ahhhh this one!

A lot of early reviews say that the main complaint is that no one is likable. Of course they aren't! We've got a guy who we can't truly figure out, a surly teen and her drunk of a mother as our cast. Even to the untrained eye this is not a cast that would be viewed as "likable" from the start. Alva, our surly teen, is truly a brat and to see her POV reminds me what its like to be 16 again.

Second thing: all the reviews I read say "something happens to Alva and it made the rest of the book hard to read," Unfortunately I read reviews before I started so I kept waiting for the shoe to drop - and honestly, if you read a lot of books what you see won't bother you and it TRULY IS NOT anything like the scene in the Kite Runner. It didn't taint my reading of the book and I do think it touched on a particular sort of topic.

All said and done, it was good. It wasn't, to me, a standout hit, but it was good enough (especially in the beginning) for me to report to my friends that I was reading it and enjoying.

2007 Shanghai: At 14-years-old, Alva wants more than the life her American expat mother has given her. She doesn’t know who her Chinese father is and wishes to live in America. When her mother gets engaged to a wealthy Chinese man, Alva knows her dreams of moving are dead. She turns her focus to getting admission to the American School in Shanghai, though she soon finds that the exclusive expat community is far different from what she expected.
1985 Qingdao: Working in a shipping yard in a lowly clerk position, Lu Fang’s young married life is altered when he meets an American woman who causes his to question his life status.

RIVER EAST, RIVER WEST was a captivating historical fiction novel that explored family drama, coming-of-age, cultural identity, race, class, and the American Dream in beautifully evocative writing. I loved the dual timeline which alternated the narrative between Lu Fang and Alva. The characters were well developed and the settings immersive. So much emotion was wrapped up in this often-poignant story. The ending was satisfying, yet I didn’t want it to be over. This book will be sticking with me for a while.

RIVER EAST, RIVER WEST was a phenomenal debut that I’d highly recommend to fans of historical fiction, especially those who enjoy dual timelines. I will definitely be watching for future works by Aube Rey Lescure.

Thank you to William Morrow Books for the giveaway ARC. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the gifted DRC.

I enjoyed this book very much. That is odd to say when the novel's essence is bleak. However, Aube Rey Lescue's writing is so effortlessly beautiful that it was a joy to read. The author deals with heavy themes of racial identity, class, a radically changing China, and hopes and dreams for a better future with a delicate and touching style. The writing is stunning for a debut writer. I look forward to more products from her.
The reader is led through several timelines, which are easy to follow, and throughout the book, the history of the characters is slowly revealed, deepening the emotional involvement with the individuals. Alva, a young teen who is half Chinese and half American, is dealing with normal adolescent emotions as well as with a new step-father whom she views as an interloper into the partnership of her mother and her. These are the three main characters, all disappointed with their lives. There are several interesting secondary characters, and the theme of dissatisfaction with their lot in life also carries to them.
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this book's ARC.

This book really sucked me in! We met Alva in 2007, as her mom is marrying her stepdad and this causes an upheaval in her life. Then we go back in time to her stepfather’s past and get to know him. Very moving book!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC: This a great debut novel. The book follows Alva--American and Chinese girl who is being raised in China by an ex-patriot mother--Sloan. Sloane has a complicated relationship with Lu Fang, a Chinese businessman. The book explores the characters during the cultural revolution in the 1980's and subsequently through 2008. It's a coming of age story for Alva who is initially forced to attend local schools due to cost and her mother's belief that she should experience her Chinese heritage. All of the characters are complex: Lu Fan is not just a middle aged businessman, Sloane is not just an American who came to China and stayed and reinvented herself and Alva evolves from a toddler to a struggling 15 year old who is attempting to find her place and the true history of her mother and step father. I found this a compelling book and was sad to see it end. It's a strong debut and a unique exploration of the immigrant experience. I hope to see more from this author.

I received this from Netgalley.com.

An okay read, with some very cringe worthy episodes. I also think it would have helped if I had a better understanding of Chinese history and its people.

3.25☆

In a literary exploration that seamlessly intertwines poignant themes of identity, race, and societal upheaval, the author of this compelling narrative has crafted a tale that transcends the boundaries of mere storytelling. The novel, which chronicles the tumultuous journey of Alva, a 14-year-old of Chinese and white heritage, unfolds with a mastery of prose that captivates the reader from the outset.

The author's adept use of language is a testament to the narrative's gripping nature; the reader is unequivocally drawn into Alva's world, a realm where the delicate nuances of her hopes and dreams are scrutinized with a depth that resonates with authenticity. The protagonist, in her quest for self-discovery, engages in a myriad of experiments, each an attempt to navigate the intricate tapestry of her mixed-race identity and seamlessly integrate into the rich mosaic of Chinese culture.

The exploration of race and class within the narrative is executed with unparalleled success, as the author deftly weaves these thematic threads throughout the fabric of the story. Alva's journey becomes a mirror reflecting the broader societal dynamics, where the intersections of race and class cast profound shadows on her path of self-discovery.

Central to the narrative is the character of Lu Fang, Alva's Chinese stepfather, whose ascent from humble beginnings to the echelons of success mirrors the quintessential foray into the American dream. However, the narrative takes a poignant turn as the Great Recession unfurls, casting Lu Fang back to the proverbial square one. This unraveling of fortunes not only adds a layer of complexity to the storyline but also serves as a powerful commentary on the fragility of the American Dream and the inherent challenges faced by those striving for success in a capricious world.

Beyond its narrative intricacies, the novel presents itself as an ideal catalyst for thought-provoking discussions within the realm of book clubs. The thematic undercurrents of immigration and the perennial quest for belonging are ripe for exploration, offering readers an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of societal structures and the human condition.

In conclusion, this literary offering stands as a testament to the author's ability to navigate the delicate nuances of identity, race, and societal shifts with unparalleled finesse. Through the lens of Alva's journey, readers are invited to contemplate the multifaceted layers of the human experience, making this novel not merely a compelling read but a profound exploration of the human soul.

A well written and impressive debut, I found myself thoroughly intrigued by this dual narrator story. Focusing on Alva as she navigates her teenage years, the addition of a new (and unwanted) stepfather, the acting out at the grief of the transformed relationship with her ex-pat American mother who is newly married to her stepfather Lu Fang, his story from the 80’s up to the present.

Difficult to read in parts (subject matter), but poignant and moving.




Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the DRC

Very interesting, eye-opening novel which exposed me to culture which is (for me) mysterious. While the culture and living conditions may be a little alien to me the struggles and experiences of the characters are universal. As it switches between the three main characters over several decades we come to understand and appreciate their struggles, motivations, goals.

Alva is 14-years old, the biracial daughter of an American woman living in Shanghai. When her mother marries a Chinese man, Alva’s teenage rebellion begins in earnest. Told in alternating chapters (Alva/her stepfather), this story spans several decades of recent Chinese history. I found the story fascinating at first and was fully invested until a certain event happened that made me dislike the mother so much that I could no longer enjoy the book. I’m not sure why the author chose to make the mother so abhorrent if she wanted us to care about this family. There is another event involving Alva that is also stomach-churning. If you want to tell a family story you need to have at least one person to root for, and after a while I didn’t even care what happened to Alva. It is a shame, because the writing is extremely good but my stomach is not strong enough to handle these kinds of plot points.

In River East, River West, we have a dual timeline/dual narrator story about Alva, a mixed race (Chinese American) teenager growing up in Shanghai in 2008, and Lu Fang, a native Chinese man in the late 1970s-1980s. When we pick up the story, Lu Fang is marrying Alva's mother. The 2008 timeline is primarily a coming-of-age plot about Alva as she rebels against her mother and becomes immersed in the world of wealthy ex-pats in Shanghai. The earlier timeline is about Lu Fang and his first family, with a wife and baby on the way, when he first meets Sloan, Alva's mother.

Parts of this story are very difficult to read, Alva and Lu Fang both made bad decisions and are left to deal with the consequences. The writing is emotional and descriptive and quickly immersed me in the book, and although the topics initially don't seem serious or deep, I felt the plot of being an "outsider" well explored and thought provoking. I could see this being a good book to discuss with others, identifying what it means to be an immigrant and how that changes our experiences in a country.

Thank you to Book Club Girl, William Morrow, and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

As the story begins, we're at Sloan and LuFang's wedding in Shanghai and Alva (Sloan's 14 year old daughter) isn't very happy. Their story then unfolds through alternating chapters between Alva, Sloan and LuFang.
River East, River West is combination of a coming of age story and family drama, with the undercurrent of life in China in 2008. More specifically, it's about two women trying to find their way in a developing country where conformity is valued and neither one fits in - Sloan because she's white and Alva because she's of mixed race. Alva's behavior, in a number of instances, was shocking for a 14/15 year old and made me feel my age! LuFang's life and back story were of much more interest and I liked the way they were rolled out. River East, River West is an impressive debut novel and I look forward to reading more of the author's work.
Thanks to Netgalley, The Book Club Girl Early Read Program, and HarperCollins for the opportunity to read River East, River West in exchange for an honest review.

Beautifully written story about a mother and daughter trying to come to grips with their identity and path in life. Parts are tough to read. It just wasn't the book for me.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

“River East, River West” by Aube Rey Lescure is about 2 generations of women searching for their identity during the rapidly modernization of China. It’s an intimate mother daughter tale who are the casualties of the countries strict political reforms and rise of China’s economic success. It describes the difficulties of being an American woman with a daughter who is half American and half Chinese, and cannot find a way to fit into the changing culture. The book describes reverse immigration and the still current issues of race and class. An interesting read for those interested in these topics.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.