The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang is a beautifully written novel that completely swept me away. From the very first page, I was immersed in a world rich with history, tradition, and the quiet strength of its characters. Yang’s storytelling is both poignant and deeply evocative, bringing to life the complexities of friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of autonomy.

The novel explores themes of sacrifice, societal expectations, and the bonds that shape our lives. Through stunning prose and meticulous attention to detail, Yang paints a vivid portrait of a time and place where every choice carries weight. The relationships at the heart of the story are layered and compelling, shifting between rivalry, love, and a search for understanding.

The Lotus Shoes is more than just a historical novel; it's a testament to the enduring strength of women and the bonds that sustain them through life's trials. Jane Yang has crafted a story that lingers in the heart and mind, prompting reflection on the sacrifices made in the name of love, honor, and survival. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking a deeply engaging and thought-provoking experience.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

This is a beautiful story entrenched in Chinese culture and history. The characters are compelling, and both their feet and fates are bound together

I loved this book set in 19th Century China.

It is a captivating historical fiction novel, exploring the intertwined lives of two young girls from vastly different social backgrounds. Little Flower, born into poverty, is sold as a maidservant (muizai) to Linjing, the daughter of the affluent Fong family. Despite her lowly status, Little Flower possesses bound feet—referred to as "golden lilies"—and exceptional embroidery skills, both symbols of high social standing. Linjing, on the other hand, comes from a noble lineage but faces her own societal challenges. Their relationship oscillates between rivalry and reluctant friendship as they navigate personal ambitions and societal expectations.

4.5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK | Sphere for the ARC!

I had this in my digital library for a long time and it took me a long time to read this book. But oh my goodness, what an incredible book that explores women's hardships in the world. It explores the struggle of two women with different upbringings, where they are steeped in tradition and culture. The character development was spectacular. I couldn't put the book down at all, once I started reading it.

Beautifully written, deeply emotional read about two women raised in the same household but living very different lives. Little Flower has been sold into servitude and works as a maid to Linjing. With her beautiful bound feet, a symbol that is steeped in tradition and prejudice, she is seen as a reflection of being the ultimate graceful woman. By comparison Linjing's family refused to bind her feet as a child, leading to jealousy and envy. Linjing is awful to Little Flower, both emotionally and physically because she covets her beauty. She hates any affection shown to Little Flower and just generally is an insufferable character. And I know she's a product of her situation and at the mercy of men and society, but when compared to Little Flower she just came across as bitter.

The plot follows the two women as they grow up, with the two become inseparable by their shared differences but also by everything they have in common. I never really warmed to Linjing, yet admired Little Flower's resilience and tenacity to carry on. Even on her darkest days she attempts to see the good. Overall I found the pair to have great chemistry and they were both well developed.

Really touching character driven story that hammers home just how much women are reliant on societal pressures just in order to survive, particularly in historical settings.

This is a good read. Usually my taste in historical fiction runs along the WW2 vein so this was a new area for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Heartbreaking at times but then uplifting as our heroine works her way all the challenges that faced her through her life.

A beautiful read. A story of sisterhood, loss, love, betrayal and so much more. Captivating. Not only are feet bound but also their fate.

Perfect for fans of Memoirs of a Geisha

A captivating book. A slightly different genre for me as I don’t tend to choose historical fiction, but enjoyed Memoirs of a Geisha in the past. As this was likened to that book it intrigued me. The story is beautifully written, and I found myself encapsulated in it, absorbing the new culture in the same way as I did with ‘Geisha’. I wish this book every success it deserves.

A beautifully written and immersive story of two girls from completely different backgrounds growing up in China in the late 1800's. They come together when after the sudden death of her father, Little Flower is sold by her mother to become a "muizai" to a Lingjing, the eldest daughter in a wealthy household. A story fillled with culture and tradition, at times an uncomfortable read as it deals with foot binding and punishments.
As the girls grow up they flip between jealous rivals and tentative friendship, with the gulf of their different upbringings between.
I loved every page, and the story twists and turns right to the end - a highly recommended read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Lotus Shoes.

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an arc of this book.
The cover and the summary are what made me curious and ask for an arc of “The Lotus Shoes”. I wanted to like this book and I came away from this read in tears and in love with the story, the characters and the writing.

The plot sold in the summary only comes around 50% of the way through the novel, but it didn't bother me. Even though I was waiting for the promised breaking point, I enjoyed following Little Flower and Linjing in their lives that were both so close and so far apart. We are on a historical fresco, even a family one, with the points of view of a slave and the other of a lady, which means that for several subjects discussed we have two drastically different points of view.

The first part of the novel focuses on life in the Fong family, we learn about the hierarchy that governs the women/wives of the family. I didn't know it was so complex, and that there was so much power play between them. Many cruel and hard moments to read. 
The second part focuses on the aftermath of the "incident" and with it, we have the emergence of a little love story that I hadn't seen coming and that I really liked! This second part made me laugh as much as I cried, and until the end I thought it was going to end badly... And thank God it didn't!!

Of our two main characters, I must admit that I preferred Little Flower, who was sold as a slave at a young age and showed a resilience that few of us would have been capable of. She was humiliated, mutilated, robbed... And despite everything, she gets back up, fights for what she wants and for what she believes in. She even tries to understand, without excusing them, the people who hurt her. She shows a maturity and kindness that commands admiration. Despite coming from a peasant family, she is far from stupid, and she has managed to elevate herself intellectually with the crumbs she was given. 
Linjing is a much harder character to like. I enjoyed following her, but she is selfish... But that comes from the way she was raised, why fight and make efforts/compromises when you are born into a family that gives you everything? She has her good moments and I admit that her redemption at the end, where she finally realizes everything she did wrong, brought tears to my eyes. This Linjing was there from the beginning, but didn't have the opportunity to come out of her shell, because she was too blinded by her status.

This book touches on many subjects: the independence of women, slavery, but also art or how a passion/talent can help to overcome even social status.

I would recommend this book to people who love historical fiction, beautiful written book and also books with the same vibes as "Memoirs of a Geisha" by Arthur Golden.

Thank you NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group UK

When I first opened "The Lotus Shoes," I was immediately captivated by the promise of a heart-rending story set in 19th-century China. The novel follows the intertwined lives of two young girls, Little Flower and Linjing, whose fates are bound together in unexpected

Little Flower is sold to the wealthy Fong family to become a muizai, a maidservant, at a young age. Despite her lowly status, she possesses bound feet, known as "golden lilies," and a remarkable talent for embroidery, both of which are typically associated with women of higher status. Linjing, the daughter of the Fong family, initially resents Little Flower for her talents and does everything in her power to keep her under control. However, as they grow up, their relationship evolves from bitter rivalry to tentative friendship. When scandal strikes the Fong family, both girls are cast out and must navigate their new lives within the Celibate Sisterhood, a strict group of women who make their living by weaving silk.

From the very first page, I was drawn into the rich historical setting and the complex dynamics between the characters. Yang's writing is both elegant and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the small, bound feet and the intricate embroidery that play such crucial roles in the story. The emotional depth of the characters, especially Little Flower, resonated with me deeply. Her resilience and determination to rise above her circumstances were truly inspiring.

The relationship between Little Flower and Linjing is the heart of the novel. Their journey from enmity to a fragile alliance is beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for both of them despite their flaws. The twists and turns in their story kept me on the edge of my seat, and the ending left me both satisfied and reflective.

Overall, "The Lotus Shoes" is a masterfully crafted novel that offers a poignant exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the struggle for identity and freedom full of richly drawn characters, and high emotional drama

This is a beautiful story entrenched in Chinese culture. The characters are compelling, and the story told against a backdrop of footbinding is wonderfully written. The plot keeps you guessing until the final pages.

Set in China in the 19th century, this is the story of two girls from different stations in life. Little Flower is sold to become a muizai to the daughter of the wealthy Fong family. Little Flower had had her feet bound from the age of four, by her mother, hoping that her lotus feet would help her to get ahead in the world. Linjing on the other hand, had been made not to have her feet bound by her father, hoping to marry her into a progressive Chinese family, who didn't believe in the practice.

The story is told in alternating chapters from the two girls, and shows us the effects of these two decisions on them, in a China that is slowly changing with Western influences. Little Flower is a very likeable character, determined to get ahead, despite her origins, and being aware of her own worth, not just as a slave, owned by her family, but also as a highly accomplished embroiderer. Linjing, not so much. She is spoiled, and bitter. She resents any kindness her mother shows to Little Flower for her skills, but can't be bothered to apply herself and gain those skills for herself.

Their ups and downs, from the time their lives became bound together, makes for a diverting tale, but ultimately, I didn't really believe in Linjings ending; it seemed a bit out of character. This is pretty good for a debut novel, and I would happily read more from the author.

*Many thanks to Netgally and the publishers for a copy in exchange for an honest opinion.*

How much did I love this amazing historical powerhouse of a novel. In 1800s China, we follow Little Flower, who is sold to a well off family as a servant, and Linjing, who is in control of her. Despite the dark and serious issues at play, this book is also full of love and friendship.

An extraordinary story of resilience, hardship and struggle against a woman’s lot, fascinating to me as I know little about late nineteenth century China. It’s beautifully written, with well-rounded characters and tremendous empathy for the experience of women whose lives were dictated by their sex, their social status, and their families. The story deals with a time when customs were changing to allow women more freedom, but slowly, and not without cost. The POV characters are dynamic and although the reader can’t always approve of their decisions, or like them, the author skilfully makes it possible to understand and to forgive them. There are some shocking moments and circumstances this story doesn’t shy away from portraying the brutality and pain women might have suffered in a society where their value was measured by the size of their feet and their family’s reputation.
I have no hesitation in giving this book five stars, and am grateful for the opportunity to read an ARC.

This was an excellent read. Set in China in the late 1800’s, it has a well crafted plot with quite a few surprising twists and turns. The book centres on the interdependence of a girl sold into slavery by her mother and the girl she becomes the property of as they grow into young women. It is not a comfortable read at t8mes as the book does not fight shy on the appalling treatment given especially to the disadvantaged and it highlights that no matter your social class your choices as a woman are extremely limited. The book was to me highly informative and therefore a thoroughly worthwhile read.

captivating, immersive, in equal parts beautiful and heartbreaking. a deeply researched novel that reads like a fable. The Lotus Shoes tells the story of two Chinese women - one a slave, one a noblewoman - who are bound together from childhood. resentments and betrayals rise and fall throughout their adolescence, but their destinies are intertwined and they must carve out a new future for themselves. really stunning and a lovely bedtime read. thank you NetGalley for this review copy!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review .

A heartbreaking historical drama following two young girls in a changing China at the cusp of the 20th century - one a noble, another her indentured slave - and the highs and lows of their lives. While the writing is quite straightforward and at times even simple, something about the story of Little Flower and her mistress Lady Linjing is so compelling and captivating that I found it hard to put the book down. I found myself a lot more sympathetic towards Little Flower's character, but enjoyed the moments of seeing things from Linjing's POV as well - it added layers to the story to be able to see what was essentially the antagonist's story too.

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a good, sweeping historical read - and anyone with an interest in China's recent history. The book is set at a time where the empire had its feet in two worlds: one of the past, with strict rules of hierarchy including expectations on women and girls; another looking to a future of change and huge social upheaval.

Check trigger warnings: this book includes graphic descriptions of foot binding and abuse.

Starting the year with this sisterhood saga historical fiction set in late 19th century China felt important and apt. In The Lotus Shoes, Little Flower is raised in a loving, but poor, family. From the age of four, her mother has diligently taught her her worth in the world, making sure to carefully bind her feet to ensure she’d have the perfect ‘golden lilies’ – a ladylike sign that you’re worthy of being married. But, Little Flower is soon sold as a ‘muizai’ (a domestic servant in an affluent household; directly translating to ‘little sister’ in Cantonese) to the Fong household.

Linjing also knows her worth. Born to a wealthy family, she is her father’s favourite and has servants to cater to her every whim and, soon, Little Flower becomes her newest. Yet when her beloved father decides to leave her feet unbound – making a case for modern values – Linjing’s perfect bubble is burst. How can she be a lady and master to Little Flower and her golden lilies?

Beautifully told in lush, meandering prose, The Lotus Shoes charters the story of Little Flower and Linjing as their worlds converge in a tangle of resilience, self-belief, jealousy, sisterhood, femininity and womanhood in a fast-changing new world between Shanghai and Hong Kong. For Yang’s debut, this is a brilliantly immersive, moving tale. I had a few issues with pacing, but this is quickly patched over by the incredibly sharp vignettes Yang paints to deepen the story and paint China’s cultural history, and its societal and gender values. This is a dual perspective story, which of course might not work for everybody, but does a great job in highlighting the marked frustration of each character. A gorgeous, moving story.

This is a great read, a new take on a story of Chinese foot-binding, with Linjing encouraged by her father to adopt natural feet rather than having her feet bound into the 'golden lilies' so prized by society.

Linjing comes to resent her big feet, and particularly the golden lilies of her new maid Little Flower, and her cruelty to her maid because of this is horrid.

Sold by her mother, Little Flower finds life as a maid hard, and her journey through life alongside Linjing is one they must both adapt to and learn to bear, as a fall from grace becomes something they must both acknowledge.

I found the ending interesting and satisfying, and the characters are well-written and jump off the page; Jane Yang is certainly an author to look out for again.