Happy to highlight this new release in “Global Becomes Local” a round-up of new and notable spring AAPI and Asian Heritage Month reads for the Books section of Zoomer magazine. (see column and mini-review at link)

Paper Names is one that will sneak up on you — you start reading this book and then hours later you realize you are completely immersed in the story and can’t put it down. Luo takes readers through a lyrical journey about imperfect characters figuring out how to survive in a world that sometimes feels like it was designed to push them out. We get three different perspectives — Tony, a Chinese-born engineer who takes his family to America in hopes for a better life, his daughter, Tammy who we essentially grow up with and see pursue a career in law, and Oliver, a wealthy, white attorney who becomes close to the family.

One of the most impressive parts of this story is the depth and complexity of these characters. They were imperfect and their relationships were complicated but that’s what made them captivating. I loved reading about the way their lives intertwined and especially loved reading about the relationship between Tammy and her father, Tony. Their love for one another was difficult to understand yet heartbreakingly beautiful and vulnerable. The emotional depth Luo achieves with this relationship is remarkable and one that will stick with me for a long time.

Luo also highlights the struggles that immigrants face when moving to a new country, and the reasons that lead them to come to America. It was an eye-opening experience that really captured the Chine-American experience and made me reflect on the privileges provided to those born within America’s borders.

I am so surprised this was a Debut novel and I can’t wait to see what else Susie Luo comes out with! 4.75 stars

This was SUCH a good read. It follows three people: Tony - a Chinese-born engineer now working as a doorman in NYC, his 9 year old daughter Tammy, and Oliver, a young white lawyer who lives at the NYC building that Tony works at. After a moment of violence, their lives are connected from that point on.

Spanning decades, the narrative jumps between the three characters, and back and forth in time as their story unfolds. It’s a captivating story about immigration, family and what it means to be “American”, and what that “American dream” is. Tony just wants to give his family a better life but the language barrier is making it hard to convey confidence. Oliver has his own dark family secrets that he’s trying to remove himself from while Tammy, as a first-generation American, struggles with balancing her culture while trying to fit in and be equal to her peers. It was really interesting to see that tug of war come through. The way this all plays out is a very compelling story.

Great for fans of Celeste Ng and Jean Kwok.

“𝑾𝒆 𝒄𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒘𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒗𝒆𝒔.”

After attending Harper Collins’ Summer Preview event, and getting to listen to author Susie Luo speak about her debut, I was so excited to get to read this.

This is a gorgeously told story, with three distinct viewpoints: Tony (the Chinese immigrant father), Tammy (his daughter) and Oliver (the white man that befriends their family). Luo's prose highlights the inequalities of being an immigrant, especially in America. It is continually mind blowing to me when I hear stories such as Tony’s (fictional or not fictional); he was the lead mechanical engineer in China, but none of his degrees or awards had followed him across the Atlantic. The fact that Tony had to push to ask to be paid what he was worth and what other colleagues received made me so angry with how immigrants are treated. Tony and his wife have to work twice as hard and settle for half as much for a large portion of their lives in their chosen country. Oliver tries to be a character who makes up for mistakes of the past, through giving of his time and being helpful to the Zhang family (although he has some secrets of his own). All three are well developed, complicated characters who you root for and shake your head at. The story itself is a contemplative one; I figured the opening act of Tony saving Clara would be a much bigger part of the action; there’s more of a focus on the characters and their interactions and feelings versus purposive action.

Paper Names is a story of family, connection, home, immigration and dreams. It’s time-hopping structure may be slightly confusing to some, but overall Luo tells a powerful story of finding yourself in life and the relationships you choose. Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!

PAPER NAMES is the story of Tony, who immigrated to New York from China to give his daughter, Tammy, a better life. Life is not easy for Tony, and the father-daughter relationship he has with Tammy is complex and can be both loving and ugly. Told in multiple POV, including that of white lawyer Oliver, who becomes intersected in Tony & Tammy's lives, this story had layers of sadness, violence, regret, acceptance and love.

This novel was a quick read with short chapters, a fast pace and engaging characters and I really enjoyed the exploration of how family choices have such an impact on the generations next to come. There were some twists that I didn't see coming but they only worked to enhance this intriguing debut.

A novel which looks at a family of first and second generation Chinese Americans through the lenses of family loyalty, identity, and money.

When highly qualified Tongheng and Kuan-yin Zhang emigrated from China to the US, they had to start at the bottom again as Tony and Kim. Tony is driven both by his need to have no restrictions on his potential as well as to open the best of all opportunities for their daughter Tianfei/Tammy. Tony starts as a janitor but it is in his next step up, as a doorman, that he encounters Oliver, a young white lawyer, who will have a catalytic effect on all their lives.

The novel spans decades but does not move in a linear chronology which I found a little confusing (and maybe also unnecessary). The chapters move between third person povs from Tony and Oliver and first person narration from Tammy. Further into the novel we go back to the time when Tongheng and Kuan-yin were in China and get an insight into both Tongheng’s motivation to emigrate and also his relationship with his own father, which later plays out in his relationship with Tammy.

While both Tongheng and Tammy are well-drawn three-dimensional characters, I didn’t feel we were breaking new ground in their story of clashing generations. Oliver is the wild card that brings some originality, and more overt tragedy, into the novel. He is generous with his time, money, and connections for the Zhang family, particularly Tammy, but at the same time has a selfish and self-preserving streak that we only get the occasional peek at until the devastating climax when he has to choose where his loyalties lie.

There’s plenty to like here and the novel is very readable, so while three stars may seem a bit mean it feels just right to me.

Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for the digital review copy.

Paper Names follows a Chinese immigrant family and their struggles to conform to an “American” lifestyle in NYC. Tony, the father, Tammy the young daughter, and Oliver whose perspective makes more sense as the plot churns forward, are the three alternating points-of-view you will hear from. In the beginning, a crime occurs outside of the apartment building where Tony works as a doorman, and his involvement throws him into the spotlight as a hero… which has a ripple effect on their lives and future.

I felt the most compelled by the father’s perspective as he navigates the difficulties of raising his daughter in America so that he could provide her with better opportunities, however this caused such a strain to their relationship which was heartbreaking at times.

There are three perspectives, but I wanted so badly to hear from the mother’s view. Personally, I was not a fan of Oliver, but he is necessary to the story which you will soon see once you read it. The ending is gut wrenching, but it’s a must-read. This story shocked me, infuriated me, and affected me beyond expectations. Paper Names is such a page-turner but it will absolutely move you, especially when it comes to the resilience of their family and the complicated experiences they went through.

Overall, I thought the book was unforgettable and brilliantly well-written. If you love literary fiction, beautiful writing and complicated family dynamics, this one is perfect for you.

Thank you to @hanoversquarepress and @netgalley for my advanced e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

Luo is based in New York City and has a law degree from Cornell. She wrote this, her debut novel, while working as an investment banker. It is a story about the immigrant experience in America and the desire to give your children a better life. Told from three points of view over many years, we meet Tony, Tammy and Oliver. Tony was a head engineer and his wife a doctor in China and they gave that up to emigrate to the USA with their young daughter Tammy. Oliver is an American with family secrets who lives at the high end residence where Tony has become a doorman. When Tony becomes a hero after a violent attack, Oliver enters his family's life and influences it for years. This entertaining and sometimes humorous story is told in jumping time lines, but following it felt easy. It is a great recommendation for fiction readers and I really enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Paper Names.

Paper Names revolves around a Chinese American immigrant family struggling for their piece of the American Dream.

This is a familiar tale if you're an immigrant or a child of immigrants, and technically, we all are.

There were parts of the story I could really relate to as a first generation Asian American, how my parents came to the US for a better life and opportunities for their children,

My biggest issue was what was the main theme of the book.

Identity? Family? Love?

Tony, Kim, and Tammy are familiar archetypes of a Chinese American family; not affectionate, laser focused on grades and improving your social station in life.

First, for me, this wasn't a story between a father and a daughter; Tony has serious anger issues, nor did I ever see true devotion and love between him and Tammy minus a few kind words, and only because they're in the midst of a medical emergency.

Second, the non linear time jumps was confusing, and often times, unnecessary.

I didn't care about Tony or Kim; how they met and when he decided to leave for the US.

They were both unlikable and yet very familiar characters I could relate to.

Maybe that's why I didn't like them. They reminded me of people I know, and in that, the author got their personalities and behaviors right.

I understood Tammy's desire to be as American as she could; dress American, talk American and act American, just at the same time be confused about paying respect to her culture and the sacrifices her parents made for the opportunities she now has.

Third, is this a story about Oliver as a white savior?

Yeah, I can see that, even though he's another stereotype; handsome, brash, with a high powered job hiding a family scandal he's too ashamed to admit but not ashamed enough to deny the perks that come with it.

At the end, he realizes he's no better than the loser family he's been kind of, not really trying to get away from most of his life.

Or, maybe this is a story about how no family is perfect; that we're all trying to adapt and assimilate, to do the best we can in a society that mocks and judges us for our family name, our accent, our reputation, how we dress and how much we make.

The writing was fine, but I had hoped for more depth and interesting characters. I wanted to like this more but I do look forward to see what the author writes next.

From the first chapter I was hooked and I could not put the book down until I finished it within the same day. Every word and sentence is chosen with care, weaving together a beautiful story about a Chinese family that has immigrated to America. The multiple time points give context to every character's actions and decisions, and provides a broader understanding of what it is like to leave your home country to enter one where you are seen as different and treated as such.

As a child of immigrants, this novel opened my eyes to things that I did not realize my parents struggled with when moving to a new country where they did not speak the language. The feeling of "otherness" was so beautifully depicted in Tammy - where you are too "non-American" to fit in with Americans, but too American to fit in with your own heritage. I also learned so much about Chinese culture, which was fascinating to see so clearly compared and contrasted with American culture.

This debut novel is filled with hope, sadness, shock, and love, and I am so excited to hear more from Susie Luo.

Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Hanover Square Press for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!

A powerful debut novel about race, class and a multigenerational Chinese American immigrant family figuring out how to 'live the dream' in Manhattan. At turns moving and shocking in its unexpected ending.

Great on audio narrated by Austin Ku and told from the alternating perspectives of the three main characters (Chinese born engineer, turned doorman Tony, his American born daughter, Tammy, and wealthy, white Oliver who grew up living in the same building as Tony and Tammy).

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for early digital copies and Librofm for an ALC in exchange for my honest review!

Beautifully written debut novel! Luo explores so many different themes in this novel from family, immigrant experiences, privilege, etc. I loved the well-developed characters and the three perspectives the book was told from.

★ARC review!★

This is the story of a Chinese immigrant family who immigrates to NYC in hopes of a more promising life. Their lives cross paths due to an incident that involves Oliver, a lawyer. This story delves into many themes including racism, race relations, whiteness, family secrets, and much more that envelopes the immigrant experience.

I found this to be an emotional, compelling, and educational story for myself and was surprised to see that this is Susie Luo's debut novel. It was a little jumpy and jerky at times due to the story taking place when Tammy is 9 and then through adulthood- but it doesn't change the way I ultimately feel about this book.

★Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Hanover Square Press the opportunity to read an Advanced Copy.★

Fantastic read about navigating both worlds and our generational relationships.

Notable lines:

“For my parents, the journey to America had been a two year-long process that almost wiped out all their savings and sanity. For me, it would cost next to nothing: a few clicks of a button, half of my credit card reward points, and seventeen hours on a plane. It was cruel, how easily I could return . . .”

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

All of the stars for this beautiful DEBUT book by Susie Luo that is told through three perspectives-- a Chinese-born engineer turned NYC doorman, his daughter who strives to meet her father's ever-high expectations, and a lawyer whose family harbors dark secrets and bonds with the other family in a quick and unexpected way. This emotional read will tug at your heartstrings, and the ways in which Luo wove the three storylines is beautifully executed. I particularly appreciated the commentary Luo makes on the immigrant experience through Tony's story. There is just so much messiness in this story, and you can totally see it coming... you want to look away but you just can't!

The audio was an excellent format for those who prefer to listen!

Read if you like:
-Stories about the American dream/immigrant experience
-Chinese-American representation
-Family dramas
-Multiple POVs

When I saw this book described as an intergenerational story of a Chinese-American family, I was hoping for something with the caliber of Amy Tan or Lisa See's work. I was very disappointed. All of these characters fell really flat. Oliver gave me the creeps. I am reading other reviews and wondering if I read the same book as everyone else. The author's writing style was fine, but I wanted more.

Thanks to Hanover Square Press for the copy of this book!

Add Paper Names to your list of must-read books of 2023. I sat down thinking I’d sample a chapter of a few books to see what I’d read next, and ended up reading half of this book instead!

Paper Names is a compelling story of a Chinese-American family (Tony/Tongheng & Kim/Kuan-yin and their daughter, Tammy/Tianfei) and their experiences as immigrants in New York City - one experience which intertwines their family’s lives with that of a privileged white lawyer, Oliver.

Told from the perspectives of Tony, Tammy, and Oliver over decades, we really get a 360-degree look at all the events that unfurl and really get to dig into privilege, family, loyalty, ceilings, and justice. I was so engrossed in this story from the start, but then toward the end - OH MY GOSH - I was getting physically anxious at the events that started unfurling. Throwing in a POV of a white male with a trust fund was genius on Susie Lou’s part. Susie also went through an event from one character’s perspective, then in the next chapter, went over that event from a different character’s POV with a slightly shifted the timeline. It worked so well and is really masterful storytelling - I can’t believe this is a debut!

Read if you:
- read and loved Beautiful Country
- learned how to play It’s All Coming Back to Me Now on the piano in the 90s
- appreciate multiple POVs
- want to learn more about the Chinese-American experience
- want to support a BIPOC debut

this book is leaving me with lots of mixed feelings.

the characters felt like they had tons of promise to be complex, but ultimately felt like they were stereotypes of complex characters. they all fit their molds to a T — the nepo baby/rich white man who believes he is more morally upright than his corrupt family (spoiler: he’s not), the Asian immigrant father who struggles with how american society emasculates & infantilizes him, the Asian american daughter who is so consumed by internalized racism & pressure to fulfill her parents’ american dreams… almost all of their actions, motivations, & characteristics were just so aligned with how these characters are portrayed in every other story that i was disappointed with the lack of depth — even though i saw how the author was trying to complicate them.

they were also super unlikable at times?? they would randomly lash out & just be so so cruel/hurtful in ways that were realistic for their circumstances but were still irredeemable & frustrating to read. they definitely were still very realistic & understandable characters though & i found myself deeply feeling for them.

the plot was good, but def not great. i was intrigued at what was going to happen but i wasn’t *invested* by any means. i was grossed out at the ways some things developed — they felt very.. “women written by a man” even though the author is a woman? idk if i can describe it but so many plot points just felt off-putting to me.

howeverrrr the redeeming quality of this book for me was tongheng (tony)‘s story & inner monologue. like i said, he definitely fits the mold of the Asian immigrant father (all pros & cons included) but i found his thoughts to be the most emotionally compelling. his love for his daughter, his frustration with his circumstances, & his inability to express either of those things were so tragic & i really could see so much real, raw emotion in him.

overall, many mixed feelings on this one!! i’m not sure i’d recommend it over lots of other similar Asian immigrant/children of immigrant stories, but i would definitely be interested in seeing what else susie luo has up her sleeve.

I really enjoyed this story about a Chinese-American family and the path their lives take after a ‘violent incident.’ Not really about the violent incident at all. Just good character drama.

I really enjoyed this family saga. Tammy and Tony in particular were well developed characters and I loved reading about how Chinese culture/American culture shaped each of them. The timelines were jumpy and a little hard to follow, and certain parts of Oliver's story line were jumped over too quickly. But overall, this is a great story about the Zhang family, their move to America and generational trauma.