Yeah honestly I’m confused. I really wanted to like it. I think the author should have picked queering the Great Gatsby or writing a novel involving the paper cutting magic, but not put them together. It felt like I was reading two different books. I actually was very intrigued by Jordan’s story and would love to read a book based on Vietnamese paper cutting magic but without the Gatsby plot. I did like the acknowledgment that Nick was in love with Gatsby, and I think it added a really interesting element during Tom’s attack on Gatsby at the Plaza.

Nick being made of paper was an unexpected twist that I think I liked but still didn’t really understand. Why was he created by his great grandmother and then sent away? The description of his paper heart was cool, and again, I would have liked if the book delved deeper into the paper cutting magic.

I’m interested in reading more of Vo’s work that maybe has a more focused plot.