Book Review: Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck & Fortune by Roselle Lim

Book Description

At the news of her mother’s death, Natalie Tan returns home. The two women hadn’t spoken since Natalie left in anger seven years ago, when her mother refused to support her chosen career as a chef. So she’s even more surprised to learn she has inherited her grandmother’s restaurant. The neighborhood seer reads the restaurant’s fortune in the leaves. To succeed, Natalie must cook three recipes from her grandmother’s cookbook to aid her struggling neighbors. 

Review

Want a tale brimming with familial bonds, mouthwatering dishes, and a delicious destiny? Enter Roselle Lim’s debut novel, Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune.

Set in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the story follows Natalie Tan, a young woman who returns to her childhood home after her mother’s death. Upon discovering her grandmother’s long-lost cookbook, Natalie embarks on a culinary adventure. But her journey holds the power to transform not only herself, but the entire community surrounding her.

Lim’s writing engrossed me. I loved how she melded Chinese folklore and tradition into the contemporary setting. Her ability to evoke emotions through the vivid food descriptions was a standout feature of Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune. The story’s mouthwatering details left me craving Asian cuisine. The recipes sprinkled throughout the novel added a delightful touch. But woe be the reader who wants to recreate the magic in their own kitchens since the recipes do not include specific quantities or measurements.

Fantasy… or not?

The publisher characterized the story as contemporary fiction with elements of magical realism. While the character experiments with a kind of food-based “magic”, and there are paranormal aspects to the story, I agree. Even with the presence of magic and the paranormal aspects, Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune is fantasy-adjacent rather than fantasy. In the novel, Natalie’s magic is soft. It has no cause, consequences, or limits. Furthermore, despite the contemporary world and setting, the character never feels the sense of wonder, awe, or disbelief that most of us would experience when creating (or creating with!) magic.

While the pacing occasionally felt uneven, and some subplots and character arcs could have been better developed, I enjoyed this book. Natalie Tan’s Book of Luck and Fortune is a captivating exploration of identity, heritage, and destiny. One note of warning, this novel will leave you yearning for family and the comfort of delectable food!

Content Warning

Death, Family Conflicts, Food Descriptions, Grief, Loss

The header photo is a composite image. Base image by Bao Menglong on Unsplash