Double Happiness

by Heather Eng

Caught between a relentless tech job, her adoring fiancé, and an unexpected new flame, Mei must learn what it means to choose herself

When Mei Li runs into Alexandre Brodeur at a family function, there’s no denying their chemistry. It turns out Alexandre, whose brother is married to Mei’s younger sister, is back in town rebuilding his life after two decades toiling away in academic research. Somehow, Alexandre’s different from the young scientist Mei met years ago. His intelligent eyes and quiet air of mystery have a magnetic effect, drawing her in like never before.

But Mei’s carefully constructed life has no room for Alexandre. She’s engaged to Joey, a fellow Queens native who keeps her grounded as she pulls eighty-hour weeks at Livin, the tech world’s hottest startup. After a childhood marked by financial and emotional turmoil, Mei finally has the stability she’s always craved.

In Mei’s brief moments away from her crushing workload, Alexandre is an uncomfortably enticing presence. It doesn’t take long for their thoughtful conversations and his electric gaze to get under her skin, leaving Mei to wonder what she really wants in work, life, and love.

With her wedding date fast approaching, Mei has to make an impossible choice between two very different men. And after she does, she still must figure out what it truly means to have it all.

Genres: Romance, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Expected publication May 19, 2026

About the author

I’m a third-generation Chinese American who grew up in Queens, New York. I graduated from Boston University with a journalism degree, and worked as a newspaper writer, magazine editor, and senior marketing leader in the tech industry. DOUBLE HAPPINESS is my first novel.

I live in Manhattan with my husband and daughter. Outside of writing, I’m a lifelong ballet dancer, enthusiastic reader, and beach lover.

Reviews

[Mai H.]

ANHPI TBR

📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books

[Harleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

I have mixed feelings about this one. I loved the characters and really appreciated the diverse cast. The FMC was especially relatable, which made the story easy to get into.

The story follows Mei, who seems to have it all: a fulfilling career and a fiancé she loves. Everything appears stable until Alexandre enters her life. After meeting him, it felt like a switch flipped. She suddenly dislikes her job and calls off her wedding. I wasn't entirely sure whether Alexandre helped her recognize things she had been overlooking or if she wanted to be with him instead, because they made more sense and were much more compatible. That shift felt a bit abrupt, and I found myself questioning her motivations.

Neither MMC was entirely likable. Joey was goofy and aloof, while Alexandre came off as self-deprecating and cynical. I would have been okay if Mei had chosen neither of them.

I still binged this book and enjoyed it overall. I am rating it 3.5 stars because I admire Mei and her strength and resilience as a woman of color, and her journey of overcoming adversity to become a confident, successful woman outweighs my dislike of her love interests.

Thank you to NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for the arc!

[CS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so beautifully written that it’s hard to believe it’s the author’s debut novel. So much more than a romance, “Double Happiness” explores what it means to pursue what you want in life, and what truly matters. All of the characters are painfully realistic and relatable, as are the tough decisions that Mei, the main character, grapples with. Who hasn’t struggled with work-life balance or knowing when to leave a relationship? The author captures these conundrums with wit and wisdom, and I eagerly awaited to see what Mei would do for the entire book—the tension is palpable. The story stays with you long after you finish the book. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this talented and promising author.

[Lola🇳🇬 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I binge read this book at work! It was well written.
It will definitely stay on my mind for real.

I love the characters, they were well written. Mei’s character is a relatable in terms of her job and anticipations from life in general.
I also, love the way the book went.

The reason why this book is not a five star read is because, i am somehow not a big fan of the MMC. I feel like i’ve read better ones which made my standard a little high.
Also, romance seemed like a subplot and i’ve been finding this interesting lately.

Thank you to Heather Eng and Netgallery for the ARC copy, in exchange for my honest review.

[Laurel · Rating 2 out of 5]

This had all the makings of a light, enjoyable romance, but for some reason it didn’t land for me. It all felt pretty superficial and forced. And the title made me think there might be a more interesting twist. Meh.

Thanks to NetGalley for an opportunity to read this advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Helen Wu ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

Wow, I’m pleasantly surprised by Double Happiness. I love a diverse cast (and not just token characters), the boss-lady energy, the “he falls first” trope, and the strong sibling dynamic. The academia setting felt so relatable, and the way workaholism was used to mask heartbreak hit close to home. I also appreciated the inclusion of mental health discussions—though I wish it could’ve been touched on a bit more. And oh, the disappointment feelings that our parents made us carry…ugh. Not fun.

When Mei was caught up in the corporate ladder climb and those golden handcuffs—pushing through 100-hour work weeks just to prove her worth—I couldn’t help but think how much I don’t miss that stage of life. At the end of the day, this book serves as a gentle reminder that work is not everything. We really need to focus on living. In the moment. Right now. We are enough. We deserve good things. We don’t need to prove anything to anyone anymore.

I went in expecting a light, quick romance, maybe even an insta-love (I was bracing myself for the ick!)—but instead, I found a layered story full of relatable life choices, tough decisions, and a wonderfully respectful slow burn. What a read. Definitely recommend. Thank you NetGalley and Dutton for the e-ARC.

[Mayra Alejandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mei is a workaholic who thinks she has it all figured out: Work, money and a fiancé. But after she meets Alexandre she starts seeing things through a different perspective.
I really liked this books because it not only focusses in the romantic aspect but also in the inner turmoil you can brew when you don't know exactly how to break certain tendencies.

The romance part was done amazingly and it resonated with me a lot. Mei was definitely settling down with a trashy partner at the beginning of the story.

I see this book being turned into a short tv. series in the future. The characters are well written and the story has a perfectly synced rhythm.

ᯓ How many stars do I give to this book? 5 stars ★★★★★ out of 5 ★★★★★

ᯓ I want to thank NetGalley and Tiny Reparation Books for the opportunity to read this ARC.

ᯓ This doesn't affect in any way the contents of my review. All opinions and comments expressed are my own.

#NetGalley #DoubleHappiness

[jenn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Tiny Rep Books for the ARC of Double Happiness! This book was challenging for me to get through and I didn’t love it as much as I wanted to. I felt like the writing was okay and the story felt too choppy. The idea of someone being so immersed into work and not having that work life balance was interesting, but also it felt like having a man change that (that is not your fiancee) was wild to my brain LOL. I’m thankful to have been able to receive the book, but it fell too short for me. 🫩

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book because I felt like the plot was easy to follow, the characters had relatable flaws, and the ending was believable and not too cheesy. I learned about topics I didn’t expect and the toxic culture of corporate America. A romance filled with depth related to the characters passions and their misgivings. I found myself looking forward to my nightly reading so I could see where Mei’s journey would take her. Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

[gillian milton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel is a great beach read! It’s easy to get through and definitely light-hearted. That being said, it does get rather boring and slow in some parts. I also feel like there is something missing from the plot. What about their childhood? Can we get a glimpse of them when they were younger?
Ultimately, I think it was a strong novel for this author’s debut! Congratulations!
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for allowing me early access to this novel!

[Andi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author writes well. The story flowed and there was not anything wrong with it. Your standard romance novel with the standard tropes. One mildly spicy scene.

[Christina · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5

This was a nice light romance read. I enjoyed Mei, her sister, niece, and brother-in-law the most. I also enjoyed the sub-plot of Mei and her experience in the workplace. I didn't fall in love with the MMC and honestly think this still would have been a good story without Joey. I love a romance that has me giggly and kicking my feet, but unfortunately that was not the case for this. At times I felt like the pacing was off as well, but I will say the book got better as I read. I know this is Heather Eng's debut, but I will check out her future books!

Thank you Tiny Reparations Books Marketing and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

[MaReads Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

A modern, adult, emotionally sharp romcom that proves a “green flag” fiancé can hide a giant red flag, and that some loves lift you higher instead of weighing you down.

4⭐️/5 — 1🌶️/5 (1 chater/43)

Toxic relationship
Toxic workplace
Second chance romance
He falls first
They help each other

I put off reading Double Happiness for a while, but once I started, I ended up really enjoying it.

What hooked me immediately? ADULT characters (36 and 42!) and a deeply mature exploration of real-life issues:
-co-dependency
-family pressure
-work pressure
-ambition vs fulfillment
-self-worth
-comfort vs real happiness
-emotional responsibility

🧔🏻 Joey: from green flag… to giant red flag
I was suspicious from the start:
1 year together → engaged → moving in at 10 months. Too fast for me.
But I also get it, dating at 36 isn’t dating at 20.

At first, Joey seems great:
- he supports Mei career
- he accepts her higher salary
- he “understands” how her work is important to her

But it quickly unravels.
We see that he:
-avoids responsibility
-refuses to prepare for his exam
-depends on Mei for everything (hello manchild syndrome)
-wallows in self-pity
-lets her go to mini-golf alone with Alexandre (like on a date with another man???)

And when she says she wants to cancel the wedding? He turns into a completely different person.
Suddenly he’s yelling, judging, planting insecurities in her, weaponizing her fears.
Joey: the fake green flag hiding a huge red one.

🧔🏻Alexandre: the REAL green flag
I loved him. He’s mature, thoughtful, self-aware, kind, and genuinely supportive. During the vacation scenes, he sees everything Mei tries to hide.
His lines? Absolutely devastating in the best way:
“Just look out for yourself.”
“Don’t you think you’re worthy of more?”
“You deserve it all.”
“I’m one hundred percent sure about you.”
His messages after her breakup, present but not pushy, were absolutely perfect. And the fact that he turns down a job offer that would drag him back into his dark past? Growth, maturity, emotional responsibility.

Alexandre : the real green flag that makes you swoon.

👩🏻 Mei: strong, ambitious, heartbreaking to watch
I loved her boss-woman energy: she works hard for the life she wants, she is ambitious, she stands on her own two feet.
But she also broke my heart when:
-she saw Joey’s red flags but hoped they’d magically fix themselves
-she spiraled after canceling the wedding
-she pushed her family away
-she fell deeper into Livin’s toxic environment
-she hid things from her loved ones, including her relationship with Alexandre
I just wanted to shake her and yell:
“You deserve better! Walk away and stop doing stupid things!”
Her pact with Alexandre, lifting each other up, was so touching.
And that final scene, where she rushes to stop him from accepting a job that would ruin him again? Beautiful.

Double Happiness is heartfelt, honest, modern, and deeply relatable. It tackles burnout, cultural expectations, ambition, red flags, co-dependency, and the courage to choose yourself. 
I saw so much of my own experiences reflected in these characters.
A smart, mature romance that balances realism with hope.

Thank you NetGalley, Heather Eng, and Dutton/Tiny Reparations Books for sending me this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was not quite what I expected based on the blurb, the cover, or the title. As such, this review is going to end up being about my reading experience almost as much as the book. Hopefully it will help the right readers find it, because for the right audience, I think this one will really resonate!

This book had A LOT going on, despite being a very fast, easy read. I'm going to break it down into the two main parts as I saw them.

The romance: The blub definitely leaned into the romance aspect of this one, emphasizing the choice our FMC faced between loveable, goofy Joey and the more sensitive but troubled Alexandre. I thought this would be the focus of the book, and I came in with the expectation that these two men would present different but equally viable options for the the life Mei envisioned for herself. I thought she was going to choose between them as part of a larger choosing-what-she-wants theme. Instead, this felt like the classic right-guy vs wrong-guy set up of many a romcom. As soon as Alexandre entered the scene, Joey stopped looking so loveable and started looking like a manchild. The transition was a bit too abrupt for me, but ultimately a did a great job of showing how having options changed Mei's perspective. Joey was Joey throughout; it was Mei who saw him anew.

Another note on the romance: There was never any mystery about what Mei was going to choose. I thought there might have been based on the blurb, but as soon as chapter two rolled around and we got a POV chapter from Alexandre, it became immediately obvious where things were going. I did find the two-POV approach off-putting at times. While classic for a romance, it was not what I might have expected from a book that seemed to want to be about Mei finding herself.

Livin the Dream: Mei's Work Life: THIS was the story I wanted to read. I wish this had been the main plot and the romance had been simplified to just Alexandre and sidelined to a more supporting-plot role. I'm glad I didn't DNF this book (the opening romance felt formulaic enough that I almost DNF'd at about the 20% mark), because this plot really picked up in the second half and I was genuinely invested. Mei's particular struggle is being a woman of color in a corporate setting dominated by white men in power. That said, I think anyone who has ever worked as a cog in the corporate machine will really identify with this plotline regardless of background. It is so hard to stay true to oneself when one's livelihood is on the line and each concession is small, just one little thing, but there are so many of them in the end. Additionally, workplace manipulations can be subtle enough that they slip under one's guard. I loved how Mei saw the bad, and even though she saw it, wanted to stay because she thought maybe she could fix it. Maybe she could improve the Livin culture. That was such a poignant reason for her to agree to be part of a company doing unjust and unkind things. The inclusion of AI in Livin's shifting culture was especially timely and relevant.

Ultimately, this book was a 3.5 star read for me, rounded up to four because it ended stronger than it started.

Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an eARC of this!

[Siegrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

‘Oh stop! No one’s a wheel. We’re Legos. We break apart and form new combinations, and they all work”

“Double Happiness" tells the story of marketing creative Mei Lin, her sister Ali, brother-in-law Luc, niece Kaia and her broader extended circle. It’s also the story of Joey, a not-quite-right fiance and Alexandre brother of Luc and a possible new love. How will all the Legos fall into place here …

Mei is in middle management at a fast growing firm, ironically called ‘Livin’. She is good at her job and is well-remunerated but it takes absolutely everything from her. She clings to financial security because of her early life experiences where money was scarce. Alexandre has shared this obsessive drive as a biology academic but is in a period of transition. They have much in common when they reconnect early in the book.

Alexandre’s thoughtful and considerate nature begins to highlight Joey’s selfish immaturity. The kindest way to describe Joey is that he is unevolved. A turning point for Mei is a racist joke that Joey double downs upon and defends.

‘This couldn’t be happening. She was having the “I’m not racist conversation with her fiance.’

‘Double Happiness’ is a great example of the capacity of genre fiction to offer wisdom and insight. If one of the happinesses of the title is love the other could easily be work. Heather Eng is interested in how work fits into a life, how it can sustain or constrain. Heather’s own journey from marketing to novelist adds authenticity to this aspect of the novel. Mei is proudly Chinese American - her ideal wedding dress is a red gown with a cheongsam bodice and a tulle skirt - and the novel gives voice to her particular experiences as she navigates a corporate world filled with over-entitled white men and their sycophantic underlings.

Food is almost a character in the novel - Heather describes many delicious meals and restaurants - as is place. Manhattan, Queens and Hawaii are rendered with affection and detail.

As a romance it’s unusual. Given the non-quite-right boyfriend hangs around for half a book, the structure is a little different to a usual romance but I quite liked that. It’s like life really. The relationship between Mei and Allesandre was caring and believable, and there's just a glimmer of spice in there too.

Thank you so much Heather Eng for writing this book. Thank you also to the publisher Tiny Reparation Books and to Netgalley for the opportunity to read Double Happiness before it is published in May 2026. It’s a lovely book and I hope it finds a wide appreciative readership.

[Topo Chicas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Eng’s Double Happiness is a stirring novel that explores several very widespread, contemporary issues that plague those living in modern western society, especially those of diverse cultures or communities. In it, it was a richly crafted story involving modern workplace expectations, modern family dynamics, and modern love stories, whether between two people from the same background or very different backgrounds. All of this set to the background of the protagonist’s point of view, being that of a single Asian-American workaholic.

Having close first-generation single Asian-American friends myself, a lot of the traditions and foods mentioned in the book were familiar to me, but it is lovely that this book might open the minds of other readers who could learn more about other cultures through it, and that I could learn more about cultures that are not my own. Also, it could potentially bring peace and comfort to those of similar cultures or backgrounds, had they been experiencing similar trials and tribulations in their own lives or love lives.

The protagonist, Mei, is so driven that perhaps she takes certain aspects of a fully lived life for granted. There are those who would find her life at the beginning of the story aspirational, though. She is a marketing manager who has a lovely salary with everything that she has dreamed of as a child at her fingertips. Should she be happy and just keep working harder, or is something missing? That’s the question that I pose for her and anyone reading this novel. At what point is one really, “Living the dream”?

This book is a double helping of introspection and also self- and cultural-awareness by most of the main characters in the book, but it’s also a story of different kinds of romance and love. It is prose that comes off as written as a gentle form of activism, in my humble opinion.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for this digital ARC!!

[Rayo Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for granting my request to read this e-ARC and provide my honest opinion.

Mei Li has a job she loves and a fiancé who dotes on her, but all of this starts crumbling when she meets Alexandre (her sister’s brother-in-law).

One thing I loved about this book was that we had a woman in tech at the forefront. She was accomplished (regardless of the work/life balance situation at LIVIN’), and I love that for our FMC!!!

But… regarding her relationship, especially with her fiancé, I was confused. Initially, we were introduced to Joey (her fiancé) who loved Mei, didn’t give her crap about the hours she put into her work, and was confident in his skin. Sure, he had weird hobbies (but who doesn’t 🤷). Fast forward to when Alexandre was introduced, and suddenly it felt like the author wanted to force us to hate Joey (which I didn’t!). Out of nowhere, after meeting Alexandre, she started having doubts about her husband-to-be. Issues that had never bothered her suddenly got under her skin, and I kept asking myself: was it because she was embarrassed by Joey, or did she subconsciously want a reason to leave now that a “hot” new interest was in the picture?

And the way Alexandre constantly butted in and gave unsolicited opinions about Mei’s relationship was jarring! Like, what do you mean Mei settled because she isn’t with you? 🤦 So forgive me if I didn’t really dig Mei and her “hot” new interest. The chemistry wasn’t there, the self-deprecating remarks he made, judging someone because of his clothing choice and hobbies—guyyy!! Then calling out Mei but doing the exact same thing he told her not to do? Thinking of making a move on another man’s girl? 🤦

Overall, I loved Mei and totally related to her, but concerning the love interests, it was just off.

Thank you once again for the e-ARC.

[Vans · Rating 3 out of 5]

3/5 stars, because the book went places but didn't make sense getting there.

In the first chapter, we're introduced to Mei Li, workaholic and incredibly successful marketer who toils 70+ hours per week for Livin, an "experiential lifestyle company." Mei has an incredibly loving and supportive fiance, Joey, who although not quite as ambitious, still holds his own financially. We're painted an adorable picture of true love, from their first adorable date to their every day life in the present day.

...But then Mei meets the hot scruffy fish professor and suddenly every one of Joey's flaws has been a big problem from the start and she's questioning her relationship. Don't get me wrong, Joey's use of "my baby" at the end of every sentence would drive anyone away, not to mention his dumb racist jokes that come out later on, but we don't even get a hint of Mei thinking he's annoying or embarrassing until after she meets Professor Hotfish, who actually kind of seems like a jerk? The first real conversation she has with him, she tells him how much she loves her job and what she does while he fires back with how it's just a bunch of spoiled rich hypocrites and how can she enjoy working there.

I'm sorry, if someone shares their passion with you, you don't immediately start criticizing them, especially if you're a POTENTIAL LOVE INTEREST IN A ROMANCE NOVEL.

The best part of this story is seeing Mei come into her own and figure out where she's going and what she really wants out of life, outside of what is expected of her from everyone else. Kudos to Mei for growing a spine and making her own choices.

Thank you to author, publisher, and Netgalley for allowing me to read.

[kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of those "I have my life totally together until a man from my past ruins everything" tropes, then buckle up because this one is a mood.

The story centers on Mei Li, who is basically the definition of "hustle culture" personified. She’s pulling 80-hour weeks at a tech startup called Livin and is engaged to Joey, a guy who is basically her safe harbor after a messy childhood. But then because there's always a "but", she runs into Alexandre Brodeur at a family thing. He’s the brother of her sister's husband, and apparently, 20 years of academic research has turned him into a total smoke show with "intelligent eyes" and a "magnetic effect". Suddenly, her perfect, stable life feels like a cage.

The book leans heavily into the contemporary romance and literary fiction space, focusing on that "impossible choice" between the life you think you want and the one that actually makes you feel alive. It’s got that sharp, modern tech-world backdrop that makes the burnout feel very real and very relatable. I’ll be honest, the "choosing herself" theme is a bit of a cliché, but Eng writes it with enough grit and electric tension that you actually care if Mei torches her wedding plans for a guy she hasn't seen in decades. It’s a classic love triangle setup, but it feels more about Mei’s identity crisis than just which guy has the better jawline.

The ending is about her realizing that "having it all" doesn't mean having the perfect resume and a fiancé, it means actually liking the person she sees in the mirror. She ends up in a much more uncertain place, but for the first time, it’s a place she chose on her own terms.

#DoubleHappiness #NetGalley

[Vania · Rating 3 out of 5]

Double Happiness by Heather Eng (e-ARC)
Pub date: 19 May 2026

Double Happiness follows Mei Li, a successful marketing professional whose carefully planned life, including a devoted fiancé and a demanding career, begins to shift when she meets Alexandre, prompting her to question her relationship and what happiness truly means. I was drawn by the title and the premise, but I have to admit that I did not enjoy this book quite as much as I had hoped. The story leans more towards personal growth and self-reflection than a typical romance, with the romantic elements unfolding alongside the protagonist’s journey rather than taking centre stage. From the middle onwards, I often found myself wondering about the story, as some scenes end rather abruptly, and I reckon the overall plot could be smoother if it were more fully developed and connected between chapters. Despite all that, I still enjoyed reading it, as the writing is clear and easy to follow, and I appreciated how the novel incorporates diverse cultural perspectives while emphasising the importance of personal choice. The story’s reflective nature and thoughtful character development give it several heartfelt moments, making it a thoughtful and reflective read overall. All in all, Double Happiness offers a contemplative take on identity, expectations, and the pursuit of happiness, and I had a pleasant time reading it. I look forward to seeing what Heather Eng writes next.

overall rating:
⭐️: 3/5

thank you @tinyrepbooks @duttonbooks and @netgalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts on the book.

[Elisabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Double Happiness is ultimately a powerful story about redefining your mindset to choose joy and peace, amidst overachieving work cultures and familial expectations. It’s also a love letter to New York City, not just in its setting but in its pure appreciation of the diversity of food and people.
Mei is fantastic at her job in marketing, but slowly realizes the toxicity of the company culture. She is also in an engagement that doesn’t support or match her personal growth and maturity. Meanwhile, Alexandre has left the world of research for teaching as a professor, but is grappling with the shame and disappointment of not achieving tenure. In their platonic (and ultimately romantic) relationship, these two push each other to make decisions that improve their mental health, social lives, and end the cycles of professional toxicity they’re in.
While the message in Double Happiness was powerful, and I loved the deep dives into the tech and academia world, the writing felt a bit stiff— the pacing didn’t always feel natural and the dialogue sometimes sounded too formal or unrealistic. It felt difficult to truly connect with the protagonists and their decisions. But what I appreciated were the maturity of the relationships, emphasis on diversity and inclusivity in professional and personal spaces, and the sibling relationships across the protagonists.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

[Nicole Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I feel like I have mixed feelings about this story. First of all, I loved that Mei was a fellow bing graduate (go bearcats). But more importantly, I loved Mei as a character. I felt that she was super relatable, and it was nice to read a book about a character who thought she really had her life together, only to realize that none of it was actually what she really wanted. To let go of a relationship and a job and restart from scratch is such a scary thing to even think about doing, but Mei faced her fears and did just that. She put her happiness and her morals and beliefs first, and that was something that I found admirable.

Okay, so now we have Alexandre. Did I like him and Mei together? Sure. But something that irked me was that this man is 42 years old, and still cannot communicate. Mei was part of the problem too, don’t get me wrong. She’s also an adult and acted the same way. But the way that they would get annoyed about something, take a dig at the other, and then proceed to not talk for several days? It pained me. We are too old to be acting this way!!!

Overall, I think this book was enjoyable and touched on important topics. But I wasn’t rooting for the romantic relationship as much as I had hoped to be.

⭐️ 3/5 ⭐️

[Candy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was invited by the publisher to review this book. Mei unexpectedly reconnects with Alexandre, whose brother is married to her sister, at a family gathering and feels a powerful attraction, but her life is already planned. Engaged to Joey and working hard hours at a popular tech startup, Mei values the stability she fought hard to achieve after an unstable childhood. But Alexandre is changed after years away researching, and is able to draw her into deep conversations and stir up feelings. Mei begins questioning her priorities and desires. With her wedding approaching, she must choose between security and passion, and ultimately figure out what it means to truly have it all.

I thought Mei was very relatable, in that sense that many of us are striving for something better than what we had - but do we settle for secure and possibly dull, or exciting? Do we follow brains or heart? Plus Mei struggled with work-life balance, which I think many of us know all about. I can't say I personally liked Alexandre, but I can see why Mei would be drawn to him. I really just enjoyed Mei's overall journey.

Thank you to NetGalley and Dutton/Tiny Reparations Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sílvia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley, Heather Eng and Tiny Reparations Books for giving me the chance to read this ARC and provide my honest review.

This is a diverse story that takes place in NYC (if you can make it here, you can make it everywhere), with the main characters in their late thirties/early fourties. As a millennial myself, I really felt represented by the struggles, the expectations that ourselves and others put on us, the desire to make something of ourselves with trying to have work-life balance. In my opinion, Heather Eng did a great job on putting those into paper.

Mei is an American-Chinese woman trying to survive in the corporate world and make sure that she represents her culture and values in the hot company she works for.
She is engaged to Joey, who really likes and supports her. But in a family functions, she reconnects with Alexandre, which makes her start thinking about her life and her choices.

This book is an easy flow inclusive captivating story, in the first half of it I consider it more a women's fiction than romance and the actual romance comes on the second half. I couldn't put it down and will be really interested in whatever Heather Eng writes next. Amazing debut book.

[KRM · Rating 5 out of 5]

Double Happiness is a debut novel that is a worthwhile read! We first meet Mei who enjoys her position at work and overachieves to maintain her status at ‘Livin’; taking extreme pride in her success. Mei also enjoys a great relationship with Joey and they are to be married. This relationship has progressed without much effort from Mei and was an easy complement to her life at ‘Livin’. However, Mei’s feelings change when Alexandre reappears in her life. A difficult decision follows which puts Mei in a position to (re)evaluate her feelings about Joey, her work, Alexander and herself.

Double Happiness is a romance story but it is also a narrative of introspection, self discovery and growth. The situations and emotions that Mei experience are very real and relatable. We see that the path to her self-realization has setbacks and uncertainty; that it happens over time and that unanticipated events help Mei to see what really matters to her.

There was an ease in the storytelling that held my interest. The writing was straightforward and conversational which kept me fully engaged in the narrative and in Mei’s journey to double happiness.

[Alison T · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heather Eng’s debut novel, Double Happiness, centers around Mei, a senior director of brand marketing, working for a tech startup that wants to change the way people live around the world.
Mei, who is engaged to Joey, seems happy. She has a work-first mentality, a strong relationship with her sister and her sister’s family, and she claims she is very happy.
But we soon see cracks in the façade and Mei’s quest for happiness seems to be cloudy at best. Work life balance is not as important as climbing the rungs at work. Joey is getting on her nerves. Alexandre, her sister’s brother-in-law moves back to town. And if this weren’t enough, her ideal workplace turns out to be less than ideal.
Neither of Mei’s love interests engaged me in the story. Mei was a bit too self-focused for me to really want to root for her. Yet, the struggles she faced were things that many young women face today, and these struggles present real challenges for women, both professionally and personally.
As a debut from Eng, I encourage others to give this story a read.
Thank you to Tiny Reparations Books and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Tiffany]

Double Happiness is marketed as a story about Mei, who is in marketing leadership at a fast growing startup. However it is more expansive than that. It is also the story of Alexandre, a former research scientist turned professor. Further, it is the story of the real tension between striving for high work achievements while not losing the other parts of life you love.

I loved the character development, evolutions and regressions in this book. It accurately reflects that life is not a straight line, nor does it fit in tidy categories. I also felt that the story developed well from a pacing amd narrative description perspective. It also struck a chord with me in how inclusion and stereotypes can impact every part of life. Despite being this author's first book, she expertly wove together many complex topics, and I loved every moment of it.

Thank you to Heather Eng, Tiny Reparations Books and Netgalley for the advance read copy of this book,which I received in exchange for my honest review.

[Sam Doorn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for this ARC!

I finished this book with mixed feelings. There were many things that I appreciated throughout the book but also some big distractors that took away from my overall enjoyment while reading.

I enjoyed the overall plot of a workaholic Mei realizing close to her wedding that she's feeling unfulfilled and like there's something better out there for her. Not only within her relationship, but professionally as well. I loved that the author focused on inclusion, life/work balance, racial disparities (within companies, advertising, and individuals), and the positive focus on mental health therapy. The characters I found to be endearing and their family system easy to connect with.

However, the book felt very predictable and kind of cheesy at times to me. I'm not sure if it was the writing style or if I just didn't connect with some of the characters/themes. I overall enjoyed reading, it just wasn't one of my favorites!

[gigi !! · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Tiny Reparations and NetGalley for this arc!

This book has left me conflicted because it had so many moments you'd expect in a contemporary that made the story worth reading while conveying a realness so many other books lack, but then there were the parts that were so obvious (so obvious that you knew how the book was going to end not even three chapters in) and other parts that felt so performative and forced that you had to ask yourself, was this good?

If you like a dual POV (because for whatever reason it isn't clear on the cover or the description that there's two main characters), have a hard time balancing work and your personal life, hiking, making decisions based on what people tell you, over thirty, and keeping it in the family, then you should definitely give this a try. Will forever be grateful for being sent this copy out of the blue, but it just wasn't for me or something I’d pick up again.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨️Spoiler Free Review✨️

Thanks to @netgalley, the author & @tinyrepbooks for the ARC.

I want to say this book blew me but sadly it didn't, however for a debut novel, it isn't bad. It would make a great beach read.
It started off slow & a bit "choppy", the writing didnt feel settled the first half of the book & only really settles down when our FMC, Mei, did and it did feel a bit long-winded in some parts.
Our FMC is likeable, as are her sister and brother in law but the 2 MMC's, well one is more off than the other. I couldn't abide Joey. I wanted to, but he just gave me the "ick". Every time he used the phrase "my baby" just felt disingenuous. Alexandre fairs slightly better but he comes across as a tad cynical. Theres some chemistry but if you're looking for spice, then blink and you'll miss it!
It was a good book, it definitelygot better in the 2nd half. I liked the fact it covered mental health & therapy and not glossed over.