Chronicle of a Love Foretold: A Novel

by Thanh Dinh, Nicole Fegan (Editor)

Chronicle of a Love Foretold is a hauntingly tender coming-of-age novel about two boys whose love survives distance, silence, and the cruelties of growing up, even as it nearly destroys them.

Dong is the son of Vietnamese immigrants in Mississauga—bright, dutiful, and carrying burdens far heavier than a teenager should bear. At school, he’s mocked for his name, his heritage, his silence. At home, he suffocates under the expectations of parents who mistake sacrifice for love. What no one knows is that Dong is also gay—and that the one spark that makes life bearable is Simon, the boy with the easy smile, the basketball star who once made him believe that kindness could be more than pity, that love could exist even for someone like him.

For a while, Dong and Simon are Simon becomes the fire to Dong’s frozen solitude, and Dong the quiet refuge from Simon’s loud, glittering world. But when Simon’s mother discovers that their bond is more than friendship, the illusion shatters. Simon’s family moves away, and Dong is left behind with only his loneliness—and the letters he keeps writing, never knowing if they will be read, never daring to hope for a reply.

Years later, on the cusp of adulthood, Dong is given a chance to see Simon again. A party invitation. A scheme crafted with his two loyal friends, Ames and Lizzie, who are willing to risk everything so he can risk one night. Behind his mother’s back, across the guarded thresholds of class and family, Dong sets out for Oakville, his heart clinging to the hope that love can be resurrected.

But love is never simple. When Dong finally stands before Simon again, the confrontation brings both longing and why did Simon never answer? Why carry the letters, unopened, in a locked box all this time? In Simon’s eyes, Dong sees the same hunger, the same fear, the same unspoken need. Yet between them lies not only the distance of years, but the weight of silence, misunderstanding, and choices made by others.

Told with aching lyricism and raw intensity, Chronicle of a Love Foretold unfolds in fragments of memory, secret letters, and fleeting nights that feel like lifetimes. It is a story about first love—how it saves, how it scars, how it endures in spite of everything. It captures the contradictions of the recklessness and the hesitation, the yearning for freedom and the fear of losing what little we have.

This novel is also a meditation on identity and inheritance—how growing up between cultures twists the simplest act of love into rebellion, how silence can be both shield and prison, and how forgiveness is often the hardest lesson to learn. Dong’s perspective reveals the crushing loneliness of the child who is always the adult, while Simon’s silence hides a vulnerability that will one day demand to be heard. Their story is one of absence as much as presence, of what is said in a look or a touch when words cannot cross the divide.

Chronicle of a Love Foretold is for anyone who has ever carried a secret too heavy for their years, who has ever written letters they were too afraid to send, who has ever loved someone so deeply that time, distance, and silence could not erase them. It is a novel about survival and tenderness, about the small rebellions of choosing happiness in a world that insists you have no right to it. Above all, it is about the miracle and the cost of loving someone—foretold or not—when the world would rather you did not.

Genres: Literary Fiction

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 27, 2025

Reviews

[Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75⭐️
So, so good 🥲

I don't want to spoil this very much, so I'm going to be very vague about the plot; that said, this book is an absolute gem! While coming-of-age queer stories might seem trite or overdone at this point, yet somehow, this book seems fresh. Fantastically written, beautiful prose, engaging characters, and the plot actually had a few twists that caught me off guard. There's one scene in particular that almost had me in tears at how touching it was. Overall, I can't recommend this book enough; I can't wait for everyone to enjoy this work.

An enormous thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for an ARC of this book!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness, this book was absolutely captivating! It’s a beautifully written and poetic exploration of the human mind, showing how people can genuinely believe they’re doing the right thing for each other, but their decisions often lead to heartbreak and broken relationships.

The story is hard to read at times, very emotional, and doesn’t sugarcoat the relationships between parents and their kids. I did find it a little hard to believe that 15-17-year-olds would talk in that way, but it just made the story unfold in a beautiful, devastating way. Showing us how love can sometimes be too much or too little. Four different kids and four different styles of parenting, each relationship showing how it can affect their mental health and how they want to live their lives.

It might take a bit of time to get used to the different point of views, as they can shift a few times in a chapter without much notice. But once you get the hang of it, it’s so refreshing to hear from more than just Dongs perspective. After all, there are two sides to every story, and while I can sympathise with Ms. Hoa’s situation, I don’t agree with her approach. Putting so much pressure on a child is a surefire way to make them hate you. And let’s not forget about the other parents—they’re just as flawed as Ms. Hoa, but in their own unique ways. As a parent myself, I’m not sure we’re as wise as we think we are. Everyone makes mistakes, and some are just bigger than others. I think by including everyone’s POV it made us appreciate Dongs upset more.

The ending was a bit bittersweet, though. Simon and Dong reach their goals, but their happiness is different from what you might have hoped for as you read. But it was marked as an open ending, so maybe she’ll come back and give them a better ending later when they’re all grown up. Or maybe that’s just my wishful thinking. They’ve all been through so much, and I just wanted them to have a happier ending. But life isn’t always like that. Their relationship made it through their battles so i’ll just have to be happy with that! 😂

Loved it!


……..
I received an Arc copy from Book Sirens and this is my honest review

[Miglė | Perskaičiau ir aprašiau · Rating 3 out of 5]

An emotional coming-of-age story about two boys who struggle with their families, but manage to love each other no matter what.

Dong's Vietnamese upringing and his mom's story, for me, was the most interesting to read about. I only heard a little about strict immigrant parents, but this book really expanded on that from both Dong's and his mom's POVs. As much as I hated the mom in the beginning, I came to understand her a little later. And it doesn't mean I would forgive her if she was my parent. Putting your own hopes and dreams on a child and harassing him into an ideal son is overboard. However, a very important story to tell, from both POVs.

The lovestory was a little lacking, in my eyes. I felt like I was thrown in the middle of the story from page one and just left there to gather some background info from short reflections of the characters. Also, basically all the dialogs felt like the characters tried to speak in poems, deep Tumblr thoughts. And they are teenagers! As much as I love beautiful prose, at times it felt a bit much.

The final chapter caught me by surprise as this is only the first book of the series, but the book ended as if there is no book two, with rather finalised ending.

I did enjoy the beautiful writing style, but the pace of the story was a little too slow for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Kendrix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Reedsy and Thanh Dinh for an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I came upon this novel in my library and saw that it is set in Ontario, Canada, and I thought, kismet, it’s totally meant to be. A immigrant, gay love story set in the place that I live. It’s safe to say that I’m excited to see how this story goes.

The crux of this story attempts to explore the complications of generational trauma, sexual awakening and the consequences of unspoken love, written in poetic prose that unfortunately becomes more of a chore to go through. Ironic, it is then, that miscommunication is a core theme of this novel, and yet we are presented with bombastic, heady writing that loses the reader’s attention often when these topics are brought up. Like this:

She wants to tell him that it is okay, that he doesn’t need to try so hard, that she only needs him to be happy. That she wants him to smile at her one more time… Used clothes and hand-me-down backpacks; days without heat and piled-up blankets on bare mattresses, but the two of them were blessed with laughter, and they were free, instead of separated by this labyrinth of misunderstanding and words not spoken in the mist of foggy deception.

I think that the consistent problem with this style of writing, where there is an abuse of metaphorical language to the point where it almost hits you over the head with it, or where it is super melodramatic, or where it doesn’t make sense at all.

Simon quickly grabs [the letter] as if fit is the last drop of water on a deserted Earth after the apocalypse… As if he is in a trance - consumed with madness from a winter buried in an ancient tomb a long time ago - he sings…

The sobs are getting louder and louder as Simon’s voice travels through a thousand oceans to mend a broken person.

Like a) what is the author trying to invoke with these allusions? Consumed with madness from a winter buried in an ancient tomb a long time ago? And b) your boyfriend is on the verge of suicide and you are singing? I think some of these similes, metaphors are taken way too far than they need to - and as a consequence of that, you lose the readers on the urgency or tension of the moment, and it just becomes a chore to read. It is so important to emphasize that flowery language does not mean profound. It really needs to come from a place where it makes sense narratively and stylistically or it just comes off as burdensome, like this moment - where Dong’s friends are trying to reunite him with his crush, which is meant to be a very high-stakes moment, but in my opinion, it fails to deliver on that because of the writing:

… she knows that this plan will either be the thunderbolt that strikes down the Babel tower, or the great flood that swipes out every existence on Earth.

It is a tad melodramatic unfortunately, and in my opinion, creates this tonal dissonance where tensed moments are dragged out by hollow descriptions of grandeur, instead of letting the moments resolve with character interactions.

The other problem with this is that because of this style, all the characters speak in a very same-y tone. This is our basketball-playing jock who is our main character’s crush:

I am home. Well, not inside at least. I’m standing outside, looking in, like a dwarf not being invited to the king’s Christmas party.

I mean what does that even mean? A dwarf not being invited to the king’s Christmas party?

If you manage to work through the tiresome writing, the author genuinely has a very important and fresh take on very current issues that many of us face. It is a story about the weight of expectations, the yearning of ambition and the good life, the struggle of finding identity in an unfamiliar world. It talks about the privilege of choice, and about the sacrifice of motherhood, and so much more than just the typical gay coming-of-age exploration.

I think if this was written more simply, there is a great story here. The author juggles all these topics expertly, where she matches sets of characters to explore these individually: Dong and his mother, Ms. Hoa, Ms. Hoa and Ms. Dolores, Simon and Dong, Dong and the girls; these sets dynamically create engaging and ongoing conversations about these heavy topics through the interactions of these characters.

Overall, I really enjoy the themes explored here. The writing unfortunately drags the story down and makes it a tough read.

[Cavak · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, mixed feelings on this one.

Positives first! I loved that the romance between Dong and Simon was given time to grow. They were joined by the unfortunate nature of parents who aren't the best parents, and they aren't completely alone in their world of growing up. Ames and Lizzie double as confidants and their Greek chorus. Even discriminations and prejudices which pop up within the narrative are addressed with a frank care, one that beckons the reader to understand. It's a sweet gesture for emotional maturity and compassion that I appreciated.

But at the same time, I had trouble being swept into the prose. When it's not being told to us through lucrative and theatrical (sometimes downright scholarly) character observations and dialogue that makes it somewhat hard to believe that the main cast are "mostly average" highschoolers, then it's subject to lightning-fast dramatic reveals in the blink of a paragraph. Curiously, despite the quick turns, the plot itself moves at a snail's pace. I sorta wondered whose story it actually was during the middle point when the narrative roams to the parental figures. It's possible to accomplish empathy for the other characters without having to leave your main characters entirely. I felt like that was an option not taken.

Once it reached the romantic letters between Dong and Simon, the poetic wonder within them appealed to me. I also wondered if I would have enjoyed this novel a little more if it was delivered in its entirety as poems with a laser focus on its subject matter. Similar to many of Elizabeth Acevedo's books or Laurie Halse Anderson's Shout .

Chronicle of a Love Foretold is a bittersweet read, once I adjusted to the prose. It took time to grow on me; I wasn't fully invested until page 100 or so. I'm surprised this is a first book in an ongoing series as the ending suggested a finality to their tale. Perhaps it will continue from a few of the subplots that were left hanging. Curious to see how this one will continue.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Damla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanh Dinh became one of my favorite authors after reading, maybe devouring, her two poetry collections. This one is a tender novel filled with literary echoes, from Constantine P. Cavafy’s poem “The God Forsakes Antony” to Leonard Cohen's songs.

Dong is the son of Vietnamese immigrants living in Mississauga. His life is marked by his mother’s strict rules, the silences at home, and the pressures of a world that refuses to see him. At school, he is mocked for his name, heritage, and quiet nature. When Ames and Lizzy appear in his life, two friends become his lifeline. And then there is Simon, the love of his life, his Alexandra. When Simon’s mother discovers them together, they move away. Dong is left with longing and unsent letters that read like prayers. Years later, he got a chance to reunite, and he is determined to seize it with the help of his friends.

This is not a simple coming-of-age queer love story. It is deep, poetic, and heartbreaking, written with prose that captures both the intensity of first love and the silence that follows its loss. First loves are unforgettable. Some are carried with joyful smiles, others with quiet heartbreak and unsent words. Dong’s story belongs to the latter.

The book explores different forms of love and connection with delicate honesty. The parent-child relationship shows how communication can collapse under the weight of sacrifice, silence, and unspoken truths. It is not born of malice but of fear of vulnerability. Love is shown in all its contradictions: powerful, transformative, confusing, and tender, shaping every thought and choice. Friendship is portrayed as a lifeline. Some friendships wound, while others make life bearable.

The multiple POVs and letters create a narrative that feels intimate and immersive. Through these, we experience love, loss, heartbreak, and yearning not only from Dong but also from those who surround him. Immigrant identity, queerness, and belonging shape the story, giving it both intimacy and universality.

As with all her works, I highly recommend this novel to anyone who wants to feel deeply.

I received this copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Stas · Rating 5 out of 5]

you can tell this book was written by a poet. i really found myself liking the prose even when the dialogue felt a little stilted. i kept waiting for something horrible to happen but honestly things stay mostly okay and when something bad happens it is for catharsis and progress. i really loved the insight into all the side characters we get and how not everyone is this perfect person but there are petty jealousies and hurts wrapped up in the way people love one another. i think there were some white saviour-ish attitudes present and a lot of hate thrown hoa's way (literally calling her a dragon mom) that don't get the deepest level of reflection or insight but there are moments of reflection and correction by white characters. i want to send this book to my old queer ethnic literature professor and tell him to throw it on the syllabus. there is so much to be examined and unpacked here but overall i really liked this book.

my one pet peeve was we never get simon's ethnicity stated besides him having brown skin. race and language are a huge part of dong's story and hoa's story which make up a large portion of this book but we know almost nothing about simon's family background except his father is wealthy. i think not acknowledging his race is kind of a cop out when it is so central to the story of other main characters and knowing his racial identity would provide another layer of cultural analysis and perspective that we otherwise are missing out on.

thanks to netgalley for arc access!

[graceinpages · Rating 4 out of 5]

chronicle of a love foretold: a novel by thanh dinh
pub date: September 27, 2025

3.75 stars from me but i rounded up to 4 because overall this novel is beautiful. the author is also a poet and i can absolutely tell. the prose is so poetic and beautiful it sucked me in and had be devouring it from start to finish.

chronicle of a love foretold is a queer coming of age story about two boys whose love perseveres through the many adversities stacked up against them. Dong is the son of vietnamese immigrants who have smothered him under such high expectations and finds solace in Simon. until one day where Simon’s mother finds that their friendship is more than just that and Simon’s family moves away. years later they have the opportunity to see each other again and Dong is determined to find his own happiness under the crushing weight of his mother’s expectations.

this novel also did a wonderful job of explaining the nuances of having an asian immigrant mother and how they convey their love for you. it can sometimes be deeply misguided and from a place where their own trauma bloomed.

there were moments in the writing where the switching of perspectives was a little confusing but you get used to it. the pacing felt very comfortable but the time gaps felt a little unrealistic but otherwise it was a lovely read.

thank you to netgalley, victory editing, and thanh dinh for giving me the opportunity to read this arc :)

[Lynn C · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Writerly Books for the ARC.

The plot of the story was fine, but the writing was not. The prose was pretentious, focusing on overly complex language rather than clear communication. This book overuses metaphors to an insane degree, even when they don't make sense. "Between us is an ocean, and someday, we'll see it fall apart." The ocean is going to fall apart? Really? Instead of being crossed? Metaphors are meant to create vivid imagery, not bog down the meaning of what the novel is trying to say.

In keeping with the terrible prose, none of the main characters speaks like real people, let alone modern teenagers. Ames and Lizzie, who are not supposed to be book smart, somehow know enough about Babylon to wax poetic about the Tower of Babel. These are the same girls who barely knew who Shakespeare was. Similarly, everyone in this book speaks the exact same way and often repeats metaphors other characters have already used. It makes the entire book bland, despite its attempt to be moving.

[Courtney Borgard · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was something I don’t typically read myself. However, I was thoroughly surprised with it. It may take some people a little time to get into, but I promise it’s worth the wait. I was pleasantly surprised with how quickly I ended up reading this book. I was disappointed, at how quickly the ending passed though. I would have liked to see some of the climactic drama unfold a little less back to back as well. It was almost too much to handle at once and the ending came so quickly I was left bereft and craving more. Overall, this read was a 4 star read for me and I am glad to have been able to have it as an arc read and experience a new genre and style of writing as well. 😊

I received this book as an ARC reader and this is my honest review.

[Paige · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to get into this book, but the writing style just wasn’t for me. The dialogue was awkward, with nothing helping the characters stand out with their own voices. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get past the strange and stilted prose, so I had to DNF this book. I see it has lot of good reviews, so this may be a me problem.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Janet Jaramillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

The recommend you reading Chronicle of a Love Foretold if you're looking for a emotional read. I personally loved it and loved the dialog these boys had. This is hard to review without giving spoilers, but know this this book is a fucking gem it has some plot twist and you will cry at least 3 times!

5/5 stars!

[Chris]

DNF. Really wanted to like this one and loved the premise, but the plot moved too slowly for me.