I really wanted to connect with this book, but unfortunately, I struggled to feel invested in the story. I felt like I was dropped into Àn’yīng’s journey without enough background or emotional buildup to truly understand or empathize with her.

While the writing itself was beautiful, I found there was a noticeable distance between Àn’yīng’s emotions and the reader. Her feelings were often told rather than felt, more descriptive than immersive, which made it difficult for me to form a strong connection to her character. 

*Thank you to Amélie Wen Zhao, Random House Children's | Delacorte Press and Netgalley for the ARC copy. I am freely leaving my honest review.