Love love love. Boyne‘s writing is evocative, quirky, and plays simultaneously with comedy and tragedy in the same moments. It‘s not surprising that he dedicates this novel to John Irving, a longtime friend and mentor. Their unorthodox, provocative writing styles are very similar, even as Boyne creates a narrative world all of his own.

I was on a spy novel kick after reading the entire “Red Sparrow” trilogy by Jason Matthews. The premise is compelling, but many of the plot details/motivations don‘t make complete sense, and the main characters seem largely underdeveloped. Still worth a read if you‘re hankering for a modern-day DC-Russia spy story.

Both a mystery novel and a coming-of-age novel in one book. Ng‘s writing draws you in. Looking forward to reading more from the author.

A must-read for historical fiction aficionados. A sweeping, decades-long account of a Korean family struggling to survive in WWII-era Japan.

Excellent read. Much more nuanced than the film adaptation. Shows a more realistic portrayal of spy life that isn‘t all James Bond-esque fancy car chases and explosions but moves at an exciting pace nonetheless. Strong, sassy, intelligent female protagonist.