In this beautifully interwoven narrative, we follow Little Flower, who is sold into slavery to the Fong family at the age of six, and Linjing, the eldest Fong daughter who becomes her mistress. Together, they must navigate their lives as Chinese women in a man's world.

The story switches between the points of view of Little Flower and Linjing, allow us to see situations from the perspective of two different classes. The writing is immersive and the cultural aspects are clearly presented, making this easily accessible to readers who may not be familiar with China in the 1800s.

A recommended read for fans of Memoirs of a Geisha, Lisa See's novels, and historical fiction centred on female characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Little, Brown Book Group for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Firstly can I have a bit of commotion for the cover. How gorgeous is it?! And I would also like to point out that this is Jane's debut, and so she's definitely got my intrigued for her future work.

I haven't read much Chinese fiction, in fact I think I've only read a handful over the years, but what I have found is it tends to be wrapped up in a sense of magic. I can't quite put my finger on it. But I find fiction from that part of the world (China, Japan, Korea), it's like a kind of nostalgia for a place and time I don't know. They seem almost...delicate. In the way a ceramic vase can be beautiful but fragile, that's how I feel about books from that part of the world. Hopefully that makes sense to you, or you might just think I've officially lost the plot - you wouldn't be the first one to think that.

I do love a historical novel, especially when set in a place I know nothing about, so this had it all going for it.

This book opened me up to a culture I knew little about. For example, I had heard of foot binding, but I never really understood what foot binding means in China, only my uneducated western opinion, and so I love having my eyes opened to important cultural aspects that seem to have passed me by.

It is quite a hard book to read in terms of the content. It's not full of violence or erotica or anything like that. But there's certain elements that I found quite distressing to read - which I admit may be due to my lack of cultural understanding.

I admit there were times I considered stopping reading it. Not because it was bad or boring or I wasn't enjoying it, no. But because it made me really angry, some of these things that they do, treating young girls the way they do (I won't spoil it by saying how), or "unworthy" mothers. And I think because it's very real is what angers me. So it wasn't a book I could read in one sitting. I had to take breaks from it and let it sink in.

It is very character heavy, which I like. There is a plot but this is more the journey of the characters go on and how they work off each other, which I really enjoyed.

There are a few time jumps in the book, which I understand because you want to show these characters at different ages, but some I felt were a little sudden. I'd have liked a more gentle transition through the ages so we can get a really good picture of how they are at each stage, but that's a small point, and not enough to make the reading of it less enjoyable, just an observation.

I did think it was going to be a Cinderella Story kind of story, which it wasn't. It went down a route I wasn't necessarily expecting but it was still an interesting story to read, I couldn't guess where I thought it was going at any stage.

Overall I think it's a very promising debut. It's full of heart, history, passion, and culture, with well written characters and a fascinating journey. It's very honest and raw and not always in a way that makes for easy reading, but very interesting and enjoyable all the same. This is a very accomplished book that it's hard to believe it's Jane's debut, but I am eager to see how she follows it up.

Oh my goodness what a wonderful read. I soaked up every page. Set in 19th century China this is the story of two very different girls/women. At the tender age of six Little Flower is sold by her mother to the wealthy Fong family and she becomes a muizai to the first wife’s daughter Linjing, her job is to be at Linjing's beck and call, basically her personal slave. Little Flowers has bound feet, rare for the lower classes, and she also excels in embroidery. Linjing's father has decided that her feet should not be bound as he wants her to marry a progressive man who doesn’t want a woman with lotus feet. A beautifully written narrative had me captivated in this well paced story.

Briefly, Linjing is jealous of Little Flower’s tiny feet and embroidery skills, made worse when Linjing’s mother praises Little Flower and seems to compare the two children unfavourably. As a result Linjing doesn’t treat Little Flower well and when, at the age of 18, Little Flower should be given her freedom into marriage Linjing makes sure she can’t leave her. However, before Linjing’s own marriage takes place, and the two young women leave the Fong household, a terrible tragedy takes place and the two women end up leaving for a very different place and life.

Little Flower is such a lovely character, despite all the dreadful treatment she received she is kind and generous whereas Linjing has been spoilt since birth and she believes that she is above everyone else, she seems to have no redeeming qualities. The relationship between them has ups and downs but more downs than ups and Little Flower suffers greatly from the downs. A captivating and powerful story of the terrible place that women endured in the culture of China at this time, it was brutal and heartbreaking and I loved it!

From the start I was absolutely engrossed in this story. It’s so rich and the author draws such a vivid picture of China and its culture and traditions that I was utterly transported into the world of Little Flower and Linjing.

With her father dead and the family impovershed, Little Flower is sold to the wealthy Fong family to be a maid to their daughter Linjing. Two very different girls, bound together, face the challenges of growing up as women in 19th century rural China.

The Lotus Shoes is very much a character driven story and the development of both characters as individuals and their relationship with each other is skillfully done. The tale is told in alternating chapters giving us an insight into Little Flower & Linjings thoughts and reactions to their changing situation. Little Flower is much easier to like from the off but Linjing has such an interesting journey and I really felt like I travelled it with her. You can’t help but wishing for the best for both of them

This is a really well written , powerful and fascinating story that I was very sad to finish. Highly recommend

Huge thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the chance to read an early copy

Lotus Shoes is a story where we follow Little Flower on her journey to a better life but unfortunately this plan is ruined by Linjing. We learn more about the certain Chinese traditions and how in 1800s women were affected by these traditions. This is a lovely story about friendship, forgiveness and love with some characters more enjoyable than others.

This is a seriously 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. Highly recommend.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7027143973

A very readable page turner of a book, with a kick ass lead character in Little Flower, that I very nearly gave four stars. I think I breezed through it in a couple of days. My only reasons for slightly marking it down were that (I) considering that this is a book which raises complex themes, the ending was all a bit too neat and tied up with a bow for me; and (II) to get to the place it ended up at least one important character had to execute some fairly unbelievable u-turns, which just didn't quite ring true to me and undermined their character development. However, I would still read more from this author and she has a very easy style - great for a holiday read.

Thanks to her, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

A beautifully written and gentle paced story set in the last decades of the nineteenth century. This story is a powerful insight into the lives of Chinese women at that time. The cruelty and inequality makes this a heartbreaking read but the strength of the characters gives an uplifting message of hope. The historical setting provided a fascinating read. Very enjoyable.

The Lotus Shoes is a moving read that is set against the backdrop of 19th-century China and tells the story of Little Flower, a young servant and Linjing, her wealthy mistress.
I don’t think any review I write will do this book justice! It was truly captivating and unforgettable - perfect for lovers of historical fiction. especially those that explore different traditions/cultures.

Found it promising but it just reminded me of other books I read that are extremely similar from Lisa See, Lee Geum-yi, Adeline Yen Mah, Jing-Jing Lee, etc.

Unfortunately it had just felt like I had read it before.

The Lotus Shoes is the story of Linjing, a high-born girl in 19th century China, and Little Flower, her servant. The two girls meet at the age of six, and their lives intertwine as they grow up within a society that prizes obedience and tradition. Through Linjing and Little Flower’s life experiences, the novel explores the realities of their world, including the practice of foot binding and the rigid roles assigned to women.

This book was so powerful and beautifully written, at the same time describing a society objectively and condemning its cruelties, accepting its realities and offering hope for alternative ways of life, exploring how members of a society come to internalise its most painful traditions while still offering resolution. Beautiful on more levels than I can describe. I cried for Little Flower and for all the women she represented.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Little Flower is sold into slavery at the age of 6 to the Fong family where she is required to serve Linjing. Jealous of both her bound feet and her skills at embroidery, Linjing makes sure that Little Flower cannot benefit from these attributes and aspire beyond her status as a slave.

The girls are bound together as Linjing prepares for marriage but a betrayal forced Little Flower to reevaluate what she wants and she agrees to support Linjing in her new household.

The repercussions of a scandal lead to Linjing being banished from her home and life of luxury and both have to work together to survive in the Sisterhood. Love intervenes for both and causes further rifts in their relationship.

This book exposes the societal pressures which constrain the freedom of young women in Chinese society and shows how pain and misfortune can impact. Both are forced to change and learn resilience and develop confidence in their own abilities and aspirations.

Both main characters are well drawn and there is a real sense of the time and place.

A gripping read - one which will stay with me.

What I loved the most about this book is the character development of the main character,who is a strong female with lota of resilience. I struggled with this book at the beginning until the story settled with so many characters. It was very interesting to read about China from the oast, I haven't read many books about it. I know is a work of fiction but still historical facts within a fiction book make it easier to learn about a different culture as a starter point. It blew my mind at times and the ending is quite fitting.

This book is such a heart wrenching story about the reality of woman in China. We follow dual POV - Lingjing (the mistress) and “Little flower” (the servant) - and we see the life of this 2 girls and they are bound to each other since they were children. We see the life of a servant and the life of a mistress, and even tho we may think one is luckier than the other, we see the reality of it: that neither is better than the other. In fact as the book progresses we start to hate, be sad, happy and hopeful for both of them, for different reasons.
We see a naked depiction of the social pressures on woman in a society where man ruled and the “problems” that they faced as 19th Century China opened their doors to Western forces, and was trying to feet in, This battle between the old chinese ways and the new western ways.

One of the things that bothered me a lot was the inconsistency of the names. We have chinese names as “Lingjing” or “Meilian”, but then have names like “Little Flower”, “Spring Rain” or “PhoenixW. If there is going to be random chinese words like “Aa De” or “Aa Noeng”, and since that means that we have a glossary at the end, why not up all the names in chinese? I think it would read way better, since reading the dialogues was just weird with those names.
I also felt that sometimes the story dragged way to much, and other times, the time-skip was way to sudden, meaning that there were some chapters that I was really into the story and other where I just felt that there was too much explanation. I do love internal monologues but it would be nice to have that happening in the story and not just being told via the characters.
I did like the plot twist at the middle point of the book, but honestly I do not know what to feel about the ending. I felt like it was a poetic way to end the book, but I also felt that it could be solved in another way. I must say I was expecting a tragic ending.

The Lotus Shoes is a breathtaking and haunting novel that delves deep into the complexities of friendship, betrayal, and societal expectations in a world shaped by tradition. The story follows Little Flower, sold as a child into the wealthy Fong household to become a muizai (servant), and Linjing, the pampered daughter of the house. What begins as a tale of rivalry, sparked by jealousy over Linjing’s bound feet and embroidery skills, evolves into a tense yet delicate relationship between the two girls.

Despite their stark differences in status, Little Flower and Linjing are bound together by necessity, particularly as they navigate the delicate arrangements of Linjing’s marriage—essential for both their futures. Throughout the years, their relationship shifts between bitterness and tentative friendship, each girl both relying on and resenting the other.

But when scandal strikes the Fong family, everything is thrown into turmoil. Linjing’s fall from grace presents an unexpected opportunity for Little Flower to escape the life of servitude she’s known, but the question remains: will their fates remain intertwined in triumph or tragedy?

The novel is truly captivating, steeped in the cultural richness of heritage while unflinchingly exposing the brutality and hardships faced by those confined by outdated traditions. The author’s storytelling is flawless, painting a vivid picture of a society that pressures women to conform to rigid roles while highlighting the prejudice and suffering that comes with it.

The relationship between Linjing and Little Flower is written with such depth and complexity that it feels almost hypnotic, drawing the reader into their world of shifting power dynamics, emotional tension, and survival. How the narrative examines societal pressures and the age-old beliefs that determine the girls' fates adds a powerful layer to the story.

I finished the last sentence with goosebumps—a testament to the beauty and impact of this novel. The Lotus Shoes is a rich and damning portrayal of lives bound by tradition, a must-read for anyone who appreciates historical fiction that resonates long after the final page.

Read more at The Secret Bookreview.

What a marvellous book. I adored this from the start, the writing was easy to fall into and the two main characters, Little Flower and Linjing, were headstrong and incredibly written. Little Flower captured me instantly, I found myself rooting for her happiness and freedom. Linjing was more complicated, but a truly well fleshed out character with flaws and humanity.

The plot itself was entertaining, just when I thought things were settling, something else happened to throw the entire book in a new direction. Every plot point had intriguing characters, luscious backdrops and lively dialogue. I also enjoyed the commentary on China’s society at the time and the optimism for a future where women are not treated as objects.

Truly a magnitude of a book with characters that leap off the page and bring every word to life.

If you are looking for a read that mixes the modern novel with the qualities of the classics, I daresay, my fellow reader, you’ve come to the right realm.
Little Flower is a little girl sold to a wealthy family as a slave, and she is bound by their rules.
It is not only her life that is bound by the rules of this society, but her little feet.
She becomes Linjing’s handmaiden, and both girls and other women all struggling with the demands, expectations, perceptions and superstitions of the system go through the worst of fates.
It is rare that a novel, especially set in a time and location lesser known to me, to grip me by my shoulders and keep my attention.
Halfway through, things, including the mood and the pacing take a drastic turn, however reflecting on this, I find this a compelling decision.
Yang’s prose shines - first POV is quite tricky, at least as a reader+writer, I detect its shortcomings more. Though, Yang does this POV beautifully.
I have a dozen of other things to say I wish to say about this book, but you know what, it is best you read it yourself.
4.5 stars

The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang is an absolute triumph.
Little Flower is sold as a ladies' maid to Linjing who hails from the wealthy Fong family. Linjing is a very conceited and nasty young lady who cannot get passed Linjing's bound golden lillies - especially when she has unbound feet.
The tale takes place over many years and it is very easy to be transported into Little Flower's world. She has more downs than ups as she navigates life as a slave.
Yang is a master storyteller and every chapter captures your attention, you run through the same gamut of emotions that Little Flower does. She faces loss, love, and brutality all while serving a self-centered mistress.

A fantastic read. Highly recommended.

Wow! This book blew me away. It's a sad but beautiful story. The writing transports you to a most extraordinary period of history and introduces you to customs that seem at odds with the world we know today. Would highly recommend!