Navigating the twists and turns of the everyday can be difficult. Finding hope though, amidst great loss and sorrow is even more daunting. Discover the keys to trading a jaded heart of green and stone, for joy that is irreplaceable. Paralleled with the natural stages of Grief: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance, learn to find God's blessing in each stage of the hardest moments in life.
For fans of Jonathan Tropper, Amy Tan, and Kevin Kwan, this “sharp, smart, and gloriously extra” (Nancy Jooyoun Kim, author of The Last Story of Mina Lee) novel follows a family of estranged Vietnamese women—cursed to never know love or happiness—as they reunite when a psychic makes a startling prediction. Everyone in Orange County’s Little Saigon knew that the Duong sisters were cursed. It started with their ancestor, Oanh, who dared to leave her marriage for true love—so a fearsome Vietnamese witch cursed Oanh and her descendants so that they would never find love or happiness, and the Duong women would only give birth to daughters. Oanh’s current descendant Mai Nguyen knows this curse well. She’s divorced, and after an explosive disagreement a decade ago, estranged from her younger sisters, Minh Pham (the middle and the mediator) and Khuyen Lam (the youngest who swears she just runs humble coffee shops and nail salons, not Little Saigon’s underground). Though Mai’s three adult daughters, Priscilla, Thuy, and Thao, are successful in their careers (one of them is John Cho’s dermatologist!), the same can’t be said for their love lives. Mai is convinced they might drive her to an early grave. Desperate for guidance, she consults Auntie Hua, her trusted psychic in Hawaii, who delivers an unexpected prediction: this year, her family will witness a marriage, a funeral, and the birth of a son. This prophecy will reunite estranged mothers, daughters, aunts, and cousins—for better or for worse. A multi-narrative novel brimming with levity and candor, “The Fortunes of Jaded Women pulls off the magic trick of being a heartfelt, multi-generational epic as well as a fast-paced, hilarious romp. It is your good fortune to have this novel in your hands” (Camille Perri, author of When Katie Met Cassidy).
Imagine a world filled with twinkling lights, fragrant gingerbread cookies, and the cheerful sound of carols. For Timmy, this wasn't just a dream, it was his reality – every day was a Christmas celebration. He lived and breathed the spirit of the holiday, his heart brimming with joy and anticipation. But as December approached, something strange happened: Timmy's festive spirit began to fade. The excitement that once filled him was replaced with a sense of overwhelm, exhaustion, and even disillusionment. He felt a growing distance from the Christmas magic he had always known. His friends, who once playfully mocked his unwavering Christmas enthusiasm, now found themselves concerned by his change in demeanor. Led by the kind and understanding Sarah, they knew they had to help Timmy rediscover the wonder he had lost. "The Boy Who Lost Christmas Cheer" is a heartwarming tale that teaches valuable lessons about the importance of friendship, the fleeting nature of excitement, and the true essence of the Christmas spirit. It reminds us that even when joy feels lost, the power of connection and the spirit of giving can bring it back, reminding us that the magic of Christmas is always within reach.
