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Taipei Story
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Expected 8 Sep 26The hugely exciting literary novel from bestselling phenomenon Rebecca F. a moving coming-of-age story set in Taiwan, about identity, language, love and grief – for fans of Sally Rooney and Coco Mellors.
TAIPEI STORY is the hotly anticipated new novel by Rebecca F. Kuang, an intensely moving exploration of identity and language, love and grief.
When Yale student Lily arrives in Taipei for a summer’s study at the National Taiwan University, she’s looking forward to working on her Chinese language and finding her Chinese self. If only it was that simple. When her grandfather suddenly dies, Lily discovers a past so profoundly heartbreaking that she finds herself stuck, unable to move forward. But her grandfather’s story is not her own; none of it happened to her. How can Lily reconcile who she is, with where her family are from, when she is caught between their past and her present?
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Expected publication September 8, 2026
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March 8, 2026OMG NEW BOOK NEW BOOK NEW BOOK I CAN'T WAIT OMGOMGGG
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
LOVED IT. MADE ME CRY. MILD SPOILERS AHEAD.
This story is a huge departure from her other books because it’s very lit fic and personal and it basically reads like a travel memoir, so it’s meandering and introspective and there isn’t much plot, but it still has the same emotional weight as her other books.
It’s ultimately an exploration of growing up between two cultures, and the loneliness, the confusion, the guilt, the family dynamics and emotions that come with that. It ties together grief, heritage, language, identity, travel to essentially ask the question: where do I belong?
This book really hit me HARD. I related to it on such a deep level, I honestly wasn’t expecting to. I am first generation Aussie/Yugoslav - a communist country that doesn’t even exist anymore - and I really related to Lily’s feelings of isolation and confusion, and her idea that she can bridge that gap culturally by learning Chinese. It’s like, for me - I’m not Balkan enough because I can only understand the language when my mum and my baba speak it, but I can’t speak it, and I can only read a little bit of Cyrillic if I really dedicate myself to learning it. But at the same time, I’m not Aussie enough - the kids made fun of my lunches at school, I was always baffled when I went to my Aussie friends houses because they had completely different rules and values and families. The only people I can actually relate to are other people from diaspora or immigrant families, no matter what race or nationally they come from, and I felt the same way reading this book. On a whole other level of relatability, my Serbian grandfather also died just like Lily’s grandfather in the book, and the way her grief is intertwined with her feelings about her culture and her family history was so relatable. That whole chapter from her grandfather’s point of view had me SOBBING!
It was also all the unexpected little things that felt so relatable, like Lily not being able to know much about her family history because so much information was lost in wars, and trauma, and also her mother not wanting to share much and being a very closed book. Maybe that’s why I relate so much, because the Balkans are also a boiling pot of recent wars and clashing ideologies and insane nationalism. It’s very similar to Lily’s experience in the book, where she goes to Taiwan because she feels like it’s an “easier entry point” than china, but then Taiwan in itself has been through a lot as a country. There was this line in the book that absolutely gutted me, where her mother basically says why do you care about discovering your family history, you didn’t come from that, it hasn’t got anything to do with you. And that’s basically Lily’s biggest fear writ large and I love how she internalises it as both a good thing and a bad thing. She’s hurting because it’s a deep rejection, but it’s also freeing her from the guilt of not doing enough to be part of her culture.
Nothing in this book is simple or easy. It’s incredibly messy, because that’s what it means to be human, and there isn’t really a resolution - life just continues on once the summer is over, because that’s what life does. R F Kuang basically presents this specific time in Lily’s life to show the absurdity of everything - that scene in the hot tub with JC is the perfect example, I hated that scene because it was so real - and I really appreciate, once again, how raw and honest R F Kuang is.
I see a lot of people online saying this book doesn’t add anything to the conversation or teach them anything they didn’t already know. But guys, the point of this book (and I’d argue most books) is to FEEL what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes, not to spoon-feed you some political commentary in a nice neat bow that’s easy to digest. I think certain people will get more out of this book than others, but it’s still very much worth the read!!
This story is a huge departure from her other books because it’s very lit fic and personal and it basically reads like a travel memoir, so it’s meandering and introspective and there isn’t much plot, but it still has the same emotional weight as her other books.
It’s ultimately an exploration of growing up between two cultures, and the loneliness, the confusion, the guilt, the family dynamics and emotions that come with that. It ties together grief, heritage, language, identity, travel to essentially ask the question: where do I belong?
This book really hit me HARD. I related to it on such a deep level, I honestly wasn’t expecting to. I am first generation Aussie/Yugoslav - a communist country that doesn’t even exist anymore - and I really related to Lily’s feelings of isolation and confusion, and her idea that she can bridge that gap culturally by learning Chinese. It’s like, for me - I’m not Balkan enough because I can only understand the language when my mum and my baba speak it, but I can’t speak it, and I can only read a little bit of Cyrillic if I really dedicate myself to learning it. But at the same time, I’m not Aussie enough - the kids made fun of my lunches at school, I was always baffled when I went to my Aussie friends houses because they had completely different rules and values and families. The only people I can actually relate to are other people from diaspora or immigrant families, no matter what race or nationally they come from, and I felt the same way reading this book. On a whole other level of relatability, my Serbian grandfather also died just like Lily’s grandfather in the book, and the way her grief is intertwined with her feelings about her culture and her family history was so relatable. That whole chapter from her grandfather’s point of view had me SOBBING!
It was also all the unexpected little things that felt so relatable, like Lily not being able to know much about her family history because so much information was lost in wars, and trauma, and also her mother not wanting to share much and being a very closed book. Maybe that’s why I relate so much, because the Balkans are also a boiling pot of recent wars and clashing ideologies and insane nationalism. It’s very similar to Lily’s experience in the book, where she goes to Taiwan because she feels like it’s an “easier entry point” than china, but then Taiwan in itself has been through a lot as a country. There was this line in the book that absolutely gutted me, where her mother basically says why do you care about discovering your family history, you didn’t come from that, it hasn’t got anything to do with you. And that’s basically Lily’s biggest fear writ large and I love how she internalises it as both a good thing and a bad thing. She’s hurting because it’s a deep rejection, but it’s also freeing her from the guilt of not doing enough to be part of her culture.
Nothing in this book is simple or easy. It’s incredibly messy, because that’s what it means to be human, and there isn’t really a resolution - life just continues on once the summer is over, because that’s what life does. R F Kuang basically presents this specific time in Lily’s life to show the absurdity of everything - that scene in the hot tub with JC is the perfect example, I hated that scene because it was so real - and I really appreciate, once again, how raw and honest R F Kuang is.
I see a lot of people online saying this book doesn’t add anything to the conversation or teach them anything they didn’t already know. But guys, the point of this book (and I’d argue most books) is to FEEL what it’s like to live in someone else’s shoes, not to spoon-feed you some political commentary in a nice neat bow that’s easy to digest. I think certain people will get more out of this book than others, but it’s still very much worth the read!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Taipei Story explores themes of identity, language, belonging, complex colonial dynamics and finding history and heritage in a country that you don’t belong to anymore. Also covered are interactions between race, perceived class due to accents and heritage speakers. The protagonist, Lily also experiences grief, both at the loss of her grandparent and at the loss of a culture that she may be too late to connect with. The exploration of these themes and the portion of the novel that deals with grief especially, are the strongest sections. Lily’s loss of her grandfather was particularly heartbreaking.
Aside from Lily’s grandfather though, lots of characters are introduced, most of whom form Lily’s cohort for the summer, but we never get to really know them. We don’t even really see Lily have meaningful interactions with them outside of her roommate Anna and even this relationship is shallow and forgotten about for half the book when Lily becomes isolated and largely experiences Taipei alone. This led me to feel nothing when the group parted ways at the end of their summer course. Quite a bit of time was spent here, reminiscing about experiences, connections made and lessons learned but because the relationships were shallow, I didn’t have that bittersweet feeling you might get when parting after a memorable experience.
I also felt let down by Lily and Anna’s relationship. It started off strong and I thought we would get a heartfelt and deep female friendship. Then conflict arose and they never really came back together and truly resolved anything; it more so got brushed under the rug. For a story largely about language and communication, the main character completely failed to communicate in an honest way with her cohort and this was a major reason why her bond with Anna fizzled out. I found this incredibly disappointing and felt overall that the lack of character development distracted from the incredibly compelling themes this book explored.
Lily also never really drives anything; things just happen to or around her. We also see a lot of her ruminating and intellectualising about events and interactions but she stays in ‘observation mode’. I never felt her being truly present and I often felt the gulf between her and the other characters resulting in me also feeling disconnected from her. I did like, however, how Lily’s mindset, which kept her at arms length, aligned with the idea of the role of the tourist. Like Lily, the tourist role is fundamentally one of observation. They can never really participate authentically as this would influence the behaviour of the locals thereby negating any authenticity. I liked considering at what point the students would move beyond this ‘tourist’ role and be able to have authentic experiences, or if they ever could.
There was a lot of information thrown at you in this book about Taiwanese and Chinese history and culture. I appreciated that this mirrored Lily’s experience as she succumbed to culture shock but it never let up. As a result it felt almost like a dissertation, hitting the reader over the head with a relentless barrage of facts. The way it was structured also made it feel like a series of disparate travel blogs following Lily on her excursions around Taipei, reminiscent of Taiwan Travelogue, but unfortunately lacking the same depth especially with regard to character development, relationships and how the concept of the tourist gaze was explored.
Ultimately, the themes presented in Taipei Story are numerous, fascinating and complex but the actual plot and characters were lacking resulting in an unbalanced coming-of-age story with no heart.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Aside from Lily’s grandfather though, lots of characters are introduced, most of whom form Lily’s cohort for the summer, but we never get to really know them. We don’t even really see Lily have meaningful interactions with them outside of her roommate Anna and even this relationship is shallow and forgotten about for half the book when Lily becomes isolated and largely experiences Taipei alone. This led me to feel nothing when the group parted ways at the end of their summer course. Quite a bit of time was spent here, reminiscing about experiences, connections made and lessons learned but because the relationships were shallow, I didn’t have that bittersweet feeling you might get when parting after a memorable experience.
I also felt let down by Lily and Anna’s relationship. It started off strong and I thought we would get a heartfelt and deep female friendship. Then conflict arose and they never really came back together and truly resolved anything; it more so got brushed under the rug. For a story largely about language and communication, the main character completely failed to communicate in an honest way with her cohort and this was a major reason why her bond with Anna fizzled out. I found this incredibly disappointing and felt overall that the lack of character development distracted from the incredibly compelling themes this book explored.
Lily also never really drives anything; things just happen to or around her. We also see a lot of her ruminating and intellectualising about events and interactions but she stays in ‘observation mode’. I never felt her being truly present and I often felt the gulf between her and the other characters resulting in me also feeling disconnected from her. I did like, however, how Lily’s mindset, which kept her at arms length, aligned with the idea of the role of the tourist. Like Lily, the tourist role is fundamentally one of observation. They can never really participate authentically as this would influence the behaviour of the locals thereby negating any authenticity. I liked considering at what point the students would move beyond this ‘tourist’ role and be able to have authentic experiences, or if they ever could.
There was a lot of information thrown at you in this book about Taiwanese and Chinese history and culture. I appreciated that this mirrored Lily’s experience as she succumbed to culture shock but it never let up. As a result it felt almost like a dissertation, hitting the reader over the head with a relentless barrage of facts. The way it was structured also made it feel like a series of disparate travel blogs following Lily on her excursions around Taipei, reminiscent of Taiwan Travelogue, but unfortunately lacking the same depth especially with regard to character development, relationships and how the concept of the tourist gaze was explored.
Ultimately, the themes presented in Taipei Story are numerous, fascinating and complex but the actual plot and characters were lacking resulting in an unbalanced coming-of-age story with no heart.
I received an eARC from NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I consistently set my expectations way too high for R.F Kuang novels. The way she is venerated by the general reading public makes it seem like every new book she releases should be a modern classic. Whilst her books are by no means terrible, none so far have impressed me in the way I wanted them to. This is in no way the fault of the author, she never asked to be considered *the* author of the 2020s, but her reputation definitely influenced my decision to pick up this book and was part of the reason I was disappointed by it.
I enjoyed Taipei Story considerably more than I did Yellowface. I appreciated the meditations on what it means to be Chinese and how far one's cultural background allows them to stake claim over a land they have never visited before. Lily's struggle with assimilation to the Taiwanese setting as an American citizen felt relatable for the most part.
However, I did find myself getting bored at times as the book became a bit repetitive. For example, Lily mulls over the fact that she can't read signs in Chinese as fast as she can in English multiple times. The sentiment that she feels like an outsider in the city hammered home a bit too much. I also felt like there was minimal character development for the protagonist as she finished both metaphorically and physically in the same place where the book started.
Overall, this was still a good way to spend an afternoon during the English heatwave instead of binge watching Million Dollar Nannies on Disney Plus.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed Taipei Story considerably more than I did Yellowface. I appreciated the meditations on what it means to be Chinese and how far one's cultural background allows them to stake claim over a land they have never visited before. Lily's struggle with assimilation to the Taiwanese setting as an American citizen felt relatable for the most part.
However, I did find myself getting bored at times as the book became a bit repetitive. For example, Lily mulls over the fact that she can't read signs in Chinese as fast as she can in English multiple times. The sentiment that she feels like an outsider in the city hammered home a bit too much. I also felt like there was minimal character development for the protagonist as she finished both metaphorically and physically in the same place where the book started.
Overall, this was still a good way to spend an afternoon during the English heatwave instead of binge watching Million Dollar Nannies on Disney Plus.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Taipei Story feels more like a diary entry than a novel, following the life of a Chinese American student, Lily, who moves to Taipei to study the language and learn more about her culture on her own terms. Her classes are challenging, and her accommodation is terrible but she's learning and she has a new community of course mates.
But Lily's search for belonging and a new understanding of the language isn't easy, and there are times that this books starts to feel like the ramblings of someone who really needs therapy. I wanted to both give her a hug, and shake her by the shoulders to tell her to do something about her situation. This style of book (which reminds me of something like Cleopatra & Frankenstein or My Year of Rest and Relaxation) can be a truly frustrating read. Essentially the protagonist doesn't behave in the way that I want them to, and that's annoying. Of course, that's a deliberate choice and Kuang's excellent writing keeps you gripped, wanting to know what the hell this young woman is going to do next. Taipei Story comments on Chinese / Taiwanese socio-political history, grief, and loneliness. For me, it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of living in a foreign country and trying to learn the language - it took me back to my six (admittedly quite lonely) months in Spain and put into words some of the feelings I had there, in a way I could never have articulated.
As ever Kuang's commentary on language is one of my favourite elements, so if you're interested in linguistics this is a worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for eARC.
But Lily's search for belonging and a new understanding of the language isn't easy, and there are times that this books starts to feel like the ramblings of someone who really needs therapy. I wanted to both give her a hug, and shake her by the shoulders to tell her to do something about her situation. This style of book (which reminds me of something like Cleopatra & Frankenstein or My Year of Rest and Relaxation) can be a truly frustrating read. Essentially the protagonist doesn't behave in the way that I want them to, and that's annoying. Of course, that's a deliberate choice and Kuang's excellent writing keeps you gripped, wanting to know what the hell this young woman is going to do next. Taipei Story comments on Chinese / Taiwanese socio-political history, grief, and loneliness. For me, it perfectly encapsulates the feeling of living in a foreign country and trying to learn the language - it took me back to my six (admittedly quite lonely) months in Spain and put into words some of the feelings I had there, in a way I could never have articulated.
As ever Kuang's commentary on language is one of my favourite elements, so if you're interested in linguistics this is a worthwhile read.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins for eARC.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As a big R.F. Kuang fan, Taipei Story is a bit of a departure from Babel and Yellowface, but was still an enjoyable if sometimes uncomfortable read. Lily Chen is a Yale University student that goes on a summer trip to Taipei to study with a Chinese language immersion program. She’s an American born Chinese who struggles with her own Chinese heritage and authenticity, especially growing up in America instead of mainland China.
As such, she drove herself to work hard at becoming fluent in Chinese. As a Japanese language learner, so much of this journey was relatable — you feel like you’re progressing and then one day all the kanji becomes arcane to you and it appears as a daunting wall of characters.
The book feels almost autobiographical, as if this was a memoir as novel for a particular moment in her life. Lily struggles to get along with her roommate Anna in a very tiny living space in Taipei, and when Anna develops a crush on a boy that’s also chasing Lily, things get uncomfortable and loaded with high school drama fast.
I enjoyed the book, but it does require some tenacity to stick with it through all of the themes here — the American Chinese diaspora, intergenerational conflicts and trauma, and the grief of losing a grandparent. I would recommend it for someone looking for the experience of immersion in another language overseas, what it’s like to be a second generation immigrant, and that transitional period in your college years when you’re deciding on your future.
Thank you to R.F. Kuang, HarperCollinsUK and The Borough Press for this advanced reader copy.
As such, she drove herself to work hard at becoming fluent in Chinese. As a Japanese language learner, so much of this journey was relatable — you feel like you’re progressing and then one day all the kanji becomes arcane to you and it appears as a daunting wall of characters.
The book feels almost autobiographical, as if this was a memoir as novel for a particular moment in her life. Lily struggles to get along with her roommate Anna in a very tiny living space in Taipei, and when Anna develops a crush on a boy that’s also chasing Lily, things get uncomfortable and loaded with high school drama fast.
I enjoyed the book, but it does require some tenacity to stick with it through all of the themes here — the American Chinese diaspora, intergenerational conflicts and trauma, and the grief of losing a grandparent. I would recommend it for someone looking for the experience of immersion in another language overseas, what it’s like to be a second generation immigrant, and that transitional period in your college years when you’re deciding on your future.
Thank you to R.F. Kuang, HarperCollinsUK and The Borough Press for this advanced reader copy.
July 20, 2026
some books remind me of why i love reading fiction that lingers with you long after you’ve finished it. and Taipei Story was definitely one of these books.
Taipei Story is one that will quietly seep into your heart. Rebecca F. Kuang explores identity, family, loss, grief, and the complicated feeling of belonging with so much tenderness and honesty. every conversation and every thought Lily had felt layered, as if there was always something left unsaid, and somehow that made the emotions hit even harder. i think i teared up a total of four times whilst reading this :”)
i loved how this book captured the push and pull between where we come from and who we become. it was the perfect coming of age story that had me thinking about the different versions of ourselves that exist in different places and with different people. it was introspective, bittersweet, and the kind of story that leaves you staring at your wall after you've finished. as a daughter of immigrant parents, i related to Lily on so many different levels which definitely contributed to the depth of emotion i felt whilst reading this.
Kuang's writing was beautiful in a quiet way, which id something i’ve always adored about her. never trying too hard, but still managing to say so much with so little. this wasn’t a book filled with dramatic twists, but it for sure left you feeling all types of emotions and thoughts that felt deeply intimate and human.
i can’t wait for you all to read Taipei Story🤍
thank you to harper collins australia for this early copy!!
Taipei Story is one that will quietly seep into your heart. Rebecca F. Kuang explores identity, family, loss, grief, and the complicated feeling of belonging with so much tenderness and honesty. every conversation and every thought Lily had felt layered, as if there was always something left unsaid, and somehow that made the emotions hit even harder. i think i teared up a total of four times whilst reading this :”)
i loved how this book captured the push and pull between where we come from and who we become. it was the perfect coming of age story that had me thinking about the different versions of ourselves that exist in different places and with different people. it was introspective, bittersweet, and the kind of story that leaves you staring at your wall after you've finished. as a daughter of immigrant parents, i related to Lily on so many different levels which definitely contributed to the depth of emotion i felt whilst reading this.
Kuang's writing was beautiful in a quiet way, which id something i’ve always adored about her. never trying too hard, but still managing to say so much with so little. this wasn’t a book filled with dramatic twists, but it for sure left you feeling all types of emotions and thoughts that felt deeply intimate and human.
i can’t wait for you all to read Taipei Story🤍
thank you to harper collins australia for this early copy!!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.
Lily spends a summer in Taipei doing an intensive language course to improve her Chinese. Her family is from mainland China, but Taiwan is easier and safer for a US passport holder. While in Taipei she tells us a lot about Chinese and linguistics, falls out with her roommate over a boy Lily doesn't even like, and then her grandfather dies. Part of the reason she has been improving her Chinese language skills is so that she can communicate with her grandparents and learn more about her heritage, but now it seems as if it is too late, especially as her grandmother's health means she cannot fill in the gaps. Lily's mother does reveal some interesting things Lily never knew (she says, because Lily never asked).
I found this compelling, mainly for the descriptions of Taiwan and for the character study of Lily. We see everything through her eyes, with brutal honesty and at times this does not make her very likeable, but her resilience is impressive. There were more Chinese characters (to clarify, I mean Chinese writing!) than I really needed, as they mean nothing to me, and we heard an awful lot about Lily's coursework. On the other hand, the question raised by the narrative (and then made explicit in Lily's final presentation) of whether language limits our identity, whether we can be a different person in a different language, whether the vocabulary available to us shapes what we are able to think (see also Orwell's '1984') is fascinating.
Lily's deep grief about her grandfather's death puzzled me (as it did Lily) since he wasn't really much of a presence in her life, and the section where she lists the thing she would have asked him didn't work for me (to the extent that I wondered if there was a formatting error with my text). The Cambodia section was a bit thin - were we meant to get invested in that or only in Lily's unawareness of it?
On the whole this was a good read and it made me think, but I didn't love it, and it really didn't make me want to go to Taiwan - the heat, the mosquitos...
Lily spends a summer in Taipei doing an intensive language course to improve her Chinese. Her family is from mainland China, but Taiwan is easier and safer for a US passport holder. While in Taipei she tells us a lot about Chinese and linguistics, falls out with her roommate over a boy Lily doesn't even like, and then her grandfather dies. Part of the reason she has been improving her Chinese language skills is so that she can communicate with her grandparents and learn more about her heritage, but now it seems as if it is too late, especially as her grandmother's health means she cannot fill in the gaps. Lily's mother does reveal some interesting things Lily never knew (she says, because Lily never asked).
I found this compelling, mainly for the descriptions of Taiwan and for the character study of Lily. We see everything through her eyes, with brutal honesty and at times this does not make her very likeable, but her resilience is impressive. There were more Chinese characters (to clarify, I mean Chinese writing!) than I really needed, as they mean nothing to me, and we heard an awful lot about Lily's coursework. On the other hand, the question raised by the narrative (and then made explicit in Lily's final presentation) of whether language limits our identity, whether we can be a different person in a different language, whether the vocabulary available to us shapes what we are able to think (see also Orwell's '1984') is fascinating.
Lily's deep grief about her grandfather's death puzzled me (as it did Lily) since he wasn't really much of a presence in her life, and the section where she lists the thing she would have asked him didn't work for me (to the extent that I wondered if there was a formatting error with my text). The Cambodia section was a bit thin - were we meant to get invested in that or only in Lily's unawareness of it?
On the whole this was a good read and it made me think, but I didn't love it, and it really didn't make me want to go to Taiwan - the heat, the mosquitos...
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I requested this ARC having heard a lot of great things about the RF Kuang's other works and wasn't disappointed. Despite the name, this is a story more about Lily and her personal journey as a second generation Chinese immigrant navigating a summer in Taipei than the place itself. Although its a departure from the fantasy genre for Rebecca Kuang, this book still evoked an almost magical feeling and the descriptions of the places really help you see through Lily's eyes.
At the beginning, Lily wasn't particularly likeable and I was almost rooting against her in the first chapter. As the story goes on though, you realise her judgement and standoffishness are defence mechanisms as she navigates feeling like a tourist in a place that should feel like home. With her background and heritage, she has great expectations for her summer in Taipei that fall flat as she encounters unexpected culture shock.
The book deals beautifully with the concept of grief and grieving the missed opportunity of knowing someone more than the actual person after Lily loses her grandfather. As sad as this makes it sound, for the most part Taipei Story is quite uplifting, it's an immersive read with necessary levity in parts as you sit with Lily's awkwardness alongside her.
At the beginning, Lily wasn't particularly likeable and I was almost rooting against her in the first chapter. As the story goes on though, you realise her judgement and standoffishness are defence mechanisms as she navigates feeling like a tourist in a place that should feel like home. With her background and heritage, she has great expectations for her summer in Taipei that fall flat as she encounters unexpected culture shock.
The book deals beautifully with the concept of grief and grieving the missed opportunity of knowing someone more than the actual person after Lily loses her grandfather. As sad as this makes it sound, for the most part Taipei Story is quite uplifting, it's an immersive read with necessary levity in parts as you sit with Lily's awkwardness alongside her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Taipei Story is of a young Chinese American immigrant doing a Chinese language course in Taipei. We allow her throughout this journey and explore how her relationships change with Taiwan, with her friend/roommate Anna and her family.
We start off exploring Taiwan with high energy as a tourist exploring a new space. We get the naive perspective out our narrator, Lily. We see her hopes, her goals for this trip. She is not the only student going to Taiwan for a language course. She is insecure about her Chinese, and at the same time wants to be a good Chinese daughter.
Within this story we get little snippets of Chinese history, of Taiwanese History, their relationship to one another. Immigration journeys, from one country to another.
Her relationship with Anna, her roommate goes through a rough patch. Their apartment was smaller than both of them anticipated.
Her grandfather passes away. We get to look into her own history, of massacres that happened in China or to Chinese immigrants elsewhere in the world. Her relationship to her siblings, and family and how her intergenerational trauma has shaped her and her family.
Language was meant connect her to the past, but what if the past is not there anymore?
I overall enjoyed the book.
We start off exploring Taiwan with high energy as a tourist exploring a new space. We get the naive perspective out our narrator, Lily. We see her hopes, her goals for this trip. She is not the only student going to Taiwan for a language course. She is insecure about her Chinese, and at the same time wants to be a good Chinese daughter.
Within this story we get little snippets of Chinese history, of Taiwanese History, their relationship to one another. Immigration journeys, from one country to another.
Her relationship with Anna, her roommate goes through a rough patch. Their apartment was smaller than both of them anticipated.
Her grandfather passes away. We get to look into her own history, of massacres that happened in China or to Chinese immigrants elsewhere in the world. Her relationship to her siblings, and family and how her intergenerational trauma has shaped her and her family.
Language was meant connect her to the past, but what if the past is not there anymore?
I overall enjoyed the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This is the second Rebecca F. Kuang book I have read (the other being Yellowface) and was equally as addictive.
My husband recommended Poppy Wars to me years ago but I was put off because he said they "weren't very happy books but probably some of the best he'd ever read". I think I understand what he means because, although I devoured both Yellowface and Taipei Story, I found the vibes to be very unsettling.
Taipei Story is about a Chinese-American student who takes a very intense summer programme in Taipei to improve her Chinese. That's the whole premise. I learnt a LOT from this book (my history, geography and sociology knowledge is incredibly poor) and resonated a lot with Lily, the FMC. There were a lot of complicated themes that probably went over my head but discovering your identity and how you fit in society was the most obvious. There were also moments of grief and loss which i found really upsetting but if you don't mind sobbing uncontrollably at a book, you might be ok!
Overall this book was an incredible experience that I whole-heartedly recommend. Particularly if you have any interest in the history and culture of Taipei.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc, I am happy to give my honest review.
My husband recommended Poppy Wars to me years ago but I was put off because he said they "weren't very happy books but probably some of the best he'd ever read". I think I understand what he means because, although I devoured both Yellowface and Taipei Story, I found the vibes to be very unsettling.
Taipei Story is about a Chinese-American student who takes a very intense summer programme in Taipei to improve her Chinese. That's the whole premise. I learnt a LOT from this book (my history, geography and sociology knowledge is incredibly poor) and resonated a lot with Lily, the FMC. There were a lot of complicated themes that probably went over my head but discovering your identity and how you fit in society was the most obvious. There were also moments of grief and loss which i found really upsetting but if you don't mind sobbing uncontrollably at a book, you might be ok!
Overall this book was an incredible experience that I whole-heartedly recommend. Particularly if you have any interest in the history and culture of Taipei.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc, I am happy to give my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I’d like to thank Netgalley for this arc for a review in exchange
Here in this book we meet Lily a student going to China to relearn her national language, in a summer language program, and be able to speak fluent in Chinese. Throughout this story we see Lilys POV and how she works her way through an unfamiliar place but also what was her home.
I liked how we got to see Lily and her story in first person and how she struggles being an immigrant daughter who can understand the language but not fluently speak the language and I liked how we saw her develop. It was also really clever to see her every thoughts and what she expects and especially her guilt with wanting to be perfect with her family.
Overall I definitely would say this was an okay read it’s not a usual genre I go for and it was a different read for me especially with how knowledgeable she is with how she writes as an author, I feel like it did make it a bit harder to read but I would recommend if you want something quick to read.
Here in this book we meet Lily a student going to China to relearn her national language, in a summer language program, and be able to speak fluent in Chinese. Throughout this story we see Lilys POV and how she works her way through an unfamiliar place but also what was her home.
I liked how we got to see Lily and her story in first person and how she struggles being an immigrant daughter who can understand the language but not fluently speak the language and I liked how we saw her develop. It was also really clever to see her every thoughts and what she expects and especially her guilt with wanting to be perfect with her family.
Overall I definitely would say this was an okay read it’s not a usual genre I go for and it was a different read for me especially with how knowledgeable she is with how she writes as an author, I feel like it did make it a bit harder to read but I would recommend if you want something quick to read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
As soon as I saw that THE Rebecca F. Kuang wrote this book, I HAD to read it.
Taipei Story is a thoughtful and deeply personal coming-of-age novel that explores identity, grief, family, and the search for belonging. R.F. Kuang's writing is beautifully reflective, and I especially appreciated how naturally she wove together language, culture, and the complexities of navigating multiple identities.
The pacing is quieter than in her previous books, which may not be for everyone, and a few sections felt a little slow. However, the emotional journey and the character growth made it a rewarding read overall.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
4,5/5 Stars 🌟
#Netgalley #TaipeiStory
Taipei Story is a thoughtful and deeply personal coming-of-age novel that explores identity, grief, family, and the search for belonging. R.F. Kuang's writing is beautifully reflective, and I especially appreciated how naturally she wove together language, culture, and the complexities of navigating multiple identities.
The pacing is quieter than in her previous books, which may not be for everyone, and a few sections felt a little slow. However, the emotional journey and the character growth made it a rewarding read overall.
Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
4,5/5 Stars 🌟
#Netgalley #TaipeiStory
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A coming-of-age story, but still very Kuang. Like Babel, linguistics is one of the main themes, and she weaves culture, food, identity and history into the story, to ultimately challenges a reader to consider what “being Chinese” means. Not the most seamless execution perhaps, but I found it intriguing and I learned a lot about Chinese languages and culture. It was definitely worth a read for me.
4🌟 A better fit for me than Katabasis for sure 😅
4🌟 A better fit for me than Katabasis for sure 😅
Did Not Finish
July 22, 2026Ah… hate to say it but I got bored.
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