I truly don’t feel like I read enough fiction from different cultures, so I was excited to jump on board for the blog tour for Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune.
Thank you Berkley for gifting me a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Synopsis: After her mother’s refusal to support her chosen career as a chef, Natalie Tan leaves behind the limitations of life on her small street in China Town to strike out on her own. After years abroad filled with unwavering estrangement from her mother and the tight-knit community she left behind, Natalie is shaken when she learns of her mother’s sudden death. Reeling in the throes of grief and regret, Natalie must journey back home to get her mother’s affairs in order. Natalie is shocked to find that over the last seven years, her once vibrant neighborhood has faded, with businesses failing and families forced to move out. But during a mystical encounter with the local tea shop owner who tells Natalie her fortune, her destiny becomes clear: she must revive her family’s closed-down restaurant to save the neighborhood. As Natalie rebuilds her connections with the community, she begins to forgive those she felt wronged by over the years, as well as herself—and she may even find new love along the way.
I thought the new cultural aspect of this book was real and raw. I appreciated the new look on family life in a different culture than mine. I will admit I am a little blind to other cultures and appreciate books like this to open my eyes to new things. The writing was beautiful, but the plot fell flat for me. I was more caught up in learning something new about a culture rather than enjoying the characters or the story-line itself. The chef idea was great, but felt choppy with the rest of the plot. Not a bad read, but not something I would pick up again.
3/5 Stars
Live, Read, And Prosper 