There's a chain of "fast-food" restaurants called Lee's Sandwiches. It's found in the Asian districts of several large cities, specifically in the "Little Saigon" sections. Their bánh mì is fresh, and they're insanely successful. It's one of the Vietnamese success stories that is referenced by parents (or at least mine).
The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh is the story of Duc's Sandwiches, a once-successful chain of bánh mì shops. Duc, the founder, is retiring and has called all his children (Jude, Jane, Paulina, Bingo, and Georgia) home in Houston to find out the details of their inheritance. Each daughter is given a shop and must revitalize it to its former glory. The eldest and only son must marry within a year.
The Tran siblings are all fighting their battles, and relocating to a new city isn't in anyone's plan. From Philadelphia to San Jose, the women must reconcile who they are and where they came from. Jude, the son, must grow up and try to find the perfect Vietnamese wife.
This is a deeply dysfunctional and damaged family. The generational trauma is HEAVY. There are snippets of the past - of how Duc's started. Following Evelyn, Duc, and Huey during their early days in America, living in dangerous cities full of hate and prejudice, we see that their life of luxury was not without pain and heartbreak.
Huynh captures the delicate balance between Vietnamese parents and children. It's not the super affectionate and loving household seen on TV—it's almost robotic. The strained relationships in this book are so familiar. I'm surrounded by sisters, and we all have our own roles—just like the Tran children.
I do wish we knew more about how Duc, Huey, and Evelyn came to America. There were slight references - helicopters, refugee camps, religious sponsorships - but more on that experience might have developed the older characters’ actions even further. I would also have wanted more from Georgia and her time in New Orleans.
These are messy people, sometimes even leaning to severely unlikable. In this battle for money, it's a journey to find a home, to find family, and to find themselves.
Carolyn Huynh’s writing is like reading about my own family. It's emotional, funny, and healing. Her exploration of messy Vietnamese families is something that very few people are able to capture, and she does it masterfully.
Thanks to NetGalley, Carolyn Huynh, and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.