Review by
K.T Sullivan
Gretchen
Lin finds out about her husband’s affair right before a trip home to Singapore.
Her mother isn’t well and her father’s business is floundering. Her cousin,
Cal, was supposed to assume a leadership position in the family owned soy sauce
company, but he’s not executive material. Women don’t run firms, but her father
and uncle have little choice. She agrees to help for a limited time. Her soon
to be ex-husband Paul wants her back in San Francisco. Working with her father
reignites painful memories of the reasons why she left. Through a friend she
meets James. A possible cure for all that ails her. She’s given a major
opportunity in the company. One to prove herself capable and worthy, but it
comes with costs. What is a daughter’s responsibility to fulfill her parents’
dreams? Is she allowed to make mistakes and start over?
I like
Gretchen. She tries to please everyone, but ends up with the short straw. Her
parents, husband, boyfriend, and friends have their own agendas. She’s not a
priority with them and has to learn to carve out her own life. The way she
proves her business savvy is funny and brave. She realizes her missed
opportunities, especially with her mother, and tries to make amends. On a
couple of different levels, many women will see themselves in Gretchen.
The story is a taste of bridging two cultures and making them
one. An enjoyable read.
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About the Author:
Kirstin
Chen is a former Steinbeck Fellow in Creative Writing, she holds an MFA from Emerson
College and a BA from Stanford University. She was born and raised in Singapore
and currently lives in San Francisco with her husband.
Connect with the author at:
