This is an intriguing story with many important messages. A mother is sitting in an airport in Philadelphia waiting to return to Vietnam, her native country. She thinks her toddler daughter is playing underneath her seat but then discovers she has gone. She has to get on the plane alone. The question for the reader is which of the other characters whose growing up in the United States is the central story is the stolen child. There are two main girls in the story, Kit is also adopted and of mixed race living in a prosperous family. Her school friend Sabrina is also of mixed race but lives with a single mother in poverty. The story tracks normal teenage growing up, boy friends, fall outs and ambitions. Both are bright and headed for prestigious universities. One summer, Kit goes to Tokyo to stay with the US ambassador, married to a Japanese woman and a friend of her father. That gives the book another good experience. She falls in love with the son of the family who is also headed for an American university. Quite apart from the basic story of who stole the child, the author explores very sensitively the way in which people of mixed race are treated and also the social issues of class attitudes. The mother who never found her child cannot return to the US until an employer brings her with them. She then sets out to find her daughter and turns up on her doorstep. The reader has to decide that will be! This is a book that raises important issues and its main story is very readable. I recommend it.

Bloody brilliant. I am so impressed by My Other Heart, Strenner's immersive debut novel. This astounding piece of work is an unflinching exploration of Asian-American identity, discrimination, adoption, and classism. At the same time, the novel makes sharp observations about friendship, family, and the pangs of first love.

First of all, My Other Heart seamlessly integrates a complex web of characters, settings, and viewpoints into a coherent, impactful narrative. While the novel takes place in diverse locations such as Pennsylvania, Tokyo, and Vietnam, Strenner never loses touch with her over-arching story and ensures the reader never feels lost.

Sabrina Chen and Kit Herzog are the protagonists we spend the most time with throughout the novel. Sabrina is intelligent, hard-working, and struggling to find her place in a very white, privileged suburb. She is a remarkably resilient, lovable character and I cherished watching her find her voice and make meaningful connections. While Kit is much more privileged than Sabrina and a tad unlikable at times, she is also an interesting and sympathetic character that grapples with finding her identity as a child of a closed-adoption.

The bonds between mother and child are depicted with care and nuance. Mimi Truong’s relentless search for her long-lost daughter, even from across an ocean, is deeply moving. Lee Lee, though somewhat stern, admirably works to impart Chinese values to Sabrina while navigating the challenges of being a single, low-income parent. Meanwhile, Sally wrestles with the emotional complexities of raising an adopted daughter and allowing her to explore her roots by visiting Japan for the summer.

The ending of this book is fantastic, at times heartbreaking and other times joyfully life-affirming. Moreover, the plot twists and dramatic revelations are masterfully executed. Every single aspect of the novel, from the teenage romances to the struggles faced by undocumented immigrants, is written with remarkable sensitivity, depth, and heart.

I cannot praise My Other Heart enough. This is a novel that spans decades and continents, yet remains deeply intimate and moving. Do yourself a favour and read it as soon as it's released — you'll thank me later.

*I received an e-ARC for free in exchange for an honest review*

Moving heart breaking and just the type of book you can't put down. Told in a tender voice over person's of time this book was unique in plot and strong in character. 4 Stars