The Fourth Daughter is mostly predictable, and a fairly easy read, but despite that I did enjoy parts of it. Around the 70% mark I found myself struggling a little and just wanting to get to the end, mainly because of how convenient and predictable the storyline became. I would have liked a little more depth and surprise.

That said, I really appreciated the dual timeline, which added something extra, and I found the Taiwanese historical detail interesting. The food descriptions were especially lovely, and they made me hungry and reminded me that I’d like to travel to Taiwan one day.

The novel explores themes of love, grief, friendship, trauma, domestic abuse, and the injustices faced by women. I particularly liked the presence of Ah-Ma’s cookbook filled with family recipes, and how it tied in with Liv being a chef; their shared love of food felt healing. The bond between Liv and her grandma was touching and one of the highlights for me. I received a free copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This one left me conflicted.

On the one hand, I valued learning about some of Taiwan's tragic, corrupt history as it was new to me. Specifically, the concept of giving away young daughters was hard to wrap my head around. Can you imagine? I can't. I absolutely adored the character, Ah-Ma, who felt genuine and one you want to rally behind. I think this will hit many parental readers out there.

On the constructive side, I struggled with the ease in which the story fell together. I found most of it a little predictable (there was one surprise that I didn't see coming) and convenient. I really wish there was a little more time to fill in some significant gaps in each main character's timeline and to develop the current day budding romance. This definitely had the makings of a very rich, moving and complex story.

I want to thank Lake Union Publishing for the complimentary digital copy via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. These opinions are entirely my own.

(3.5 stars)

This book is equal parts heart-wrenching family history, healing journey, and love letter to Taiwanese culture and food. From the very first chapters, I was drawn into Liv’s story—her struggle with trauma felt so raw and real, and her complicated but tender relationship with her grandmother, Ah-Ma, gave the novel its emotional heartbeat.

The mystery of the “fourth daughter” hooked me immediately. It’s not just about uncovering a long-lost family member, but about untangling generations of silence, sacrifice, and resilience. Lyn Liao Butler does a beautiful job of weaving Taiwan’s history—martial law, societal pressures, women’s roles—into the narrative in a way that felt both personal and sweeping.

One of my favorite aspects was the role of food. The dishes Liv and Ah-Ma share aren’t just meals; they’re symbols of memory, connection, and survival. I could almost taste the flavors as I listened, and the food became an anchor whenever the story turned heavy with grief and betrayal.

I think this book had a lot of potential, especially with its messaging about all the challenges that women face in Asian countries, including the disturbing and little-known history of tongyangxi and simpua, immigrating to a new country, and especially from the message of advocating for a free and independent Taiwan. I’m always excited to read works from a Taiwanese author because these stories were pretty difficult to find, at least in terms of works written in English.

However, I think some of the messaging gets a little diluted with the fluff romance, conveniently-placed characters and plot devices. The story is also told from a lot of different perspectives, and each character has a dark past - either they’ve caused someone’s murder, witnessed a murder, experienced a family member dying, or was a victim. To me, there was too much trauma-dumping/bonding. At the same time, the book felt like it was floated on a superficial level and the writing didn’t always carry the story, especially since it relied on some very common romance descriptors like “devilish grin”, “biting my lip”, and “small smile” (especially when characters are talking about their past traumas - I can’t imagine anyone attempting to smile through that).

This is also nitpicky but some of the elements of being Asian felt shoehorned in or have already been referenced in other similar works - for instance, the Simon teases Liv for having red on her suitcase, which everyone in the country does because it symbolizes good luck. As an Asian American who has traveled to multiple Asian countries, I’ve never encountered this and it was deeply reminiscent of Crazy Rich Asians when Rachel’s mom tells her to wear red to meet the boyfriend’s family and later her friend tells her to absolutely not do that.

On a deeper level, the characters all decide at one point in their respective lives to leave Taiwan or move to Taiwan, and with today’s political and economic climate, it felt unrealistic that this could happen on a whim.

Overall, I think there was too much going on in the story with lots of tertiary family characters that didn’t allow some of the deeper themes to be further explored.

Special thanks to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest, independent review.

A deliciously engaging read! Insightful glimpses into life under KMT rule, plus a protagonist and grandmother whose cooking had me drooling. Don’t read this hungry… but do read it!

This was an interesting and emotional read.
I enjoyed the culture & the bonds between characters.
I think it was quite simple but easy to read and lovely.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

No words could describe how beautiful this book was!

This was my first time reading a book set in Taiwan and I enjoyed it so much. It follows the story of Liv who comes to Taiwan to help her grandmother in the search of her long lost fourth daughter.

The story was emotionally packed for me. I couldn't help but feel worry that the fourth daughter might not even be found. I felt so sad on thinking about Yi-Ping's story on how she lost her daughter years back.

The book was also informative. I learnt a lot on Taiwan from this book. The past and the martial law imposed years back were all incorporated in the story, without feeling like a politically motivated or history book.

With themes like motherhood, love, women's suffering; the book was capable of giving me such a great experience reading this!

I devoured this book in 2 days.
A great read, I didn’t know much about the Kuomingtang in Taiwan, although not a political book it did give an insight into life under KMT rule.
The main protagonist and her Grandmother’s cooking was a real highlight for me and their recipe book would be a best seller I’m sure! - don’t read this book hungry, but do read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the copy to review.

This was a touching story that told of a history I knew very little about. All of the different emotions will hit you throughout this book but my favorite part was the unbreakable bond between grandmother and granddaughter. It was a beautiful story that will stick with me. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review - it's out now!

I enjoyed the Am-Ma portion of the story more than Liv’s chapters. It reminded me of Mongrel but not as good!

I actually don’t think I can adequately describe how absolutely gorgeous and amazing and heartfelt this book is. It deals with some really powerful themes of love and culture and forgiveness and doing what is best for you, and your family. It is such a sweet book that really hits the feels nice and deep - lots of tears were shed in this one. I truly couldn’t recommend this more. Absolutely obsessed and is easily my favourite book now.

The number four is unlucky in Taiwan. It sounds like the word for death. For Ah-Ma, Liv Kuo’s grandmother, that superstition became a lifelong wound when her youngest daughter was taken from her as an infant by her husband, a member of the KMT. For more than sixty years, she has been searching for her.

Decades later, Liv is a rising chef in Manhattan whose life is derailed by a violent incident that leaves her unable to leave her apartment. When Ah-Ma calls from Taiwan asking for help, Liv steps into a family history she never knew existed, and into a search that stretches across decades of political change, cultural traditions, and untold stories.

I went into this book not knowing much about Taiwan’s history under martial law or the ways political power could reach into private life. Butler weaves those truths into conversations, quiet moments, and food. Dishes here are acts of care, cultural anchors, and a way for characters to speak without words.

The story holds its weight without becoming overwhelming, balancing history with accessible storytelling. There’s violence here, domestic and otherwise, but it’s integral to understanding what’s at stake. Liv’s personal recovery and romance threads are lighter elements, adding a layer of approachability.

For readers who want to learn history through story, appreciate cultural detail, and enjoy fiction where food is part of the heartbeat, The Fourth Daughter is worth seeking out.

I was instantly absorbed in this book and the story. I was in a reading slump before and this book really helped me get out of it and fall back in love with reading. I couldn’t put this one down! I loved the characters and enjoyed learning about Taiwan, the culture, the food and the emotional story itself. I smiled and cried while reading this one and I felt hungry reading the descriptions of all the food. Very well-written and engaging that I highly recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review and feedback.

"I was sure she would come back one day, and I wanted to be able to make her everything she'd missed."

A family saga spanning three generations of Taiwanese women as Liv and her grandmother try to solve the mystery of the missing fourth daughter, given away by Liv’s grandfather amidst the height of the KMT - and never spoken of since.

Butler has created a multi-generational story that confronts familial trauma and memory, told primarily through the eyes of Liv, a chef suffering from PTSD following an attack at her restaurant and who feels disconnected from her Taiwanese heritage. But when her grandmother calls her for help in locating the daughter that her husband gave away decades ago, Liz is drawn to Taiwan not only to heal the family, but herself as well. This search is told through shifting perspectives - Liv in the present day, Ah-Ma as a young woman, Ah-Ma’s friend Ziyi, and Ang-Li, a man who will bring the tale full circle - and across the decades.

The Fourth Daughter’s observant, spare style of storytelling allows the relationships and internal lives to shape the narrative, punctuated by food-centric details that create a through-line for the interweaving narratives. At times the dialogue and reflections are a little on the nose in regards to greater messages, but not in a way that detracts from the narrative. Liv’s PTSD, while a secondary point and not part of the core conflict, is treated with an openness and not a personal failing, adding to her complex experience of her family’s search and history. While the relationship between Liva and Ah-Ma is central and well-developed, the romance with Simon starts somewhat realistically, but packs less of an emotional punch due to his lack of deep characterization. He at times reads more as a plot tool than a fully developed character.

The strength of this story is as a family saga and relational exploration. Those looking for more of a mystery may be disappointed and find the resolution to feel unearned. The emotional payoff and warmth is comforting, but may not present as much of a challenge to certain readers.

Overall, I’m extremely glad to have read this. I was very much reminded of my own grandmother, and my own feelings and experiences as a child of immigrants. I’m also grateful for the perspective this book provided, as I am not as familiar with this period in Taiwan’s history.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

A heart-warming story about a woman’s search for her long-lost daughter. Told between many POV’s, including grandmother and granddaughter. This has two timelines as well teaching us about political climate during this time period. I really enjoyed Liv and Ah-Ma’s relationship. It was so touching and I loved their connection. Overall, this is a lovely story that will leave stick with you past the last page!

thank you NetGalley for an ARC both audio and e-reader!
This book is outstanding! told in varying timelines and varying voices, this is the story of not just a mother's search for her beloved fourth daughter who was stolen from her and not just of three generations of women but is also a story of martial law in Taiwan and how it ripped apart families and also a story that ponders the question: what is family and who do we love.
The narration is done in different voices for each character's chapter.
I couldn't put this one down; if I wasn't reading, I was listening. I recommend not listening to the ending while you're walking your dog unless you want people to stare and your sobbing face!
Let's hope there is a sequel, especially about the woman who owned the medicine shop. I know she has a story for sure.
Now curious to read more about Taiwan during these times, I am grateful for the education.
Historical fiction should be required reading, especially now for American women. Martial law ended there in 1987. 1987! we need these stories to be told so history doesn't repeat itself.

A dual timeline novel where a grand-daughter goes back to Taiwan to help her grandmother find her missing fourth daughter, stolen from her by husband when she was only age 2. The timelines track the past in the 1950s and the present day with something in the present day triggering the move into the former timeline. It's a novel with a big heart and emotional depth but, for me, the ending, whilst satisfying, was a little too neat, a little too contrived. However, don't let that detract you from a novel set in a less well-known setting (1950s Taiwan, hadn't realised that this was a military dictatorship) where good triumphs over evil and the value of family and friends are celebrated. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

The book helped me learn a great deal about the KMT and Taiwan's history. It was an easy read, and the writing style was quite friendly.

This is a compelling family saga with two main storylines. One follows a granddaughter who struggles with post-traumatic stress and travels to Taiwan to help her grandmother find her fourth child. The other storyline focuses on Grandmother Wang Yi-ping, who, as a daughter-in-law in a powerful political family, gave birth to a daughter who was taken from her in 1959 in Taichung, Taiwan.

The story explores themes of trauma, loss, resilience, and survival, while also highlighting the atmosphere of fear during the martial law era under the KMT in Taiwan.

I love the way Lyn Liao butler tells a story. I felt as if I was transported into the book with the characters. This is the second book that I read by this author and I will continue to read them!