A heart wrenching tale of discovery and loss. I found myself tearing up not just about the narrative itself but the all too real possibility that we may come to know those we love better in death than in life.

Phoenix thought that the pain of losing her mother, Rain, could not be surpassed. And then she finds among Rain’s things a few old photos that show her the woman she has lived with for most of her life might be someone else entirely. Encouraged by her husband, Phoenix travels back to China to get the story from her mother’s only living relative.

This book was beautifully written. I really like the style in which it was laid out: a series of email correspondence with the story laid out as a memoir/biography as Phoenix tried to process her grief and what she learns about her mother.
A quick read full of emotion and pain that leaves you wanting to hug your mom in acknowledgment of all she doesn’t tell you in order to protect you.

Trigger warnings for death, violence against women, hardship