With an achingly poignant exploration of strength in two women touched by tragedy, debut author Vaughn seamlessly melds powerful imagery and true emotion with this heart-wrenching tale of love and loss. Carrie had found her person in Jason, a frustrated Korean American financial wizard. They share laughter, love, and a deep desire to create in their life together the pieces that were missing from their single lives. They fall deeply in love—but there’s a sticking point: Jason’s mother, Hyosun, a Korean immigrant who raised her son in a rather traditional manner. After Jason’s untimely death in a car accident, a long-attempted rehabilitation, and Carrie’s disappearance after the funeral, both women have to take steps to ensure their emotional survival–even as they both desperately need the other to lean on.

The fractured relationship between Hyosun and Jason is masterfully developed. From hints of her childhood and what drove her to be a distant, at times cruel, maternal figure to achingly intense scenes that plumb the depths of buried emotion, one is quickly able to get an idea of who she is–but that foundation is carefully layered and nuanced. Carrie’s viewpoint comes across in a strong, distinctive voice, filled with hope and horror as she dissects her own relationship with Jason and also her almost overwhelming desire for a mother figure. Carrie’s journal entries and first-person reminiscing pair beautifully with scenes from Hyosun’s viewpoint.

At times, the shifting viewpoints–mainly between Hyosun and Carrie, though others, like the private investigator Hyosun hires to find Carrie, make an appearance–can blend without clear delineation where one ends and the next begins. But rich symbolism draws readers in, inviting them to share in the joys and sorrows of the women, and the leads’ spirit will keep readers engaged. Less a traditional romance and more a contemporary journey of discovery, each character is lovingly brought to life and the novel is a love-letter to mothers, lovers, and the celebration of culture.

Takeaway: A striking, soulful novel of cultural differences, motherhood, and making the difficult choices in life.

Great for fans of: Patty Yumi Cottrell, Steph Cha.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A