CLICK HERE FOR AN AUDIOBOOK COPY
BOOK SYNOPSIS
This limited deluxe hardcover features gorgeous stenciled edges – available on the first printing only!
From R.F. Kuang, the acclaimed #1 New York Times bestselling author of Katabasis and Yellowface, comes a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei...
College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon has her classmates viciously gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she thought would feel like home.
Then shocking news arrives: Lily’s grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she’s drawn into a journey of self-discovery - piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and devastating attempts at connection.
Taipei Story asks: What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding - of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.
RECOMMENDED FOR: Grown-Ups
OUR BOOKS ARE LISTED BY AGE GROUP to indicate that the content is engaging and appropriate for those selected ages. PLEASE NOTE: They may not be the appropriate reading level for every individual at those ages or may extend beyond the brackets.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
Publisher: William Morrow
Publish Date: September 08, 2026
Pages: 288
Dimensions: 9.0 X 6.0 X 0.9 inches | 1.0 pounds
Language: English
Type: Hardcover
Condition: NEW
--------------------------------------------------------
PLEASE NOTE: Not everything that is available in our online collections is in-stock at our Booktique! If you order a book or product that is not readily available at either of our locations, we will notify you immediately via email, confirm your custom order approval, and order your item(s) right away (orders typically arrive within one week) OR we will suggest an in-stock substitution if your order is time-sensitive. We'll also suggest an alternative option if your requested book format is no longer available from our supplier. Please send us a message or email us at newbookjoy@gmail.com if you’d like to check availability before ordering!
We also have a TON of books and products in our Booktique that we’re working on uploading to our website as we speak… If you’re looking for something that’s not on our online store, please reach out!