Such an emotional story, and informative with different cultures. I went in with an open mind and was not disappointed.

Thank you to the author, publisher and netgalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

A great read following the history of Suji and Haeven as they go through their lives from childhood to old age. A single decision affects a lot and this is a tale of family, love and sadness.

The highest commendation I can give to 'Homeseeking' is that it strongly evokes the essence of 'Half a Life Long Romance' by Eileen Chang. It is an exceptional novel that portrays the enduring bonds of love, family, and home, despite time and distance, and in the face of tremendous hardship. The sense of place at a distinct point in time is particularly powerfully conveyed. Wonderful, Highly recommended. Special thank you to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for a no obligation advance digital review copy.

A fantastic book. I loved the characters and the intriguing story arc of how one character’s point of view went forward in time and one went backwards. Would definitely recommend!

This book opens with a warning about language use and changes of names for characters and a reasoning about why the author chose to do that. It almost put me off before I started as it sounded serious and complex, but I could not have been more wrong!

This is a sad story of a couple who are torn away from each other and a future together several times during their lifetime - through no fault of their own! The book is set in a number of locations and even crosses continents from Shanghai to Taiwan, Hong King to LA. The author masterfully manages theses changes of location and language and the identity of each character as they adjust to their new life. By the time of their final location, their names have been westernised to fit in: Haiwen living as Howard and Suchi as Sue, the radical changes are also reflective of their experiences and a maturity that is hard to read about.

Life is not kind to either of these characters or their families. War breaks out, and no matter which 'side' your allegiance was given to, in the blink of any eye it was clear that your fortune could radically change. Haiwen is a dreamy character who is dragged along by Suchi. She loves him, but he seems oblivious to all but his beloved violin.

I didn't know very much about the historical events that shape this book, so at times, I had to look back and try to figure out what had happened. This was due to my lack of knowledge, not bad writing. Chen beautifully traces the withdrawal of the Japanese from Hong Kong, British Sovereignty and then the Taiwan Strait crises, not to mention The Great Chinese famine. This novel has made me curious to learn more and understand this complicated history which decides the fate of the characters so many times.

Initially Haiwen's family seem wealthy and privileged when compared to Suchi's who have a more working class feel to them, but neither family fares well as regimes change. Their extended families become decimated and Haiwen has to find ways to survive war and rebuild his life. Suchi and her sister are sent to Hong Kong by their father in an attempt to protect them, but their lives are harder than they ever imagined: poverty chases the two sisters and an unexpected illness and a rich admirer forces Suchi to marry against her will. In the meantime, Haiwen has developed an affection for someone in Taiwan, having to overcome Zenophobia and racism to build this relationship.

I think the title of this book is apposite. Both characters are backward looking and can never quite shape their original sense of home in Shanghai, but both have many loose ends back in Shanghai, trying to understand what happened to the family they left behind and also, when they meet in LA, trying to find a resolution for the sense of 'return' they find in each other.

The story has a feel of sliding doors in it. I really enjoyed it. Ultimately it is a love story set in a land which is foreign to me. Their experiences are bound up with culture and tradition. Time moves forward, but both of the protagonists are slightly stuck in a past which was never resolved. Furthermore, their life experiences were shocking and unexpected and almost always felt like the decisions they made were not their own.

Stunning piece of writing! Don't miss it.

In Homeseeking we follow Haiwen and Suchi through 6 decades, who were in love as teenagers and got separated because of a war and the choices they or others made. The story starts with them bumping into each other after many years in a grocery store in Los Angeles, where they both ended up.

Then Haiwen's story is told backwards, and Suchi's starts during her childhood. They met when they were seven in their Shanghai neighborhood through Haiwen's violin that's like a character too in the story. They fall in love, but then Haiwen secretly enlists in the Nationalist army (1947) to save his brother from the draft. He brings his violin to Suchi with a note a note: Forgive me.

The story is about the Chinese diaspora and the wounds that left in people's lives. A coming of age story where growing up is really complicated due to circumstances beyond your own grasp. Not knowing where family and loved ones are, whether they are still alive, the guilt that comes with that, making sacrifices to get a better life... It's told with a lot of empathy and understanding for the sometimes odd choices people make.

The characters in this book are very well developped. As we follow Haiwen, Suchi and Sulan (Suchi's sister) through many years, we see them change. What I liked about the book is that you understand why they change the way they do, why they do what they do. And I learned a lot about a part of history that was almost a footnote in my education. The book really captivated me from the beginning till the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton | Sceptre for the ARC. I really enjoyed it!

I was asked to review this book by NetGalley wow I cried buckets reading this beautiful book.

This follows Suji and Haeven as they grow up in WWII International Settlement Shanghai.War separates them when they are young and they go through their lives on a different path.

The author points out that a single decision can alter ones lives ( as I know only too well)

This book spans seven decades and we learn about their lives.

Just such a beautiful but sad story of love, family and decisions we take.

So recommended.

The book spans seven decades and several continents, from Shanghai in 1938 to Los Angeles in 2008, and is told in alternating narratives. With a few exceptions, Suchi’s story is told forwards while Haiwen’s story is told backwards. There are scenes seen from both their points of view, bringing home painfully things said or left unsaid that might have changed the course of their lives. Their stories converge at one point when concidence or, if you prefer, fate brings them together. At other times there are ‘near misses’ but mostly it’s a story of separation between two people who in other circumstances might have spent their lives together.

Both make sacrifices: Haiwen when he enlists in the army so his brother is not conscripted and suffers worse treatment than would a volunteer; and Suchi when she endures a loveless marriage for the sake of her sister, Sulan.

As they age, both Suchi and Haiwen are reluctant to revisit the past because it is too full of painful memories or because it might confirm their fears about the fate of loved ones. Haiwen’s brief visit back to Shanghai in 1983 demonstrates how much has changed about the place he grew up. We too can recognise the changes because of the evocative descriptions of the place during his and Suchi’s childhood.

Suchi and Haiwen’s stories unfold against a backdrop of a tumultuous period in Chinese history. This is exemplified in the changing fortunes of Shanghai, a Chinese city with enclaves controlled by the British and the French, occupied by the Japanese, and fought over by Nationalist and Communist forces during the Chinese Civil War.

The book explores the theme of identity, for example through the use of names. Suchi and Haiwen are known by different names in Shanghainese and Cantonese and adopt the names Sue and Howard when they move to America. Homeseeking is a story of displacement, of people uprooted from their birthplace through war, circumstance or the desire for a better life. The search for an opportunity to return to their roots or to find a new place that can feel like ‘home’ is at the heart of the book.

I really became invested in Suchi’s and Haiwen’s lives, hoping that both might find fulfilment and realise their dreams. In some ways they do but perhaps differently from how they might have imagined.

Homeseeking is a compelling story that explores many interesting issues and is beautifully written. I’ll confess though that the narrative structure and changes of timeline left me confused at times and the ‘back to front’ way Haiwen’s story unfolds often left me thinking ‘I already know that’. If, as a reader, you can get around this you will find Homeseeking a rewarding read. It’s certainly an impressive debut given its ambitious scope.

Enjoyable read and fascinating insight into East/West lifestyles. A brilliant saga! Wasn't sure what to expect with this but I really liked it.

At the start of this debut novel I was a little wary. In an introductory note on languages the author explains that characters may be referred to differently, depending on the Chinese language being spoken, which would influence spelling and punctuation. I had visions of not knowing who was who. It feels likes she is preparing us for something which is going to be complex. In fact, she states; “If you the reader, find yourself confused, I hope instead of giving up, you might take a moment to imagine what it must be like for those who have to navigate this on a daily basis, and then forge onward.”
There was no way it would have occurred to me to give up on this as I was with it from the get-go. With an epic sweep this novel focuses on the lives of Suchi and Haiwen, born in 1931, and takes us to 2008. There are two third-person narratives running alongside one another, one focuses on Suchi and runs forward in time from her childhood, the other from the man to whom she is devoted which runs back from 2008. These narratives features their lives in Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwen and Los Angeles.
The author is so good at creating a multi-sensory world which really brings things alive- the smells of food and the close living in the longtang, the Shanghai neighbourhood where the children grow up and is strong on sound, especially, the music of the violin emanating from child prodigy Haiwen and the music Suchi hears on the radio which fuel her dreams of becoming a singer and living a life more glamorous than the local people could imagine.
But circumstances conspire to stop these hoped-for futures from occurring. War causes separation from all of those they love at various points in time. At the heart of this is a love story between Suchi and Haiwen, soulmates who are forced apart with their lives just touching over the intervening years whilst the yearning is ever-present and this is beautifully done.
Characterisation is superb and although we are dealing with the characters when young and much older at pretty much the same time through the dual narratives, it feels consistent. The structure means we do not always appreciate the significance of events – some actions fall into the gaps between our encounters with them but as the one narrative moves forward whilst the other moves back everything falls into place.
I knew hardly anything about Chinese history at this time but far from causing confusion as she feared the author is a superb guide to the events in this part of the world and clearly demonstrates what life was like for both those who stayed put and those who moved away. Every time I picked up this book I was rewarded with a rich experience. I thought the writing was sublime, the plot handled strongly and the complex, often international, issues felt they had been so brought to life by putting them on a personal level for these highly memorable characters. Wow! What a debut! 2025 has certainly started off strongly.
Homeseeking by Karissa Chen is out now in e-book form and will be published by Sceptre Books in physical form on 20th February 2025. Many thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for the advance review copy.

Families separated by war. Lovers that is given the opportunity to meet again after decades of being separated. Everything has changed, is it for the better or worse? Suchi and Haiwen, two persons who made each other's lives complete. A tale told in alternating timelines, this one makes me laugh one second then cry on the next page. When I first started this book, I remembered thinking it was too long but then I find myself wanting for more. Excellent story. An excellent book to start the new year.

Wow - what a book to start the new year with!
I can honestly say that I regretted every minute that I wasn't spending reading this book and genuinely wished that it was longer as I wanted to spend more time with Suchi and Haiwen.
I loved the way that the way that we learned about the fate of the two main characters - the dual timeline was put to great use here and in a way that I don't think I've come across for a long time.
I also really loved that the book wasn't filled with paragraph upon paragraph of historical research - enough information was shared that you could follow what was happening in the world politically but this was woven organically into the story and not in a plot stopping way.
By the end I was in tears and have already recommended this book widely.

The publisher's 'blurb' for this book truly doesn't do justice to what Karissa Chen has done in writing this book. I knew little to nothing about China in the era immediately post Mao, of the Japanese occupation of Shanghai, or the conscription of recruits to the nationalist army, and their occupation of Taiwan. This book has made me want to know more about the reality lived by Chinese people at this time - I cannot imagine what it was like for people like Suchi's parents to send their children away to Hong Kong, knowing that they might never see them again, simply because they were afraid of what their own government might do to them if they were to stay. So I loved this book for telling me things I didn't know before/opening my eyes/making me want to learn just as much as I enjoyed the story itself, sad though it is. I am hugely grateful to NetGalley for giving me a chance to read an ARC in return for an honest review - this book tells of the interrupted romance between Haiwen and Suchi but is also much more than that.

Could I have found a favourite read of 2025 already? This book is absolutely spectacular.

A story of connection, love, and second chances this book broke my heart and put it back together again. Set against the backdrop of the Chinese War, this is the story of teenage sweethearts Haiwen and Suchi.

Spanning seven decades, Homeseeking is told from alternate points of view, Suchi tells her story from childhood to adulthood, and Haiwen tells his story backwards from adulthood to childhood. The transitions are seamless, and writing the book this way really adds layers to the story and the complexities of navigating love and family in a time of war.
Growing up together, Haiwen and Suchi are absolutely sure they are soulmates, the love they share is a one in a million type of love, so when they are separated due to Haiwen enlisting in the army to save his brother in secret, they end up world's apart but sixty years later after a chance encounter maybe they have a chance of reconnection.

Homeseeking is an absolutely beautiful sweeping novel, and I adored everything about it. You get to know the characters in such an intimate way it's impossible not to let them into your heart. The imagery from the setting is vivid, and the sense of place throws you right into the heart of the story. The way Karissa writes the intricacies of both Haiwen and Suchi's life is nothing short of stunning.

This book was my first read of 2025, and boy, did it set the standard. These characters, this story, will stay with me for such a long time.

As someone of Chinese heritage living in the UK, I often wonder if I should know as much about Chinese history as I know about the kings and queens of England. Homeseeking is the book that tells me that yes, I should.

The story begins with the ‘third and final time’ Howard and Sue find each other again in Los Angeles in 2008. They first met when they were Haiwen and Suji in Shanghai in 1938, children living in the same neighbourhood with another crucial coming together in Hong Kong in 1966.

The rest of their story is told out of chronological order, mimicking the way that memory works. Yet there is nothing dreamy about the meticulous, yet not overwhelming, research that underlies this novel that covers a period of history rarely covered in fiction – the second Sino-Japanese war, the Cultural Revolution, the separation of Taiwan from mainland China.

Our two main characters, whose story is perhaps not your traditional love story but certainly a romance, find themselves caught up in wartime events that renders their fates beyond their control in heartbreaking ways.

This story so resonated with me. My own parents lived through these times but never spoke of them so to hear the possibilities of what happened had particular significance for me.

Towards the end, a fellow soldier tells Haiwen, ‘It is better to kill a thousand innocent men than to let one guilty man live.’ Horribly chilling and tells you what these characters in their wartime were up against.

Even so, this is a story that will draw you in with its depictions of families torn asunder by political dogma, communities that hold together in spite of what fortune throws at them and the possibilities of forgiveness and redemption. Ultimately hopeful and a recommended read.

Homeseeking covers a period of Chinese history I knew little about. It charts the lives of a young couple, Suchi and Haiwen,from the mid 1940s to the present day. They grow up in Shanghai, fall in love, but on the verge of adulthood and exciting possibilities Haiwen makes a decision that destroys their chances of a future. In their 70s the couple meet again. Can Suchi forgive Haiwen and let go of the past?
Homeseeking moves backwards and forwards as the couple migrate to Taiwan, Hong Kong and America. Both face tragedy and yet find some joy in their lives. Still they are two halves of one coin and can never forget each other. The novel is immaculately researched and provided an education alongside a gorgeously written story. One of those books you feel rather lucky to have read, a very high bar at the beginning of the year.

Karissa Chen has written a most moving historical novel based on the lives of two Chinese families from Shanghai whose worlds are torn apart by the civil war in China.. Told in many flashbacks which are not consecutive the narrative follows the lives of two main characters a boy and girl in their teens and in love.They are torn apart when the boy joins the Nationalist army to save his family from persecution. Over the course of seven decades we follow their lives as they drift further apart and sacrifices are made. They finally reconnect both living in Los Angeles and try to rekindle their feelings for each other after over 60 years..
I cannot praise too highly the historical detail contained in this book which is both educational and entertaining.This is a story of love of war and the toll it takes on ordinary people.
The writing is excellent and is very moving in the way it portrays loss of family and of loved ones , memories which can never be erased..
A beautiful novel which I have no hesitation in recommending.

Thanks Sceptre and NetGalley for my advanced reader copy of this book.

When the war pulls teenaged Haiwen and Suchi apart, so begins this beautiful coming-of-age story of love, family, connection and unbreakable bonds. Haiwen and Suchi are best friends growing up together in a longtang in Shanghai. The war pulls them apart and Homeseeking is ultimately a story about how one small choice changed the course of our protagonists’ lives, taking us across several decades and countries.

Chen’s research for this book is clear to see: there’s war, politics, people and places to reckon with, not to mention the complexities of the multiple Chinese languages. I completely loved how the author brought this historical romance saga to life through environments, food (the ultimate Chinese love language!), clothing and language. Suchi and Suchan are the perfect characters to showcase the challenges of being a woman in the war in the 1950s. I completely adored this breathtakingly emotional story for its gorgeous balance of romance and historical fiction.

2025 reading is off to a great start with Homeseeking, a complex tale of family, love and life. Starting in Shanghai in 1947 we follow the lives of Suchi, Haiwen and their families all the way to Los Angeles in 2008. I was unaware of the background of the conflict between Taiwan and China and found this really interesting, especially seeing it from different sides.
The story captured my interest and I loved how it moved between Suchi and Haiwen and the different periods in their lives.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Homeseeking.

This book is heart warming. 70 years of the change in China and its inhabitants. A warm love story that was lost but found again after all those years.

Just goes to show you never forget your 1st love!.

Two totally different people who went their separate ways, came across one another after heartbreak, divorce, death in their family's. Can be together in their twilight years or has to much water passed under the bridge?

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read this advance copy.