Description
Description
On an unexpected road trip, three estranged siblings uncover a startling family secret and larger truths about being Asian American in a post-COVID world--from the author of the "dazzling and devastating" (Chris Whitaker, New York Times bestselling author) thriller Complicit. The Chu siblings haven't seen each other in years but when they're told that their ailing mother is scheduled for an operation next month, they agree to visit her together. Then their mother makes an odd request: before seeing her, they must go on a road trip together to the Grand Canyon. Thirty years ago, a strange incident had aborted a previous family road trip there. No one's ever really spoken about it, but during this journey, the middle-aged Chu siblings have no choice but to confront their childhood experience. Together, Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex travel along Route 66--but as the trip continues, they realize the Great American Road Trip may not be what they expected. Facing their own prejudices and those of others, they somehow learn to bridge the distances between them, the present-day, and their past. With "powerful and beautiful writing" (Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author), Winnie M Li weaves an emotive and eye-opening exploration of family, race, growing up, and what it means to be American.
About the Author
About the Author
Winnie M Li is an American author and activist living in the UK with her partner and young son. A Harvard graduate, Winnie has written for travel guidebooks, produced independent feature films, programmed for film festivals, and developed eco-tourism projects. Her first novel Dark Chapter was nominated for an Edgar Award and translated into ten languages, followed by the critically acclaimed Complicit. A survivor and advocate against gendered violence, she holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and teaches creative writing and media studies.
Critical Reviews
Critical Reviews
*Praise for COMPLICIT*
"Li's tense rendition of secrets and revelations on an iconic highway will appeal to fans of family sagas."-- "Booklist"
"Li capably explores the complex dynamics among her characters. This satisfies."-- "Publishers Weekly"
"Winnie Li's What We Left Unsaid is a perfect post-pandemic reflection from the eyes of Chinese American siblings. Every note rings true as we travel with Bonnie, Kevin, and Alex on Route 66 while they unearth a devastating family secret, leading them to finally understand what it means to be a 21st century Asian American."--Naomi Hirahara, author of Mary Higgins Clark award-winning Clark and Division
"I loved this book. It captured the complex dynamics of sibling relationships absolutely brilliantly. And it portrayed the multilayered experience of being an immigrant and the child of immigrants, of loving your country and yet never quite feeling as if you belong there. The Route 66 road trip is a symbol of a fractured America but also a still-vital dream of unity - in politics and in families, too. It was heartbreaking and hopeful, and it spoke to me deeply."--Julie Cohen, bestselling author of Eat, Slay, Love
"A truly gripping and moving exploration of siblings and the secrets we keep from the people closest to us - all of it set against the unexpected twists and turns of an American road trip. The characters are so richly developed, the sibling dynamic so realistic, the glimpse of America so insightful. I was hooked"--Libby Page, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Lido
"This sweeping novel takes us on a journey of heartbreak and hope across a hidden America, and kept me enthralled until the very last page."--Rowan Coleman, Sunday Times bestselling author of Summer of Impossible Things
"A road trip takes three siblings across America - the intricate landscape that faces them all, though, is the turbulent dynamics of family and memory. Heartbreaking, beautiful and confronting. This is a wonderful new direction from the author of Complicit." --Sarah Winman, bestselling author of Still Life
"In this page turning story of one woman's struggle, Li thrusts the reader into the film industry's dark and deep-seated culture of rampant sexism and unbridled male ego...and the terrible cost of staying silent. An utterly compelling read." - Liv Constantine, internationally bestselling author of THE LAST MRS. PARRISH "Like John Grisham did with the legal profession in THE FIRM, Winnie M Li's COMPLICIT provides an insider's look at the film industry that is full of suspense." - Peter Swanson, New York Times bestselling author of NINE LIVES "As soon as I read the first few pages of COMPLICIT I knew it was going to be a compulsive read - Winnie M Li's powerful and beautiful writing immediately immersed me and kept me furiously turning the pages. Through her assured storytelling Winnie draws you into the protagonist's world on every level - from the superficial to the emotional - to paint a devastating and timely portrait of the abuse of power within a highly charged and often frightening workplace. I loved it." - Sarah Pearse, New York Times bestselling author of THE SANATORIUM
"Li's evocative writing and commitment to exploring the romance of the open road and the many Americas that have existed through time and space win the day."-- "Kirkus"
Publishing Information
Publishing Information
Publisher:
Atria Books
Pub date:
2025-08-19
Length:
368 pages
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