Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC copy of this book.

This was such a well written story about intergenerational trauma with added in horror elements. This was an emotional read that had me keep reading. I also did some research on Nam Koo Terrace while reading this book which added to my experience.

I enjoyed this story - it was different from most books about motherhood and generational trauma. It had a fresh perspective that was well-written. The characters are crafted excellently. I hope members of my family choose to read it! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow! This book made me feel all of the emotions. The inter generation trauma mixed with eeriness was the perfect touch! Thank you for allowing me to read!

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

How would you feel about a monster that had festered and preyed upon the misfortunes of your lineage as a woman? Digging its claws into you to strip away everything you possess? What if the anger, sorrow, and perpetual sadness were never entirely your own?

I approached this book with a keen interest due to the cover and the description itself. It certainly did not let me down. The narrative's exploration of how each woman in the family connects the past and present was incredibly satisfying. I also appreciate how distinct each of them is in identity, showcasing the vast differences in their trauma and struggles while illustrating how they become intertwined through being haunted by a creature for which you cannot fully assign blame.

I find the psychological approach to diving into each character's trauma and intertwining it with horror rooted in superstitions refreshing. Additionally, it blended well with the story’s elements. There were moments that spooked me when those elements emerged, and I can genuinely say that at no point did I feel distracted from what was unfolding before me. I could sense the characters' emotions and grief being authentically expressed. The mystery surrounding the curse is quite intriguing to me.

However, I do find certain lines and their delivery to be thrown about more casually, which does not seem to mesh with the overall atmosphere. There was an attempt to embody rage that didn’t resonate with me. Furthermore, the sensitive themes could have been better executed with a comprehensive understanding of the history of comfort women during World War II.

As we approached the climax, the introduction of characters felt hurried, and their resolutions still did not seemed justified. The climax itself felt anti-climactic, and the lines were somewhat comedic. The narrative strayed, almost resembling a conversation occurring within my mind rather than being narrated. The epilogue failed to justify the overall buildup.

Overall, I still appreciated the book as a whole because I believe it is still in the process of being refined, and I sincerely hope these issues will be addressed. I genuinely enjoyed the entire journey.

<b>“Sometimes I think we are the ghosts, Gigi. One day, outside of this place, we will be nothing more than a scary story.”</b>

What a phenomenally emotional read this was!

This is, on one hand, a tragic story about intergenerational trauma being passed on in this Asian family. On the other hand, it is a story about a haunting, a curse that follows the women wherever they go.

If you've read "Bat Eater" this year, you will like this book too as there are similarities. Such as the main characters being Asian descendants and handling superstitions with a supernatural element.

"The Hunger We Pass Down" is being told from a 3rd person perspective but switches between different generations and time periods, so you get a glimpse into the life of various women of the family.
I know the summary says it's a story about a doppelganger, but in my opinion, it's not truly about a doppelganger. I would actually remove this from the summary because it isn't the core of the story, nor is it the main focus. It's more about how haunted the women in this family are, how the trauma carried on through generations and takes on the form of a curse. And how easy it is to be overlooked as a woman, to get lost.

<b>"Alice knew that all girls inevitably become sad one day, when their boyfriends cheat on them, when a husband ignores them, when the promotion is conferred on the white man named Brad or Mike or Pete . When they decide they will never be pretty enough or virginal enough or thin enough for the ideal they had been chasing."</b>

<b>She knew she was already small, and she tried, in all situations, to make herself even smaller by being helpful, by completing the tiny tasks no one wanted and that no one would ever thank her for. If no one ever noticed her, then no one would ever hurt her. But there was only so much smallness that was bearable.</b>

I went into this book expecting more horror, but I still really liked it, and it was an easy read for me. I liked reading about the different generations, how it all tied together, and how everyone was related to each other. It was also interesting to read about the different shapes trauma can take on.

Lastly, a trigger warning: There are explicit mentions of rape as the book describes the life of a comfort woman during the war. Be mindful of that.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

A creepy horror novel about intergenerational trauma. Super evocative with vibes of The Grudge. Really enjoyed it!

Wow, this is by far one of my favourite books I have read in 2025. I have no words on how intense and emotional and well-written this was. I loved the themes of intergernational trauma with the horror twist, trauma in itself is horrific enough, but having it manifest as a literal curse is so interesting. This is one of those books that has me stunned after reading it, because it was simply so good. I loved the intergration of Asian mythology as well, as a South-East Asian reader, that was really cool and important to me.