Red Thread of Fate

by Lyn Liao Butler

In the wake of a tragedy and fueled by guilt from a secret she's kept for years, a woman discovers how delicate the thread that binds family is in this powerful novel by Lyn Liao Butler.

Two days before Tam and Tony Kwan receive their letter of acceptance for the son they are adopting, Tony and his estranged cousin Mia are killed in an accident. A shell-shocked Tam learns she is named the guardian to Mia's five-year-old daughter, Angela. Tam has no choice but to agree to take in the girl she hasn't seen since she was a baby.

With her life completely upended, Tam must also decide if she will complete the adoption on her own and bring home the son waiting for her in a Chinese orphanage. But when her secret comes to light just as she and Angela start to bond, their fragile family is threatened. As Tam uncovers the events of the past, she discovers the true meaning of love; the one she is meant to be with, and the family she is meant to have, however unlikely.

Genres: Fiction, Contemporary, Romance, Adult, Adoption, China, Audiobook

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 8, 2022

About the author

Lyn Liao Butler was born in Taiwan and moved to the States when she was seven. Before becoming an author, she was a professional ballet and modern dancer, and is still a personal trainer, fitness instructor, and yoga instructor. She is an avid animal lover and fosters dogs as well as volunteers with rescues.

When she is not torturing clients or talking to imaginary characters, Lyn enjoys spending time with her FDNY husband, their son (the happiest little boy in the world), their three stubborn dachshunds, sewing for her Etsy shop, and trying crazy yoga poses on a stand-up paddleboard. So far, she has not fallen into the water yet.

Reviews

[Catherine (alternativelytitledbooks) - why is GR broken? -_- · Rating 4 out of 5]

**Many thanks to Shelf Awareness, NetGalley, Berkley, and Lyn Liao Butler for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 2.8!!**

"Fate is shaped half by expectation, half by inattention."-Amy Tan

This drama weaves together love, family, and destiny with threads from the past, which slowly unwind, one secret at a time!

Tam and Tony are in love and looking to make their family feel whole. They are set to welcome a Chinese orphan into their family, when tragedy strikes at the most inopportune time. Tony is in a bus crash, and Tam is left reeling. What surprises her even more is that Tony wasn't alone in the vehicle--and apparently had reconnected with the cousin Mia, estranged from the family after an incident long ago. The next twist in store for Tam brings Mia's daughter Angela to Tam's doorstep---SHE is now set to become the child's guardian. Can Tam navigate the unknown waters of parenthood without her husband by her side? And when Mia's diary is discovered, what other shocking secrets will be revealed? What does fate hold in store for her...and can the Red Thread of the past tie her to a bright future? Or will it leave her tied to Tony and stuck in a state of perpetual sorrow?

New to Butler's work, I came into this one expecting a bit more romance and a bit less family drama, so that was a bit of a jarring disconnect. Tam is a relatable enough protagonist, and it was easy to empathize with her plight. The beginning of the novel bounces back and forth between Tam's present (starting with the day of the accident) and jumps back in time, in month increments, to illuminate Mia and Tony's reconnect. This worked well until the book caught up to present day...when Butler introduced Mia's journal as yet another device to discuss the past. I typically appreciate a well-thought out backstory, but in this book, there was so much focus placed on Mia's journey at points that I lost sight of Tam's transformation. As a reader, it was hard to know whose growth was most important, so the book felt a bit disjointed. Throw in discussion of Tam's relationship with her mother and HER past, and it was a bit cluttered.

The other aspect of this book that had me struggling a bit was the way it felt like reveal after reveal was needed to 'up the ante' throughout the narrative. Usually, I see this pop up in the thrillers I read, where twist after twist can hit (sometimes too many!) and leave the reader surprised. In this instance, however, I got the vibes of a speaker on a talk show, dropping shocking bomb after bomb to make the audience gasp. At the end of all of this familial discord and turmoil, a love story was tacked on towards the end, which not only felt unnecessary but also a bit unrealistic given the circumstances. This isn't to say there isn't a great deal of heart present throughout: I just would have liked a bit more focus on one angle of the story (Tam's growth as a parent, a woman, a widow, or a friend) rather than so much back and forth.

But if you're looking for a good yarn (of course I said it!) of a family drama with secrets aplenty, backstory galore, and family love at its core, Red Thread of Fate checks ALL of those boxes, and even more!

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

[Sujoya - theoverbookedbibliophile · Rating 3 out of 5]

An Asian American couple, Tam and Tony Kwan are mending the cracks in their marriage and on the cusp of adopting a child from a Chinese orphanage. Tragedy strikes when Tony and his cousin Mia are killed in an accident near Mia’s home. Tam is surprised to know that Tony had been with Mia at the time of the accident, having been on the phone with him at that moment and it becomes apparent to Tam that Tony had been lying to her about his true whereabouts. Tam, in shock over her husband’s death, is also now responsible for Mia’s five-year-old daughter Angela. Tam was once close to Mia and her daughter Angela when she was just a baby, but after a falling out they had been estranged for almost five years. Tam was also not aware that Tony had reconnected with Mia. Despite a rocky start, Angela and Tam begin to bond over their recent losses and Tam, who always wanted to be a mother, finds solace in the little girl who becomes a part of her family. Tam also decides to travel to China and go through with the adoption of the three-year-old boy, Charlie, as they had planned. As Tam, Charlie, Angela and their new dachshund Stella strive to become a family ,long-buried secrets, lies, betrayals and guilt rise to the surface threatening to tear everything apart. Will Tam be able to keep it together and move on with her new family?

The running theme of this novel is the ‘red thread of fate’, which, as the author describes, has its origins in Chinese mythology “where it was believed that the gods tied together with an invisible red thread between lovers who are destined to be together. This thread can never be broken; it might be tangled or stretched but will never break.” The author also tells us that the term has “been embraced by the adoption community to include adopted children and their new families”. The narrative flits between past and present. Through flashbacks, we get to know more about Tam and Tony and their life together before the accident. Mia’s backstory is presented to us through entries in her private journal which she was writing for Angela and details Mia’s life in China before her relocation to the United States where starts a new life, her relationship with Tam and Tony and Angela's birth with many facts that she had kept hidden in her lifetime. The present-day narrative follows Tam navigating her way through widowhood and parenthood in the present day including her trip to China with Angela where finalizes the adoption. My heart ached for Angela, Tam and little Charlie and all they have been through. How Tam’s experience as a new parent contributes to a better understanding of her own mother is very well written.

Lyn Liao Butler’s Red Thread of Fate is a story of family, friendship, parenthood, forgiveness and destiny. The references to Chinese culture and beliefs enrich the narrative and the author has tried to shed a light on important issues such as the conditions in Chinese orphanages and the process of international adoption, which is commendable. However, I felt that the narrative only touched the surface of the complex dynamics described among the characters in this novel and lacked emotional depth, especially in parts of Tam’s story. The secrets and reveals in Mia’s story were predictable up to a point and the efforts to justify some of Mia's actions fell flat. I agree that Mia’s story is crucial to the narrative and the emphasis on her would not have been a problem, had certain parts in Tam’s story not felt too rushed. The writing also felt a bit stilted. The new romantic relationship track felt forced and a rather convenient wrap-up to the story. I will admit that I was also a bit disappointed in how Angela’s character has been written. While it is true that children, at times, can display admirable wisdom beyond their years, Angela’s behavior, reactions and dialogue, in many instances, seem incongruous with that of a five-year-old child and she exhibits a maturity that is simply out of place. A lot is going on in this novel and with its characters - past and present. Tony, Tam and Mia are individuals with flaws, which make them real, but some of their actions cannot be justified in the manner the story presents to us and even if their circumstances may evoke a certain amount of sympathy, it takes a lot of effort to feel completely invested in these characters. While I enjoyed the premise and parts of the narrative, I’m not too impressed with the execution of the story in its totality.

[Bkwmlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This book started off strong, with the defining event of the accident that kills two of the main characters — Tony Kwan and his cousin Mia — occurring within the first couple of pages. From there, the story focuses on the aftermath of the accident and those left behind: Tony’s grieving widow Tam, who ends up with legal guardianship of Mia’s five-year-old daughter Angela. At the same time, Tam receives the acceptance letter that she and Tony had been waiting for — the letter confirming their adoption of a son from an orphanage in China — which she will now have to decide whether to go through with on her own. As she tries to pick up the pieces of her life, Tam also has to reckon with her husband’s and his estranged cousin’s pasts, as well as deal with a long-held secret that could upend everything.

I’m actually a little torn with this one, as there were quite a few aspects of it that I enjoyed, but at the same time, I also felt parts of the story fell a little flat in some places. One thing that surprised me is that I didn’t feel anything emotionally for any of the characters, which I wasn’t expecting given my shared cultural background with these characters (Chinese American) and also a certain familiarity with their struggles from an immigrant story perspective. It’s not that the characters weren’t likable, because they were, but I guess I was expecting a little more depth to some of the characters than what came across in the story. I also had a little bit of an issue with the way Angela was portrayed in the story, as I didn’t feel at any point that she was only five years old — the way she came across based on how she acted and talked in nearly every scene, I felt like I was reading about someone in her teens at least (there were even a few instances where Angela seemed to act more like an “adult” than Tam). In the end, this uneven portrayal of the characters impacted my reading experience more than I was hoping it would.

Having said all that, I still appreciated the story overall and the writing was solid (though the plot was very much predictable and the ending I wasn’t too fond of). I’m glad I read this one and at some point, I hope to pick up Lyn Liao Butler’s first book, The Tiger Mom’s Tale , while waiting to see what she has in store next.

Received ARC from Berkley Books via NetGalley.

[Veronica · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lyn Liao Butler's books weren't super high on my radar, but I won this as part of a giveaway from Berkley and figured I'd give it a shot.

"She was on the phone with her husband when he died."

As far as opening lines go, Red Thread of Fate's isn't a bad one. Unfortunately, the book goes downhill from there.

Maybe it's because I guessed the "twist" by the end of chapter two, but I was not invested in story at all. There's a line that says Tam's "mind was a void and her feelings were numb, as if coated with a layer of Novocain" and that's literally how I felt the whole time I was reading the book. I was completely detached from the story the whole time and just found the whole thing kind of boring.

Writing is an art form, and it just felt like there was no real thought or care that went into Red Thread of Fate beyond a basic outline and plot. It felt more like a Wikipedia regurgitation than a story being told. There was no development of any kind and lacked any kind of depth. I know the old adage "show don't tell" can be controversial in writing circles, and while I don't think you need to apply that to a whole book, there's more to storytelling than simply telling people what happened the whole time. There was also a glaringly obvious inconsistency about when Mei got her American name that I'm hoping got fixed in the final print. (I get really nitpicky when I'm not emotionally invested in a story.)

It's bad enough that Red Thread of Fate was basically Lyn Liao Butler telling us what was happening for 350 pages, but what makes it worse is the fact that she didn't even tell it particularly well. The writing was really nothing special. It was awkward and stilted at times, and some of the more expository moments felt like they were written by an elementary schooler practicing appositive phrases. The actual story was clunky. There were no transitions and a lot of time skips. It was a little better in Part Two which was at least more cohesive as a story, but Part One seemed to rely solely on heavy-handed hinting and mini-cliffhangers in a sad attempt to hold the readers' attention.

I'll be honest, I wasn't a fan of the "twist," but even if we took that out of the equation, I found Red Thread of Fate extremely disappointing. Lyn Liao Butler tried to tackle a lot of heavy issues in her book--grief, loss, guilt--but they were all thrown together without much thought. Everything she wanted to address was only briefly touched on and needed to be fleshed out more. There was more than enough to make an interesting story--the Asian diaspora experience, the weight of silence and secrets, the culture clash between immigrant parents and their second generation, the meaning of family, the painstaking process of "moving on" after loss-- but unfortunately, we ended up with a cursory reading instead of a thoughtful story. For a book that dealt with everything from unrequited love to death to the realities of child abandonment and difficulties of adoption, Red Thread of Fate did a tremendous job of completely removing any kind of emotion from the story. The story was rife with potential and should have evoked a ton of emotion, but I spent the whole time waiting to feel anything beyond absolute apathy. I hate to say it, but it got to the point where I was just reading because I wanted it to be over.

Unfortunately Lyn Liao Bulter's sophomore novel was a huge miss for me.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely LOVED this second book by Lyn Liao Butler!! I enjoyed her first but this one was even better and I didn't think that was possible. The book starts off with a literal bang and then sucks you in as we slowly learn what events led up to a horrible incident. Told in alternating timelines and perspectives, we primarily are given Tam's perspective. An Asian American woman who has struggled with infertility and is in the process of adopting a young boy from China. I loved Tam and the journey she goes on in the adoption process, complicated even more when she is given custody of her husband's cousin's young daughter Angela when the mother dies. Full of heart, this story will pull at all your emotions. Amazing on audio narrated by the supremely talented Natalie Naudus. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my advance review copy!!

CW: miscarriage, foreign adoption, death of loved ones

[Lorilin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows Tam after the sudden, tragic death of her husband and his cousin in a car crash. Even more life-altering is the fact that Tam is now the guardian of Angela, her husband’s cousin’s daughter (her first-cousin-once-removed-in-law?). Now Tam has to figure out how to be a single parent, all while processing the many secrets from her husband’s past that relentlessly keep revealing themselves.

At its core, Red Thread of Fate is about family—and especially about the messy way we are sometimes forced to define it. Tam has to work out the kinks of being a new mother. We also get backstory on Angela’s mother and her journey to parenthood. There are lots of twists and turns to the story (sometimes I thought a few too many…), but I did love watching these characters blossom over time.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: Red Thread of Fate
AUTHOR: Lyn Liao Butler
PUB DATE: 02.08.2022 @berkleypub

Tragedy
Secrets
Fate

“She was on the phone with her husband when he died”.

This was the first line of the book, that grabbed at my heart and never let go, until the very last page.

Oh this beautiful book was incredible. The writing was exquisite, poignant, and heart quenching - a definite must read from the author of The Tiger Mom's Tale. This story masterfully weaves a complex story of grief after a tragedy, mystery, and fate. Immersed into the Chinese culture - the food, the family, superstitions, and adoption.

The mystery element in the book will keep you in suspense and will keep you turning those pages into the wee hours of the night! I wish I was reading this book for the first time once again.

[Bronwyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded up

Tam and Tony Kwan are about to adopt a little boy from a Chinese orphanage, when Tony is tragically killed in a car crash alongside his estranged cousin Mia. Tam grapples with the death of her partner, her complicated feelings towards Mia following a betrayal, becoming guardian of Mia's five year old daughter, Angela, and her upcoming adoption of Charlie. The author plays with the 'red threat of fate' as the intertwined nature of Tam, Tony, and Mia's lives are revealed as Tam and Angela forge their new life together as a family.

I enjoyed the premise of this book, and was curious to understand the complex feelings that Tam had towards Mia as it was alluded to that Mia had greatly betrayed her. I feel like this book fell a little bit flat for me because the main dialogue in the story took place between Tam, a thirty something year old woman, and Angela, a five year old girl, but Angela was coming away as the most composed and mature from the conversations, which felt weird to me and it took me out of the story trying to wrap my mind around it. I feel like Tam's storyline after the car crash, dealing with grief, taking in Angela, exploring dating, and adopting Charlie, felt very rushed, even though I liked aspects of it. I would have liked to see her feelings explored more deeply and being supported by her actions, rather than just being told about them. Overall I was entertained by this story and I think the concept is wonderful, but it was a bit shallow in its execution.

Thank you Berkley and #NetGalley for an arc of this book!

[Katie Mercer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think some people will love this book, but I am not one of them. I really loved the description, but throughout the book I was so frustrated with the main character I had a lot of trouble getting through the book as a whole. There were moments where I started to glimpse a book I really could have enjoyed, the descriptions were good and the book touched on a lot of really challenging themes - maybe too many. The dialogue was stilted, and I had a lot of trouble with building empathy for a lead character who seemed to be doing her level best to be a caricature of a weak and fragile woman who was growing into her true self - I really wanted to enjoy this book because I really wanted a happy ending, and there was one, but it also seemed to come a bit out of nowhere.

Either way, my feelings aside I think this book will do really well for book clubs, so there's that.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh, this was a solid 4-5 star read for me until Mia raped Tony and it was never adequately addressed. Mia’s journal showed no remorse for taking advantage of someone, so there was not a redeeming quality to Mia for me. Even Tam just referenced it as Mia seducing her husband… that part could have been written and addressed so much better. The rest of it was soooo good though, but I can’t get past my issue with that single part, so I can only give it 2 stars unfortunately.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was heartbreaking and heartwarming.

It’s about family - losing it, finding it, and creating it.

I am not sure saying I enjoyed watching Tam’s journey. But it was nice seeing her overcome grief to build a life with her children.

I felt a little frustrated with how many times a specific situation was discussed especially since it seemed to be talked about in the same way each time.

I also wasn’t a huge fan of how the chapters moved back and forth between Tam’s perspective and Mia’s (and her journal entries). Though I did appreciate getting an understanding on how Angela came to exist.

There were some parts that were a bit melodramatic too. But it was overall still an enjoyable read. (3.5)

[Mbgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Women can be sooooo manipulative! That was my immediate takeaway upon finishing the book.

Tam— not quite sure I’m a fan of hers.
Mai—neither hers. Maybe Angela stole the show— or Adam.

But the spotlight on Chinese orphanages and letting the reader tarry a bit over how life goes as an orphan in China—- nice.

For me, this book read like a YA soap opera, and I am not the greatest fan of the not so subtle writing. Best read on the beach— on a holiday. Kinda mindless

[Saumya Dave · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn Liao Butler is an auto-buy author for me! I can't get enough of how she writes complex stories that cover so many themes while also containing humor and heart. Red Thread of Fate has everything---family secrets, mystery, identity. The rare blend of suspense and humor makes this story hard to put down. I can't wait to read what Butler writes next!

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

For me, Red Thread of Fate was a beautifully-written, interesting paradox of a book dampened by characters I hated. The craft and the story were there but I did not enjoy the who of it, a strange combination.

Parenthood and family intrigue aren't my usual fare, but I found myself sucked into Tam's story by detailed writing, like including Chinese honorifics, the cultural inclusions, and a bit of a very-predictable mystery. I think it was also curiosity at how Tam would cope, and what poor decision she'd make next, that kept me going. Otherwise it became almost a frustration-read because I felt as if we were being compelled to pity some morally-gray characters, and root for Tam, a wishy-washy and weak character who couldn't stand on her own.

The length and scope of the book were perfect, taking less than a workday to get through on audiobook with Natalie Naudus' excellent narration (she of the Daughter of the Moon Goddess audiobook!). It somehow encompassed the complex layers of grief, bonding with new family, and a whole journey through adoption from a Chinese orphanage without dragging on, something literature can tend to do. Even the later introduction of Mia's translated journal didn't slow momentum too much for me.

I was impressed by the way Butler insinuated current issues into the plot, like Taiwan-Mainland China tensions, infertility and miscarriage, and illegal immigrant struggles. All in all it was a well-rounded book that kept me listening to the end, despite my distaste for the cast of characters, an achievement in itself.

[Genevieve Trono · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Lyn Liao Butler's debut novel the Tiger Mom's Tale, which is a family drama mixed with the complexities of relationships and uncovering secrets from the past. ⁣
⁣
I so enjoyed learning more about the Taiwanese culture and I couldn't wait to see what Liao Butler wrote next, and now Red Thread of Fate is here! ⁣
⁣
This new release has her signature story telling, with themes of family and the multitude of ways we build them. I loved the focus on motherhood and the various paths to parenthood including adoption.

The meaning of belonging is explored I loved the way she weaved in the ancient Chinese concept of destiny and all being tied together by invisible threads.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing for my gifted review copy. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Suzy (readaholicmom) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Red Thread of Fate is a fast paced novel about a women's own journey after her husbands death and the surprising circumstances that's been pushed on her. This story is filled with complexed family drama, cultural expectations, hidden secrets and fate acceptance.

Thank you to Booksparks and Berkley Publishing for my gifted copy.

[oohlalabooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just as Tam and Tony’s marriage is going well again, tragedy strikes. Tony and his cousin, Mia, are killed instantly as they crossed the street together in Flushing, Queens. Tam is full of grief, yet also full of questions! Luckily, she has her good friend Abby to help. Tam becomes guardian of Mia’s daughter, Angela, and she moves forward with the adoption of Charlie in China. Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everyone's reading of a book is colored by their own life experiences. For that reason, this book's strongest points to me were about the Chinese orphanages, international adoptions, and found families. Secondary was the story of the transition of Tam, Tony, and Mai from life in China or Taiwan to life in the United States. Probably for that reason, the parts from Mai's diary were of the least interest to me. They didn't endear her to me in the way I think they were intended. Combined with the continual rehashing of events that had already taken place and were known became a bit of a drag on the story and my enjoyment. But I loved how Tam was able to pull together all the divergent parts of the world zooming around her in order find a safe place for herself and her little family.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

A soapy story about an orphaned girl from China, straining to find a secure family to take her in. There’s some writing but the story wasn’t that moving to me.

[Amy Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that, for the most part, this story did not go in any of the directions I expected. I deals with mother/daughter relationships, asian culture, adoption, loss, love, and female friendships.

[USOM · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Disclaimer: I received this book from the publisher. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)

The more I read Red Thread of Fate the more I was obsessed. I was instantly intrigued by the idea of adopting children from China - since I'm adopted from China - but then Red Thread of Fate becomes even more complex. It's a story about the secrets we keep from each other. All the convenient lies and assumptions we let slide. With flashback chapters from Mia's journal, Red Thread of Fate became impossible t put down. Our lives can change in one moment, in one conversation, like whiplash. And Red Thread of Fate is about navigating the waves.

So much is layered into this book. There are conflicting feelings of identity like a divide between feeling Taiwanese or American. At the same time there are generational secrets and Tam's evolving relationship with her mother was one of my favorite elements. When the ones we love are taken from us, what do we wish we could have said? What regrets do we leave behind? Secrets can fester. They can break down the foundations until t he houses we have built crumble.

full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...

[mitareads · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this book a zero, I would.

The writing is lazy and the author does a lot of telling, not showing, when it is not necessary. The author also explains exactly what the characters are feeling rather than showing how they feel — it might be a stylistic choice, but it comes off as awfully amateur.

Mia’s a rapist. It was never said explicitly in the book, but that’s what she is and I hate how the ending never showed clearly how really wrong she is.

None of the characters were interesting and this story had too many elements in it. This was a big waste of time and I won’t be reading from this author again.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m shocked by all the high reviews of this book. Had it not been for book club, I would have stopped reading the book early on.

The writing in this book is just awful, and the characters have no depth. The storyline is unrealistic, the “romance” is unrealistic, and the dialogue in this story felt extremely juvenile. 2 ⭐️ feels maybe even a little generous.

[Britt Riegler · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was a fine book. Easy read and had some plot twists that were entertaining but there were also some holes in the plot/characters. Also why is Angela (the literal five year old) acting like an adult? Idk that just annoyed me and if you’ve ever been around an actual five year old, you know they don’t act like how Angela was written.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lyn Liao Butler is a master of family drama and emotional suspense. The way she pulls back the layers of Tam's life - heartbreak, hope, love, betrayal - just keeps you turning the pages. This is a gorgeous story about what it means to have a family of all kinds.

[Rainy Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

"I'm saying that sometimes life doesn't happen exactly the way we plan it, for ourselves or for our daughters. The smart woman learns to let go and let what is predestined and what good luck has brought together be."

This book is only a so-so for me. Red Thread of Fate circled the story of Tam, Tony and Mia. After her husband, Tony died in an accident alongside his cousin, Mia, Tam found herself juggling between a lot of things. Secrets of Tony and Mia's relationship started to unravel one by one after their death.

I said this book is a so-so for me because the way the writer tried really hard to make every characters in this book as "good persons", even for the antagonists. That there's always back stories of why they were the way they were, that they were sorry for bad things that happened due to them, blah blah blah, enough of this. Bad characters are bad characters. I think you don't have to "paint" them to look good to anyone.

Besides, the way this book was written is not really my type. Don't get me wrong, I like the plots so much, but the style of writing is a bit... childish to my view. I also can guess who Angela's father is from the very first chapter of the book. Means that, it's easy to guess what will happen next, hence, the lack of suspense element of this book.

This book doesn't intrigued me enough because I already can guess most of the plots that'll happen next. Nevertheless, it unravels nicely despite everything.

[Nyah Dominguez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

Overall I liked this book! The writing style was engaging and the plot was interesting enough that I never felt like I was dragging my feet through the mud to finish the book.

I will say, the primary plot conflict was incredibly predictable for me, but I’m not sure if it was even meant to be a huge plot twist for the audience. I didn’t love the ending, it felt rushed and incomplete, with a love subplot that felt lackluster and a little too insta-lovey for me. The story follows both the past and present, as well as two main characters. Though I found the time jumps and use of a journal to drive the narrative engaging, it leaves us with two main characters that both felt underdeveloped and incomplete.

The story discusses family, fate, unrequited love, the immigrant / 2nd generation experience and grief, but I feel like in trying to cover all of those themes, none of them were done to the depth that would have truly hit home.

Still a super solid read and this type of adult contemporary fiction is newer to me, so I enjoyed my time with it!

[Stephanie | stephonashelf · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars! This is a story of deep love, heartache, forgiveness, and chosen family. This book tugged at my heart strings! It alternated between past and present between Mia and Tam. It explored the grief of losing a spouse and taking on a new child, while simultaneously adopting a child from an orphanage in China. The way the story unfolded was done perfectly paired with beautiful and thoughtful writing.

I loved the persistent theme and idea of red thread of fate, that regardless of anything that certain people were meant to end up together in some capacity. I loved the author's note at the end, and her personal connection to the story.

I wish we got to see a little bit more after the revelations of Mia's letter's and what happened to Adam and Tam.

Overall, this is a beautiful story rich with themes of family, love, and loss. Would recommend for those who love a story with multicultural elements, loves dachshunds, and enjoys themes of chosen family.

[Heather Frimmer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story covers so much ground, exploring grief, immigration, belonging, the meaning of family and so much more. It's a mystery, a love story and a family drama all rolled into one. Though the novel defies categorization, I couldn't stop reading, tearing through it a short few days. The main characters, both Tam and Mia, are so well drawn and easy to empathize with. I loved learning about both Taiwanese and Chinese culture, both in China and in NYC, and about the foreign adoption process. The fact that much of the book takes place in Flushing, Queens, the neighborhood in which I work, made it all the more interesting to me. I will have to go back and read Butler's first book as soon as possible.

[Star Gater · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 not rounding up. The story was interesting at first. A couple adopting from China, and then there is a problem. The Author in real life has adoption experience, and she was able to incorporate some of her experiences. Unfortunately the story went flat. There was too much dialogue with no significance. The fictitious twist has been done, and really is overrated. I did enjoy the mother writing to her too small child, journal-like for when she got older. I was touched by that act. Overall, the ending was just that; it ended.

More explanation of the Chinese culture would have been helpful.

This was a GoodReads Giveaway physical book win, I'm appreciative, and will donate the book.