One of my favorite books - ever! I positively loved Lisa See’s vivid story set in ancient China about a female doctor. Her stories are told in such a beautiful and engaging way. Highly highly recommend!

Despite having a degree in East Asian history, this is the first time I had every heard of Yunxian Tan, a female doctor in Ming Dynasty China. The amount of research and detail Lisa See put into the story is amazing. She not only tells the story of this remarkable woman who was almost lost to history, but also manages to highlight the society she was a part of in a way that is historically accurate and of the time. However this isn't just a story about a woman who made her mark, but also a story of female friendship, something that is often missing in historical fiction. This was a fascinating read and I am definitely interested in reading more from Lisa See in the future.

I love epic pieces of historical fiction that span a person's lifetime. I also love stories focused on medicine that are specific to a time period and a certain set of knowledge. Learning about this time in Chinese history where the knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine and such a strive for scholarly approaches to the body is balanced with the mutilation practices of feet binding was such an insane juxtaposition to comprehend. The honor and venerated roles of women and yet the complete handicapping of them mentally and physically. I loved that Lady Tan was both a proper woman of society and yet strove to perpetuate her family's trade. She was a breath of fresh air in a time where men and the production of male children was central to daily life. I love these hidden stories of feminism and valor. Not sure why I let this one sit on my shelf for so long... it's fabulous!

Thanks to Scribner for gifted access via Netgalley. All opinions above are my own.

I have not read anything by this author before but after reading this book I will be picking up her other books ASAP. This book really gives you a feel for the time period with its historical accuracy. You can tell it is well written and well researched. The characters leap off the page. It was a delight to read from start to finish.

“Friendship is a contract between two hearts. With hearts united, women can laugh and cry, live and die together”

I love stories that have wonderful, realistic relationships between women. I love when it highlights the highs and lows but also the strength we have when we work together and support each other.

This is the second story I've read, this year, about midwives and this one was just as moving, emotionally raw, and amazing! I loved our mc, Yunxian. She is young, privileged, but still a young girl in the late 1400's in China. She is being raised to devote herself to her eventual matched husband, serve her mother-in-law until she is the woman of the home.

But Yunxian's life is a bit different. Her grandmother is a well-known and respected female doctor. She understands that the monthly cycles and pregnancy need a unique understanding that other doctors have just not embraced to know or understand.

In the story, you are with Yunxian as she is a young girl all the way through to adulthood, so you see how her life is the same as other young wives and mothers, but also how it's different. Lisa See does an amazing job of introducing other layers of people who live in the large estates that Yunxian lives at, and really lets us explore their power struggles and relationships. I loved this story and found myself immediately pulled into the story and, I especially loved the author note right at the beginning - so you know there is a factual basis for these people and families. This one was so good, I loved it!

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

Interesting historical fiction about a real Asian female doctor. Women did not have it easy in this time or place. I highly recommend this book!

This book is a tour de force. See is a master storyteller who uses rich writing and thoroughly researched material. This book is a perfect blend of traditional Chinese culture during the Ming Dynasty and the remarkable life of one of the first female physicians in China. With See's reimagining of Tan's life, readers experience both the extraordinarily rare appreciation of a Chinese woman's intellect and the rigidness of a proper married Chinese lady's days. Readers may find some of the content hard to digest but See didn't simply insert difficult topics without reason. The pace of the book was perfect and the writing was powerful. Not to be missed.

This was such a perfect book club pick. So much to discuss packed among these pages. While the foot binding descriptions were quite graphic, I think they were necessary for people to understand the lengths these women were forced to go in the name of beauty. I learned so much by reading this book - about the roles of women, medical practices during this time period, and more. This was an obviously well researched subject for the author and she presented it in a beautiful way.

Beautiful beautiful story of a specially gifted woman in ancient China.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See reminded me how much I absolutely adore See’s novels. Yunxian is raised in by her grandparents to learn the art of women’s medicine, along with her friend, Meiling, a midwife in training. When her arranged marriage puts a stop to this, Yunxian must figure out how to break the traditional roles in order to better serve the women around her.

Like many other of See's books, I simply could not put Lady Tan down. Wondering what would become of Yunxian and her family, along with Meiling. I can't even imagine being constrained by the gender roles in their time period, yet talented and ambitious and needing to do more. What the women had to do to follow their passion is unthinkable.

Beautiful beautiful story of a specially gifted woman in ancient China.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a wonderful, informative and multi dimensional women focused read. Our store even chose it for a book club. I cared for these characters—their back stories, their relationships, and their futures, and I felt as though it was very cinematic. I adored Lisa See’s Island of Sea Women (I learned so much) and this one was a very close second. Would so, so love her to come to the store!

Lady Tan is the fascinating story of Yunxian, who was trained by her grandmother in the pillars of Chinese medicine, not able to use her skills due to the belief at that time (that women were inferior and not knowledgeable) enough to be recognized or able to work as a doctor or a nurse.

Yunxia's story was of strength, sadness, and determination. her story changed when she was sent to live with her husband's family, her mother-in-law prohibited her from practicing any type of medicine her grandmother taught her, making Yunxia another story more like the story of many women who were successful but couldn't work in what they loved and knew.

This is the story of someone brave enough to work for what she believes even if that was in silence but in a very effective way.

I enjoyed this book so much, the traditions, the amazing stories of every woman around Yunxia's life, the resilience, and the strength of such a wonderful character like Yunxia.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scribner, for the advanced copy of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women in exchange for my honest review.

Lady Tan's Circle of Women wins the award for most life-changing book of 2023. In the time of foot-binding and Confucius's "wisdom" that “an educated woman is a worthless woman” Tan Yunxian is born into an elite Chinese family. But there's something different about Yunxian's family. Her grandmother is one of only a few female doctors in China, treating "women's issues" because male doctors are prohibited from touching female patients.

Yunxian learns alongside her grandmother where she meets Meiling, the midwife's daughter. Despite coming from different backgrounds, the two vow to be forever friends. One arranged marriage and a demanding mother-in-law later, the two are separated— forbidden from contacting one another again.

Will the confines of her husband's family compoud keep Yunxian's gift locked away? Can friendship between women persevere in hard circumstances? And can an educated woman make a difference— even in male-dominated China?

Tan Yunxian was a real Chinese physician during the Ming dynasty in China whose remedies are recorded in "Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor" and still used to this day. Lisa See's fabulous storytelling brings this woman's work to life through her novel— and even inspired me to try Chinese medicine for myself. And guess what? It worked!!

I feel like Lisa See has found the perfect equation for interesting novels: two female friends, likely from different class, much experience the tragedy and trials of their historical periods while trying to reunite. This was just that! I love the novels of hers that deal with foot-binding, it's such a gruesome and bizarre tradition. 4 solid stars.

Set in the 15th century, this well-researched historical fiction tale covers a lifetime with lots of characters. It's based on a real woman and her medical text. There are some very uncomfortable situations described, but it's, unfortunately, very realistic. Lisa See writes a gorgeous story of friendship and family.

Lisa See does it again. I’ve always been a big fan of hers, and this book was consistently as good as her other works.

I am a huge fan of the historical novels written by Lisa See and Lady Tan's Circle of Women does not disappoint. I as absolutely riveted by this story based on an actual figure in China's history. Set in the late 1400s we get to learn about the ancient medical practices employed by Lady Tan. She works as a doctor for those in her family and it was so fascinating to hear about how she treated people. The writing is so descriptive that it's easy to picture each scene in the book as you're reading. I can not recommend this book enough. I loved it! Read and enjoy!

Set in China during the 15th Century, the novel centers on the lives of two Chinese women. Tan Yunxian is from a wealthy family who has had her feet bound, according to the custom for high-born girls. Meiling is from a common family, the daughter of a midwife. Yunxian’s mother dies when she is young and she is taken to live with her grandparents because her father is away at school. Her grandmother is a well-respected doctor and she decides to train Yunxian to follow in her footsteps. The grandmother knows Meiling’s mother, the midwife, and decides it would be good for the two young girls to become close friends.

Midwives deliver children because doctors are not allowed to touch the blood from childbirth. They might be present, but must stay removed from the delivery bed, only available as an adviser. As Meiling learns from her mother and Yunxian learns from her grandmother, the two girls form a close bond. Both become married and their circumstances differ because of their social standing. Meiling is allowed to move about the towns and countryside while Yunxian is confined to the family compound where the wives, concubines and children live. Still, they honor the rules of their roles and look for validation of their medical expertise.

This story of the two women from different backgrounds shows the class distinctions that ruled China. The practice of footbinding is an important aspect of the book, as is the medical care of the time. There was a real Lady Tan doctor who wrote of her treatments and patients. Her medical practices were remarkable and many are still practiced today.

See researched the real female doctor and the world in which she lived. Descriptions of compound life, medical care for women and even the story of a midwife giving birth as she treats the empress’ pregnancy, are based on actual conditions and events. The fact that women might be allowed to treat other women centuries ago is noteworthy. These female practitioners understood female ailments and the female anatomy, making them well equipped to treat conditions specific to their sex.

See not only showcases women in 15th Century China but the culture of the time and the friendship of two extraordinary women from diverse backgrounds. Like Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, the female bonds are strong and the characters are compelling. Another fabulous historical novel from a talented writer.

Lisa See has done it again by writing another masterpiece. This book is so well researched and gives us a look at a remarkable female character and doctor from the 15th century. Beautifully written. story about a young women, Yunxian who is sent into an arranged marriage. Will she be able to practice medicine? From a young age she has learned about women's illnesses and cures. The story include the power of friendship and a look into life in China in the 15th century. Don't miss this one.