Fine. This felt ham-handed perfunctory. The ending was slow. Nothing ever really happens and then there’s a random coincidence. From Haigh, this was disappointing.

This is one of my favorite authors ; I have read every book written by her and looked forward to reading this new one.. I couldn't put this down and read it all in two days. The story of the Litvak family grabs you from the beginning. Mostly set in Shanghai, the story begins with the older daughter. Lindsey, who is in the hospital in Shanghai after being hit by a driver who had fled the scene. In the past, the family had adoped an infant from China (Grace) ; thus beginning Lindsey"s interest in China. Never recovering from an affair with a neighbor when she was a teenager, Lindsey finds herself at loose ends. Moving to China with her boyfriend to teach English as a second language, she begins new chapters in her life. What follows is sometimes hard to read, her lost contact with her family, especially Grace, and how her life choices affected the rest of the family going forward.
This is a fascinating book that I will recommend to book clubs and my fellow readers.

What a fantastic book! The first one I have read by this author but definitely can't wait to read more! The characters stay with you long after you finish the book. Highly recommend!

Rabbit Moon is a quiet yet powerful novel that explores love, identity, and the weight of the past. Jennifer Haigh’s writing is as lyrical and nuanced as ever, pulling me into the tangled lives of her characters. The story unfolds with a slow, deliberate pace, but the emotional depth kept me engaged. It’s a novel about longing and reinvention, with moments of quiet beauty that linger. Haigh once again proves she’s a master of deeply human storytelling.

What a read. This one took me a bit to get into, but once I hit about 15-20%, I couldn't put it down. This is my first read from Haigh so I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but I was in no way disappointed.

We start with a brief snapshot of Lindsay who was sent into a coma after a hit and run. We bounce back and forth between third person POVs of Johnny, Lindsay, and her parents. It was a little difficult to follow in the beginning and some of the pacing lagged a bit toward the middle, but Haigh masterfully developed each character in almost a prose-like voice, helping the story easily flow and making it difficult to put down. I didn't expect it to be as emotional as it was.

And Grace's reflection at the end - my goodness. It was tragic and beautiful and I wanted more! Haigh did such a wonderful job at creating a riveting plotline while discussing tougher topics like race, adoption, family, divorce, and power dynamics.

"Rabbit Moon" left me with more questions and answers, and I was hoping to see more justice in Lindsay's accident, but I suppose that was the point. Life is messy and tragic and boils down to change - not everything has a clear, happy ending. Thank you so much for this ARC!

This is another winner from Jennifer Haigh. A broken American family is forced to reckon with their fracture lines. How does their past shape their present? The sisters and parents are intriguing and well-drawn characters. While this is a somewhat "quiet" literary story, I found it to be elegant and well-written.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

"Rabbit Moon" by Jennifer Haigh is a modern day family drama that deals with numerous issues, making it not only a compelling read, but a great choice for book clubs.
Twenty something Lindsey, living and working in Shanghai for an escort service, is involved in a hit and run accident on the side of the road. Her being a victim of 'the wrong place at the wrong time' brings her estranged parents rushing to Shanghai to be by her side, and to try and make sense of this senseless crime. At this point the author takes us back in time, so we can get to know Lindsey, her friends, her lovers, and family including her younger adopted sister from China.
This novel is so artfully written, so visceral in its descriptions of Shanghai and it's people; bringing to our attention how precious, yet precarious life really is. Touching on such subjects as life choices, friendship, trust, Chinese adoption, and the bond that's possible between sisters though not biological.
The pace of "Rabbit Moon" is perfect, taking an unexpected turn in the last 50 pages. Definitely one of Haigh's best!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little Brown publishers for allowing me to be an early reader of this novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Haigh is an author I've enjoyed in the past, although her tales are always slightly tragic with a lot of character development. This novel felt a little "...why did it come to this?" as I read it. I was hoping for hopeful but it felt more hopeless. Two estranged spouses must travel to Shanghai when their 20-something daughter is a victim of a hit and run, and in a coma. This couple also adopted a child from China, so there's a lot in here about interracial adoption. This is a bit of a dark, sad tale.

This story presents a confusing family drama set against the backdrop of Shanghai, where a fractured American family is forced to confront long-buried family secrets and resentments. There were some aspects I appreciated, like the exploration of how the family's past shaped their present dynamics, but ultimately the execution was a bit underwhelming, and I had trouble fully connecting with the characters; especially our main hero, who remains distant even as her family tries to understand her life in China. While I did enjoy her younger sister, she stood out as one of the few characters with real depth, and I wished for more time with her. The emotional stakes were there, but the story lacked the intensity I was hoping for, and without it, I found myself struggling to care about our protagonist.

This book--which I quite enjoyed--is hard to review/explain since my only real criticism is that it is somewhat all over the place.

The Litvaks--Claire [a frustrated writer] and Aaron [a successful businessman] are divorced and living in Massachusetts. Their oldest daughter, Lindsey [now 25?], a tall, beautiful redhead [a novelty in China] is thought to be in Beijing, teaching English--since dropping out of college. Grace, their 11 year-old daughter, adopted from China as an infant, with whom Lindsay has a fierce bond is at a Quaker sleep away camp wondering why her sister hasn't texted her. A phone call--telling the Litvaks that Lindsay has been critically injured in a hit-and run and is in a coma in a hopsital--in Shanghai sends them rushing over to assess the situation. Johnny Du, Lindsay's gay hairdresser friend who hides his reality from his parents. These are some of the characters in the book; there are others who occupy more than a brief role.

"We live at the intersection of causality and chance"--and so it begins [though this sentence is near the end of the book].

Family. Post-partum depression. The devolution of a marriage--before and after. Flawed characters. Sexual abuse/predators. Mothers and daughters, Deceptions. Secrets. The Cultural Revolution. Shanghai itself [as a character]--and so much more!

Lindsay--very bad at relationships with men and parents. Only solid tie is with Grace. And, no [real] spoiler, but in Shanghai, Lindsay becomes a high-priced companion/call girl; this storyline was quite interesting.

Some good descriptions:
Claire--in Shanghai: "What an asshole I married. The realization brings her no satisfaction, no pleasure. If she married this asshole, what does that make her?”
"My adoptive family--and blond and two rehdeads--were congenitally pale, power users of high-SPR suncreens."
"...followed the conversation like a tennis match, my head pivoting from side to side."

The last part of the book--fast forward to 2031--took me by surprise. Here we find out much more about Lindsay, Grace and Claire and Aaron. And for the Grace, what it's like to be an adopted Chinese-American.

I've liked Jennifer Haigh since I read Mrs, Kimble in 2003 so was looking forwawrd to this book. 4.25. Recommend [but likely not for everyone].

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this mesmerizing eARC.

In Jennifer Haigh's "Rabbit Moon," the reader is immediately drawn into a world of complex relationships and emotional turmoil. The story centers around a family grappling with the aftermath of a tragic accident in Shanghai, where their daughter, Lindsey, is critically injured. Haigh's masterful storytelling weaves together the past and present, revealing the intricate dynamics between the relationships in this story.

The novel's strength lies in its exploration of the themes of family, love, loss, and the enduring power of connection. Haigh's characters are flawed and relatable, each with their own struggles and vulnerabilities. As the story unfolds, their lives intertwine, revealing the depths of their relationships and the unspoken truths that bind them together.

Haigh's writing is lyrical and poignant, painting a vivid picture of Shanghai and its people. The reader is transported to the bustling streets and ancient alleyways, immersing themselves in the sights, sounds, and smells of this vibrant metropolis

"Rabbit Moon" is a beautiful love story to family relationships and Haigh's ability to create complex characters and explore universal themes makes this book a must-read for anyone who appreciates a story that is emotionally resonant and intellectually stimulating.

I found it a beautifully written story, it is no small wonder the author is a multiple award winning writer.

Additionally, the issue of China's female infants coming into their own identity after adoption by loving families so far from their birth land resonated deeply with me.

"This is how it happens. Your life appears to be about one thing. Then the phone rings, and in a single moment, it is completely and irrevocably about something else." Opening with a hit and run incident that leaves young American Lindsey Litvak in a coma, Jennifer Haigh slowly reveals the mystery of Lindsey’s gap year life in Shanghai. There is too much that would be spoiled by mentioning further plot points, but I relished every detail as they were slowly disclosed through multiple narrators including Lindsey’s estranged parents, her beloved adopted sister and her local hair stylist and confidante.

Themes include the vagaries of life, the Asian idea of the “red thread” of destiny that binds people together, addictive relationships, and international lifestyles. Rabbit Moon is a beautifully written examination of young adulthood in a cross-cultural setting.

Wow what a story! Haigh's characterization of each character was really interesting to read - they were all so complex and magnetic. Loved the way the story came together. It held my attention till the end!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc! :)

4.5 stars

RABBIT MOON by Jennifer Haigh is a unique novel mostly taking place in Shanghai that I couldn’t put down.

Lindsey is a twenty-two year old American living in Shanghai when she is involved in a hit and run. Her divorced parents are summoned to Shanghai as she clings to life in the hospital. This story shows the perspectives of each of the four members of the Litvak family: Claire (mother), Aaron (father), Lindsey, and her younger adopted sister Grace.

The Shanghai setting comes alive, with me wanting to visit there. Haigh’s adept writing unfurls the narrative at a good pace. The reader is intrigued and wants to know more (WHY did Lindsey choose the path that she did?), and at that moment Haigh tells you more. Even the minor characters, like Lindsey’s friend Johnny, are written with a lot of nuance.

If there is a quibble to be had, it’s that I felt invested in the minor characters and wanted to know more from and about them.

I have read almost everything Haigh has written, and this one knocks it out of the park as a character-driven, unique, dysfunctional family novel that I won’t soon forget.

Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown & Co. for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an unbiased review.

RABBIT MOON publishes April 1, 2025.

I loved Haigh’s Mercy Street so I not surprised that I loved this book as well. A college graduate moves to China and becomes stuck in some not so great situations, but her brightness and energy makes it so that she touches so many people in positive ways. When she gets hit by a car and lies in a coma, the story moves backwards to tell us of how she got there. At the same time, her family must deal with the tragedy in each of their own way.
Haigh’s writing is intuitive and the depth of her characters is what gets you hooked. I had a hard time putting this down and just loved how, as a reader, you feel like you are an observer right in the story.
Thank you NetGalley for an ARC.

The catalyst in the book happens early. 22 year old Lindsey Litvak is struck by a drunk driver early in the morning in the financial district of Shanghai-an area deadly quiet at that time of day. She lies comatose with a severe brain injury and her divorced parents are eventually contacted in Newton Massachusetts. This is the central event but there are so many themes to unpack in the ensuing pages. First there is present day Shanghai with its stifling heat and polluted air and millions of people crowding in streets and its unending construction of new high rises in its struggle for modernization.
Post partum depression which Lindsey’s mother endured for the first year after her birth and affected their relationship forever. There is career frustration (Claire as a writer) and marital dysfunction with Claire unfulfilled and Aaron obsessed with his work. Foreign adoption of female Chinese babies with its “ one child policy” accounting for the arrival of Grace as a 7 month old member of the Litvak family, with z Lindsey’s instant attraction to her, their sibling binding and Lindsey’s fascination with China. Sexual abuse of a minor (Lindsey) which changed her life and affects her subsequent relationships and is the final straw that breaks the Litvak marriage. Finally there is Lindsey’s work as an escort and what it says about the power of money and prestige. The final chapter in 2031 has too many “spoilers” to relate-you’ll have to read the book and form your own opinions😂😂😂
As always with Haigh - concisely and well written, and dense with topics for discussion. She’s a winner-read it!!!!!

Thanks to NetGalley for providing an advance copy of this book. Jennifer Haigh writes insightful, thoughtful novels covering a range of human experience. In Rabbit Moon, Haigh leaves her usual setting of rural Pennsylvania and sets this novel in Shanghai. When Lindsey, an American student teaching English in China, is hit by a car leaving her unconscious, her divorced parents travel to Shanghai and try to navigate a completely foreign society. Soon they find out that Lindsey is not a teacher and leads a mysterious life. Told through multiple viewpoints, the novel explores Lindsey's journey to China, her parents' marriage and divorce, her younger sister Grace's feelings as an adoptee from China, and Lindsay's best friend in Shanghai Johnny. The setting was inspired by a year Haigh spent in Shanghai, and although this is in many ways a departure from her usual themes and style, her characterization is always compelling.

Jennifer Haigh has been one of my go-to authors for over 10 years. I love the way she skillfully weaves language and compelling narration. My favorite book of hers is Baker Towers, but I also really enjoyed Mercy Street, her latest contemporary novel. I went into Rabbit Moon with high hopes. The action and narration were fast-paced and compelling from the start. However, I began feeling that the story wasn't going anywhere about 2/3 in, and the last part really seemed to drag on with long passages about minor characters that I had no connection to.

I wonder if there was some symbolism that I was missing, but it really felt like the story ran out before the book was over. I think die-hard Jennifer Haigh fans will seek it out, but I don't know if it is worth reading on after things start to drag.

3.5 stars. This is an initially interesting but ultimately disappointing story about the complex relationships between two sisters, Lindsey and Grace, and their divorced parents. Lindsey developed a fascination with China as a girl, when her mother took her to China to adopt a younger sister (Grace). Although there is a gap of over 10 years between the girls, they are very close. Early on, the reader learns that Lindsey blames her mother for something I can't reveal here (or it would be a plot spoiler) and as a result plunges into a self destructive mode, eventually deciding to drop out of school to go live in China. Initially, she and her boyfriend teach English, but when he leaves she turns to work in the escort business ultimately getting hit by a car and landing in a coma in the hospital. The plot moves between her divorced parents who fly back to China to be by her bedside, her younger sister Grace who is away at summer camp, and flashbacks to Lindsey's life in China. As many note, most of the characters are not very likeable. For someone who studied Chinese for a decade, Lindsey is surprisingly culturally clueless and just seems to be mired in anger at her mother. The parents are also strangely checked out, distracted by their frustrations with one another (even though their marriage ended years before). And we do not get enough pages with the two more likeable characters, Lindsey's sister Grace and her best Chinese friend. I could have lived with all of this, however, had the plot gone somewhere. But about half way through the book, I started realizing that it was not really going anywhere. I kept reading mainly because I was given a free copy of the book in exchange for a candid review. This book has the feeling of a first novel, with unrealized potential. (I was surprised to discover that this author has written several books). Wish the editors had asked the author to do more with the plot and to increase the ration of likeable to unlikeable characters.

This is an emotionally powerful novel.
It's a story of loss and grief. It was an engaging book from beginning to end.