Celeste Ng

A Novel

The narrative centers around the sudden demise of sixteen-year-old Lydia Lee, the favorite child in her family. The Lee family, based in Middlewood, Ohio, is initially unaware of her death. Lydia's mother, Marilyn, a white woman with dreams of becoming a doctor, instantly suspects foul play, while her Chinese American father, James, an American history professor, seeks solace in an affair following the tragedy. Lydia's siblings, including her Harvard-bound brother Nathan, obsessed with space, and her overlooked younger sister Hannah, react in their own ways. The narrative moves between past and present, providing insights into the family's history, Marilyn's interrupted aspirations, and the tensions within the family.

Following Lydia's death, the family members grieve independently, and as their lives unravel, doubts and suspicions arise. Police suggest that Lydia's increasing isolation and declining academic performance may have led to suicide. Nathan, however, remains suspicious of their neighbor Jack. Meanwhile, the narrative reveals painful memories from the past, such as Marilyn's decision to abandon her family to pursue her studies, Lydia's desperate longing for her mother's return, and a terrifying incident where Nathan, resentful of Lydia getting all the attention, pushes Lydia into a lake, knowing she can't swim.

The story concludes with Lydia grappling with her parents' high expectations, struggling acadically, and developing a friendship with Jack. After Lydia's death, which is ruled as suicide, the family dynamics further unravel, causing misunderstandings and rifts. The narrative loops back to moments before her death, revealing Lydia's decision to change herself, her confrontation with Jack, and her choice to revisit the lake where she almost drowned years ago. The narrative ends on a hopeful note, with the family attempting to reconcile and move forward, after the turbulent events.

Celeste Ng Books in Order (4 Book Series)

Everything I Never Told You

A Novel

Little Fires Everywhere

Fourteen Days

An Unauthorized Gathering

Our Missing Hearts

A Novel

What To Read Next

Celeste Ng Books in Order (4 Book Series)

Everything I Never Told You

A Novel

Little Fires Everywhere

Fourteen Days

An Unauthorized Gathering

Our Missing Hearts

A Novel

What To Read Next

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