Everything I Never Told You

This story is dark and complex. While seemingly centered around the death of the daughter (Lydia) of a Chinese-American family in the late 1970s, it's about so much more. You learn about the mother and father's upbringing and the baggage they bring to marriage and parenthood. Then there's the baggage of being Chinese-American in a predominantly white community. You spend time seeing through the eyes of Lydia's older brother Nath who can never quite garner the affection of his parents the way Lydia can. Lydia's younger sister Hannah sees and understands so much but is often forgotten and unnoticed. Readers also hear from Lydia who serves as the vicarious fulfillment for her parents' lost opportunities and unrealized dreams.

The family is dysfunctional, and uncomfortably so. Perhaps the discomfort comes from how relatable their dysfunction is. The Lee family is broken in ways I witnessed growing up and have experienced as an adult as well. They hide. They say the wrong things. They hold back from saying what they really want to or what they actually mean. They are selfish. They have regrets. Who isn't able to relate to this kind of brokenness?

Through flashbacks, foreshadowing, fast forwarding, shifting perspectives, and some questions left unanswered, Ng presents a fascinating exploration of family dynamics and grief.