4 stars

Equal parts literary fiction, mystery, and character study, The Family Chao is a captivating story that examines intergenerational relationships in an immigrant family in all of its complexity and darkness.

This is not a mystery where reveals are coming a mile a minute, but a slow burn that slowly unravels throughout. Chang sits as the omniscient narrator, switching between the perspectives of the three Chao sons to paint the picture of a dysfunctional family ready to explode. Her writing is both lyrical and biting, creating characters that are deeply flawed and incredibly human. I personally prefer when the mystery has twists that hit harder than the ones in this book did, but there is so much in this book to really sink your teeth into.

Thank you to NetGalley and Recorded Books for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley, Recorded Books, and Alan Samantha Chang for an advance listening copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this multigenerational family story that was dramatic and mysterious all wrapped up in one box. I found it hard to follow all the characters sometimes but once I figured out who everyone was it was much easier. I appreciate the authors ability to write such an eloquent story.

3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

The Family Chao is an effervescent and intriguing novel about the Chao family, who own a Chinese restaurant in Wisconsin. It is a contemporary retelling of The Brothers Karamazov. I haven’t read The Brothers Karamazov, so I may be missing out, but the novel is enjoyable nonetheless. It’s a little confusing at the beginning because so many characters and situations are introduced in a short span of time, but the writing and vibrant sense of place and personalities immediately drew me in. I listened to the audiobook which was well narrated by Brian Nishii.

Thank you W.W. Norton & Company / RB Media and NetGalley for providing this ebook/ audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I listened to the audiobook. It is supposed to be a reimagining of The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I thought it dragged a bit in the beginning. It was pretty much setting up the story. The action picked up the last half of the book. There narrator did a great job creating the different characters adding dimension to the story. Overall, I enjoyed it

The book centers on the Chao family and their restaurant Fine Chao. Serving up Americanized Chinese food, the residents of Haven Wisconsin have dined and loved the establishment for thirty-five years. Big Leo Chao is the head of the household. He is hard on his family and believes wild flowers bloom best among the rocks. His wife Winnie left her husband after their son James went off to school. She is now living a spiritual life as a Buddhist nun. They have three sons: Dagou the restaurants head chef, Ming successful but troubled, and James, a college student.

When the brothers reunite to host their annual Christmas dinner at the restaurant, family tensions rise. The next day Leo Chao is found dead. With Leo’s death viewed as a homicide, the Chao family is the talk of the town. The trial sheds light on possible motives for all three brothers. This kept me guessing who the murderer was until the very end.

Thank you to Netgalley and RB Media for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

I really didn't like this. It had an ok start, but it just kept going downhill from there. I didn't really like any of the characters. Though I haven't read the story that this book is based on, I thought it was obvious where the story was going from the beginning.

Thank you Net Galley for an audio copy of The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang. This was a family drama about a Chinese family in America that has a restaurant. The father is murdured and it goes through the family's perspective on who did it. I had a difficult time with this one. I kept getting lost I feel because of the great many number of characters.