#ReadWithMC Reviews Vanessa Hua's 'A River of Stars'

To put it simply, October has been a hellscape. And with Trump's recent proposal to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship (opens in new tab), Vanessa Hua's A River of Stars couldn't be more timely. The novel highlights the journey of a Chinese woman fleeing her country in pursuit of a better life for her child, and reading it has become a way to escape from the real world while simultaneously relating to it.

Here, the #ReadWithMC community shares what they thought of A River of Stars.

"A River of Stars is delicious and delivers in every way: motherhood, female friendship, Chinese immigration, with strong doses of humor set in San Francisco's Chinatown." —@Karen_K_Lewis

"Just finished #ARiverOfStars and it was SO good! Scarlett and Daisy’s unexpected friendship shows the strong bonds that can be built when you lean on other people. I was obsessed with the journey you take with Scarlett as she navigates becoming a new mom in San Francisco. It was beautiful to see the scary, raw, and sometimes uncertain side of becoming a new mom. Having just visited San Francisco twice this month, I loved being in the same city where the women and their children started their lives." —@klchavez27

"#Ariverofstars was really interesting to read. The story of a Chinese immigrant headed to the U.S. to bear her child takes unexpected turns, but highlights the community she builds around her as an expecting and then new mother." —@myreading2018

"So enjoyed Vanessa Hua's ‘A River of Stars,’ a fierce, wrenching story of friendship, motherhood, sacrifice, and survival. And (sadly) a very relevant plot for us right now." —@sallyholmes

"I just finished reading A River of Stars this morning. Mostly, I really enjoyed this story of immigration, though I did find it to be a little slow." —@readwithrachel

"Late to the party on this one, but man am I glad I read Vanessa Hua's A River of Stars. A fascinating peek into a culture that isn't portrayed enough. The plot is especially poignant considering POTUS's desire to (unconstitutionally) get rid of birthright citizenship." —@DaniSMcNally

Missed out on our October pick? Starting November 1, we'll be reading Jasmine Guillory's The Proposal (opens in new tab). Learn more about the book (opens in new tab) and read an exclusive interview with Guillory here (opens in new tab).