I wasn't expecting to like this book about a female doctor set in 15th century China as much as I did. This was very well-researched but unlike some of See's other books, the telling of the actual history did not get in the way of the story. The book spans many decades and has many characters but never felt confusing. There is so much to unpack in this book based on a real Chinese woman. It would make an excellent book club choice.

Lady Tan's Circle of Women is the best story I've read in a long while. As always, Lisa See creates a beautiful and heart-wrenching story about Chinese women – their strengths, difficulties and lives. It's a story of Yunxian, a woman in China during the 14th century. A time when women had little rights. Her feet have been bound and it's a pride for the family. At a young age her mother dies, her father is never around and she is sent to live with her grandparents. Her grandmother is a woman doctor and during the time Yunxian lives with her, teaches Yunxian about medicine. Yunxian also learns medicine from being with her friend Meiling, a young girl learning to be a midwife. Yunxian is married to a wealthy family and her mother-in-law doesn't like her practicing medicine or being with her best friend Meiling. Yunxian's life is dictated by her mother-in-law, and it's a strict life.

This story takes many twists and turns throughout the life of the family. There's a mystery in the story that is very intriguing. Life in China during that time period is different for the rich and the poor. MId-wives and doctors have very different roles. Doctors cannot see women in person. Imagine.

Please read this book. It is so good. Yunxian and Melling's life is so enthralling that you will NOT want to put it down. I hated when it ended.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster, Inc. for a chance to read this book. I loved, loved it.

It is always a treat when a new book comes out by Lisa See. To top it off I was lucky to be given an ARC of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, her newest novel coming out June 6, 2023. What I like most about her books are the characters and what I learn historically. This book hit the mark on both these points.

The book is based on the true story of Tan Yunxian a women physician who practiced medicine during the 15th century in China. I had no idea there were women doctors during that time. It was extremely interesting to learn how medicine was practiced then. Also to learn about the differences in the way male and female doctors and midwives practiced medicine was fascinating. During that time it was said that “an educated woman was a worthless woman.” Tan, Meiling and her grandmother proved this statement wrong.

Friendships between women of different classes are made when really not allowed. The bonds made between the women in this book are beautiful. Tan, her grandmother and Meiling are all strong, remarkable women who fight for what they believe in. Their lives are enriched by each other. As in all Lisa See books, I wish I could have met these women in person.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a beautiful story and very well researched. I loved the fictional liberties See took as well to make the story not so clinical. I love all her books!

My thanks to Net Galley and Scribner/ Simon & Schuster for an advanced copy of this e-book.

This is my first book by Lisa See and it is hard to review. I appreciate her extensive research and descriptions of Ancient China in the 15th Century - the history and traditions. It was hard to read about the very descriptive sections on foot binding, childbirth and women's issues, and a patriarchal society where women were so limited by a class system, men and their very painful feet limiting their movement. She was kept in her family's compound never to see the outside world. Even when she was summoned by the Emperor, she had to be transported in a palanquin (a box with no windows carried on poles by 4 men).

What I did enjoy reading about was Lady Tan's life in all four phases: "Milk Days" - her childhood and best friend Meiling; "Hair-Pinning Days" - preparing for her arranged marriage to the "right" man from the "right" family; "Rice-and-Salt Days" - binding her daughter's feet, caring for those in the household, and always subject to her mother-in-law; "Sitting Quietly" - her older years after her children were grown and married. Since she was a well-respected doctor, she continued her work and wrote her own book on her medical treatments.

Although I found this book's history and traditions interesting, it also felt very long and the reading was tedious at times. I wish I was left caring more about the characters than the time period which I was constantly looking up details. Much of the medical and childbirth stories were very descriptive, over so, in my opinion.

I love anything Lisa See writes and this novel was particularly engaging as it is based on a lady doctor in China long ago. It's obvious that a lot of research went into writing it and the back story of how See came to write this book is almost as interesting as the book itself. It's an excellent addition to the genre of historical fiction on China and readers can be assured that though it is fiction, it is fully representative of the time period.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It's another winner from Lisa See!

based on the true story of tan yunxian, chinese physician during the ming dynasty.
lisa see always delivers with the most well-researched, stunning historical fiction about the most badass women. i trust her books will always fully transport me into whatever setting she has chosen, with descriptions so lush i can smell the flowers and see the landscapes being described. i adored learning the ways of traditional chinese medicine alongside yunxian and am in awe of lisa see and her knowledge and writing ability. im incapable of writing a review that’ll do this book justice

The amount of research that goes into Lisa See’s novels is what makes her stories so fascinating. The main characters are always female, yet she presents a male perspective as well, in traditions of the time that I would not have known or perceived. Her descriptions of proper etiquette in relation to family position and social status, homes, clothing, herbalism, food are all researched and accurate, making her stories an enriching entertainment as well as an education. I’m eager to learn more, and have a good Chinese meal.

"I am of infinite worth with my own Divine Mission which I will strive to fulfill." (Unknown)

Without question, this is one of Lisa See's finest novels to date. In her Author's Notes, she shares the very beginnings of her quest to write Lady Tan's Circle of Women. It began during the pandemic when the world was hunkering down. in place. On one of her shelves was a research book on Ancient Chinese Medicine and a particular female doctor's writings. And so it began......


Tan Yunxian came from a long line of doctors, both male and female. It's now the 15th century during the Ming Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Chengua. It is Yunxian's grandmother, Lady Ru, who guides her towards the study of medicine. Yunxian is but eight years old. She has a remarkable gift for associating herbs and concoctions for illness and disease. It is this gift that will remain steadfast throughout her life.

Lady Ru arranges a friendship between Yunxian and the midwife's daughter, Meiling. Although on different rungs of the social stratus, they form a lifelong bond. But it will take them in different directions. Yunxian has been in the grip of an arranged marriage set in motion since she was just a child.

When Yunxian is fifteen years old, she is shipped off to her new husband's home and must remain under his domain and that of his strict mother. Yunxian is told that she can no longer practice medicine. She must now concentrate on producing a male heir to this dynasty. But the result is only daughters. And as expected, she is treated as a failure. When Yunxian intervenes in the care of two ailing high ranking women, she is rewarded with a position at the Forbidden City. And her world will never be the same.

Lisa See creates an eye-opening view into the restrictive world of women in China during this time period. To speak and act freely, without fear and without judgment, is not life's gift to all women. We are fully aware of this in the 21st century. In China, medicine was a male dominated field. Women were treated as fools and men never believed that women had the capacity for more than just childbearing and keeping husbands pleased. Wife or concubine. Women were subjected to malforming their feet while keeping them bound and wrapped to entice husbands.

The story of Tan Yunxian will keep you engaged throught the novel. You will somehow feel a bond with her that threads itself from ancient times to the present. And that circle of women.....it continues to wrap its way through villages, and towns, and jungles, and deserts with the promise that we are ever more the same than we are different.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley for an honest review. My thanks to Simon & Schuster Publishers and to the talented Lisa See for the opportunity.

Based on a true story of a female women doctor in medieval China, this novel revolves around Tan Yunxian. From a young age, Yunxian starts learning medicine from her grandmother, a famed doctor. She also befriends the daughter of a midwife. As the book progresses, you see Yunxian get married, have children, and more, all while trying to follow her heart and be a doctor.

I enjoyed this one. It was interesting to see the old conceptions of medicine. At times Yunxian could be preachy, but she has good character development and I found her to be a compelling protagonist. I will say that the very historical nature of this made the writing a little more stilted than other works from See. However, once you get used to that, the story is really good.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

A Fictional account based on a true history. There were some truly inspiring and sad events.

3.75☆

Books like "Lady Tan's Circle of Women" are why Lisa See is a bestselling author of historical fiction and one of my favorite authors, Her books are always five star reads for me and this one is no exception. In fact, this may be my favorite of Ms. See's books! It truly hit every mark for me. The author's richly detailed writing transported me to mid-1400s China and immersed me in a world dominated by strict tradition. Ms. See's impeccable research breathes life into a time about which I knew little and created realistic and three dimensional characters that I won't soon forget. Yunxian was an easy character to like and I enjoyed following her life as she rebelled against the restraints of tradition to become a person in her own right and not just a pretty thing to be hidden away and enjoyed only by her husband.

Like all of Lisa See's works, this book was educational as well as entertaining, and I am a better person for having read it. Parts of this book were heart wrenching and difficult to read, especially those about foot binding, but the author writes without judgment and invites readers to do the same. I enjoyed learning about traditional Chinese medicine right alongside Yunxian. This book is packed full of mid-1400's Chinese girl power!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the privilege of reading an advanced copy of this captivating book in exchange for my honest review.

thank you so much to the author for providing a netgalley arc of this book for me <3

and thank you for writing this book

i love books about women, written by women
and historical fiction
so i knew that this would be perfect for me

i was so right

it's very much character driven, which i love
you follow our mc through her life

i was never bored
everytime there was something new eventhough you'd think it would become monotonous at some point but it wasn't
i read 60% of this book in one day because it was so entertaining

the mc was so nice, everything she did and thought was perfectly in line with who she was
i was never frustated with her

i loved the chinese medicine part of it, it might be boring to some, but as a history girlie i absolutely loved it
it was very interesting to see how some of these methods have influenced modern medecine

all in all, a beautifully written story about the power of women and friendship, and a magnificient historical testimony to ancient China !

i'll definetely buy a physical copy of this
because it was stunning
and the cover is breath-taking <3

It has been a long time since I read a book that took place in ancient Asia, and in picking this book up, I was immediately reminded of why I love this literary time period so much. Taking place in 15th and 16th century China, this book tells a story of the noble life of the woman who will become Lady Tan. After witnessing first hand the inefficiency of male doctors as dictated by customs, Tan Yunxian begins to study her grandmother and grandfather’s medical practice and prescriptions. As a woman of noble birth, it is not in the cards for her to practice medicine, but as there are many women around her with maladies, she soon finds she cannot avoid it, eventually making a name for herself. This book is about so much more than this, it’s about devout friendship, it’s about the woman’s role in ancient China, it’s about a mother’s love, and it’s about justice. I found it nearly impossible to put down. I loved every minute of it! Thank you to @netgalley @scribnerbooks and to @lisasee_writer for this arc which releases on June 6! #lisasee #ladytanscircleofwomen #womeninmedicine #ancientchina #aapireads

MANY thanks to NetGalley and Scribners for an advance reader of the fabulous book!
I have read several books by Lisa See and have enjoyed them, but this one topped them all. She is always able to transport the reader to another time and place so unlike our own, and this one is no exception. The subject matter, female doctors and midwives in 1400s Imperial China, is as far from 21st century US as it could be, yet See makes it so relatable and relevant. The customs and traditions of ancient China- foot binding, concubines, beliefs about life and death- are very foreign to us, but the interpersonal relationships- parent and child, best friends, husband and wife, wife and mother-in-law are totally relatable.
Tan Yunxian is raised in the wealthy home of her grandparents, and is raised not only to be married out at 15, but also to be "of use," and to follow in her grandmother's role of doctor. She learns about the pillars of Chinese medicine, the 4 examinations- looking, listening, touching, and asking- as she trains to be a female doctor. She is joined in her training by a young midwife-in-training, Meiling, who, despite her much poorer circumstances, becomes her best friend. They vow to be forever friends as children, but when Yunxian is married out, her mother in law forbids them from seeing each other, and demands that Yunxian be a proper wife, doing domestic tasks. Failing to produce the required male heir only causes more of a rift with her mother in law, and ultimately her husband.
Over the years, Yunxian honors her friendship with Meiling and continues to help the women of her family compound, relatives and concubines alike. This story takes on many the many difficulties that both women face as women in a male dominated and tradition ruled society, and their story it both compelling and satisfying. The passages on the medical procedures and the mixtures and cures that are used were fascinating. The fact that there were potions for fertility, miscarriage, abortion, menopause, and others spoke to how contemporary this book felt. Passages about foot binding, concubines and childbirth reminded the reader that this story took place a long time ago, in a very different world.
I loved this book, as I have all of Lisa See's books, and will recommend it highly to everyone I know!

I am a huge fan of Lisa See, with her book The Island of Sea Women being my most recent favorite. Her new book is exceptional, impeccably researched, vivid, and incredibly hard to put down. Similarly to Sea Women, this story centers on the relationship between two women. The book, set in China during the late 1400s/early 1500s, chronicles the friendship between Meiling, a midwife's daughter, and Yunxian Tan, the daughter of an elite family who learns the ancient art of Chinese healing from her Grandmother. I loved how the book was broken up into four parts, mirroring the four parts of a woman's life described in ancient Chinese culture - the milk days, the hair pinning days, the rice-and-salt days, and the sitting quietly days. The author's writing fully immerses the reader in the culture of the time, describing the smells and tortuous custom of foot binding, and depicting what it really was like being a woman during that time - i.e. having a son was the focus of a woman's entire life, or the fact that a male doctor wasn't even allowed to feel the pulse of a woman without layers of cloth separating his hand from her wrist. This was a beautiful book, and I can't recommend it highly enough. Thanks to NetGalley for the early digital copy.

I will read anything written by Lisa See, but this book is hard to digest. I found it very different to her other novels, and in many ways I don't think it measured up. LAN TAN'S CIRCLE OF WOMEN is a fictionalized retelling of Tan Yunxian's life, from childhood to essentially "retirement", and my GOD did I hate the men in this novel. The only one who was a man of any worth was Yunxian's grandfather, but the rest were not made for modern audiences to enjoy. I also found Yunxian herself to be difficult to grasp, as well as many of the other women. While Yunxian could be said to be ahead of her time in many ways, she was of her time in many others, and I found the footbinding elements of the book to be more graphic than what was written of in SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN.

I am glad to not that the friendship betrayal I've come to expect in See's books didn't happen in the way I thought it would, but I thought the murder mystery element was not well-paced, brought up once during the middle of the book and then again fourteen years later and solved in what seemed like a night.

I'm rounding up because Lisa See is a great writer regardless, but this was not what I expected.

I felt that the book had too much medical detail and lacked more of the human connection and relationships that her other books had so much of

As a fan of historical fiction, I always particularly love when a book features a strong female protagonist. As an American woman teaching in China, I love when the setting reflects the places I care most about. As a Lisa See fan who has been disappointed by her recent books, I was hoping that this book would be some sort of a redemption for me. Lady Tan's Circle of Women checked all three boxes... and then some! What a fabulous novel!

I didn't know anything about this time period in Chinese history, and as with many of See's previous novels, I was transported back in time, and learned while taking the ride. Tan Yunxian will be an inspiration for my students. She demonstrates to them that even in the 15th century there were “bad ass” strong women who were smart and savvy and willing to take chances for the things they believed in and people they loved.

Not only are the characters and story wonderful and gorgeously described, the settings are so brilliantly recreated that I wanted to leave my current, fairly modern town and travel to the areas that have preserved many of the Ming dynasty cultural relics.

As a great aside, I have been venturing into the world of Chinese Traditional Medicine over the years, trying it for various ailments where Western medicine either didn’t work, or I didn’t like the side effects. The information I garnered from the novel was enlightening and actually gave me interesting fodder for discussion with my TCM doctor.

I really loved this book and it has restored my faith in one of my most favorite authors!
Thank you to NetGalley and Scribner for the ALC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Thank you NetGalley for the digital arc.

Lisa See captivates with the story of Yunxian Tan. We meet her as a young girl of about 8 years old and not far into the story her mother dies. Yunxian, from an elite or well to do family, goes to live with her grandparents, under the medical tutelage of her grandmother. Yunxian befriends a midwife’s daughter, Meiling, and the story progresses through the years.

I enjoyed this book very much. I’ll try to come back with clear and organized thoughts later but all I can say is I’m not disappointed in the least. I loved the circle of women that supported, trained and shaped Yunxian life. When she understands the priceless value of the gift of various women in her life, she uses that knowledge, medically and other wise, to help many. She becomes Lady Tan in a more complete sense of the word. Spending this time with her in the pages of this book has been time well spent.

Read this one!