Ever wonder how different life would be if you changed one major decision? At one of life’s major forks, you went left instead of right?

Lina and Wei didn’t have any choice in marriage – their fathers arranged the nuptials at birth. Growing up, Lina never questioned her parents’ decision; she even enjoyed not having to worry about boys or dating. However, the summer before college Wei’s younger brother opened her mind to the possibility of making her own decisions.

Fast forward a couple of decades during which Lina and Wei marry as planned, move to the U.S. to chase the American dream and have a beautiful daughter. Wei receives a job offer he cannot refuse, and the family moves back to Shanghai.

After disappearing for 20 years, Wei’s younger brother calls looking to visit. His resurfacing triggers a similar reemergence of the past – the what-ifs, secrets, and untold feelings. The three are now forced to face decisions their younger selves may or may not have made.

I really enjoyed this novel. It started off slow, but Tan took the time to establish thought-provoking characters. A unique wrinkle to the narrative is the Zhen family’s new housekeeper, Sunny. Much of the story is told from her perspective as she witnesses the events unfold and adds a working class aspect to the story.

What We Were Promised was smartly written and cross-cultural – everyone can relate to the universal theme of “what-if”.

Verdict: Read it (3.5/5 stars)
Length: 336 pages
When: You are in the mood for an introspective read.
Quote: “Lina’s friends had watched too many American movies and to them, love was a classic car that would come roaring in from nowhere when the time was right, pick you up, and peel away…They wanted to “fall” in love – that was the American way – whereas the idea of falling anywhere, with anyone, had never once appealed to Lina.”
Also read: Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan (B2C Review)

Buy What We Were Promised by Lucy Tan