5 stars. Jamie Ford does it again. Loved the intergenerational story lines. Ford always gives you something to think about in his books and this was no exception. Beautifully written.

As I have enjoyed all of Jamie Ford’s other novels thus far, I was really happy to get an advance copy of his latest, especially as the plot seemed so intriguing.

I’ve always loved how Ford honors his Chinese heritage through each of his books. This one goes all the way back to the first known Chinese woman to come to America, and imagines her own life as well as the interconnected life experiences of six of her descendants, from the late 1800s into the 2080’s.

Some might have a hard time with a novel that reaches decades into the future, but I didn’t see a problem with it. Ford envisions how the study and application of epigenetics could move forward and embraces it fully.

We know from recent research that trauma can be inherited genetically. We know that the treatment of women, and especially minority women, in America and elsewhere has created much trauma over the centuries. Ford weaves together narratives from these seven women’s lives explaining how each of their lives bears the genetic fingerprint of her ancestors’ experienced trauma. It might sound weird or hard to understand, but it’s really not: even various spiritual traditions that have been around for many centuries acknowledge that trauma can be shared intergenerationally, and that this is part of each human being part of a much greater whole. Native American spiritual ideas, Buddhism, mystical Christianity, and other spiritual practices all have some form of this idea.

Each of the characters experienced glimmers of hope from time to time, only to be mostly shot down and mistreated when it mattered most. It got very sad to think about how awful humans can be toward other humans, yet the reality of the terrible effects of our selfishness and mistreatment of others is all around us.

One thing that struck me was to think about how different so many lives can turn out if but one single kind act is performed or received. How much of a difference to countless future generations can we make just by being decent, patient, and kind? What if we leave unsaid the unkind thoughts we might blurt out in anger? What if we took a few extra seconds to reach out in kindness to a complete stranger? What if instead of passively ignoring injustice, we stood up for the marginalized and made them feel seen, known, and loved? What if we challenged ourselves to love those we deem unloveable? How would this change things not only for whoever that is, but for ourselves as well?

I don’t know how deeply Ford wanted us to ponder these things, but I always feel like a good novel gets one thinking, even way beyond the bounds of the story. With Ford’s appreciation for and inclusion of poetry and poets in this story, I suspect he wants us thinking a lot about some very deep questions that can be inferred from his tale.

I’m no example to humanity of how it ought to be done, but each day I try to be better; I want to understand people better; I want to be more patient; and like some of the characters in Ford’s story, I am trying to (without the aid of fictionalized experimental epigenetic therapy) extend my understanding to my own forebears, to better deal with the traumas I have experienced as well as those of ancestors that I have long “felt” I have inherited (long before I ever heard of epigenetics).

I doubt my soul will get a chance to leave my body and go back and right some wrongs, but I suspect I’m not alone in wishing such a thing were possible. There is a part of the story where one of the characters is somehow able to go back through the lives of each of her foremothers and fix a highly pivotal moment and thereby eliminate some serious trauma and pain, and in doing so, achieve healing for herself, her daughter, and presumably her foremothers. Some might have to suspend their disbelief to appreciate this part of the story, as it seems to imply some sort of spiritual time travel. But I’m okay with it. I’ve often thought that time is largely a human construct and that in the eternities all of what we see as a time spectrum is actually just what “is” (present tense); that outside our human minds’ very narrow capabilities, God’s or the universe’s perspective is just all present, and all things are in it concurrently. So from this sort of cosmic perspective what Ford writes makes sense enough.

Even though much of the story is sad, I do appreciate that Ford has given us his typically hopeful ending. We need to learn from and appreciate the difficult things in life, but we also need hope. Seriously, do we ever need hope.

"The Many Daughters of Afong Moy" is a unique blend of contemporary, historical, and science fiction that delves into the multi-generational experiences a number of Asian American women have gone through, and how they continue to manifest in different forms today. Although there are a number of different characters and settings that are featured, the main focus falls on Dorothy Moy, a Asian American woman in 2040 who previously was the poet laureate. She's long struggled with her mental health and unexplainable dissociative episodes, and they continue to plague her in her relationship with her partner and her young daughter Annabel.

From there, we jump across different perspectives and time periods, all told by a female "Moy" that we come to understand are Dorothy's ancestors. From Afong Moy, a Chinese woman who is forcibly taken from her home and paraded as a spectacle in the United States; to Zoe Moy, a young student in the UK who is forced to come to terms with her own sexuality and how it impacts those around her; to Greta Moy, Dorothy's mother, a successful dating app founder who had her hard work manipulated from her. Despite the numerous plotlines to keep track of, it didn't feel overwhelming, and I appreciated how Jamie Ford was able to tie them in together as he wove each story.

More than anything, I appreciate how distinctly this novel calls out the historical and ongoing trauma that Asian American women have had to face due to their race or gender (and oftentimes, both), and how it can impact the future in concrete and intangible ways. Ford was able to craft distinct voices and characters in each of the chapters he created and utilized the science fiction/futuristic aspects of epigenetics to drive that underlying message home.

I look forward to when this novel is published in August 2022 as it will be a valuable addition to AAPI literature!

A beautifully told story of love and sorrow handed down through generations starting with the first Chinese woman to come to America. Beginning in 1834 With Afong Moy who leads a sad life as a sideshow performer and filtering down to Dorothy in 2045 who attempts to understand her past pain, this is a story of how each generation is overshadowed by trauma from the past. These traumas often feel like a glimpse of deja vu or feeling like you know someone you have never met - a way of seeing life from the shadows or a dream that you can't quite remember clearly. These women endured much and embraced a somewhat different path yet had many similarities. Jamie Ford is so talented in finding something in each character that we can embrace and make a connection. It will come as no surprise how much cruelty humans can inflict upon each other and their equally immense capacity to show compassion. The background for this book, the study of epigenetic inheritance ,is fascinating and Ford provides a wealth of background and reading materials. This will appeal to his many fans as well as readers of Asian historical fiction by Lisa See and Amy Tan. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Like many others, I'd never heard of epigenetics before I read this book. And, I am not quite sure if I understand it now that I am finished — or even exactly how to describe this novel. It is the story of seven women, all of whom are connected to Afong May and suffer from trauma that spans generations. It is told not with any sense of chronology but from the viewpoints of the various characters at different moments in time. Although I really enjoyed Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford, I found it hard to connect to this one in that I found it much too disjointed. Interesting, but too disjointed. Nonetheless, I applaud the author for his creativity!

Generational trauma is rough to read about and experience. This was a hard read for me. I think this would be a great read for a book club consisting of close friends so you’re able to really discuss this story and also your own family issues.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc ebook in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

An interesting mix of characters. Learned something new. ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of The Many Daughters of Afong Moy.

I've never read the author's previous book but the premise of this was intriguing so I went into it with an open mind.

I loved the theme of epigentics and generational trauma, which I've been reading more and more about.

The author takes this growing field in science and describes several women from the same family and how their shared trauma affects the following generation.

My issue was keeping track of all the women and their voices; I soon became confused over who was who and doing what.

I found it hard to like or connect with anyone, though I understood their personal plight and the issues they had to contend with as women of color.

Also, I'm not a fan of romance unless it's essential to the story and the subplot where a 'stranger' from the past and throughout time 'stalking' the main character doesn't sound romantic at all.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to read The Many Daughters of Afong Moy, but it wasn't for me.

Jamie Ford's novels are always on my automatic-read list, and The Many Daughters of Afong Moy did not disappoint.
I really enjoyed the multiple points of view and the way they wove together, giving me lots of food for thought about memory, fate, and mental illness. The only reason this wasn't a five-star read for me was that I didn't find the last 25-50 pages came together quite as satisfyingly as I'd hoped. However, I'll still be recommending the book wholeheartedly.

The Daughters of Afong Moy by Jamie Ford is the perfect book for pure escapism. Ford tackles such an intriguing concept- that of generational trauma and genetic memories. That’s right, he goes there through a compelling and thought-provoking story of, as the title suggests, the many daughters of Afong Moy.

What made me love this book? For starters the premise is so fresh and different. It’s not a story that’s been rewritten repeatedly. It’s risky and bold, and maybe not for everybody, but it certainly worked for this reader.

This story has you thinking about your own memories, where they came from and why you recall them at certain moments. It makes you question the future and the science that will explain more about epigenetic inheritance.

Everything from mental illness, parenting, historical timelines, future timelines, science, dating, weather patterns, experimental therapy, the Flying Tiger nurses and the first Chinese woman to step on US soil is covered in this story. My advice, just dig in and see where you land with it. I found myself googling, exploring and trying to learn more about everything this book had to offer.

This is a hard book to review, as it's very detailed, but at the same time hard to explain without giving away too much of the story.

This wasn't what I was expecting, but that's okay because it turned out to be a great read. I had never heard the term epigenetics before reading this, though I had heard about generational trauma, and those traumas being passed down through our DNA. The way it is weaved throughout the book is compelling, with each woman experiencing the echoes of trauma of those who came before her, even if she doesn't realize it.

I had worried a bit about keeping track of each woman, since the book isn't told in chronological order, but this didn't end up being an issue as each chapter is told by a different woman, and they are all decent length with a lot of depth and characterization. I had a lot of feelings while reading this; I could feel each woman's trauma, and I had a lot of sadness when that trauma was revealed and the chapter ended. Each story kept me intrigued and engrossed in the book; I finished it very quickly once I got into it. The ending was also not what I expected, but I was very happy with it. It gave me a sense of hope - that even though we may experience trauma and sadness in our lives, that things can still turn around for the better.

My favorite read so far of 2022. Reminiscent of A Time Travelers Wife, the stories of the women in this book are beautifully written and woven together. The ending had me staying up late at night to finish it, and I kept thinking about it long after I finished it. Please go read this book! I absolutely loved it. I received a free copy of this book from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The concept behind this book is an intriguing one: Ford writes about several women in the same family, exploring epigenetics as a factor in character behavior. In the main narrative, a doctor seeks to explore patients' epigenetic past through technology, but this only seems to induce additional trauma in the woman who tries it. Epigenetics is a relatively new field, and I felt like the author didn't feel completely comfortable and knowledgable in writing about it. The overlay of romance and the "stranger seeking out" the main characters through time doesn't hold together well, and the result is less than stellar.

A family saga told through the daughters of Afong Moy back through time and propells them into the future. A different type of story as Ford uses eugenics or memories of Dorothy to trace the lives of the other daughters back in time. Ford brings to life these women in their specific time frame along with the men they love and writes like you are there, he is so descriptive. The Chinese heritage is told through a bit of poetry and eastern philosophy. An enjoyable read through these women's eyes.

Wow another great book by this author. I won't say I understood everything that went on in the story, but I was fascinated by the premise of this story.
In this story we follow six ancestors of the Moy family, Faye Moy, a nurse in China , Zoe Moy, a student in England, Lai King Moy, a girl quarantined in San Francisco, Greta Moy, a tech executive, Afong Moy, the first Chinese woman to set foot in America, and Dorothy Moy , the main character in this story.
The story deals with epigenetics, which I don't really understand, even with looking it up, but in the story it seems to be about traumas passes down from one generation to the next. And how that is affecting the main character. Also each generation, seems to have a stranger searching for her in each life.
This is a book one needs to read to figure out for yourself what is going on. I really loved this story which is original and with a great cast of fascinating character to read about. A great piece of Historical Fiction.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for a copy of this book.

This is my first book by Jamie Ford. And all I can say is wow.. I did not know what to expect, and I did not know what I was getting into. This book spoke to me on such a deep level. The trauma the pain that we carry from those who came before us. I feel that and I pray I do not pass that on to my children. The characters in this book or so relatable and so realistic my heart went out to them. I cried with each tragedy. I don’t know that I would say that it was a happy ending, but it was a positive ending it provided hope.

I thought the premise of the book sounded interesting. I’ve always thought if you can share family genes, why not shared memories too.
The book jumps back and forth which I just didn’t care for. For me it just wasn’t interesting enough to keep my interest.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the early copy

I loved this book and think it will be in my top 10 for 2022. I’ve been interested in epigenetics and intergenerational trauma since reading The Body Keeps the Score by Dr Bessel Van De Kolk which, incidentally, the author mentions in his Acknowledgements. Also, I thoroughly enjoyed Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. I was so thrilled to receive an advance copy of this book and thank Atria, the author, and Net Galley profusely.
This book is very ambitious, and, after reading the Author’s Note I was along for the ride. It is a sweeping multigenerational female saga that is based on historical fact. I love to learn something new via fiction and I had never heard of Afong Moy. This book will educate many on the history of Chinese immigrants. I also learned some science, quite a bit about Buddhism, technology, climate change and was introduced to a wonderful educational institution called Summerhill. The Acknowledgements section is a lovely summary of where this all came from with further readings suggested. The author also mentions where he got some of the elements of his plot and quotes.
The book is set up in three acts and the story is told in seven different time periods (1834-2086) by seven women who are all related. I must be honest and say I really appreciated the Dramatis Personae page which I consulted often to determine where each woman fit in the family tree. This is not linear, and the reader must be quite awake to fill in the blanks of the story. I can see how some reviewers found it a bit disorienting, but I thought it made me sit up straight and pay attention, so I didn’t miss anything.
Ford’s writing style borders on the poetic and I will never forget certain descriptions that are so insightful – carbonated hormones being one that comes to mind. Although there are seven characters, I felt like they were all one. I don’t think the author added too many distinguishing features to each woman’s persona. It was like each was a product of her time in history. I loved the concept that if trauma can be inherited why not strong positive characteristics too? Each woman experiences horrific events, and I did have a sense of dread throughout. They were all very strong women but it seemed they got weaker as the generations progressed to the point where our main character doubts her sanity. Ultimately, we return most often to Dorothy and end with her daughter’s story n the future. There is hope! I love the ending. Ford does tie everything up and puts a bow right on there, but we are left with lots of lingering questions and what ifs. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time. The only weak link for me was I did not quite get what the Doctor was doing with all the high-tech medical procedures and medication. I read parts of these scenes twice but to no avail. Maybe that’s the point? We’re not there yet but it’s coming.
Excellent read!

I really enjoyed this book about multiple generations of a woman and how their experiences effect future generations. So much oppression, abuse, love, and intellectual stimulation. Are memories genetically imprinted for offspring? These characters demonstrated that it is certainly possible. While reading I always tried to tie the chapters together, but each one would be interesting, from a historical/future fictional perspective, on their own. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Epic and enlightening! Ford has woven a story of many generations so seamlessly, one is completely in awe of the storytelling alone. BUT the story itself is incredible for the epigenesis throughout the generations of women, it breaks your heart, you root for the daughters of Afong Moy, but the message in the end whops you over the head! This is a MUST read for anyone who loves women's fiction, historical fiction, fiction fiction, you name it.