Jing Jing is a tech publication staff writer who reports on the supposed life-altering inventions by Silicon Valley billionaires and start-up bros. Unlike her longtime boyfriend, J, a lab technician applying to grad school, Jing Jing's life seems to be going smoothly with a clear direction, moving upwards in the corporate ladder. But with her request for a promotion ignored again, new management laying off "culturally unfit" employees, and J's acceptance to a grad program in Ithaca, Jing Jing needs to take matters into her own hands. Does she move with J? Does she stay at her job?

DAYS OF DISTRACTION is a tender yet humorous novel that examines the Asian American experience. It follows a narrative style similar to a stream of consciousness that jumps between Jing Jing's current situation and her ruminations on historical events. DAYS OF DISTRACTION covers a lot of incredible themes, such as relationships between Asian women and white men, where Chang includes historical context about interracial marriages that I wasn't aware of.

Another topic that stood out to me is Jing Jing's experience working in a white men-dominated industry. She is usually not acknowledged for her work and often gets confused with the other Asian woman in the office by her white colleagues. I've also experienced these things at workplaces, and I'm sure they happen to every POC.

Other outstanding discussions from DAYS OF DISTRACTION include how other immigrants expect Jing Jing to fit into a certain stereotype and negate her childhood trauma when she doesn't fit the mold. Chang's exploration of performative activism, especially in workplaces, is another illuminating discussion.

The writing style of DAYS OF DISTRACTION reminds me of GOODBYE, VITAMIN (Rachel Khong) and CHEMISTRY (Weike Wang). All three books examine the complexities of being invisible as Asian women yet only being seen for their skin color at times. DAYS OF DISTRACTION is a remarkable debut novel, and I look forward to Chang's future work.