I really debated what rating to give this collection of stories and have settled on giving it a more generous 4 stars over the 3.5/3.75 I was originally going for. This is for a number of reasons:

1. The nature of the writing is quiet and thoughtful- it talks to others, to you, to a collective and this has a very lulling and delicate effect, particularly given the depth of the themes explored.

2. Is the homage paid to a culture that has been learned, adopted and loved. From the slips to Mandarin throughout to the attention to socio-politics, economics and migration within Singapore and the impact this has externally.

3. The use of personal familiarity- there were parts where I felt I was reading almost an autobiography, the characters reflected Holden's own life and person occupationally, through relationships, through thoughts, etc. I felt his thoughts throughout in each of the stories and I liked this aspect a lot.

I've seen a lot of the reviews giving mediocre ratings for this collection, and while, in some sense, I can understand some of their points, I think that sometimes there is a need to look underneath just 'general entertainment' and 'repetitive situations', and the like, to what is actually being said throughout this collection?, how has the author's experiences shaped them?, what can be taken from all of this?
In doing this, the richness of the collection as a whole, and each individual story deepens considerably. This is why I opted for the higher rating.

well-done set of short stories with a unique type of vibe to them. i think in general they're a fine read. 4 stars. tysm for the arc.

3.5

I approached this collection with a degree of apprehension, particularly when I was met at the outset with a glossary of politicians in the preface. As someone who is rather ignorant when it comes to the political landscape of Singapore, past or present, I worried that much of what followed would go flying over my head.

Those concerns proved largely unfounded. The stories gathered here are deeply personal in nature, and while Holden’s prose is restrained and understated, there is an undercurrent of sadness running throughout the collection that gives it a great deal of emotional weight.

While some readers may find the pacing slow at first glance, there is far more unfolding beneath the surface, albeit in a subtle way.

With thanks to the publisher for the ARC.

This is a collection that sets out to explore quiet, everyday moments of significance across different lives, mostly centred around Singapore and its diaspora. The stories touch on teachers, academics, family relationships, political undercurrents, and personal reckonings, with an emphasis on small moments rather than dramatic plot turns.

For me, this was a mixed experience. While the premise is thoughtful and there is clearly intention behind the understated approach, I found many of the stories slow to start and ultimately lacking the emotional or intellectual pull I was hoping for. Several of the narratives felt muted to the point of blandness, and I struggled to find moments that truly lingered or demanded deeper reflection.

Given the Singaporean setting, I had expected more engagement with political or social history, especially as figures like Lee Kuan Yew appear in the collection. However, these elements felt lightly sketched rather than meaningfully explored, which was disappointing. The stories often hint at larger contexts but rarely dig into them in a way that adds depth or tension.

There are flashes of interest as the collection progresses, and some later pieces are more engaging than the opening stories. Still, overall I found it difficult to connect with the characters or feel invested in their journeys. The prose is competent and restrained, but restraint alone was not enough to carry the collection for me.

This may appeal to readers who enjoy very subtle, low key literary fiction focused on atmosphere and everyday observation. Personally, I was left wanting more substance, more edge, and more to really get my teeth into.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

This is a story I would like to re-read once I'm more familiar with Singaporean history and culture. This book forced me to slow down, so it took me over a week to finish.

There were many of these passages that didn't land for me, but there were also many that really spoke to me. "Pigeons and Doves" was the first to grab my attention (at the 50% mark). There were a handful of others I enjoyed as well, but the way I wanted to highlight everything after "Let's call History your therapist" and all the questions it asked?! Loved that one.

I'll revisit this. As it stands, I'm giving this a 3.5 (rounded up).

Thank you to NetGalley and Gaudy Boy for the eARC.