Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu is an excellent debut novel of historical fiction and family drama. Meilin and her son Renshu leave their home in China in 1938 to escape the advancing Japanese army. They do not realize at the time that they will never go back. After bouncing from home to home, and hardship to hardship the mother and son finally settle in Taiwan. Eventually Renshu moves to America as Henry Dao, and the story follows his coming of age and marriage.

The writing was strong, the characters were deeply developed, and the storyline was thoroughly researched. I did notice that the pacing was uneven. The story moved along very quickly before Renshu came to America, but it slowed considerably when he as Henry Dao came to the U.S. I think it was because the immediate danger had passed. He still had hardships and tension in his life, but it was not as harrowing as the first part of the novel.

There is an element of storytelling that I loved, which pertained to the scroll. We hear some Chinese folkatales and learn the origin of the "Peach Blossom Spring." That part was beautifully told and cleverly woven into the novel.

I will recommend this to readers who enjoy historical fiction that takes place in China.

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received an e-galley of Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu from Little, Brown Company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Peach Blossom Spring follows the story of a multi-generational Chinese family as the members find themselves on the move as events on a national and international level force them to keep fleeing for survival. The story first begins in the late 1930s in China and the historical events of that time - Japanese invasion, World War II, and the Chinese Civil War - provide the backdrop for the characters. We follow Meilin and her son Renshu as they move through China and across oceans in hope for a place to call home. A historical novel like this is so important because it really is more of a personal historical story. While you can read accounts of the "facts" of these historical events - stories like this show the more personal histories (and HERstories) that happened to the people who had to live out these time periods. I really liked Meilin - her strength, her love for her son, and her resilience and determination in the face of some really challenging life events.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown and Company for allowing me to read this ARC!


Content Warning: death (including that of children), murder, violence, rape, racism, arson, war.

Meilin is a young wife and mother in 1938. With the hopes of a happy future with her husband, Xiaowen, and son, Renshu, she allows herself to imagine the life they might live, once Xiaowen returns from fighting against the Japanese army. Forced to flee their home and antique shop, Meilin brings nothing with her but Renshu, her hope, and an exquisitely illustrated handscroll, full of stories and a symbolic object of what Meilin wants Renhu's future to be: beautiful, happy, and secure. Many years later, Renshu has refashioned himself as Henry, moved to America, gone to a prestigious college, and fallen in love. But though his daughter is desperate for a connection to his past and their shared heritage, Henry refuses to discuss China, his mother, or his family, too traumatized by the pains of his war-torn childhood, and still frightened by the frightening politics of the Nationalist KMT and the Communist PRC. Can Henry accept his past? And in the process, bring himself to share it with Lily?

There is no other way to describe this book except gorgeous. Each page, each chapter, feels crafted with a subtlety and expertise that is not easy to accomplish. I've been looking forward to getting around to this one, as I'd heard that it was beautiful, touching, and finely written, and I can happily say that that is the case. Full of heart, yearning, and a desire both to leave the past behind and hold onto the things that make us who we are, Peach Blossom Spring is a modern-day masterpiece, one that will leave you reflecting on the connections between family, humanity and history.

All three of our main characters -- Meilin, Henry's brave, remarkable mother; Henry, the gentle son who becomes a distant father; and Lily, the daughter who seeks to understand where she came from -- are entirely authentic, brilliantly written with a genuineness that feels as if you are truly reading about figures who existed in real life. And, in many ways, I suppose they did -- it's easy to imagine a woman just like Meilin in the 1930s, fighting for her life and the lives of her children during the seemingly endless conflict with Japan; a man like Henry, who has a heavy heart when he remembers his home country, a place that, to him, was a combination both of unbelievable suffering and beauty; and Lily, who feels out-of-place both amongst Chinese and white people, who is searching for her identity. They are real people with real problems and issues, as well as their own hopes and aspirations.

The focus on history's oral and artistic traditions gave us a fascinating exploration of many Chinese folktales, all of them with their own morals and lessons to be learned, and I loved that Meilin kept the beauty of China and Chinese history alive through telling Henry stories from the handscroll throughout the course of the novel. There's an emphasis on the love and connection of telling a story, handed down through generations, to our own loved ones; whether or not they've already heard it, in the same form or another, is beyond the point. It is Meilin's Peach Blossom Spring that keeps the novel constantly moving forward, that encourages our characters to look forward, and eventually, to also be able to reconcile with the horrors of not only our own personal histories, but also the histories that can plague an entire country or people.

I enjoyed all of the characters and their individualities, but I think that Meilin is the heart of the story, the beating pulse that centers everyone and brings them together. She was easily my favorite, with her strength, bravery, whip-sharp intelligence, and her ability to hope and to grow. She is flawed, human, allowed to make mistakes in the course of the narrative in spite of her intellect and savviness. Not only are the characters themselves relatable, but so are the complicated family dynamics. It's an understatement to describe this book as touching; it is heartening, moving, the kind of reading that both brings tears to your eyes and a smile to your face.

Very, very highly recommended. Truly a literary masterpiece. It is books like these that make us remember why we read in the first place.

What a blessing it is to be moved by this book.

Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu is a remarkably heartwrenching tale. Following the Second Sino-Japanese War, the book follows three generations of the Dao family across three different nations. Peach Blossom Spring illuminates the restorative strengths of family, love, and devotion amid a tumultuous war-torn national history that houses a family history riddled with lost love and grievances.

There is something so precious and powerful about books amplifying the voices of those silenced during these larger histories, particularly family histories separated by uncrossable borders, physical and emotional. Oftentimes, I am struck by the aggressive scrubbing of Asian and Asian American history – a reduction that not only erases Asian American experiences (as a personal and collective identity) but one that dehumanizes and delegitimizes the plights of those who suffered. Even if there is the recognition of suffering, the acknowledgment that ordinary people shouldered the burden of larger warfare is often secondary, always a couple of beats late. Peach Blossom Spring is primarily a private family story that contains these public, political topics (eg. geopolitical war, refugee and asylum-seeking, diaspora experiences, assimilation, citizenship and national identity, language and culture).

Above all, Peach Blossom Spring reestablishes the importance and necessity of stories and storytelling in times of hardship, a particularly poignant and relevant theme. I am enamored by what I’ve taken away from this book – a lasting message that shines like the moon in a hopelessly starless sky, one that insists that torn families, no matter how high the stakes, can still find closure and cohesion within themselves.

I’ve been wondering if the futility of resilience, a mere result of the necessity to survive, can be overcome at all. If there’s any heavenly peach blossom spring to reach, and if it’s worth it in the end.

(I think it is worth it. But what I do know with certainty is that it is fully worth it to read this book. Truly. Add it to your TBR right now, it releases tomorrow!)

This is a marvellous, meaningful exploration of China's history. I really enjoyed this novel and will be recommending it to everyone I know upon its release.

5 stars

I am grateful to Little, Brown and Company for sending me an advanced copy of this book for review.

Peach Blossom Spring was a very enjoyable novel, that follows a family and explores the hardships that they have to overcome during a period of turmoil in China. Naturally, I enjoyed this book. It reminded me a lot of books like Pachinko and Little Gods, that are family stories focusing on the connections between people, the ways in which people overcome adversity, and how regular people navigate times of political strife and war.

I feel like this book really delved into what it was like for regular citizens to deal with the uncertainties that surrounded the state of flux that China was going through during that time. There was a lot of emphasis on how it was for a single mother to keep her child safe and provide for them both when nowhere felt safe. This was an emotional story. There were so many times when the situations were overwhelming, which kept a high level of tension throughout the novel. I like how this story focused both on the perspective of the mother and of the child, and we saw how the events that occurred in the first portion of the book really affected the way the boy grew up, and every major life decision that he made. We also see how his childhood experiences and trauma affected him and followed him for the rest of his life.

One of the things that was really beautiful about this book, is how the author incorporated stories within this novel . There were multiple ways in which the stories themselves and the importance of storytelling were presented. I really enjoyed the periods in the book where the author really allowed the characters to simply tell stories, cultural stories that have significance not only taught lessons to the characters but gave us lots of cultural insight.

I thought the book was very well written. The writing style really matched with the story that was being told. It was immersive and made it easy to become emotionally connected to the characters. I definitely recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, to fans of family stories, and fans of cultural stories.

Thank you so much publishers for the opportunity to review this book! Peach Blossom Spring follows a multi-generational family set in China. I have not read or know much about this subject in history at all so it was really interesting to visit with this family and read about their struggles! The characters are super rich and the writing is really beautiful!

Melissa Fu grew up in the USA and now lives and works in the UK. This is her first novel. It is an historical fiction inspired by the life of her Chinese born father. Set in China, Taiwan and the USA it follows the life of Meilin and her son Renshu and eventually his daughter Lily through the years of the Chinese - Japanese war, WWII and the Cold War until about 2005. This is a wonderful novel about family and fear and sacrifice and reminded me a little of Janie Chang's "The Library of Legends".

Peach Blossom Spring is a moving and evocative family saga that spans the stories of three generations. It begins in 1938 with Meilin, a young widow who escapes to Taiwan with her son Renshu when Japan invades their village in China. Renshu eventually goes to America for university, and the story picks up there, where he changes his name to Henry Dao.

His early attempts to make friends with fellow Chinese students take a scary turn when he realizes student activities are being reported back to the Chinese government, with some real and drastic consequences for their families still with ties to the mainland. For his mother's sake, Henry keeps a low profile on his Chinese heritage, and by the time he gets married to a white woman, and has a daughter Lily, he barely ever talks about his past anymore. And when Lily takes Chinese language classes and tries to learn more about her heritage, she finds the topic completely shuts her father down.


The title of the novel comes from an old Chinese story, one of many illustrated on a scroll that Meilin's husband gives her, and that she takes when she and Renshu flee China. The stories on the scroll keep Meilin and Renshu's spirits high during the scariest and most dangerous parts of their journey, and 'Peach Blossom Spring' in particular is a lovely narrative about a man who leaves home and comes upon a magical place.

An older man overhears Meilin read the story to Renshu for the first time, and observes that Meilin stopped before she got to the ending. The moment, decades later, when Renshu learns the way the story really ended was probably one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in the novel for me. I'm usually a bit leery when a writer gets a bit too heavy-handed with the symbolisms of an object, particularly when it's such an obvious metaphor as a scroll of ancient stories. But in this case, Melissa Fu makes it work. Both the stories in the scroll and the story of the scroll itself are rich with meaning, emotion, and resonance, and just utterly wrecked me.

Meilin's story covered an area of history I'm not too familiar with, so I'm really glad that this piece of Chinese history is being told to a wide audience in an English language book. That being said, I found it to be a slow start, and while aspects of Meilin's story were very striking and moving, it wasn't until Renshu came to America that I felt the story really pulled me in. I think part of it is that the author begins with a very distant tone, listing the Daos and their relationships to each other. The approach makes sense for a family saga, but it also made the first few pages feel somewhat perfunctory, like, here's all the backstory before we get to the real focus.

Another part I think is that Meilin just had a LOT more going on in her life, events-wise, than Henry and Lily later would. So while Henry's story could take its time focusing on his gradual distancing from his heritage, and Lily's story could take its time focusing on her gradual return to it, Meilin's story was a lot more plot-driven. Her section felt like a rapid-fire series of events, and while Fu does show us Meilin's thoughts and emotions, the overall tone still felt a bit more distant to me than it did with Henry and Lily's stories.

Part of me wishes we could have stayed with Meilin throughout the entire novel, and given her story more room to breathe. But then Henry and Lily's stories were so strong, and Fu ties them back so beautifully to Meilin's tale that overall, I think the novel does work. It's a lovely book.

+

Thank you to Little, Brown, and Company for an e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In this debut novel, Melissa Fu gives us a beautiful description of a rich family history. So much tragedy and loss. The author’s description of the family’s harrowing journey through land and sea has the reader feeling their pain, particularly in the Xiling Gorge section. Wow. Did people really experience that type of journey?

At first, I confess, the story is a little too slow for my taste. I was having trouble connecting with the characters. I found myself skimming through the scroll stories. So many! After setting it aside a few times, I almost gave up.

And then at about the halfway point comes Part 4! Part 4 was worth waiting for. The reveal of the Peach Blossom Spring scroll ending as revealed Renshu is powerful. I found Renshu’s storyline so compelling. Stuck between two cultures and fearful for so long.

These two quotes were beautiful and will stick with me:

‘Within every misfortune there is a blessing, and within every blessing, the seeds of misfortune. And so it goes, until the end of time.’ -so true!

“She feels like she is breaking apart – whether from joy or sorrow, she can’t say. A kindly woman next to her says, ‘We are so proud of our boys, aren’t we?’ Meilin nods and tears roll off her nose. She has never felt more bereft.” -proud of your son but heartbroken at watching him go. I get that!

This book made me realize how ignorant I am on historical matters surrounding Taiwan, China and US. It really made me want to learn more.

Overall, slow start but the second half really tied it all together well. Lovely debut novel. ❤️

A big thank you to LittleBrown&Company and
Hachette Book Group for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5 stars.

Peach Blossom Spring follows three generations of a Chinese family over the course of six decades, bringing to life key historical events in Chinese history, including the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War.

Peach Blossom Spring revolves around three characters: (1) Meilin; (2) Meilin's son, Renshu, who eventually immigrates to America, changes his name to Henry Dao, and starts a family following his graduate studies; and (3) Henry's daughter, Lily, who is bi-racial and yearns to learn more about her Chinese heritage.

Personally, I felt that Peach Blossom Spring started out strong, but my interest tapered off once the story's setting shifted to America. I couldn't help but feel detached from the characters from that point on.

That being said, Peach Blossom Spring's strength is in its rich history -- both Chinese and Chinese-American history. I loved how the author incorporated fables within Peach Blossom Spring through a hand scroll -- fables were a big part of my childhood and this book made me feel nostalgic. The story of the Peach Blossom Spring, which features frequently in the novel, was by far my favorite.

"After a few moments, she says, 'I guess the thing about Peach Blossom Spring is that if you are fortunate enough to find it, you are also unfortunate, because then you have to decide what to do. Do you stay, and forego all else? Or do you return home, with the understanding that you'll never find it again? Is it a blessing? Is it a curse?'"

While Peach Blossom Spring didn't quite work for me, I still appreciated this debut novel for touching on the Second-Sino Japanese War and would still recommend it to readers in the Chinese diaspora to learn more about our heritage.

**Note to publisher: This review will be posted to bookstagram @movedbyprose on publication day**

In Peace Blossom Spring, Melissa Fu explores Chinese history, the experience of fleeing violent conflict, family dynamics, the chaos of survival during war, immigration, the uncertainty Chinese immigrants experienced in America in the 60s and 70s, growing up mixed race in America, feeling disconnected from your family history, and so much more. This was a huge undertaking, and overall it was excellent.

The three POVs (Meilin, Renshu/Henry, and Lily) complemented each other well (and felt age appropriate: the parts when Renshu and Lily were children sounded different than when they had grown up). I really appreciate the use of different perspectives to widen the emotional and internal understanding of the story, and this novel novel does that fabulously. These characters are complex, honest, and believable, which provides a great foundation for the rest of the story.

While my experiences in life are vastly different from any portrayed in this book, I saw a little bit of my own feelings reflected back at me while reading, especially in the last section when we follow Lily more. Good fiction acts like a mirror, sometimes showing us we’re not alone, and other times revealing areas in ourselves where we can grow. I learned a lot through this book, and I am so grateful for the journey it allowed me to witness (it being fiction doesn’t make the story any less real).

My only difficulty with the book is a common symptom of multigenerational sagas like this, the huge timespan of the novel sometimes meant that long chunks of time were rushed or skipped over with just a quick mention. I know it would be very difficult/impossible to give significant time to every moment (which I don’t think I would enjoy either), but there were a few years skipped over that I would have loved to read more about. Honestly, this “criticism” speaks more about what I’m looking for in a book right now, and not about the novel itself (which I will absolutely recommend to anyone interested in own-voices historical fiction focused on Chinese history in the 20th century, or people looking for a quality multigenerational family story). 4.5⭐️

Thank you to Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A beautifully written novel that spans several generations of a Chinese family ranging from the upheaval and trauma of World War II through the Chinese Civil War to the near present.

1938, China - Meilin, a young bride, seems to have a bright future. But when the Japanese army approaches, she and her son are forced to flee their home in search of safety.

Setting against the backdrop of Sino-Japanese and Chinese Civil war, I thought the story started with too much description of the facts and trauma - I understand that in the context of war, it is full of grief, loss and devastation, but still I felt that it was overly done. But soon the tapestry of narrative, allied to immersive writing, are so well developed that it grabs the reader and doesn't let go.

From China to Taiwan to America and spanning seven decades, this is a story that follows three generations of a Chinese family on their search for a place to call home. There are resilient (Meilin), detestable (Wenling) and nuanced characters that will linger in your mind. I wasn't expecting this one to be as emotional as it was - the grandma's food was nostalgic and close to home; the raw emotions pulsing from the pages had me tearing up and the ending reminded me of my mother.

What this novel does best is to paint a sharp depiction of the animosity between China and Taiwan (communists x nationalists) and how it strongly impacts the characters. The plot is also cultivated with interesting tales from the hand scroll (Peach blossom spring) and I couldn't have enough of it.
The story is heavily crafted by themes of identity, belonging, racism and interracial marriage.

Based on the author's family story, this moving debut novel leads us to meditate on the choices we make. It is a tale about war, migration, the power of the stories and what it means to be home. Beautifully written!

The storytelling in this book is quite moving. I feel like China is often an overlooked country that was a victim of the second World War. This book, however, highlights the great story of generations that were present during the Second World War, and those subsequent generations that felt the effects years later of the aftermath. Truly moving, I gave it four stars for a few reasons:
* Books spanning continents and future generations are sometimes hard to follow, and I have a hard time remembering some of the names/characters that appear.
* I did enjoy that this book was somewhat easy to follow and never felt that it was too hard to reference or look back upon.
* Finding a home in wherever you are is not easy, especially if you are a misplaced person seeking to rekindle your heritage. I liked how the author was able to connect some of the stories of the past and make them relevant to what was happening in the present day.
* Renshu was sometimes frustrating to read about. Then again, you can hardly blame him for not wanting to talk too much about what has happened in his life given the history he has.

Overall this was a good book and a great cover! So pretty!

This book took my breath away in the best possible way. It’s was an achingly beautiful portrayal of the pains that echo through generations. Yet the pain is not what remains for the characters or the readers, rather it turns into a gentle surrender of hope and acceptance.

We start our story with Meilin, who has hopes and dreams for a beautiful future with her husband and son, Renshu. War quickly destroys those hopes and dreams and we follow Meilin and Renshu as they constantly uproot their lives to try to find refuge in a war torn country, before eventually landing in Taiwan. From there we get to see Renshu take the opportunity to study in America and eventually start a family. Finally, we meet Renshu’s daughter, Lily, who is desperately trying to make sense of herself with so much of her heritage unknown at her dad’s refusal to speak of it.

I loved every storyline and perspective so much. I grew so attached to them, with my heart aching through their sorrows and beaming with their triumphs. They were all so deeply relatable. I especially loved the storyline and arc of the beloved scroll, given to Meilin from her husband, that she would read to her son throughout every upheaval. As a parent, it made me contemplate so deeply the stories we share and how to best pass on lessons we hope our children learn. Furthermore, with Renshu, it made me consider how even last parables and folktales, our own story and history is just an important to know and share.

I highlighted so much of this book. The writing was mesmerizing and poetic, the lessons poignant and powerful. I will be buying a physical copy, recommending it to everyone I know and will revisit it time and time again throughout my life.

This was without a doubt written with heart. The prose was beautiful, delicate, and somehow had a quiet feel to it. It was interesting to learn more about the subject, and as a fan of historical fiction, knowing more about a country's past is always a plus. It was difficult not to feel sympathy for the characters.

I was so glad to have picked this up. Novels like this remind me why I like this genre. Peach Blossom Spring spans 70 years and follows three generations. I love it when a book manages to be an eye-opener, which this one was undoubtedly. I knew close to nothing about WWII China, much more the Civil War. There were fables woven in the story which were somehow allegories as well, and the way the title was first used in text gave me chills. These provided an atmosphere all on its own and set the themes. I felt like Renshu myself when it was time for another fable. The book may jump years after a few pages or a chapter but I never once felt confused by the narrative or the sudden shift in perspective; I found the writing seamless.

As for the characters, they were all very realistic. Sometimes, I felt as tired as they did, and just as sad. When the focus started to shift towards Renshu, his unease leaked off the page and I genuinely wanted him to keep his head. The tension during his university days made me nervous I was unable to put the book down. This atmosphere wavered, then eventually eased in Lily's chapters. When her chapters increased, her relationship with her grandmother reminded me of my own (both Renshu and Lily's relationship to Meilin actually). Although Lily's chapters were those I wasn't much invested in, she was the one I understood the most. And though I am not Chinese, there were many lines in this book that resonated with me. The themes were so on point.

Peach Blossom Spring is a debut novel but it did not read like one to me. There's lots of things to think about here and whatever I was expecting prior to starting, it was not this (I mean this in a good way). I enjoyed this book a lot and would recommend!

Sweeping generational sagas are my favorite type of stories, especially ones that take place in a new (to me) setting or time.

Peach Blossom Spring follows one family as they navigate life during Japanese invasion in China in 1938 up until the early 2000’s in America. It’s a story riddled with loss, grief, courage and beautiful story telling. It’s a testament to the human will to persevere.

Rounded up from 4.5 on Goodreads because it would be an injustice to round down.

A sweeping novel set against the backdrop of the Japanese invasion of Chinese during World War II. Shui Meilin and her son Dao Renshu find themselves forced to flee from Changhsa, Hunan Province as the city is bombed by the Japanese. They can only take what they can carry and it is a perilous journey to the interior of China only a few steps ahead of the Japanese. They settle in Chongqing for now but know it is only a temporary respite. As the war drags on Meilin and Renshu begin to despair about finding a permanent place to live and struggle to be safe. Many novels cover World War II and the impact it had on Europeans and Americans, but few detail the monumental hardships the Chinese people faced. An evocative and highly emotional novel of love resourcefulness and triumph in the face of unrelenting danger. A brilliant first novel.

If you love Historical Fiction like I do, you will want to add this book to your ever-growing TBR list. Since this novel spans three generations, it covers quite a bit of history, shedding light on China's struggle between Communism and the people's desire for freedom. Through the lives of these rich characters, you will gain perspective on those conflicts as well as touch on issues facing Chinese Americans. This book was eye-opening, heart-wrenching, and poignant. The reason I didn't give it a 5-star review is because it had a slow start, but I was hooked midway through the book.