Q: Have you received any new books recently? This is my stack of books I got in March! I only broke my ban and bought one. The rest were purchased by my family (it's how they bribe me to help run errands 😂) //HASHTAGS// #bookstack #acosf #acourtofsilverflams #chainofiron #bookhaul #thelasthours #kelleyarmstrong #womenoftheotherworld #otherworld #urbanfantasy #wildcard #marielue #cassandraclare #sjm #namesake #adrienneyoung #waichim #newbooks https://www.instagram.com/p/CNeoIrhrdQL/?igshid=1w3vx67ydtgb4
QOTD: Have you ever had a blind date with a book? @booklyau recently #gifted me my very first! And they chose so well!! Swipe to see which book I got. It's very pink and is a book @happyindulgence has recommended to me more than once! Hopefully I get to it soon. If you're interested, @booklyau is a blind date with a book subscription service. Sign up and more details can be found in my linktree (see my bio) but essentially you tell them what books you like and they'll choose a book just for you ever month! //CHALLENGES// #Bookishbellesapr21 - Book That Was Gifted //HASHTAGS// #blinddatewithabook #surprises #blinddate #bookworm #booklover #bookly #booklyau #loveozya #auskiwibooksta #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #reading #bookstack #bookpile #waichim #tbrpile #bookhaul #acosf #chainofiron #acourtofsilverflames https://www.instagram.com/p/CNRz9caLguT/?igshid=l0l037w0x4zz
🌸 Book Thoughts: The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim
A personal book reflection from an Asian daughter and book lover
First of all, this isn’t your typical book review. I’m not a professional reviewer, and I know my grammar isn’t perfect. I just wanted to share my honest thoughts about this story. As someone who grew up in an Asian family, I personally related to many parts of the book.
I read this book back in 2020, during a time when I was trying to get out of a reading slump. Surprisingly, I finished it in just five days! That rarely happens for me. From the moment I picked it up, I couldn’t stop turning the pages.
The cover instantly caught my eye (yes, I sometimes judge a book by its cover—sorry!), and the word “dumpling” made me crave food. That was enough to make me curious—and I’m so glad I gave it a chance.
This book felt like a warm hug, like clutching a soft pillow when you need comfort.
I grew up in a traditional Asian household where parents were strict and had strong beliefs about culture and how things should be done. I completely understand the expectations—respect, discipline, obedience, and patience—even when we don’t always agree with them. There are times of calm, but also moments of conflict. Family life is full of ups and downs, and this story captures that perfectly.
Wai Chim’s novel pulled me in from the first few pages. Although I had mixed reactions while reading it—sometimes emotional, sometimes heavy—I still found myself drawn deeply into the story.
Even though I’m not exactly like the main character, Anna Chiu, I could really feel her sense of responsibility. She takes care of her younger siblings, makes sure they’re in school, helps out at her dad’s restaurant, and carries the weight of everything while her mother stays in bed for weeks. Anna becomes the “stand-in mother” at home—and that’s something I could relate to deeply.
As the story unfolds, it becomes more emotional. I found myself hugging the book (again, like a pillow!) and even crying at times. One of the most powerful parts of this novel is how it talks about mental health—something that is often misunderstood or overlooked in many Asian families.
This book is not just about food, family, or romance—it’s about love, dreams, sacrifice, and the struggle to find balance in a world full of expectations. It made me reflect on my own family, and how important understanding, care, and patience truly are.
All in all, I LOVE THIS BOOK so much. I still can’t get over it.
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✨ Quick Summary:
The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling is a heartfelt, realistic story about Anna Chiu, an Asian-Australian teenager who juggles school, her younger siblings, and helping out at her family’s restaurant—while her mother battles mental illness. Along the way, she meets Rory, a new delivery boy, who becomes both a distraction and a source of comfort. The book explores themes of family pressure, cultural identity, mental health, and growing up.
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📅 Read in: 2020
📖 Finished in: 5 days
😌 Reaction: Mixed emotions—sadness, warmth, and love
📚 Genre: Young Adult Fiction, Contemporary Fiction
⭐ My Rating: ★★★★★ (4.5/5)
I laughed, I cried, I felt seen. This book gave me comfort—and dumpling cravings too.
#TBRtrim20 ✂️ Yikes! I've just realised this morning that I forgot to post my wrap up for March aaaand... I've deleted the pics from my phone too 😱 Luckily I did stories when I read them so just screenshots & a bit of an edit, ta da! 🤣 🥟🥟🥟🥟🥟 The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by Wai Chim. I read this in a Single sitting (started 9pm - finished 12:45am); I just couldn't put ut down. Relevant issues, sweet romance and, "So not only am I a boring, stereotypical Asian nerd, I'm a mediocre one at best." 👈 Me! 😂 Loved this read to bits! Thanks, @onewpc 😘🥰 ⚡⚡⚡⚡Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. Kind of a cross between Divergent and X Men with Romeo & Juliet inspired romance. Bought this back in 2013 so whyyy did I wait so long?! Will be in search for the rest of the trilogy 🤞 Terrific reads for my March 💞 How did you go? @sarahsacakat @read3rz_revu #igreads #bookstagram #TheSurprisingPowerofaGoodDumpling #WaiChim #LoveOzYA #aussieauthors #aww2020 #diverseread #youngadult #contemporary #mentalhealth #MysticCity #TheoLawrence #dystopia #readingchallenge https://www.instagram.com/p/B-k4EgVgk-Q/?igshid=ofke3s5f6qby
My copy of The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling by @onewpc has finally arrived! Hopping on to reading it before the Kino event on Wednesday. . . #gooddumpling #waichim #booktopia https://www.instagram.com/p/B1SxiH-Asls/?igshid=162jcpzqmjdvr
