A snowy Christmas eve, when the Family Chao’s dog Alf disappears, is when things finally completely unravel for Leo and Minnie Chao and their three sons, William, Ming and James. Leo’s murder, which drives much of the plot, happens exactly at the halfway point. While the crime is intriguing, the novel’s focus on the forcedly insular Chao family, struggling to make it in an all-white Wisconsin town, is the real highlight. The otherization of the Chaos–Chang refers to the children’s fable, The Five Chinese Brothers, as an analogous situation–combined with classic relationship dysfunction, turns out to be a volatile combination.

It's so hard to objectively rate a book when you don't like most of the characters in it. That's my dilemma with this book about a Chinese immigrant family in Wisconsin that owns a Chinese restaurant - I didn't like the characters so is that clouding my whole judgement of this book? I also know nothing about The Brothers Karamazov which this is supposed to be a modern retelling of so I can't judge it on how well Chang pulls that off either. It would probably be worthy of a book club discussion though as it's always fun and easy to talk about characters that you don't like and there's some great insights about race to discuss as well.

[Note to Publisher: Thank you for the ARC! This review will be posted to Instagram @movedbyprose on publication day, February 1, 2022]

The Family Chao is described as a literary mystery revolving around a Chinese-American family in the small town of Haven, Wisconsin. While this book is an immigrant story, don't expect the typical feel-good characters and ending; none of the characters are likable and female characters are subject to the male gaze. That being said, The Family Chao stands out as an important addition to Asian-American literature because of the important questions it raises about long-term assimilation into American society.

The Chao brothers represent the multifaceted experiences of immigrants. For example, The Family Chao confronts the model minority stereotype through the portrayal of Dagou as reckless and unsuccessful. Ming, on the other hand, vehemently refuses to date Asian women, which speaks to internalized racism. Towards the end of the book, following the deaths of Leo and Winnie Chao, there's some pondering about what makes an immigrant family and whether their status as an immigrant family changes with the death of loved ones who immigrated to America.

In the end, I have mixed feelings about The Family Chao. I liked the unsettling atmosphere Chang created and the pressing questions it asks, but I wanted more nuance to the characters beyond their lust, which was repeated one too many times in the book in my opinion. If you're an avid reader of murder mysteries, I think you'll love this one!

"The residents of Haven, Wisconsin, have dined on the Fine Chao restaurant’s delicious Americanized Chinese food for thirty-five years, content to ignore any unsavory whispers about the family owners. Whether or not Big Leo Chao is honest, or his wife, Winnie, is happy, their food tastes good and their three sons earned scholarships to respectable colleges. But when the brothers reunite in Haven, the Chao family’s secrets and simmering resentments erupt at last.

Before long, brash, charismatic, and tyrannical patriarch Leo is found dead - presumed murdered - and his sons find they’ve drawn the exacting gaze of the entire town. The ensuing trial brings to light potential motives for all three brothers: Dagou, the restaurant’s reckless head chef; Ming, financially successful but personally tortured; and the youngest, gentle but lost college student James. As the spotlight on the brothers tightens - and the family dog meets an unexpected fate - Dagou, Ming, and James must reckon with the legacy of their father’s outsized appetites and their own future survival.

Brimming with heartbreak, comedy, and suspense, The Family Chao offers a kaleidoscopic, highly entertaining portrait of a Chinese American family grappling with the dark undercurrents of a seemingly pleasant small town."

Gotta give it up for books set in my home state of Wisconsin, dark undercurrents and all!

I honestly found it hard to get into this book due to the author’s writing style. It wasn’t the right fit for me, but I could see this being a great book for a lot of readers.

At its roots this is a story about a Chinese American family and the experience of growing up in America as an immigrant. This as packed with family dynamics and nuances that we can all relate to or appreciate, and there is an added layer of murder about halfway through the book.

Overall this was too slow of a burn for me. I had trouble connecting with the characters and caring about the family. I think it’s a book that many will enjoy, though, especially those who have realities very different from that of the Family Chao.

Thank you to Netgallery for the ARC. The Family Chao will be out 2/1/22.

I look forward to recommending this book to readers who love murder mysteries, but want something that goes well beyond genre formula fiction.

Probably more of a 3.5 but I’m not in the mood tor round it up.

I’m very impulsive when it comes to books and can’t always stop myself from going on a netgalley requesting spree. But that’s how I ended up with this book which is a mix of genres, most of which I don’t read often and probably can’t appreciate even if written well.

First things first, I didn’t even realize this was a retelling of The Brothers Karamazov but I can’t comment on that part because I have no clue about the source material. Other than that, this book is a mix of litfic, thriller and family drama. The writing was engaging enough because I really didn’t put it down much once I started. But it was also pretty slow paced for most of the book and I had many moments of frustration - both at what wasn’t happening and the characters’ actions. I do have to commend the author for capturing a dysfunctional Asian American household with such clarity - the disparity between expectations of the parents and the ideas of the children, navigating the otherness of living in a majority white American small town, the bullying, the fetishizing, the identity crisis, cheating, greed, mental health issues, abandonment - the author touches on many aspects as the story goes by and most of it felt authentic, not just surface level. But that’s where I think whatever I liked about the book ended. There was quite a bit of emphasis on the sexual capabilities and desires of the men of the Chao family and whether it was the writing, or just my gradual understanding of my own asexuality, I felt very uncomfortable reading those parts of the story.

I also just couldn’t like the characters. I agree that characters don’t have to be likeable for a reader to enjoy a book, but maybe I’m not that objective of a reader. Firstly, the patriarch of the Chao family, Leo is a greedy cheater of a husband and an abusive father and I hated him a lot. His wife Winnie is a typical Asian wife and mom who dedicates her life to her husband, children and their work, despite all the issues - I sympathized with her predicament but it also reminded me too much of real life which I wasn’t ready for. Their three sons Dagou, Ming and James are products of their upbringing and environment, not always sure of what is it they want and how to move forward with their lives outside of their father’s sphere of influence. Brenda was someone I was apprehensive about but I loved her character arc. Katherine was very loyal and maybe too clingy and I didn’t understand her need to be close to Dagou and the family. There were quite a few other side characters who were small but noticeable presences and I found them all together to be a fascinating and diverse community.

Overall, I think this was an engaging, if slow paced read that you might like if you are in the right mood for it. The mystery doesn’t start until more than halfway through though, so if you are looking for an out and out thriller, this isn’t it. But I liked how the author kept us from guessing the true culprit until she revealed it herself and it was quite a revelation. However, it was a decent family drama which shows the unexpected dark side of immigrant family dynamics and if that’s your jam, so pick this up. But despite it all, this book just wasn’t for me. Maybe I should reaffirm my commitment to not reading contemporaries so that I don’t judge them unfairly due to my personal hang ups.

I really loved this book. Chinese-American family drama, wonderful descriptions of food, a murder mystery in the 2nd half. It's so detailed and engaging. Some Succession vibes, as well as Big Night, a little quirky in spots,...it's just a really wonderful story.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

When I requested The Family Chao from NetGalley, I saw that a family-owned restaurant was a central component of the story, and I was sold. However, this book will do so much more than make you hungry (and believe me, it will). The plot is a clever retelling of The Brothers Karamazov by Dostoyevsky and contains many of the elements I love that are so prevalent in Russian literature.

As the title suggests, the book focused on the Chao family and specifically on Mr. and Mrs. Chao's three adults sons. William "Dagou" was the oldest - a hard worker that put his heart and soul into the family's restaurant but was in need of some recognition, guidance, and money. Ming was the second-born and the most successful sibling with his own set of issues. James was the youngest and acted as the book's moral compass, even though he often felt lost.

After the suspicious death of their father, each son was put to the test and had to deal with changing circumstances. I enjoyed the trial portion of the story and was curious to find out how the jury of their American peers would view this Asian-American family.

This novel had a little bit of everything in it from cultural identities, interracial relationships, white collar vs. blue collar professions, and yes, marvelous, decadent descriptions of food. This is definitely a book to put on your radar!

Lan Samantha Chang's The Family Chao offers readers an engaging cross-genre experience. It's a mystery; it's a generational story; it's an immigrant tale; it's both a comedy and a tragedy. Pretty much none of this book's characters are completely likeable (I'll make an exception for the mom, Winnie), but most of them are likeable enough that we enjoy watching the different directions in which their impulses direct them.

In a mostly white Wisconsin town Fine Chao Restaurant is the go-to place for Chinese food. First-generation immigrant father Leo Chao is a bully, determined to diminish all those around him. His sons Dagou, Ming, and James are all torn between the desire to support the family and its business and to remain as far away as possible from Leo. So, when Leo Chao dies on Christmas Eve, locked into a cold-storage room after an annual family party, there are three good suspects.

The Family Chao follows the arrest and trial of one of the sons, but keeps readers guessing about what role each of the three may have played in Leo's demise. A truly mysterious mystery (you won't guess whodunnit), this title gives readers a great many satisfactions along the way.

I received a free electronic review title of this title from the publisher; the opinions are my own.

QUICK TAKE: I loved this multigenerational family story that felt reminiscent of Succession in a Chinese restaurant in...Wisconsin. Each character has their own well-written and grounded story, and the mystery surrounding who killed the patriarch gives the back half of the book an interesting, suspenseful hook (and there's some fun playing around with narrative devices). For sure one of my favorites of the year!

A "gripping literary mystery..." Yes, Please! The Family Chao narrative revolves around the Fine Chao Restaurant - an Americanized Chinese Food restaurant located in Wisconsin for over 35 years. Modeled on the "The Brothers Karamazov (Dostoevsky), this story focuses on the patriarch, Leo Chao rules his family of three boys with an iron fist sharp tongue.

The three sons have taken different paths as 2nd generation Chinese Americans and their relationship to their father mirrors the famous Karamazov novel. The first half of the novel sets the scene and introduces all of the characters: neighbors, relatives, nuns, restaurant workers, romantic interests and enemies. It's not until the second half that a murder occurs and the mystery needs to be solved.

The real story of this book, in my opinion, is how to happily be American as each character expresses their aspirations and grasps at the future. If you like literary novels such as The Brothers Karamazov, generational family tales, small town complexities, literary mysteries, you will surely love this book. There is something in it for everyone. #NetGalley #TheFamilyChao #WWNortonPublishing

This story of the immigrant experience of a Chinese family in the midwest was well-written and moving for me. It made me realize how much of culture is ingrained in the adult sons even though they try to live an Americanized life. The prejudice that the sons experienced growing up was portrayed well. I enjoyed the scenes describing the food cooked at the family restaurant, food being such an important part of Chinese culture.

Thank you to W. W. Norton & Company and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang is anazing Chinese-American novel that will appeal to fans of Family Trust by Kathy Wang and Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng. The story involves a family Chinese restaurant in Haven, Wisconsin, which is run by patriarch Leo Chao, and his three sons. All is not well in the family though. The sons each have complicated relationships, and none of them particularly like their father. Then, Leo Chao turns up dead. Did one of his sons kill him?

Here is a lovely excerpt from an opening chapter:

"For thirty-five years, everyone supported Leo Chao's restaurant. Introducing choosy newcomers by showing off some real Chinese food in Haven, Wisconsin. Bringing children, parents, grandparents not wanting to dine out with the Americans, not wanting to think about which fork to use. You could say the manifold tensions of life in the new country - the focus on the future, tracking incremental gains and losses - were relieved by the Fine Chao. Sitting down under the dusty red lanterns, gazing at Leo's latest calendar with the limp-haired Taiwanese sylphs that Winnie hated so much, waiting for supper, everyone felt calm. In dark times, when you're feeling homesick or defeated, there is really nothing like a good, steaming soup, and dumplings made from scratch."

Overall, The Family Chao is a stunning work of literary fiction that is at times, suspenseful and, at times, humorous. One highlight of this book is that this is an #ownvoices book by a Chinese-American author. As a reader of Chinese descent, I am so happy to support this author! I hope that more works by authors of Chinese descent will be published. There were many moments where I related to the family described in the book. Also, I hope that this book will educate some people about the experiences of Chinese-Americans in America. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of #ownvoices novels, I highly recommend that you check out this book when it comes out in February!

Slow burn but enjoyable. It picked up much more after the halfway mark. I enjoyed a look at the perspective of an immigrant family, and running a business, as well as the family drama. Overall a good read.

I wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise of the book was very promising. I was expecting a Succession type mystery. Instead I felt like this was a little too one note for my taste. It was more of a slow burn.

There is a lot to unpack in the novel about family, identity, family expectations. I did enjoy learning more about the characters but I needed more to be fully invested. I need more flashbacks or a better understanding of all of the family dynamics. The point of view was not always linear and it was at times hard to keep track of what was happening now and what had happened earlier.

I did enjoy the second part of the book more. I was expecting the pacing of the book to be quicker but it did drag along at certain times.

I did feel for the characters and connected with James the most.Overall it was a solid read but it did not leave me fulfilled, I wanted more from the plot and the characters.
If you enjoy a slow burn family drama with a dose of murder, you will enjoy this novel.

Lan Samantha Chang’s The Family Chao revolves around a Chinese American immigrant family settled in Haven, Wisconsin who own and operate Fine Chao , a Chinese restaurant serving the local community for thirty five years.
Leo Chao , the patriarch ,is a domineering figure who is generally disliked and is just barely tolerated by his family and the community . Winnie, his wife , left him after their youngest son left for college and having forsaken all worldly possessions is now a Buddhist nun in living in the Spiritual House within their community . Her sons remain in close contact with her and love her dearly . Of the three sons William (Dagou) , Ming, and James –“ the handsome son, the accomplished son, and the good son”, Dagou, once an aspiring musician without much success, had returned to help his father when their mother had fallen ill six year ago and now works with his father as a cook in the family restaurant and has a complicated love life. He is target of constant bullying and berating from his father, tensions compounding when he demands to be made partner in the family business as promised previously. Ming, the middle child and most successful of Leo’s sons chooses to distance himself as far as possible from his father and the community in which he has always felt like an outsider. Academically accomplished, he pursues a life of affluence in Manhattan. Growing up Chinese American in a predominantly white community, his childhood experiences coupled with his father’s abrasiveness leave him struggling with feelings of self-loathing and a general feeling of disconnect from his community. James, the youngest is a kind hearted and sensitive premed student. He looks up to his brothers and is fiercely loyal. The brothers join their father and their family dog Alf during Christmas right before the family is to host the annual Christmas dinner at their restaurant. What follows is a tense and confrontational family reunion with pent up resentments, secrets and deception bubbling to the surface of what was already a fractured, complicated and dysfunctional family dynamic.
Leo Chang dies after being locked in the freezer in his restaurant and his body is discovered the day after the party. The presumed murder puts the restaurant and family members in the spotlight. Subject to hushed speculations, open suspicion and public scrutiny, the family must answer questions raised not only among themselves but by their own community of friends and fellow immigrants and in the eyes of law. Complicating matters further is a missing bag of money, the life savings of a dead man whose family is searching for it and that was mistakenly picked up by James who tried to administer CPR to save this man’s life when he collapsed at Union Station .
The story combines family drama, mystery and dark humor and explores themes of ambition, family, loyalty, mental health, spirituality , cultural identity, racial stereotyping and immigrant assimilation. The first half of the book is slower in pace, building up to the death of Leo Chao. The author’s sensitive yet insightful portrayal of second generation immigrant experiences and the struggles associated with conflicting expectations and cross cultural identity is commendable. The second half is relatively fast paced describing the subsequent trial and unraveling of the mystery . The novel is described as a retelling of a Russian classic, but I would say that on its very own , The Family Chao is a very well structured , engaging and enjoyable literary mystery.
Thanks to NetGalley and W.W. Norton & Company for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Family Chao is the story of an immigrant family with three sons who have run a restaurant in Haven, Wisconsin . After the annual Christmas party at the restaurant, the father is found frozen to death in the walk in freezer - an accident or murder? The relationships of the sons and father are revealed, as well as the brothers' relationships with each other. Each had their own expectations of what their life would be like. It reveals how the family is perceived by the small Chinese community, and that despite the number of years in Haven, they are still considered outsiders.
Honest portrayal of what immigrant families endure in their struggle to survive in a foreign land where they are always considered to be outsiders.
Thanks to NetGalley for a copy.

A fantastic read that drew me in to the family the Chinese restaurant the town.. The authors writing her characters truly come alive.With a nod to Dostoyevsky get ready to enter the messy family known as the Chaos.#netgalley #w.w.Norton

This was an absolutely fantastic book. This is a truly Shakespearean family drama, and the Dostoyevsky influence is clearly there, but it's fresh and original all the same. I cannot wait for this to come out and win all kinds of awards, and the inevitable movie that will be made of it. It was a bit slow or meditative in the first half, but all of the set-up is necessary for the compelling dominoes that occur in the second. I'd recommend this to anyone.