I think the author did a wonderful job portraying the struggles these two has had and describing their coping mechanisms. Plus, the ending had my crying happy tears too. Loved it

This was such a hard read, yet so enlightening about what's going on in Hong Kong, something you won't hear Western media really talking about.

When I requested this book off #Netgalley I wasn't sure what to expect. Romance? History? Fiction? Facts?
Well it was all this, and more.
A beautiful tale of two lives, two stories, two opposites who find themselves in a war, on different sides, but not really.

I learnt so much about Hong Kong and its history, its story. It opened my eyes to things I had no clue about, and pushed me to research and educate myself.

The love story was tragic and beautiful. It was gripping and infuriating. Its so many things that I'd struggle to articulated. So all I can say is....

Buy the book. Read the story.

Phoenix is 16, the middle child in her family and living a privileged life in an upscale part of Hong Kong, although family life isn't all she hoped; once they moved back from the US her mum and dad split up and all the siblings are suffering from their dad's harsh opinions and need for them to do well academically. Kai has returned to Hong Kong from Shanghai after his mother's death and sees becoming a police cadet as a (the only) way to get into his own father's good books.

When they accidentally swap phones it's time for a different-worlds romance but also the risky business of Kai thinking he can infiltrate the protestors group Phoenix gets involved in to gt police brownie points. But when it comes to knowing when dissident bookshop keepers plan to escape or groups plan to protest, can he stand firm and play his police role or are things more nuanced than that? And can Phoenix help her privileged upbringing as she rather thoughtlessly buys him an expensive gift and shares his art?

There are so many fascinating details, for example the (mainly older) residents who protected, housed and fed the (mostly younger) protestors.

The novel is accomplished and affecting, with visceral scenes from inside demonstrations and emotional explanations of why the protests happened. A stunning debut.

My review will be published on 21 August on my blog: https://librofulltime.wordpress.com/2023/08/21/book-review-k-x-song-an-echo-in-the-city/

A beautiful YA/NA story that explores the modern conflict between Hong Kong and mainland China. With a well done romance thread, this novel explores the intricacies of protesting for democracy at a young age and how following your parents can lead you astray from both your beliefs and your goals. I truly felt like I was on the streets of Hong Kong and am thankful this book helped me to understand the conflict beyond the media’s portrayal.

Ah. This could have been so incredibly good.

I really enjoyed the setting of An Echo in the City: the 2019 Hong Kong protests are an incredibly interesting and important part of our modern history and the portrayal of the situation, its violence and necessity were very well done. It also shines a light on Hong Kong’s continuous fight for freedom against one of the word’s biggest power.

However, the characters were a bit of a letdown. There was so much potential in both Kai and Phoenix but their development was a bit over the place. Which is what their relationship also was, to be honest. The timeline just felt distorted to me, with no clear structure.

I also really wish the epilogue had been in the future, to give us a glimpse of Kai and Nix in their new lives.

What I’d do read of this book was well written BUT
I just can’t get behind the premise of this novel. I tried, I really did but a rich kid with nothing better to do but riot and a police officer who refuses to listen to the reasons people are protesting is just… not a compressing romance to me! I’m sorry I really did want to like this but I just can’t.

An Echo in the City is a story of teen romance set during the protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Nix is from a wealthy family whilst Kai is a policeman’s son; both find themselves challenging their families’ expectations of how their lives are already mapped out. They meet after accidentally swapping mobile phones and despite their opposing roles in the protests, they begin a relationship.
I had mixed feelings about this book. I enjoyed the star-crossed lovers theme and I hope that readers will learn more about the protests and the reality of what is happening in Hong Kong but I felt uncomfortable about these two themes co-existing in the same story because the theme of romance seemed to trivialise the protests and the reason why they happened.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.