Read if you: Want a sensitively-drawn "new adult" title about a young woman coming to terms with her estranged Taiwanese family after her father dies.

Librarians/booksellers: Although this covers serious topics like family estrangement and cultural identity, it's a great pick for readers who want a light read with depth. The food descriptions are scrumptious!

Many thanks to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect book for you if you like sister stories, complicated family dynamics in modern blended families, dark family secrets, and lush descriptions of culture and food. In the first two chapters, Lexa’s mom leaves her stepdad for another woman, and then her Taiwanese bio dad dies, leaving behind many unanswered questions about the Thing No One Talks About that led to Lexa not seeing her Taiwanese dad and half sister for many years. I loved the descriptions of Taiwanese culture and food (I want to eat EVERYTHING in this book) and liked how many different personalities and lifestyles were represented amongst the big cast of characters in the book. I loved seeing the sisters all come together at the end!

This is a story of a spunky, much-loved heroine who has let her past pain drive her present. A hip trainer in NYC, Lexie is beautiful, smart, and a popular trainer devoted to her clients. Lexie's American family is going through major transitions. Her mother announces she has left her husband for another woman.. While adjusting, Lexie learns that her real Taiwanese father who she hasn't seen in 20 plus years has died tragically, that she plays a major role in his will, and that her 1/2 sister from Taiwan is coming to NYC to discuss the secretive will. Meanwhile, her American sister, Mattie, is acting like a brat and won't talk to her mother or her new partner. In the midst of this, Lexie has found a man she adores but who wants children, which she doesn't see in her future plans.

As the story progresses, we learn why Lexie rejected her Taiwanese heritage at age 14 and the hurt and betrayal that deeply scarred her, We also learn how she used her gift of Kung Fu for healing. Finally, after spending time with her Taiwanese sister, Lexie decides she must go to Taiwain to make things right. Her braveness, and the mistakes and courage of others, lead her to adjust her priorities and learn about herself and her heritage.

This is a quick, enjoyable read that was hard to put down. I highly recommend it and would give it 4..5 stars.

This book made me laugh and it made me cry. Heartwarming and intriguing, I really enjoyed Lexa’s journey of acceptance and understanding. You’ll enjoy this book if you like stories about family ties, the tug of being caught between two cultures, and mouth-watering depictions of food. I only wanted to put this book down to rush out to a Taiwanese restaurant but Lexa’s story had me so hooked that of course, that never happened.
Lyn Liao Butler’s writing was effortlessly beautiful, and I can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Touching, heartfelt, and humorous all at once. I loved the journey of both self-discovery and family love. It was equal parts intriguing and relateable. This author is one of my new favorites and I can't wait to see what she writes next!

This beautiful, richly written book is such a joy to read. Right from its wonderfully engaging first sentence we are deftly led through a complex, thoughtful story with humour, authentic characters, and evocative descriptions, to the fulfilling end. Past interweaves with present in a way which captures the heart and adds deep layers to the story's poignancy. The last scene made me catch my breath. And then of course there's the food! Highly recommended.

This book was soooo good. I loved the complexity with which Lyn Liao Butler draws the world where Lexa lives. All the characters are very intriguing. I admire how artfully the backstory and present timelines are woven together.

I also really appreciate the difficult questions that Lexa reflects on and how they haunt her. This novel is very accurate in how it depicts reality, along with our fractured past and our current choices.

The story constantly propelled me forward as I tried to figure out secrets from the past and tagged along on Lexa’s journey. As an added bonus, I’m grateful for all the elements of culture and identity found within this book.

A must-read, moving journey of growth and character, imbued with warmth and authenticity.

I love stories about complicated families, and this book did NOT disappoint. There were so many secrets and misunderstandings, and although I hated a couple of the characters, I appreciated how we were given their points of view so we could understand where they were coming from. I tore through this book, because I needed to know Lexa was going to be okay. As a bonus, the descriptions of Taiwan were amazing and made me miss traveling. And the food! Prepare to be hungry while you feel all the emotions.

THE TIGER MOM'S TALE is compelling storytelling at its finest.

It isn't often that I read a book in a single sitting and yet that's exactly what I just did.

This novel is beautiful - rich settings, complicated families, and so much food. Seriously, I thought *my* family was tricky but nothing holds a candle to Lexa's American or Taiwanese family, much less how she is caught in the middle of two worlds.

Each and every character is artfully layered. While some characters purposefully come off as selfish and unlikable initially are redeemed, there's one character in particular I'm just gonna sit here and dislike. Oh, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention how much I love Lexa's rescue rottie because he's the best!

The story unfolds across multiple timelines and time zones, and uses language and location brilliantly. I'm gonna be thinking about this book for a while!

I fell in love with the voice and protagonist of this beautifully crafted story from the start! The writing is rich with description and emotion, and also infused with humor. The story touches on many challenging themes, such as identity, belonging, grief, loss, family secrets, and confronting one's past in order to move forward, and deals with them with insight and empathy. I loved the complex female relationships in the story, as well as the mouth-watering descriptions of food and how that connects to culture and memory. Lexa is a heroine that I was cheering on and feeling for as she went through her journey through loss and healing. There are also magical moments woven into the story that speak to the skill of the author. Once I started this book, I had trouble putting it down. I can't wait to see what's next for this talented debut author!

They say every family has secrets but the characters in TIGER MOM’S TALE have more than a few. But they pair them with food, love and humor. I adored this book from @lynliobutler who is definitely one to watch! 5 out of 5 Elizas.

THE TIGER MOM'S TALE is a breathtaking debut from a compelling new voice in women's fiction. With captivating characters and vivid descriptions of mouth-watering meals, Lyn Liao Butler whisks us from the bright lights of New York City to the bustle of Taichung. A story of belonging, betrayal, and the bonds between family that can never be broken, THE TIGER MOM'S TALE is a deeply emotional and satisfying read.

I can't gush about it enough about this book!!

Lexa was such a compelling main character and I really felt how torn she was between her American and Taiwanese heritages. The relationships felt very real and were all so richly layered. The story unfolds in dual timelines which amped up the tension, especially as the truth of Lexa's estrangement from her father is revealed. And the ending was so satisfying it brought a tear to my eye.

Full of heart, humor, and mouth-watering food descriptions, this debut is not to be missed!

This book was perfect, brought on all the feels...and, honestly, it resonated with me on such a deep level. We''ll leave my personal story out of this review. I can say, however, the characters (all of them) ring true. And I feel so blessed to have received an early copy. There were so many things I loved-- especially the development of ALL of the major players. Family, food, secrets, lies– what a stunning debut!!! I inhaled the pages in one sitting and was sad to see it end. I need more, more, more! (I also want Ah-Ma's dumplings. Now.)

Oof, where to start with this incredible book? First of all, that climax scene! It actually made me gasp out loud. I felt all of the emotions in it and I just wanted to race through to the end to find out what happens next, but I forced myself to slow down so I could savor the story.

This book has so much heart and humor. It’s a story about family and how complicated and layered and rich every relationship is. The author deeply excavates all of the different bonds between the main character and her family—her mother, her sisters, her dads. It’s sometimes painful, sometimes hilarious, but always poignant and touching.

The setting is in part in America and partly in Taiwan, and both places come alive. I could feel the humidity in Taiwan and the smells of the food. Oh, the food! The descriptions drove me crazy! I felt like I knew all the places the characters went to, even though I have never been to Taiwan.

Lastly, as an Asian reader, I felt that the cultural representative here was done with sensitivity and love. It’s definitely a book I am going to pass to my mom, as I know she’ll adore the family drama!