A tragic love story set in Shanghai in the 1930. It's a good portrait of what life was like at that time. When family politics and societal conventions were worth more than a daughter's happiness. A time when more was thought and assumed, then spoken out loud.
While the first half of the book is very tender and slow, the second half almost becomes a dramatic series of tragedies, regretful life choices and missed connections. It's very engaging. The ending is a double punch of emotions.