I don’t have words for how beautiful and heartbreaking this book is. As the daughter of a Chinese Vietnamese immigrant myself, there is so much here that resonated with me—sometimes at a painful level.

With no disrespect toward the author and her candor in sharing her story, I feel like this story is my own alternate reality. So many names, places, and experiences are the same. Of course, some of them are very different too, and I want to honor her own unique story. But I find myself asking… Did our fathers ever cross paths on the refugee island that they both were on? What if her dad had gone to Iowa and mine to Massachusetts?

There are too many similarities for comfort, and I feel a sort of sad kinship to Felicia in all of it. But I’m grateful for her inspiring story of resilience. It’s a reminder that I can heal, too.

P.S. If you know me, and you decide to read this book, please talk to me about it.

Thank you to NetGalley, Greenleaf Audiobooks, and Felicia Thai Heath for an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review. Your story has great impact.