This was a slow burn worth its name. You need time to get into the story but it pays of by ending up being a phenomenal read. I think about this book daily. Thomas & Mercer is proving them as some of the best publishers out there when it comes to high wuality books. The author is so talented with the ability to use words in these beautiful ways. Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for a chance to read this book.

Flashlight by Susan Choi is an exploration of family, memory, and the echoes of a single tragic night. The story begins with ten-year-old Louisa walking along the beach with her father, Serk, under the glow of a flashlight. He cannot swim. Hours later, Louisa is found washed ashore, barely alive. Her father is gone. What follows is a gripping, multi-layered narrative that spans decades and continents, unraveling secrets while examining the bonds that hold us together—and the silences that tear us apart.

Told through shifting perspectives, Choi’s novel is a masterclass in tension and emotional depth. We follow Louisa, an only child grappling with her father’s mysterious disappearance and her mother Anne’s struggles with multiple sclerosis. Anne, meanwhile, carries her own weight of estrangement and regret. Serk’s past, as an ethnic Korean raised in Japan and separated from his family when they emigrated to North Korea, adds a fascinating historical dimension to the story. When Anne’s estranged son, Tobias, reappears, the family’s already fragile foundation begins to crack, raising questions that reverberate through every chapter.

Choi’s writing is immersive, and her ability to create richly complex characters makes the story impossible to put down. The relationships are raw and real. What sets Flashlight apart is how it balances personal and historical narratives. Serk’s story introduces readers to a little-known chapter of history, and Choi’s attention to detail makes this aspect of the novel as compelling as the family drama. The questions raised—about identity, loyalty, and the weight of unresolved trauma—linger long after the final page. This is a must-read for anyone who loves literary fiction with emotional depth, a touch of history, and a gripping mystery at its heart.

#Flashlight #SusanChoi #FarrarStrausGiroux



This is a book that will stay with you long after the last page. It’s heartbreaking, mysterious, and thought-provoking—a must-read for fans of literary fiction that isn’t afraid to tackle the complexities of family, identity, and history.

#Flashlight #SusanChoi #FarrarStrausGiroux

Here is a review with no spoilers. This is an ARC provided by NetGalley, that is set to release June 3rd 2025.

I want to start of by saying that I quickly realized that this book wasn't for me. The writing style wasn't to my taste, and the chapters were awfully long. I struggled through it, but still wanted to give it a shot. About the 40% mark I decided to give up, and DNF.

The story was awfully slow - when I quit reading, the dad disappeared. The build up was too slow, and there weren't any climaxes and action curves that made it interesting. I try not to DNF ARCs, as I want to give them a fair review, but I honestly couldn't finish it. All in all, the problem was mostly how slow the book was.

I had no issue with the characters (they were interesting enough) and plot - it was just too slow. This is a very subjective opinion though, and Flashlight will definitely become a favorite to some.

I am not rating Falshlight on StoryGraph, this will be a DNF. On NetGalley I gave it 3 stars as a part of the review, as I had to rate it there.

3.5 stars, rounded to 4, but only with reflection; I liked it more than I originally thought.

This is one family’s nightmare. When Louisa was ten she and her father, Serk took a nighttime walk on the beach in Japan. Her father has a flashlight; he cannot swim. Sometime later Louisa is found washed up by the tide, barely clinging to life. Her father is gone and his body is never found.

Serk was an ethnic Korean raised in Japan when his family fled war. Louisa’s mother, Anne, is an American and she is estranged from her family following an incident in her youth. Tobias, Anne’s illegitimate son, Tobias, appears in their life, to major consequences.

Why did Serk take Anne and Louisa to Japan right before he disappeared? Are there things we don’t see?

This family saga was not what I was expecting, but I found it impressive in scope even though the pace was somewhat sluggish. This is my second book by Choi and her writing is good, if a bit sterile; her characters always seem to exist at a bit of a remove. Here there were things I wanted covered in greater detail and other events and paths I thought could have been edited. So, overall, enjoyable, I just wish Vhoi’d characters didn’t often feel inscrutable.

Was a huge fan of Trust Exercise so super excited to read this book. Def a departure (slightly) for the author, but very much in the same vein as her previous work. Excited to keep reading from her.

I find it difficult to write a review for this book because somehow I cannot point out the thing that didn't sit well with me...but I'll try.

This piece of historical (?) fiction refers to a specific event which I can't name otherwise it would be spoiler (I personally wasn't aware of it), but it happened between the 70s and 80s. Anyway, the parts that had to do with history (mainly the ones about Serk) were very interesting.
The rest was an analysis of the relationships between the protagonists which, IMO, didn't bring very far. The relationship between Louisa and Anne (mother and daughter) after Serk disappears? Weird. Now, Louisa is a problematic child and even a more problematic new adult, it felt like her adolescent phase doesn't really come to an end. Just like her father before her, she blames her mother for virtually everything. Anne might not have won the Mom Of The Year award, but her situation (being affected by multiple sclerosis) and the fact that Serk contributed to ruin the mom-daughter relationship and to shelter Louisa from virtually anything that was going on in their lives (for whatever reason, I mean I know why he did it but I found it a tad bit exaggerated) prior to his disappearance...I don't know, I cannot really blame her 100%.

It wouldn't be fair to harshly berate the novel, because I feel this book is objectively good (yes, I believe that some books are inherently good and some inherently bad, taste comes after that), but honestly it took me a good deal of effort to get to the end. I felt it was overwritten in most parts and it could have been shorter, but that's a matter of style and taste in this case.

Anyway, give it a chance. Happy reading!

I absolutely adored this book - Susan Choi is such a talented writer. Louisa, Anne, and Serk are all so well drawn and fascinating both individually and collectively. I thought this book would actually make a good pairing with Pachinko, as I felt like it covered a bit of a similar era of history in sections, and I loved that. There were just so many little sections I underlined as well, because they were so true or so well written or I just wanted to remember them. I can’t recommend this book enough.

In *Flashlight*, Susan Choi's latest novel, the author of *Trust Exercise*, readers are introduced to one family’s complicated history.

The basic premise follows an ethnically Korean father, who was born and raised in Japan, as he disappears one night while taking his young daughter for a stroll on the beach. However, this story is far from basic.

The narrative shifts through the perspectives of different family members, starting in the late 1940s and continuing to the present day. Just as a flashlight can illuminate a specific area while unable to reveal all, the characters struggle to reveal the bigger picture. As we navigate through each family member's story, we encounter their standoffish and private nature, compounded by the secrets they keep from each other.

This novel unveils the family's secrets spaning generations, different countries, and memory. Although I found the pacing challenging at times, I would recommend this novel. This slow unveiling is worth it. Thank you to NetGalley and Farrar, Straus, and Giroux for the ARC.

4.5 stars

Flashlight by Susan Choi
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4.25/5)

This short story is quintessential Susan Choi—layered, introspective, and hauntingly precise. "Flashlight" dives into the strained relationship between a daughter and her ill mother, examining grief and longing in all their messy forms. I loved how Choi crafts Louisa, a precocious yet deeply flawed character who feels so real you might cringe at her sharp observations. The narrative is unsettling, and while it's slow-paced, every detail feels intentional, making you pause and reflect.

Some parts of the story felt a little too bleak, and I wanted more resolution. Still, this is a deeply moving read that lingers long after. Perfect for fans of literary fiction who appreciate character-driven stories.