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The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu
A seemingly inexplicable magic takes over the lives of three generations of women in this gripping and romantically steamy novel sure to captivate readers of At the Coffee Shop of Curiosities and The Change.
Leeann Wu’s hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times, and the single mother and midwife doesn’t know why. Could it be perimenopause? A hallucination brought on by a lack of sleep? On top of that concerning development, her daughter is off to university in a few months, her tenuous relationship with her ob-gyn mother is in peril of cracking, and she’s attracted the attention of a younger man who sees far more than she’s comfortable with. Her hands, glowing or not, are already full.
But as widespread insomnia plagues the town and life-threatening accidents begin to pile up, Leeann discovers the glow is not an anomaly at all—rather, she’s part of a long line of women who possess a power unlike anything Leeann’s ever known. Yet, even with the cryptic clues left by her great aunt before her untimely death, Leeann has no idea how to use her new skills.
With her town in imminent danger, Leeann doesn’t have time to waste. She’ll need to make peace with her magical heritage and do whatever it takes to find out if her glow means something more—before it’s too late.
Readers who loved Practical Magic will find lots to love in The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu.
Leeann Wu’s hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times, and the single mother and midwife doesn’t know why. Could it be perimenopause? A hallucination brought on by a lack of sleep? On top of that concerning development, her daughter is off to university in a few months, her tenuous relationship with her ob-gyn mother is in peril of cracking, and she’s attracted the attention of a younger man who sees far more than she’s comfortable with. Her hands, glowing or not, are already full.
But as widespread insomnia plagues the town and life-threatening accidents begin to pile up, Leeann discovers the glow is not an anomaly at all—rather, she’s part of a long line of women who possess a power unlike anything Leeann’s ever known. Yet, even with the cryptic clues left by her great aunt before her untimely death, Leeann has no idea how to use her new skills.
With her town in imminent danger, Leeann doesn’t have time to waste. She’ll need to make peace with her magical heritage and do whatever it takes to find out if her glow means something more—before it’s too late.
Readers who loved Practical Magic will find lots to love in The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu.
304 pages, Paperback
First published November 18, 2025
19 people are currently reading
9331 people want to read
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September 4, 2025
The Best New Witchy Books to Read This Fall:
Okay, so the description on this one doesn’t explicitly mention witches, but it’s compared to Practical Magic, so I am making the assumption. As Leeann’s life starts to fall apart, her hands also begin glowing. Unsure of what could be causing it, she soon learns she is from a family of women with a power that goes back many generations. What the power is used for, she’ll have to figure it out quickly, as widespread danger begins to threaten her town. —Liberty Hardy
Okay, so the description on this one doesn’t explicitly mention witches, but it’s compared to Practical Magic, so I am making the assumption. As Leeann’s life starts to fall apart, her hands also begin glowing. Unsure of what could be causing it, she soon learns she is from a family of women with a power that goes back many generations. What the power is used for, she’ll have to figure it out quickly, as widespread danger begins to threaten her town. —Liberty Hardy
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July 8, 2025I've only read two books about women in perimenopause/menopause, The Change by Kirsten Miller and All Fours by Miranda July, and I'd love for there to be more, so let's see what this book has to offer. (verdict at end) 👇
CHP 01
Here's the setup: Leeann Wu is a middle-aged single mother who works as a midwife. Her mother is a prestigious ob-gyn. Her daughter is lovely and perfect and about to leave for college. Leeann is currently in perimenopause and appears to be having prophetic dreams. Oh, and she's started to glow. As in, her hands glow for some unknown reason. ✨
Leean thinks of herself as more crone than girl and doesn't seem keen on being in perimenopause. Hopefully this is just her negative-attitude beginning that positions her for a narrative arc in which she realizes that she's essentially leveling up and coming into her divine power.
Urf, Leean has started flirting with Kenji, an attractive guy who's 11 years younger than her. I really hope he doesn't become a focal point in her story. 🫣
For some strange reason, Leean wonders if her glowing hands are a symptom of perimenopause. 🤷♀️
CHP 02
Leean's relationship with her daughter, Lulu, is giving Gilmore Girls. Cute!
CHP 03
Unfortunately, it seems Kenji isn't going away. 😑
Stop trying to make sweat sexy. It's not going to happen.
CHP 05
✨ Well, well, well . . . it turns out ✨
CHP 07
I'm sorry, he did what? He sucked on the skin of your belly button? ⁉️ Is this supposed to be sexy? 😳 Maybe it's just me, but that phrasing comes across as very off putting.
CHP 08
Nearly to the midpoint, and Leean still has no idea why her hands glow. Tbh, I thought her glowing hands would play a more considerable role in the story, but so far it's mostly been about her dating Kenji.
The menopausal protagonist in All Fours chased a younger man too, and honestly YAWN. 😴 There are more interesting things for these women to do than chase emotionally immature men. Even Leean says that men are more exhausting than babies, so what is she doing?
Hmm... Just came across some odd phrasing in which Leean says she and Kenji "just had sex. More than one sex, if we were counting." 🤔 Is that a typo that will get corrected in the final printing? Or do people actually use the word "sex" this way and I've just never encountered it?
✨ More sex with Kenji, and it seems the glow and finding her power and embracing her sexuality are tied up together for Leean. This is starting to read like a fantasy version of All Fours. ✨
🚨 Midway confession: This isn't picking up as much as I'd like so I've started skimming... 🫤
Now that I've reached the end... I can say that I enjoyed the last two chapters (except for the cringy sex; I don't mind sex scenes in books, but the ones in this book were phrased in a way that made me squirm).
VERDICT: Not really a story about perimenopause. More a story about intergenerational strength and feminine power, with focus on being a mature woman dating a younger man. If that's your thing, then give this book a read.
👉 Pub date: Nov 18, 2025
My thanks to Alcove Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
CHP 01
Here's the setup: Leeann Wu is a middle-aged single mother who works as a midwife. Her mother is a prestigious ob-gyn. Her daughter is lovely and perfect and about to leave for college. Leeann is currently in perimenopause and appears to be having prophetic dreams. Oh, and she's started to glow. As in, her hands glow for some unknown reason. ✨
Leean thinks of herself as more crone than girl and doesn't seem keen on being in perimenopause. Hopefully this is just her negative-attitude beginning that positions her for a narrative arc in which she realizes that she's essentially leveling up and coming into her divine power.
Urf, Leean has started flirting with Kenji, an attractive guy who's 11 years younger than her. I really hope he doesn't become a focal point in her story. 🫣
For some strange reason, Leean wonders if her glowing hands are a symptom of perimenopause. 🤷♀️
CHP 02
Leean's relationship with her daughter, Lulu, is giving Gilmore Girls. Cute!
CHP 03
Unfortunately, it seems Kenji isn't going away. 😑
Stop trying to make sweat sexy. It's not going to happen.
CHP 05
✨ Well, well, well . . . it turns out ✨
CHP 07
I'm sorry, he did what? He sucked on the skin of your belly button? ⁉️ Is this supposed to be sexy? 😳 Maybe it's just me, but that phrasing comes across as very off putting.
CHP 08
Nearly to the midpoint, and Leean still has no idea why her hands glow. Tbh, I thought her glowing hands would play a more considerable role in the story, but so far it's mostly been about her dating Kenji.
The menopausal protagonist in All Fours chased a younger man too, and honestly YAWN. 😴 There are more interesting things for these women to do than chase emotionally immature men. Even Leean says that men are more exhausting than babies, so what is she doing?
Hmm... Just came across some odd phrasing in which Leean says she and Kenji "just had sex. More than one sex, if we were counting." 🤔 Is that a typo that will get corrected in the final printing? Or do people actually use the word "sex" this way and I've just never encountered it?
✨ More sex with Kenji, and it seems the glow and finding her power and embracing her sexuality are tied up together for Leean. This is starting to read like a fantasy version of All Fours. ✨
🚨 Midway confession: This isn't picking up as much as I'd like so I've started skimming... 🫤
Now that I've reached the end... I can say that I enjoyed the last two chapters (except for the cringy sex; I don't mind sex scenes in books, but the ones in this book were phrased in a way that made me squirm).
VERDICT: Not really a story about perimenopause. More a story about intergenerational strength and feminine power, with focus on being a mature woman dating a younger man. If that's your thing, then give this book a read.
👉 Pub date: Nov 18, 2025
My thanks to Alcove Press for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 17, 2025
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu turned out to be a really enjoyable read. I don’t pick up magical realism that often, but when I do, I usually end up liking it, and this book was no exception. It has just the right mix of everyday life and something a bit strange and intriguing.
The characters are what stood out to me the most. The relationships between the women in the story feel honest and complicated in a way that makes them easy to connect with. I especially liked the dynamic between Leeann and her mother, as well as Leeann and her daughter. There is a lot of tension and love in both relationships, and it felt very real.
The plot moves smoothly and is easy to follow. There is enough happening to keep things interesting without ever feeling overwhelming. Even with the glowing hands, the town’s insomnia, and all the trouble that follows, the story keeps a nice flow that makes it easy to keep reading.
There is a bit of romance, but it stays in the background, which worked well for me. It adds a little extra warmth without getting in the way of the core story.
Overall, The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu was fun, readable, and engaging. If you like stories that mix real-life emotion with a touch of magic, this one is worth picking up.
The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu turned out to be a really enjoyable read. I don’t pick up magical realism that often, but when I do, I usually end up liking it, and this book was no exception. It has just the right mix of everyday life and something a bit strange and intriguing.
The characters are what stood out to me the most. The relationships between the women in the story feel honest and complicated in a way that makes them easy to connect with. I especially liked the dynamic between Leeann and her mother, as well as Leeann and her daughter. There is a lot of tension and love in both relationships, and it felt very real.
The plot moves smoothly and is easy to follow. There is enough happening to keep things interesting without ever feeling overwhelming. Even with the glowing hands, the town’s insomnia, and all the trouble that follows, the story keeps a nice flow that makes it easy to keep reading.
There is a bit of romance, but it stays in the background, which worked well for me. It adds a little extra warmth without getting in the way of the core story.
Overall, The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu was fun, readable, and engaging. If you like stories that mix real-life emotion with a touch of magic, this one is worth picking up.
August 8, 2025
This book was so lovely. 4.5 stars rounded up.
I loved:
- All the stuff about being a woman in your early 40s and entering perimenopause. As a woman in my 40s, I related hard. My hands don't glow like Leeann's do, but I can understand the general confusion over ways our bodies are changing.
- The super insightful comments from Leeann's daughter Lulu about WHY the magic matters to Leeann. WHY is it so important for Leeann to believe she has magical powers? WHY does it matter so much to her to prove her hands can heal on a supernatural level? And WHY isn't it quite as obvious to her as it is to Lulu and other people in their lives that she does possess magic even on a human level, in all the important stuff she does do for others even when her hands don't glow? Again, as a woman Leeann's age, I related hard to the desire to suddenly discover that I'm special, because in contrast to my wild ambitions at 20+, by 40+, I'm starting to worry that I may not be.
- How the way the magic flows through the matrilineal line, from Leeann's great aunt Yi beh, to Leeann's mother, to Leeann and finally her daughter. I ESPECIALLY love that the magic manifests in different ways per generation: Yi beh and Leeann are both midwives and both seem able to access that inexplicable glow, whereas Leeann's mother and daughter are both doctors (entering pre-med in Lulu's case) and don't have that glow. So I love how the healing powers flow through generations while manifesting a dichotomy between a scientific approach to care + super pragmatic approach to life vs a more nurturing type care + openness to the kind of magic the glow brings.
- The relationships between Leeann, her mother, her daughter, and Yi beh. Also their complex family histories, the secret heartaches associated with Leeann's and Lulu's respective fathers, the ways the women in this family show up for and also at times disappoint each other.
- I ESPECIALLY love the way Mindy Hung weaves in how each character experiences and engages with their Taiwanese heritage. I love how this manifests in the languages they use, for example, Yi beh's journals being written in Japanese because Japan had occupied Taiwan while she was learning how to write, but then Leeann's mom a generation later is unable to read them. And I also love how Leeann and her mom comment about the glow in Leeann's hands needing to be understood through a Taiwanese lens, not a Western one, for example, when Leeann stops herself from trying to figure out the magic rhyming words to make the glow appear because limericks are a Western construct and not a Taiwanese one.
Kenji's also pretty awesome. His character felt a bit underdeveloped for me, because he pretty much fell into insta-love for Leeann. There's a passing mention of him being a teacher, and of course, Leeann's hyperaware of the age difference between them, but beyond that, I don't know much about him apart from his killer sharp cheekbones and overwhelming love for, and loyalty to, Leeann. Still, is that in itself a bad thing? I'm going to give it a pass, because why not have this wish fulfillment Ken doll of a love interest for Leeann? Kenji reminds me of Jason Mendoza from The Good Place -- smarter than Jason for sure, but overall, just a super sweet, loveable, sexy himbo of a man. He's a sweetheart, and I love how he slots into Leeann's family dynamic. Lots of steamy sexy scenes as well, so good on Leeann, and I love that her glow randomly manifests at those moments.
Overall, I'm sure English profs will be able to talk about the symbolism of the glow and what it signifies about this period in women's lives, etc etc, and I'm sure there are even deeper layers to the story than what resonated with me.
For me, all I can say is that this book was lovely. Reading it felt like being enclosed by a warm healing glow, not unlike what Leeann's hands produce. This book made me feel seen. I very much enjoyed getting to know Leeann and her family, and the magic that flows through them, even in ordinary, non-glowing ways.
I loved:
- All the stuff about being a woman in your early 40s and entering perimenopause. As a woman in my 40s, I related hard. My hands don't glow like Leeann's do, but I can understand the general confusion over ways our bodies are changing.
- The super insightful comments from Leeann's daughter Lulu about WHY the magic matters to Leeann. WHY is it so important for Leeann to believe she has magical powers? WHY does it matter so much to her to prove her hands can heal on a supernatural level? And WHY isn't it quite as obvious to her as it is to Lulu and other people in their lives that she does possess magic even on a human level, in all the important stuff she does do for others even when her hands don't glow? Again, as a woman Leeann's age, I related hard to the desire to suddenly discover that I'm special, because in contrast to my wild ambitions at 20+, by 40+, I'm starting to worry that I may not be.
- How the way the magic flows through the matrilineal line, from Leeann's great aunt Yi beh, to Leeann's mother, to Leeann and finally her daughter. I ESPECIALLY love that the magic manifests in different ways per generation: Yi beh and Leeann are both midwives and both seem able to access that inexplicable glow, whereas Leeann's mother and daughter are both doctors (entering pre-med in Lulu's case) and don't have that glow. So I love how the healing powers flow through generations while manifesting a dichotomy between a scientific approach to care + super pragmatic approach to life vs a more nurturing type care + openness to the kind of magic the glow brings.
- The relationships between Leeann, her mother, her daughter, and Yi beh. Also their complex family histories, the secret heartaches associated with Leeann's and Lulu's respective fathers, the ways the women in this family show up for and also at times disappoint each other.
- I ESPECIALLY love the way Mindy Hung weaves in how each character experiences and engages with their Taiwanese heritage. I love how this manifests in the languages they use, for example, Yi beh's journals being written in Japanese because Japan had occupied Taiwan while she was learning how to write, but then Leeann's mom a generation later is unable to read them. And I also love how Leeann and her mom comment about the glow in Leeann's hands needing to be understood through a Taiwanese lens, not a Western one, for example, when Leeann stops herself from trying to figure out the magic rhyming words to make the glow appear because limericks are a Western construct and not a Taiwanese one.
Kenji's also pretty awesome. His character felt a bit underdeveloped for me, because he pretty much fell into insta-love for Leeann. There's a passing mention of him being a teacher, and of course, Leeann's hyperaware of the age difference between them, but beyond that, I don't know much about him apart from his killer sharp cheekbones and overwhelming love for, and loyalty to, Leeann. Still, is that in itself a bad thing? I'm going to give it a pass, because why not have this wish fulfillment Ken doll of a love interest for Leeann? Kenji reminds me of Jason Mendoza from The Good Place -- smarter than Jason for sure, but overall, just a super sweet, loveable, sexy himbo of a man. He's a sweetheart, and I love how he slots into Leeann's family dynamic. Lots of steamy sexy scenes as well, so good on Leeann, and I love that her glow randomly manifests at those moments.
Overall, I'm sure English profs will be able to talk about the symbolism of the glow and what it signifies about this period in women's lives, etc etc, and I'm sure there are even deeper layers to the story than what resonated with me.
For me, all I can say is that this book was lovely. Reading it felt like being enclosed by a warm healing glow, not unlike what Leeann's hands produce. This book made me feel seen. I very much enjoyed getting to know Leeann and her family, and the magic that flows through them, even in ordinary, non-glowing ways.
June 27, 2025
The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu explores complicated family dynamics and identity with a touch of magical realism.
The first half took me a while to get into. some parts felt slow, and the pacing dragged a bit. I also personally found the characters frustrating at times, but I think that is part of the book's purpose, which is to show the tensions in generational family relationships. The second half of the book is gripping and turned to a page-turner once the story's surreal elements is shown.
One thing that surprised me was the magical realism in the book. Even after reading the blurb, I wasn't expecting it to be as much of the center of the story as it was? This book wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it's more about personal taste than anything to do with the book's story or writing quality.
If you enjoy literary fiction with magical realism, multicultural characters (women at the forefront) and complex relationships, this could be a great read for you!
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The first half took me a while to get into. some parts felt slow, and the pacing dragged a bit. I also personally found the characters frustrating at times, but I think that is part of the book's purpose, which is to show the tensions in generational family relationships. The second half of the book is gripping and turned to a page-turner once the story's surreal elements is shown.
One thing that surprised me was the magical realism in the book. Even after reading the blurb, I wasn't expecting it to be as much of the center of the story as it was? This book wasn't quite my cup of tea, but it's more about personal taste than anything to do with the book's story or writing quality.
If you enjoy literary fiction with magical realism, multicultural characters (women at the forefront) and complex relationships, this could be a great read for you!
Thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 11, 2025
Loved the concept and the themes, but the exectuion left something to be desired // 2,5 stars
My favourite part about this book were the themes. I loved the use of magic to consider the relationships between different generations of women. The different mother-daughter relationships the book showed were unique in their own ways, and I found the trio we were following engaging. I also enjoyed how the magic became a metaphor for the immigrant experience, and specifically the connection with one's home country. My favourite example of this was the linking of the loss of magic to the loss of the Taiwanese language. Both an integral part of the lives of women before them, it was really nice to see Leeann, her mother, and her daughter discover it and deal with it in their own ways.
I generally enjoyed Leeann as a protagonist. I liked that she was older than most book characters that develop magical powers and enjoyed the way the book addressed the sometimes difficult place middleaged women occupy in society. I did sometimes find her slightly annoying, especially how self-depricating she was. It didn't seem to suit other parts of her personality, like her confidence in her work. I felt that maybe the book needed a bit more time to properly explore the dimensions of her character to make me feel real to me.
Now getting to the things that I sadly did not enjoy as much. First, the pacing felt a bit off to me. For how short it was, the book had a pretty slow start, which led to the ending feeling extremely rushed (a pretty significant supernatural element suddenly drops like 30 pages before the end and it just doesn't feel like we have enough time to consider it). The sudden fast pace also meant that several of the side characters were extremely chill (like WAY too chill) with Leeann's whole magic thing. I just think the book would've been better proportioned if the real plot got started sooner, leaving us more space to breathe through that. The climax also felt rushed to me - it all ends in the last 10 pages or so, several are which are used to wrap up every single storyline in a neat bow (a bit of a pet peeve of mine - I love feeling like the story continues after I leave).
Not only did this lead to characters speaking in a way actual people never would (read: extremely literally), it also made me feel baby-ed as a reader. I enjoy authors that give me something to chew on, that show the themes but don't fully explain the message, and this book gave the message to me in clear, directive language, several times over. With nothing to think about, I was bored towards the end, and found myself slightly skimming the conversations where characters once again explained the message.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
My favourite part about this book were the themes. I loved the use of magic to consider the relationships between different generations of women. The different mother-daughter relationships the book showed were unique in their own ways, and I found the trio we were following engaging. I also enjoyed how the magic became a metaphor for the immigrant experience, and specifically the connection with one's home country. My favourite example of this was the linking of the loss of magic to the loss of the Taiwanese language. Both an integral part of the lives of women before them, it was really nice to see Leeann, her mother, and her daughter discover it and deal with it in their own ways.
I generally enjoyed Leeann as a protagonist. I liked that she was older than most book characters that develop magical powers and enjoyed the way the book addressed the sometimes difficult place middleaged women occupy in society. I did sometimes find her slightly annoying, especially how self-depricating she was. It didn't seem to suit other parts of her personality, like her confidence in her work. I felt that maybe the book needed a bit more time to properly explore the dimensions of her character to make me feel real to me.
Now getting to the things that I sadly did not enjoy as much. First, the pacing felt a bit off to me. For how short it was, the book had a pretty slow start, which led to the ending feeling extremely rushed (a pretty significant supernatural element suddenly drops like 30 pages before the end and it just doesn't feel like we have enough time to consider it). The sudden fast pace also meant that several of the side characters were extremely chill (like WAY too chill) with Leeann's whole magic thing. I just think the book would've been better proportioned if the real plot got started sooner, leaving us more space to breathe through that. The climax also felt rushed to me - it all ends in the last 10 pages or so, several are which are used to wrap up every single storyline in a neat bow (a bit of a pet peeve of mine - I love feeling like the story continues after I leave).
Not only did this lead to characters speaking in a way actual people never would (read: extremely literally), it also made me feel baby-ed as a reader. I enjoy authors that give me something to chew on, that show the themes but don't fully explain the message, and this book gave the message to me in clear, directive language, several times over. With nothing to think about, I was bored towards the end, and found myself slightly skimming the conversations where characters once again explained the message.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
July 14, 2025
I have a lot of love for The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu— it’s a well-written novel following the dynamics and unearthed history of three generations of Taiwanese-American women (Leeann, her mother, and daughter) living in a small town in Ontario. Our main protagonist is funny, resilient, self-assured, and finds herself in a new season of life as her daughter is leaving for college and she opens herself to a new relationship. But when a mysterious glow develops in her hands— and other strange weather and phenomena occur in their town— she investigates her heritage and magic and begins to find a larger purpose for herself.
Overall, this novel is funny, emotional, and mysterious. The unconventional family dynamics can be difficult yet heartwarming to watch unfold, as each generation communicates their love in vastly different ways. As much as I enjoyed this novel, I will say that it felt confusing: even at 75%, it was difficult to know where the direction of the story was going, and the ending felt anticlimactic and not totally resolved. However, I did have so much love for the characters and their trajectories, and would love to have spent more time engaging with their individual and family growth. I appreciated references to Taiwan’s traditions and complex history, and I also loved the character of Kenji as a very very sweet and pivotal character to our story.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
Overall, this novel is funny, emotional, and mysterious. The unconventional family dynamics can be difficult yet heartwarming to watch unfold, as each generation communicates their love in vastly different ways. As much as I enjoyed this novel, I will say that it felt confusing: even at 75%, it was difficult to know where the direction of the story was going, and the ending felt anticlimactic and not totally resolved. However, I did have so much love for the characters and their trajectories, and would love to have spent more time engaging with their individual and family growth. I appreciated references to Taiwan’s traditions and complex history, and I also loved the character of Kenji as a very very sweet and pivotal character to our story.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC
November 1, 2025
Three generations of women navigating family bonds, and expectations. Add an age gap romance and some magic realism - adorable!
Glowing review coming soon on All About Romance.
Glowing review coming soon on All About Romance.
June 12, 2025
interesting book, but dragged a bit
May 29, 2025
"The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung is a slow-burn magical realism novel following the lives of three generations of women in Canada: a grandmother, a mother, and a granddaughter. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Leeann Wu.
Leeann Wu is a single mother, a midwife, and the daughter of a strict single mother—an ob-gyn doctor. At 41, she finds herself at a crossroads. Her only daughter is heading off to university in a few months, and loneliness looms. On top of that, her hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times—whether it's from stress or peri-menopause symptoms is unclear. The truth turns out to be even stranger: she is part of a long line of women who possess a unique power. She also begins seeing a man eleven years younger than her, though the age gap preys on her mind.
Her relationship with her mother has never been smooth; her mother disapproves of many of her life choices and continues to hound her about them. Meanwhile, her daughter is worried about her and has a few opinions of her own about Leeann’s love life.
All three women must come to terms with their Taiwanese magical heritage and what it means. The plot thickens as widespread insomnia begins to plague the town, and life-threatening accidents pile up—forcing Leeann to question whether she is the solution or the problem.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's more about interpersonal relationships—mother, daughter, granddaughter—and their roots than it is about magic. It’s very slow-paced, with little external action until halfway through, when the heroine begins to discover her own powers. I liked the way the story wove surreal elements into the plot and explored emotional depth, though.
Leeann Wu is a strong heroine, even if she doesn’t see herself that way. Forced to quit medical school when she became pregnant, she forged her own path in life—in another vocation, to her mother’s dismay. I also liked Kenji, the younger man she dates—his calm, grounded presence and quiet support add warmth and depth to their dynamic. The strength of the book lies in the writing and the author’s ability to inhabit her characters. There are struggles, dilemmas, and even love.
It’s a slice-of-life type story with a few sex scenes thrown in for good measure. The book explores culture, belonging, loneliness, the power of connection, empty nest syndrome, choices, age gaps in relationships, family ties, and the need to be true to yourself rather than bending to others' expectations. I also loved the message that one doesn’t need magic to be special.
While I loved the concept of a woman discovering her own powers, the execution fell a bit short for me. It’s more of a personal journey of self-discovery than a fantasy. A gentle book with a focus on characters, not plot. The fantasy lurks in the background and only occasionally peeks through. The reading experience was slow, and I didn’t feel an urge to rush back to it.
That said, it’s a thought-provoking book about relationships, choices, family, and finding love—which I did enjoy despite its flaws. I also appreciated that the main characters aren’t white—a refreshing change. I recommend it to fans of magical realism who focus more on character than plot and don’t mind a slow pace.
In the end, this isn’t a book that dazzles, but one that lingers quietly—like a slow-burning ember of connection, heritage, and self-worth.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...
Leeann Wu is a single mother, a midwife, and the daughter of a strict single mother—an ob-gyn doctor. At 41, she finds herself at a crossroads. Her only daughter is heading off to university in a few months, and loneliness looms. On top of that, her hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times—whether it's from stress or peri-menopause symptoms is unclear. The truth turns out to be even stranger: she is part of a long line of women who possess a unique power. She also begins seeing a man eleven years younger than her, though the age gap preys on her mind.
Her relationship with her mother has never been smooth; her mother disapproves of many of her life choices and continues to hound her about them. Meanwhile, her daughter is worried about her and has a few opinions of her own about Leeann’s love life.
All three women must come to terms with their Taiwanese magical heritage and what it means. The plot thickens as widespread insomnia begins to plague the town, and life-threatening accidents pile up—forcing Leeann to question whether she is the solution or the problem.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's more about interpersonal relationships—mother, daughter, granddaughter—and their roots than it is about magic. It’s very slow-paced, with little external action until halfway through, when the heroine begins to discover her own powers. I liked the way the story wove surreal elements into the plot and explored emotional depth, though.
Leeann Wu is a strong heroine, even if she doesn’t see herself that way. Forced to quit medical school when she became pregnant, she forged her own path in life—in another vocation, to her mother’s dismay. I also liked Kenji, the younger man she dates—his calm, grounded presence and quiet support add warmth and depth to their dynamic. The strength of the book lies in the writing and the author’s ability to inhabit her characters. There are struggles, dilemmas, and even love.
It’s a slice-of-life type story with a few sex scenes thrown in for good measure. The book explores culture, belonging, loneliness, the power of connection, empty nest syndrome, choices, age gaps in relationships, family ties, and the need to be true to yourself rather than bending to others' expectations. I also loved the message that one doesn’t need magic to be special.
While I loved the concept of a woman discovering her own powers, the execution fell a bit short for me. It’s more of a personal journey of self-discovery than a fantasy. A gentle book with a focus on characters, not plot. The fantasy lurks in the background and only occasionally peeks through. The reading experience was slow, and I didn’t feel an urge to rush back to it.
That said, it’s a thought-provoking book about relationships, choices, family, and finding love—which I did enjoy despite its flaws. I also appreciated that the main characters aren’t white—a refreshing change. I recommend it to fans of magical realism who focus more on character than plot and don’t mind a slow pace.
In the end, this isn’t a book that dazzles, but one that lingers quietly—like a slow-burning ember of connection, heritage, and self-worth.
* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc. All opinions are my own.
* Review in my blog: https://galibookish.blogspot.com/2025...
October 18, 2025
Initially, I read The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu back in May (?), but as is wont to happen in 2025, my brain erased all memory of everything I had read. So I started again a few months later and it was like revisiting a friend I hadn’t seen in forever. At first I was a bit anxious because I had positive feelings, but no memory. Then I got to a line that almost made me shoot coffee out my nose because it is a classic Mindy Hung line, “Somehow, she looked at the charming bundle of hostility I was at that point and thought I’d make a good colleague.” I knew everything would be ok, and it was. Leeann Wu is funny, thoughtful, and engrossing.
Leeann Wu got me thinking on what a contemporary North American gothic looks like. Modernity with its technology doesn’t necessarily lend itself to gothic vibes. That said, it’s got a lot of gothic elements: a castle (kind of), a haunting, supernatural elements, atmosphere, a past that must be acknowledged, and a woman in distress. Gothic stories are often in response to change and to a past that demands a reckoning.
Leeann faces a summer of changes as her daughter, Lulu, gets ready to go off to college and perimenopause hits. It’s not just her, though, the unusual heat and humidity is impacting everyone. Leeann, a midwife, is concerned about her patients and even more concerned when her hands start to glow. Lulu is worried Leeann is going to wither away from loneliness and is trying to encourage her to become closer to her mother, Shu-ling, and maybe develop a hobby. Lulu is less happy about the glowing hands and that the hobby her mother seems to be developing is a younger man, Kenji.
The book opens with an accident at a lightning struck crumbling castle (university building). There’s an immediate sense of wrongness. The weather is oppressive and strange things are happening. In a lot of gothic literature the haunting is coming from the earth, but here it feels like it’s the weather brings the haunting – the air is thick, strange storms blow in, and no one is sleeping because of the heat. Haunted skies feel appropriate because Leeann was brought to Canada on a plane from Taiwan as a toddler by her mother. The sky and the weather connect Taiwan and Ontario in a way earth doesn’t. As the summer goes on, the veil between spirit and mortal thins, but the usual Western suspect in veil thinning, Halloween, is no where to be found.
Using the drama of the gothic to explore Leeann Wu’s summer is genius. Perimenopause is a second puberty – vast hormonal upheaval – and a time to take stock of where your life is at that point. The supernatural strains Leeann’s relationships with her mother and daughter, but it also opens other avenues of connection between them, especially with the family history making itself felt. Leeann and her glowing hands are the center around which everyone else moves. Her insecurities and her well earned confidence, her anger at her mother and her care for her daughter and patients, give Leeann a rich complexity. She is the gothic hero and the gothic heroine. And Kenji is just happy to be there with her.
I enjoyed reading this multiple times. Mindy Hung, who also writes as Ruby Lang and Opal Wei, always tells a good story about people I want to read about.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Alcove Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
Leeann Wu got me thinking on what a contemporary North American gothic looks like. Modernity with its technology doesn’t necessarily lend itself to gothic vibes. That said, it’s got a lot of gothic elements: a castle (kind of), a haunting, supernatural elements, atmosphere, a past that must be acknowledged, and a woman in distress. Gothic stories are often in response to change and to a past that demands a reckoning.
Leeann faces a summer of changes as her daughter, Lulu, gets ready to go off to college and perimenopause hits. It’s not just her, though, the unusual heat and humidity is impacting everyone. Leeann, a midwife, is concerned about her patients and even more concerned when her hands start to glow. Lulu is worried Leeann is going to wither away from loneliness and is trying to encourage her to become closer to her mother, Shu-ling, and maybe develop a hobby. Lulu is less happy about the glowing hands and that the hobby her mother seems to be developing is a younger man, Kenji.
The book opens with an accident at a lightning struck crumbling castle (university building). There’s an immediate sense of wrongness. The weather is oppressive and strange things are happening. In a lot of gothic literature the haunting is coming from the earth, but here it feels like it’s the weather brings the haunting – the air is thick, strange storms blow in, and no one is sleeping because of the heat. Haunted skies feel appropriate because Leeann was brought to Canada on a plane from Taiwan as a toddler by her mother. The sky and the weather connect Taiwan and Ontario in a way earth doesn’t. As the summer goes on, the veil between spirit and mortal thins, but the usual Western suspect in veil thinning, Halloween, is no where to be found.
Using the drama of the gothic to explore Leeann Wu’s summer is genius. Perimenopause is a second puberty – vast hormonal upheaval – and a time to take stock of where your life is at that point. The supernatural strains Leeann’s relationships with her mother and daughter, but it also opens other avenues of connection between them, especially with the family history making itself felt. Leeann and her glowing hands are the center around which everyone else moves. Her insecurities and her well earned confidence, her anger at her mother and her care for her daughter and patients, give Leeann a rich complexity. She is the gothic hero and the gothic heroine. And Kenji is just happy to be there with her.
I enjoyed reading this multiple times. Mindy Hung, who also writes as Ruby Lang and Opal Wei, always tells a good story about people I want to read about.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Alcove Press and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.
June 10, 2025
This novel's premise really speaks to where I am in life right now. The protagonist Leeann Wu is a 41-year-old woman who is going through perimenopause. She goes to see the doctor because her hands are doing strange things—namely, they’re glowing, but also they seem somehow able to control the weather and to affect the sleep patterns of the townspeople. On the family front, her 18-year-old daughter Lulu is about to head off to college at U of T, about three hours away. Every Friday, Leeann and Lulu have dinner with Leeann’s mother, an esteemed doctor of obstetrics. Leeann is a midwife, but unlike her mother, she never finished college. Although less central than a typical romance would like, Leeann also develops feelings for a younger man Kenji, who initially introduces himself as 30 but actually turns out to be 29. Some of the thoughts that Leeann has about personal development really resonated with me—how she should know who she is when she’s 41, how she shouldn’t be communicating with her mother as if she’s a teenager, how Kenji is so delectable yet so young.
I was also interested in the atmosphere of this book—specifically, how the hot, humid, oppressive weather shaped the characters’ moods, interfered with their sleep, and functioned as a key determinant of how Leeann was tangibly yet inexplicably controlling something while also feeling out of control. Later, we learn that her great aunt Yi-beh, who had taken care of her as a child, also experienced something similar with a hot and humid summer in Taiwan. The weather, combined with whatever Yi-beh had done, resulted in a typhoon that had wiped out the entire town. Yi-beh visits Leeann in her dreams, warning her that the air is thick with ghosts wanting to return to the land of the living. This, to me, was an interesting revision of the ancient theses (across various cultures) of the atmosphere being populated by gods, or celestial beings, who controlled the weather.
I appreciated the importance of relationships to Leeann’s life and person. These include relationships with her family but also her friendship with her co-worker Parisa. Especially toward the end of the novel, Hung really emphasized how important these relationships were to Leeann’s self-worth and sense of being.
If I had one critique, it was that the relationship between Kenji and Leeann didn’t feel quite right. I appreciated how the romance revealed certain insecurities that Leeann harbored about aging. But it was strange that Kenji had zero qualms about a 12-year age gap and that there was never any sense that age shaped their different experiences of or perspectives on life. Just as when there is a cross-racial relationship or cross-class relationship, there are important nuances in a character’s approach to life that shapes how they enter and inhabit a relationship. I never got that sense with Kenji and Leeann. Instead, Kenji’s character seemed to exist purely as a source of emotional support and sexual pleasure for Leeann. Their relationship didn’t seem deep—and it’s not because I believe that relationships need conflict to deepen, but they do need more texture, I think.
All this said, I really enjoyed this book—it was creatively conceived, nicely executed, and well written. I will be sure to explore the author's other work!
I was also interested in the atmosphere of this book—specifically, how the hot, humid, oppressive weather shaped the characters’ moods, interfered with their sleep, and functioned as a key determinant of how Leeann was tangibly yet inexplicably controlling something while also feeling out of control. Later, we learn that her great aunt Yi-beh, who had taken care of her as a child, also experienced something similar with a hot and humid summer in Taiwan. The weather, combined with whatever Yi-beh had done, resulted in a typhoon that had wiped out the entire town. Yi-beh visits Leeann in her dreams, warning her that the air is thick with ghosts wanting to return to the land of the living. This, to me, was an interesting revision of the ancient theses (across various cultures) of the atmosphere being populated by gods, or celestial beings, who controlled the weather.
I appreciated the importance of relationships to Leeann’s life and person. These include relationships with her family but also her friendship with her co-worker Parisa. Especially toward the end of the novel, Hung really emphasized how important these relationships were to Leeann’s self-worth and sense of being.
If I had one critique, it was that the relationship between Kenji and Leeann didn’t feel quite right. I appreciated how the romance revealed certain insecurities that Leeann harbored about aging. But it was strange that Kenji had zero qualms about a 12-year age gap and that there was never any sense that age shaped their different experiences of or perspectives on life. Just as when there is a cross-racial relationship or cross-class relationship, there are important nuances in a character’s approach to life that shapes how they enter and inhabit a relationship. I never got that sense with Kenji and Leeann. Instead, Kenji’s character seemed to exist purely as a source of emotional support and sexual pleasure for Leeann. Their relationship didn’t seem deep—and it’s not because I believe that relationships need conflict to deepen, but they do need more texture, I think.
All this said, I really enjoyed this book—it was creatively conceived, nicely executed, and well written. I will be sure to explore the author's other work!
July 15, 2025
The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu by Mindy Hung is a speculative novel about three generations of Taiwanese-Canadian women who unexplainably begin to glow, setting them off on a path of healing and awakening.
Leeann Wu is in her early forties and a midwife who begins experiencing a strange glow in her hands that allows her to heal her patients. The glow couldn't happen at a more strange time for her., as she begins perimenopause, her daughter leaves for university, and she starts a relationship with a younger man. When an epidemic of insomnia begins affecting her town, leading to bizarre accidents, Leeann is reminded of her ancestors' secretive past with eerily similar events taking place. Through mending the relationship with her mother and daughter, Leeann discovers that her glow is not something to be afraid of, but is a gift, that will help her to embrace her power.
This book was an interesting metaphor for the change of life. Leeann's mysterious glowing hands offered much reflection and thought about what perimenopause can actually do. We see Leeann begin to take more risks and try new things as the glow starts to occur. The glow is an analogy for the special aura and effervescence that happens to women when they are in biological transitional phases. It was really great to read a book about this topic from the perspective of magic, as the body truly is mystical as is the evolution of a woman's energy throughout her life. I can imagine the 40s are a special time in a woman's life as she is approaching middle age, with looming questions about what one still needs to accomplish and what is unachievable. Leeann grapples with a lot of self-doubt and self-consciousness in the story as she feels judged by her family for choosing to make her own decisions about what she wants from life. When the glow begins helping her to heal her patients, it gives her a greater purpose during a time when she is starting to explore her freedom and independence.
With all of that being said, the ancestral part of the story fell flat for me. The connection between Leeann's glow and her ancestor needed to be stronger as it wasn't integrated enough into the story. A more mysterious or magical explanation would have made the story stronger in my opinion. I also thought the ending was anticlimactic. I think if this book was written from multiple points of view, it would have strengthened the ancestral elements and generational magic.
Overall The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu is a unique speculative story about feminine power and its special magic.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Leeann Wu is in her early forties and a midwife who begins experiencing a strange glow in her hands that allows her to heal her patients. The glow couldn't happen at a more strange time for her., as she begins perimenopause, her daughter leaves for university, and she starts a relationship with a younger man. When an epidemic of insomnia begins affecting her town, leading to bizarre accidents, Leeann is reminded of her ancestors' secretive past with eerily similar events taking place. Through mending the relationship with her mother and daughter, Leeann discovers that her glow is not something to be afraid of, but is a gift, that will help her to embrace her power.
This book was an interesting metaphor for the change of life. Leeann's mysterious glowing hands offered much reflection and thought about what perimenopause can actually do. We see Leeann begin to take more risks and try new things as the glow starts to occur. The glow is an analogy for the special aura and effervescence that happens to women when they are in biological transitional phases. It was really great to read a book about this topic from the perspective of magic, as the body truly is mystical as is the evolution of a woman's energy throughout her life. I can imagine the 40s are a special time in a woman's life as she is approaching middle age, with looming questions about what one still needs to accomplish and what is unachievable. Leeann grapples with a lot of self-doubt and self-consciousness in the story as she feels judged by her family for choosing to make her own decisions about what she wants from life. When the glow begins helping her to heal her patients, it gives her a greater purpose during a time when she is starting to explore her freedom and independence.
With all of that being said, the ancestral part of the story fell flat for me. The connection between Leeann's glow and her ancestor needed to be stronger as it wasn't integrated enough into the story. A more mysterious or magical explanation would have made the story stronger in my opinion. I also thought the ending was anticlimactic. I think if this book was written from multiple points of view, it would have strengthened the ancestral elements and generational magic.
Overall The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu is a unique speculative story about feminine power and its special magic.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed are my own.
November 17, 2025
Leeann Wu is a 41-year-old midwife and single mom, generationally sandwiched between her high-achieving mother and fiercely intelligent daughter LuLu. She finds herself at a crossroads during her final summer with her daughter as Lulu prepares to move away for college and Leeann meets an intriguing and handsome younger man. Added into the mix of life stressors is a newfound and mysterious glow in her hands. Is it perimenopause or something mystical? I liked this story overall, especially with its focus on midlife Leeann's confusion about her suddenly-appearing powers and prophetic dreams, her growing attraction to the handsome young Kenji, and her strained relationship with her mother. Add in her mysterious great-aunt and what Leeann's powers mean not only for her family but her town, and there's a lot to like in this story of family secrets and magic. I do think the tone was a little inconsistent, throughout the first half of the book and the setup of the plot lines it was hard to know what the full focus of the story was and how the reader is supposed to feel about the origins and intent of Leeann's magic. The mystery was compelling, but again it was hard to clock just what Leeann's powers meant in the greater scheme of things, including what she was supposed to do with them. (I think my disorientation with Leeann's powers mirrored her confusion about the origins of the sudden powers, as well as her trying to determine just how they could and should be used.) Although there is resolution and some explanation, it occurs slightly abruptly in the last 20% of the book and left me feeling like the ending was rushed. (Please note that I did read an advanced reader copy, and so it's possible that my experience may differ from those who read the published book.) This is definitely a women's fiction read vs. romance, as it's actually more of a journey of self-discovery with a romance sub-plot. I think readers who like stories about midlife women with complex family relationships and generational secrets will love this book. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars. Publishes November 18, 2025. This review was based on a complimentary eARC of the book, all opinions are my own.
June 7, 2025
A lovely story, with an excellent main character.
It’s a magical realism book — but more than that, it’s really a story about perimenopause. I’m kind of joking. … But not.
It is, of course, not about the medical and biological transition. But as a story, the primary theme is Leeann’s evaluation of her life, purpose and future.
As a woman over 40, I found this a wonderfully inspiring and satisfying read. It’s definitely the type of book that hits differently when you’re old enough to really get it.
As a fantasy story, the magic remains vague and unexplained — especially in comparison to other “Surprise! You’re magic! Here’s what your witchy powers do” books. So for that reason, 20-something readers looking for a fantasy/magical realism novel might not enjoy it as much.
Leeann is a midwife, and her more impressive mother is an accomplished OB/GYN, who disapproved of Leeann’s choice to drop out of medical school when she got pregnant. Now Leeann’s daughter, LuLu, is 18, also brilliantly intelligent and about to go to college.
Between her daughter and her mother is Leeann somehow less remarkable? What does she do when LuLu leaves the house? Her mother encourages her to go back to medical school. Others say to take up some cheesy hobby.
And then there’s much younger Kenji who is romantically interested in her. Is she too old for him?
When her hands start glowing, what does it mean for her relationships? Can she use it to help her patients in this horribly hot summer when nobody can sleep and accidents and postpartum depression are up dramatically?
Leeann has a snarky and terrific sense of humor as she deals with all the strangeness in her personal life and in the town as a whole.
A lovely character story that explores what it means to “lead a worthwhile life.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press who provided a digital ARC for an honest review.
It’s a magical realism book — but more than that, it’s really a story about perimenopause. I’m kind of joking. … But not.
It is, of course, not about the medical and biological transition. But as a story, the primary theme is Leeann’s evaluation of her life, purpose and future.
As a woman over 40, I found this a wonderfully inspiring and satisfying read. It’s definitely the type of book that hits differently when you’re old enough to really get it.
As a fantasy story, the magic remains vague and unexplained — especially in comparison to other “Surprise! You’re magic! Here’s what your witchy powers do” books. So for that reason, 20-something readers looking for a fantasy/magical realism novel might not enjoy it as much.
Leeann is a midwife, and her more impressive mother is an accomplished OB/GYN, who disapproved of Leeann’s choice to drop out of medical school when she got pregnant. Now Leeann’s daughter, LuLu, is 18, also brilliantly intelligent and about to go to college.
Between her daughter and her mother is Leeann somehow less remarkable? What does she do when LuLu leaves the house? Her mother encourages her to go back to medical school. Others say to take up some cheesy hobby.
And then there’s much younger Kenji who is romantically interested in her. Is she too old for him?
When her hands start glowing, what does it mean for her relationships? Can she use it to help her patients in this horribly hot summer when nobody can sleep and accidents and postpartum depression are up dramatically?
Leeann has a snarky and terrific sense of humor as she deals with all the strangeness in her personal life and in the town as a whole.
A lovely character story that explores what it means to “lead a worthwhile life.”
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press who provided a digital ARC for an honest review.
November 24, 2025
Mindy Hung’s The Glowing Life of Leann Wu is a captivating romantic thriller. While it doesn’t involve death, it explores Leann’s unique gifts and their discovery. Contrary to a previous review, Leann’s glowing hands weren’t a result of pregnancy but rather a reaction to distress. Those she glowed for would see a deceased relative and subsequently pass out.
The romance develops through Kenji, her soon-to-be boyfriend. His romantic approach surprised Leann, who wasn’t accustomed to such gestures. Despite their age difference—over a decade—they took their time and eventually consummated their relationship before sleeping together. However, the heat and electrical charge in the air kept everyone restless, leading to accidents like her best friend Parisa falling asleep at the wheel.
The story primarily revolves around Leann’s relationship with Kenji, her daughter and her cranky mother. After the event, Leann’s mother’s love for her daughter and newfound respect for her daughter’s abilities blossomed. This respect was mutual. While I anticipated Leann’s hands glowing frequently and her learning to control them, the story took a different turn, becoming more of a romcom with a touch of humour. Ma’s one-liners added some levity.
If you’re expecting a lot of sex, you’ll be disappointed, but the romance is abundant. The book could have been improved, as I noticed a few errors, but they were overshadowed by the strong romance. The author’s character, Leann, is so well-developed that it’s easy to see her as the author herself.
The romance develops through Kenji, her soon-to-be boyfriend. His romantic approach surprised Leann, who wasn’t accustomed to such gestures. Despite their age difference—over a decade—they took their time and eventually consummated their relationship before sleeping together. However, the heat and electrical charge in the air kept everyone restless, leading to accidents like her best friend Parisa falling asleep at the wheel.
The story primarily revolves around Leann’s relationship with Kenji, her daughter and her cranky mother. After the event, Leann’s mother’s love for her daughter and newfound respect for her daughter’s abilities blossomed. This respect was mutual. While I anticipated Leann’s hands glowing frequently and her learning to control them, the story took a different turn, becoming more of a romcom with a touch of humour. Ma’s one-liners added some levity.
If you’re expecting a lot of sex, you’ll be disappointed, but the romance is abundant. The book could have been improved, as I noticed a few errors, but they were overshadowed by the strong romance. The author’s character, Leann, is so well-developed that it’s easy to see her as the author herself.
June 29, 2025
First of all, thanks to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC.
I saw someone say this book is about perimenopause but magical, and honestly, I couldn’t find a better way to describe it. From the very first moment — the first glow of hands — I was drawn into the story. I loved Leeann as a character, because you rarely see characters her age in magical realism books. I also enjoyed how she described her job and following everything she did in general.
The relationships in this book are top tier. The mother-daughter dynamics are shown across three generations, and I adored how imperfect they were. Especially the relationship between Leeann and her mom was fascinating. I bet many people can relate to them, but also to Leeann and her own daughter, Lulu. While there were also great friendships in this book, the one between Parisha and Leeann had my heart! Seeing friendships like this just warms me.
The romance between Leeann and Kenji felt a bit too fast for my liking at first, but after a few chapters I was really invested, and I liked how their story unfolded.
The magical realism aspect — what it really meant and how it connected the characters — was amazing! I adore this subgenre, and it made the whole book so much more interesting. The conclusion was a bit rushed, but overall it was wonderful.
I’m really excited to read more by this author!
I saw someone say this book is about perimenopause but magical, and honestly, I couldn’t find a better way to describe it. From the very first moment — the first glow of hands — I was drawn into the story. I loved Leeann as a character, because you rarely see characters her age in magical realism books. I also enjoyed how she described her job and following everything she did in general.
The relationships in this book are top tier. The mother-daughter dynamics are shown across three generations, and I adored how imperfect they were. Especially the relationship between Leeann and her mom was fascinating. I bet many people can relate to them, but also to Leeann and her own daughter, Lulu. While there were also great friendships in this book, the one between Parisha and Leeann had my heart! Seeing friendships like this just warms me.
The romance between Leeann and Kenji felt a bit too fast for my liking at first, but after a few chapters I was really invested, and I liked how their story unfolded.
The magical realism aspect — what it really meant and how it connected the characters — was amazing! I adore this subgenre, and it made the whole book so much more interesting. The conclusion was a bit rushed, but overall it was wonderful.
I’m really excited to read more by this author!
July 20, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the ebook ARC. The Glowing Life of Leann Wu is about a 40 year old midwife who lives with her teenage daughter while working, navigating a sometimes-difficult relationship with her mother, and has started dating a younger man. The book has many different themes-mother-daughter relationships, multi-generational relationships, navigating menopause and social situations, magical realism, etc. Despite the wide net cast, Hung managed to write realistic characters that felt extremely real and spoke to each other with believable dialogue. This is particularly impressive considering one of the characters was a teenage girl-so often they can be portrayed savage little beasts or sickeningly sweet, but rarely just the right mix of both. Somehow Hung got every female character to feel like an actual person. Her male characters were very well-written too, but something about Kenji's feelings for Luann felt a little bit quick to me.
The pacing of the plot itself was good right up until the end, when the conclusion felt rushed. I would have liked to read more about Luann's mother's story as it was referenced a time or two. Overall I enjoyed the book very much.
The pacing of the plot itself was good right up until the end, when the conclusion felt rushed. I would have liked to read more about Luann's mother's story as it was referenced a time or two. Overall I enjoyed the book very much.
November 6, 2025
This book reminded me of Gilmore Girls — but only the Friday night dinners at Emily and Richard’s house. There’s constant bickering, tension, and so much emotional sting. I’ve never seen a family be so sharp and mean to one another, and it made parts of the book tough to get through.
That said, I really appreciated the inclusion of perimenopause and all its strange, uncomfortable side effects. It’s not something you see mentioned often in fiction, and it added a nice touch of realism and humor.
The spicy scenes, on the other hand, felt unnecessary. They didn’t add to the story or the character development — more like awkward detours that broke the flow.
The pacing was also uneven. The first 75% dragged and felt like it was going in circles, while the last quarter was finally where the story came alive. I wish the whole book had that same spark and momentum.
In the end, The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu had moments of sharp insight and authenticity, but the imbalance in tone and pacing kept it from really glowing for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
That said, I really appreciated the inclusion of perimenopause and all its strange, uncomfortable side effects. It’s not something you see mentioned often in fiction, and it added a nice touch of realism and humor.
The spicy scenes, on the other hand, felt unnecessary. They didn’t add to the story or the character development — more like awkward detours that broke the flow.
The pacing was also uneven. The first 75% dragged and felt like it was going in circles, while the last quarter was finally where the story came alive. I wish the whole book had that same spark and momentum.
In the end, The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu had moments of sharp insight and authenticity, but the imbalance in tone and pacing kept it from really glowing for me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to Alcove Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
November 30, 2025
3.5 Stars rounded down
Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley for the early copy of “The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu”. This review is honest and my own. It’s out now.
There was a lot to like about this novel. It’s a story that focuses on identity - both through dealing with aging, complexity in family relationships, and staying connected to history and culture in an immigrant family. The book focuses on Leeann, a single mother and midwife who is going through peri-menopause while dealing with an impending empty nest as her daughter prepares to go away to college. Leeane’s mother is also a single parent, a Taiwanese immigrant and is a well-respected OBGYN in their small Canadian town.
The story takes a turn when Leeann starts literally glowing, demonstrating magical powers, tries to figure out what they are and how to use them through family stories and tracking down information that only a long-deceased Aunt knows, while also navigating an age gap romance with a younger man.
The setting was very atmospheric, making it easy to feel immersed in the world. Overall, the story was relatable and interesting, but left a little something to be desired where the plot dragged for me at points. Would recommend, and read more from the author.
Thank you, Alcove Press and NetGalley for the early copy of “The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu”. This review is honest and my own. It’s out now.
There was a lot to like about this novel. It’s a story that focuses on identity - both through dealing with aging, complexity in family relationships, and staying connected to history and culture in an immigrant family. The book focuses on Leeann, a single mother and midwife who is going through peri-menopause while dealing with an impending empty nest as her daughter prepares to go away to college. Leeane’s mother is also a single parent, a Taiwanese immigrant and is a well-respected OBGYN in their small Canadian town.
The story takes a turn when Leeann starts literally glowing, demonstrating magical powers, tries to figure out what they are and how to use them through family stories and tracking down information that only a long-deceased Aunt knows, while also navigating an age gap romance with a younger man.
The setting was very atmospheric, making it easy to feel immersed in the world. Overall, the story was relatable and interesting, but left a little something to be desired where the plot dragged for me at points. Would recommend, and read more from the author.
November 5, 2025
The Glowing Life of Leean Wu is a quiet, graceful novel that shines through subtlety rather than spectacle. Mindy Hung once again finds beauty in the small, overlooked corners of ordibary life. The story follows a woman whose calm exterior hides deep undercurrents of longing and resignation — and it's this restraint that gives the novel its strength. Hung's prose is delicate yet powerful; the emotions linger between the lines rather than on the surface. Leean Wu's world is built from quiet compromises, unspoken desires , and fleeting moments of clarity. Instead of reaching for drama, Hung chooses honesty — and that choice makes the story quietly compelling. If there's one small weakness, it's that the novel's emotional control sometimes feels too precise. Every sentence seems carefully measured, every feeling neatly contained. The result is beautiful, but occasionally a little distant — as if the story is glowing just out of reach.Still, The Glowing Life of Leean Wu is memorable for its quiet strength. It's a story of small moments, invisible fractures, and the subtle light that lives inside silence. Elegant, thoughtful, and deeply human — just a step away from perfection.
June 22, 2025
This book was such a fun read. I loved the characters so much, and even though I have no experience with her motherhood, midwifery, magic, or culture, it still somehow felt so relatable.
There was also a certain degree of intrigue that kept me interested throughout the book without being so stressful or taking over the plot, which focuses on the relationship Leeann has in the book.
I will say, I do wish the romance was built out a little bit more, especially in the beginning. It’s not technically a romance book, but it’s a big enough part of the story that I would’ve liked to see it maybe a little more drawn out in the beginning. I also wish the conflict was built up just a tad more. Without any spoilers, I felt like we came to a resolution without me really knowing fully what had happened beyond the surface level explanation given right before everything.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see it fully come to life when it comes out! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
There was also a certain degree of intrigue that kept me interested throughout the book without being so stressful or taking over the plot, which focuses on the relationship Leeann has in the book.
I will say, I do wish the romance was built out a little bit more, especially in the beginning. It’s not technically a romance book, but it’s a big enough part of the story that I would’ve liked to see it maybe a little more drawn out in the beginning. I also wish the conflict was built up just a tad more. Without any spoilers, I felt like we came to a resolution without me really knowing fully what had happened beyond the surface level explanation given right before everything.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I can’t wait to see it fully come to life when it comes out! Thank you to the publisher for the ARC.
July 29, 2025
I would ultimately rate this book 3.5 stars - rounded up to 4 because I’d lean more that direction as opposed to a straight 3.
We follow along, getting to know Leanne, a midwife in her early forties, while she gets to know herself. We watch her grow in her confidence, fall in love, and … glow. Literally.
I really liked Leanne, even though at times I found her immature and frustrating I found her character to be very relatable.
I did feel like this book felt like three different directions for lack of better description - we have Leanne discovering herself & her power (the glowing and her romantic life), we have the magic of the dead visiting, and then the history of her ancestors bringing together Ma, Lulu, & herself. I think for me, a deeper dive on the visitors would have been interesting. Why if they visited in your dreams would they not want to you sleep?
The message that I ultimately took away was that, there is magic in everyone - you just have to allow yourself to shine.
We follow along, getting to know Leanne, a midwife in her early forties, while she gets to know herself. We watch her grow in her confidence, fall in love, and … glow. Literally.
I really liked Leanne, even though at times I found her immature and frustrating I found her character to be very relatable.
I did feel like this book felt like three different directions for lack of better description - we have Leanne discovering herself & her power (the glowing and her romantic life), we have the magic of the dead visiting, and then the history of her ancestors bringing together Ma, Lulu, & herself. I think for me, a deeper dive on the visitors would have been interesting. Why if they visited in your dreams would they not want to you sleep?
The message that I ultimately took away was that, there is magic in everyone - you just have to allow yourself to shine.
December 2, 2025
I was always enough.
Your ordinary life is already more than enough, you don’t have to be magical when you are already extraordinary.
I loved this book and am not sure why more people aren’t talking about it. It was the perfect mix of magical realism, romance, family drama.
Leeann Wu is a 41 year old midwife whose daughter is leaving for college. She feels like a constant disappointment to her doctor mother because she didn’t graduate medical school because of the birth of her daughter. During the summer weird things start happening to LeeAnn and the whole town, no one can sleep.
Leeann has to discover who she is and while at it does she have room for a romance with an attractive younger man in her life?
I loved the character development of LeeAnn and the character of Kenji, definitely a male character written by a female author.
Overall a feel good family drama with the perfect touch of magic.
Your ordinary life is already more than enough, you don’t have to be magical when you are already extraordinary.
I loved this book and am not sure why more people aren’t talking about it. It was the perfect mix of magical realism, romance, family drama.
Leeann Wu is a 41 year old midwife whose daughter is leaving for college. She feels like a constant disappointment to her doctor mother because she didn’t graduate medical school because of the birth of her daughter. During the summer weird things start happening to LeeAnn and the whole town, no one can sleep.
Leeann has to discover who she is and while at it does she have room for a romance with an attractive younger man in her life?
I loved the character development of LeeAnn and the character of Kenji, definitely a male character written by a female author.
Overall a feel good family drama with the perfect touch of magic.
November 14, 2025
Leeann Wu is a mother, midwife and daughter to a very strict but extremely successful doctor. The story follows Leeann as her hands begin to glow and she is going through perimenopause. She also starts to have feelings for Kenji, a much younger man. Leeann navigates these changes, her daughter leaving for college, and her mother.
This was a very nice cozy read with many topics that open up conversations. We can see that her glowing hands represent her heritage, her ancestors and her relationship with her daughter and strict mother. I enjoyed how Leeann is still learning about her family, the secrets and all the women who possess the same power as her. She is still looking for love, connecting with other people and learning about her past. Very lovely book!
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
This was a very nice cozy read with many topics that open up conversations. We can see that her glowing hands represent her heritage, her ancestors and her relationship with her daughter and strict mother. I enjoyed how Leeann is still learning about her family, the secrets and all the women who possess the same power as her. She is still looking for love, connecting with other people and learning about her past. Very lovely book!
Thank you Netgalley and Alcove Press for this eARC. All opinions are entirely my own.
June 6, 2025
I really enjoyed this book. The main character, Leeann, is in her 40s. It is so great to be able to read book with a middle age lead. While this book is technically fantasy, it isn't the main focus of the book. Hung's characters are written with great depth and growth throughout the story. Leeann's relationship with her mom and daughter also show change and growth throughout the story. I loved that Leeann got to save the day but in a way that left her grounded and wiser. The only thing that I felt could've used more development was the backstory of what happened to Leeann's great aunt and how the magic played into her disappearance. Thank you to the author and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 27, 2025
Unfortunately this book dragged quite a bit for me. I felt like there were too many "space fillers." A space filler is a repeat of the same theme, over and over. For instance, the reader learns at the beginning that Leann's daughter is going off to college. But does it have to be mentioned every other page? We know from the start that Leann's relationship with her mother is prickly. Let's get it resolved instead of mentioning it every chapter and having snippy, disrespectful dialogue with each ether. Honestly, I ended up skipping every other chapter from about halfway on. Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. I don't like slamming a book so I will also say that many, many readers think that it deserves 4 and 5 stars.
June 15, 2025
3.5 stars, rounded up.
I really liked the idea of this book. I loved the idea that there's so much power in generations of women and I loved the visuals of glowing and lightning. I really enjoyed the generational part of the story, too with the mom, the kid and the grandmother. I loved how they each loved each other and got on each others' nerves. I thought the writing was a bit stilted and could have used more polishing. But I look forward to reading more of this author.
with gratitude to netgalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really liked the idea of this book. I loved the idea that there's so much power in generations of women and I loved the visuals of glowing and lightning. I really enjoyed the generational part of the story, too with the mom, the kid and the grandmother. I loved how they each loved each other and got on each others' nerves. I thought the writing was a bit stilted and could have used more polishing. But I look forward to reading more of this author.
with gratitude to netgalley and Alcove Press for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
October 2, 2025
I put this down one day and just didn’t feel the pull to pick it back up.
I had high hopes starting this as my mum was a midwife and I love the magical element.
As a women of a similar age I could also relate to some of what the main character was dealing with. But I found it to be very repetitive and not a lot was happening, maybe I’m not the target audience for this one, I did try several times to pick it back up but after a few pages my mind would wander.
Great premise but just didn’t grab me
I had high hopes starting this as my mum was a midwife and I love the magical element.
As a women of a similar age I could also relate to some of what the main character was dealing with. But I found it to be very repetitive and not a lot was happening, maybe I’m not the target audience for this one, I did try several times to pick it back up but after a few pages my mind would wander.
Great premise but just didn’t grab me
October 6, 2025
My first impressions - only a few pages in - were that I liked her writing and that she started right in with her story - no annoyingly long intros or background. Her prose is very evocative without being verbose - a fine line that often seems hard to balance.
More than anything else, this is about family; not my usual genre. But the touches of magic - which are here primarily to be a cause for the exploration of family - were enough to keep me interested. Thus I read and enjoyed a book that I otherwise would not have.
More than anything else, this is about family; not my usual genre. But the touches of magic - which are here primarily to be a cause for the exploration of family - were enough to keep me interested. Thus I read and enjoyed a book that I otherwise would not have.
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