Wow, heartbreaking, soul searching story about two sisters and what it means to find yourself. I loved the travel, the family dynamics, but man, was this a hard read. It got a bit long winded in the middle for me too, wasn't completely sure we needed the whole travel section, kind of felt like 3 separate books.

This book called to me because it was pitched as being a story about sisters, and as someone with a complicated relationship with their sister, I'm always interested in delving into that subject. Unfortunately this just didn't quite get there for me – some of the characters and storylines fell a little flat, and I didn't feel as invested in their relationship as I'd hoped to. So while I'm not regretting haven't read it – I enjoyed it enough – it missed the mark on what I was hoping it would be.

I feel like this book doesn't get the hype it deserves! I really enjoyed this story. It was full of adventure and hope. I felt really good after reading it! I would recommend!

Beautifully written, deeply moving tale of sisterhood, love, family, and finding oneself. I really enjoyed getting to know Morgan and Riley and their eccentric parents. Wong's' lyrical prose and vivid descriptions of places across the globe made this a truly unique and enjoyable read.

I highlighted this book on my Booktube channel. The video can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/d0yIVLVC22U

The cover immediately called out to me on this one!
This was such a beautiful story! I love the different characters and learning more about their lives and relationships with each other. The symbolism of the kaleidoscope throughout the book is gorgeous as you follow this family with their "rags to riches" story.

While this is completely on me, I did have some trouble with the timeline and the multiple narrator format at different times.
The first half got a bit slow for me at times, but it's worth it for the second half, for sure.
Overall, a super rewarding read!

In order for this book to be successful, I think that the reader must think of it as almost 3 separate books that lead in to each other. The first book is the story of a family building a successful business, of happiness, and then grief. The second is a travel book about India-- its sights, its smells, its sounds, and experiences. I can only assume Cecily Wong has visited there because she made it seem so real. The third is the overcoming of all the secrets that families have and resolving all the lose ends. And in the end gaining knowledge and happiness from all that went on in the first two books. The whole book was a good read, but the India part of the book was outstanding. I would never visit that country without reading this part first!

Karen and Hank Brighton are retail trendsetters. Their rags to riches story started when they opened what seemed to be the first organic grocery store of its kind in Eugene, Oregon in 1993. Their second retail initiative, Kaleidoscope stores, started another trend and bumped them up into being known on a national and international stage. As the book opens, they're living in Manhattan, site of their flagship store, along with their college age daughters, Morgan and Riley. While the sisters are close in age, they couldn't be more different.
The book actually starts with a very dramatic situation between the two sisters. There was never any further discussion of it, so I'm really not sure of the purpose of including it (it could be disturbing to some people). But, keep reading. We then travel through the next several years of the lives of the family members - with some highs, but many lows.
I especially enjoyed the descriptive writing about food and living in NYC - it enabled you to feel the pulse and energy of the city (as well as the urge to sample some of restaurants). Kaleidoscope is the perfect title for this book! With every twist and turn, we seem to see a different side of the Brighton family and the relationships between the parents and the sisters, and between the sisters. The book tackles a number of difficult subjects - family relationships, obsession, and most importantly, grief. While there are some confusing moments, it was overall a nice second novel by Ms. Wong. Thanks to Netgalley and Dutton Books for the opportunity to read Kaleidoscope in exchange for an honest review.

From the moment I read the synopsis of this story, I could not wait to read it. While I don't have a sister, I do love the stories of sisterly bonds - the strengths, the stressors, the management of familial relationships with parents. Adding in the additional layer of cultural expectations and new-wealth opportunities/stressors... and this book is captivating from start-to-end.

What a great book! I love everything by this author and this book was no different! I couldn't put this down and was up all night waiting to see how it ended!

I've given this to a couple of literary book clubs that are run out of my location, but none of them have been overly thrilled with the title.

Morgan and Riley are two sisters who have gone through a lot of life together. Moving from Hawaii to Arizona to New York and helping their parents run a surprisingly successful business, they have been each other's confidantes and companions for much of their childhood. Morgan is the shining star, the one who has an eye for design and is responsible for much of the success of the family business, Kaleidoscope. But she is also generous and compassionate toward her sister, always making her feel loved and included. When the unimaginable happens, Riley must grapple with how to continue moving forward, even though nothing in life will be the same again. As she tries to find a new normal, Riley finds herself on an unexpected journey with an unexpected companion.

Earnest, fresh, and full of youthful exuberance, I thoroughly enjoyed following Riley on this tumultuous ride. I was fascinated by the sisters' half-Chinese identities and the way they grappled with where they belonged. The inner dialogue of Riley's that we are privy to is organic and effortless, and it was easy to get to know this young woman through her innermost thoughts. The way that emotions and grief are conveyed in this book is visceral and unflinching, brandishing every open orifice to be examined by the reader without censorship. The tenuous relationship between mother and daughter is depicted in a bracingly honest way and allowed me to empathize and understand both women's perspectives.
<blockquote>Because what was motherhood, if not a showcase of selflessness, a way to prove yourself worthy of unconditional admiration? The act of growing a human, sacrificing your body, claiming responsibility over whatever came out, for the rest of your life, wilfully loving a difficult child the same as a brilliant one - it was an everlasting, mind-altering act of insanity. Was it so wrong to want this acknowledged, to be appreciated for this tremendous exertion?</blockquote>

There were sections that lagged and weren't pivotal to propelling the story, which took away a half-star from my reading experience. But there were so many insightful and introspective passages on life, death, and the fragile threads that connect us all that made a big impact on me. The structuring of this book was very smart, and the development within and between the characters is intricate and nuanced, artfully done.

Kaleidoscope tells the story of Chinese-American sisters, and their parents dynasty created by opening Kaleidoscope, a store selling imports from India. The first chapter of this book was incredible and not at all what I expected, but after that it went downhill to just your average novel.

Currently taking a break from this book but might try it again later. It just didn’t catch and maintain my interest.

Everybody's heard of the Brightons, they're the epitome of the American Dream. When a tragic accident brings it all crashing down, youngest daughter Riley is left to piece together her idea of her family and how it shaped her.

Ohhh wow. Just, wow. This one was a slow-burner, for sure. But it is so, so worth it. First of all, its pace really gives you a chance to fully appreciate Wong's prose, because it is stunning. It's intimate, and it's emotive and visceral, and just so immediate. She so beautifully pivots between emotions, the entire rhythm of the writing will change to reflect them, so seamlessly. From euphoric and tripping over itself in excitement, to slow and laborious in grief, to stilted in uncertainty and fear of the unknown... it was such a trip, and once you're in it, it's all consuming.
Second of all, the way the pacing of this story was used to explore these characters was extremely satisfying. We begin with what seems like a central and pivotal moment, before returning to the mundane and exploring these characters, and then, suddenly, being hit with the true turning point of the book and watching them deal with the fallout. Up until that point, we think we know these characters, or are at least close to, and that they know themselves. But, as their world is tipped off its axis we see them really, truly settle into themselves (or in some cases maybe lose themselves, but accept it) and it's so satisfying and heartbreaking, yet hopeful.
I also really loved the travelling portion of this, the structure was really fun. The focus and time spent as they set out, everything new and unfamiliar, before gradually devolving into increasingly fleeting snapshots of each new stop on their journey. It really captured the essence of travelling and exploring new cultures, and really has me craving some long term travelling. So good.

If the amount of times I've put 'so' or 'really' before adjectives in this review isn't enough to tell you, let me make it clear; I really, like really, loved this. Like, had to just sit with my thoughts and feelings for a while after finishing, loved it. That is all.

Thank you Dutton and NetGalley for my e-arc of this title, received in exchange for an honest review.

There were so many things in this book that I thought I'd love reading about-the part Chinese family, the travel, etc. I did like the idea of the international and indigenous craft stores named Kaleidoscope, but I didn't care for Riley or James. I found Riley's infatuation with her sister boring and repetitive and her relationship with James to be predictable. I did skip over pages to find out what happened to Morgan, such a freaky accident, and then skipped reading to the end.

After reading a description of Kaleidoscope and seeing the cover, I knew I would like this book. After starting the book and meeting the characters I loved the book. Kaleidoscope is a family story of hope, love and forgiveness.

Hank and Karen live in Oregon they are hardworking couple who own a local grocery store. They pivot and launch their store into a company called Kaleidoscope (similar to today's Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters). Their rags to riches story bring them to New York City to launch their flagship store.

Their daughter Morgan is the first born. She is beautiful, talented and successful. She moves through life with a sort of ease. Riley is the outlier in her family. She is not at ease in her own skin and struggles to learn who she is and how she fits into this world.

I loved this story of sisters, secrets and especially enjoyed following Riley on her journey of self- discovery.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC of this novel.
4.5 stars

I’ve been thinking about this book a lot since I finished it. This is not a light read. The topics are heavy and the relationships are complex.

I loved the New York scenes and could absolutely relate to spending a day walking a city, absorbing all there is to see. As someone who has two younger sisters, there were aspects of the sisterhood-relationship that I struggled with because they were just very different from my own relationships with my sisters. There were other aspects of both the familial and romantic relationships that resonated clearly. I think most readers could find their own experiences somewhere in these pages.

I could see this as a great pick for a more literary-minded book club.

[3.5/5 stars]

KALEIDOSCOPE follows two biracial Chinese American sisters, Riley and Morgan. The Brightons' family has an eclectic store Kaleidoscope where the eldest daughter Morgan is the famous fashion designer.

I went blind in this book and I am glad I did - so I will try to share my thoughts without giving too much away. This is a heartfelt story mainly about sisterhood and family - the two sisters are almost the opposite regarding personalities and Morgan gets all the attention, both within the family and in the press. I loved seeing their co-dependence however Riley was often invisible, living under Morgan's brightness. Wong delivers a genuine look about favoritism between siblings, a sad reality that seems to not have a precise solution.

The story starts as a slow burn but it takes a sharp turn when you least expect. Wong handles themes of family, grief, healing, forgiveness, identity, loyalty and sisterhood. The novel is about complex sister dynamics, yet I thought that it wasn't explored in its nuance and in depth - I enjoyed Riley as a messy character who was carving out a different path but I just needed more of Morgan.

Since Kaleidoscope imports goods from India, it was interesting to learn a bit about Indian colonial history and Indian traditional handcrafts. In an attempt to transport readers to several places, Wong includes all the (food/travel) descriptions but it often felt overdetailed, distracting me from the reading. Having said that, it was delightful to be given a piece of NYC and the book made me want to travel immediately.

Now, what didn't work for me was the parents - the mother is woefully annoying/delusional and her favoritism usually blinds her; I also didn't swallow the often absent father who doesn't make an effort to change things. I found the pacing quite uneven and I was more emotionally engaged towards the end. Lastly, the romance actually didn't convince me and I thought it was too convenient. Despite some cliche scenes, I enjoyed the secrets and revelations in the story as they grabbed my attention and didn't let me go. Having biracial characters, I appreciated that this isn't another novel solely about its complexities.

KALEIDOSCOPE is a moving tale about finding yourself again and reconciliation. Regardless of some complaints, this family drama is worthy a journey.

Cecily Wong has created a truly wonderful read surrounding families and the bonds they share. This book is not action-packed, it's not full of secrets and twists, but it is full of heart and relationships that ebb and flow like the tides, pushing and pulling members in all directions as they each fight to figure out who they are and where they belong in the world.

The way the story is told, in changing perspectives and time frames, was a little confusing at first, but once the stories start coming together it made sense and felt pivotal to the overall projection of the characters.

A truly beautiful family tale that will take you on an emotional journey.