As a young wife, Meilin's bright future is cut short as the Japanese army approaches in 1938 in China. Forced to flee with her 4-year-old son, Renshu, and her brother-in-law's family, Meilin travels through a ravaged country seeking refuge. Traversing 70 years, PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING follows three generations of the Dao family from living in China during the Japanese invasion, escaping to Taiwan as communism took over, and immigrating to America. Beautifully written with heartbreaking yet hopeful prose, PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a bold debut exploring modern Chinese and Taiwanese history and the power of storytelling.

I love everything about PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING; from the chronological narrative to the focus on the Dao family during WW2, Fu explores the rich & complex history and masterfully weaves together the threads of family & identity.

The theme of fractured families and unexplained pasts also resonated deeply with me. While I understand the curiosity to learn the stories of one's ancestors, my heart aches for the countless lives lost during the Japanese invasion of China and the KMT's martial law rule in Taiwan. I adore the research that went into writing this book, especially the nuance between Benshengren (本省人) and Waishengren (外省人), and the intricacies of why families don't talk about their pasts for fear of political prosecution. PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a poignant reminder that our histories and complex and often filled with gaps.

As someone who grew up in Taipei and attended NTU, I relish the section where Meilin and Renshu explore the city and Renshu's undergrad days. There is something so special about reading a book set in a place I know well, and I find myself transported back to my time in Taipei & NTU while reading.

PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING is a gorgeous debut that explores family, identity, and belonging. It is a must-read for anyone interested in modern Chinese/Taiwanese history and family secrets. It is a book that will stay with me after I've finished reading it.