I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2020 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2020/01/2020-reading-list-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

Really brings the San Francisco setting to life. Love the combination of food and fortune telling — so charming and suspenseful. Perfect for Strong Sense of Place.

A story set in Chinatown featuring a passionate cook who creates and recreates delicious family recipes? Sign me up!

I thought this was an sweet story overall and enjoyed when Natalie described what cooking did to her senses. Honestly, I wish I could feel that passionately about cooking and inventing dishes for people, and it's clear how this is an intrinsic part of her soul. Through cooking she could connect with her grandmother, a renowned chef in Chinatown, who died before she was born. When she returns home after her mother's death, she learns that there's more to her mother's story that she was unaware of. Looking to make things right with Natalie, her mother's last wish was for her to inherit her grandmother's restaurant and bring it back to life. Her grandmother was a pillar of the community and her restaurant was the star. Being asked to reopen it feels like too much is being asked of her. Her first instinct is to run away which has been her tactic awhile now.But then she's persuaded to stay and as she assimilates to life in the neighbourhood she left, she learns about how much has changed, and not for the better as people are looking to gentrify her once vibrant community. With renewed purpose she hasn't had in a long time, Natalie dreams of helping to unify the community and re-energize the local businesses.

Family and cultural heritage are central to this story as was the food that made my mouth water. Natalie's love for cooking and the joy she gets from it come through the pages. Throw in the fact that her grandmother's recipes seem to have some sort of magical properties, and the dishes take on a life of their own. (Think the movie, Chocolat where Vienne's creations have such a profound impact on the villagers. It's the same idea here where Natalie's dishes seem to stir emotions and instigate action by the folks who eat them.) Interestingly, while Natalie's love of food and her grandmother's treasured recipes came through, I thought her budding romance with Daniel fell flat. As her potential love interest I didn't pick up on any chemistry between them. One drawback for me was that at times it felt as if the author was grasping too hard with the metaphors. She describes Natalie's process in relation to food so beautifully, creating such impressive pictures that I think sections outside of those could have flowed better with simpler descriptions.

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune is a sweet coming-of-age story about laying down roots and rebuilding community. If you're a foodie, you'll enjoy the addition of the recipes and like me, wish you could reach through and taste some of the deliciousness inside. I look forward to reading more from Roselle Lim in the future!

Okay, okay, okay! The main reason this book was somewhat of a let down for me is that it was marketed as a romance, so I went in for a romance, with all the romance check boxes ready to be ticked off in my brain. Ready to not only have my heart stomped on because of the synopsis that makes this book sound heart hitting, but also to swoon because...contemporary romance, that's what the genre usually goes to you. 

But although, the first happened (my heart being stomped on), the latter was nowhere to be seen. I'll say it again and again, Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune is NOT a romance. In fact, the romance component of it is so small and so little explored that I wouldn't even call it a fiction book with a side plot of romance. Sure, there is a man Natalie falls for, but he doesn't show up until well into the novel and when he does, he's barely there. So no, not a romance. If I had gone in expecting the right genre, I think I would have liked this book better because of the things it had going for it.

I loved the cultural aspect of this and the importance that was given to food as a way to show people love, mend hearts and bring communities together. I also liked the little magical aspects that I did not expect to find there going in but that were a pleasant surprise to find down the road. The exploration of grief was also so very well done and showed all the ways in which it could be complex and messy and not always how we expect it to be. Natalie also goes through a transformation in this book in the way she perceives her old neighborhood and her relationship with it, and realizes that her perception of it was warped by her own struggles. 


Do I recommend ? 

Yes, if you're looking for a diverse adult fiction book with hints of magic. No, if you're looking to read a romance book.

I absolutely adored Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune. When Natalie finds out her mother has passed away, the estrangement between them unresolved, she returns to Chinatown and the house she grew up in. She left so that she could pursue her dreams of becoming a chef, but failed out of culinary school. Now, she must return home to give her mother the funeral she deserves, full of tradition, and surrounded by the neighbors she thought had forgotten about her and her mother. When she finds a book her mother left her, full of her grandmother's recipes, she sets out to help rejuvenate the neighborhood and the neighbors, while trying to figure out just who she should become. This book tugged at my heart so much, and I LOVED learning about the different kinds of foods.

I can't say much for the story and the main character, Natalie, was downright annoying. However, the writing was so descriptive! You could smell, taste, hear, see everything Natalie described in such a way that you felt as if you too were smelling, tasting...

This is a lovely book but I had somehow thought going in that it was going to be a romance along the lines of The Kiss Quotient, which it is very definitely not. It’s full-on magical realism, which I wasn’t expecting! Very different and very cool. The descriptions of the food, as I’m sure all the reviews have already said, are incredibly vivid and appealing, as are the descriptions of the setting (San Francisco’s Chinatown). The romance subplot is a bit meh (there’s a guy who likes Natalie’s food, he shows up a couple times and they decide they’re in love but there’s not enough time invested in him to make it feel real) and Natalie’s conviction that she can fix things with magic instead of, idk, talking to people gets frustrating, but the writing is lovely and carries you through.

I am biased but this book is amazing and everyone should read it. Sweet, heartwarming, emotional, with gorgeous prose and food descriptions to boot? Get thee to a bookstore or library basically.

Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune by Roselle Lim is a 2019 Berkley publication.

A Whimsical journey of self-discovery, finding one’s niche, and making your dreams come true!

Natalie returns to her Chinatown neighborhood after her mother dies. She hadn’t spoken to her mother in years and her sudden death causes a plethora of old feelings to resurface. Despite the problems she had with her mother, Natalie is filled with regret. She also sees how far the neighborhood has deteriorated since she’s been gone. When a realtor approaches Natalie, trying to convince her to sell her mother’s place, which includes the long -shuttered restaurant her grandmother owned and operated, Natalie balks. She soon discovers that contrary to what she’s been led to believe the restaurant is in working order. Her dream of being a chef could very well come true after all- however it will not be an easy task. With the help and support of her grandmother’s recipes and friends and neighbors, Natalie looks for just the right recipe for success- one that will give back to the community and carry on her grandmother’s legacy.

What a delightful story! This feel-good story adds in just a touch of magic, to go along with family and friends, a sprinkle of light romance, and tons of great food and recipes. I loved the characters, the family secrets, and the character development.

This is a fun story, really cute, with a few moral lessons tossed in, such as never giving up on one’s dreams no matter what adversity must be met and overcome. However, for me the most prominent theme is giving back to the community, paying it forward, and helping others, with the right intentions in your heart, and that’s a something we should do more of!

4 stars

Natalie Tan returns home upon the news of her mother’s death, after she left in anger 7 years ago when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. Natalie is shocked to learn that she has also inherited her grandfather's restaurant and surprised to return home to a gentrifying neighborhood.

When Natalie visits the neighborhood seer, she learns of the restaurant’s fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. However, Natalie does not like her neighbors because they abandoned her to take care of her agoraphobic mother growing up. But a new friend and romantic interest help her realize that her neighborhood might have been rooting for her all along.

Having worked in a Chinese restaurant when I was younger, the concept of this book appealed to me right away. I was instantly captivated by the characters and story and couldn't get enough of it!

Natalie Tan's Book of Luck and Fortune reminded me of Like Water for Chocolate in some ways. There was a mystical element in terms of Natalie's cooking affecting the way people thought and felt. I loved Natalie's interactions with all the characters, especially Daniel. The food sounded delicious, even though I am a picky eater. And Natalie's newly inherited kitten Meimei sounded adorable.

The magical elements didn't work for me as much, aside from Natalie's cooking having an impact on everyone's lives. Perhaps this was because it wasn't implied that Natalie had magical powers, unless I missed something. There was a lot of imagery that seemed strange as a result, like the sidewalk cracking as a result of an argument or physical cuts forming from offending words.

Overall, this was a sweet story about family and legacy, and about showing up for people no matter what. I really enjoyed it and would definitely read another novel by Roselle Lim. Thankfully, there is another one coming next spring!

Movie casting suggestions:
Natalie: Awkwafina
Celia: Lea Salonga
Daniel: Manny Jacinto
Old Wu: James Hong
Melody: Kristin Chenoweth

A quirky, charming book about love, family, food & community. Park cook book, part magical tale...a very quick whimsical read!

Loved the characters and the pacing. We were captivated the entire way through! The last 100 pages were the best, by far. Can't wait to see what Lim writes next.

I really enjoyed this novel about life, family, and love in San Francisco’s Chinatown. It had the “magical realism” feel of Sarah Addison Allen or Alice Hoffman, along with the every day life trials and tribulations of the protagonist. It also included recipes! There are a lot of layers here, with family relationships, neighborhood characters, and romance. It would make a great bookclub discussion, along with Chinese food!

Thank you for my review copy via Net Galley!

I really loved this one and I loved the ownvoices rep. The writing was beautiful, and the setting and descriptions were breathtaking. The messages were heartfelt and the themes were important and powerful. I can't wait to see what this author does next!

I love that the last year or so has seen such a rush of romantic comedies in novel form. Natalie Tan was such fun, I loved every minute of it.

A good first novel by Roselle Lim. A number of issues were covered in this book, finding oneself, mental illness, Chinese culture, how to deal with your neighbors, romance, and the power of food. I loved reading the recipes. The book had a slow start but I was drawn into the story eventually. I didn't care for the story line of her father, as it seemed rather far fetched but did enjoy the magical use of food throughout the story.. Looking forward to more from her.

Very cute and a quick, enjoyable read. The twist at the end was predictable, but the romance was sweet all the way through. I loved reading about the food, and the drama and arguments between the mother and daughter are realistic. I'm excited to see another title from this author.

Nathalie Tan's mother recently passed away. After having words with her mother, Nathalie had left home seven years earlier and moved to Montreal and now she will never see her again without saying farewell. Home is San Francisco's Chinatown, which in the book is in a little state of decline. Many traditional Chinese family owned stores are closing down after decades, and the empty properties fall in the hands of project developers for high rent or selling prices. She also learns there her mother had a bad form of agoraphobia and it seems the community wasn't much of a help to her.

The Chinese restaurant that was opened by Nathalie's grandmother is now closed for years, but when Nathalie's mom passes away, Nathalie finds out she has inherited it. What can she do with a restaurant that has been closed for years? She also inherits her grandmother's Chinese cookbook, that has some very good and authentic recipes in it that have a littlebit of magic, it seems. The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant's fortune in the leaves: Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother's cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors before the restaurant will succeed. But why aid them when they were not there for her mother?When she starts to try out cooking some of the restaurant, things start to happen and unfold. First of all, some people are just coming to the closed restaurant because of the smell of the dumplings, like Daniel, who just peeks his head into the open window of the restaurant and becomes a frequent proof taster, and even a romantic interest for Nathalie. During the story, Nathalie learns more and more about her estranged mother and grandmother, why there are three ripped pages missing in the , cookbook, and the people of Chinatown and her own heritage. Will she succeed in making a succes of the restaurant??

There are some books that you instantly like, and this was certainly the case for this one!
As I am always very interested in everything Chinese, especially cooking, and I love going to the Chinatown in my country, and I love books set in San Francisco, this was a book that immediately triggered my interest so I was happy that I got the chance to review it!!
The story and plot where just very original and nothing like I have ever found in another book. The main character Nathalie was just awesome and just someone you immediately like. I also loved that the author made her cat Mei Mei such a cute partner for her, that really was adorable and I really liked how the cat was sometimes truly adding to some of the magic of the story and pointing out things for Nathalie. And what was also brilliant was that you could almost hear the erhu player playing his beautiful music in the street. The cooking plays a huge part in this book (there are some pretty amazing Chinese recipes added!!) and the struggle for Nathalie if her restaurant will be a succes was very entertaining to read. Also where the other struggles Nathalie had to overcome involving her families past, and the connection that has with the people in the neighborhood. Overall, this is very good book that makes you hungry for more!!

Three and a half stars: A delightful book with a touch of magical realism and lots of delicious food.

Natalie Tan is devastated when she receives news that her mother passed away. She hadn’t spoken to her mother in seven years after she left angry because her mother didn’t support her dream to become a chef. When Natalie returns home to San Francisco, she finds the vibrant Chinatown neighborhood in a state of decline. Many families have moved out, and businesses are failing. When Natalie learns that she inherited her grandmother’s restaurant she is hopeful. Natalie consults the neighborhood seer and learns that it is up to her to save the neighborhood. Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook and help three people. If she fails to help the neighbors, the neighborhood will falter. Does Natalie have the talent and tenacity to restore her family restaurant and save the neighborhood?
What I Liked:
*Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune was a delightful book that tickled my senses and stirred my imagination. I loved the touches of magical realism, and I especially enjoyed the rich descriptions of the food. This was a feel good book that left me smiling.
*I liked that this was a journey about self discovery and personal growth. Natalie has spent the last seven years following her dream to be a chef. Unfortunately, following her dream meant leaving behind her mother. Natalie hadn’t seen or spoken to her mother in seven years. When she receives news of her death, Natalie returns home to find her neighborhood and personal life in shambles. Slowly, Natalie begins to piece her life back together. She does this by making friends with the neighbors and by cooking. Over time, she learns a great deal about herself, her heritage and the importance of community. I found Natalie’s journey to be hopeful and rewarding.
*I liked that the main focus of the novel was upon the restoration of Chinatown. The neighbors begin to come together and in doing so they strengthen their community and begin the process of revitalizing the neighborhood. Along the way, friendships are formed and strengthened. I found this part of the story appealing as I appreciated the focus on heritage, community and tradition.
*There are lots of incidences of magical realism. I loved the inclusion of these touches of magic. There are no explanations as to how the magic works, it is just there. I liked that. I especially loved the magic of Natalie’s grandmother’s cookbook.
*The food descriptions are mouth watering. Natalie begins cooking recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook, and I can tell you, I was salivating at the rich descriptions. The food sounded amazing. I only wish I could smell and taste it!
*One of my favorite portions of the story was when Natalie ended up becoming friends with the person who started the story angry at her. I loved watching this man mentor Natalie and help her find her path.
*The book ended in a good spot. I felt like the main story lines were tied up, even though I was left wanting more.
And The Not So Much:
*I struggled early on finding my footing in the book. I think mainly because I was thrown in with little understanding of Natalie’s journey over the last seven years. There were many references to her life after she left home, and I felt like this portion of the story should have been covered a bit better because I felt like I didn’t have the full picture of Natalie’s character.
*I loved the tone of the first part of the story. There is magic and hope and lots of good feelings. Then the second part of the book takes a dramatic turn. I didn’t like how negative everything became. It all turns around, but it ruined the fuzzy, feel good vibes I had going on.
*There a romance that didn’t work for me. It comes out of nowhere, and there wasn’t much depth or development with the romance. In all honesty, it could have been left out of the story because it didn’t help or enhance the story. It was meh....
*Even though the story ended in a good spot, I felt like the book ended abruptly. I wanted to see the restaurant in its glory and watch the neighborhood come completely back to life.

Natalie’s Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune is a fun read. I enjoyed the touches of magical realism, the decadent food descriptions and the journey of growth and restoration. I especially enjoyed the focus on community, tradition and heritage. My only hesitation with the story was that it ended a bit too abruptly and the romance was lacking. Otherwise, this was a delightful read perfect for when you want a light read.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.