en-US Fri, 16 May 2025 05:38:17 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg ReadStatus9431249383 Fri, 16 May 2025 05:38:17 -0700 /review/show/7573613575 Sai is currently reading Swimming Lessons by Malcom Seah
]]> ReadStatus9431247425 Fri, 16 May 2025 05:37:26 -0700 /review/show/7573612177 Sai is currently reading The Greatest Fight of Sunny Granada and Other Stories by Kenneth Yu
]]> ReadStatus9388976285 Mon, 05 May 2025 01:23:55 -0700 /review/show/7524174371 Sai started reading Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People; Unveiling Their Stories and Emotions From the Year That Has Been by Mahmoud Alshaer
]]> Review7508887725 Mon, 05 May 2025 01:23:25 -0700 /review/show/7508887725 Sai gave 5 stars to The Original Daughter (Hardcover) by Jemimah Wei
bookshelves: 2025-reads, arc, asian-rep, family-dynamics, from-publisher
An unforgettable saga about family and sisterhood, this debut novel offers a visceral view on relationships that is shaped by time and experiences.

Genevieve Yang was born as an only child of a simple family in a transitioning 1988 Singapore but this fact changed when Arin, a sudden addition from another family of her grandfather who is long believed to be dead, appeared on their door. Gen and Arin started their awkward relationship but over time, the two became inseparable and grew up with an unbreakable bond - that is until life happened.

Pachinko, This Place is Still Beautiful, Everything we Never Had - these are my best reads in the last three years that tackle family dynamics and left me speechless with its beautiful prose and honest conclusion. This year, The Original Daughter impacted me in the same way as the abovementioned titles.

I’ll start this review by focusing on the storyline, there is no major plot twist or over-the-top curveball in The Original Daughter but the story is addicting and unputdownable. Imagine reading about two inseparable sisters united by their grandfather’s blood but a secret something divided them in the present. That something is what pulled me in and commanded me to finish the book.

The storyline and the pacing worked well for me because it is expected for family saga stories to go on about how they started before arriving in the present but it was never boring as the author included small wins and challenges that the sisters (and their family) encountered per point of time. Jemimah Wei’s writing style perfectly fit with the narrative and picture that she painted in this novel. No exaggerated prose but honest and raw depiction on how Gen and Arin navigated their lives together as kids and later on, separated as working adults. It was achingly realistic to read but over time there are hints of hopefulness that these two will get the things that they deserve.

The characters are also magnetic in a way that the author gave contrasting arc for Gen and Arin. Gen is a diligent daughter and an academic ace but hardships in life threw her off-balance while Arin has been a fighter in and out of their apartment and is always vocal in mentioning how Gen inspires her in whatever endeavor she is taking. Their emotional arc is what really got me because the way I expected Gen to be so mature given her view of life when she was a kid when it was Arin who ended up with an honesty and maturity that makes me think of the way Gen acted in latter half of the book.

Bonds and relationship, I believe that is the central theme and the focus is the sister’s love. To be honest, I can’t point out who I love most between the two but I admire both of them for baring it all and being honest with their feelings. It was a bittersweet conclusion but that’s how life is.

Overall, what an impressive debut. 4.5 stars! ]]> ReadStatus9360105089 Sun, 27 Apr 2025 16:51:12 -0700 /review/show/7524174371 Sai wants to read Letters From Gaza: A Collection By the People; Unveiling Their Stories and Emotions From the Year That Has Been by Mahmoud Alshaer
]]> ReadStatus9338208405 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:53:33 -0700 /review/show/7508891519 Sai is currently reading The First Impulse by Laurel Flores Fantauzzo
]]> ReadStatus9338203061 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:50:58 -0700 /review/show/7508887725 Sai is currently reading The Original Daughter by Jemimah Wei
]]> ReadStatus9338200991 Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:49:55 -0700 /review/show/7492537953 Sai started reading Plot Twist: Navigating and Surviving Life's Unexpected Turns by Claire Betita de Guzman
]]> ReadStatus9325309505 Fri, 18 Apr 2025 19:30:57 -0700 /review/show/7499962944 Sai is currently reading Kuwentong Butsero by J.L. Chua
]]> ReadStatus9314554214 Tue, 15 Apr 2025 22:08:47 -0700 /review/show/7492537953 Sai wants to read Plot Twist: Navigating and Surviving Life's Unexpected Turns by Claire Betita de Guzman
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