Sixteen-year-old Izzy is the introvert, loner, and outcast of the Chen Clan. The black sheep, if you will. At the annual family Chinese New Year celebration, the matriarch makes one hell of an entrance. Izzy’s grandmother, commonly known as Nainai, arrives to the celebration with a woman. If that wasn’t enough of a shock to the Chen family, then the kiss the women share surely is.

Shortly after that, Izzy begins to think back to a time when she herself wanted to kiss a girl. Feeling overwhelmed, Izzy decides to go for a walk and encounters Nainai on her way out. The two agree to walk together and Nainai begins to tell Izzy about her life back when she was Izzy’s age. Back when sixteen-year-old Magnolia — Nainai’s name — met the love of her life.

I really enjoyed the relationship that Izzy and Nainai had. I thought the banter was funny, and those two were just adorable. It was a love story, but it was also a story of self-discovery for both Magnolia and Izzy. There was definitely angst, the spice level was on the lower end, and the writing style pulled me in and kept me there until the very end. I smiled, laughed, and cried my way through this one. What’s that saying? It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.  

I’d like to thank NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC and this is my voluntary review.

I cannot begin to describe how beautiful this book was, fighting back tears as I write this.
I knew Jesse Q. Sutanto is a good author from the Dial A for Aunties and Vera Wong series, both of which I loved, but this book was on a whole nother level.
The love story told in this novel felt so real and heartbreaking. I haven’t read that many romance books, but this story gives everything I’ve ever read a run for its money.
The relationship between Magnolia and her sister was yet another heart-wrenching aspect of this story. I have never seen a relationship between siblings written so well and realistically.
Another thing that Sutanto did so well is completely immerse us in who Magnolia is. I felt like she was a sister I knew as well as myself. Her growth throughout the book and determination to be more than the circumstances she found herself in was so inspiring.
Lastly, the decision to intertwine Magnolia’s story with Izzy’s was just perfection. Having Magnolia tell Izzy her story with us returning to their present conversation every now and then added such much needed lightness to the story, Sutanto did a great job of infusing some of her Dial A for Aunties humour into those scenes.
I could go on and on but in summary this was one of the best books I’ve ever read. I can’t wait till it’s released so it can get the recognition it deserves.

After arriving at their families Chinese New Year Celebration with a woman and kissing her on the lips, Magnolia, now 73, decides to tell her granddaughter Izzy her story starting at Izzy’s age of 16.

What follows is a beautiful story of love, hope, family, and self discovery.

I loved the way the book read kind of like a memoir with periodic interruptions by Izzy.

I will say Magnolia’s obsession with Ellery even after getting married I found to be off putting and unhealthy. Plus I didn’t like the fact that she cheated on her husband.

All in all I did enjoy this story and would recommend it.

📖 Book Review 📖 My grandma was full of wisdom and grace, the perfect Army wife of Lieutenant Colonel and Inspector General. One of my favorites was, “Horses sweat, men perspire, women glow.” Sometime in my college era, Grandma opened up and shared her more casual, lighthearted self with me and the stories were priceless.

Jesse Q. Sutano shares a heartfelt story of breaking down barriers across generations, showcasing raw vulnerability, love, and acceptance. Next Time Will Be Our Turn is a sweeping tale of assimilating to American culture; the lessons learned and sacrifices made along the way. When the 73-year old matriarch of an Indo-Chinese family walks into the family Chinese New Year celebration with a female companion, eyebrows raise. But Magnolia’s granddaughter Izzy is on her own similar journey of self-discovery. Magnolia, lovingly known as Nainai, shares her own deeply moving personal history that resonates with her next generation beautifully, reminding us of the power of sharing our story. Life is a funny journey and sometimes the winding path feels exhausting but in the end, the destination is one marvelous point to reflect back on it all!