Book Summary and Reviews of Foreigners by E. L. Shen

Foreigners by E. L. Shen

Foreigners

by E. L. Shen

  • Publishes:
  • Sep 22, 2026, 448 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

Perfect for fans of Pachinko and Last Night at the Telegraph Club, this propulsive, tender novel follows an immigrant family across generations as they navigate love, belonging, and the great fictions we must weave to preserve a legacy.

For centuries, the Chin family has kept its secrets.

In 1878, Duanfang knows he's destined for greatness. He'll do anything to uphold and protect the legacy of his Manchu family—even if it means hiding his past.

In 1965, Zheng Yi flies from Taiwan to New York City to have a shot at attending an American college. Thrown into a world of parties, prejudice, and a tumultuous romance, Yi worries that New York may be more than she can handle. But just as she is beginning to adjust, she must make a shocking decision that will irrevocably change her life and her future forever.

Today, Dawn Chin's family is opaque at best, with heavy expectations and heavier silences. But an assignment to interview her grandmother is about to crack open her real family history: a legacy hundreds of years old, and a lie decades in the making ...

An ambitious, literary gem.
A multi-POV story following one family across generations.
A thrilling historical romance with a shocking, unforgettable twist.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"An immersive, movingly crafted multigenerational family story. Using the perspectives of three characters navigating parallel yet distinct experiences, Li engagingly explores legacy, identity, love, lies, and family ties while also integrating politics, immigration, and healthy (romantic) relationships." —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"A whirlwind tale...layered characters and abundant historical detail keep emotions and tension high." —Publishers Weekly

This information about Foreigners was first featured in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.

Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.

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Author Information

E. L. Shen

E. L. Shen is the author of The Queens of New York, which is a New York Public Library Best Book of the Year and a YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults pick. Her debut novel, The Comeback, was praised in The New York Times for its fast-paced prose, authentic dialogue, and big emotions. Her most recent novel, Maybe It's a Sign, is a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Best Book of the Year. She currently lives in Connecticut with her husband. Learn more at elshenwrites.com. 

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