleasant, one of those people who always assumes the worst in everything and is quick to point out wrongs but never makes an effort themselves to make things right. Similarly, the storytelling also loses its way -- I think it wants to be heartfelt, poignant, and earnest, yet there are some scenes so outlandish it feels more appropriate for satire.
As evidenced by books like THE COIN, the unhinged woman trope is most effective when it's focused in execution. This novel had the potential to be that, but ended up not quite hitting the mark.
July 2, 2024
"I wanted to be alone but around other people. I wanted companionship but without the obligation of a relationship."
The story centers around a Vietnamese-American woman Linh Ly - in her late twenty, she reckons with the traumas of both her past and present while being unhealthily obsessed with her mother's date after a recent divorce.
Votang delivers an unhinged and almost unreliable main character - meet Linh, a weird and introvert person who tries to be 'normal' and whose behavior is the result of a broken family composed of abusive father and absent mother. She is definitely not doing fine. Slice-of-life is embedded in the narrative, of Linh cringing all the time with multiple concerns and often being judged. In this way, one joins the narrator to be in perpetual state of limbo, in which our minds wander through uncertainties and existentialism issues. In the hopes of offering a more intimate look, the plot is driven by internal monologues, mostly unresolved with the intention to mirror the character's certain guarded way of living - these, however, can feel aimless for readers looking for momentum.
The story is utterly mundane, dramatic in a way that invites 'roll-my-eyes' moments. With fluid prose, I recognize the author's attempt to examine themes of regret, loss, family, belonging and adulthood, grounded in reality, yet I had expected a more profound reflection about them.
Brutally honest, one will find satisfaction with some personal growth, contrasting with the frustration that might simultaneously come when the easy conclusion is that the main character only needed a mental intervention. In short, LINH LY IS DOING JUST FINE is recommended for those who enjoy a funny and lighthearted story of a character who finds herself in the process.
[ I received an ARC from Get Red PR . All opinions are my own ]
cw: mental issue, gun, shooting, death
The story centers around a Vietnamese-American woman Linh Ly - in her late twenty, she reckons with the traumas of both her past and present while being unhealthily obsessed with her mother's date after a recent divorce.
Votang delivers an unhinged and almost unreliable main character - meet Linh, a weird and introvert person who tries to be 'normal' and whose behavior is the result of a broken family composed of abusive father and absent mother. She is definitely not doing fine. Slice-of-life is embedded in the narrative, of Linh cringing all the time with multiple concerns and often being judged. In this way, one joins the narrator to be in perpetual state of limbo, in which our minds wander through uncertainties and existentialism issues. In the hopes of offering a more intimate look, the plot is driven by internal monologues, mostly unresolved with the intention to mirror the character's certain guarded way of living - these, however, can feel aimless for readers looking for momentum.
The story is utterly mundane, dramatic in a way that invites 'roll-my-eyes' moments. With fluid prose, I recognize the author's attempt to examine themes of regret, loss, family, belonging and adulthood, grounded in reality, yet I had expected a more profound reflection about them.
Brutally honest, one will find satisfaction with some personal growth, contrasting with the frustration that might simultaneously come when the easy conclusion is that the main character only needed a mental intervention. In short, LINH LY IS DOING JUST FINE is recommended for those who enjoy a funny and lighthearted story of a character who finds herself in the process.
[ I received an ARC from Get Red PR . All opinions are my own ]
cw: mental issue, gun, shooting, death
December 21, 2023
Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine follows Linh, a 27-year-old Vietnamese-American, as she grapples with her quarter-life crisis. In Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine, Votang captures the isolating experience of being Asian in Texas . . . but I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was missing throughout the time I was reading the book that rendered the book not as relatable/engaging. Contrary to what the blurb suggests, Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine is neither reminiscent of Joan Is Okay nor Luster.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 31, 2025
My first time giving a book one star. Absolutely no plot. Main character is insufferable. I told my cat he is lucky he can’t read and is spared from this book. The only reason why I finished it is because my book club is reading it.
July 9, 2024
Thank you GetRedPRBooks, Thao Votang, Alcove Press, and Tantor Audio for my #gifted copies of Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine! #linhlyisdoingjustfine
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐡 𝐋𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐨 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
4.5★
There is so much to love about this debut novel by Thao Votang! It was such a unique read and I loved Linh’s character so much. Votang used humor and honesty to create such a relatable main character.
Linh Ly is dealing with trauma from her past and her present. When her recently divorced mother starts dating a coworker, Linh will do whatever it takes to make sure he is worthy of her mother. After seeing the men she has dated in the past, and knowing what her father was like, she is determined to make sure her mother gets it right this time. Her desire to help her mom quickly turns into an obsession, and gives her something to focus on, especially after a university shooting at her work. Over time, Linh starts to realize there might be differences between the mother from her childhood and the woman she is getting to know as an adult.
I love how this book explores themes of family trauma, family dynamics, Vietnamese heritage, self-discovery, and mental health, to name a few. This book reminded me in some ways of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and I think fans of that book will enjoy this one.
🎧About halfway through reading the physical book, I realized that my absolute favorite Eunice Wong was narrating the audiobook so I had to make the switch. It’s no surprise that Wong delivered a stellar performance. I will forever be in awe of how well she brings every single character to life. I could listen to Wong all day long. You can feel so much emotion and heart in her voice and I truly loved my time listening to this audiobook!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐡 𝐋𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐃𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐞
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐨 𝐕𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐠
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐄𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐠
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟑, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒
4.5★
There is so much to love about this debut novel by Thao Votang! It was such a unique read and I loved Linh’s character so much. Votang used humor and honesty to create such a relatable main character.
Linh Ly is dealing with trauma from her past and her present. When her recently divorced mother starts dating a coworker, Linh will do whatever it takes to make sure he is worthy of her mother. After seeing the men she has dated in the past, and knowing what her father was like, she is determined to make sure her mother gets it right this time. Her desire to help her mom quickly turns into an obsession, and gives her something to focus on, especially after a university shooting at her work. Over time, Linh starts to realize there might be differences between the mother from her childhood and the woman she is getting to know as an adult.
I love how this book explores themes of family trauma, family dynamics, Vietnamese heritage, self-discovery, and mental health, to name a few. This book reminded me in some ways of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, and I think fans of that book will enjoy this one.
🎧About halfway through reading the physical book, I realized that my absolute favorite Eunice Wong was narrating the audiobook so I had to make the switch. It’s no surprise that Wong delivered a stellar performance. I will forever be in awe of how well she brings every single character to life. I could listen to Wong all day long. You can feel so much emotion and heart in her voice and I truly loved my time listening to this audiobook!
September 3, 2024
the opening of this character-driven novel, Lynh Ly faces significant challenges. She grapples with her parents' divorce, her father's alcoholism, her mother's foray into dating, and her own profound sense of isolation and loneliness. Alongside these family struggles, Lynh must also navigate the complexities of being a Vietnamese American living in Texas, confronting issues such as racism and cultural identity. Despite all this and her introverted nature, she finds herself pushed beyond her comfort zone by new acquaintances who eventually become friends, prompting her to reexamine her life.
In her debut novel, Votang offers an unvarnished portrayal of Lynh's quarter-life crisis. Lynh appears somewhat unhinged and emotionally distant, yet her deadpan humor and unapologetic honesty infuse hilarity into the mundaneness of daily life.
I decided to pair the physical book with the audiobook but ultimately chose to stick solely with the audiobook due to Eunice Wong’s exceptional narration. Her portrayal of Lynh is flawless, skillfully capturing her obsessiveness, anxiety, and sadness while also conveying her social awkwardness. Through her narration, Wong gives listeners a deep understanding of Lynh's character.
In her debut novel, Votang offers an unvarnished portrayal of Lynh's quarter-life crisis. Lynh appears somewhat unhinged and emotionally distant, yet her deadpan humor and unapologetic honesty infuse hilarity into the mundaneness of daily life.
I decided to pair the physical book with the audiobook but ultimately chose to stick solely with the audiobook due to Eunice Wong’s exceptional narration. Her portrayal of Lynh is flawless, skillfully capturing her obsessiveness, anxiety, and sadness while also conveying her social awkwardness. Through her narration, Wong gives listeners a deep understanding of Lynh's character.
December 27, 2023
Linh is a 29 year old Vietnamese American girl living in Dallas Fort Worth, Texas, USA.
She is absolutely not doing just fine.
She is an introvert who mainly works (in marketing for a university) and plays tennis. She is very introverted and seems socially awkward, perhaps due to being on the spectrum. She often checks herself is she is joining in just enough, and mirroring people she talks to. She is pretty cold and distant.
Her mother is finally divorced from an abusive spouse, and Linh is worried about her.
The book mentions “metroplex” a lot. I don’t really get how that is different from a big city, or why it keeps getting repeated.
I’m not quite sure what this book is trying to be or going for. Besides the paranoia Linh lives with, the book is quite mundane. Not that much happens and the characters could have been more fleshed out. At times it verges on horror or a thriller, but not quite.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
TW: Death, stalking, paranoia, guns, shooting
She is absolutely not doing just fine.
She is an introvert who mainly works (in marketing for a university) and plays tennis. She is very introverted and seems socially awkward, perhaps due to being on the spectrum. She often checks herself is she is joining in just enough, and mirroring people she talks to. She is pretty cold and distant.
Her mother is finally divorced from an abusive spouse, and Linh is worried about her.
The book mentions “metroplex” a lot. I don’t really get how that is different from a big city, or why it keeps getting repeated.
I’m not quite sure what this book is trying to be or going for. Besides the paranoia Linh lives with, the book is quite mundane. Not that much happens and the characters could have been more fleshed out. At times it verges on horror or a thriller, but not quite.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
TW: Death, stalking, paranoia, guns, shooting
September 30, 2024
Going into it, I didn’t expect to identify with Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine the way I did; not being a young Vietnamese woman. But there in the pages I found myself. The unwanted daughter of a man who valued the patriarchy more than his own child, simply because I wasn’t the “first-born son” he’d actually wanted. The university administrator who thinks it’s inconceivable that I had to do more active shooter/emergency threat training on my campus than I did in a short stint working for a police department. The isolation and loneliness that became comforting from having a hard-working single mother who left me to my own devices so she could support me. This story is beautiful and touching, an exploration of relationships and the ways our differences unite us.
September 3, 2024
✨ Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine…But is She Really? ✨
This character driven and slightly chaotic story is such a delight. It delves into how both childhood & generational trauma can follow you into adulthood while molding your life, relationships and outlook on the world. Filled with dry humor, Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine made me chuckle, spiked my anxiety and had me in my feels. Brutally honest and incredibly intimate - I truly felt like I was in Linh’s brain as I was reading. This is such a unique and immersive read that has left me very excited to check out more of Thao Votang’s work in the future!
Thank you so much Get Red PR for sending a copy my way!
This character driven and slightly chaotic story is such a delight. It delves into how both childhood & generational trauma can follow you into adulthood while molding your life, relationships and outlook on the world. Filled with dry humor, Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine made me chuckle, spiked my anxiety and had me in my feels. Brutally honest and incredibly intimate - I truly felt like I was in Linh’s brain as I was reading. This is such a unique and immersive read that has left me very excited to check out more of Thao Votang’s work in the future!
Thank you so much Get Red PR for sending a copy my way!
Read
December 6, 2023Thank you Netgalley, Alcove Press, and author Thao Votang for providing an ARC in exchange for a review! I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. It’s difficult to express my thoughts regarding this book. I could relate to Linh in many aspects (because being a woman in your 20s is terrifying!), but at the same time, I couldn’t really engage with the story. It is, however, a perfect blend of funny and sad.
December 29, 2024
Linh is nuts. Absolutely bonkers. It’s hard to like her but I think that’s is the point.
April 27, 2025
I think the author has good potential for being a great storyteller, but isn’t quite there yet.
December 12, 2024
When I was already deciding how to write my review, I thought I'd needed to separate the art from the artist, out of respect for the author. But since Thao Votang's biography reads, "Her fiction is informed by her experience as part of the Vietnamese diaspora deep in the Lone Star State, her interest in how we love our mothers, and the climate catastrophe," I am going to treat the novel as an autobiography of Thao's life without attacking Thao herself. It's very clear that Linh Ly is just a pseudonym for Thao. Linh Ly is 1) Vietnamese American 2) living in Texas 3) with a strained relationship with her mother and 4) general anxiety about the state of the world. All four of these points directly correspond with Thao's biography.
My main gripe is that the novel lacks a plot. There's no continuity among the chapters. Things happen to Linh: people invite her out to parties and she conveniently bumps into people she knows at bars. As an introverted person who seems to have a bit of social anxiety, Linh doesn't like to go out, but at the same time, seeks companionship and meaningful social connection. In other words, Linh suffers from the human condition. At first, I was sympathetic to Linh: it is exhausting to have to put on a face in front of other people you barely know, especially among extremely privileged wealthy white people. But two things can be true: a person can have an obscene and resentful amount of privilege, and they can also be a very good and kind friend. Linh acts like a person's high social status precludes the possibility of them ever becoming her friend, which I personally disagree with. And even if that were true, Linh doesn't seek friendships in POC spaces either. Instead, she sulks in her apartment day to day. I'm sure Thao means well with each reference to the world's many societal ills (it's very important to be aware of them) but with each complaint from Linh about the white-dominated spaces she frequents, it just becomes virtue-signaling. (To be clear, I am also of the Vietnamese diaspora and constantly aware of my non-whiteness, so I agree with her judgment, but I wanted this awareness in Linh to substantiate into a conflict or plot point.)
The only thing that Linh is proactive about is stalking her mom when she goes out on dates. I thought this was an interesting premise because I totally understand worrying about your mom as an adult, especially as a woman. I figured this stalking would eventually reach a breaking point: her mom would find out, they'd have a big fight, Linh would be left by herself to do some inner work, and she'd be a changed woman by the end of the novel. Instead, the stalking is quite boring. There are so many unnecessary details, some of which I thought would be important later on, but didn't amount to anything. This is what makes me think this story is based on the author's real life: sometimes we remember random details that seem insignificant to others but important to us.
Finally, there's just no background or exposition. Linh alludes to her broken childhood, repeatedly saying that her mom worked two jobs while her abusive alcoholic dad ruled over the house with an iron fist, but that's it. She has this self-contradicting attitude where she hates talking about herself (she literally says this to several different people throughout the novel) and her upbringing, so she doesn't discuss it...but the whole novel is through her perspective. It's literally named after her.
By the end of the book, I still felt like I didn't know much about Linh, and unfortunately, I began to dislike her a bit. There's no character development. When I read fiction, I want to be entertained first and foremost. I want to learn something new second. This book achieved neither of those things, and I speculate it's because it's based on Thao Votang's personal experiences; not just based, but likely copy-and-pasted because of how dull and stagnant the events seem. I read fiction as an escape from real life, but I ended up just returning back to it while reading this book.
My main gripe is that the novel lacks a plot. There's no continuity among the chapters. Things happen to Linh: people invite her out to parties and she conveniently bumps into people she knows at bars. As an introverted person who seems to have a bit of social anxiety, Linh doesn't like to go out, but at the same time, seeks companionship and meaningful social connection. In other words, Linh suffers from the human condition. At first, I was sympathetic to Linh: it is exhausting to have to put on a face in front of other people you barely know, especially among extremely privileged wealthy white people. But two things can be true: a person can have an obscene and resentful amount of privilege, and they can also be a very good and kind friend. Linh acts like a person's high social status precludes the possibility of them ever becoming her friend, which I personally disagree with. And even if that were true, Linh doesn't seek friendships in POC spaces either. Instead, she sulks in her apartment day to day. I'm sure Thao means well with each reference to the world's many societal ills (it's very important to be aware of them) but with each complaint from Linh about the white-dominated spaces she frequents, it just becomes virtue-signaling. (To be clear, I am also of the Vietnamese diaspora and constantly aware of my non-whiteness, so I agree with her judgment, but I wanted this awareness in Linh to substantiate into a conflict or plot point.)
The only thing that Linh is proactive about is stalking her mom when she goes out on dates. I thought this was an interesting premise because I totally understand worrying about your mom as an adult, especially as a woman. I figured this stalking would eventually reach a breaking point: her mom would find out, they'd have a big fight, Linh would be left by herself to do some inner work, and she'd be a changed woman by the end of the novel. Instead, the stalking is quite boring. There are so many unnecessary details, some of which I thought would be important later on, but didn't amount to anything. This is what makes me think this story is based on the author's real life: sometimes we remember random details that seem insignificant to others but important to us.
Finally, there's just no background or exposition. Linh alludes to her broken childhood, repeatedly saying that her mom worked two jobs while her abusive alcoholic dad ruled over the house with an iron fist, but that's it. She has this self-contradicting attitude where she hates talking about herself (she literally says this to several different people throughout the novel) and her upbringing, so she doesn't discuss it...but the whole novel is through her perspective. It's literally named after her.
By the end of the book, I still felt like I didn't know much about Linh, and unfortunately, I began to dislike her a bit. There's no character development. When I read fiction, I want to be entertained first and foremost. I want to learn something new second. This book achieved neither of those things, and I speculate it's because it's based on Thao Votang's personal experiences; not just based, but likely copy-and-pasted because of how dull and stagnant the events seem. I read fiction as an escape from real life, but I ended up just returning back to it while reading this book.
December 29, 2023
"The headstone was carved with his name and dates. No epitaph. What would I say that wasn't a lie? He wasn't a good husband. He wasn't a good father. His life was destroyed by imperialism and war"
~ Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine
"Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" unfolds a nuanced narrative that delves into the philosophy of loneliness. The emotional architecture of the protagonist is delivered with a precise monotonous cadence and unvarnished honesty. Notably, there is an absence of a structured plotline—a deliberate choice that may not appeal to all readers but significantly contributes to the authenticity of the work. The story adopts a gentle approach to address emotional wounds while cleverly interjecting racial and political biases. Despite the absence of extravagant emotional dispositions, the protagonist's deadpan sense of humour beautifully illuminates the pensive intricacies of emotional vulnerability. While the compositional choice of "Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" may not cater to everyone, it's clear that the novel is targeted towards a specific demographic, appreciative of decelerated pacing and contemplative atmosphere.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc.
~ Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine
"Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" unfolds a nuanced narrative that delves into the philosophy of loneliness. The emotional architecture of the protagonist is delivered with a precise monotonous cadence and unvarnished honesty. Notably, there is an absence of a structured plotline—a deliberate choice that may not appeal to all readers but significantly contributes to the authenticity of the work. The story adopts a gentle approach to address emotional wounds while cleverly interjecting racial and political biases. Despite the absence of extravagant emotional dispositions, the protagonist's deadpan sense of humour beautifully illuminates the pensive intricacies of emotional vulnerability. While the compositional choice of "Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine" may not cater to everyone, it's clear that the novel is targeted towards a specific demographic, appreciative of decelerated pacing and contemplative atmosphere.
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the arc.
February 10, 2024
I absolutely loved reading Linh Ly is Doing Just Fine. Linh Ly was such a likeable and complex character to me, it was so easy to read this novel in just one sitting and absorb myself in her world (NB: I did start it at the end of Jan but then ended up restarting it today to read in one sitting). There was a level of relatability for me as a Vietnamese-Australian young woman, I loved seeing parts of myself in Linh.
Linh was funny, fiercely protective, and intense. It was entertaining to read about her relationships, how she followed her Mum around and a range of other things that happened (trying not to spoil!). I also really liked the ending.
I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. I know for a fact that I’ll be picking it up when it’s available in print, and re-reading it as soon as I can. However, I could see some people disliking this novel as it is more character-driven than plot-driven, and doesn’t necessarily have a big “happy ending”.
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Linh was funny, fiercely protective, and intense. It was entertaining to read about her relationships, how she followed her Mum around and a range of other things that happened (trying not to spoil!). I also really liked the ending.
I will be recommending this book to everyone I know. I know for a fact that I’ll be picking it up when it’s available in print, and re-reading it as soon as I can. However, I could see some people disliking this novel as it is more character-driven than plot-driven, and doesn’t necessarily have a big “happy ending”.
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 1, 2024
Boring, flat & for a character driven novel, the characters were awful 😭
So far-fetched. Trying to be modern and edgy, but failed.
So far-fetched. Trying to be modern and edgy, but failed.
January 24, 2024
3/5
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Linh Ly is doing just fine. It's not like there's been any sudden changes in her life, like say her mother's divorce from her abusive alcoholic father, that make her feel a deep loss of control. Suddenly concerned and paranoid that something awful could befall her newly single mother, especially now that she's reentering the dating world, Linh begins to stalk and spy on her. When a shooting at the university where she works at reafirms her beliefs, that the world is dangerous and out foor blood, her life slowly unravels in slow motion, making Linh face everything she is.
The idea is there, that little spark that makes this book diferent, but the execution needed something extra. It should have gone farther or picked a lane. What drew me into this book was the mother-daughter relationship and it didn't deliver on that promise. The author did not manage to show me the bond between the two of them nor advance anything in their relationship. I wish the book had dug deeper into the conflict originating from the divorce. How the mother was now free to discover herself and enjoy life while Linh was still stuck in her ways, in survivor mode, partially due to how she was raised. That would have been an interesting thread to unravel and confront. This book was too ambitious, it wanted to tackle family relationships, the trauma of immigration, racism, classism, even gun control in America, and it ended up stretching itself too thin.
The talent and the effort is there, the prose in this is firm and easy to read without sacrificing style. I did like Linh, she was relatable even in the midst of her downward spiral. While the relationships needed more work the characters themselves were good, they felt human enough.
I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher
Linh Ly is doing just fine. It's not like there's been any sudden changes in her life, like say her mother's divorce from her abusive alcoholic father, that make her feel a deep loss of control. Suddenly concerned and paranoid that something awful could befall her newly single mother, especially now that she's reentering the dating world, Linh begins to stalk and spy on her. When a shooting at the university where she works at reafirms her beliefs, that the world is dangerous and out foor blood, her life slowly unravels in slow motion, making Linh face everything she is.
The idea is there, that little spark that makes this book diferent, but the execution needed something extra. It should have gone farther or picked a lane. What drew me into this book was the mother-daughter relationship and it didn't deliver on that promise. The author did not manage to show me the bond between the two of them nor advance anything in their relationship. I wish the book had dug deeper into the conflict originating from the divorce. How the mother was now free to discover herself and enjoy life while Linh was still stuck in her ways, in survivor mode, partially due to how she was raised. That would have been an interesting thread to unravel and confront. This book was too ambitious, it wanted to tackle family relationships, the trauma of immigration, racism, classism, even gun control in America, and it ended up stretching itself too thin.
The talent and the effort is there, the prose in this is firm and easy to read without sacrificing style. I did like Linh, she was relatable even in the midst of her downward spiral. While the relationships needed more work the characters themselves were good, they felt human enough.
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