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What We Left Unsaid
On an unexpected road trip, three estranged siblings uncover a startling family secret and larger truths about being Asian American in a post-COVID world—from the author of the “dazzling and devastating” (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author) thriller Complicit.
The Chu siblings haven’t seen each other in years but when they’re told that their ailing mother is scheduled for an operation next month, they agree to visit her together. Then their mother makes an odd before seeing her, they must go on a road trip together to the Grand Canyon.
Thirty years ago, a strange incident had aborted a previous family road trip there. No one’s ever really spoken about it, but during this journey, the middle-aged Chu siblings have no choice but to confront their childhood experience.
Together, Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex travel along Route 66—but as the trip continues, they realize the Great American Road Trip may not be what they expected. Facing their own prejudices and those of others, they somehow learn to bridge the distances between them, the present-day, and their past.
With “powerful and beautiful writing” (Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author), Winnie M Li weaves an emotive and eye-opening exploration of family, race, growing up, and what it means to be American.
The Chu siblings haven’t seen each other in years but when they’re told that their ailing mother is scheduled for an operation next month, they agree to visit her together. Then their mother makes an odd before seeing her, they must go on a road trip together to the Grand Canyon.
Thirty years ago, a strange incident had aborted a previous family road trip there. No one’s ever really spoken about it, but during this journey, the middle-aged Chu siblings have no choice but to confront their childhood experience.
Together, Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex travel along Route 66—but as the trip continues, they realize the Great American Road Trip may not be what they expected. Facing their own prejudices and those of others, they somehow learn to bridge the distances between them, the present-day, and their past.
With “powerful and beautiful writing” (Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author), Winnie M Li weaves an emotive and eye-opening exploration of family, race, growing up, and what it means to be American.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published August 19, 2025
29 people are currently reading
7050 people want to read
About the author
Winnie M. Li
4 books115 followersWinnie M. Li is a writer, producer, and activist. And frequent backpacker who has somehow managed to spend the past 15 years, engaged in film and literature in various parts of the world.
Taiwanese-American and raised in New Jersey, Winnie studied Folklore and Mythology at Harvard, specializing in Celtic Languages and Literature. In 2000, she was selected as a George Mitchell Scholar and earned her MA in Anglo-Irish Literature at the National University of Ireland, Cork.
While in Cork, Winnie began volunteering for the Cork International Film Festival. Shortly afterwards, she moved to London to work for Ugly Duckling Films / Left Turn Films, a small independent film production company. Eventually as Head of Development there, Winnie was involved in producing six award-winning feature films and two shorts, one of which was Oscar-nominated® and the other Oscar-shortlisted®. In addition to overseeing script development at Ugly Duckling Films, Winnie concentrated heavily on the marketing, financing, and distribution of their projects.
In 2010, Winnie began working with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) in Qatar, where she served as Programme Manager for the 2nd and 3rd editions of the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival. As Film Series Producer for the DFI, she founded the Institute’s year-round screening series, bringing 150+ screenings of arthouse and foreign films to a city accustomed to mainstream Hollywood movies.
In 2013, Winnie returned to the tourism and travel sector, working as a short-term Project Consultant for Temasek Holdings in Singapore. There she spearheaded the creative development of a future nature-themed tourist attraction, consolidating research within the attractions industry, eco-tourism, and wildlife conservation to develop new narratives for reaching the public.
In her spare time, she lectures on film studies and film production, and has spoken at Harvard University, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Aberdeen, the London School of Economics, and Northwestern University in Qatar. A former writer for the Let’s Go travel guide books, Winnie has traveled extensively on five continents. Her other published writing ranges from literary non-fiction to newspaper op-eds to academic essays. She is based in London and wrote her debut novel, Dark Chapter, while in the Creative & Life Writing MA Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London.
As of Autumn 2015, Winnie is a PhD researcher in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She is researching the impact of social media on the public discourse about rape and sexual assault, on an Economic and Social Research Council grant.
Taiwanese-American and raised in New Jersey, Winnie studied Folklore and Mythology at Harvard, specializing in Celtic Languages and Literature. In 2000, she was selected as a George Mitchell Scholar and earned her MA in Anglo-Irish Literature at the National University of Ireland, Cork.
While in Cork, Winnie began volunteering for the Cork International Film Festival. Shortly afterwards, she moved to London to work for Ugly Duckling Films / Left Turn Films, a small independent film production company. Eventually as Head of Development there, Winnie was involved in producing six award-winning feature films and two shorts, one of which was Oscar-nominated® and the other Oscar-shortlisted®. In addition to overseeing script development at Ugly Duckling Films, Winnie concentrated heavily on the marketing, financing, and distribution of their projects.
In 2010, Winnie began working with the Doha Film Institute (DFI) in Qatar, where she served as Programme Manager for the 2nd and 3rd editions of the annual Doha Tribeca Film Festival. As Film Series Producer for the DFI, she founded the Institute’s year-round screening series, bringing 150+ screenings of arthouse and foreign films to a city accustomed to mainstream Hollywood movies.
In 2013, Winnie returned to the tourism and travel sector, working as a short-term Project Consultant for Temasek Holdings in Singapore. There she spearheaded the creative development of a future nature-themed tourist attraction, consolidating research within the attractions industry, eco-tourism, and wildlife conservation to develop new narratives for reaching the public.
In her spare time, she lectures on film studies and film production, and has spoken at Harvard University, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Aberdeen, the London School of Economics, and Northwestern University in Qatar. A former writer for the Let’s Go travel guide books, Winnie has traveled extensively on five continents. Her other published writing ranges from literary non-fiction to newspaper op-eds to academic essays. She is based in London and wrote her debut novel, Dark Chapter, while in the Creative & Life Writing MA Programme at Goldsmiths, University of London.
As of Autumn 2015, Winnie is a PhD researcher in the Department of Media and Communications at the London School of Economics. She is researching the impact of social media on the public discourse about rape and sexual assault, on an Economic and Social Research Council grant.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 113 reviews
October 25, 2025
As I sit down to write this review, it dawns on me that I have now read two road trip themed books back-to-back -- while this was definitely unintentional, I appreciate how different the experience reading each book was. Specifically, what I found most interesting was seeing how two authors from entirely different backgrounds take the same road trip theme in completely opposite directions, yet if we look closely, both books actually share something else in common: they are both timely and poignant responses to the chaotic nature of the world we live in currently, which is a connection I was not expecting, but I’m glad I got to experience.
Winnie M. Li mentions in her Acknowledgments note that the idea for her novel What We Left Unsaid was sparked by her realization that, as a Taiwanese-American who grew up in the United States, she “had never done the Great American Road Trip – and was maybe missing out on some seminal life experience,” so she gathered her partner Sam and her two year old son Timo and together, went on a three week road trip to do “research” for this book. The result is a profound and eye-opening exploration of not just family, race, and culture, but also what it means to be an American, especially one of foreign descent.
Li’s fictional story revolves around the 3 Chu siblings: Bonnie, the ever-responsible eldest sister who married into wealth and lives in the Massachusetts suburbs with her husband Chris and 3 sons; Kevin, the precious middle son living a well-to-do life with this family in Chicago; and Alex, the free-spirited and rebellious baby sister who lives with her partner Nya in London. All three of them are called back home to California, where their parents live, when their mother becomes gravely ill. But before they are allowed to visit, their mother makes an odd request – she wants them to complete the road trip to the Grand Canyon that their family was in the middle of 30 years ago, but ended up aborting due to an incident that had occurred on their way there. So the Chu siblings decide to do a road trip via Route 66, with a stop at the Grand Canyon before heading to California. In chapters that alternate between past and present, and told from the perspectives of each sibling, the present-day road trip is juxtaposed with the one from their childhood, with the details of that long-ago incident revealed bit by bit over the course of the story.
This was a story that resonated deeply with me – not the road trip part of course, as I dislike driving in general and my motion sickness makes riding in a car for hours on end unfathomable. Rather, what I connected with most were the three siblings’ experiences growing up in a Chinese immigrant household and the various cultural nuances that influence the family’s dynamics – specifically, the issues with communication amongst the various family members that cause so many misunderstandings in the story. To this point, I feel that the author, Winnie M. Li, captured our culture’s reticence and propensity towards silence perfectly. Indeed, the title What We Left Unsaid is extremely fitting: not only does it refer to the incident that happened on the aborted Grand Canyon trip, but more specifically, it is a particularly apt explanation of the simultaneously fraught yet loving dynamic that underlies each sibling’s individual relationship with their parents – relationship dynamics that I’m more than familiar with due to the outsized role they play in my own life everyday. In fact, at so many points throughout the story, I couldn’t help nodding my head in recognition at many of the familiar thoughts, feelings, and experiences that the characters go through as they reflect on both their place in the family as well as within society.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, even though, admittedly, some parts were uncomfortable to read, precisely because the scenario hit too close to home -- looking back at it now, I appreciate the way reading about these dynamics made me reflect on my own family situation and relationships. I would definitely recommend this book, though with the caveat that, undoubtedly, each reader’s reaction to it will be different. While I agree with some of the same things that other readers found annoying with the story (for example – Kevin and Alex’s constant bickering, which got on my nerves at times), I feel this was a worthwhile read overall, and also a timely one given our current environment.
Received ARC from Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley.
Winnie M. Li mentions in her Acknowledgments note that the idea for her novel What We Left Unsaid was sparked by her realization that, as a Taiwanese-American who grew up in the United States, she “had never done the Great American Road Trip – and was maybe missing out on some seminal life experience,” so she gathered her partner Sam and her two year old son Timo and together, went on a three week road trip to do “research” for this book. The result is a profound and eye-opening exploration of not just family, race, and culture, but also what it means to be an American, especially one of foreign descent.
Li’s fictional story revolves around the 3 Chu siblings: Bonnie, the ever-responsible eldest sister who married into wealth and lives in the Massachusetts suburbs with her husband Chris and 3 sons; Kevin, the precious middle son living a well-to-do life with this family in Chicago; and Alex, the free-spirited and rebellious baby sister who lives with her partner Nya in London. All three of them are called back home to California, where their parents live, when their mother becomes gravely ill. But before they are allowed to visit, their mother makes an odd request – she wants them to complete the road trip to the Grand Canyon that their family was in the middle of 30 years ago, but ended up aborting due to an incident that had occurred on their way there. So the Chu siblings decide to do a road trip via Route 66, with a stop at the Grand Canyon before heading to California. In chapters that alternate between past and present, and told from the perspectives of each sibling, the present-day road trip is juxtaposed with the one from their childhood, with the details of that long-ago incident revealed bit by bit over the course of the story.
This was a story that resonated deeply with me – not the road trip part of course, as I dislike driving in general and my motion sickness makes riding in a car for hours on end unfathomable. Rather, what I connected with most were the three siblings’ experiences growing up in a Chinese immigrant household and the various cultural nuances that influence the family’s dynamics – specifically, the issues with communication amongst the various family members that cause so many misunderstandings in the story. To this point, I feel that the author, Winnie M. Li, captured our culture’s reticence and propensity towards silence perfectly. Indeed, the title What We Left Unsaid is extremely fitting: not only does it refer to the incident that happened on the aborted Grand Canyon trip, but more specifically, it is a particularly apt explanation of the simultaneously fraught yet loving dynamic that underlies each sibling’s individual relationship with their parents – relationship dynamics that I’m more than familiar with due to the outsized role they play in my own life everyday. In fact, at so many points throughout the story, I couldn’t help nodding my head in recognition at many of the familiar thoughts, feelings, and experiences that the characters go through as they reflect on both their place in the family as well as within society.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this one, even though, admittedly, some parts were uncomfortable to read, precisely because the scenario hit too close to home -- looking back at it now, I appreciate the way reading about these dynamics made me reflect on my own family situation and relationships. I would definitely recommend this book, though with the caveat that, undoubtedly, each reader’s reaction to it will be different. While I agree with some of the same things that other readers found annoying with the story (for example – Kevin and Alex’s constant bickering, which got on my nerves at times), I feel this was a worthwhile read overall, and also a timely one given our current environment.
Received ARC from Atria/Emily Bestler Books via NetGalley.
August 13, 2025
Things were left unsaid many years ago following an aborted family trip to the Grand Canyon. Fast forward, the three first-generation Asian-American siblings are now adults are not in regular contact with each other for many reasons. Their dad contacts them with the news that their mom is scheduled for major surgery. Her urgent request: she wants them to return home for a visit, but only after they take a sibling trip together to the Grand Canyon. The storyline moves back and forth between then (small spurts) and now (larger doses) giving us a window into the individuals they have become as first-generation children of Taiwanese immigrants and their sibling relationships, especially the rocky one between two. This book had the hallmarks of the immigrant experience, race, parental sacrifice, sexual orientation, American dream and disillusions, life’s challenges, etc. It felt like a lot was jammed into the book making it feel rather “over crowded.” I liked how we get to witness the reconnecting of the siblings, the prickliness of their relationships, the silent negotiating between them, and most importantly, the unspoken reasons why the relationships are the way they are. I figured out the “why” from many years ago very early on in the book, and felt the reveal was aggravatingly slow. The bookended situation in a later chapter felt a bit forced and “convenient” and could have been omitted. I think it actually detracted from the book’s overall impact. Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.
February 24, 2025
This is a sweet story of three Taiwanese siblings--Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex--whose family had attempted to go to the Grand Canyon on a road trip, but something unexpected stopped them. Now as adults, they return--immersed in memories as they grow closer to acknowledging their bond and stay true to each other!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
May 8, 2025
A timely journey that is vast in character and emotion, all the while capturing the ever-changing landscape of America in all its troubling and beautiful intricacies. Winnie M Li manages that tricky balance between the warmth of family and the challenges they can pose at the same time. Peppered with landscapes and histories that are both a throwback to the great American road trip and a reminder of the issues America faces both past and present, What We Left Unsaid artfully juggles difficult conversations alongside the joy of discovering a place you can both belong to and feel apart from at the same time.
October 30, 2025
DNF at 31%. I didn’t care for some of the themes in the book.
April 6, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the e-ARC. I have mixed feelings about this book. I really wanted to spend more time with the family in 1991; the current day bickering grew so frustrating after awhile. Eventually I started skimming it. It also felt like the author tried to shoehorn a lot of things, especially that big scene toward the end.
October 1, 2025
2.5 for me. Eh. Predictable story of three siblings who were asked by their mom to drive across country together. Highlights sibling relationships in how differently kids see the same story, the roles one plays in their families and the repair of relationships. I felt the writing was fairly elementary and definitely emphasized racism toward Asian Americans. She covered a ton of topics: feminism, Black Lives Matter, Native American land, racism, gun violence, LGBQT, etc… a lot of topics on one book. I started skimming toward the middle…
August 15, 2025
1991 - a Taiwanese family goes on an unexpected road trip to Grand Canyon however they don't finish the trip. Post-COVID - the Chu estranged siblings (Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex) are forced to experience the Great American Road trip as a request from their ailing mother.
When suppressed trauma comes to surface and becomes enduring resentment, when the seed of bitterness wanders between the siblings relationship, this family drama is laden with pettiness that I (surprisingly!) appreciated - all feel too real, fragile but at the same time, resistant. Many aspects of the siblings relationship can easily resonate while the road trip crossing Route 66 intersects with my own experience. It feels painful and healing, nostalgic and made me yearn for my own memories.
Siphoning themes of queerness, internalized and systemic racism, immigration, family and parenting, Li makes a sharp examination with a sense of humor that doesn't feel heavy-handed. I personally enjoyed the talk about the parenting and I thought that the challenges and expectations were spot on. The sense of discovery embedded in the story invites one to fly through the pages, a kind of liberation and reconciliation that feels rewarding. Although the revelation of the truth feels like a plot device, it can be convincing.
WHAT WE LEFT UNSAID is a touching story that exposes the complexity of family dynamics and I cherished this reading experience.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Atria books . All thoughts are my own ]
When suppressed trauma comes to surface and becomes enduring resentment, when the seed of bitterness wanders between the siblings relationship, this family drama is laden with pettiness that I (surprisingly!) appreciated - all feel too real, fragile but at the same time, resistant. Many aspects of the siblings relationship can easily resonate while the road trip crossing Route 66 intersects with my own experience. It feels painful and healing, nostalgic and made me yearn for my own memories.
Siphoning themes of queerness, internalized and systemic racism, immigration, family and parenting, Li makes a sharp examination with a sense of humor that doesn't feel heavy-handed. I personally enjoyed the talk about the parenting and I thought that the challenges and expectations were spot on. The sense of discovery embedded in the story invites one to fly through the pages, a kind of liberation and reconciliation that feels rewarding. Although the revelation of the truth feels like a plot device, it can be convincing.
WHAT WE LEFT UNSAID is a touching story that exposes the complexity of family dynamics and I cherished this reading experience.
[ I received an ARC from the publisher - Atria books . All thoughts are my own ]
August 19, 2025
What We Left Unsaid by Winnie M. Li. Thanks to @atriabooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Chu siblings have all gone their own way in life but have come together again for a Great American Road Trip across Route 66.
A road trip book that has a lot to it both in the present and past. The three siblings all have their own lives they need to come to terms with in their own ways. A lot of the story deals with being Asian in America, as immigrants in the 90’s and then in a post-Covid world. A lot of family secrets come out and bonding between very different siblings.
“Some places, some people would remain forbidden to them, even though the stories were right there to be learned.”
What We Left Unsaid comes out 8/19.
The Chu siblings have all gone their own way in life but have come together again for a Great American Road Trip across Route 66.
A road trip book that has a lot to it both in the present and past. The three siblings all have their own lives they need to come to terms with in their own ways. A lot of the story deals with being Asian in America, as immigrants in the 90’s and then in a post-Covid world. A lot of family secrets come out and bonding between very different siblings.
“Some places, some people would remain forbidden to them, even though the stories were right there to be learned.”
What We Left Unsaid comes out 8/19.
November 2, 2025
An Asian American family lives in Irvine California. They are originally from Taiwan. Their grown children (two daughters and a son) are second generation immigrants. The Chu family haven't seen each other in many years.
One daughter lives with her affluent husband and children in Massachusetts, another lives in London with her partner, who is going to have a baby, and the son, who is in financial straits, lives in Chicago with his Asian wife and their two children.
What gets the story moving is when Mrs. Chu tells her children that she's going to have an operation, and she calls them to ask them to go on a road trip together to see the Grand Canyon,
and then come to see her and their father in California.
The crux of the story lies in what happens as the siblings take this journey by car along Rt. 66 and get to know about each other lives, and talk about their childhood. When they were children, thirty years ago, the whole family had taken a trip to the Canyon, but that trip had been suddenly aborted at a gas station, and no one ever talked about it.
On this trip the siblings finally discover, through flashbacks and memories, what really happened that day.
One daughter lives with her affluent husband and children in Massachusetts, another lives in London with her partner, who is going to have a baby, and the son, who is in financial straits, lives in Chicago with his Asian wife and their two children.
What gets the story moving is when Mrs. Chu tells her children that she's going to have an operation, and she calls them to ask them to go on a road trip together to see the Grand Canyon,
and then come to see her and their father in California.
The crux of the story lies in what happens as the siblings take this journey by car along Rt. 66 and get to know about each other lives, and talk about their childhood. When they were children, thirty years ago, the whole family had taken a trip to the Canyon, but that trip had been suddenly aborted at a gas station, and no one ever talked about it.
On this trip the siblings finally discover, through flashbacks and memories, what really happened that day.
July 23, 2025
Winnie M. Li's exploration of family secrets had me laughing one moment and fighting tears the next. When the Chu siblings reluctantly answered their mother's summons for a pre-operation road trip to California, I found myself instantly invested in their uncomfortable reunion.
What struck me most was Li's brilliant portrayal of memory – that scene at home between Kevin and Alex viewed through three different lenses completely floored me. Each sibling remembered the same moments so differently that I couldn't help reflecting on disagreements with my own sister about "what really happened" during our childhood.
The siblings' journey from awkward estrangement to tentative reconnection felt achingly authentic. I winced at their cutting remarks and nodded in recognition at those small, grudging moments of affection – like when Kevin finally saw through Alex's perspective, a tiny olive branch that spoke volumes.
Li didn't shy away from the harsh realities of racism either. The flashback scenes at a rural gas station left me genuinely shaken, while showing how differently each sibling processed the trauma.
The road trip served as a catalyst to confront the past and reconnect the siblings, which I enjoyed. It wasn't your typical sightseeing journey but something more profound.
This novel will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to bridge the gap between who your family was and who you've all become.
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
What struck me most was Li's brilliant portrayal of memory – that scene at home between Kevin and Alex viewed through three different lenses completely floored me. Each sibling remembered the same moments so differently that I couldn't help reflecting on disagreements with my own sister about "what really happened" during our childhood.
The siblings' journey from awkward estrangement to tentative reconnection felt achingly authentic. I winced at their cutting remarks and nodded in recognition at those small, grudging moments of affection – like when Kevin finally saw through Alex's perspective, a tiny olive branch that spoke volumes.
Li didn't shy away from the harsh realities of racism either. The flashback scenes at a rural gas station left me genuinely shaken, while showing how differently each sibling processed the trauma.
The road trip served as a catalyst to confront the past and reconnect the siblings, which I enjoyed. It wasn't your typical sightseeing journey but something more profound.
This novel will resonate with anyone who's ever struggled to bridge the gap between who your family was and who you've all become.
Special thanks to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing advance copies. As always, the thoughts shared here are completely my own.
physical-tbr
May 29, 2025i received this arc on 5/19/25 via goodreads giveaways ✅
- giveaway listed by atria books
- giveaway listed by atria books
September 1, 2025
✨I won an advanced copy of this book as part of a Goodreads / Publishers Giveaway ✨
4.5 stars rounded down to 4, as a book has to be incredibly special and touching for me to give it 5 stars. Certain parts kept me from awarding the full 5 - but I do highly recommend the read. It re-lit my sense of adventure and appreciation for the little things and for family. Recognizing that there are so many things that could be going on or have gone on in someone’s life that you don’t know - even if it’s someone you are close to.
Touches on hard topics but not in an overly serious way, forces you to think, but also includes a lot of humor in a fun and easy-going adventure telling way.
4.5 stars rounded down to 4, as a book has to be incredibly special and touching for me to give it 5 stars. Certain parts kept me from awarding the full 5 - but I do highly recommend the read. It re-lit my sense of adventure and appreciation for the little things and for family. Recognizing that there are so many things that could be going on or have gone on in someone’s life that you don’t know - even if it’s someone you are close to.
Touches on hard topics but not in an overly serious way, forces you to think, but also includes a lot of humor in a fun and easy-going adventure telling way.
2025
October 2, 2025ANHPI TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books
August 24, 2025
What We Left Unsaid by Winnie Lee, this book is about siblings Bonnie Alex and brother Kevin who at their mom’s inssistance takes a road trip to California before her surgery. they all live vastly different lives Bonnie with a rich family in Rhode Island Kevin with his crumbling marriage and finances in Minnesota and Alex and London with her wife and soon to be newborn baby. To say they’re estranged is to understate it the siblings didn’t even know Alex not only had a wife but an upcoming baby. Their redoing their canceled Grand Canyon trip from the 90s. They will run into lots of situations their own emotions but in the end will it repair what is broken? I love reading stories written by someone from a different culture than mine but I don’t like it when they put the same old same old in their books such as being side eyed in Branson and how before they left they just so happen to see protest with all white people fighting for the freedom to fly the confederate flag in all Black people fighting against it this is the point I wanted to make is the reason they get to fly their flag is the same reason you get to fly in opposing flag when living in a free society it isn’t going to be one catered to your likes and dislikes but one that is cater to everybody and the fact that you’re telling someone what they can and can’t do is traveling a slippery slope because that opens the door for someone to tell you what you can and can’t do. I just am over books with current day issues I think I am experiencing conflict fatigue and I’m just over it. It’s not even most of the book but I think it affected me so much it colored my whole feeling while finishing the story. I do want to say I really liked Bonnie and felt most for her and her story I found Kevin Hart to understand and Alex was just a tad bit too spontaneous for me but I did ultimately like her in the end you cannot read a whole book and not feel something for the characters you’re learning about. I really wanted to love the story but sadly I only found it OK I think that she made it just about the siblings and their flight and still included the 90s Grand Canyon trip it would’ve been a much better book I felt as if she had a list of things she wanted to add and throughout the narrative did just that. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #WinnieLee, #WhatWeLeftUnsaid,
June 10, 2025
3.75 stars!
This book came to me as an ARC through Atria Books and Netgalley! Thank you!
I enjoyed the message behind the book and it gave me a lot to think about.
The three Chu siblings all come into the story with different struggles in their own lives. As we see the story evolve and unfold, those differences start to not feel so stark and isolating but instead we see learning that burdens can be shared by those we love. We don’t always have to go the path alone.
I found the book to be one where I wanted to keep reading, and looked forward to reading at the end of my work day or before bed. Winnie does a great job of keeping you wondering what will happen in subsequent chapters and drawing you into the characters she has developed.
I appreciated this book and the opportunity to read it before it became published!
This book came to me as an ARC through Atria Books and Netgalley! Thank you!
I enjoyed the message behind the book and it gave me a lot to think about.
The three Chu siblings all come into the story with different struggles in their own lives. As we see the story evolve and unfold, those differences start to not feel so stark and isolating but instead we see learning that burdens can be shared by those we love. We don’t always have to go the path alone.
I found the book to be one where I wanted to keep reading, and looked forward to reading at the end of my work day or before bed. Winnie does a great job of keeping you wondering what will happen in subsequent chapters and drawing you into the characters she has developed.
I appreciated this book and the opportunity to read it before it became published!
June 8, 2025
This book has so many layers. What starts off with the premise of a sick mom's request to have her three adult estranged children, road trip to the Grand Canyon, is such more more. Yes, the siblings have to talk and work through past issues, but this is also a slice of Americana for non-white citizens, roadtripping in this country. And, as the trip continues, the siblings put together, what happened decades ago, on their first attempt to see one of the great national parks. A satisfying read.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
April 6, 2025
This is the story of Bonnie, Kevin and Alex Chu, first generation Americans born to Taiwanese parents. When their mother has a mini stroke, her request is that the siblings take a road trip to California, with a detour to the Grand Canyon. There is also a back story of an attempted trip to the Grand Canyon when they were children.
I loved this book. It addressed themes of racism, helplessness, jealousy, loyalty and rivalry. The story flowed beautifully, and I could not wait to find out what happened next. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
I loved this book. It addressed themes of racism, helplessness, jealousy, loyalty and rivalry. The story flowed beautifully, and I could not wait to find out what happened next. Highly recommended.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.
December 6, 2025
The premise sounded great, but I didn’t love the execution. There’s so many social issues covered that you don’t really get to know the siblings or understand their motivations. Why would any of them agree to this trip let alone repair relationships that quickly? The buildup to the big reveal about the past didn’t pay off and I thought the pacing was way too slow. That said, parts made me laugh out loud and I was rooting for the goofy middle-aged Chu kids the whole time.
April 12, 2025
Thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advance reader’s copy, in exchange for an honest review. “What We Left Behind” has an expected publication date of August 19, 2025.
And you can check out all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site.
I love books whose storyline pulls me in right at the start. “What We Left Behind” does that.
Unfortunately, it loosens its grip a bit too often thereafter.
The three Chu siblings – Bonnie (the oldest), Kevin and Alex, first generation Americans born to Taiwanese parents – haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years. That changes when their mother, living in southern California, suffers a mini stroke. She makes an unusual request via a Face Time group call. Thirty years ago, the family had set out on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, only to turn around following an unusual incident just an hour from the historic site. She wants her children to meet up, drive to the Grand Canyon, then continue for a family visit in California.
The logistics are challenging. Bonnie lives with her husband and three sons near Boston; Kevin with his wife and two children in Chicago; and Alex lives in London with her expectant wife Nya, who’s black.
Still, they agree to make the trip. But their resentment toward each other, as well as their parents, is evident. No one tries to hide the animosity they feel, partly toward each other, but also themselves, because each of the siblings has their own set of challenges in their personal lives to address. And much of that stems from the mystery surrounding why the family vacation was suddenly cut short thirty years ago.
From that positive premise, the tightly wound narrative begins to unwind into a travelogue of the U.S., with contrived situations thrown in to bring to the surface the personalities and backstory of each sibling. Some of the scenarios are a bit unrealistic, but they do help in understanding what the siblings are up against.
The climax is not much of a climax, and the great mystery is one easily deciphered from the periodic chapter flashbacks to the family’s trip thirty years ago. So, there are no surprises. But it is interesting seeing how each of the siblings not only gradually reconciles their respective differences with each other, but also within their own lives.
“What We Left Unsaid” is a quick and easy read, but the air does come out of the balloon little by little as the narrative moves forward. Three-and-one-half stars for an interesting but flawed family saga.
And you can check out all my reviews at my Raised on Reading (www.raisedonreading.com) blog site.
I love books whose storyline pulls me in right at the start. “What We Left Behind” does that.
Unfortunately, it loosens its grip a bit too often thereafter.
The three Chu siblings – Bonnie (the oldest), Kevin and Alex, first generation Americans born to Taiwanese parents – haven’t seen or spoken to each other in years. That changes when their mother, living in southern California, suffers a mini stroke. She makes an unusual request via a Face Time group call. Thirty years ago, the family had set out on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, only to turn around following an unusual incident just an hour from the historic site. She wants her children to meet up, drive to the Grand Canyon, then continue for a family visit in California.
The logistics are challenging. Bonnie lives with her husband and three sons near Boston; Kevin with his wife and two children in Chicago; and Alex lives in London with her expectant wife Nya, who’s black.
Still, they agree to make the trip. But their resentment toward each other, as well as their parents, is evident. No one tries to hide the animosity they feel, partly toward each other, but also themselves, because each of the siblings has their own set of challenges in their personal lives to address. And much of that stems from the mystery surrounding why the family vacation was suddenly cut short thirty years ago.
From that positive premise, the tightly wound narrative begins to unwind into a travelogue of the U.S., with contrived situations thrown in to bring to the surface the personalities and backstory of each sibling. Some of the scenarios are a bit unrealistic, but they do help in understanding what the siblings are up against.
The climax is not much of a climax, and the great mystery is one easily deciphered from the periodic chapter flashbacks to the family’s trip thirty years ago. So, there are no surprises. But it is interesting seeing how each of the siblings not only gradually reconciles their respective differences with each other, but also within their own lives.
“What We Left Unsaid” is a quick and easy read, but the air does come out of the balloon little by little as the narrative moves forward. Three-and-one-half stars for an interesting but flawed family saga.
August 25, 2025
thank you @atriabooks @simon.audio for my free finished copy and audiobook—
things we left unsaid by winnie m li was an okay listen for me. the story had some powerful moments and the narrator did a good job matching the tone, which helped me stay engaged. it was a decent audiobook, just not one that fully grabbed me.
at times, the pacing felt off, there would be some parts that moved too slowly while others felt rushed. i did enjoy the sibling dynamic and their efforts towards reconnecting at their ailing mothers request. still, it had enough interesting moments to keep me going.
things we left unsaid by winnie m li was an okay listen for me. the story had some powerful moments and the narrator did a good job matching the tone, which helped me stay engaged. it was a decent audiobook, just not one that fully grabbed me.
at times, the pacing felt off, there would be some parts that moved too slowly while others felt rushed. i did enjoy the sibling dynamic and their efforts towards reconnecting at their ailing mothers request. still, it had enough interesting moments to keep me going.
June 7, 2025
I like this book in concept, but not in execution. What We Left Unsaid tackles a lot of issues - politics, gun rights, racism, historical segregation and alienation, colonialism, exclusion laws, misogyny. All of these issues are handled with care and healthy discussion and I did learn a lot from this book.
That being said, I came here for a fictional story about the complexity of these three siblings who grew up together but became estranged over time. While we do dig into some of their issues, I felt like a lot of this book was trying to check every box on the trauma and politics list and it became tiring. I slowly started zoning out for whole sections and caring less about the characters because every moment was a learning opportunity of sorts. I wanted more emotion, reconciliation, more history of their childhood together (beyond the famed trip), as well as more detail into the family and the generational effects of trauma.
In the end, I didn't even really get a full answer to the original question, which is fine, but because I didn't get it I wanted something else. Instead, it kind of just peters out into the final end of the story, which felt anti-climatic.
All in all, this book does an amazing job touching on the history of America and the otherness and strangeness felt by Chinese Americans in a land that doesn't include them in their history classes. However, I don't think it fully delivered on the story the synopsis sets out for us, and that is where the story falls short.
TW: lesbophobia, misogyny, classism, racism, micro-aggressions, guns, assault; mentions miscarriage, colonialism
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
That being said, I came here for a fictional story about the complexity of these three siblings who grew up together but became estranged over time. While we do dig into some of their issues, I felt like a lot of this book was trying to check every box on the trauma and politics list and it became tiring. I slowly started zoning out for whole sections and caring less about the characters because every moment was a learning opportunity of sorts. I wanted more emotion, reconciliation, more history of their childhood together (beyond the famed trip), as well as more detail into the family and the generational effects of trauma.
In the end, I didn't even really get a full answer to the original question, which is fine, but because I didn't get it I wanted something else. Instead, it kind of just peters out into the final end of the story, which felt anti-climatic.
All in all, this book does an amazing job touching on the history of America and the otherness and strangeness felt by Chinese Americans in a land that doesn't include them in their history classes. However, I don't think it fully delivered on the story the synopsis sets out for us, and that is where the story falls short.
TW: lesbophobia, misogyny, classism, racism, micro-aggressions, guns, assault; mentions miscarriage, colonialism
Plot: 3/5
Characters: 3/5
World Building: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Pacing: 3/5
Overall: 3/5
eARC gifted via NetGalley by Atria Books in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2025
The Chu siblings have been estranged for five years when their mother calls the eldest, Bonnie, to coordinate a family zoom meeting. Bonnie arranges the meeting, and their parents announce that mom has had a health scare and wants to see all her children. At their home in California. Also, she wants them to drive there—together. Oh, and she wants them to visit the Grand Canyon on the way.
They couldn’t be more different: Bonnie lives in New England with her wealthy white husband and their three children, Kevin lives in Chicago with his wife and two children and is struggling financially; youngest sister Alex is a dancer and lives in London with her wife, who is expecting their first child.
They decide to meet in Chicago and take the iconic Route 66. As they drive, they contend with difficult memories of another family trip to the Grand Canyon thirty years earlier that ended abruptly before they reached their destination. Great road trip novel/family saga!
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
They couldn’t be more different: Bonnie lives in New England with her wealthy white husband and their three children, Kevin lives in Chicago with his wife and two children and is struggling financially; youngest sister Alex is a dancer and lives in London with her wife, who is expecting their first child.
They decide to meet in Chicago and take the iconic Route 66. As they drive, they contend with difficult memories of another family trip to the Grand Canyon thirty years earlier that ended abruptly before they reached their destination. Great road trip novel/family saga!
Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
August 15, 2025
My thanks to NetGalley and Emily bestler books/Atria for an ARC of this book.
This novel is about a trio of siblings, Bonnie, Kevin and Alexandra (Alex) who embark on the classic American road trip on Route 66. They are heading home, in every sense. They are all over 30, educated, and enjoying varying degrees of material success. Their parents are Taiwanese immigrants who settled in the Asian community in Irvine, California, in the 1970s. They followed the typical immigrant path: work hard, be frugal in all things, educate your children, buy a house. And they quickly grasped the unspoken rule about keeping your head down in hopes of being invisible, and therefore protected from, the unpredictable hostility of white Americans. These fundamental messages were internalized by their American-born children, to the point where they are wary and self-enclosed even with their parents, their own children, and each other.
The siblings, Bonnie, Kevin and Alex, as their American names suggest, did everything right. The youngest, Alex, struck a far more independent and non-traditional course than the others, and is the most distant. When their parents call to tell them that their mother has had a stroke and wants to see them, of course they fear the worst. They also feel guilty for not visiting more often and for losing touch with each other. Bonnie is in Boston, Kevin in Chicago, and Alex in London. It takes some wrangling to agree to do the long trip by car, their mother’s suggestion. Even stranger is her insistence that they must stop to view the Grand Canyon. Until they begin to recall, and discuss, a faded memory of a childhood road trip to the Grand Canyon that was suddenly aborted without explanation. Something upsetting had happened to their mother en route. But no one had ever talked about it. As they drive, they piece together their memories, and confide other stories about their lives, both as children and as adults, that they had always hidden. The trip is emotionally hard but the gradual truth telling is liberating. As they confront their parents’ aging and their own, they realize the value in leaving ‘nothing left unsaid.’
This is a thoughtful, heartwarming novel, and Li expertly captures the dynamics of sibling relationships, where the small slights and annoyances of childhood have festered too long. She also brings an insider perspective to the culture clash between immigrant parents and their new world children. There are a few things I didn’t care for: Alex’s character is so histrionic it’s hard not to share Kevin’s assessment of her as a selfish, self-absorbed drama queen. Her love of the spotlight actually endangers their lives at two hair-raising moments, in childhood and on the road trip. And the thing about guns. Finally, I found the revelation of what happened on the first Grand Canyon trip, and the characters’ response, really underplayed. It was dramatic, but comes across as something sad that happened a long time ago, not a high impact life-changing event for the entire Chu family.
This novel is about a trio of siblings, Bonnie, Kevin and Alexandra (Alex) who embark on the classic American road trip on Route 66. They are heading home, in every sense. They are all over 30, educated, and enjoying varying degrees of material success. Their parents are Taiwanese immigrants who settled in the Asian community in Irvine, California, in the 1970s. They followed the typical immigrant path: work hard, be frugal in all things, educate your children, buy a house. And they quickly grasped the unspoken rule about keeping your head down in hopes of being invisible, and therefore protected from, the unpredictable hostility of white Americans. These fundamental messages were internalized by their American-born children, to the point where they are wary and self-enclosed even with their parents, their own children, and each other.
The siblings, Bonnie, Kevin and Alex, as their American names suggest, did everything right. The youngest, Alex, struck a far more independent and non-traditional course than the others, and is the most distant. When their parents call to tell them that their mother has had a stroke and wants to see them, of course they fear the worst. They also feel guilty for not visiting more often and for losing touch with each other. Bonnie is in Boston, Kevin in Chicago, and Alex in London. It takes some wrangling to agree to do the long trip by car, their mother’s suggestion. Even stranger is her insistence that they must stop to view the Grand Canyon. Until they begin to recall, and discuss, a faded memory of a childhood road trip to the Grand Canyon that was suddenly aborted without explanation. Something upsetting had happened to their mother en route. But no one had ever talked about it. As they drive, they piece together their memories, and confide other stories about their lives, both as children and as adults, that they had always hidden. The trip is emotionally hard but the gradual truth telling is liberating. As they confront their parents’ aging and their own, they realize the value in leaving ‘nothing left unsaid.’
This is a thoughtful, heartwarming novel, and Li expertly captures the dynamics of sibling relationships, where the small slights and annoyances of childhood have festered too long. She also brings an insider perspective to the culture clash between immigrant parents and their new world children. There are a few things I didn’t care for: Alex’s character is so histrionic it’s hard not to share Kevin’s assessment of her as a selfish, self-absorbed drama queen. Her love of the spotlight actually endangers their lives at two hair-raising moments, in childhood and on the road trip. And the thing about guns. Finally, I found the revelation of what happened on the first Grand Canyon trip, and the characters’ response, really underplayed. It was dramatic, but comes across as something sad that happened a long time ago, not a high impact life-changing event for the entire Chu family.
April 18, 2025
Thank you to Atria Books via NetGalley for the ARC.
What We Left Unsaid was quite a lovely book, but I admittedly have mixed feelings.
We start with the Chu siblings’ mom having a stroke and her request for them to come visit her after they make a trip to the Grand Canyon. She wants them to finish the trip they attempted in 1991.
It is important to note that the parents are immigrants from Taiwan, but the children were born in America. This does come up time and time again, as it does inform the story. The siblings are Bonnie, the oldest and responsible one. Married to a generational man. Kevin, the son, also well off in his own right. Since he is the son, there is a higher view of him. And Alex, the youngest, the free spirit.
Throughout the sibling’s journey to the Grand Canyon, you see how much of their relationship is fractured. You also see how they fall into their roles. Bonnie trying to make peace, and Kevin and Alex going back and forth sniping at each other.
What this book does well:
1. The sibling bickering. That was so realistic! It took me back to fighting with mine.
2. The sibling arguments (different from a bicker). The blame and resentment has built up, and that was an incredibly visual argument that puts you in the moment. You are in their shoes.
3. Accurate societal and familial expectations. We know what it’s like to have certain expectations put on us, and we know the impact and pressure it creates. We see it play out on their journey.
4. The message of belonging vs an outsider. Can you belong even if you were born there? What does belonging even mean? Do their parents feel like they belong? How do you make space for yourself and say I’m here and belong?
What this book doesn’t do well:
1. The amount of messaging. I need this to be said: There are so many important messages in this book. It talks about racism, misogyny, homophobia, immigration, politics, and sexual assault. I agree with these very important messages. HOWEVER, there are so many messages that I wonder if it was doing too much?
2. The ending. The book had a very strong and tight narrative in the beginning, that the ending sort of fell flat. It didn’t have the same strong narrative, and it was too neat of an ending that it was almost unbelievable for me.
A solid 3.75 stars, and I would recommend as I did enjoy the story
What We Left Unsaid was quite a lovely book, but I admittedly have mixed feelings.
We start with the Chu siblings’ mom having a stroke and her request for them to come visit her after they make a trip to the Grand Canyon. She wants them to finish the trip they attempted in 1991.
It is important to note that the parents are immigrants from Taiwan, but the children were born in America. This does come up time and time again, as it does inform the story. The siblings are Bonnie, the oldest and responsible one. Married to a generational man. Kevin, the son, also well off in his own right. Since he is the son, there is a higher view of him. And Alex, the youngest, the free spirit.
Throughout the sibling’s journey to the Grand Canyon, you see how much of their relationship is fractured. You also see how they fall into their roles. Bonnie trying to make peace, and Kevin and Alex going back and forth sniping at each other.
What this book does well:
1. The sibling bickering. That was so realistic! It took me back to fighting with mine.
2. The sibling arguments (different from a bicker). The blame and resentment has built up, and that was an incredibly visual argument that puts you in the moment. You are in their shoes.
3. Accurate societal and familial expectations. We know what it’s like to have certain expectations put on us, and we know the impact and pressure it creates. We see it play out on their journey.
4. The message of belonging vs an outsider. Can you belong even if you were born there? What does belonging even mean? Do their parents feel like they belong? How do you make space for yourself and say I’m here and belong?
What this book doesn’t do well:
1. The amount of messaging. I need this to be said: There are so many important messages in this book. It talks about racism, misogyny, homophobia, immigration, politics, and sexual assault. I agree with these very important messages. HOWEVER, there are so many messages that I wonder if it was doing too much?
2. The ending. The book had a very strong and tight narrative in the beginning, that the ending sort of fell flat. It didn’t have the same strong narrative, and it was too neat of an ending that it was almost unbelievable for me.
A solid 3.75 stars, and I would recommend as I did enjoy the story
July 17, 2025
Winnie M Li's What We Left Unsaid drew me in with its premise of estranged siblings called upon to travel across America via the Grand Canyon to see their mother who has suffered from a stroke on the West Coast. Although I don't think the prologue, which opens in 1991 in Arizona, is needed, it does introduce the central point from the past of the main characters Bonnie, Alex and Kevin Chu that brings them together in the present storyline. Still, I would have been fine starting Li's novel with Bonnie's point of view in the present day when she hears from her father of her mother's illness.
The opening chapters read smoothly, with enough interesting details about each of the three siblings' separate lives to grip my attention. The siblings are first shown to the reader in their separate settings where they have moved to live with their respective 'new' families; Bonnie in Boston, New England, Kevin in Chicago and Alex in London. Their estranged relationships with their distanced parents, who are Taiwanese immigrants in California, and with each other is emphasised. Li writes her characters with prominent "Asian American" perspectives of these experiences but for me, it doesn't seem that dissimilar to a life where children move to live away from their parents, sometimes abroad, and so it might be considered an appealing universal element of the novel. Nevertheless, also worth noting the character of Kevin in particular who constantly comments on, or perhaps is a little hung up on his background and there are points in the narrative where his opinion or his voice grates a little: "Her name tag says Asia, which Kevin finds ironic, since she is Black." I wonder if a sensitivity reader might pick up on this as needing revision?
I loved the references to the Route 66 drive across America and having done some of this highway drive towards the Grand Canyon ourselves, it was great to read scene descriptions bringing it alive, Of course the gas station stop mentioned in the prologue is referenced later in the plot too, though since it was already given in the prologue, the "startling family secret" was sadly too obvious.
An enjoyable, low-stakes read with some interesting characters and ultimately a pleasing family reunion of not just siblings but adult children and their parents too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Winnie M Li for the advanced copy.
The opening chapters read smoothly, with enough interesting details about each of the three siblings' separate lives to grip my attention. The siblings are first shown to the reader in their separate settings where they have moved to live with their respective 'new' families; Bonnie in Boston, New England, Kevin in Chicago and Alex in London. Their estranged relationships with their distanced parents, who are Taiwanese immigrants in California, and with each other is emphasised. Li writes her characters with prominent "Asian American" perspectives of these experiences but for me, it doesn't seem that dissimilar to a life where children move to live away from their parents, sometimes abroad, and so it might be considered an appealing universal element of the novel. Nevertheless, also worth noting the character of Kevin in particular who constantly comments on, or perhaps is a little hung up on his background and there are points in the narrative where his opinion or his voice grates a little: "Her name tag says Asia, which Kevin finds ironic, since she is Black." I wonder if a sensitivity reader might pick up on this as needing revision?
I loved the references to the Route 66 drive across America and having done some of this highway drive towards the Grand Canyon ourselves, it was great to read scene descriptions bringing it alive, Of course the gas station stop mentioned in the prologue is referenced later in the plot too, though since it was already given in the prologue, the "startling family secret" was sadly too obvious.
An enjoyable, low-stakes read with some interesting characters and ultimately a pleasing family reunion of not just siblings but adult children and their parents too.
Thanks to NetGalley and Winnie M Li for the advanced copy.
September 8, 2025
Kerryn Mayne, Australian police officer and author of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder, now gives us Joy Moody Is Out of Time. As the story opens, Joy Moody is ready for time travel. It’s August 1, 2023, her twins’ birthday and time for them to return to 2050, the year they were born and where, as Daughters of the Future Revolution, they must carry out their intended role as saviors of the world. Joy has protected them for twenty-one years from “the People”--those from the dystopian future who have cause to kill these unlikely future revolutionaries. For Cassie and Andie, Joy’s protection has meant an isolated lifestyle largely confined to Joyful Suds laundromat and their living quarters behind it, with little outside contact or connection.
The conditions are right. It’s the night of the supermoon, and Joy, Cassie, and Andie are holding hands ready to go together, forever leaving Joy’s Joyful Suds laundromat behind. Then nothing happens. They go nowhere despite Joy’s having already sent a message to the police to tell them about someone named Britney, whose identity and fate will eventually be revealed. If not transported to the future, Joy knows this will be her own last day. She will be dead by midnight.
Chapter 2 moves back in time to July 11 with three weeks remaining. I experienced a sigh of relief because I wasn’t ready for a time travel book. Instead, Mayne slowly fills in the backstories of Joy Moody and her twins Cassiopeia and Andromeda, who aren’t really her twins. In the same building as Joyful Suds and the Moody women’s living quarters are locksmith Monty Doyle with his cat Donna, lawyer Ellen Scott, and tattooist Linh Tran.
Yes, Joy dies that night, and the twins are on their own to explore life for the first time. However, that life is soon complicated by police investigations--not one, but two. An assortment of other characters keep readers wondering who can be trusted, who might have committed murder, and how Cassie and Andie will cope with lives on their own.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader eGalley of this second recommended novel from Kerryn Mayne.
The conditions are right. It’s the night of the supermoon, and Joy, Cassie, and Andie are holding hands ready to go together, forever leaving Joy’s Joyful Suds laundromat behind. Then nothing happens. They go nowhere despite Joy’s having already sent a message to the police to tell them about someone named Britney, whose identity and fate will eventually be revealed. If not transported to the future, Joy knows this will be her own last day. She will be dead by midnight.
Chapter 2 moves back in time to July 11 with three weeks remaining. I experienced a sigh of relief because I wasn’t ready for a time travel book. Instead, Mayne slowly fills in the backstories of Joy Moody and her twins Cassiopeia and Andromeda, who aren’t really her twins. In the same building as Joyful Suds and the Moody women’s living quarters are locksmith Monty Doyle with his cat Donna, lawyer Ellen Scott, and tattooist Linh Tran.
Yes, Joy dies that night, and the twins are on their own to explore life for the first time. However, that life is soon complicated by police investigations--not one, but two. An assortment of other characters keep readers wondering who can be trusted, who might have committed murder, and how Cassie and Andie will cope with lives on their own.
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader eGalley of this second recommended novel from Kerryn Mayne.
July 28, 2025
A story of family and different perceptions of a same event
This was an easy read following Bonnie, Kevin and Alex Chu. The siblings are encouraged to meet and travel Route 66 to see the Grand Canyon together, then journey to see their elderly parents.
Once on the journey, old sibling arguments and feelings come to the fore. With the forced proximity of the car, they find themselves gradually reconnecting and finding new common ground.
This is a lovely story showcasing sibling rivalry and personal differences. Plus, also showing how as children their perspectives of a big event, can differ considerably.
Winnie M Li writes trauma with heart and sensitivity. As a reader I was transported to the episode that affected the family. This kept building throughout the book which I liked as it built the anticipatory effect, although I note others have found this disjointed.
What is conveyed well on their journey is the racism that the siblings experience within their own country, and what obstacles they overcome to complete their journey.
I didn’t feel they needed the storyline of the house in the desert; however, it did showcase the American gun culture quite effectively.
I enjoyed the read, being one of three siblings, and finding myself wishing to go on a long road trip too. I could feel and experience from my sofa, how it would be to be on the open road addressing your childhood together. I also liked the American history that was interspersed throughout, as they made their way down Route 66.
A good read, particularly for the summer and open road. Recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Winnie M Li for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 7 August 2025.
This was an easy read following Bonnie, Kevin and Alex Chu. The siblings are encouraged to meet and travel Route 66 to see the Grand Canyon together, then journey to see their elderly parents.
Once on the journey, old sibling arguments and feelings come to the fore. With the forced proximity of the car, they find themselves gradually reconnecting and finding new common ground.
This is a lovely story showcasing sibling rivalry and personal differences. Plus, also showing how as children their perspectives of a big event, can differ considerably.
Winnie M Li writes trauma with heart and sensitivity. As a reader I was transported to the episode that affected the family. This kept building throughout the book which I liked as it built the anticipatory effect, although I note others have found this disjointed.
What is conveyed well on their journey is the racism that the siblings experience within their own country, and what obstacles they overcome to complete their journey.
I didn’t feel they needed the storyline of the house in the desert; however, it did showcase the American gun culture quite effectively.
I enjoyed the read, being one of three siblings, and finding myself wishing to go on a long road trip too. I could feel and experience from my sofa, how it would be to be on the open road addressing your childhood together. I also liked the American history that was interspersed throughout, as they made their way down Route 66.
A good read, particularly for the summer and open road. Recommended.
Thank you to Netgalley, Orion Publishing Group and Winnie M Li for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 7 August 2025.
August 3, 2025
Firstly, thank you to netgalley, Orian Publishing, and Winnie M. Li, for the opportunity to review this ARC!
This book hit hard, and Li tackles many difficult, controversial, and thought-provoking topics, all whilst taking us on a journey of re-discovery and redemption.
Alex, Kevin, and Bonnie are 3 siblings of immigrant Chinese parents, all of whom have gone their own ways. Estranged, independent, and drowning, each is facing a unique life decision. But when their mother falls ill and requests they all visit her, secrets of both past and present come to light. On a journey of reconnection, will they talk about that trip or let it tear them apart forever?
I really enjoyed how different each sibling was. They felt like 3 separate points of a triangle all connected by this one event in their paths. The fact they were so different allowed Li to discuss the difficult topics of Culture, Feminism, Sexuality from differing points of view. In doing so, the book created an open discussion and really made me think.
The idea of the round trip being along route 66 felt like a metaphor for the siblings' own journey and relationships with each other. It also added some light humour to the book with the giant statues and easy dinners along the way.
At times, I felt the book dragged, and conversations were repeated, which may have been needed to highlight the key issues. But I struggled to push on through these moments.
Overall, it is a beautiful story about a lost and re-found family. The importance of speaking and understanding your truth and about accepting others without forgetting their struggles and identities.
This book hit hard, and Li tackles many difficult, controversial, and thought-provoking topics, all whilst taking us on a journey of re-discovery and redemption.
Alex, Kevin, and Bonnie are 3 siblings of immigrant Chinese parents, all of whom have gone their own ways. Estranged, independent, and drowning, each is facing a unique life decision. But when their mother falls ill and requests they all visit her, secrets of both past and present come to light. On a journey of reconnection, will they talk about that trip or let it tear them apart forever?
I really enjoyed how different each sibling was. They felt like 3 separate points of a triangle all connected by this one event in their paths. The fact they were so different allowed Li to discuss the difficult topics of Culture, Feminism, Sexuality from differing points of view. In doing so, the book created an open discussion and really made me think.
The idea of the round trip being along route 66 felt like a metaphor for the siblings' own journey and relationships with each other. It also added some light humour to the book with the giant statues and easy dinners along the way.
At times, I felt the book dragged, and conversations were repeated, which may have been needed to highlight the key issues. But I struggled to push on through these moments.
Overall, it is a beautiful story about a lost and re-found family. The importance of speaking and understanding your truth and about accepting others without forgetting their struggles and identities.
August 6, 2025
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
This is about three Taiwanese American siblings whose mother insists they take a road trip to the Grand Canyon before coming to see her in California. There is wealthy Bonnie, happily married to WASP Chris; Kevin, unhappily married to Jessica and massively in debt; and Alex, who lives in London, and is expecting a baby with her wife Nya. The siblings are not close and Kevin and Alex haven't spoken for five years after Kevin suggested her realization she was a lesbian was just a phase and a way of getting attention. Despite these issues, the siblings agree, because it seems to them their mother might be dying and they almost visited the Grand Canyon on another road trip once when they were children and can't quite remember why they didn't make it.
The plot works on various levels: the siblings thrash out their issues, the reason why the earlier road trip was curtailed is gradually revealed, and then there are the descriptions of the towns and museums and destinations they visit along Route 99. The Route 99 elements became a little tiring and repetitive for me and often served for the characters (especially Alex) to muse on the evils of racism. There is a sense throughout that Kevin especially feels perceived as less and weaker and less attractive for being Taiwanese American. He has bought a gun to make himself feel safer and this comes in useful in the only episode in the book which didn't ring true to me.
I enjoyed this while I was reading it, but I found the ending a bit underwhelming and it didn't make me want to drive Route 99.
This is about three Taiwanese American siblings whose mother insists they take a road trip to the Grand Canyon before coming to see her in California. There is wealthy Bonnie, happily married to WASP Chris; Kevin, unhappily married to Jessica and massively in debt; and Alex, who lives in London, and is expecting a baby with her wife Nya. The siblings are not close and Kevin and Alex haven't spoken for five years after Kevin suggested her realization she was a lesbian was just a phase and a way of getting attention. Despite these issues, the siblings agree, because it seems to them their mother might be dying and they almost visited the Grand Canyon on another road trip once when they were children and can't quite remember why they didn't make it.
The plot works on various levels: the siblings thrash out their issues, the reason why the earlier road trip was curtailed is gradually revealed, and then there are the descriptions of the towns and museums and destinations they visit along Route 99. The Route 99 elements became a little tiring and repetitive for me and often served for the characters (especially Alex) to muse on the evils of racism. There is a sense throughout that Kevin especially feels perceived as less and weaker and less attractive for being Taiwanese American. He has bought a gun to make himself feel safer and this comes in useful in the only episode in the book which didn't ring true to me.
I enjoyed this while I was reading it, but I found the ending a bit underwhelming and it didn't make me want to drive Route 99.
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