Step into 19th century China, where tradition clashes with change, and two girls—Little Flower, a servant with bound feet, and Linjing, her privileged yet flawed mistress—navigate a world of jealousy, betrayal, and resilience.

Through twists of fate, their rivalry becomes an unlikely alliance. Will their shared struggles unite them, or tear them apart?

With eloquent prose and rich cultural depth, “The Lotus Shoes” is a journey of self-discovery and the bonds that shape us. Fans of Lisa See will adore this poignant debut from Jane Yang 💕✨

"The Lotus Shoes" is a great, great book! It’s not the type of book you will read in a seat. It is that type of book you are invited to emerge in a completely different culture, in a different time, and we still have the same issues. Imagine you are walking through a museum, and Jane Yang paints to us a vivid imagery of what happened during that period, with all the elements, we need to almost sit down with Little Flower and feel her happiness while she embroiders her sadness when she sees her future slip away or even her desperation and hopelessness when she sees herself alone, in a stranger family, stranger house, without her mother.

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang is a fast paced novel with multiple plots twists covering the lives of a rich young woman and her muizai (maidservant). Taking place in nineteenth century China, The Lotus Shoes transports readers to a time of great social change for women. Linjing, the rich young woman is an entitled selfish young woman who is jealous of her artistically talented muizai, Little Flower. The chapters of this book alternate from the perspectives of Linjing and Little Flower. The author brilliantly captures the inner thoughts of each character, creating a characters that are so vivid you feel like you are a part of the story.

I highly recommend this book. I could not put it down.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jane Yang was inspired to write this story because of the stories her grandmothers told her about bygone China. Her great - great aunt Autumn Moon was born in the 1880’s. Women were given few choices - wife, nunnery, working hard labor jobs such as in rice fields or a life long pledge to a celibate community. Poor women were often slaves or prostitutes.

The Lotus Shoes follows two female characters from the age of six. Little Flower, sold by her mother into slavery (to avoid starvation) and Linjing, a member of a high ranking, respected family.

There is so much interesting history in this book. It doesn’t seem heavy or loaded with facts. We see and feel the young women dealing with the fate of the times. Traditions, superstitions, and the fact that pretty much everything is out of their control.

Little Flower and Linjing make their way through life trying the best as they can to be happy and live life on their terms.

Really good!! I hope to read more from this author.

I received an ARC copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the ARC! However I was not able to finish this book in time, I really think it will become a success. The cover is approachable to a wide range of people. The cover is clean and polished which I feel lends itself to the content since it is a historical piece. From what I did read, this was well written, looking forward to finishing the title.

This was such a heartbreaking work of historical fiction, beautifully told but I had to keep setting it down to process the pain and struggle these girls went through. Much of the story revolves around the need and reverence for 'golden lilies,' the tightly bound feet that were the mark of honorable, upper class women of that time, required to secure respect and marriage.

The Lotus Shoes is a story about survival and status in 1800s China, told in the alternating viewpoints of a young woman of privilege and her muizai, a slave maidservant. Little Flower has been sold into slavery by her desperate mother, who cannot afford to keep her after her husband's death. Her new mistress, Linjing, is fiercely jealous of Little Flower's valuable and admired embroidery talent, and sabotages her at every turn. She thwarts Little Flower's dream of escaping slavery though marriage. When scandal rocks Linjing and her mother, both girls find themselves seeking refuge in The Celibate Sisterhood, working long factory hours producing silk thread. When Little Flower's talents capture the attention of a nobleman, Linjing's jealousy reaches a fever pitch.

It was so difficult to read the power struggles and betrayals between women just trying to survive or find a path among so few options. Little Flower was obviously a brilliant artist with rare vision, but no amount of hard work was enough for other women to see her as a valuable human being. Linjing was a product of her circumstances, raised to view slaves as obligated to serve her every whim; it was almost impossible to believe any type of redemption arc for her character after how many times she betrayed Little Flower.

I loved the character of Little Flower, her empathy for others, and how she stayed true to herself even when offered a life of luxury. I wanted a happy ending for her so badly, or at least no more torment!

Thank you so much to Harlequin Trade Publishing / Park Row and Netgalley for this book!

Read if you like: dual perspectives, Chinese history
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The book follows Little Flower and Lingjing. Little Flower is sold into slavery by her mother and becomes Lingjing's handmaiden, tying the two together for the rest of their lives; a bond that will have consequences.
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This book was amazing. The writing was beautiful and I loved Little Flower. She was so strong and just wanted to fight for her freedom, which was constantly thwarted by Lingjing, who was ruthless and selfish. But really, Linjing also just wanted to be loved and didn't know how to voice her frustrations. My heart broke for these two women who lived in a society where they would always be second class citizens. I appreciated the story of their resiliency and highly recommend it!

Such an interesting story line! It gave me "Memoirs of a Geisha" vibes, which is one of my favorite books that I have read. Full of tension and beautiful writing.

This book is a mini history lesson on the traditions many women of China faced and endured. It’s eye opening and maddening. It explores the strength and resilience of women but also the levels of betrayal some will take for self gratification. The characters are multilayered, some facing the worse of circumstances. It questions and tests the lengths of humanity and redemption.

The Lotus Shoes is a stunning story of struggle, loss, and resilience, set in 1800’s China. I thought the complex political, religious, and gendered dynamics at play were so interesting and well-executed. The way this book explored how both men and women within Chinese society at this time upheld patriarchal standards was nuanced and captivating. One of my favorite things about this genre is being immersed in a culture that I’m unfamiliar with and feel like I’m learning something as I watch these characters try to navigate the context they find themselves in. Jane Yang really captured that here.

Due to the treatment of slaves and women at the time, this book is sometimes BRUTAL. The practice of foot binding is hard to read about, and Little Flower’s time in slavery was not easy. There are moments of violence committed against the enslaved characters and basically constant misogyny that impacts all of the women throughout the story.

Speaking of, Little Flower is my GIRL. She was so intelligent and compassionate and determined. I loved following her story. She was put in so many difficult and impossible situations, but responded with grace and strength. Though I liked Linjing much less (actually she was infuriating, but I think that was intentional), I still appreciated her role within Little Flower’s journey. Both of their goals and motivations were very understandable and the way their desires clashed made for gripping conflict as they tried to find their own sense of security and purpose in a society that devalued them as women.

Some of the pacing was quite slow towards the beginning, but once I got a good sense of the characters and their motivations, I was much more invested and devoured the latter 60% or so in a day. I would highly recommend this to fans of historical fiction.

Historical Fiction • China • Dual POV
Pub Date • 7 January 2025

Thank you to @htphive and @parkrowbooks for the free ARC package!

🍵🫖 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙞𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙂𝙚𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙖, 𝙗𝙪𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙖. 𝘼 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙞𝙣𝙜-𝙤𝙛-𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙨𝙪𝙗𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙩. 🪷

Told from the perspectives of Linjing, an upper class girl, and her 𝘮𝘶𝘪𝘻𝘢𝘪 and handmaiden. What an pretty-sounding word to mean slave.

I have read 3 books with slave main characters this month. There’s no world from antebellum South, to ancient Mesopotamia, to 1800s China in which it is less evil. Where there is slavery, people will yearn to be free. And escape attempts are universally squashed by the masters with a hand that treats slaves worse than animals.

There are other evils in 1800s China including the class system among the gentile, which pits woman against woman in a multi-tier wife and consort system led by the head of household, the patriarchy. Wives must produce sons, who are most valued as heirs, but if it’s a girl, she must have Golden Lillies. Another sweet sounding word for the barbaric practice of binding feet.

However, I still somehow bristled at the Western woman who sweeps in with her white savior mentality. Talking of progress, modernization, embracing the more evolved religion of Christianity, for whom no barbaric things were ever done...it was really insightful to check my own biases through the book.

The story-telling has depth. I was heartbroken for all that Little Flower endured. I could have never been as forgiving. However, she just may triumph in the end..! You’ll have to read to find out. Impressed by this debut.

TW: Mutilation, Death, Suicide, Torture, Sexism, Classism

Set in China in the days when the size and shape of a woman's feet and her embroidery skills indicated one's status in society. LIttle Flower's peasant family bound her feet from a young age to achieve the coveted "lotus feet." Unable to care for her, she was sold as a muizai (slave) to high society Linging. Linging quickly advocates to to her family to unbind the slave's feet, ensuring that no matter what, Little Flower maintains her slave or peasant status. Compared to Linging, LIttle Flower has a superior character but not station in life. The two have an ongoing rivalry, with the ultimate object of their rivalry: a man named Noble Siu Je. I enjoyed this story and the use of authentic Chinese terms. While I could understand the Chinese terms by the story context, I discovered a helpful glossary after reading the epilogue. One disadvantage of reading on electronic devices is that one generally does not search the end of a book like you might in a paper copy.

The Lotus Shoes, the debut novel by Jane Yang is a story of slavery, the limited options for women, the even more limited options for the poor, and foot binding from Shanxi in 19th century China. Through the two main characters and the women surrounding these girls, the book brings in the role of women through so many different facets. While the rest of the book is emotional and compelling, the ending seems abrupt and not entirely believable. It is, nevertheless, a powerful debut novel.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2025/01/the-lotus-shoes.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and a publisher’s blog tour.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of The Lotus Shoes**

Bound feet aka “golden lilies” sound like pure torture and for no good reason. The beauty in well-written, highly researched historical fiction is that you have the luxury of a great read but you can also learn something that you may know little to nothing about. I had to google some photos to get a sense of what “golden lilies” look like and I had a visceral response and not a good one.

Alternating narrators with their own perspectives of the same events always draws me in and I was immediately drawn in from chapter one. Such a contrast in their stations so reading alternating chapters from each of the two main characters kept me enthralled. I did not know much about the 1800s in China and reading this gave me sense of what it may have been like to be a woman during those times in that part of the world. No, thank you. I highly recommend The Lotus Shoes if you enjoy historical fiction and want to spend a few hundred pages in China as a female slave or a “lady” and not honorable because your feet are too big.

Absolutely loved this book! I learned so much about foot binding and the Chinese culture. I loved how most of the book was about the two fmc and the love interest didn’t appear till halfway through the book. The two different point of views were nice. I was able to see both sides of Little Flower and Linjing. I cared about both characters and how they were feeling. I can’t imagine how hard it was for women in the 1880’s, with little choices for their lives.

Fighting the traditions that bind!

Even though she’s from a peasant family Little Flower’s mother, Aa Noeng, had insisted Little Flower have her feet bound from the age of four. In this way Little Flower might make a more prosperous marriage in the future. (“Four Inch Golden Lillies” is the name given to properly bound feet. The explanation of how this custom came into being is told.)
Only that advantage was not to be. Little Flower’s father died and the family fell on hard times. So much so that Aa Noeng sold Little Flower into slavery. She becomes a muizai-
From that time on Little Flower’s spirit was sorely tested but she rose up and in her own way faced down all the hardships she encountered.
Trapped in the same cycle is her spoilt mistress , who continually blames Little Flower for her problems. Linjing is implacable in her dislike and tries to foil any advancement Little Flower might make at every opportunity.
Aa Noeng had been so proud of Little Flowers bound feet. Little Flower soon finds out the disadvantages.
It seems Little Flower is a remarkable embroiderer. That talent might have been her way to a better life if she’d not been Linjing’s slave.
A story of traditions, recurring behaviors, lost trust, sorrow and forgiveness propels this story into one of epic proportions.
Compelling and absorbing!

A Harlequin Trade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

I finished this book only to know how it ended, skimming my way from about halfway through. Now that I've reread the blurb, I realize just how much of the plot is given away and yet I don't come away from the ending of the book feeling satisfied wit the conclusion. Both Little Flower and Linjing lacked depth in different ways, and Linjing's humility came way, way too late in the novel for me to like her. I get that the message of the book was intended to be a certain way about power and classes and such, but I really would have liked to see Linjing and Little Flower work together past their own situation when it had been mentioned so many times.

I can honestly say, this book kept me captive me from start to finish.

Little Flower is sold as a child to the wealthy Fong family to be maid servant to their daughter, Lingjing. Lingjing is a spoiled, rich girl and is extremely jealous. As they grow up together, it is not easy. But when scandal strikes the Fongs, things become much worse.

There were so many times while reading this tale that I wanted to snatch Lingjing baldheaded. She does everything in her power to make sure Little Flower does not succeed in anything. The author creates such an emotional discourse between these two with their different circumstances and talents, I had to set the book down and take a break. But, that didn’t last long, I just had to know where life was going to lead them next!

The history and the culture is another area of fascination in this story. I have read a few books set in this time period in this country but this book took me through so many other levels of culture, like the silk weaving factory.

I loved everything about this tale. It is captivating, emotional and a wonderful story you do not want to miss

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Need an emotional tale set in 1800 China…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

📚The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang📚

Out today! January 7th, 2025

Thanks to @netgalley for my free digital copy and @parkrowbooks @janeyangwriting @htp_hive for my #gifted arc 💖.

✨What it is about:
The lives of two young girls are bound to each other. As a child, Little Flower is sold to Linjing's wealthy family to become a muizai. In a fit of childish jealousy over her new handmaiden's ladylike bound feet and talent for embroidery, Linjing ensures Little Flower can never leave her to ascend in society.

Despite their starkly different places in the Fong household, over the years the two girls must work together to secure both their futures through Linjing's marriage. As the two grow up, they are by turns bitter rivals and tentative friends. Until scandal strikes the family, and Linjing and Little Flower's lives are unexpectedly thrown into chaos.✨

💭My thoughts:
This was a beautifully written debut novel set in 19th Century China, where two girls from different backgrounds are fated together amidst a world full of Chinese tradition, and the introduction of western ideals and values. It is a character driven story, full of heart, selfishness, betrayal, and redemption. Super captivating, compelling, and definitely something that was crafted with a lot of attention to detail after much research. I really enjoyed learning about foot-binding and embroidery, which were subjects very important in the story. There are several twists which make you keep turning the pages. It was really emotional watching both girls struggle with their own fates, and their place in the world, as well as their continued strive to claim what was due to them in their complicated relationship with each other. The story felt honest and raw, and was super interesting to me. Definitely a historical fiction lover’s favorite.

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Read if you like:
🥿Chinese culture/traditions
🥿Dual POV
🥿Complex characters
🥿Sisterhood, betrayal and redemption
🥿Forbidden love

⚠️CW: Death of a parent, self harm, suicidal thoughts, slavery, torture, violence, classism, mentions of sexual abuse.

If you are a fan of historical Asian dramas, I highly recommend this book. This book is so beautifully written that I just feel like it should be on everybody’s bookshelf. The story is so good that I would love to see this as a movie or tv series. It is truly a story of creativity, ingenuity, and overcoming adversity. I highly recommend, as it is great book to start off the new year.