Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng

This book captured my attention from the very first couple of sentences, "Lydia is dead. But they don't know this yet.".

The Lee family is a Chinese American family.  The favorite child is Lydia.  Both James, the father and Marilyn, the mother, are vicariously living Lydia's life.  James longs for her to be popular and not stick out.  Marilyn bestows all of her attention on her via academics, pushing the medical field on Lydia.  

Nathan, the oldest child and Hannah, the youngest child, are ignored most of the time.  Lydia carries the burden of pleasing both parents.  

Gradually the reader discovers the misconceptions each of the characters have rehearsed in their minds, which affect their perceptions and relationships.  

A very compelling family story about culture and the danger of being artifical with those you love.

Throughout the book I wanted to sit down with each charater and give them the attention and care they needed.  I felt badly for each family member.

The ending was not particularly satisfying, but it portrays how life on this earth sometimes is.  

Once again, although I enjoyed the writing and how expertly the author told the story, I was reminded why I mostly stay away from modern adult fiction (see warnings).

Warnings: Some swearing.  Premartial sex.  James has an affair with his teaching assistant.  Their intimacy is explicit sometimes.  A character has same sex attraction (slowly discovered by the end of the book).  

-Borrowed from the library.