Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Rating: 4.7/5

I’m not usually a sentimental reader, preferring high-stakes scenes of epic clashes and intricate magic systems intertwined with politics… this book is not like that. This book was like burnt caramel, bitter and heavy, yet with a lingering sweetness and mellow nostalgia, one that transported me into its pages.

Elizabeth Lim is known for her beautiful renderings of Chinese fairytales, and I had read some of her pieces before, but none of them have emotionally resonated with me as much as this novel. Far more than just a pretty retelling of a classical fairytale, this breathed life, and all the emotions and pain that come with it, into the endlessly rehashed Cinderella tale (or more accurately, Yeh Shen 叶限）.

We follow a dual POV structure, flashing back and forth between Helen (Yut Ying) and Marigold, her daughter, as they traverse life and historical tides of war across the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and the US. Although the magic was relatively simple, it added the perfect touch of whimsy to the tale, and the characters were beautifully developed.

I fear if I continue to wax lyrical, I will start giving spoilers, but overall I would like to highly recommend this poignant novel to all those who wish, as I did, to escape into the nostalgia of fairytales for a little while.

I didn’t know a book could break my heart so quietly… and then put it back together so gently. 💔✨😭

Fishbone Cinderella is haunting, emotional, and achingly beautiful — and Elizabeth Lim’s adult debut is nothing short of stunning. This story feels more grounded, more raw, and more deeply reflective, while still carrying the lyrical magic I’ve come to love from her writing. Once again, she reached straight into my chest, shattered my heart, and somehow left me feeling whole by the final page. 🫶💫

This isn’t just a Cinderella retelling. It’s a story about mothers and daughters, about generational wounds, sacrifice, survival, and a mother’s love that endures through time, distance, and heartbreak. 👩‍👧❤️ The magic is subtle but powerful, woven so naturally into the story that it feels like a quiet inheritance rather than something loud or showy. ✨🐟

I loved how unflinchingly emotional this book was. It doesn’t shy away from grief, loss, or regret — yet it never feels hopeless. There is something profoundly moving about the way a mother’s love persists, even when life is cruel, even when choices are impossible, even when words are left unsaid. More than once, I had to pause just to sit with my feelings. 😭

The historical backdrop adds so much depth, grounding the story in reality while making the moments of magic feel even more precious. Every character felt painfully human — flawed, loving, stubborn, and doing the best they can with what they’re given. 🤍

This book shattered me… but it also picked up all my broken pieces in the end. ❤️‍🩹✨
It reminded me that healing doesn’t erase pain — it grows around it, carried by love that refuses to fade.

I absolutely loved this book (as I do with all of Elizabeth Lim’s stories), and Fishbone Cinderella will stay with me for a long, long time. 🥹📖💫

Elizabeth Lim never misses.

Every book of hers is perfect and this one is no different.

Such a beautiful, emotional read. I’ve felt so connected to every book of hers I’ve read, they’re so flawlessly written and take you into the world easily.

This might just be my favourite so far! I’m so glad I got to read it early, and I will 1000% recommend it to anyone and everyone!

This is definitely a five Star book. And as usual Elisabeth Lim does not disappoint!

So, first of all, many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of *Fishbone Cinderella*.
I’m so glad to have had the opportunity to read this wonderful book in advance. Ever since Six Crimson Cranes and its sequels, I’ve been a huge fan of Elisabeth Lim. This time, she’s tackled a completely different subject. She’s written about the story of a young Chinese woman during the turmoil of the war years in the middle of the last century and how she eventually emigrated to the USA.

The story is so heart-wrenching that at times I simply couldn’t bring myself to read on, so saddened was I by the many challenges and tragic events she had to face.

A truly wonderful book, and somehow I hope there might be more stories to come about the fates of the individual characters.

This was such a good read.The writing style was beautiful, and I loved how it explored generational curses, womanhood, and the historical aspects of the story. It was engaging through and through.

thank you to netgalley and hodder books for sending me the arc for fishbone cinderella. as someone who was born and raised in Hong Kong, reading a book about the place’s landmarks and cuisine gave a sense of nostalgia and a longing for my childhood in a weird way (even though i lived in hk long after the book’s setting). i had never read about generational trauma (within asian families) in a fantastical setting before so I was concerned whether the unrealistic nature of the characters’ powers would dilute the nuances of these feelings. luckily, elizabeth lim proved me wrong. the sense of awe and devastation that i felt when reading this book. i can’t even put it into words because it simply does not do it justice.

from start to finish, i felt a rollercoaster of emotions - the childhood innocence that yat ying felt in the beginning, the disillusion when she became helen, the hope that came with the explanation of marigold’s background (+ her relationship with kenji hello!!! I NEED ENDLESS EDITS OF THEM ON MY TABLE ONCE THE BOOK GETS PUBLISHED PLS AND THANK YOU)… fishbone cinderella was truly a masterpiece in its execution and i absolutely loved the message/ the book’s ending of needing to acknowledge the hurt to break free from your past. the book manages an almost impossible feat that is hard to achieve nowadays in fiction - having an interesting plot while having satisfying character development. i loved how all the feelings of the characters in this book are depicted in a raw and unflinching way. don’t get me wrong - you will get annoyed at certain points of the story at them but you will love them nonetheless bc of how human their flaws are and that is what i love about fishbone cinderella most of all. it does not shy away from the ugly and beautiful parts of human emotion and no one is 100% a villain (even that chop stepmother i understand you but respectfully fawk u).

in dark times like this, the book’s message is incredibly powerful - love and hope are what drive us humans and bring us together. growing up with mommy issues (help), i related a LOT to marigold and yat ying’s tumultuous relationship and i am so glad this book exceeded my expectations and centred love around familial relationships aside from romantic relationships.

have i mentioned how much i love marigold and kenji? (yes but i won’t shut up about them BYE THEY ARE SO DEAR TO ME they give me shirbert vibes if ykyk) anyways hehe I can’t believe this is my FIRST elizabeth lim book and this is her adult debut HELLO??? IS SHE INSANE. i love you queen needless to say i am a huge elizabeth lim fan after this and will be purchasing the physical copy of this book once it gets published.

i think this is my favourite arc ever and my first 5-star read for a fictional book this year. truly flawless. no notes.

if you are finding one book to read this year, let it be fishbone cinderella. i am serious. if this book has no fans, i’m dead.