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.

Moral of the story: TRUST WOMEN! I was so into it but felt like the ending was a little anticlimactic!

I think they could have done without James taking advantage of Korey. It felt like he threw in the sexual assault of a minor for shock value. I’m glad Patricia divorced Carter, but I honestly was kind of expecting him to die! It would have been very satisfying for the men to learn that their wives were right all along, but they didn’t end up getting any credit for saving everyone in the town