From the Bookshelf of Around the Year in 52 Books

Find A Copy At

Group Discussions About This Book

No group discussions for this book yet.

What Members Thought

John Warner
Feb 16, 2022 rated it really liked it
This novel contains two plot lines with coverge later in the book. The setting for both is late 19th century Malayan peninsula, much of it occupied by the British Empire. The protagonist for the first plot line is Ji Lin, who as the novel opens is secretly working at the May Flower Dance Hall raising money to help pay her mother's gambling debt. The reader then receives the back story as we learn that Ji Lin's mother remarried through a matchmaker after both parties' spouses died. As a result of ...more
Tanya
This one was a book I started in January, then put aside as it wasn’t really one I could get into. Fast forward nine months and I was able to get a hold of an audio version, which held my interest better, but still didn’t make me love the story. It could have been more to my liking without the romance element, and that would have shortened it too and, I think, hit the sweet spot for me. The superstitions were interesting to hear about, and I leaned a few more about the fortunes of certain number ...more
Jesse
May 13, 2019 rated it really liked it
Fascinating novel that includes a lot of interesting culture, including some aspects of Eastern spirituality and mysticism. The ending surprised me, as the author does a superb job of misdirection.
Camzcam
May 14, 2020 rated it really liked it
Fun, suspenseful, story set in 1930s Malaysia filled with eastern Asian folk tropes and superstitions. Maybe not classified as “high brow literature” but definitely a page-turner.
Valerie
Nov 10, 2019 rated it it was ok
Couldn’t get through this. Boring and weird, not entertaining. One of the few Hello Sunshine books I haven’t enjoyed.
Kiley
May 27, 2020 rated it really liked it  ·  review of another edition
Interesting setting and characters. Other than the weird dream sequences, I liked this one quite a bit.
Betty
Mar 02, 2019 marked it as to-read
Stacey Matson
Mar 20, 2019 marked it as to-read
Heidi Holford
Apr 24, 2019 rated it really liked it
Brandi
Apr 26, 2019 marked it as to-read
Donna
Apr 27, 2019 marked it as to-read
Tabby Kat
Sep 01, 2019 rated it liked it
Natalie
May 17, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Angela Jones
Jun 11, 2019 marked it as to-read
Lani
Jun 28, 2019 rated it it was amazing
Shelves: rhodes
Ruthi
Jul 26, 2019 marked it as to-read
Shannon
Aug 02, 2019 marked it as to-read
Edie Kestenbaum
Nov 06, 2019 marked it as to-read
Fatma
Nov 13, 2019 marked it as to-read
Adrienne
Nov 23, 2019 rated it really liked it
Stephanie
Dec 11, 2019 marked it as to-read
James
Dec 25, 2019 rated it really liked it
Erynn
Jun 02, 2020 rated it really liked it
Shelves: read-2020
Jennifer AM
Jun 28, 2020 added it
Shelves: 2019
Allison
Jan 01, 2021 marked it as to-read
Crystal
Dec 21, 2022 rated it liked it