A compelling novel about family and fresh starts featuring three generations of women struggling against loss of home and love.

4.5/5 stars - A shining debut novel by Vietnamese-American author Thao Thai.

Taking place across different periods of time in Vietnam and Florida, "Banyan Moon" fulls a multi-generational family of Vietnamese-American women and the secrets they keep and sacrifices they make for their loved ones. Grandmother Minh passes away, leaving her daughter Hoang and granddaughter Anh to pick up the remnants of their lives. Anh has been estranged from Hoang for many years, growing up under the oversight of her grandmother in the Banyan House, a dated manor that has housed all three generation of women. Her grandmother's passing forces her to return to Florida while simultaneously serving as an escape from her long-time boyfriend Noah and his suffocating family.

We shift through each of these women's perspectives - following Minh's journey from Vietnam (which she retells from the afterlife watching over her lineage), Hoang's experience in America as she's forced to choose between her daughter and an abusive spouse, and Anh's own coming-of-age and entry into motherhood. Each of these storylines is beautifully woven and unique, yet ties to the experiences of the other women in the family, watching as they navigate the perils of motherhood and womanhood, cementing the ties between family. The complex, ever-changing relationship and dynamics between these three women is beautifully described, and feels so real-to-life and relatable; in their moments of anger, weakness, and violence, you can empathize with each one of them and the decisions they make.

I'm incredibly impressed with the writing in this novel, especially given that it's the author's first - it's lyrical and emotional, and at times startlingly poignant in the most unexpected places. It's one of the many reasons I devoured this novel in less than a weekend, and I'm sure many readers will celebrate its publication on June 27, 2023!

"Maybe then she would understand how love cannot possibly be be simple, or easy, despite all the adages to the contrary. When we choose to chisel pieces of our heart away to offer to another person, we must always make decisions. What flaws will we lift to the light? And which will we bury, in the hopes of protecting ourselves and others?"

This is a Vietnamese family’s sweeping saga following them from their lives in Vietnam to America. It is told by Minh (mother of Huong), Huong (mother of Ann) and Ann, within the timeline that ranges from 1960’s to 1990’s. It encompasses the relationships between mothers and daughters and the many secrets that they may or may not share, as well as the consequences for their choices into adulthood. I was very invested in wanting to find out more about each character and what things from their past swayed them ( either positively or negatively) to make the decisions they made as adults. Interestingly, the house Ming resides in in Florida is very much a character in this novel. You’ll have to read to find out about what tales and secrets it tells. Also, the men in the story play a key role in all 3 main characters lives and have varying influences depending on the character.
This story is rich in the descriptions of places each character takes you to. . I was able to get a good visual picture of exactly what was being depicted.
As the story unfolds going deeper and deeper into family history, I found myself wanting to keep reading and turning the pages. The ending was especially thought provoking. I did not want this story to end.
These characters will be remembered for a long time and am looking forward to reading more from Thao Thai

Banyan Moon is the debut novel from Thao Thai, and is a riveting story that focuses on the multigenerational relationships between three Vietnamese American women. The matriarch of the family, Minh, the mother, Huong, and daughter, Ann, all have a voice in the story with alternating chapters and timelines which range from 1960’s Vietnam to current day Florida Gulf Coast. Also featuring prevalently in the story is the dilapidated Florida family mansion, the Banyan House. The women and the house all hold secrets, memories, and regrets. The mother/daughter relationships are tenuous, and the story is a saga of them navigating these relationships, their own romantic relationships, and the unravelling and repair of their tangled familial branches.

I enjoyed the story with the glimpse into the Vietnamese culture and norms, the struggles and humanity of mothers and daughters each doing their best. I look forward to Thao Thai’s future novels.

Thank you to Mariner Books, Netgalley, and Cindy from Thoughts From a Page for arranging the ARC and the author discussion.

Banyan Moon is a lovely intertwining female multi-generational story about the complexities about familial relationships. The three narrators - Ann, her mother Huong and her grandmother Minh beautifully share a non-lineal story through their voices.

Ann learns that her perfect boyfriend has been cheating on her (at the same time she finds out that she is pregnant and that Minh, who raised her, has died). She simultaneously runs towards Banyan House (her childhood home) to bury Minh and to find herself again since the perfect life she has created has also made her forget who she really is. Huong, her flawed mother, is waiting to welcome and reconcile. Through the three women, we learn where their paths have crossed and diverged and how they arrived so far from one another.

I loved this story and the characters. There were a few gaps for me which is why it’s a 4.25 and not a 4.5 star review but I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a wonderful read with strong women characters and a great story. I look forward to the author’s next work – this is a powerful debut!

Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review

I ended up not liking this one as much as I'd hoped. I loved Minh's story the best I think, especially when she remained in the story after her death. I loved her relationship with the Banyan House, and the writing overall was absolutely gorgeous. But I found Huong and Ann to be ridiculously annoying and unlikeable, making weird choices throughout. I think they were written as unlikeable on purpose, to an extent, but I think the actual effect was a bit too heavy-handed.

Not the sweeping multi-generational tale I was expecting, but I did still like the Vietnamese folklore included throughout, the beautiful writing, and the overall feminist themes.

Banyan Moon is a touching novel about motherhood, love, grief, and the long-lasting impact of the decisions we make and the secrets we keep. The novel follows three generations of Vietnamese American women in the aftermath of the death of the matriarch, Minh. Secrets emerge when Ann and her mother, Huơng, jointly inherit the Banyan House, Ann’s childhood home. Thao Thai’s writing is stunning, and she weaves a beautiful, multiple-POV immersive story that slowly and satisfyingly peels back the layers of history and its decades of buried truths.

"The past reminds me of a fun house full of mirrors. If I turn the right way, I can see the reflection of a younger version of me, one who believed in the wholeness of love, with her sweetly tied aprons, her modest shopping bags. One standing unknowingly on the precipice of her future. The things I could tell her. The warnings I would give." Thao Thai's debut novel Banyan Moon is appearing on many summer reading guides and for good reason. This novel follows the Tran woman, three generations of Vietnamese- Americans and we see how complicated love, life and death can be and how it is not always easy to freely share all that life has handed you. After the matriarch of the family, Minh, immigrates to the US from Vietnam she lives in the Banyan House, located in Florida, this is home to her daughter, Huong, and her granddaughter Ann. Banyan House is a character of its own in the novel. This is a novel about family, strength, shame, forgiveness, and grief. All hard topics but I flew through this novel, always ready to get back to this family. Thank you to Cindy Barnett at Thoughts from a Page podcast and Netgalley for the early reads net galley. Five Stars.

Banyan Moon is a fantastic debut novel about a generational Vietnamese family told by multiple POVs. This book was beautifully written, full of wisdom, history, family drama, mother/daughter relationships, grief, buried secrets and more.

Amazon book description: When Ann Tran gets the call that her fiercely beloved grandmother, Minh, has passed away, her life is already at a crossroads. In the years since she’s last seen Minh, Ann has built a seemingly perfect life—a beautiful lake house, a charming professor boyfriend, and invites to elegant parties that bubble over with champagne and good taste—but it all crumbles with one positive pregnancy test. With both her relationship and carefully planned future now in question, Ann returns home to Florida to face her estranged mother, Huơng.

Author Thao Thai weaves a beautiful mother/daughter story…that made me reflect on my own relationships with my late grandmother, mother and three daughters. I also enjoyed learning about the intricacies of the Banyan Tree conducting my own research wanting to learn more. The cover is absolutely amazing and I love how Thao Thai says the branches represent the tangled lives of the family. I look forward to reading future books by Thao.

I received an advanced electronic (eARC) copy from @thoughtsfromapage Patreon Community Early Reads Program. Thank you to Cindy Burnett and publisher Mariner Books. I appreciated the opportunity to preview this book.

I love Banyan trees. They are my absolute favorite tree. They live for hundreds of years and they grow aerial roots that grow downward strengthening the tree as they merge into the primary trunk. They are a wonder to behold!

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai is a wonderful book about three generations of Vietnamese women who also put down roots strengthening their family and their bond. Minh, the grandmother, has just died but her spirit is still very much present. Through her recollection, she tells her story of living through the Vietnam war and immigrating to the US where she raises her children.

Huong, born in Vietnam but raised in the US, balances tradition with American customs. And Ann, her daughter, discovers that her grandmother hid secrets that may complicate her and Huong’s already complicated relationship.

I am learning that I love a Vietnamese immigrant story. I love how these mothers love their children, and I’m fascinated by the struggles each generation has as they try to honor their heritage while living more as an American in a culture where they seemingly don’t fully fit in.

I truly enjoyed Banyan Moon and I look forward to more by Thao Thai. Thank you to Cindy Burnett at @thoughtsfromapage podcast and @marinerbooks for the advanced e-copy of #banyanmoon. I’m looking forward to hearing @thao_writes discuss her beautiful book later this week!

This book is available everywhere on June 27, 2023. Be sure to look for it wherever you get books!

Banyon Moon is ultimately the story of three generations of women who have complicated relationships with each other and who have disclosed only partial versions of themselves to each other. At one point, one of them states "Truth is like an onion." Isn't this the experience of families? Truth can be one person's perspective or can be a version of what we tell the world, but there can be so many layers underneath. The book is told from three perspectives - of the grandmother who is a ghost remembering her life in Vietnam, her daughter now in her 50's remembers her life with her husband when they first married, and Ann the granddaughter dealing with being back at home in the Banyon House missing her grandmother and thinking about choices she must make about the future. Banyon House is the center of it all with the dust and layers of history to unpack. I enjoyed the book, despite there being some loose ends, but ultimately I will be thinking about these women for a long time.

Thanks to the publisher for an early ARC of the book.

Heart-wrenching book about three generations of women just trying to do their best, and oftening failing in the eyes of their family. Lover the complexity of the characters and the tension in their relationships.

Thank you Mariner Books and NetGalley for this advance copy. I enjoyed the author’s gorgeous prose and I was invested in the complexities of the mother daughter relationship dynamic, but the pacing felt a bit drawn out. I liked the alternating chapter perspectives, but Ann came across a little flat in comparison to Huong and Minh. A promising debut with an absolutely stunning cover!

In the shade of a Florida Banyan tree lies a home that has seen the sacrifices and shortcomings of three generations of Vietnamese American women. This own voices debut is told in alternating perspectives from Min, the matriarch from Vietnam, her daughter Huong, and adult granddaughter Ann.

After Mihn passes away, Huang and Ann are left to reckon with their strained relationship for the first time. This is a story about regret and forgiveness, navigating grief, and finding the strength and soft heart needed to begin again. I love the way Thao Tai captured the fortitude of women, ties that bind, and the beauty and nuances of imperfect relationships.

The house and Banyan tree was a living, breathing, character in itself. This character-driven story brims with lyrical writing and symbolism and would make for a compelling book club discussion.

RATING: 4/5
PUB DATE: June 27, 2023

I like this incredibly immersive story of three vitamese women . It was a good multi generational story much like Pachinko and felt it had engaging characters . It also had a good sense of place
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book

Banyan Moon tells the story of three generations of Vietnamese American women, their challenges and the secrets that they’ve kept from each other. This novel by Thao Thai has a strong sense of place and well developed characters. I really enjoyed it!

Ann’s life is upended upon learning of her longtime boyfriend’s unfaithfulness, her unexpected pregnancy, and her beloved grandmother’s death in short succession. Returning to her childhood home for the funeral, can Ann heal her strained relationship with her mother in order to rebuild her life and provide her child with a nurturing environment? With “Banyan Moon,” Thao Thai crafts a character study that plumbs the meaning of selfhood and motherhood.

“Banyan Moon” left me underwhelmed for several reasons. (1) While the central female characters exhibit nuance, the supporting characters often felt flat, straining the novel’s credibility. (2) Some of the backstory is not fleshed out so that readers are not completely sure of characters’ motivations. (3) The book didn’t have enough narrative tension. Despite these reservations, I’m sure readers who have more connections with the protagonists (immigrant experiences, single motherhood) may connect more closely with the narrative and overlook some of my concerns. The novel has moments of lyricism and insight, but not enough to keep me rapt or to make this novel memorable.

First, I must say that I had the most wonderful reading experience each time I picked up Banyan Moon by Thao Thai. I wanted to savor it while also eagerly pushing forward to find out what happened next in the lives of Thai’s characters. Her writing is beautiful - descriptive, heartfelt and piercing. The three women at the heart of the novel are complex, occasionally unlikeable, and very real. And the relationships they have with each other and the various men in their lives (husbands, fathers, brothers) are equally complex. I truly enjoyed reading this book.

So, why not 5 stars? There were a few nagging holes, choices the author made, and inconsistencies that I just couldn’t reconcile or get behind. Most of these were near the end, which brought my rating down. But I still recommend this book and think anyone who likes complex family stories will really enjoy this one.

Exquisite writing and storytelling. My comments of this beautiful novel will not do it justice. The story was just so immersive. The novel follows three generations of women: Minh, Ann, and Huong. I enjoyed each character equally and did not feel like the POVs were too much despite having three of them. All three women were such strong characters, and despite their issues, had redeeming qualities. They wanted a better life for their children, and endured ample heartbreak and hardships along the way (some trigger warnings: domestic violence, death, child abuse). I teared up through this novel, which is rare for me. This was such an amazing debut novel. Highly recommend, especially if you love:
-strong characters
-some historical fiction elements
-huge sense of place; I felt like their family home was a character itself
-beautiful writing
-unputdownable novel
I give this novel a 5/5.
Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for providing me an advanced reader's copy.

Banyan Moon by Thao Thai is the story of three generations of Vietnamese American women. Their secret-filled lives take them on a journey leading them to the Banyan House. The Banyan House - it saves lives, and it takes them away.

Ann Tran learns that her grandmother has passed away. She's in the midst of a crisis of her own.

Huơng is devastated about losing her mother and excited about gaining a daughter. Ann and Huơng have a past.

It's all tied to Minh. The origin story. A story of love and hardship.

The women must face the past to move forward.

Sometimes it's better to secrets die.

I enjoyed this story about complicated decisions. Life is hard. People have the best intentions. What we'll do to survive is what this story is about.