Joan Is Okay

The narrator is a doctor working at the hospital in Morningside Heights (very near my old apartment) just before and just after the onset of the pandemic. The pandemic looms in the background as a harbinger of racism and distress for Americans of Chinese descent, like Joan. When Joan's father dies, she grieves in the way she knows: by throwing herself even more whole-heartedly into her work, which is both her identity and her home.

The style of this book takes a little while to find a rhythm, but then it builds momentum into some complex thoughts about children of immigrants, Chinese language and culture, and how we define “home.” It's a quick read and well-worth it.

American Dream



I was on a mission to start my year of reading off with a bang but at the same time I wanted to read something out of my comfort zone. So, when I saw this on NetGalley it checked off a few of my reading requirements for 2022. I wasn't sure initially if I was going to like Joan is Okay. The writing style very straight forward which is much like Joan out main character. She is a team player at a big hospital in NYC and her big interest and focus is to keep everything running like a well-oiled machine. As I continued reading and learned more about her parents, it was easy to understand what formed Joan into the person she is. There is an underlying dry humor in this book that makes it more relatable. What I loved about this book is that it shows the reader that it is okay to be unapologetically yourself. Without conforming to the want and need to fit into a mold that was set out for you.

Thank you to all parties involved in the decision for my receiving this arc in exchange for my honest review. Overall I enjoyed this book very much four stars from me. I will read more from this author moving forward.