Did you like the book? Love it? Hate it? Would you recommend it to others?

There were parts that I found pretty unrealistic, but overall I liked it a lot - found it increasingly difficult to put down - and recommended it to members of my RL book club.

I did have a rather hard time getting into it but once I figured out the two stories that were going on I got more interested not only in the individual stories but how reading the old story was for Rachel and Drew a point of really working together to figure out their mom and their own relationship. So I would say I did like the book and would recommend to some but not all of my reader friends.

I had a hard time with it at first, too, but it really grew on me. Although there may have been parts that were less believable, I thought the way the author portrayed the relationship between the two sisters to be spot on. I could completely see parallels with my own relationship with my younger sister.

Predictable and too similar to other multi-century novels. There were too many characters to follow and too much time-switching, so after a while I lost interest. I fully expected to like this book because I like this format as a rule, but it was too confusing, the names were too long and and I couldn't get invested in the characters.

It was okay. For me, there wasn't much new in it to keep my interest although I did finish it. I was often frustrated with the characters especially Rachel and Drew and their inability to pull their lives together without the help of an old story. Wanted to yell at them sometimes!

I am slightly more positive about the book than negative. I enjoyed reading about Rachel and Drew and their relationship. However I disliked the every-other-chapter timeline change. It slowed the action for me. I will not select this book for one of my book groups.

I agree with bevermin - I had trouble keeping track of the characters in Tomoe's story, and found the dialogue in those sections to be unrealistic. The parallels were obvious, almost too much so. Often both Rachel and Drew struck me as whiny and unappreciative (much like a lot of us!). I can't say I liked the book, or that I'd recommend it. This type of story has been done better, as in Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, just for starters.

I preferred the chapters about Rachel and Drew and looked forward to getting back to them The chapters on Tomoe were often confusing. I think reading the family dynamics of Rachel and Drew could have stood alone.

I enjoyed reading something other than what I normally do but do agree that going back and forth between chapters was a bit annoying. I also think that the chapters about Tomoe were confusing and much prefer learning about the relationship between the sisters. I got so annoyed at the parents though!

I loved the book. I especially loved how the sisters "found" each other again. Sadly, they didn't realize growing up how the father intimidated their mother. They thought she was just passive and unfeeling. I would definitely recommend it to other. (I already have, to my book club.)

i, too, was put off by the chapters with Tomoe's story. Hard to follow. I much more preferred the present day story of Rachel and Drew. Going back and forth between the story lines was difficult and made the book harder for me to read. I hated Killian from the beginning and how Haruki stayed with him, is beside me. That man didn't even like himself. Would I recommend it, of course, it was a good read and certainly was one that made me grateful for what I have and the family that I have raised.

As others have mentioned, I too had trouble keeping track of the characters in Tomoe's story. The obvious parallels made it come off as trite more than anything else. The book still captured by attention, though. I especially enjoyed the present-day story line. I would definitely recommend this to historical fiction fans.

I think it would of helped to have more of a distinction in the names in Tomoe's story. It was hard to keep track of who was who because the names were almost identical in spelling . I had to keep going back to see who was who. That was a bit distracting for me.

I didn't like this book at all. Like others, I had a hard time distinguishing the characters in Tomoe's story because of the close spelling and as the story progressed I found myself skimming over it. I didn't particul care for Rachel or Drew although I could at least follow their story. I had to push myself to finish the book. Had I not felt committed to participate in this discussion I would not have finished it

I found the book ok. It took a bit to get into the back and forth between the 2 stories and maybe more about the mother would have helped. I have a few people I would recommend it to, but overall probably not.

It was ok. I did finish reading it but for me, it was often times confusing. I, as others, found Tomoe's story confusing with too many characters to keep track of.

Overall, I liked it. Like many others, the narrative and time switching got to me (This seems to be standard practice nowadays - All the Light We Cannot See - Paris, the Novel, etc. -) I made a little Tomoe family chart to help with the names….and finally read her story straight through, then went back to Rachel and Drew's story. I would recommend it to select friends, but not my reading group.

I agree with gwenc. There are some friends that I would recommend the book to, but I do not think a book club would enjoy it. there is much to discuss in the family of Rachel and Drew, but very little in the family of Tomoe. Perhaps the connection between the "novel within a novel" went too far.

I too was confused by the names in Tomoe's story & found it distracting. I enjoyed the story of Rachael & Drew & their family dynamics. I would not recommend it to my book group.

I also found the book predictable but still enjoyed it. It is worth reading. I liked the present day story best because it was easier to relate to.

I really liked the book. I got really attached to all the characters. I felt bad that Hikuri did not remain lucid enough to realize how she had brought her daughters together and how much they realized they loved her.

This book was a different read for me. It is not a book I would have normally read. I am really thankful for bookbrowser to offer these books to me to expand my reading adventures. I did enjoy the book even though I had to make a flow chart of the characters in the book and the time frame. I would recommend this to others.

I liked it immediately. I would definately reccomend this book to others ( I already have!). I did think the Tomoe story could have been a little more flushed out and in depth. I felt it was a story that had already been told many times.
I liked the way the sisters relationship was portrayed. It felt real to me. Others have said they found the novel predictable, but I wouldn't say that about the present day part of the novel.

Did NOT like this book at all. Formulaic and too predictable. Awkward and forced. Would not recommend.

I have kind of mixed feelings about the book. I really enjoyed the interaction between the sisters. I thought that was spot-on and that the author captured their personalities perfectly. Drew came across as a talented young woman who didn't know what she wanted out of life, maturing over the course of the novel to someone more decisive. Rachel, too, was well-drawn as a caring mother trying to cope with the fact that her children were growing up. She grew from being secretive and controlling to more open and willing to let her children live their lives.

I would have liked the Tomoe sections to have been more fleshed out, but thought overall they did add to the plot.

But I though some parts, like the shark attack, were very weak. I understand the author trying to show Drew strong in a situation where Rachel should be in her element, but still...

I didn't like this book at all. First, the Chinese names were so similar that I couldn't keep track of who was who was who. After a while I skimmed over their portion. Rachel and Drew each had their shtick and I found it hard to relate to either of them

I really liked this book and liked the writer's "gimmick" of using a parallel story to teach a lesson. The lesson I took away was that we don't always get it right when we think we are alone. When there is a bonding experience whether with a friend or a sibling, we can acquire wisdom, courage and strength. We don't have to go on alone..

I had a hard time getting into the book at the beginning. But I as I continued reading I became more interested. I think at first I just did not like the characters but gradually that changed as the story developed. I thought the two story lines were good. I would like to have seen the mothers story more developed. At the end when Rachel talks to her father it was kind of like...is that all? Overall I liked it and would recommend it to my book club.

I was intrigued by the parallel storyline concept. Unfortunately, while I found myself interested in Tomoe's story, I didn't really get drawn into Rachel and Drew's portion as I found it somewhat routine. On the other hand, I gave it to a relative to read telling her I thought she'd enjoy the half I didn't and she did (and didn't follow Tomoe's plot line much) so it seems to depend on personal tastes. I will certainly recommend it to others based on what similar books they like, it was well done and I can see the appeal for others.

I LOVED the book. It was so beautifully written. Some portions of it took my breath away with its simple beauty. I loved both the story of the "sisters of the heart" and of the Snow sisters. All four women showed such strength. I loved how Rachel and Drew both used Tomoe as an example of how they could be strong. Drew loved to learn children as did Tomoe. Through Tomoe and Yamabuki the Snow sisters better understood their mother.

I read the book in two days so that usually means I like it. I like books that switch back and forth from different time periods. I enjoyed the character Tomoe very much. I don't know who I would recommend the book to. Everybody I know has different tastes. Couldn't recommend to my book club because there are some that won't read historical novels (really!). I thought delving into a dysfunctional family was very interesting and it is always fun to have a really evil person in the line up.

I enjoyed reading the book, although I also had difficulty keeping the storyline straight. Many authors are
now writing with the two planes and time jumping in the story. The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Society was the first I ran into with the postcards, and I simply kept reading until it formed into a wonderful book.
I love to read about the Asian culture and the Picture Brides. This book took things down a different road, but I still found it good reading. I like Tomoe's story and well as Drew and Rachael I would have to say that I loved reading this book as I would recommend it to my friends. I would have liked to have more written of Killian and Hikuri. It would have given the book more depth.

I found it interesting that so many reviewers did not like flipping through stories. To me it seems to be common now. While the disjunction in the family caused predictable responses I did enjoy the book.