Filipina_Pate

My favorite part of this book is the way the author shows us how differently characters think and act based on their wealth and privilege. The side comments footnoted at the bottom of the page make you feel like you are reading with a knowledgeable, chummy insider. The plot ties up neatly at the end and the overall story is similar to Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians: wealth Asian family, overbearing Mother figure, down-to-earth, yet still beautiful girl next door. A frothy and fun read for a summer weekend.

The story is told from the point of view of ten different women who knew the dead girl. I was impressed by the way the author established each character's unique voice while simultaneously weaving each character into the bigger picture. I also noticed that while all these women (and girls) lived in the same time, they were all dealing with their individual struggles in isolation. Even characters who were supposedly best friends privately felt resentment and envy towards the each other. This is not a feminist story about the power of female friendship and solidarity. Instead this is a story about how women from all classes and all ages are struggling, often alone, to meet the economic, social and cultural expectations placed on them.