The #ReadWithMC community clearly agrees that Jang Cheng Ho knows how to write beautifully. Our only wish is that Ho's debut novel, Fiona and Jane, could be read as a novella rather than a series of short stories.

The book centers on the lives of two Taiwanese-American women, Fiona and Jane, over a period of 20 years.

Despite requests for more sequencing throughout the book, reviewers liked how Ho wrote about Fiona and Jane and his emotional connection to them. At times I felt more connected to Fiona, at other times I felt more detached from her and more connected to Jane. The story reads like a collection of key moments in their lives, and each chapter describes that particular moment before jumping back in time."

See below what #ReadWithMC reviewers thought of the book Marie Claire chose for her January book club.

". Rating 3.5/5 stars

. Synopsis Fiona and Jane is a collection of coming-of-age short stories told in alternating first- and third-person perspectives about the friendship of two young Taiwanese-American women and the journey their lives follow."

. My Thoughts This book was not what I expected. The synopsis and reviews advertise it as a friendship story, and in many ways it is, but the story itself deals with a variety of other themes, and for the most part Fiona and Jane are never actually together at all. The story also feels a bit disjointed at times, as it is not arranged in chronological order, although it does come together as a whole. Perhaps it is my preconceived notions about the book, but I was expecting (and hoping for) a short story, not a collection of short stories featuring the same characters.

Nevertheless, it would be unfair to judge the book just because it didn't happen to live up to what I had imagined, and if I turn a blind eye to my own expectations, the book is a solid collection, full of engaging stories and no small number of poignant and meaningful moments. The theme of the strength of friendship between women didn't come through for me until the very end, but once it emerged, it was beautifully portrayed. And the collection deftly deals with serious themes, from mental health to sexuality to serious illness. In short, if you're looking for a good short story collection, you should pick this one up.

. Recommended for: short stories; coming-of-age themes; immigrant stories.

⚠️ CW: Suicide/depression/self-harm; xenophobic/racist/homophobic references; discussion of serious illness; implied sexual assault. [Feel free to DM me if you need a more detailed description of the content/trigger warning]." -This piece is about "humanity," "homophobia," "serious illness," and "sexual assault" throughout the "story." Telling an entire story in a collection of short stories is already a very cool way of storytelling, but what really drew me to this book was how authentic and real the situations, characters, and dialogue felt. When Jane narrated at times, I honestly thought I was reading a memoir. When the point of view shifted to Fiona, I felt like I was reliving chapters of my own early adulthood. I also really enjoyed the focus on one person as well as the relationship between the two. All in all, an engrossing, emotional, and beautiful read. Recommendation. -Fiona and Jane is a collage of moments and memories, an intimate episode in the shared history of two Taiwanese-American women who have been intersecting and diverging for over two decades, overcoming life, love and loss.

. If truth is beauty, then this book is beautiful. For example, when 16-year-olds Fiona and Jane, posing as college girls, go to a "party" at a cheap motel, pornography plays in the background.

. But the bond between the girls retains the resilience of youth, crossing countries and years, loosening a bit under the weight of terrible breakups, small betrayals, and personal tragedies, but ultimately remaining strong enough to bring them together again.

. This book is the story of a friendship that spans two decades, but this is not the story of two friends who are by each other's side at all times. Rather, it is the story of how two friends, once inseparable, can forgive the lack, cheat the lack, and evoke in the present woman the spirit of the girl they once were." (-opens in new tab)

"I enjoyed Natalie Naudas' narration throughout. Naudas did an excellent job narrating from Jane and Fiona's point of view. The story is about two Taiwanese-American friends and how their different lives and journeys intersect with each other from childhood to adulthood. The narration kept me interested in the story (even though nothing exciting actually happens). Also, much of the story jumps ahead without filling in the gaps in between. ⚠️ Suicide is a theme that appears throughout the book." [email protected] (opens in new tab)

""Jane was never jealous of Fiona. Jane was never jealous of Fiona.

I wanted to turn this into a novel.

These ten short stories feature Fiona and Jane, two Taiwanese-American girls who have been best friends since the second grade and are now in their thirties. They span decades and cross borders. I read it quickly, but I had to, because the stories are all connected, though not linear. Some scenes were fresh, raw, vulnerable, and achingly beautiful. Jean Cheng Ho's prose is nuanced and deals with class, race, sexuality, stereotypes, identity, and the tensions and drifts that exist in female friendship. (If you have read the book, I would love to hear your reaction to this point.)

The switch from first person to third person bothered me, and the large gaps in the timeline were confusing. In the stories of their childhood and adolescence, the worry and obsession to protect them was instantly emotional, but otherwise I struggled to relate to them.

My point is this: I would have liked to have spent more time with Fiona and Jane. Overall, this was an interesting attempt at a format, but it just didn't work for me. I would have preferred a novel to achieve consistency, flow, and depth of plot. These quirks may not bother you.

Serve with oyster vermicelli and a bottle of prosecco." -A coming-of-age novel of sorts and a novel about friendship, "Fiona and Jane" chronicles the lives of its protagonists, two Taiwanese-American best friends, over a 20-year period. The two Taiwanese-American best friends follow their complicated relationships and complex growing up in modern America. Told in alternating voices, each chapter offers a glimpse into different moments in their lives, both together and apart. Their friendship waxes and wanes as they try to discover who they are and how they fit into this world.

I really loved this novel and its characters. At times I felt more connected to Fiona, at other times I felt more detached from her and more connected to Jane. The story reads like a collection of key moments in the lives of two people, and each chapter jumps through time after describing that moment. The writing was exquisite throughout, but my favorite chapters were the first two, which I thought set a wonderful tone.

I found the portrayal of their friendship to be very realistic, as well as their relationships with their mother and various partners. Toward the end, especially in the last chapter, I was confused by Fiona's last relationship and felt she was not living up to her full potential (but that's life, I guess). -I was drawn into the story of both Jane and Fiona. While I think I would have enjoyed this book as a novel rather than a collection of short stories, I did enjoy the broad scope that the short stories give and the focus on key moments in the lives of these two women. High school, college, moving, family, dating, marriage, divorce, babies, life, and death. The stunning cover is also a high point. -@midwestbookqueen (opens in new tab)

I missed the January book club pick, so for February I'll be reading "Fireflies Knew" by Kai Harris (opens in new tab). Click here for an excerpt (opens in new tab).