Peach Blossom Spring, Melissa Fu

Peach Blossom Spring: A glorious, sweeping novel about family, migration and the search for a place to belong by [Melissa Fu]

Genre: General Fiction (Adult), Historical Fiction,

I love books about Eastern/Asian countries and their culture. I was so pleased to see this but I really struggled with it to begin and didn't really connect with the story until about quarter way in. Then as it settled in my head, when I began to feel I knew the characters, worried for them I really enjoyed it.
I loved Meilin's gentle nature, her stories, her fierce determination to do whats right for Renshu. They went through so much, and I enjoyed being along with them, even if it was hard reading at times. The scroll stories, the "is it a blessing or..." will stay with me, make me look closer at things I think. There were characters who seem harsh, but were looking out for their own families in a tough time. Who knows what we would do in the same position. I wanted to hug Meilin at times, tell her everything would be OK, but of course I didn't know if it would.
Renshu was such an amazing boy, so determined to make the best of every chance he was given. When he was in US, struggling, shy, confused the difference between him and all he;d been through and the blithe, carefree American students was so strong. I felt for him, especially the flashback incident. Rachel was wonderful, the perfect partner for him, and her parents, while appearing so prejudiced were just very typical of the time and opinions that prevailed then.
The ending is kind of bittersweet, great to see Henry and his family finally happy, but I was sad for Meilin, even though it was what she chose.

Stars: 4. I was hovering over a three, as that start was a real struggle, and I almost gave up but once into the story I was fully engrossed.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and publishers