0708, 2008, 2009, 2009 read, alien, asia, asian experience, betrayal, bildungsroman, book club, brutal reality, china, coming of age, contemporary, contemporary fiction, cultural differences, culture clash, doomed lovers, doomed relationships, edgy, english, fiction, first novel, friendship, hope, humour, i.should.b.reading, immigrant experience, immigration, inspirational, intercultural communications, journey, language, learning language, library, life lessons, literature, london, loss, love, makeover challenge, modern china, national character, orange prize nominee, ouch, quirky, raw, relationship, relationships, romance, sensual, social commentary, tbr: asia, wisdom, women
