Taipei Story

by R.F. Kuang

TAIPEI STORY is the electrifying new novel by bestselling literary phenomenon Rebecca F. Kuang, a profoundly moving coming-of-age story that explores first love, second language and final goodbyes – all set against the backdrop of one unforgettable summer in Taipei.

Yale student Lily Chen arrives in Taipei hungry: for family, for culture, for connection.

But her summer of discovery quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate unbearable, and a reckless, deeply awkward trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon ignites vicious gossip.

Then her grandfather dies. Grieving and adrift, Lily must confront her own questions about the culture she inherited but never fully understood. She embarks on a wryly funny, often devastating search for understanding: of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.

All over one unforgettable summer in Taipei.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Literary Fiction, Fantasy, Adult, Romance, Summer

368 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication September 8, 2026

About the author

Rebecca F. Kuang is a Marshall Scholar, translator, and award-winning, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Poppy War trilogy and Babel: An Arcane History, among others. She has an MPhil in Chinese Studies from Cambridge and an MSc in Contemporary Chinese Studies from Oxford; she is now pursuing a PhD in East Asian Languages and Literatures at Yale.

Reviews

[levi (pretty sad for a boy so in love)]

Why do i feel like I’ll eat this up.

—
Hope it’s not as bad as babel

[Clace]

The most disappointing news that I have ever gotten. The context it was used in doesn't really make sense or justify the inclusion 😔
__
My only source of happiness this year 🤭

(R.F. Kuang is such a brilliant writer, I'm prepared to fall in love 😋)

[Lala BooksandLala]

gimme

[Nat (ia)]

1/6/26 The book isn’t even out yet, and people are already getting mad at Kuang for supposedly including “Zionist propaganda”… I fear people may have taken things out of context. RFK’s inclusion of an Israeli character doesn’t automatically equate to circulating propaganda, especially given that no nuance or context has been provided 😵‍💫 People need to remember that this is the same person who wrote Babel, and that we shouldn’t be making judgments without proper context.

9/3/26 Cover reveal! I'm (im)patiently waiting for this one...

[ଘRory (Hiatus )]

OMG WE HAVE A COVER and it's giving OFF CHINESE CULTURAL VIBES😍

[Ricarda]

Not every book of hers is a win for me, but I love to see an author experimenting with different genres. Can't wait for a coming-of-age novel featuring grief and culture shock by R.F. Kuang. And what a cool cover too!

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to William Morrow for the ARC. To start– I have read every single book RF Kuang has published. Yellowface and Babel are god-tier reads for me. But between Katabasis and Taipei Story, I’m TIRED. It feels like Kuang just lives to write stories that show how educated she is. Like Katabasis, Taipei Story felt like a dissertation. Except Taipei Story was more like a dully written travel foodie blog. I don’t think Lily was meant to be likable necessarily, but at least make her interesting! God this was so boring.

[angelinabvby ۶۟ৎ {rest in peace estie}]

RFK IM COMING FOR YOU

[Melanie (meltotheany)]

beyond need right now

♡ signed b&n copies (available as of march 1st)

➛ Babel: An Arcane History ★★★★★
➛ Yellowface ★★★★★
➛ Katabasis ★★★★

1.) The Poppy War ★★★★
2.) The Dragon Republic ★★★★★
2.5) The Drowning Faith ★★★★★
3.) The Burning God ★★★★★

[maria ⋆˙♡]

All the time while I read this, I kept thinking: if this had been written by anybody else, would I still be reading it? Or, alternatively: if this had been written by anybody else, would I be enjoying it?

I did not have fun with this. I think books can be not particularly fun and still be enjoyable, if they have other purposes, other meaningful bonds to form with the reader. I am still lost as to what is the purpose of this book.

Is this a glorified travel diary? An awkward college novel? An exploration of Self and Otherness in the context of diaspora? A multi-layered Wikipedia page? The book doesn't seem to decide on its identity, which could be a deliberate mirroring of Lily's own predicament… ooooor it could just be the new Kuang novel that wants to cram more sensitive knowledge and information than conflict into its seams. Cof Katabasis cof.

For the majority of the book, there is not much of a plot or presented conflict: just a sequence of hardships and complaints. Lily is a very uncompelling narrator, who is at once an accomplished straight-A’s workaholic student of Yale, majoring in East Asian Studies (!), as well as a completely apolitical, clueless and uncurious person. She is inert and indecisive and, as always seems to be the case with R. F. Kuang novels lately, doesn’t really like any woman in her life. I was very excited when straight away there was mention of a fun, carefree female friend who would accompany her in her travel, only for it to turn out that she is actually a detestable, literally filthy rival brat. Other than her decision to dislike all the women in her vicinity, she does not make up her mind about anything, holds no opinion, and reading her overthinking rambles regarding her indecisiveness is as fun as overthinking itself. Meaning it isn’t. It’s not that Lily is unlikeable (novels and readers nowadays seem to be so worried about making women unlikeable, as if the world doesn’t dislike women enough lol), it’s just that she’s a very dull, null character, without a voice, without direction and without a point of view.

When a conflict is at last presented, almost a hundred pages in, it is a soap-opera level of high school conflict, uninteresting and predictable, and folds within itself without any closure; when another conflict is presented, the one that apparently was meant to be the whole motivation for the story, it’s almost closing time for the book, and we just rush through a torrent of information until it’s time to go home. It’s not satisfying and doesn’t provide much depth of feeling to be moving in the way it is clearly intended to be.

I’ve decided that the main problem with the book is that it goes out of its way to be as nuanced as possible in regards to China-Taiwan matters, to present every possible side of the issues in a very sugarcoated, diffuse language so as to not ruffle any feathers. There is a wall of opaqueness surrounding what is very much at the center of the book, and that makes any exploration of its political issues – diaspora, otherness, generational trauma and loss – matter-of-factly impossible. It's sad to watch the narration squirming to slip itself out of any responsibility or commitment to the issue it endeavours to present to the public, failing at that as well: if you know nothing of China-Taiwan-USA relations, you'll come out of this book the same way you went into it.

(Oh, and in case you're worried this book contains any sort of israeli propaganda or validation, you can breathe easy. It doesn't contain enough bite to be that or the opposite. The mention of an israeli person is just a blip in the story that only alludes to a political possibility but it is, as everything else, vague and bland to that end.)

So, overall, this was not a good book, it made me happy to finish reading it, and though I'm not abandoning R. F. Kuang’s bibliography, I don't think I'll be as excited and anxious for her releases from now on as I was in the past.

[ishraq ⊹ (semi-ia)]

IN R.F. KUANG WE TRUST

[rina (hiatus) · Rating 5 out of 5]

‎ ‎ ੭୧‎ ‎ 5 stars‎ ‎ . ۫

overall thoughts — I have been putting off writing this review because I don't know what else to say other than this was truly amazing!!! The haters can hate all they want, but R.F. Kuang really knows how to write about the Asian experience in such a raw, emotional, and painfully honest way.

Every single one of her books feels so intentional and emotionally sharp, and Taipei Story is no different. It follows Lily Chen during a summer language program in Taipei as she struggles to learn Chinese while trying to reconnect with her culture, identity, and family history. As an immigrant daughter who can understand but not fluently speak my heritage language, I FELT THIS BOOK DEEP IN MY BONES. The shame, the disconnect, the struggle, the fear of sounding unnatural - R.F. Kuang captured all of it perfectly.

She also absolutely hit the nail on the head with grief in this novel. What I loved most is that the grief here feels incredibly internal and realistic. So much of Lily's grief exists inside her own thoughts, memories, regrets, and the questions she realizes she can no longer ask. There's this constant feeling of loss hanging over the story, not just loss of a person but loss of connection, language, history, and understanding.

Some of the side characters are extremely unlikeable, but they're also just a group of young adults all struggling with their own insecurities and personal issues. Even Lily herself is not written to be a perfectly likeable protagonist. That being said, I was still rooting for Lily Chen every step of the way.

Something that really surprised me was the writing style. If you're expecting the style of Babel or even Katabasis, this was very different. The prose feels almost intrusive at times, like we are sitting directly inside Lily's head, experiencing every anxious thought and insecurity. For me, this style completely worked, and I found it very compelling! It made the story feel more intimate and realistic. I could not stop flipping the pages. I read this in one sitting 😭

I also know this book will not work for everyone, and honestly, I think that's part of what makes it interesting. People are going to experience this novel very differently depending on their own relationship with culture, language, identity, and family. R.F. Kuang's writing has always carried an academic quality to it, and yes, that is present here too, but I've always gravitated towards her writing BECAUSE of that. Her writing being intellectual does not make it any less emotional or compelling. If anything, I think it strengthens the themes she explores because there is so much intentionality behind every conversation and observation.

final thoughts — The more I sit with this novel, the more I love it. This one definitely did not disappoint me! I think the Yellowface enthusiasts can expect to love this one as well!! I still cannot believe I got the ARC for my most anticipated release of 2026 😭 YOU'RE KIDDING ME. Anyway, 5 stars (Are we even surprised??).

Thank you to R.F. Kuang and William Morrow for the ARC! Taipei Story releases September 8, 2026.

CW: grief, racism, death

────

finished: 05/09/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
manifested SO hard that i got the arc 😭 finished this a few days ago and basically read it in one sitting - full thoughts/review soon. this is definitely for the yellowface enthusiasts!

started: 05/06/26 𖥻𓈒 ꒱ ੭
ꗃ aapi read #2

[Freefall (back on aug 2nd)]

i don't usually put a lot of emojis or at all in my reviews but this is what i speculate:

the cover: 💓🎍🐼🌸🪷🥟🏮🧧🍙🎴
the story: 😨😨😨😵⚰️☠️💀😐🔪🩸

[vyn targaryen ‎♡‧₊˚]

heard the news and got bricked up (im a girl)

[₊ ˚ ale ࿓ ♡ ⋆｡˚]

── ᝰ .ᐟ pre read.
"love story", i don't buy it entirely, but anything, and i mean it, for you, mother kuang.

[zahra]

a coming-of-age story from ms. kuang ??!! SAY LESS WHATTTTT
------------------------------------------------
COVER REVEAL !!! IT'S SO CUTE

[vaishnavi ☆ﾟ⁠.⁠*]

── .✦ pre-read 𖹭.ᐟ
#2: i don't really like the cover atm but i guess it'll grow on me??
#1: I'll read anything this queen writes at this point <3 I am seated. GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT NOWWW!!!!

[Lance]

give this to me NEOWWW pls!

[Korynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I first heard that Kuang was writing a novel called “Taipei Story,” I thought that was a stand-in title for a story she was writing that was set in Taipei; I didn’t realize it was actually the title of her next book! I was shocked when I saw the cover and realized that “Taipei Story” was, in fact, the title.

This novel didn’t initially sound like something I’d want to read as non-fantastical coming-of-age stories aren’t what I usually reach for, but I have read all of R. F. Kuang’s books so far and I will continue to read all future books she writes. I tend to like them, more or less. While I prefer her fantasy novels, I do really like seeing an author write in different genres, especially when they can write authentically about their experience. Kuang’s books feature Chinese characters and focus on moments from Chinese history or culture.

I feel like Taipei Story was an authentic portrayal of a what it’s like to be a Chinese-American student studying abroad in Taiwan for the summer and everything that entails, from difficulties with the nuances of learning a language to the suffocating humidity to the desire to explore the city instead of studying. I did a summer study abroad of sorts when I was in college (though nothing as intense as Lily’s program) in a foreign country that spoke a foreign language, and I could see a lot of similarities between Lily’s experience and mine. I do appreciate that this story feels authentic and realistic.

While I liked the overall story, I did not like that our protagonist Lily had no agency in this book. She let the entire plot happen to her; even if she didn’t like it and didn’t want it to happen, she did nothing to stop it. The hot springs scene made me realize this, and it honestly kind of disgusted me to read that scene. I wish that had never happened. Afterward, I felt like Lily was so detached and emotionless from anything going on around her. She did not connect with one other character in a meaningful way, and I really didn’t like that because it was not fun to read about her at times.

Taipei Story was rather depressing on the surface but had hopeful undertones, and I think that was the intention. Lily’s summer abroad is not going according to plan, but at least she’s learning Chinese so she can one day talk to her grandparents in their native tongue. We already know from the synopsis that Lily’s grandfather dies, and we get to see her live through that grief—not only about his passing but also about her inability to ever speak to him in Chinese and learn his story and history. The rest of the novel after his death is Lily grappling with this understanding and trying to find any sort of connection to him through learning Chinese language and history, but ultimately coming to the realization that her dream of hearing her gonggong tell his own story in Chinese will never come true. So yeah, that’s kind of depressing. But it was genuine in how it was written because her story is based on Kuang losing her own grandfather before she could connect to him in the same way.

In the end, though, I felt like I understood Lily. I understood her frustrations about learning a language she felt like she would never master while also taking pride in her being more fluent than other students she encounters. I understood her desire to connect with her past while also feeling like it wouldn’t matter for her life at all whether she developed that connection or not. I understood her love/hate relationship with her heritage and her family. I think a lot of people will read Lily’s story and understand her too.

Overall, I liked Taipei Story and I’m glad I read it, but I don’t think it’s a book I will revisit. I think it’s my second-least-favorite novel of Kuang’s (after Katabasis; I did not like that book). I would recommend this novel to anybody who has gone through a similar experience to Lily’s—whether that be losing a relative without being able to connect to them first, or experiencing a new culture and language for the first time. People interested in Taiwanese settings and culture will likely also enjoy this book. I’m looking forward to seeing what Kuang writes next.


Side note: I found out after finishing this book and reading some other reviews that apparently people are upset that this book contains mentions of an Israeli character. They are not a main character or a side character or even a tertiary character, they are only a background character. And people are mad at Kuang for writing this background character as being Israeli instead of any other race. Canceling an author or a book merely because it contains a character from a specific country of origin—that is racist, and there’s no other way to put that. Israeli people exist, both inside and outside of Israel, and they do not equal their government. The people do not deserve to be erased just because you disagree with the actions of their government.

I received a copy of this book for review from the publisher via Edelweiss.

[Ashley (permanent [?] semi-hiatus)]

why am i just finding out about this

[Sava (Fang Runin’s version)]

she writes I read 🫡

[Ayeley &#x1065a; ·˚]

╭──────────.★..─╮
Pre-read
╰─..★.──────────╯

6/03/26:I did not expect that cover ns but I’m still seated!!

18/10/25: Mother writes, I read🙂‍↕️🤏🏾

[Saranya [ia]]

pre-release:

Oh. My. God. We got the cover! Wohoooo! Stunning!

[seeraaa ♡ { Slump Era :⁠-⁠( }]

GIVE IT TO ME RIGHT NOW!! 🫴🏻🫴🏻

[mia ╰(*´︶`*)╯♡]

i'm scared this will be colonial bc she's not taiwanese.............

[lady magician ౨ৎ]

i just know this will be good

[clicktojointhemafia]

The way I am absolutely ✨ sat✨. A 'coming of age' novel from R.F. Kuang???? Rebecca babes. I know you, so you BETTERRR let them live to come of age!!!

[Alex P.]

Someone needs to enlighten me because I don't get it.... so are we not allowed to write in characters from contentious "countries" without adding a whole lecture about the evils of said country? If an author includes a German person in their book, does the MC need to have a whole internal dialogue about how much they disavow the holocaust? If a Japanese character exists, does there need to be a note somewhere about Nanjing and all their other atrocities across East and Southeast Asia? How about every American character needs to come with a repudiation of their nation's generations of interference and contribution to the downward spiral of the Middle East?

[rosie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars? it was like taking a diaspora 101 class. Kuang unfortunately did not have a magic system or clever hook to this story that could redeem the copy and paste protagonist or the lack of true substance behind her emotions (or the writing itself). we all gotta graduate someday, i’m just wondering when that’ll be for rebecca

[anzhelika ୨ৎ]

that cover is so gorgeous!! it's a need.