"The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung

 

"The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung is a slow-burn magical realism novel following the lives of three generations of women in Canada: a grandmother, a mother, and a granddaughter. The story is told from the first-person perspective of Leeann Wu.

Leeann Wu is a single mother, a midwife, and the daughter of a strict single mother—an ob-gyn doctor. At 41, she finds herself at a crossroads. Her only daughter is heading off to university in a few months, and loneliness looms. On top of that, her hands have started glowing at the most inconvenient times—whether it's from stress or peri-menopause symptoms is unclear. The truth turns out to be even stranger: she is part of a long line of women who possess a unique power. She also begins seeing a man eleven years younger than her, though the age gap preys on her mind.

Her relationship with her mother has never been smooth; her mother disapproves of many of her life choices and continues to hound her about them. Meanwhile, her daughter is worried about her and has a few opinions of her own about Leeann’s love life.

All three women must come to terms with their Taiwanese magical heritage and what it means. The plot thickens as widespread insomnia begins to plague the town, and life-threatening accidents pile up—forcing Leeann to question whether she is the solution or the problem.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. It's more about interpersonal relationships—mother, daughter, granddaughter—and their roots than it is about magic. It’s very slow-paced, with little external action until halfway through, when the heroine begins to discover her own powers. I liked the way the story wove surreal elements into the plot and explored emotional depth, though.

Leeann Wu is a strong heroine, even if she doesn’t see herself that way. Forced to quit medical school when she became pregnant, she forged her own path in life—in another vocation, to her mother’s dismay. I also liked Kenji, the younger man she dates—his calm, grounded presence and quiet support add warmth and depth to their dynamic. The strength of the book lies in the writing and the author’s ability to inhabit her characters. There are struggles, dilemmas, and even love.

It’s a slice-of-life type story with a few sex scenes thrown in for good measure. The book explores culture, belonging, loneliness, the power of connection, empty nest syndrome, choices, age gaps in relationships, family ties, and the need to be true to yourself rather than bending to others' expectations. I also loved the message that one doesn’t need magic to be special.

While I loved the concept of a woman discovering her own powers, the execution fell a bit short for me. It’s more of a personal journey of self-discovery than a fantasy. A gentle book with a focus on characters, not plot. The fantasy lurks in the background and only occasionally peeks through. The reading experience was slow, and I didn’t feel an urge to rush back to it.

That said, it’s a thought-provoking book about relationships, choices, family, and finding love—which I did enjoy despite its flaws. I also appreciated that the main characters aren’t white—a refreshing change. I recommend it to fans of magical realism who focus more on character than plot and don’t mind a slow pace.

In the end, this isn’t a book that dazzles, but one that lingers quietly—like a slow-burning ember of connection, heritage, and self-worth.

* Thank you NetGalley and (publisher) for the opportunity to read this arc.  All opinions are my own.

* For more info about the book: "The Glowing Life of Leeann Wu" by Mindy Hung