by Thao Thai
First published 2023
Ann Tran receives the call that changes everything. Her grandmother Minh has died, and Ann's carefully constructed life begins falling apart. She has a lake house, a professor boyfriend, and elegant parties, but a pregnancy test destroys her plans. Ann travels back to Florida to face her estranged mother Huơng, who mourns Minh while resenting the close bond her mother shared with Ann. The two women inherit the Banyan House, a decaying manor from Ann's childhood. Living together again, mother and daughter confront years of buried resentment and unanswered questions. Meanwhile, Minh's story unfolds across decades, from her teenage years during the Vietnam War to her journey as a young mother bringing her family to America. When Ann discovers hidden items in the attic, family secrets emerge that reveal how Minh's early choices shaped their lives. Three generations of women must reckon with what they've inherited and what they'll build from it.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, contemporary, adult-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, introspective, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: estrangement-and-reconciliation, found-family, multigenerational-narrative, secrets-revealed
Setting: Florida, Banyan House, Vietnam, America
Period: Vietnam War, 20th century, 21st century
Paperback
Content warnings: death, pregnancy-loss