Hello, everyone! Today I’m participating in the blog tour for The Light Between Us by Elaine Chiew, which has been organized by TheWriteReads. I was instantly intrigued by the premise of this story and its combination of speculative, romantic, and historical elements. Read on to see if it lived up to my expectations!
The Light Between Us is a Southeast Asian historical romance that defies time and space as an archivist explores Singapore’s tumultuous past through a supernatural connection.
At work one night, photography archivist Charlie Sze-Toh receives a misdirected letter from Wang Tian Wei, a 1920s colonial era Chinese photographer. Through a mysterious digital folder and photographic plates, a conversation is sparked, leading to a romance that spans lifetimes.
In his time, Tian Wei scours a turbulent Singapore for his missing friend, Aiko, leading him to the perfumed chambers of a Japanese brothel. Meanwhile, in the modern day, Charlie struggles against a family dynamic dominated by her stepmother, a manipulative matriarch who uses family secrets as bargaining chips. Communication starts to become difficult and Tian Wei’s letters are tinged by the increasing threat of Japanese Occupation. Will one last fate-defying letter from Charlie allow Tian Wei to keep their love alive?
Inspired by her research into Singaporean historical archives, Elaine Chiew weaves Chinese mythology and early 20th century colonial Singapore into this speculative epic.
***Thank you to TheWriteReads and Neem Tree Press for providing a copy of the book. My review contains my honest thoughts about my reading experience.***
The Light Between Us was a fascinating tale with a brilliant premise. It just didn’t quite nail the execution of the story as well as I’d hoped. I loved the idea of time-crossed lovers somehow communicating back and forth over a 100-year time span. One of my favorite things about this book was getting to read the letters, which were included as part of the text. I actually wish that the author had relied even more on them to tell the story.
I enjoyed the world-building in The Light Between Us, but it did have its issues. The author managed to pack so much information about Singapore and its history into this book, and I ate it up. There were moments where the details felt a bit overwhelming, but I really, really enjoyed the experience of learning so much from this story, especially in the historical parts. However, the way the writing imparted all of the knowledge often felt like reading an academic text rather than a novel. I also wanted a bit more explanation for how the connection between the main characters was possible. The whole thing seemed a bit handwavy.
The characters in The Light Between Us were compelling, and I was interested in the outcomes of both the historical and contemporary plots. Charlie’s family drama sucked me in from the start, and I just found her family’s history and dynamic so fascinating. Tian Wei was probably my favorite character of the two, though. His attempts to find his missing friend amid the sociopolitical climate of his time were compulsively readable. Despite my interest in both characters and their stories, I never felt very emotionally attached to them. It seemed almost like there was a distance or wall between the characters and myself as the reader, which I think is probably due to the somewhat dry writing style.
The Light Between Us had a lot to say about various themes. It provided insight into the experience of living as a member of the Chinese diaspora, both historically and currently. The story also provided some poignant statements on the enduring power of love, both across distances and even once it has ended. I really loved how the journey of these characters emphasized how events of the past, as well as our own personal experiences, shape who we’ve become in the present. Each decision we make and relationship we have builds the foundation of who we become in the future, and this story illustrated that concept beautifully.
Unfortunately, the weakest element of The Light Between Us was the romance. The instant and intense connection between the characters after only one letter didn’t make any sense. I didn’t find their relationship believable at all. I really don’t think this should be marketed as a romance, especially since the characters don’t get their HEA. It didn’t help that the only moment they got to spend together was while Tian Wei possessed Charlie’s adopted brother. I hate when spirits use other people’s bodies to have sex. It is such a violation, and no matter how the narrative handles the consequences, the whole situation still feels super icky to me.
Overall, The Light Between Us had a fascinating premise that didn’t quite reach its full potential. The historical aspects were so detailed and kept me hooked, and I loved getting to read the letters between the characters. The story provided great opportunities to explore some powerful themes, and each of the characters had a compelling story to tell. The mechanics behind the speculative pieces needed a bit more detail, though, and the romance was just not at all believable and included one of my least favorite tropes/elements ever. Therefore, I rate The Light Between Us 3.25 out of 5 stars.
There you have it! My thoughts on The Light Between Us by Elaine Chiew. Does this sound like something you would enjoy? Let me know down in the comments!
