Review to appear in the Historical Novel Society Review in the next issue. Mostly positive; a few matters of constructive criticism.

Thank you Little Brown and Net Galley for the eARC of Peach Blossom Spring by Melissa Fu.

Let's talk about this cover! Amazing! It's beautiful and really captures the essence of this book! It took me a while to get into this story. But once I did, I was hooked! This is a beautiful story about so many things; but most of all a mother's love for her son. This story spans from the 1930's through 2005. I didn't know much about the time period when Japan invaded China and this book shed light on that time period which I appreciated and learned from.

This is a multigenerational story that begins with Meilin and her son Renshu. It tells the tale of how Meilin went to any length to care for her son and how her unselfish love for him existed until her death. Renshu eventually moves to the United States and builds a life, family, and career for himself. He marries and has a daughter; Lily. This is somewhat a coming of age story as well. Lily never really knows where her place is in the world. Her father never talks about his past.and she feels like she doesn't fit in. Lily goes to college and finally finds her path. When Meilin dies, she travels to be with her father and finally understands him and his journey and seems to make peace with him.

Perhaps the final chapter of the book sums this one up the best:

"The story ends when there is nothing more to strive after. There is no more wanting. There is only the fullness of blossom, the caress of a breeze, a sky joyous with blue. This moment. This now This peach blossom
spring."

This is just a beautiful story that will resonate differently with every reader. I highly recommend! This one releases on March 15, 2022!

I enjoyed this! I really enjoyed this first part of the book with Meilin and her son Renshu and their being displaced from China (always love it when I can learn a little history from a novel). Meilin was such a likable character. The second part where Renshu is in college in the US was also interesting. The fear that remained with him from the war was heartbreaking. The third half with Renshu's daughter, Lily, felt a bit rushed, but the overall theme of the pervasive effects of war was obvious in her relationship with her father. And the book ended sweetly. Would recommend!

What a beautiful piece of writing! It took me a minute to get "hooked" but I am so happy I kept reading because it was worth it! This intergenerational family saga has it all; love, loss, hope, pain, heartbreak. I cannot recommend it enough!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown and Company for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

cws/tws: war, loss of a loved one, sexual assault, colonialism, racism, slurs

As much as I proclaim to love expansive, intergenerational sagas, I sure read very few of them. However, this particular title caught my eye while browsing Netgalley, and oh am I ever so glad that it did! After many, many, tears, and just as many smiles, I am sitting down to give a glowing review of this book.

There were several things that caught my eye at first sight, with this book. The first of them was that the cover is absolutely gorgeous — both the US and UK, which in my experience, is not as common as it should be. The second thing was how visceral the synopsis appeared to be. Peach Blossom Spring follows three generations of a Chinese family, through the second Sino-Japanese War just before the turn of the millenia. Shui Meilin, the resilient and pragmatic widow, takes her only son Dao Renshu from Chongqing, to Changsha, to Shanghai, and Taiwan. Years later, Dao Renshu, now going by Henry Dao, is living in the US with a white wife and their daughter Lily, who is desperate to reconnect with the stories that Henry refuses to tell, believing them too painful.

So, first of all, Peach Blossom Spring is probably not a fun, beach read. There are funny parts, to be sure, but ultimately, this story is gut wrenching and I’d take a good look at the triggers. However, the way that the book deals with serious topics such as colonialism, war, and sexual assault, are done very respectfully and carefully. None of it felt gratuitous. Unfortunately, these were real events that happened. The 20th century was wildly tumultuous and traumatic for Chinese people. The pain that appears in this book is guttural at every turn, but ultimately, there is an underlying message of hope, through the Peach Blossom Spring, that ties it together.

I feel like the line between a great sad book, and a book that exists just to be sad, is the catharsis you get from reading it. If a book is just a string of sad events with no release, you feel like you didn’t read it for any particular reason, or that you didn’t get anything from it. Peach Blossom Spring doesn’t feel that way. The string that connects all of the events and years together is this desire to find a place to call home — and a gradual acceptance that you can make your own home. It’s upsetting, it’s regretful, but in the end, it’s not bleak.

Another thing I really enjoyed about this book was that although the scope was large, it felt intimate, and small, in a good way. You really feel like you’re getting close to one particular family through the span of many decades. The characters are deeply flawed, but you’re rooting for them nonetheless. You want them to find their home, wherever they are. I particularly loved reading about Meilin. She’s an incredibly strong matriarch who wants the best for her son, and is simply trying to survive. Henry, or Renshu, on the other hand, is a wildly complicated man, whose trauma can render him aloof at times, or even cold. His relationship with his daughter Lily, however tumultuous, was beautifully written, and I think many diaspora kids can relate.

The historical and linguistic details included, as well, were much appreciated. When telling a story about events as formative as the second Sino-Japanese War, the Chinese Civil War, and the White Terror in Taiwan, I feel like it’s important to do so respectfully, and in a well-researched way. I am no historian, but I would wager that Melissa Fu accomplished this goal.

This book was a love letter to Chinese people, our diaspora, and everyone who is looking for a home. I hope that you will pick this book up and that you, too, will find your Peach Blossom Spring.

Meilin had everything she could have hoped for: a loving husband, an intelligent young son, a family business to keep her busy, and a home full of interesting relatives. Then the war came to China. This multi-generational tale follows first Meilin, then her son, and finally her granddaughter as each works out what it means to be happy despite the often overwhelming forces of destruction, family hostilities, espionage, culture, societal expectations and even PTSD. Through it all, stories are one of the few constants that each can turn to when all other hope runs dry.

For those who follow me, perhaps you're not surprised to see that I dedicated many hours of my life to reading a fictionalized memoir about a family and culture quite different from my own. I'll say for the record that I thought this was a book of poetry, and I probably would have finished it in fewer than two and a half months had that been the case. It isn't quite as poetic as the description makes it out to be, yet as I read, I couldn't help but feel the incredible array of emotions deep in my soul–and not just the negative ones either. The fear as the family fled, the hopelessness when the promise of reuniting with family is dashed, the uncertainty of immigration, but also the beauty of a well-made dress, the joy of a family reunited, and the thrill of new friendships all resonated with me in a way that goes beyond words. It was a hard read due to themes of loss, death, war, sexual assault, terror, mental health collapses and bad parenting, but there's something beautiful and genuine that sings through the sadness. I would love to have a chance to discuss this with my grandfather, a Polish immigrant. This book would make a fascinating book club read as it well deserves to be discussed.

There have been countless books written about the 1930's and 1940's in China, one of the most tumultuous periods of Chinese history. There was invasion by Japanese soldiers, famine, civil war, with millions of people suffering through some of the most traumatic experiences imaginable. Peach Blossom Spring is a historical fiction novel that begins in 1938 and follows three generations as they arduously make their way across China, Taiwan, and the United States.

Multigenerational sagas are one of my favorite genres, and this one is one of my new favorites. The story is riveting, the writing compelling, and the characters so vivid that they continue to stay on my mind. This is a wonderfully crafted story that clearly has a lot of research woven into it. The historical details are exquisite, and the narrative is both moving and haunting. I can't wait to see what Melissa Fu writes next.

Wow. This book captured me from the very beginning and didn’t let go. Melissa Fu told a story that spans 3 generations expertly, carefully developing each character and avoiding predictability at every turn. The story begins during the War of Aggression in China and follows one family through to the 2000s in the United States and Taiwan. I love historical fiction, and have read quite a few that take place in China at this time, but Fu takes on the troubled relationship between China, Taiwan, and immigrants to the US beautifully. It’s a solid 5 stars from me, and I cannot wait to get a physical copy of the book to reread again and again. Thank you to NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was amazing and told such a vivid tale of the horrors of war and the Chinese experience during the early 20th century. I'm glad that the author didn't make it all come together in a neat little bow, some things you never find out but it made for a richer narrative. I'm very glad I was able to read this book and I learned a lot about the early days of Taiwan.

Peach Blossom Spring tells the story of a family rooted in traditional Chinese culture and values, who faced the upheavals of the twentieth century and had to recover and revalue their heritage. Young mother Meilin is forced to flee from her home with her young son Renshu when the Japanese invade their small village in China. For two decades, Meilin and Renshu flee from danger to danger, and Meilin makes a life for them through her talent, courage, and strength. She comforts little Renshu with stories from a valuable scroll her late husband had intended to use as capital to start a business before he died. Renshu learns about his culture from the stories and gains strength and perspective from them. When he travels to the US for graduate school and makes his life there, he finds it easier to Americanize and leave his Chinese culture in the past, especially when he is unable to bring his mother to settle in the states.
When his daughter asks questions about his past, he locks it away, believing he is protecting himself and her from the tyrannical punishments and violence he witnessed in his childhood. But the lack of heritage leaves his daughter Lily feeling rootless and incomplete. In the third generation in this saga, Lily has to discover her heritage and the roots that tie her to her past before she can build a future that is truly her own.
Fu paints vivid pictures of life in China, Taiwan, and the US, giving each setting detail and sensory authenticity. Her greatest success is in her genuine characterization that rings so true. Her characters are strong and flawed, brave and foolish, and real in every aspect. Because she makes us care for her characters, we are invested in their stories.
The pacing of this novel is slow. Some readers may be off-put by its steady, gentle pace, but I found it fitting. The pace is slow, true, but it gives the characters time to bloom, to fail, and to grow.
I have always loved stories set in China during this turbulent period, and Peach Blossom Spring adds a new installment to this collection of literature.

Peach Blossom Spring was a lovely read. It was interesting to follow Renshu and Meilin through their journeys, getting a more personal feel of the recent history of China. I did find the style and shorter sentences to be a bit of a challenge, but the story moved along well.

Peach Blossom Spring is a beautiful, richly written novel of family, culture, history, and love. Spanning a century, the novel tells the story of Meilin, her son Renshu (Henry), and his daughter Lily. Forced to flee their home in China, Meilin and Renshu suffer loss and tragedy before settling in Taiwan. Through their trauma Meilin tells Renshu Chinese folk tales from a beautiful scroll she's taken with her on their journey. Meilin makes sure that Renshu is educated and encourages his travel to the US to complete his education. There Renshu, now Henry, settles, marries and becomes the father of a daughter Lily. Lily, caught between two cultures, wants to hear her father's story, but he never discusses his life in China. The book is a search for where one fits in the world and explores how one's past affects one's future and family. I loved this book.

What a great debut novel. The writing was poetic, soft, and had a quiet vibe. It was nice reading about the subject matter, and as a historical fiction lover, knowing more about a country’s history would always be a plus. I felt empathy towards the characters, it was hard not to. This was without a doubt written with heart; I felt quite sad finishing it.

Full review closer to pub date! To be posted on my blog and Goodreads.

Absorbing intergenerational family saga following a mother, her son, and his daughter from China to Taiwan to the United States. Themes from Chinese folklore are woven throughout, particularly the story "Peach Blossom Spring," in which a man discovers a paradise and must choose whether to remain and never see his home again, or leave and not be able to return.

Meilin flees with her young son Renshu through China, at first escaping Japanese invaders and then civil war between the Nationalists and Communists. With her she carries a precious scroll of illustrated fables, including the title story. When Renshu grows up and studies in the U.S., changing his name to Henry, he faces the same decision to stay and never return. He tries to suppress his connection to China to the point of paranoia and ends up alienating his mixed race daughter Lily, leaving her conflicted about her heritage.

The author paints a vivid picture of China during a time of upheaval and the resettlement of refugees from the mainland in Taiwan. Henry's first generation experiences were presented in an unusual manner, making for an interesting take on the immigrant story. I especially liked the way the themes from the scroll carried through to the end.

An enjoyable and promising debut.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy.

A beautiful written debut from author Melissa Fu. A family saga following three generations through history, starting in China during World War II and ending in more recent times in the United States. It's a book I didn't want to put down. Melissa's descriptions are wonderfully written, you can almost taste the food and smell the surroundings. I highly recommend this book to anyone and especially fans of Lisa See.

I was given a free copy via Netgalley for my honest feedback.

This story was an educational experience. Historical fiction, takes place late 1930's to 2005. Starting in China with the Japanese invasion and what the Chinese families went through to survive, being on the run. To arriving in Taiwan, feeling safe, for awhile, and getting a wonderful education and being accepted at a university in the USA, feeling free, for awhile. This story shares family, love, hardships, betrayal, survival, growth. All of these wonderful feelings. This book was well written. I really enjoyed reading the story.

I read this book in one sitting. Terrific debut novel. I knew very little about the war for independence in China nor about the Japanese bombing in China. Add to that, the escape to Taiwan by many of the Chinese. Felt like a history lesson (but told brilliantly by the author). I was enthralled from beginning to end. A must read for anyone who wants to know more about this period of time.

I had the honor to receive a pre-publication copy of "Peach Blossom Spring". This is a debut novel for Melissa Fu. Debut novels often come with a lot of heart and this book does just that. The novel is a 3 generational family story that begins with the family fleeing through China as the Japanese are invading the country.

The characters in "Peach Blossom Spring" are the greatest part of the novel. Meilin is a mother protecting her son at all cost. Renshu, a young boy just trying to have a childhood under great stress and danger. Around Meilin and Renshu are family members and friends who create a life in times of political unrest and war. There are moments of extreme tragedy and moments of joy.

I found the style of the writing a little hard to get used to at the beginning. The book is written in short sentences which felt like it was about just what happens next. Although, it didn't take long for me to fall into the flow of the story.

Renshu is the center of this book. I learned many things about life while on the run for survival in a country at war. Then how that experience shapes a life in the future and what the experience gives as well as what it takes away.

To me, this book was about motherhood and survival. Then, as the story moves on, it is really about fatherhood and a father being unable to tell his story. Very well done.

I am looking forward to seeing "Peach Blossom Spring" on our bookstore shelves in the Spring!

I loved this book and read in one sitting. It’s different from anything I’ve read before. I feel like a learned a ton about China, culturally and historically. There are lots of stories told throughout that entertain and educate and make the point that everyone lives their own story.

This is historical fiction, but it is so much more. It’s about a family and especially about a mother and her son. It asks big questions like where is home, and what is a parent.

The main character Meilin is a woman to be admired. As a mother myself, my heart broke for all she had to go through to make sure her son stayed safe. She puts him first always. She is strong and smart. Her story of struggle and survival during the War of Aggression and the Civil War while taking care of her son, Rengsu, is compulsive. She is so resourceful and finds her feet after all kinds of horrible events. She contents herself with so little and never complains or expects anything from life. We could all learn a lot from her way of living. In the end, it is she who, from afar, heals the relationship between father and daughter. What a testament to motherly love!

The second part of the book is mostly from Rengsu’s perspective and his integration or lack thereof into American society. The incredible difficulty he has doing so is very telling and the fact that he basically can never let his guard down or even talk about his past is sad. His family life is negatively affected because of his past, and I found this to be heartbreaking to read. This is such a reality for so many new Americans. We have no idea of the stress and trauma that lingers after they have “made it” to America. His daughter Lily is someone many of us can relate to. I felt for his wife, Rachel, as she stuck by him and tried to understand him as best she could. Issues of interracial marriage were still around as late as the 60s and that was a shocking reminder of how America is still experiecing growing pains when it comes to race relations.

The book ends with the third generation, Lily. The difficulty of relating to a parent from another country/culture/time in history is an issue so many of us face. The ending was sweet and sad but it was a lovely, realistic and touching resolution that suggest hope for the future.

I especially appreciated the author’s note which shone a lot of light on the genesis of this novel. It really added to my appreciation of this amazing work.

Melissa Fu is a talented writer whose style is easy to read and whose characters come alive on the page. I wanted to spend more time with Meilin, Rengsu and Lily. Sequel??

Thanks to Melissa Fu, Little Brown and NetGalley for this gift of an early read. I will be talking about this book for a long time as it really is one that sticks with the reader.