I’m so glad there have been more narratives about this period of time, as I don’t think it is known, or spoken about enough.

A beautiful family saga. I always love an insight into other cultures and this was an engaging, sometimes difficult story..

I did have to refer to a map a couple of times to understand the geography as I’m not familiar with it.

This book is about three generations of a family. I learned so much about Chinas history in this book. It is written so
Beautifully. The ending was so emotional.

Beautiful scene setting from the start, with such an evocative effect that I was absorbed from the start. A strong addition to the Chinese historical fiction genre.

WW2, civil war in China and conflict with Japan is the backdrop for this heartbreaking story of how evil humans can be to each others but also one of extraordinary hope and love in ordinary people.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

I surprised myself by getting in this story quite quickly. It wasn't my usual type of read and I'm quite glad I went out of my comfort zone for it. I wasn't spellbound by it by any means, but I enjoyed the change of pace.

I have a deep appreciation for East Asian literature and this book is the perfect example for that.
Without spoiling anything, I’ll just say that this book tugged at my heart strings like no other.
Give it a try, you won’t be disappointed.

Well, this is certainly different to what I usually read, but in a good way, it's focused on a subject in history that I have, to be honest about and say don't know a lot about but I was thoroughly intrigued and the story kept me engaged throughout.

It's a sweetly tender and moving story, and it's definitely got the emotional pull, I did enjoy it though I didn't love it and I thought at times it was a wee too heavy for my liking and needs time set aside to fully appreciate the story.

Overall, an beautifully told story!

"Peach Blossom Spring" by Melissa Fu is a beautifully written debut novel that explores themes of identity, belonging, and family. Set in both contemporary New York City and China, the story follows the journey of a young Chinese American woman who travels to China to reconnect with her roots and uncover the secrets of her family's past. The rich descriptions of both settings and the nuanced portrayal of cultural differences make for an engaging read. Although the plot may be slow-paced at times, the vivid characters and introspective narrative make "Peach Blossom Spring" a thought-provoking and rewarding read.

Lovely read but long winded.
I read this on and off over a period of months as it is a nice read, but slow and long.

This book was stunning. I absolutely adored it. I felt every part of the sweeping journey through Meilin, Renshu and Lily’s elements of the story and the sense of grief, loss, trauma and identity really shone through. I can’t believe I have left it so long to pick this up.

I adored Meilin and her resilience. She showed so much strength and was such an incredible main character.

I genuinely didn’t know what to expect when starting, but I am blown away. I loved it.

long winded and rather dull I'm afraid. the characters seemed rubbery and unlikeable and the story just seemed strained

Peach Blossom Spring is a literary fiction that follows a Chinese family and their history in the dangerous situations they have to face in the continuously changing China. The story is interspersed with texts and a few historical context (that aren't verified) throughout the book. It is a very emotional story that illustrated familial relationships and how this can be impacted by cultural and societal expectations. I would highly recommend this book to my friends.

Thank you netgalley for the arc!

Peach Blossom Spring is the beautifully told story of three generations of a Chinese family as they experience love, war, migration and their driving need to belong.

Meilin leaves her home in order to protect her son Henry, and find somewhere safe for him to grow up. But without passports or papers to isn’t easy. She relies on her own abilities to survive along with the help she gets from others.

Henry goes to America to study at university and ends up staying on to work. He marries, gets a good job, and tries his best to be a good American. This is at a time of fear and suspicion of communists and everything either Chinese or Russian. Henry is terrified that he’ll draw the wrong kind of attention, and deprives his daughter of learning his language or traditions.

I felt so sorry for Meilin, left behind in Taiwan, so far from her son and unable to join him in America. I also felt for Henry, limited by his fear. But Henry’s daughter provides the bridge for Henry to return to his homeland.

I loved everything about this book - the settings, the history, the characters. And the fact that this is semi-autobiographical was just the icing on the cake.

A wonderful novel.

Initially, I found this quite hard to get into, which disappointed me a bit as I teach many Chinese students and love the premise of this book. I persevered and settled into it after a couple of chapters. Then I got it on Audible and it came even more vividly alive for me at that point and I was captivated, and transported and absolutely engrossed. Peach Blossom Spring is a beautiful beautiful saga spanning major events of recent Chinese history and the story-telling is authentic and compelling. I will read this again. It was absolutely worth sticking with.

Please note that this book is not for me - I have read the book, However I had to DNF and because i do not like to give negative reviews I will not review this book fully - there is no specific reason for not liking this book. I found it a struggle to read and did not enjoy trying to force myself to read this book.

Apologies for any inconvenience caused and thank you for the opportunity to read this book

'Peach Blossom Spring' illustrates the history of modern China through the experiences of one family. Melissa Fu also intersperses the text with some Chinese folk tales, which I particularly enjoyed. It's a captivating, multi-generational novel and one which I found deeply moving. I look forward to reading more from this author.

A beautifully written sweeping intergenerational family story about modern China. I enjoyed following their journey across continents through time.

In 2012 I spent a summer studying in China and had the most amazing experience. During my time in China I learnt a lot about this history of China, something I must say is very much lacking from the British History Curriculum in schools as it is absolutely fascinating, and I am still keen to learn more so so was excited to read Peach Blossom Spring.

I absolutely adored how the book moves through time from 1938 China to present day USA and how it weaves in fables and stories from Chinese history and storytelling. The book covers so much, from the Japanese invasion of China in the Sino-Japanese War, the ongoing battle for ownership of Taiwan and the challenge of identity and heritage in the Western world and cross cultural relationships.

The storytelling in Peach Blossom Spring is beautiful. It flows well despite spanning such a long time frame and it is engaging, interesting and full of empathy. I was so drawn in to Renshu and Meilin's story. I was touched by the selflessness and generosity of Meilin and enjoyed the spirit of Lily.

I'm not a huge reader of historical fiction but when done properly it really is a thing of beauty and Peach Blossom Spring really is a spectacular novel.