A stunning piece of literary fiction that will pull on your heart strings and make you question so many truths. A powerful read.

I was only 10% of the way through this book when I knew Homeseeking would stay with me. This sweeping historical romance saga spans seven decades; epic in scope but intricate in its detail. Karissa Chen brings to life everything from the tastes and smells of home-cooked meals to the snippets of conversations overheard in the longtang. Music is ever-present, from the songs that inspires Suchi's dream of becoming a singer to the sound of the violin that first draws her to the boy who will become her soulmate, Haiwen.

This is where our story begins. Shanghai 1947, as the two young dreamers become friends. However, their dreams are shattered when Haiwen makes the decision to enlist in the army instead of his brother, a choice that irrevocably shapes the course of their lives.

Chapters alternate between Suchi's chronological narrative and Haiwen's, whose story is told in reverse, beginning in 2008 Los Angeles where he sees his childhood sweetheart for the first time in decades. The weight of the shared history raises the question of whether they can rekindle what they once had. Haiwen’s reverse narrative reflects his desire to preserve the memory of his family, his music, and Suchi. To forget it would be to lose a part of himself. Meanwhile, for Suchi, dwelling on the past and asking, “What if?” only leads to pain and heartbreak.

It took Chen seven years to write this novel—eleven years in total, including her initial research—and it has paid off. What began as a short story has evolved into an emotive, educational, and unforgettable epic.

This book broke me and barely put me back together again! Somehow it managed to be sweeping yet intimate, heartbreaking and hopeful.

It follows the lives of Suchi and Haiwen - who meet in childhood in Shanghai, fall in love, and reconnect as immigrants in California in their 70s - set against the backdrop of the Japanese war and the Chinese civil war and spanning Shanghai, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the U.S. It is a breathtaking debut about love, longing, belonging and the Chinese diaspora.

Every single character in this book is well drawn, which adds to the emotive power of the plot as you see the impact of events across multiple characters and perspectives, and the painful and personal sacrifices made to protect loved ones.

The structure of this book is also brilliant. The timeline moves forward for Suchi and backwards for Haiwen, meaning the perspective of the other bleeds into the current timeline. You see Suchi from Haiwen’s (Howard when he’s older) perspective, and how she may have changed and become more reserved and cautious, then you meet young Suchi who is bold and ambitious.

It is a beautifully depicted story about how war and its aftermath affects families and individuals, about how it changes a person and yet doesn’t change them at all, alters the course of a life, but maybe not the final destination when Suchi and Howard meet again in later life.

But mostly it’s about home and what it means to be displaced. How home is yearned for and recreated in a different form, and how to reconcile the past with a present that is different to what you would have chosen but that you’ve grown to accept and appreciate.

It is a thoughtful, devastating debut that will stay with me for a while.

‘Homeseeking’ by Karissa Chen is a deeply moving dual narrative that spans seven decades. Chen weaves together the story of Suchi, as we advance from her childhood in 1940s Shanghai, and Haiwen’s story running backward from 2008. Will a chance encounter in later life bring them another opportunity to fall in love? Chen’s writing is lyrical and poignant, with both characters’ points of view framed against thought-provoking social reflections on cultural changes that surround them. Chen’s words capture what it means to be displaced and search for meaning and identity. This book celebrates love and resilience, wisdom and courage and the ever-evolving concept of home. A beautifully written book that I highly recommend.

Fell in love with the gorgeous cover and fell in love with the story
A more extensive review will follow. Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

Suchi and Haiwen's love story is one like no other. Their story spans several decades and several continents, and they eventually find each other again in old age.

We follow them in times of war, living lives that would not be their first choice. They both made sacrifices for the people they love. Tragically, that's why they couldn't be together.

This book had everything for me.... the storytelling, the setting, the characters.... I was deeply invested.

Thanks to NetGalley, publishers and author for an ARC of Homeseeking.
The story follows two children in Shanghai from 1945 onwards, and their families, as they navigate their way through wars, famine and displacement.
This was an incredible story that tugged at the heartstrings and opened my eyes to many of the hardships faced in the East. I learned so much reading this book, and I will continue to educate myself on this topic.
My only cristism is that I struggled with the time jumps. I don't mind time jumps between past and present, but this jumped erratically, for example 1949, to 2008, to 1965, to 1950(this is not exact timeline mentioned in the book). I struggled slightly with remembering if incidents we read about previously had happened or not, however I understand the jumps for how it told the story.

Homeseeking is a beautifully written story, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and migration. Chen’s prose is thoughtful and evocative, and she has a real talent for capturing the emotional complexity of her characters. There were moments that truly resonated with me, especially in how she portrays family dynamics and the struggles of cultural identity.

I found it interesting to learn about Chinese culture and history, and the contrast was very visible (as expected) to the LA scene and even Taiwan. What stood out most to me was how vividly she captures the push and pull of cultural expectations, especially within the Chinese and Taiwanese diaspora. Her writing is both poetic and precise, making every story feel immersive and emotional. I thought the main characters, Suchi and Haiwen were very well developed; their personal development throughout the book was quite fulfilling to read... there is some things about us that never change, no matter how old we get!

I'm starting to enjoy dual point of views more and more when it comes to my own reading journey, and I especially enjoyed following Suchi and Haiwen's stories from different timelines. It made me feel more connected to them, and definitely made it easier for me to understand who they are at their core!

A difficult book to get invested in and two protagonists who were difficult to like. Very to-ing and fro-ing which soon became frustrating.

Thank you Sceptre and NetGalley for the ARC. I was so excited to read this. Unfortunately, I didn't have enough time due to work commitments but I will make sure to read this in the future. AND I encourage other readers to read this because the plot sounds very interesting and that's why I wanted to read it!

When Suchi meets Haiwen as children in 1930s Shanghai, she is immediately drawn to the small, quietly assured boy. Wrapped up in his world of music, he dreams of being a violinist, while she dreams of being a singer. A friendship blossoms and before they know it feelings have grown. But Shanghai is under Japanese occupation, times are volatile and uncertain, and as the world around them tremors, what they have is threatened.

Sweeping across continents and generations, and changing social, political and global climates, Homeseeking is a deeply moving multigenerational family saga and historical fiction, with a beautiful love story at the heart of it. Moving back and forth in time, from Shanghai in the 1930s and 40s, to LA in the 2000s, and a selection of other places and points in time in between, this is a long enough novel to really get lost in, one which explores so many themes: a pivotal time in Chinese history, the nuances of language as a part of identity and as a tool for survival, the hopes parents have for their children and the ambitions we harbour for ourselves, immigrant life, motherhood, the desperate measures we take to survive, and the secrets that tear families apart. The novel opens with an interesting note from the author on language, and how she has endeavoured to keep faithful to shifts in language and names as her characters move through different Chinese-speaking regions of the world.

I really loved this book. Suchi and Haiwen are such well developed characters and the passion they both feel, in very different ways, for the futures they envision for themselves and their loved ones is beautifully explored; as we follow them through the years, we see them grow, we see how they keep so many traits they had as children, and yet in other ways they change and surprise us, influenced by the forces at work around them. With immersive writing, Chen beautifully captures a sense of what our protagonists have endured over the years, and how the key characters we meet throughout the novel strive to understand the generations who went before them. This is beautiful, emotive, compelling storytelling with a deftly captured sense of place - the longtangs of Shanghai in particular - that really draws you into Suchi and Haiwen’s worlds.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the DRC.

Tells the story of Haiwen and Suchi, childhood sweethearts in Japanese occupied Shanghai.
Suchi was drawn to Haiwen by the sound of his violin.
Their lives take different directions as a result of the Chinese Civil War and they reunite in their old age in California
Told from both points of view - Haiwen looks back, holding on to his story, while Suchi starts from her childhood and only moves forward with her story
It’s an engaging and unique read as with each timeline you are drawn deeper into the story
Told with such empathy - it’s a sweeping epic debut
“A single choice can define an entire life”
Thanks @karissaychen @sceptrebooks & @netgalley for the amazing debut read

Homeseeking is an ambitious debut novel by Karissa Chen that was released at the beginning of the year, and I found it deeply compelling. The story spans over 60 years, unfolding across China and the United States, and follows two main characters, Suchi and Haiwen. Their love story is shaped and doomed by unfortunate timing. One of the most intriguing aspects of the novel is its structure. Suchi’s chapters progress linearly, while Haiwen’s are told in reverse, creating a unique and immersive reading experience.

Despite being a debut, the writing is exquisite. It’s clear that the author put immense effort into research and storytelling, and it truly pays off. The novel is quite long and literary, so it took me some time to get through, but the ending was worth it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Homeseeking nominated for literary awards. If I had to draw a comparison, I’d say it feels like a literary counterpart to Love, Rosie by Cecelia Ahern.

It is an amazing, very touching, and well-written book! The author conducted profound research, bringing six decades of stories with romance and tragedies to life in a compelling and relatable way. Despite my busy schedule, I was completely engrossed and finished it in just two days. A heartfelt salute to the author!

Starting off in 1940s Shanghai and finishing in LA in 2008 this story flits back and forth to different times in our protagonists lives. We see them meet, part and find each other again over the years and all that happens in between. It is a beautiful, heartfelt tale of lost love, family, war, and displacement which is full of pain and longing but offers the promise of a second chance. I loved the dual POV, the historical detail, the complexity of the characters, the vivid sense of place and the vast span of the story. It was an emotional journey for sure but one I relished and won't forget anytime soon.

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.