Lisa See writes powerful stories and Lady Tan's Circle of Women takes us to Ming China. The difficulties and restrictions that women faced, regardless of class, is clear in the story. We are drawn in and care for the two main women and their very different situations. Lady Tan's Circle of Women captures the complexity of women's friendships, envy, and competition but it also shows the strength of the friendships. I read the book in a day and was captivated by the world of Ming China.

The best kind of historical fiction isn’t just a book that faithfully recreates the details of a previous era in order to embellish its story, but something that actually tells us something new about a person or time period we weren’t terribly familiar with along the way. Lisa See’s novels excel at both these elements, delving into Chinese history and culture through uniquely female stories and perspectives that make her work stand out from the historical fiction pack. From the rural villages of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan to the bustling world of World War II-era Shanghai in Shanghai Girls, her stories are full of strong, capable women, offering us quiet windows into the lives of those who are so often silenced by history. See’s latest novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is set in set in 15th-century China, and follows the story of Tan Yunxian, a woman most modern American readers have likely never heard of. (Confession time: I hadn’t before I read his book!!)

A female physician who practiced during the Ming dynasty, she published a book of her cases when she turned fifty, titled Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor. (And you can actually still it buy today!) Little is known about her personal life; in fact, almost nothing survives about her beyond the writing she left behind. But that’s what fiction is for, isn’t it? Lady Tan’s Circle of Women takes that absence of knowledge and fashions a specific, vibrant, and thoroughly lived-in history for Yunxian.

Lady Tan Yunxian is based on the life of a rare Chinese female doctor who lived in the late 1400s - early 1500s. In this story, she is raised very traditionally with bound feet and lessons to prepare her to be a wife who bears sons and to eventually become the matriarchal head of a wealthy and influential household. However when Yunxian’s mother dies when she is still very young, she is sent to live with her paternal grandparents, both of whom are doctors and she learns to treat women’s maladies from her grandmother. During her childhood, she develops a deep friendship with Meiling, the daughter of a midwife and considered “working class”. When both girls marry at age 15, their worlds no longer interact. Yunxian must obey her mother in law and is forbidden to see Meiling. However, as both girls develop names for themselves as doctor and midwife, they find ways to continue their friendship throughout their lifetimes.
This is a fascinating story about what life was like for women of different classes in this time period in China. Yunxian’s determination to continue to study medicine against opposition and to treat the women of her household is inspiring. But the best part of the story is the friendship between Yunxian and Meiling that grew stronger in spite of their different classes and their personal struggles with each other. It was interesting to read about the various remedies and methods used to treat women and how common symptoms were viewed in this culture. It’s amazing that the doctor who Lady Tan Yunxian’s character is based on wrote a book about her cases that still exists today. Lisa See has written another engaging and fascinating yet complex story of women and friendship - highly recommend!
#NetGalley #Scribner

What an interesting, well researched and beautifully written book. You can see the care in how see layers in the nuances of the practices that made women's life difficult in China during this time while they still accepted it as part of the culture, and most importantly, how the Circle of Women and the support this offers is critical to survival. I really loved Grandmother, Miss Zhao and Spinster Aunt. But I came to appreciate everyone in the story and how it was all woven together. Lady Tan, being a real person with real cases and writing, is fascinating. I find it remarkable that her legacy was maintained through the appreciation of her grand nephew (as noted in the book) in the 16th century after it potentially being lost and that she lived well into her 90s! This book, though historical fiction, is a great imagining of the times and I don't think that the peek through of modern thinking is at all out of place in a story about a woman of the upper class also being a Doctor.

Def a recommended read for lovers of See and historical fiction rich in history and detail.

Absolutely beautiful novel. The research, time and thought used to write this story is amazing. The story follows Lady Tan Yunxian who was born into an elite class in China during the 15th century. Through her eyes you learn about the expectations women of the Ming dynasty were faced with especially in relation to topics of child bearing, medicine and foot binding. I was truly transported to this time and place in history and will not be forgetting the story any time soon. The authors note at the end shows how much she cares about truly immersing herself in the history behind the story.

A historical fiction novel based on a real life woman doctor in 15th century China. Lisa See does a fantastic job placing us in the world of midwives, different classes and expectations of what it means to be a woman (i.e., foot-binding and pressure to conceive a son). I loved learning about the time period and Chinese medicine. There is a great friendship between the main character and another midwife (who come from different backgrounds). I really liked that at the core of this novel is a feminist perspective and thus it made for a very empowering and uplifting read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Scribner for an ARC and I left this honest review voluntarily.

Author Lisa See knows how to draw an audience in and weave a tale of intrigue, drama, and life. The story of Tan Yunxian is powerful and even heartbreaking at times. The women in her life are strong even when they are limited by their status as being born female in 1400-1500’s China. Women were to be ornaments for their husbands and to bring honor and sons into the family, but “an educated woman was a worthless woman” as this book and Confusius highlight time and time again. I am so glad Yunxian consistently pushes those bounds, not only to make the life of others better, but to make her own better as well. From what I understand, this is a historical fiction tale based on some nuggets of truth. I hope for the sake of the women of that time, there were strong women such as Yunxian and Meiling who could provide the level of care others needed during their most trying times.

Yunxian Tan is born into a life of privilege in Ming Dynasty China. Raised to be a proper wife, mother, and lady of the household, Yunxian is not allowed outside the walls of her family compound, and only interacts with the women of her household. When tragedy strikes her family, Yunxian is sent to live with her grandparents, who are both traditional doctors. Yunxian trains with her grandmother, learning the pillars of Chinese medicine, and is allowed an unusual friendship with a midwife, who is considered unclean by Confucian ideals.
Lisa See is a master storyteller, weaving a vibrant tapestry of emotion, intrigue, and historical accuracy into the story of Yunxian’s life. Must read for all lovers of historical fiction.

In 15th century China, Tan Yunxian grows up in a wealthy prestigious family. Raised largely by her grandparents, she studies to be a doctor, following in her grandmother's footsteps. Since male doctors are forbidden to touch or examine female patients, Yunxian focuses on illnesses that trouble women, particularly in the reproductive system. Working in conjunction with Meiling, a midwife, they treat the women in Yunxian's household and also the working women who come to them for help. But Yunxian's work stirs controversy in their male-dominated society, putting her and Meiling in danger.
Based on an actual woman healer who wrote a book about her cases and the remedies used to treat them, many of which are still used today. It's a fascinating look at life in an upper class Chinese household during the Ming dynasty, also of medieval medical practices and beliefs. Warning: the descriptions of foot binding are horrible, especially Yunxian's mother dying of blood poisoning after her feet become infected. I love See's books: wonderful descriptions, well-researched, highly recommended for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

Lady Tan's Circle of Women was a hit for me! Set in China in the 15th century it was a story of how women supported each other, damaged each other and survived. I read SnowFlower and the Secret Fan by the same author years ago and loved that so I was excited to read another book by her- I can see myself reading her catalog soon. Lisa See is a great author that can bring to life a time/place that I know very little about. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early read!

“Lady Tan's Circle of Women,” by Lisa See, Scribner, 368 pages, June 6, 2023.

According to Confucius, “an educated woman is a worthless woman,” but Tan Yunxian, born into an elite family, is being raised to be a healer.

Her mother, Respectful Lady, wants her to be a traditional wife. When Respectful Lady dies, Yunxian, who has never been outside the family compound, is sent to her grandparents, Grandfather Tan and Grandmother Ru. Miss Zhao, her father’s concubine, Yifeng, her half-brother, and Poppy, her maid, also go.

Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors in China. From the age of eight, Yunxian learns about women’s illnesses, many of which relate to childbearing, alongside a young midwife-in-training, Meiling. While her grandfather’s medical knowledge comes from books, her grandmother’s comes from following her parents who learned from their parents.

But when she is older, her grandparents enter her into an arranged marriage. In seven years, Yunxian is to marry Yang Maoren. His parents are Master Yang and Lady Kuo. Both her grandmother and Miss Zhao tell her that she must fit into the rhythm of the household.

After her marriage, her mother-in-law forbids her from seeing Meiling and from helping the women and girls in the household. Yunxian is to act like a proper wife: to embroider, to play a string instrument and to give birth to sons.

How can she break free of the restrictions and continue to treat women? Will other women help or sabotage her efforts? And will she have daughters or sons?

“Lady Tan’s Circle of Women” is a captivating story of women helping other women. This is one of Lisa See’s best novels and will be on many best books of the year lists. It was inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China. The inside look of women’s lives in 15th century China is incredible and is highly recommended.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

A well-crafted, immersive historical narrative! I loved reading this book and am so glad it was chosen as a Book of the Month so I also have a physical copy for my shelves. This is an inspiring story that works thanks to See's character work and attention to detail. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys a female-driven story or historical fiction!

I’ve read a number of Lisa See’s novels in the past and have enjoyed them. (Shanghai Girls and its follow-up, Dreams of Joy, are two favorites.) So when I received the @NetGalley ARC for See’s latest novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, I was excited. See always transports me to a new place and time, does solid research, and makes me care about her characters.

The novel focuses on Tan Yunxian, one of China’s few female doctors in the fifteenth century and author of Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor. According to See’s acknowledgements, “in a standard catalog of the twelve thousand known Chinese medical works to be found in Chinese libraries, only three were written by women, with Tan Yunxian’s text being the earliest.” See took some of the cases Tan recorded in her book as a jumping off point for her novel.

Here’s the thing: I think the subject matter was interesting and I think See did a phenomenal job researching this book. It’s not my favorite novel of hers, though. I thought that this was a bit too long and sometimes was tedious to read. (I was convinced that I had reached the end of the book at the end of part three only to find that there was an additional section to read.) I think if the narrator had taken on a more active role in telling the story (more showing and less telling) I would have been a bit more engaged. I loved the information. I loved learning about something new. I loved seeing how an author takes bits and pieces of history and imagines a life for a historical figure. I just think the execution wasn’t done as well as some of her previous books.

This ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, we are transported to 15th-century China. Main character Yunxian is a young girl who will soon be trained by her grandmother as a doctor.

This is my third novel by Lisa See, and each one has been so thoroughly researched. We are given a vivid picture of life during that time for a woman.

Also typical for her books are themes of female friendship, loyalty, and motherhood. In addition, her main character attempts to break down certain social barriers.

I found the subject matter fascinating, but the book as a whole seemed longer than it needed to be, and the first half especially was quite slow, plot wise. There were a couple of unexpected twists, and the ending, while drawn out, was satistying.

🥰I would put this book on par with The Island of Sea Women. The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane is still my favorite of hers.

⚠️Note: This story involves medical treatments and procedures used during that time, and some descriptions are fairly graphic. (I was grossed out a couple times.) Foot-binding procedures are described in great detail, along with births and a stillbirth.

⚠️Profanity: none
Sexual content: 2/5 (While not explicit, there is much discussion of “bedroom matters,” and “the child gate/palace.”)

Thank you to Scribner and NetGalley for my ARC! @netgalley @scribnerbooks

Lisa See is an automatic read for me.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is a magnificent read. See’s words paint context so rich and descriptive I was able to envision exactly the environment of 15th century China.
I love how the novel is based on a real woman whose life is veiled in obscurity. I loved how the book focused in women and how they interacted with each others from the different class structures and social conventions.
While I cringed and winced with the foot binding and seethed at the unfairness to women, See remains true to the historical precepts.
Pain and suffering, joy and sorrow are all part of the plot and it’s a delightful read.

Lisa See has knocked it out of the literary book park once again. Based on the life of one of so few women physician's, she's managed to provide sincere information about this amazing woman and bring it vividly to life. An important book that should be at the top of everyone's TBR pile this summer.

I absolutely loved this book! I have been wanting to learn more about Asian history, and Lisa See's novels hit the sweet spot of being both informative and engaging. I had high expectations for Lady Tan's Circle of Women, and it did not let me down!

My favorite aspect of this book was the bonds between Tan Yunxian and all of the women in her life. These characters were so well-crafted; they felt real, and their struggles and triumphs touched my heart.

This book deals heavily with medieval Eastern medical practices, a topic about which I know nothing. This could have been very confusing to me, or the explanations could've come across as condescending in an effort to achieve clarity. See manages to teach the reader enough about these concepts to allow for easy understanding without over-explaining.

This was a great book, and one that I'll look forward to rereading someday. If you're looking for a historical fiction novel with a unique plot and strong female characters, Lady Tan's Circle of Women will be just the right reading selection for you!

I have been a fan of Lisa See’s work for years, so when I got the opportunity to read Lady Tan’s Circle of Women early, I jumped at the chance. This was a moving and beautifully written story. I did not know very much about Chinese traditional medicine before reading this novel, and I found it fascinating.

This book is based upon the real historical figure, Tan Yunxian, and the book she wrote entitled Miscellaneous Records of a Female Doctor. I really had no idea that women were even allowed to practice medicine in 15th century China (it definitely wasn’t widely accepted), but the fact that she wrote a book that is still referenced today is nothing short of amazing to me. In the historical note, Lisa See does say that not a lot is known about Tan Yunxian’s life, but she pulled all that she could and pieced together a life that feels incredibly real in this story.

The sheer amount of research that See did for this novel is so impressive. I loved learning about Chinese history, medicine, houses, clothing, and occupations in this novel. It was so richly described that I really could envision myself there. The way she described the Forbidden City and the gardens were so accurate, based upon my experiences on my trip to China in 2019. Anytime a historical fiction novel is so obviously well researched without it feeling like you are reading a textbook, I find it to be incredibly impressive.

I loved the friendship between Yunxian and Meiling. Their love for each other overcame so many hardships. Growing up in entirely different life stations, and even being apart from each other for years, did not dim the love they had for one another. That is the kind of friendship that we all aspire to have.

The parts of this book that were hard for me to read were the medical bits. They were well written, but they were emotionally hard to read, especially the parts about foot binding. I am so glad that this practice was finally dissolved in China, but hearing the descriptions of the process and the feelings surrounding it in this novel were fascinating and simultaneously grotesque. The medical practices are so different than what we are used to in modern American society, so that part of this book was fascinating to me.

This is one of those books that is going to stick with me for a long time. It was beautifully written and incredibly moving. I love learning more about my daughter’s birth country, and about the cultural history behind modern day China.

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Lady Tan’s Circle of Women 5 Stars!

This book tells an incredible story of how women can shape history, even at the most seemingly impossible times.

I love this author! I've read Snowflower and the Secret Fan, also by Lisa See, and this author's words and the pictures painted into my mind have never left me. This book is of the same ilk. Something to be read slowly so one can take in and understand all these different angles the author writes on. Lady Tan's Circle of Women is not just about a woman doctor during the mid 1400's to the early/mid 1500's of China, but this woman's detailed lifetime full of experiences that can be related to today even.

This book is indeed about a circle, the circle of women friends, and family that is so important, the circle of life itself and its ups and downs from youth to old age. After reading this book, I feel like Lady Tan's experiences will stay in my mind for a long time.

I can not recommend this historical fiction enough!

Out June 6, 2023!

Thank you, Netgalley and Publisher, for this Arc!

This is an exceptional historical fiction story and female empowerment novel in that the women come together and strive for more despite their circumstances. I loved learning more about China during 15th century. The story is based off a real woman physician, Tan Yunxian, who practiced medicine during the Ming dynasty.

At the young age of 8, Yunxian began learning from her physician grandmother how to medically treat women and deliver babies (something male Chinese physicians at this time could and would not do). The book depicts her struggles and triumphs as she grows and is a beautifully written coming of age story that provides history and culture along with the emotional ride.

There was so much that I appreciated about this story and the female support and friendships was great to read. Also, I spent some time doing labor and delivery nursing and there were parts of this book that spoke so deeply to my experiences.

Historical fiction is hit or miss with me. It has to capture my attention with action or interesting well-developed characters and although it is a bit of a slow burn, this story really pulled me in and did the trick. I enjoyed the descriptive and lyrical writing and the glimpse into midwifery and medicine during this period in China and particularly for women in a highly patriarchal society. The foot binding (and many other elements) made me sad 😭 but it was also so insightful.

I am impressed with the author and imagine it took a lot of research to write this novel. I highly recommend this one to historical fiction lovers.

4.5/5 stars rounded up