The Escape to Candyland by Yong Takahashi REVIEW

The Escape to Candyland

by Yong Takahashi

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Synopsis:

What is the message hidden behind a polite smile? In Yong Takahashi's Atlanta, the immigrants, preacher's wives, strippers, and shopkeepers who pass each other on the street all have a secret story to tell. Caught between generations of family, regrets from their pasts, conflicting cultures, and even countries, each character has a reason to fiercely guard their secret lives, even as they learn that the truth must escape. Takahashi's characters chase their American dreams down back alleys and campaign trails, stumbling under the weight of the gifts their families have given them. A box of Boraxo hand soap. Change for the vending machine. A stranger's driver's license. A mother's love. The smallest exchange could prove kill or cure when you walk the streets of Candyland.

Purchase Links:

US - https://www.amazon.com/Escape-Candyland-Yong-Takahashi/dp/1970137878/
CAN - https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B083QPNVF4

Review:

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Escape to Candyland is dark, heart breaking and brilliantly written. After reading the first story I didn't want to put it down. I found myself stealing minutes throughout the day to absorb another story every chance I got. I actually finished the entire book within a few hours. Once I started it was like I couldn't stop, nor did I want to.

Life isn't always what it seems and people aren't always who they appear to be. The Escape to Candyland takes us through the lives of a variety of characters through a series of short stories that make your heart break. From preacher's wives to strippers everyone has a story and this incredible book allows us to see a glimpse inside their lives and the secrets they hide. Takahashi will break your heart many times throughout the 19 short stories contained inside this book. Each character is captured like a photograph making you care for them as if they are people you know. Raw and emotional, these amazing stories will surely show you the darker side of human nature.

The writing is simply incredible. There were a couple stories in the beginning that felt slightly rushed but the last 3/4 of the book more than made up for it. I highly recommend reading this book. It is a very fast read and worth every second.

Author Bio:

Yong Takahashi won the Chattahoochee Valley Writers National Short Story Contest and the Writer's Digest's Write It Your Way Contest. She was a finalist in The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing, Southern Fried Karma Novel Contest, Gemini Magazine Short Story Contest, and Georgia Writers Association Flash Fiction Contest. She was awarded Best Pitch at the Atlanta Writers Club Conference.

Social Media Links:

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