‘An emotional story about family, love, and freedom’ HEAT MAGAZINE
‘A poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma’ WARONA JAY
‘The women in this house are the same,’ she said. ‘When we love, we love with all of ourselves.’
Mai is navigating life in nineties London as a first-generation British Vietnamese teenager, caught between two cultures. She dreams of being a photographer, and is falling in love for the first time despite her parents’ disapproval.
Trinh didn’t think London would be like this. Forced to flee her war-torn home, she tries desperately to forget the life she left behind and the young girl she once was. Now her focus is the son she thought she lost, and the daughter she swears to protect.
But when a secret from the past resurfaces, Mai’s world shatters and she is about to discover how little she really knows her mother…
Shifting between mother and daughter, Summer Rolls is an epic story of loss and freedom, belonging and hope, and how far we sometimes must go to find our way home.
MORE PRAISE FOR SUMMER ROLLS:
‘Visceral and lucid . . . I hurtled towards the end and was captivated throughout’ HUMA QURESHI
‘Beautiful poetic work . . . A gift of a book’ SUDHA BHUCHAR
‘An exciting, urgent voice that demands to be heard’ JEREMY TIANG
CANDID BOOKCLUB LOVES SUMMER ROLLS:
‘A compelling British-Vietnamese coming-of-age story . . . an essential voice’
‘Such a beautifully written book’
‘Vivid and raw . . . and full of tension’
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SUMMER ROLLS:
‘Rich, intimate, and emotionally layered’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This is more than a book, it’s a gift’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book made me feel seen, proud, and more connected to my family’s story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written . . . will stay with you long after you finish reading’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘A poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma’ WARONA JAY
‘The women in this house are the same,’ she said. ‘When we love, we love with all of ourselves.’
Mai is navigating life in nineties London as a first-generation British Vietnamese teenager, caught between two cultures. She dreams of being a photographer, and is falling in love for the first time despite her parents’ disapproval.
Trinh didn’t think London would be like this. Forced to flee her war-torn home, she tries desperately to forget the life she left behind and the young girl she once was. Now her focus is the son she thought she lost, and the daughter she swears to protect.
But when a secret from the past resurfaces, Mai’s world shatters and she is about to discover how little she really knows her mother…
Shifting between mother and daughter, Summer Rolls is an epic story of loss and freedom, belonging and hope, and how far we sometimes must go to find our way home.
MORE PRAISE FOR SUMMER ROLLS:
‘Visceral and lucid . . . I hurtled towards the end and was captivated throughout’ HUMA QURESHI
‘Beautiful poetic work . . . A gift of a book’ SUDHA BHUCHAR
‘An exciting, urgent voice that demands to be heard’ JEREMY TIANG
CANDID BOOKCLUB LOVES SUMMER ROLLS:
‘A compelling British-Vietnamese coming-of-age story . . . an essential voice’
‘Such a beautifully written book’
‘Vivid and raw . . . and full of tension’
WHAT READERS ARE SAYING ABOUT SUMMER ROLLS:
‘Rich, intimate, and emotionally layered’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This is more than a book, it’s a gift’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘It will make you laugh, cry, and everything in between’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘This book made me feel seen, proud, and more connected to my family’s story’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Beautifully written . . . will stay with you long after you finish reading’ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
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Reviews
SUMMER ROLLS is a poignant exploration of intergenerational trauma and its impact on familial bonds, thoughtfully illuminating the Vietnamese refugee crisis of the 70s and 80s. With nuance and compassion, it examines the delicate balance between independence and empathy, leaving a lasting impression of the quiet resilience often embodied by mothers.
Tuyen's writing is visceral and lucid. She deftly weaves the past with the present, creating an intricate tapestry of family life that somehow survives under the constant threat of destruction. I hurtled towards the end and was captivated throughout by the family drama.
Beautiful poetic work, filled with a mother's love and life force on every page. A story that crosses generations and continents. Of perilous journeys, haunted histories and hopeful futures. The story of this family is a window into the story of many many others. As a South Asian woman, this resonated with me deeply and it is a universal story of mothers and daughters, buried family secrets and intergenerational trauma and healing. It stays with you and you want to go back and read it again and feel the world between the sentences. I was transported through the voices of Mai and Trinh and could feel their connection even when they were unable to express it. Food as love, solace and sustenance was a powerful image in the writing that every immigrant will relate to. A gift of a book.
A visceral, heartfelt multi-decade account that smashes the expectations of the immigrant and refugee narratives with nuance and complexity. Having already rendered this story beautifully on stage, Tuyen Do takes it to the next level in novel form, opening out the world of these characters and layering in the complicated history of the Vietnam War. An exciting, urgent voice that demands to be heard.