This propulsive, tender novel follows an immigrant family across generations as they navigate love, belonging, and the great fictions we must weave to preserve a legacy.
For centuries, the Chin family has kept its secrets.
In 1878, Duanfang knows he’s destined for greatness. He’ll do anything to uphold and protect the legacy of his Manchu family—even if it means hiding his past.
In 1966, Zheng Yi flies from Taiwan to New York City to have a shot at attending an American college. Thrown into a world of parties, prejudice, and a tumultuous romance, Yi worries that New York may be more than she can handle. But just as she is beginning to adjust, she must make a shocking decision that will irrevocably change her life and her future forever.
Today, Dawn Chin’s family is opaque at best, with heavy expectations and heavier silences. But an assignment to interview her grandmother is about to crack open her real family a legacy hundreds of years old, and a lie decades in the making...
E. L. Shen is a writer and editor. Her debut middle grade novel, The Comeback (Macmillan) is a Junior Library Guild Selection, received two starred reviews, and was praised for its “fast-paced prose, big emotions, and authentic dialogue” in The New York Times. Her young adult debut, The Queens of New York (HarperCollins) is an American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults, a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year, a Junior Library Guild Selection, and a Common Sense Media Selection. Her most recent novel, Maybe It’s a Sign (Macmillan), published on January 23, 2024 and is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. Her next novel. Foreigners, is set to publish from HarperCollins in Fall 2026.
I've been anticipating this title for so long ahhh so grateful to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!
The highlight of Foreigners is a dual-POV (technically triple POV) linking the past to the present, truly emphasizing the consequences and positive outcomes of the tough decisions the characters make. WOW.
Firstly, the characters are so likeable. Our protagonists are foils to each other, while the interspersed chapters from the great-grandfather's perspective also added a layer of intergenerational experience to the novel. I personally enjoyed Audrey's perspective the most, as the first few chapters got me so invested in her story. She had the most twists. But Dawn's perspective of the present was also quite engaging, Dawn being a very proactive and strong character (though sometimes her scenes could drag a little). Foreigners is very Young Adult, but in terms of the complexity of characters and themes, you really don't feel that way sometimes. Wow. Their backstories and flaws are explored in such a meaningfully handled way. (minor spoiler comment) Another thing I loved about the characterization was how even antagonists had a well fleshed-out backstory.
I genuinely enjoyed the subplots so much and for me it was so obvious how much the characters grew from the start to the end, all in an incredibly natural and well-paced way. Though when talking about the pacing, I definitely found it slow at times, the unhurried pace of the novel serves to really flesh out the characters.
The romance was also a highlight of this story. Although it was sometimes predictable, it added a lot of twists and dimension to the protagonist, forcing them to make difficult decisions that ultimately lead to growth.
I DIDN'T SEE THE BIGGEST TWIST COMING UNTIL CLOSE TO THE REVEAL. IT'S SO CREATIVE and honestly so realistic considering the historical setting.
ALSO THE WRITING? You don't get the choppy sense of some YA novels at all, even if the story is written in third person & present tense.
Overall, this was such a thought-provoking and extremely well-written novel. Although the concept isn't the most unique, the representation of the Asian American immigrant experience was so powerfully conveyed. As an Asian American myself, I found some elements so heartbreaking in their truth, while throughout the reading experience, there were a lot of YA struggles that really resonated. Everything was depicted so thoughtfully in this novel. I'd 100% recommend it to anyone looking for a deep read.
Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books, Quill Tree Books, and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Chin family secrets are spread across generations. From Duanfang the Manchu politician in 1878 to Zheng Yi the Taiwanese exchange student in NYC in 1965 to Dawn Chin in the present, they all are hiding something that holds power over them and the people they love.
For me, a mark of a truly great literary work is when it causes me to pause and reflect on my own life, seeing myself in the characters, untangling my own identity and experiences alongside them. That's what it felt like reading Foreigners. The story shifts perspective from Zheng Yi and Dawn during their respective times in high school with short chapters about Duanfang sprinkled in.
I loved reading about Zheng Yi's experience as an exchange student during the civil rights movement, how she was welcomed into a host family in NYC's Chinatown, and everything she got up to with her friends. Her determination and hard work shone through. I really enjoyed Dawn's journey to get to know her grandmother, which also led to many more friendships and experiences. The prose was beautiful and impactful. It was truly some of the most beautiful prose I’ve read in years, giving each story its own special filter.
The way Zheng Yi and Dawn's stories were woven together was so beautiful, and it made me reflect on how important family history is. There's a reason why some people spend decades meticulously tracing their family history. It's something to be proud of, something that bonds families together. As a Chinese adoptee, it's something that I think about a lot, the invisible bonds I have with my birth family that I may ever know, and the tangible bonds that I have with my adoptive family. How the bonds have shaped me into the person I am today.
This book follows the story of the Chin family across three generations, and how three different people move through their lives, each shaped by their own lies.
From Duanfang, a Manchu official, to Zheng Yi, a Taiwanese exchange student in New York City in the 1960s, to Dawn Chin in the present day.
Although it’s multi-POV, the story leans more heavily on Zheng Yi’s life in NYC as she navigates the difficulties of learning English and trying to fit into American society. We not only get to see her growing friendship with her 2 besties in school, but also her relationships with Calvin Chin, the boy she had always been betrothed to since childhood, and Samuel, whom Calvin sees as dangerous.
Through Dawn Chin (Zheng Yi’s granddaughter), we follow her through heartbreak, her discovery of her queerness, and the uncovering of deeply buried family secrets.
The book started off a little slow for me, and I was slightly bored by Dawn’s POV at first. But that didn’t last long because I became very invested in Zheng Yi’s life in NYC. I enjoyed the twists in the story (!!!!!), and although I do not agree with all the decisions made, my heart ached for everyone.
I was blown away by E.L. Shen’s ability to integrate the 3 perspectives/point of views in a way that was intentional and entertaining. The book was perfectly paced and it felt like I was a part of the family too.
Duanfang’s chapters were a fascinating look into China’s history. Zheng Yi’s chapters provided a glimpse into New York in the 1950’s from a unique perspective that you don’t often hear about. Dawn’s perspective felt relatable and interesting as a young Asian American Adoptee who is also always interested in learning more about my culture and past.
I also love that there was a huge mystery the entire time surrounding her grandmother��s past which kept me second guessing the entire time. I truly did not know how things would end and what the secret actually was until the very end where everything artfully came together.
Overall, I love and appreciate Asian representation in media and I’m really excited for this book to be released. I’ve been telling all my friends about it and hope it gets the recognition it deserves!
A deeply moving story about love, family, and what it means to belong. Foreigners is the kind of book you’ll want to sit and ruminate on once you finish. It tugs at all the right heartstrings, from first love to last heartbreak. Following Dawn and Audrey’s stories as both women find their places was a delightful journey, and the parallels and connections that form between grandmother and granddaughter are too powerful to ignore. The final act of the book was one of the most perfect I’ve read in a while. It’s all about Dawn learning from her grandmother’s mistakes and taking to heart her triumphs, becoming a better woman. And isn’t that what we all want for our kids: to be a better person than the ones that came before?
I’ve added Shen’s other books to my TBR already - I can’t get enough of her storytelling. I can’t wait to see what comes next.
*I received this book as an Arc from HarperCollins Children's Books & NetGalley*
I decided to check this book out because of a video the author made on Tiktok — about the insane lore behind her grandma’s love story, which inspired she wrote this book. I also enjoyed the book Pachinko, so I wanted to give the book a shot.
The book follows the Chin family spanning across three vastly different generations. I was intrigued by the author’s decision to choose these different eras and was curious how she was going to make them intersect. Notably, the book primarily was focused on Zheng Yi and Dawn — which I think was a good decision as we saw how one lie caused by one individual became a domino effect onto others.
I can tell the book is well researched and weaves in cultural context into the narrative whenever we explore the past. I also liked that the author’s writing was engaging and kept me on my toes trying to figure out what was each character’s secret.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
huge thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review, all thoughts are my own
this book was equal parts hilarious and also tragically depressing. but isn't life both? oftentimes life feels as if one minute you will be laughing at how you got stuck in traffic taking a shortcut and the next crying because someone close to you passed away.
both of those examples are not in anyway shape or form related to the plot of this novel but I thought I would use them. foreigners was a novel I probably won't stop thinking about because both povs, dawn and her grandmother were incredibly strong and rich. the plot twist genuinely had me gagged because I thought it was going a different way and then boom, twist. five stars, utterly an amazing novel.
Foreigners by E. L. Shen is an immersive, multi-POV story following an immigrant family across generations, and I was completely drawn into each perspective. The pacing kept me invested throughout, giving characters the space to feel fully developed while still moving the story forward.
Once I reached the halfway point, I couldn’t put it down. I especially loved uncovering the family’s history alongside Dawn and seeing how each thread connected over time. The way the story explores legacy, identity, and the ripple effects of the past felt both thoughtful and deeply engaging.
This is a beautifully written, character-driven novel that stayed with me after I finished. It was such a lovely read, and one I’d highly recommend.
I received an advance reader copy through NetGalley.
A beautiful and sweeping tale about family, love, legacy, immigration, and secrets!
I loved the dual POV switching between Yi in 1960s NYC and Dawn in present-day boarding school, trying to learn more about her grandmother. The story pulled me in as I got to know and root for both girls trying to fit in their various "foreign" worlds. I really enjoyed the female friendships Yi/Audrey found, and the romances both of the girls tumultuously navigated. I loved seeing their stories collide, and the way that the historical story of their ancestor, Duanfang, wove into the narrative as well.
These girls and their story will stick with you for a long time!
Thank you Netgalley & HarperCollin’s Children’s books for this ARC of Foreigners. This is my favorite book of 2026. It weaves in and out of history seamlessly. The secrets the Chin family carried throughout generations, and the way it unraveled was absolutely shocking. The whole time I was reading I was trying to predict where the story was going, and to my pleasant surprise I couldn’t! This was absolutely magnificent. The plot twists were incredible, the pacing was excellent, it felt like I was watching a movie as my brain absorbed every word. I was so excited to read it as soon as I applied for the ARC. And I was so happy that I enjoyed it as much as I anticipated.
I absolutely loved this book and it was a very easy 5-stars, including my favourite book read in May! E.L.Shen has created a beautiful generational story that really brings up so many emotions, especially if you're a person/family who has ever moved abroad or, I imagine, has lived with family secrets.
The three main characters are Duanfang (1878), Zheng Yi/Audrey (1965) and Dawn (today) and the narratives move fluidly between their stories, from protecting a family legacy in Manchuria to emigrating from Taiwan to New York, and finally, to Dawn who is dealing with a generations of secrets, mistaken identity and her own teenage life.
It's so well written. It's emotive, intelligent, sneaky and also has moments of humour. I think this book would be perfect for anyone interested in immigrant stories, Taiwanese/American families and culture, and coming-of-age stories.
Honestly, I loved it so much. Thank you SO MUCH to E.L.Shen, the publisher and to Netgalley for this ARC <3
I loved this book! It's an immersive story with amazing world-building. The characters are so well-written that I experience all of their emotions. From the beginning to the end, I was deeply invested and intrigued by the plot. Additionally, I loved the dual-POV. It's well-crafted, and the pacing was perfect, neither too fast nor too slow. It's about an immigrant family through different generations. The book encompasses different perspectives and depicts Asian representation amazingly. I highly recommend this!
I'm a sucker for intergenerational YA with alternating POVs, so it shouldn't be a surprise that I enjoyed this. I found myself equally interested in both main stories, which can be an issue with these types of books. The story is well-crafted and ties up loose ends nicely. It was interesting to read about 1960s Chinatown, and I loved that the people in both Audrey and Dawn's lives always support them, even when they aren't supporting themselves.
I read this as an eARC, so a huge thank you to Claire and E.L. Shen for this honor! My life feels absolutely changed after reading this book. Reading the different POV's and watching the story progress truly was the best experience. Everything intertwined in such a beautiful way, and I admire E. L. Shen's writing style and how she crafted each and every chapter. I would read this over and over if I could, and I plan on doing a reread at some point again.
I loved this book. I found it to be an empowering depiction of being an immigrant and having to be brave, leaving everything previously known behind and doing it to cherish everyone else who is sacrificing at home. The descriptions are beautifully crafted and immersive. Cannot recommend enough
I enjoyed this multiple POV story, but I felt that some sections of the plot were unnecessarily long. Reading about a family through three generations was my favorite part.
i really enjoyed the dual perspective/dual timeline aspect of this book but tbh the 3rd storyline felt a little random and hard to follow whenever it would pop up- otherwise i really enjoyed this!!