2018 reading challenge: a book that takes place the decade you were born.

Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A strong four stars. Maybe 4.5.

This book grabbed me with line one... "Lydia was dead." (It's not quite the best first sentence I've read by it's close).

This family drama, set in the 1970's, deals with the Lee family. Mom is white, Dad is Chinese and they and their three kids live in a small college town in Ohio where they practically the only minorities around. The center of the family's focus is middle child, Lydia. Through subconscious acts, Lydia becomes the the "she'll do what I never could" outlet for both of her parents. Mom wants her to become a doctor. Dad wants her to fit in. And because of wanting to see her parents happy, Lydia does what they want (or appears to do what they want) regardless of her own desires and needs.

But when, shortly after her 16th birthday, Lydia is found dead, the family faces turmoil of how to move on when the locus is gone.

I really enjoyed how the author looked at each of the family members in turn, both in the "present" and past. This made each character relatable (even though I think I both understood AND despised Marylin - the mother, only because I know women just like her in so many ways).

The pace was great, the narrator was spot on and I am glad I did this book. It is one I will recommend to others.



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