Thank you to the publisher for an ARC copy!

This book took me on a journey, and I did not expect to care as much as I did. I went in expecting a semi-lighthearted romance novel, a second chance romance about two old people. What I got instead was a whirlwind of two interconnected stories and a lot of heartache (in the best way).

I know next to nothing about China or any of its wars, and as a white woman, I didn't expect a whole lot in the relatability department. Karissa Chen still reduced me to tears regardless. The story is told from two perspectives. Suchi, our FMC, has her story told from the beginning forward with bits of the most recent POV interspersed, while our MMC, Haiwen's story is told backwards. Everything lines up so beautifully during the alternating POVs and time jumps that there was no issue keeping track of what was happening when.

The way Chen writes about love, loss, war, struggling to survive, and even struggles in motherhood was entrancing. I would sit down to read one section (each "chapter" has many smaller sections, which was convenient for being able to put it down) and find myself through the next POV and back to the first one. Both characters grew apart and together, but even when it seemed they lost themselves, they still grew incredibly.

One of the things I really enjoyed was the way the characters' names evolved as they went through different phases of life and had to adapt new identities. Both characters start in Shanghai, and as they drift their way through life and encounter different languages and cultures, their names shift with them. They are always Suji and Haewen with small changes, but they always come back to their origins.

I had hoped for a different ending (don't worry, it's still a HEA of sorts), but ultimately I am content with the way the story wrapped up. There were no holes and every piece fell into place like it should have. I wish I had written down my favorite lines because there were so many good ones.

This book had me gasping, laughing, raging, and crying alongside the characters, and I look forward to adding this to my library collection.

Homeseeking is a historical fiction that looks at Chinese history through the lens of Suchi and Haiwen who were childhood sweethearts in Shanghai. As the story progresses, we see Suchi’s story starting from childhood onward, and Haiwen’s story starting in his old age and working backwards. This is a really interesting time and place in history and an interesting frame to explore it.

It looks at a lot of interesting themes such as the difficult decisions people have to make for themselves and their families during wartime and what home means to individuals who are displaced.

Unfortunately, I didn't like this as much as I wanted to, mainly because I struggled to connect with the characters. I think that having two narratives going in opposite directions is interesting, but perhaps contributed to this lack of connection. It's also really long, and looks at such a wide breadth of experience that it's hard to really connect at each point when the story also needs to explain the political situation and side characters present at each point.

The main characters also weren't very likable, and often made frustrating decisions. I understand the point was to illustrate how a conflict robs people of their ability to live the life they want and forces them to make tough decisions, but without the connection to the characters, I found myself frustrated with their lack of communication and empathy.

Overall, it's an interesting story about a slice of history I didn't know much about, which I ultimately failed to connect with.

4.5 stars rounded up

I really enjoyed this story! Simultaneously a coming of age story and a story about reconnecting after years of separation, Homeseeking was an emotional and educational read. Thoroughly researched, I was impressed with Chen’s ability to portray the complexities of modern Chinese war and politics on the people in its wake. While the backdrop is war, Homeseeking is very much a story of family, connection, and disconnection.

Suchi and Haiwen are best friends growing up together in a longtang (lanes forming a community) in Shanghai. War separates them in their youth and takes their lives on completely different paths. Throughout the book, the author portrays how a single decision can alter the course of the characters’ lives.

The descriptions of the longtang and the characters’ dress, food, and environments were vivid and picturesque. It was eye-opening for me to learn how challenging it was for a female to build a life without the support of their family or a husband. I was particularly struck by how Suchi was expected to do well in school but not TOO well.

The book spans 7 decades and is written in alternating viewpoints; Suchi’s story is told linearly from childhood to adulthood while Haiwen’s story is told backwards from adulthood to childhood. I was surprised how seamless the transitions were and how it all came together quite easily. The author’s note scared me a bit when she described that the characters’ names would change as the story progressed. I was pleasantly surprised to find that I was not confused at all.

I found the older times to be a bit more compelling than the modern times. I also wanted to know more about their families’ experiences during the war. It was heartbreaking that so many left their families and never saw or heard from them again.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this advance copy

The moving and sweeping story "Homeseeking" by Karissa Chen examines the significance of decisions and the eternal nature of love. "Homeseeking" is a masterfully written and very moving novel that examines themes of love, sorrow, and the unbreakable spirit of the human heart. It is set against the turbulent background of Chinese history. I was transported on an emotional voyage across time and space by Chen's evocative writing and complex storytelling, which left a lasting effect. It is evidence of the strength of love and the unbreakable ties that bind us to our real homes, both mentally and physically. This novel is so sincere that it made me weep and was just so amazing. Karissa Chen performed a very outstanding job.

Thank you netgalley and penguin group Putnam for the ARC