This was a great novel that described important issues such as the conditions in Chinese orphanages and the process of international adoption. However, the plot didn't feel as complex and it lacked emotional depth, as many parts felt predictible which made justifications seem unreasonable or unappealing.

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. They 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.

DNF at 10%. Very clunky writing. I don’t like the relationships between the characters, it seems unrealistic and there was a lot of over-stereotyping of Chinese and Taiwanese people. Not invested in the characters. I did like the big start with the car accident but that’s about it.

Oh, how I loved this book. The emotional reality of what happens when we lose a loved one and they have kept secrets from us. Or losing a loved one that we thought we hated, but actually don't, and never had the chance to make up or say goodbye. Multiple miscarriages and then...an expected adoption and an unexpected one. This book took me on such an emotional journey, right along with Tam. When her husband, Tony, and his cousin, Mia, are killed in a freak accident, Tam is notified that she is to take Mia's daughter, Angela. But Tam feels horrible about a situation from their past, and is not sure she can do what needs to be done. Then, she finds out the adoption of a child has gone through and now she will be responsible for two children, all while dealing with her loss and grief. Beautifully written and filled with so much angst and hope, this book was simply wonderful!

Red Thread of Fate by Lyn Liao Butler is a story that focuses on the topic of family and destiny. It's one that focuses on the interconnectedness of individuals and how choices can pull individuals together or push them apart.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

I loved author Lyn Liao Butler’s previous book, The Tiger Mom’s Tale, and was excited to read her newest release, RED THREAD OF FATE.

It’s here that Asian couple Tam and Tony Kwan are trying to strengthen their broken marriage, and have plans to adopt a child from China.

With the theme of the thread that binds us and connects us, this story was both beautiful and heartbreaking.

*many thanks to Berkley/Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

Lyn Liao Butler's Red Thread of Fate is a heart-wrenching tale of family, adoption, and secrets. Butler pulls the reader in from page one and doesn't let them go until the very end. Five stars!

RED THREAD OF FATE was such a delightful read!

I flew through the pages. Butler exposes fate/destiny in an interesting way, adding the Chinese concept "red thread" which made me invested and wanting more. I thought that the theme of adoption as well as the struggles in motherhood (especially to be single parent) were well-digested into the plot, giving us an insightful look.

The sections about Mia's journal were as emotional as they were absorbing. I yearned for Tam's mother backstory, an important side character who could have been further crafted. While most characters were likable, some were forgettable. The generational secrets unraveling in this book grab the reader and doesn't let go. You will find yourself distracted (in a good way) by the food and all the mention will make your mouth water.

This is a beautiful novel with passionate engagement, inspiring friendship and exploration of identity impossible to put down.

I love Lyn Liao Butler's writing but I had a hard time with this story. I didn't connect with the characters enough for what should have been heartbreaking to resonate. I think other people will, though, so if you're looking for a book with family drama, secrets and some unexpected twists, give this one a try.

Tam and Tony Kwan are a young couple that are in the midst of the process of adopting their son from China, they only have to wait for the final acceptance letter. It is two days before it arrives when Tony is killed in a traffic accident in the middle of Manhattan, when he was on the phone with Tam. Tam's life is turned upside down after this accident, now she has lost her husband. What will happen now with the adoption. Tam doesn't have much time to come to terms with Tony's passing, because a few days later the owner of the nail salon where his cousin Mia worked calls her. Tony was in the car with Mia when the accident happened, which Tam didn't know, and something was going on between Tony and Mia for years. Now that Tony and Mia are dead, who is going to take care of Mia's daughter Angela? Tam takes Angela into her home, and decides to do not cancel the adoption. In alternation chapters between Tam in the present time and Mia in the past, the reader gets to know more about Mia and Tony and their past in China and how they are connected to Tam and Angela. Tam travels to China to visit Tony's only living relatives and to pick up their son that awaits her in a Chinese orphanage.
I truly am blown away by this beautiful, gripping, and moving story. I truly didn't know what to expect, but because is has a Chinese theme and I love Chinese themed books, I ofcourse had to give it a try! The story is beautiful, and the lives of the main characters connect in many ways, and on every page there is a twists or turn you didn't expect, it is truly a story full of surprises! The link between Tony and Mia (behind Tam's back sadly) was different then you will expect as a reader, it was a bit predictable on one side but also it wasn't, i will not post too much spoliers about that. How Tam picked up her life again was impressive. Everything was different after the accident, and how she accepted to raise five year old,Angela, which she doesn't know even existed beforehand, just impressive.
This book is truly very original and different then anything I've read in a while, I loved it and definately recommend it!

I first became a fan of Lyn Liao Butler with her stunning debut THE TIGER MOM'S TALE, which I adored and devoured. Her sophomore novel is just as engrossing, with beautiful writing, family drama, secrets, and redemption that will pull at your heart strings. I was particularly touched by the adoption aspect of the novel, and loved the author's ability to weave in moments of humor as well. Needless to say, I give this book all the stars and can't wait for more from one of my favorite authors. Read this book, now!

the idea of the red thread of fate was a lovely through line through this story of family and acceptance!

Red Thread of Fate from @lynliaobutler published in February and weaves together an immigrant experience, secrets galore, family love, and a great twist. It’s a good one!

I loved this book so much! What a wonderful story about family, identity, forgiveness, and character growth. Highly recommended!

Truly truly loved this book. I was deep into thought about the characters and their issues. I loved Tam, the main, Tony her husband who is killed in chapter one, and the nemesis Mia. Can you like Mia as you take a deep dive into her life, her journals and then meet her daughter Angela? Yeah, I really liked Angela. She gets SO much personality from hanging around a nail salon where her mother works. Just imagine the regulars who share and tend to overshare with their favorite salon friends and workers.

The book teaches the relationship in China between traditional Chinese and people from Taiwan. The family of Tam could be any nationality. They are bold, they believe they should stay with only approved people whether that is business, friends or anything else. The family has a business that they all work in. They live in Torrance, California. Tam becomes a teacher, Tony a professor and the locate themselves in New York. I am a New Yorker and now live in Orange County so the book has some of the best descriptions for both locations.

The sub plot is a tight knit group of friends that support Tam. Going into their relationships, the author creates a tight bond that really creates the love for the main character Tam that I really related to. Wait until you meet the dogs. Special shout out to Stella. woof! ok and Abby was a great friend too.

The other sub plot is the infertility issue and adoption. The journey that Tam and Tony went through will bring you to tears. The friendship, love and support from Mia will also.

I really loved this read. I tried to pace myself even though it was hard, so I could absorb all that it was; a really well written book with many aspects of life, family and love.

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!

Absolutely loved this book. It was a great mix of a plot twist, character development, history of China and Taiwan, and a family struggle. I loved the short chapters and writing, it was so easy to follow. I went into the book blind, and that was the best decision.; twists and turns were unexpected.
Orphanage description broke my heart and may be extremely triggering, also be aware that it covers a child loss as well.
Overall, great book and story. I would recomend this to anyone who likes womens/contemporary fiction.

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. Much thanks to NetGalley and Berkley for my advance review copy!!

CW: miscarriage, foreign adoption, death of loved ones

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 no matter what. I loved the author's note at the end, and loved 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.

Would recommend for those who love a story with multicultural elements, loves dachshunds, and enjoys themes of chosen family.

Tam and Tony are set to adopt a little boy from China when Tony and his cousin Mia are killed in an accident. Tam finds out that she is named guardian of Mia’s daughter Angela while also still expecting her son from China.

There are so many twists and turns in this book that I don’t want to accidentally give away, so I apologize if my review is a little vague. The book is mostly told from Tam’s perspective with a few chapters from Mia’s until the second part which has chapters from Mia’s journal explaining the past.

This book is wild. It’s very dramatic and ever so slightly unbelievable but somehow completely believable and very enjoyable. Even though a lot of the characters were flawed, boarding on unlikable, they had redeeming qualities that didn’t make me feel like I hated them or that I couldn’t read about them.

I learned a lot about Chinese culture and Taiwanese, as well as a bit about Chinese adoption. I found that everything was explained clearly and I wasn’t overwhelmed, while also learning. Tam is a much stronger human than I could ever be and I was in awe of her throughout the entire story.

I think this book might be a bit much for some people but I loved the drama and the bit of unbelievability. I found I was unable to put it down, especially once we got to read some of Mia’s journal entries. I needed to know what had happened as well as what was going to happen. If you can handle a bit of drama and flawed characters, I highly recommend checking this one out.