DNF at 30%; I enjoy Kathy Wang's writing and my experience with Impostor Syndrome made me stick with this longer than I should have. The tone is not what I was hoping for.

Although the writing style is somewhat detached and lacks emotion, I nonetheless found THE SATISFACTION CAFE to be an enjoyable read. Joan's character is not immediately relatable, but she definitely grew on me. The long flashbacks to her former life could have been shortened to improve the pacing. I became frustrated with Joan as she continued to let her stepson and others walk all over her. This could be due to cultural differences between myself and the character/author. I tried to keep an open mind as Joan struggles through life's misfortunes and I found the overall reading experience to be extremely rewarding.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

Due to unexpected family circumstances, Joan leaves Taiwan to attend Stanford University, With little support
from her parents, she is on her own. After a brief first marriage ends in divorce. Joan attracts the attention of an older
wealthy American who has three ex-wives and adult children. Joan never really fits into his world, but tries her
best for the sake of their children. As the years pass, Joan remembers the dream she had of opening a place
where people could talk and have someone there to listen.
#TheSatisfactionCafe #Scribner #NetGalley

I enjoyed the trip of Liang's from Taiwan to California, and from being single to becoming the fourth wife of a wealthy American. Her life continues into old age, after having her children, The most important part of the book seems to be her opening the Satisfaction Cafe, a place where patrons can sip coffee and also have someone to talk to.

The idea of this cafe reminds me of Tokyo perhaps, but would be strange in the U.S. I am not sure about this ending to the book.

“The Satisfaction Cafe” by Kathy Wang is the poignant life story of a Taiwanese woman whose life journey takes her to California. Surprisingly, she is given the opportunity to attend Stanford University because her brothers have dishonored her family. Her relationship with her parents and brothers disintegrates over time and she is faced with trying to succeed on her own. Dealing with a lot of prejudice she marries an asian and ultimately the marriage implodes. She marries again to a much older Caucasian and has a family and the life style of luxury and wealth. Never quite fitting in to the culture, or his family she feels continually unsatisfied. The author does a fantastic job of shaping her character and showing the unexpected possibilities of happiness when given a second chance in life.
The book is about found family, the reality of loneliness, and the need for connection and purpose. I enjoyed this book and found it very thought provoking.

Thank you NetGalley and Scribner for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Both Things Are True is a witty and heartwarming second-chance romance that blends humor, heartbreak, and self-reinvention. Kathleen Barber creates a relatable and endearing protagonist in Vanessa, whose glamorous life unravels in a whirlwind of scandal and setbacks. Her journey back to Chicago, complete with sisterly bonding and awkward reunions with her first love, Sam, feels both poignant and entertaining. Vanessa and Sam’s history, from impulsive Las Vegas nuptials to their present-day encounters, brims with emotional tension and playful banter. Barber balances the laugh-out-loud humor of Vanessa’s influencer mishaps with the deeper exploration of love, trust, and starting over. The quirky setup—Dolly Parton impersonators, anyone?—adds charm to this delightful tale. Both Things Are True is perfect for readers who love heartfelt, slow-burn romantic comedies with characters who feel entirely real.

This one reads more like a life review/memoir - it really doesn't get into the cafe much until the last third of the book. I didn't really love a lot of the characters (flaws were more irritating than endearing) but still found it an enjoyable read. I wasn't expecting the portrait of an immigrant trying to find her way in the 60's but really enjoyed reading about this

DNF’d at 30 percent, the book was not for me, the pacing was incredibly slow the mfc hard to relate to.

Thank you Netgalley and scribner for the arc

A truly wonderful story that I think will appeal to many. It's well written and the main character is fascinating. I enjoyed the exploration of womanhood, motherhood, marriage, and self-discovery later in life. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

The premise of this book is quite interesting, following Joan, an immigrant from Taipei to Palo Alto, CA and to her multiple marriages and eventual start of the Satisfaction Cafe, where patrons can share their stories.

However, the writing style makes the whole novel feel like exposition and Joan’s character is pretty matter-of-fact and logical, so I had a more difficult time immersing myself. There’s also long passages of flashbacks to her former life in Taipei, which provides even more distance to the ongoing story. Plus, Joan was a little too stoic for me - she often does not express frustration or anger about the actions of others and she carries on as the bigger person no matter what - for instance, continuing to invite her stepson over even after he burns down her mansion. Plus, most of the people in Joan’s life were pretty toxic, selfish, and superficial, and it became tiring to read about her unfortunate marriages and contentious familial relationships. It was also a long reading journey to get to the opening of the cafe, which was the primary draw for me.

Special thanks to Scribner and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.

"The Satisfaction Cafe" by Kathy Wang is a truly heartwarming and inspiring read. I was immediately drawn into the world of Siew and her family as they navigate the complexities of life and the pursuit of happiness. What I loved most about this book is its powerful message that it's never too late to chase your dreams and embrace new beginnings.

Wang does a fantastic job of weaving together the stories of multiple generations, showcasing the rich tapestry of experiences that shapes each character. The exploration of identity, family expectations, and the power of finding one's own path resonated deeply with me.

This book serves as a beautiful reminder that life's unexpected turns can lead to unexpected joy and
fulfillment. With its memorable characters, strong storytelling, and uplifting message, "The Satisfaction Cafe" is a must-read for anyone in search of inspiration and encouragement to pursue their own definition of a well-lived life.

Joan’s whole life — from Taiwan to California, through relationships and motherhood, to a late-life plunge into a unique business — surprises her. In this life story, told in a blunt manner free from the kind of artifice that filters most of the stories we read and hear (dare I say personal branding?), we follow her as she learns what is important, accepts what she needs to, and continues in her search for satisfaction and meaning. I love her voice and the honesty with which she contemplates the life she is leading — it is remarkably free of hand-wringing, self-flagellation, and other neuroses which seem to plague a lot of modern novels (IMHO). I enjoyed the variety of ways opportunities (the surprises) arose. Some were serendipitous; some were created by Joan herself, through personal will; some were the roads not taken, which gave rise to regret, but also reflection and growth. In many ways, I felt that this book followed a whole life arc, rather than a narrative one. I really liked the concept behind the Satisfaction Cafe — a place where people go to be heard and understood — and I equally enjoyed the full process that took her there. But mostly, I liked it for the reason specified by the last line of the marketing blurb: “Vivid, comic, and intensely moving, The Satisfaction Café is a novel about found family, the joy and loneliness that come with age, and how we can give ourselves permission to seek satisfaction and connection at any stage of life.”

A character study that spans an entire lifetime, it hooks you from the start with vivid, surprising and lyrical prose. From the first page, the narrative is incredibly intriguing. From page one; "Joan had not thought she would stab her husband. It had been an accident (sort of)." I mean, wow. What a sentence! How could you not be hooked?

At 25% of the way through I thought this might be one of my favorite books of the year. The set up is downright enchanting, with anecdotes that teach us who the characters are and how they are motivated. It is hard to think of Joan as a character in a novel, it is almost as if this entire book is a very very long obituary. It centers around Joan and why she is who she is, with all of the detail in her family. If you like the family drama like Long Island Compromise or The Most Fun We Ever Had or The Celebrants; this is a version of those that you will certainly savor.

The book is a long character study, but you will be disappointed if you are expecting a story with a beginning, middle and end. This has several plot points that don't go anywhere or return, highly symbolic but it can be frustrating at times. The title, The Satisfaction Cafe, comes from an enterprise that is not introduced until 60% of the way through the novel. It is about connecting with others, how we create family, how others see us and who we are at the core.

Thanks to @Netgalley and @scribnerbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Opinions are my own. Book to be published July 1, 2025.

This was a good book about family and the sacrifices that need to be made over tIme. This book addresses all stages of life and the loneliness that comes with adulthood. The concept of the satisfaction cafe was amazing. This is the first book I have read by this author and I plan on reading more. Thanks to netgalleyand the publisher for an ARC of this book..

I really enjoyed this book! i loved the themes of adulthood, friendships, sadness, loneliness, and trust. It was very well written and it was touching. I liked the story and how it flowed, it was cute and enjoyable!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

The Satisfaction Cafe is such a stunning and comforting story, it has so much to offer its readers - love, courage, joy, kindness, forgiveness, and, most of all, hope. As soon as I started reading, I was hooked. Joan is such an incredible person, it's hard to think of her as a character in a book... she's so much more than that by the time you turn the last page. I enjoyed reading the love story of Joan and Bill, I enjoyed reading about their crazy family members and I especially enjoyed the cafe. This is definitely a book that I'll be recommending to many people.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read the free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.