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Lucky Seed
The billionaire Sun Clan of Greater Los Angeles is your typical American family, with power-struggling aunties, emasculated uncles, scheming cousins, scandalous secrets and a fortune teller on retainer. But at the end of each combative day, the Suns are chained together with golden handcuffs, whether they like it or not.
Yet strange storms are a-brewing. Their matriarch, Roses Sun, is grappling with an existential she must produce a male heir that bears the clan's surname. She fears that if her generation is the one in which their esteemed lineage ends, they will be punished as "hungry ghosts" in the afterlife—an ancient but very real Asian superstition.
Faced with this terrifying fate, Roses summons her favorite nephew, Wayward. Believing him to possess the "lucky seed," Roses presents Wayward with a mandatory to father a baby boy who will inherit everything. When the other members of the Sun Clan catch wind of Roses's plot, all hells break loose. Wayward's family will now clash like never before in an epic war over the future of the Suns…if there is a future at all.
Yet through the chaos, Wayward sees opportunity. What if he can leverage all the conflict into a solution for his problematic family? What if he can reunite the Sun Clan by healing them? And what if the tumultuous Suns can finally learn how to love each other for the first time?
Yet strange storms are a-brewing. Their matriarch, Roses Sun, is grappling with an existential she must produce a male heir that bears the clan's surname. She fears that if her generation is the one in which their esteemed lineage ends, they will be punished as "hungry ghosts" in the afterlife—an ancient but very real Asian superstition.
Faced with this terrifying fate, Roses summons her favorite nephew, Wayward. Believing him to possess the "lucky seed," Roses presents Wayward with a mandatory to father a baby boy who will inherit everything. When the other members of the Sun Clan catch wind of Roses's plot, all hells break loose. Wayward's family will now clash like never before in an epic war over the future of the Suns…if there is a future at all.
Yet through the chaos, Wayward sees opportunity. What if he can leverage all the conflict into a solution for his problematic family? What if he can reunite the Sun Clan by healing them? And what if the tumultuous Suns can finally learn how to love each other for the first time?
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Published November 11, 2025
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About the author
Justinian Huang
2 books430 followersJUSTINIAN HUANG’s debut novel, The Emperor and the Endless Palace, was an Indie Next Pick and a 2025 Stonewall Honor Book. It was hailed by Booklist as “a sweeping triumph,” and as “page-turning and deeply thoughtful,” in a starred review by Publishers Weekly. He lives in Los Angeles, where he also works as a film executive, most recently on KPop Demon Hunters. Lucky Seed is Justinian’s second novel.
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December 8, 2025
2025 Goodreads Choice Awards (Mai's Version) - Readers' Favorite Fiction
🍦 🍓 The Ripped Bodice's 9th Annual Summer Romance Bingo 🕶️ 🏄🏼
/ Rival Teams
Part One: But Who Will Feed the Hungry Ghosts?
God, this is messy. I've loved every second.
What kind of name is Roses? We've got an Asian Galahad? This is obnoxious. I am obnoxious. I am obsessed.
The only thing I don't love is the collection of pitbulls, but I'm probably the only person in LA that doesn't like dogs.
Part Two: Same Dream, Different Beds
I spoke too soon. There is a woman of Chinese descent unironically named Chinoiserie. I have ascended.
Galahad is a sketchy MF-er. Not that the rest of the cast is better.
I truly love the nice neighborhood name-dropping: Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and San Marino. And then there's Cristiano from Gardena.
Part Three: ¡Concepción!
I thought I was getting bored in this part, but the ending saved it. Reveal after reveal after reveal. It would be too much if I wasn't so knee-deep in the drama. I want to swim in it. I want to drown in it. I wouldn't be opposed to one of them drowning, actually.
Part Four: he/him/his
This section title makes 100% more sense now. Don't worry about it. I won't be spoiling anything.
But if the beginning of this book was real, and the middle got a little crazier, the end is definitely the craziest. Rich people are the worst, but reading about them is the best. This will stick with me for a while.
Book pairings: COUNTERFEIT | CRAZY RICH ASIANS | LAST TANG STANDING | TEHRANGELES
TV pairings: BLING EMPIRE | CINDERELLA AND THE FOUR KNIGHTS
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA
🍦 🍓 The Ripped Bodice's 9th Annual Summer Romance Bingo 🕶️ 🏄🏼
/ Rival Teams
Part One: But Who Will Feed the Hungry Ghosts?
God, this is messy. I've loved every second.
What kind of name is Roses? We've got an Asian Galahad? This is obnoxious. I am obnoxious. I am obsessed.
The only thing I don't love is the collection of pitbulls, but I'm probably the only person in LA that doesn't like dogs.
Part Two: Same Dream, Different Beds
I spoke too soon. There is a woman of Chinese descent unironically named Chinoiserie. I have ascended.
Galahad is a sketchy MF-er. Not that the rest of the cast is better.
I truly love the nice neighborhood name-dropping: Malibu, Manhattan Beach, and San Marino. And then there's Cristiano from Gardena.
Part Three: ¡Concepción!
I thought I was getting bored in this part, but the ending saved it. Reveal after reveal after reveal. It would be too much if I wasn't so knee-deep in the drama. I want to swim in it. I want to drown in it. I wouldn't be opposed to one of them drowning, actually.
Part Four: he/him/his
This section title makes 100% more sense now. Don't worry about it. I won't be spoiling anything.
But if the beginning of this book was real, and the middle got a little crazier, the end is definitely the craziest. Rich people are the worst, but reading about them is the best. This will stick with me for a while.
Book pairings: COUNTERFEIT | CRAZY RICH ASIANS | LAST TANG STANDING | TEHRANGELES
TV pairings: BLING EMPIRE | CINDERELLA AND THE FOUR KNIGHTS
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and MIRA
December 7, 2025
Book Tagline: Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians in this chaotic, darkly funny romp about the lengths a wealthy family will take to ensure the birth of a male heir from the gay black sheep of their clan.
This book's premise sounded so interesting. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it or something because I couldn't find a character to cheer for in this one.
#LuckySeed #NetGalley
Publication Date 11/11/25
Goodreads Review 02/12/25
This book's premise sounded so interesting. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for it or something because I couldn't find a character to cheer for in this one.
#LuckySeed #NetGalley
Publication Date 11/11/25
Goodreads Review 02/12/25
November 21, 2025
What could go wrong? A story about a very rich, Chinese family with a hint of Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession.
The problem? Not a single likable character, and 150 pages too long.
Doesn't have the charm and wit, and RICHNESS of Kevin Kwan's books. Also doesn't exude the (evil) wealth of Succession.
There is too much going on in Lucky Seed, it's a cluster f**k of ideas, and lacks charisma.
Skimmed through most of it, rolled my eyes at the outcome.
The problem? Not a single likable character, and 150 pages too long.
Doesn't have the charm and wit, and RICHNESS of Kevin Kwan's books. Also doesn't exude the (evil) wealth of Succession.
There is too much going on in Lucky Seed, it's a cluster f**k of ideas, and lacks charisma.
Skimmed through most of it, rolled my eyes at the outcome.
September 3, 2025
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
If there's one thing I've learned about Justinian Huang's writing, it's to trust the process. You will not be able to anticipate the ride that he will take you on, but trust that there is a deliberate, intentional, and rewarding ride ahead of you. This book was the ultimate messy rich family drama - there was never a dull moment and full of ridiculous shenanigans, but at its core, a satisfying story about a dysfunctional family and the relationships within it.
If I have one critique, it's that the conclusion of the novel felt a little bit rushed to me, especially given all the loose ends we had to wrap up, but it's a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic book. I love how unapologetic this book is - messy, dramatic, queer, Asian, and just downright fun - but it also has a lot to say about familial bonds and intergenerational trauma.
Content warning for sexual assault and drug use in the book - nothing is graphic or gratuitous in my opinion, but it does come up, so it's something to think about if that's a trigger for you.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, messy family saga. I think the comps to Crazy Rich Asians and Succession are both pretty solid, though tonally I think more similar to the original novel, Crazy Rich Asians, than the film. It's over the top, a little bit zany, and campy, and while that's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine.
If there's one thing I've learned about Justinian Huang's writing, it's to trust the process. You will not be able to anticipate the ride that he will take you on, but trust that there is a deliberate, intentional, and rewarding ride ahead of you. This book was the ultimate messy rich family drama - there was never a dull moment and full of ridiculous shenanigans, but at its core, a satisfying story about a dysfunctional family and the relationships within it.
If I have one critique, it's that the conclusion of the novel felt a little bit rushed to me, especially given all the loose ends we had to wrap up, but it's a minor gripe in an otherwise fantastic book. I love how unapologetic this book is - messy, dramatic, queer, Asian, and just downright fun - but it also has a lot to say about familial bonds and intergenerational trauma.
Content warning for sexual assault and drug use in the book - nothing is graphic or gratuitous in my opinion, but it does come up, so it's something to think about if that's a trigger for you.
Overall, I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, messy family saga. I think the comps to Crazy Rich Asians and Succession are both pretty solid, though tonally I think more similar to the original novel, Crazy Rich Asians, than the film. It's over the top, a little bit zany, and campy, and while that's not going to be everyone's cup of tea, it certainly is mine.
November 9, 2025
E-ARC generously provided by HarperCollins/MIRA in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much!
4 stars. Rife with deception, plot twists abound, and enough drama to keep a reader frothing at the mouth for more, Lucky Seed is an epic of a big Asian family proportions that was impossible to put down.
4 stars. Rife with deception, plot twists abound, and enough drama to keep a reader frothing at the mouth for more, Lucky Seed is an epic of a big Asian family proportions that was impossible to put down.
November 28, 2025
4.25 🌟
"....her notorious family, consisting of a golden menagerie of people that were vastly different in appearance and personality, yet united with one shared trait: an inclination toward messiness." (Ch 1)
Lucky Seed
By Justinian Huang
Audiobook Narrated by Telly Leung
13 hrs 20 mins / 447 pages
ALC audiobook and eARC Review
Absolutely loved the narrator. They told the story well and depicted each character with fair nuance.
As far as the ebook went, the only per peeve I had was that the writer kept switching from italics to quotes for dialogue and sometimes used both within the same conversation, which was a little puzzling. Not sure the reasoning for it. For phone calls, flashbacks, dreams, musings... understandable, but for active dialogue 🤷♀️
Got a kick out of the part that centered on the POV of Roses' dog, Houyi, and Wayward's dog, Bindi.
This story centers upon a family wrought with deep-rooted conflicts and drama. They're all so caught up and entangled in their long-standing patriarchal heritage, their traditions — honoring their ancestors, their legacy.
"They were not a family, but a web. Some of them were flies, and others were spiders." (Ch 6)
The matriarch of family, Roses Sun, incites familial respect that is more fear-powered than anything. Primarily the fear of being disinherited, because what are they, if not pawns in the whole scheme of things. It is a male-heir driven dynasty — to the spoils goes the victory. Through it all, they all wish to lead their own lives, yet they can't help but make mistake after mistake, compromising their morals and suppressing their aspirations while being manipulated like puppets. Roses was not excluded from fear as her fear stemmed from deep within and ingrained ancestral superstition.
"Just when you think you’ve figured us out, we will surprise you. The thing about a family with no moral compass is that there’s no predicting where we’re headed." (Ch 13)
There are betrayals, complex schemes, webs of deceit, secrets, backstabbing and blackmail, generations deep family fueds, scandals, mystery, cons, regrets.... and the twists! Multiple shocking twists that kept coming like a jackhammer, the complexity of which blew me away! Loved.Them.All!
"Just when you think you’ve figured us out, we will surprise you. The thing about a family with no moral compass is that there’s no predicting where we’re headed." (Ch 13)
It is familial harmony... one of utter chaos.
""....You don’t understand the most basic stratagem of Chinese warfare: You fight poison with poison.”" (Ch 25)
eARC/ALC courtesy of NetGalley | HarperCollins / Harlequin Trade Publishing / Harlequin Audio / HTP Books / HTP Hive
"....her notorious family, consisting of a golden menagerie of people that were vastly different in appearance and personality, yet united with one shared trait: an inclination toward messiness." (Ch 1)
Lucky Seed
By Justinian Huang
Audiobook Narrated by Telly Leung
13 hrs 20 mins / 447 pages
ALC audiobook and eARC Review
Absolutely loved the narrator. They told the story well and depicted each character with fair nuance.
As far as the ebook went, the only per peeve I had was that the writer kept switching from italics to quotes for dialogue and sometimes used both within the same conversation, which was a little puzzling. Not sure the reasoning for it. For phone calls, flashbacks, dreams, musings... understandable, but for active dialogue 🤷♀️
Got a kick out of the part that centered on the POV of Roses' dog, Houyi, and Wayward's dog, Bindi.
This story centers upon a family wrought with deep-rooted conflicts and drama. They're all so caught up and entangled in their long-standing patriarchal heritage, their traditions — honoring their ancestors, their legacy.
"They were not a family, but a web. Some of them were flies, and others were spiders." (Ch 6)
The matriarch of family, Roses Sun, incites familial respect that is more fear-powered than anything. Primarily the fear of being disinherited, because what are they, if not pawns in the whole scheme of things. It is a male-heir driven dynasty — to the spoils goes the victory. Through it all, they all wish to lead their own lives, yet they can't help but make mistake after mistake, compromising their morals and suppressing their aspirations while being manipulated like puppets. Roses was not excluded from fear as her fear stemmed from deep within and ingrained ancestral superstition.
"Just when you think you’ve figured us out, we will surprise you. The thing about a family with no moral compass is that there’s no predicting where we’re headed." (Ch 13)
There are betrayals, complex schemes, webs of deceit, secrets, backstabbing and blackmail, generations deep family fueds, scandals, mystery, cons, regrets.... and the twists! Multiple shocking twists that kept coming like a jackhammer, the complexity of which blew me away! Loved.Them.All!
"Just when you think you’ve figured us out, we will surprise you. The thing about a family with no moral compass is that there’s no predicting where we’re headed." (Ch 13)
It is familial harmony... one of utter chaos.
""....You don’t understand the most basic stratagem of Chinese warfare: You fight poison with poison.”" (Ch 25)
eARC/ALC courtesy of NetGalley | HarperCollins / Harlequin Trade Publishing / Harlequin Audio / HTP Books / HTP Hive
November 10, 2025
4.25⭐️ rounded up
Thank you @htp_hive + @librofm for the galley + ALC ♡
·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
This was a wild and wacky, messy fun time. It doesn't take itself too seriously. And yet. Tackles topics of antiquated family values, asian superstitions, generational trauma, and belonging.
Trust the process.
Matriarch Roses Sun is out to materialize a male heir by any means... A giant cast of melodramatic family and friends, with murky motivations and layers of deception, culminates in a comedy of destruction.
Spicy scenes sprinkled throughout shocked my prude senses. 😝 This is a spicy contemporary fiction/satire, not a romance. And several twists left me jaw dropped.
Pro-tip: refer to the included family tree diagram! So many cousins who all have main character energy. My faves included Lola "the fixer", Sunbern "the male gigolo turned family man", April "spurned first daughter", and Houyi the loveable pitbull! 🐶
I ended this book chuckling and marveling at how the story ended. Not my comfort genre, but I really enjoyed.
"𝙸 𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚍, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚎𝚕. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚞𝚜, 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎."
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Telly Leung brings all 26 (jk jk) characters to life and I think audio is the way to go.
TW: Drug Use/Abuse, Suicidal Thoughts, Non consent (off page)
Thank you @htp_hive + @librofm for the galley + ALC ♡
·˚ ༘₊·꒰➳: ̗̀➛ 𝗮 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝗼𝗮𝗽 𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗲𝘂𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.
This was a wild and wacky, messy fun time. It doesn't take itself too seriously. And yet. Tackles topics of antiquated family values, asian superstitions, generational trauma, and belonging.
Trust the process.
Matriarch Roses Sun is out to materialize a male heir by any means... A giant cast of melodramatic family and friends, with murky motivations and layers of deception, culminates in a comedy of destruction.
Spicy scenes sprinkled throughout shocked my prude senses. 😝 This is a spicy contemporary fiction/satire, not a romance. And several twists left me jaw dropped.
Pro-tip: refer to the included family tree diagram! So many cousins who all have main character energy. My faves included Lola "the fixer", Sunbern "the male gigolo turned family man", April "spurned first daughter", and Houyi the loveable pitbull! 🐶
I ended this book chuckling and marveling at how the story ended. Not my comfort genre, but I really enjoyed.
"𝙸 𝚍𝚘 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚒𝚗 𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜. 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚒𝚗 𝚊𝚗 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢. 𝚂𝚘𝚖𝚎𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚜𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚢, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚞𝚕, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚜𝚊𝚍, 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚗 𝚌𝚛𝚞𝚎𝚕. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚋𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚎𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚗𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚋𝚎𝚐𝚊𝚗 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚋𝚎𝚏𝚘𝚛𝚎 𝚞𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚠𝚒𝚕𝚕 𝚌𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚞𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚋𝚎 𝚠𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚝𝚎𝚗 𝚋𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚏𝚘𝚕𝚕𝚘𝚠 𝚞𝚜, 𝚕𝚘𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚠𝚎 𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚐𝚘𝚗𝚎."
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||။|• 🎧 Telly Leung brings all 26 (jk jk) characters to life and I think audio is the way to go.
TW: Drug Use/Abuse, Suicidal Thoughts, Non consent (off page)
November 2, 2025
The Sun Clan has unlimited riches, but the only thing they don’t have as a patrilinear heir to their fortune. The matriarch, Roses Sun, fears that if she cannot secure a male heir, her family will be eternally punished as “hungry ghosts” in the afterlife, and she’s determined not to let that superstition become reality. As she meddles in the lives of her siblings and niblings, chaos ensues as the family members clash for control. But Roses isn’t the only one with major secrets…
I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this book. There’s so much to love: power-hungry family members clawing for the metaphorical throne amidst lies and deception, surprise plot twists in every chapter, social commentary on archaic gender roles spanning two continents, and even queer love and identity! At first it seemed like such a radical departure from Justinian Huang's debut The Emperor and the Endless Palace, but as I got deeper into the storyline I saw the stylistic and masterfully woven threads emerge. There are many family members and many POVs, but in a way that feels essential to the psychological thrill ride (and don’t worry - there’s a family tree at the beginning of the book to keep the family members straight at first). It’s hard to describe without giving away the plot, but the commentary on the gendered intersections of greed were expertly done as Justinian Huang created captivating and memorable characters. Even though the book is on the longer side, it was still addictive and made me want to keep turning the page. I just finished it and I’m already eager to reread and recommend it to absolutely everyone.
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to HTP Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if:
🍿 you’re looking a plot that (as one of the characters puts it) “Netflix could never”
🕰️ your goal in life is to subvert gender roles
🍔 your order at In-N-Out is a Double-Double
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
I cannot even begin to describe how much I loved this book. There’s so much to love: power-hungry family members clawing for the metaphorical throne amidst lies and deception, surprise plot twists in every chapter, social commentary on archaic gender roles spanning two continents, and even queer love and identity! At first it seemed like such a radical departure from Justinian Huang's debut The Emperor and the Endless Palace, but as I got deeper into the storyline I saw the stylistic and masterfully woven threads emerge. There are many family members and many POVs, but in a way that feels essential to the psychological thrill ride (and don’t worry - there’s a family tree at the beginning of the book to keep the family members straight at first). It’s hard to describe without giving away the plot, but the commentary on the gendered intersections of greed were expertly done as Justinian Huang created captivating and memorable characters. Even though the book is on the longer side, it was still addictive and made me want to keep turning the page. I just finished it and I’m already eager to reread and recommend it to absolutely everyone.
Reviewed as part of #ARC from #NetGalley. Many thanks to HTP Books for the #gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
Read this book if:
🍿 you’re looking a plot that (as one of the characters puts it) “Netflix could never”
🕰️ your goal in life is to subvert gender roles
🍔 your order at In-N-Out is a Double-Double
Follow me on Instagram for more book reviews!
November 7, 2025
Meet the Sun Clan. Following the death of Big Boss Sun, the billionaire head of Sunfang Global, his family was faced with a dilemma. The large Sunfang trust was meant to be passed down to a male of paternal lineage, but there was no suitable heir within the family. Roses Sun, Big Boss' eldest daughter, family matriarch, and CEO of Sunfang Global, was told by her fortune teller that without an heir, the family would be destined to become “hungry ghosts” in the afterlife. Fearing this dreaded fate, the superstitious Roses decides that her gay nephew Wayward would be the best member of the family to have a son. Wayward was smart and already worked for the company. She believed that enticing him with the company presidency would convince him to produce an heir, as he wanted to introduce new, greener corporate initiatives. However, Wayward's cousins also had their eyes on the fortune. Roses and her siblings form alliances with their children, threatening to tear the family apart.
Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang is a blend of family drama and over-the-top fun. Fortunately, a family tree is included to help keep track of the large and diverse cast of characters. The story is packed with chaos, secrets, twists, and surprises. The Sun family's dynamics are as messy as they come. Enjoy.
Many thanks to MIRA / HTP Books for the advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Lucky Seed by Justinian Huang is a blend of family drama and over-the-top fun. Fortunately, a family tree is included to help keep track of the large and diverse cast of characters. The story is packed with chaos, secrets, twists, and surprises. The Sun family's dynamics are as messy as they come. Enjoy.
Many thanks to MIRA / HTP Books for the advance.
4.25 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
December 23, 2025
What a fast-paced romp of a book! It's chock full of dramatic twists and soap opera scheming. It's also full of Confucian ideology (i.e., patrilineal superiority). I appreciated the numerous counterpoints, such as all the queer representation.
There are many jokes. For instance, "Wayward" is just a name that Chinese parent who has been exposed to British colonial mentality would give a child. And the characters are caricatures, enjoyable ones but flat nonetheless. I felt as if this was like a reality television show.
Overall, I liked this book and the pacing. I also read the author's first book, The Emperor and the Endless Palace and would read his future titles.
Quote:
"So if the patriarchal lineage of your father ends, it is the women who suffer in the after life," Wayward said." "That definitely does sound Chinese."
Roses lifted up her palms matter-of-factly. "No one ever said life was fair. Why should death be any different?"
...
"So you want to harness cutting-edge technology and modern science in order to preserve the backward ways of our past," Wayward mused, chucking in more hell notes to revive the bonfire....
There are many jokes. For instance, "Wayward" is just a name that Chinese parent who has been exposed to British colonial mentality would give a child. And the characters are caricatures, enjoyable ones but flat nonetheless. I felt as if this was like a reality television show.
Overall, I liked this book and the pacing. I also read the author's first book, The Emperor and the Endless Palace and would read his future titles.
Quote:
"So if the patriarchal lineage of your father ends, it is the women who suffer in the after life," Wayward said." "That definitely does sound Chinese."
Roses lifted up her palms matter-of-factly. "No one ever said life was fair. Why should death be any different?"
...
"So you want to harness cutting-edge technology and modern science in order to preserve the backward ways of our past," Wayward mused, chucking in more hell notes to revive the bonfire....
November 18, 2025
This is great on audio. The narrator just doesn't hold back on over-acting and being so campy, which is absolutely perfect for the material. Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians meets Park Avenue meets White Lotus. It is Rich People behaving badly at its finest. One caveat- you need the family tree- which is available as a pdf if you purchase the audio. I usually blow those off but early on I realized how important the family tree was to the story- the characters are so multi-dimensional and the inter-familial relationships are worth having your pdf printed, or flipping back to it while reading.
Roses Sun (she is the lady in red on the cover) must present a male heir according to the succession rules of Sun Trust. She thinks her nephew Wayward (WHAT A NAME, right?) to possess the lucky seed to father a boy to keep the company in the family.
Every character is so crazy, so over the top, so many wild plot elements.
Roses Sun (she is the lady in red on the cover) must present a male heir according to the succession rules of Sun Trust. She thinks her nephew Wayward (WHAT A NAME, right?) to possess the lucky seed to father a boy to keep the company in the family.
Every character is so crazy, so over the top, so many wild plot elements.
August 11, 2025
5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lucky Seed
Author: Justinian Huang
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC! You are all going to want to get your hands on this one. I friggin love Justinian Huang. We met at Steamy Lit last year after I heard him speak on one of the panels. I loved his first fantasy book, The Emperor and the Endless Palace (and I hope we are getting more from that world) so I was super eager to read his upcoming release. This one was more of a family drama read and IT WAS SO FRIGGIN GOOD! The rich and powerful Sun Clan of LA is about to meet their doom since the matriarch has failed to produce a male heir. She decides to put her faith in her son Wayward to produce the heir. When the other family members find out about this plan, chaos ensues. There were so many characters involved but each one had their own unique role to play and I loved all of them. They were all super unhinged. I especially loved our chapters from the dog’s perspective. I can just feel Justinian’s energy in his books. I was hooked until the very end. What a fun ride. This is a perfect November release.
Lucky Seed
Author: Justinian Huang
Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC! You are all going to want to get your hands on this one. I friggin love Justinian Huang. We met at Steamy Lit last year after I heard him speak on one of the panels. I loved his first fantasy book, The Emperor and the Endless Palace (and I hope we are getting more from that world) so I was super eager to read his upcoming release. This one was more of a family drama read and IT WAS SO FRIGGIN GOOD! The rich and powerful Sun Clan of LA is about to meet their doom since the matriarch has failed to produce a male heir. She decides to put her faith in her son Wayward to produce the heir. When the other family members find out about this plan, chaos ensues. There were so many characters involved but each one had their own unique role to play and I loved all of them. They were all super unhinged. I especially loved our chapters from the dog’s perspective. I can just feel Justinian’s energy in his books. I was hooked until the very end. What a fun ride. This is a perfect November release.
August 21, 2025
This is Crazy Rich Asians, on steroids, meets Succession. The Sun family has so much dysfunction as the matriarch attempts to manipulate her (gay) nephew, into producing a son. Meanwhile, she bullies and forces her way into situations that she wants, all in the name of feeding the hungry ghost. Such a fun romp.
Not going to lie, I did bristle when the younger generation, said that the matriarch’s generation (who were only in their 50s and early 60s!) were headed into their twilight years.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Not going to lie, I did bristle when the younger generation, said that the matriarch’s generation (who were only in their 50s and early 60s!) were headed into their twilight years.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Want to read
November 1, 2025Family Life Fiction, Humorous Fiction, Romantic Comedy, Siblings, Literary Fiction, Asian American
December 31, 2025
There was not a single thing I enjoyed about this. I wasn’t expecting much when I started this but it was really worse than I thought. I personally did not like the gen Z/zillenial writing style and the way the characters all spoke to each other. Also absolutely hated that the characters would say “big cuz” or “baby cousin” to refer to each other. And it wasn’t in italics to signify if it was in Mandarin or Cantonese so they were constantly saying it to each other in English.
None of these characters were likable. And I’ve read books by other authors (Gillian Flynn) where I knew the characters weren’t good people but they were interesting to read about and I enjoyed the plot. This book though, I couldn’t root for any of the characters because they seemed too one dimensional and didn’t talk about anything other than money. I said this in one of my updates but it seemed like the author wanted to write complex characters but ended up writing caricatures instead.
Also everything that happened in the last 100 or so pages was so ridiculous it felt like the author lost track of his own ramblings and wanted to tie it all up so he threw darts at a board to find ways to end everything. Also having a character who barely features in the book come back for the last 50 pages and reveal being trans as the big twist just seems wrong. And the murders/almost deaths were a surprise change in the tone of the book that didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the book.
Also not that I know what it’s like to be ridiculously rich but it seems like the author didn’t know either and just kept telling us they were rich without giving us details other than they have large houses.
I know the author was going for a Crazy Rich Asians x Succession thing here but those are both very successful and well liked and this read more like a bad parody of those instead.
None of these characters were likable. And I’ve read books by other authors (Gillian Flynn) where I knew the characters weren’t good people but they were interesting to read about and I enjoyed the plot. This book though, I couldn’t root for any of the characters because they seemed too one dimensional and didn’t talk about anything other than money. I said this in one of my updates but it seemed like the author wanted to write complex characters but ended up writing caricatures instead.
Also everything that happened in the last 100 or so pages was so ridiculous it felt like the author lost track of his own ramblings and wanted to tie it all up so he threw darts at a board to find ways to end everything. Also having a character who barely features in the book come back for the last 50 pages and reveal being trans as the big twist just seems wrong. And the murders/almost deaths were a surprise change in the tone of the book that didn’t seem to fit in with the rest of the book.
Also not that I know what it’s like to be ridiculously rich but it seems like the author didn’t know either and just kept telling us they were rich without giving us details other than they have large houses.
I know the author was going for a Crazy Rich Asians x Succession thing here but those are both very successful and well liked and this read more like a bad parody of those instead.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2025
What an absolutely wild and enjoyable ride! Narrator Telly Leung did an absolutely phenomenal job capturing the personalities and cadences of each family member. He creates such an engaging and captivating atmosphere that clearly captures the tension and desperation of each character, as well as the humour and absurdity at certain points in the plot.
Lucky Seed focuses on the wealthy Sun Clan of Los Angeles. Upon discovery that the late head of the Sun Clan wrote into his will that all his inheritance will only be passed down to the next worthy male in the family, utter chaos and competition breaks out in the family. Each member takes extreme, and at times absurd, lengths to ensure they produce a son who can secure the Sun Clan inheritance. Which family member will end up carrying the “lucky seed?” 😉🤭
I honestly won’t be surprised if this book is ever adapted into a tv show or movie. That’s how action packed it is, not to mention its iconic characters and the twist at the end!!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copy of the ALC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
Lucky Seed focuses on the wealthy Sun Clan of Los Angeles. Upon discovery that the late head of the Sun Clan wrote into his will that all his inheritance will only be passed down to the next worthy male in the family, utter chaos and competition breaks out in the family. Each member takes extreme, and at times absurd, lengths to ensure they produce a son who can secure the Sun Clan inheritance. Which family member will end up carrying the “lucky seed?” 😉🤭
I honestly won’t be surprised if this book is ever adapted into a tv show or movie. That’s how action packed it is, not to mention its iconic characters and the twist at the end!!
Huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copy of the ALC. All opinions expressed above are my own.
December 4, 2025
where do i even start? this book completely swept me away in the best, most chaotic way possible. i absolutely loved it. huang hits the perfect balance between heartfelt storytelling and sharp humor, creating an experience that feels both emotional and entertaining.
the family dynamics were insane! messy, unpredictable, and so much tension. despite all the chaos, the comedic timing was so good. every dramatic event was followed by an absurd or hilarious line. i hold onto the way this book made me gasp, scream, and cackle through a single paragraph.
i found myself fully invested in all the characters, their relationships, and their tangled histories. they are so filled with main character energy and i latched onto a few of them pretty quickly. despite the chaos that is this book, it left a feeling of familial love and warmth.
if you’re looking for something funny, chaotic, and full of heart, THIS IS THE BOOK YOU WANT. i adored every minute of it.
ALC experience: i did an immersive read with the audio and i loved the narrator! he really brought the story to life. with this book having a lot of dialogue, i thought the narrator did very well! it was easy to differentiate the characters and to understand the feeling the story was meant to portray. well done!
thank you to HarperCollins for a gifted copy and Harlequin Audio for the ALC!
the family dynamics were insane! messy, unpredictable, and so much tension. despite all the chaos, the comedic timing was so good. every dramatic event was followed by an absurd or hilarious line. i hold onto the way this book made me gasp, scream, and cackle through a single paragraph.
i found myself fully invested in all the characters, their relationships, and their tangled histories. they are so filled with main character energy and i latched onto a few of them pretty quickly. despite the chaos that is this book, it left a feeling of familial love and warmth.
if you’re looking for something funny, chaotic, and full of heart, THIS IS THE BOOK YOU WANT. i adored every minute of it.
ALC experience: i did an immersive read with the audio and i loved the narrator! he really brought the story to life. with this book having a lot of dialogue, i thought the narrator did very well! it was easy to differentiate the characters and to understand the feeling the story was meant to portray. well done!
thank you to HarperCollins for a gifted copy and Harlequin Audio for the ALC!
December 17, 2025
Okay, that was definitely like Crazy Rich Asians, but x100 and with so much sneakiness! As soon as you figure one thing out, another twist is waiting for you around the corner. This family is wild (and honestly reminds me of my dad's family... if we were all rich lol).
Thanks to The Hive for the gifted copy!
Website | Bookstagram | BookTok
Thanks to The Hive for the gifted copy!
Website | Bookstagram | BookTok
August 16, 2025
Thank you to the hive my fav place to be to get ARCs!
Lucky Seed is crazy rich asians but like richer and crazier. This book is literally about the race for one of the grandkids to have a male son except no one actually wants one? Maybe? I laughed a lot, the book is very absurd, but also very cool to see the family dynamics and how they play out with love, sex, drugs, and money being the big factors at play. I loved the discussion of matriarch vs. patriarch and I definitely think I would recommend this to a lot of my friends!
Thank god for the family tree or else I would have been utterly lost! I did restart the beginning 3x 🫠
Lucky Seed is crazy rich asians but like richer and crazier. This book is literally about the race for one of the grandkids to have a male son except no one actually wants one? Maybe? I laughed a lot, the book is very absurd, but also very cool to see the family dynamics and how they play out with love, sex, drugs, and money being the big factors at play. I loved the discussion of matriarch vs. patriarch and I definitely think I would recommend this to a lot of my friends!
Thank god for the family tree or else I would have been utterly lost! I did restart the beginning 3x 🫠
Read
January 1, 2026Justinian Huang really is that man. No one does interpersonal drama quite like Huang. The hot mess express that played out in Big Bear? Yeah, that was peak fucking cinema besties.
January 12, 2026
This was super fun. I just found it a little long winded!
December 28, 2025
I love a good twist but this book gave me motion sickness
June 16, 2025
Succession meets Crazy Rich Asians might be the most perfect description of this book. It's been so long since I've read a story that had me hooked only a few chapters in. We follow the Sun Clan, a wealthy family in Los Angeles and all the toxic scheming antics they get up to. One thing I really loved was that we got to see different perspectives throughout and really get inside the characters heads. As the reader, we understand motives and reasonings for each thing the characters did, whether you agreed or not. It was refreshing to read a story where I pretty much liked every single person we came across or at least could make sense of the decisions they made. Even though the story had some real toxic moments, it was also incredibly heartwarming and feel good at times. AND FUNNY! My god, I haven't laughed so hard reading a book in a while. I felt there was something everyone could relate to at times with their own families. I also loved learning more about Chinese culture and the superstitions that were throughout the novel. One of my favorite things when reading is opening up myself to new cultures and experiences and being able to place myself in a different setting for a short while. Genuinely think this is going to be a big hit when it comes out. So many great messages and themes throughout.
Thank you to HTP books for this gifted ARC! *All thoughts are my own*
Thank you to HTP books for this gifted ARC! *All thoughts are my own*
August 26, 2025
5⭐
This was so messy. And I mean this in the best way possible. I loved every moment of this story because it felt like Crazy Rich Asians.... but absolutely MESSIER. It reminded me of the k-dramas I grew up loving and it was such an amazing story to enjoy because there were many things that felt familiar, but new at the same time. I literally lost track of how many times this book made me laugh out loud because it was just so freaking funny lol.
There were a lot of nuances in this book that was so relatable as an Asian American, from the gossip with the aunties, or the matriarch and familial piety that is enveloped in this story. I enjoyed every twist and turn and plot twist (THERE WERE SO MANY LOL) and I did not catch a single one. I even caught myself gasping like this was a telenovela or a k-drama. I truly had the best time with this story and I wish everyone can relate to this experience.
I loved how Justinian wrapped every part of the story. We started off the story with many characters in play and they were scheming to get to their goals and every single issue was resolved in a tight little bow. I will have to say, I love how Galahad Chu's story was resolved the most, as he absolutely deserved that ending and I'm happy Houyi got the ending he wanted!!!
Thank you to HTP_Hive for the e-ARC and e-ALC of this book, I can't wait for this release!
This was so messy. And I mean this in the best way possible. I loved every moment of this story because it felt like Crazy Rich Asians.... but absolutely MESSIER. It reminded me of the k-dramas I grew up loving and it was such an amazing story to enjoy because there were many things that felt familiar, but new at the same time. I literally lost track of how many times this book made me laugh out loud because it was just so freaking funny lol.
There were a lot of nuances in this book that was so relatable as an Asian American, from the gossip with the aunties, or the matriarch and familial piety that is enveloped in this story. I enjoyed every twist and turn and plot twist (THERE WERE SO MANY LOL) and I did not catch a single one. I even caught myself gasping like this was a telenovela or a k-drama. I truly had the best time with this story and I wish everyone can relate to this experience.
I loved how Justinian wrapped every part of the story. We started off the story with many characters in play and they were scheming to get to their goals and every single issue was resolved in a tight little bow. I will have to say, I love how Galahad Chu's story was resolved the most, as he absolutely deserved that ending and I'm happy Houyi got the ending he wanted!!!
Thank you to HTP_Hive for the e-ARC and e-ALC of this book, I can't wait for this release!
March 15, 2025
The next Justinian Huang novel? Give it to me now
August 21, 2025
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the rich, dysfunctional, kind of terrible but also kind of wonderful Sun Clan. Great family drama with dynamic characters. Really glad I picked it up! 4.5 stars
October 16, 2025
✏️📙 Themes: Vengeance, retribution, superstition, legacy, greed, power, lies, inheritance,
inheritance, male heirs, identity, LGBTQIAP+, cult, manipulation and secret alliances.
⚠️👀 Potential Triggers Warnings: Having too much fun reading, rooting for the spiders, and may experience whiplash due to all the plot twists.
In life, there are spiders and flies. The same goes for family dynamics. The question is: which one will you choose to be?
This is a delicious guilty-pleasure read where the ultra-rich Sun Clan is riddled with flies and a few strategic spiders. Nobody is innocent, and everyone is vying to become the successor of the Sunfang Trust. Big Boss Sun (a.k.a. Daddy) has made his move, and Rose, the family matriarch, is determined to keep her promise to her father, to feed the “Hungry Ghost” by catering to their endless hunger, even going so far as to consult a fortune teller who’s on call every morning.
The novel is wickedly entertaining. It’s one of those books that makes you wish for more hours in the day and zero interruptions. I absolutely loved the “spiders,” and how some of the “flies” evolved into spiders without turning ruthless. I can’t resist a hot, messy, and salacious family saga full of shifting alliances — as long as it’s not my family.
What truly captured my heart, though, was the emotional growth of nearly all the characters. They come to realize that they don’t have to lose themselves to find self-love and self-worth. They learn to bend the rules, to think around them, and ultimately create something meaningful for the greater good. Characters who initially seemed irredeemable reveal deeper intentions and motives, making us understand them in unexpected ways. Of course, some are just scorpions — pure evil. Go get them, Houji! Let the leash go! (Readers will know exactly what I mean.)
The ending is satisfying, though a few details still linger in my mind. The plot twists had my head spinning in the best way, and I found myself re-reading sections just to track who was who, what their motives were, and where their loyalties truly lay.
At its core, this story reminds us that love is love, and that firstborn privilege should never hinge on male heirs or the feeding of “Hungry Ghosts.” We must cherish the living, not obsess over pleasing the departed.
I have listened to the eARC audio as well as read this ARC novel. It is wonderful in both formats.
inheritance, male heirs, identity, LGBTQIAP+, cult, manipulation and secret alliances.
⚠️👀 Potential Triggers Warnings: Having too much fun reading, rooting for the spiders, and may experience whiplash due to all the plot twists.
In life, there are spiders and flies. The same goes for family dynamics. The question is: which one will you choose to be?
This is a delicious guilty-pleasure read where the ultra-rich Sun Clan is riddled with flies and a few strategic spiders. Nobody is innocent, and everyone is vying to become the successor of the Sunfang Trust. Big Boss Sun (a.k.a. Daddy) has made his move, and Rose, the family matriarch, is determined to keep her promise to her father, to feed the “Hungry Ghost” by catering to their endless hunger, even going so far as to consult a fortune teller who’s on call every morning.
The novel is wickedly entertaining. It’s one of those books that makes you wish for more hours in the day and zero interruptions. I absolutely loved the “spiders,” and how some of the “flies” evolved into spiders without turning ruthless. I can’t resist a hot, messy, and salacious family saga full of shifting alliances — as long as it’s not my family.
What truly captured my heart, though, was the emotional growth of nearly all the characters. They come to realize that they don’t have to lose themselves to find self-love and self-worth. They learn to bend the rules, to think around them, and ultimately create something meaningful for the greater good. Characters who initially seemed irredeemable reveal deeper intentions and motives, making us understand them in unexpected ways. Of course, some are just scorpions — pure evil. Go get them, Houji! Let the leash go! (Readers will know exactly what I mean.)
The ending is satisfying, though a few details still linger in my mind. The plot twists had my head spinning in the best way, and I found myself re-reading sections just to track who was who, what their motives were, and where their loyalties truly lay.
At its core, this story reminds us that love is love, and that firstborn privilege should never hinge on male heirs or the feeding of “Hungry Ghosts.” We must cherish the living, not obsess over pleasing the departed.
I have listened to the eARC audio as well as read this ARC novel. It is wonderful in both formats.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2025
Lucky Seed is a wild ride through the extravagant, opulent world of the Sun Clan, where the pressure’s on to produce a male heir.
Wayward finds himself caught in a family feud that’s as hilarious as it is chaotic, with relatives scheming and plotting to secure control of the very large family inheritance. It’s a sharp, funny look at tradition and what it really means to be part of a family.
What I loved most about this story is its perfect blend of humor and serious themes. The Sun Clan is a delightful mess of meddling relatives and outrageous plots, and you can’t help but chuckle at their antics. The book tackles weighty issues like patriarchy, power struggles, and the absurdity of family expectations, all while keeping the tone light and entertaining.
The multiple POVs really enhance the experience. Getting inside the heads of various family members allows us to grasp the full scope of this unhinged world and its wonderfully eccentric characters. Each viewpoint adds depth to the already complex dynamics, making the chaos even more enjoyable.
🎧 Audiobook Experience: I listened to the audiobook while reading the book. The audiobook is an absolute treat! Narrator Telly Leung breathes life into each of the many characters, making their quirks and motivations shine. Note, for fellow audiobook lovers: download included the family tree PDF. It’s a lifesaver for keeping track of all the characters. You’ll definitely want it handy!
Lucky Seed is a fantastic read for anyone who revels in messy family dramas, peak telenovela style shenanigans, and rich people behaving badly. Wild, outrageous, and thoroughly entertaining, this one is definitely worth your time!
I received free copies of this book. All opinions are my own.
Wayward finds himself caught in a family feud that’s as hilarious as it is chaotic, with relatives scheming and plotting to secure control of the very large family inheritance. It’s a sharp, funny look at tradition and what it really means to be part of a family.
What I loved most about this story is its perfect blend of humor and serious themes. The Sun Clan is a delightful mess of meddling relatives and outrageous plots, and you can’t help but chuckle at their antics. The book tackles weighty issues like patriarchy, power struggles, and the absurdity of family expectations, all while keeping the tone light and entertaining.
The multiple POVs really enhance the experience. Getting inside the heads of various family members allows us to grasp the full scope of this unhinged world and its wonderfully eccentric characters. Each viewpoint adds depth to the already complex dynamics, making the chaos even more enjoyable.
🎧 Audiobook Experience: I listened to the audiobook while reading the book. The audiobook is an absolute treat! Narrator Telly Leung breathes life into each of the many characters, making their quirks and motivations shine. Note, for fellow audiobook lovers: download included the family tree PDF. It’s a lifesaver for keeping track of all the characters. You’ll definitely want it handy!
Lucky Seed is a fantastic read for anyone who revels in messy family dramas, peak telenovela style shenanigans, and rich people behaving badly. Wild, outrageous, and thoroughly entertaining, this one is definitely worth your time!
I received free copies of this book. All opinions are my own.
September 1, 2025
Thank you @htp_hive @htpbooks_audio for the advance copy to review!
I LOVE @justinianhuang and that’s not a secret. I preorders this book when it was announced, sight unseen with barely a blurb. I was READY after loving his debut.
This book DOES NOT disappoint. It is whip smart, funny, and full of the most amazing characters. I felt like my jaw was constantly dropping with every turn this story took. The banter was great, the suspicions were fantastic, and honestly, I had a great time with every minute of this book. I could not look away from this train wreck of a family.
By the time I got to the back half of the book and everything was coming together, I could barely put my audio down! @tellyleung did such a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, no matter who they were.
BROOOOO THAT ENDING THO WHEN EVERYTHING FINALLY CAME OUT? Love.
Book is wild AF. 5 stars. No notes.
I LOVE @justinianhuang and that’s not a secret. I preorders this book when it was announced, sight unseen with barely a blurb. I was READY after loving his debut.
This book DOES NOT disappoint. It is whip smart, funny, and full of the most amazing characters. I felt like my jaw was constantly dropping with every turn this story took. The banter was great, the suspicions were fantastic, and honestly, I had a great time with every minute of this book. I could not look away from this train wreck of a family.
By the time I got to the back half of the book and everything was coming together, I could barely put my audio down! @tellyleung did such a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, no matter who they were.
BROOOOO THAT ENDING THO WHEN EVERYTHING FINALLY CAME OUT? Love.
Book is wild AF. 5 stars. No notes.
November 11, 2025
I always love a messy family drama and Lucky Seed totally fits the bill. The Sun family's patriarch recently passed away and now the family is dealing with the heir to the family's business.
The story is told in multiple POV, from the older aunts and uncles to the children and even the dog. There are a lot of characters to keep track but the narration of Telly Leung does a great job of distinct voices to keep the POV straight.
The story has a bit of everything from grief, betrayal, mystery and romance. I love the twists to the story. This story is told in such a fun and unexpected way and I highly recommend it.
Thank you @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio for the audiobook.
The story is told in multiple POV, from the older aunts and uncles to the children and even the dog. There are a lot of characters to keep track but the narration of Telly Leung does a great job of distinct voices to keep the POV straight.
The story has a bit of everything from grief, betrayal, mystery and romance. I love the twists to the story. This story is told in such a fun and unexpected way and I highly recommend it.
Thank you @htpbooks @htpbooks_audio for the audiobook.
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