Picture a Chinese-American storyteller who weaves tales of identity, family, and the tug between East and West—meet Lucy Tan! Her debut novel, What We Were Promised, captured hearts with its vivid portrayal of a family navigating modern Shanghai’s glittering yet complex world. With roots in New Jersey and wings that stretched to Shanghai and New York, Tan’s stories resonate with anyone who’s ever felt caught between cultures.
The Making of Lucy Tan
Born to parents from Wuhan, China, Lucy Tan grew up in the suburbs of New Jersey, where her librarian mother fueled her love for books. As a teenager, she joined a program to connect Chinese-American youth with their heritage, experiencing China’s countryside firsthand. After earning a B.A. from New York University, Tan moved to Shanghai post-college, stunned by its modern skyscrapers and smog. There, living in a luxury-serviced apartment, she began writing fiction, drawing from her multicultural life. Her M.F.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she won the 2016 August Derleth Prize, honed her craft.
Lucy Tan’s Unforgettable Stories
Tan’s debut novel, What We Were Promised (2018), follows the Zhen family as they return to Shanghai from America, chasing a new dream in a transformed city. The story sparkles with themes of class, duty, and buried secrets, earning praise from The Washington Post and a spot on Amazon’s Best Books of 2018. Tan’s short story “Safety of Numbers” won the 2015 Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest, showcasing her knack for intimate, culturally rich narratives. Her fiction, published in journals like Asia Literary Review and McSweeney’s, blends sharp prose with emotional depth, exploring what “home” means in a globalized world. Tan’s upcoming second novel, set in Wisconsin, promises to delve into friendship and ambition with her signature nuance.
Her writing style is both accessible and profound, painting vivid settings—Shanghai’s sleek towers, rural Chinese villages—with characters who grapple with their pasts. Tan’s ability to bridge cultures, inspired by her own expatriate experiences, makes her work a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction.
Why Lucy Tan Matters
Lucy Tan’s storytelling shines a light on the Chinese-American experience, capturing the nuances of identity and belonging in a globalized era. Her debut novel was longlisted for the Center for Fiction First Novel Prize, signaling her as a rising star. By weaving oral histories from her family, who lived through China’s tumultuous past, Tan preserves stories that might otherwise fade. Her work resonates with readers of Kevin Kwan or Celeste Ng, offering a fresh perspective on class and culture. As she continues to write, Tan’s voice promises to shape contemporary literature for years to come.
- Born: New Jersey, to parents from Wuhan, China
- Key Work: What We Were Promised (2018)
- Awards: 2016 August Derleth Prize, 2015 Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest
- Fun Fact: Tan once co-hosted a TV talk show in Shanghai!
Snag What We Were Promised and dive into Lucy Tan’s vibrant, heartfelt world of family and identity!