by Celeste Ng
Rating: 3.50 (2 ratings)
First published 2017
In the orderly community of Shaker Heights, the arrival of free-spirited Mia and her daughter Pearl shatters the carefully curated lives of the Richardson family. When a custody battle over a Chinese-American baby erupts, Mia and the Richardsons find themselves on opposite sides, their conflicts rooted in Mia's shadowy past and the Richardsons' relentless pursuit of the American dream. As the stakes escalate, the families must confront the emotional truths that lie at the heart of their differences.
Genres: literary-fiction, contemporary, social-issues, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Shaker Heights (Ohio), Ohio
Period: 1910s
338 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books
Content warnings: racism, sexism