INSTANTNEWYORKTIMESBESTSELLERWINNEROFTHENATIONALBOOKCRITICSCIRCLE’SJOHNLEONARDPRIZEFORBESTFIRSTBOOKWINNEROFTHEFERRO-GRUMLEYAWARDFORLGBTQFICTIONNamedaBestBookoftheYearby:NewYorkTimes*NPR*WashingtonPost*LATimes*KirkusReviews*NewYorkPublicLibrary*ChicagoPublicLibrary*Harper’sBazaar*TIME*MaureenCorrigan,FreshAir*BostonGlobe*TheAtlanticAvibrantstorycollectionaboutCambodian-Americanlife--immersiveandcomic,yetunsparing--thatoffersprofoundinsightintotheintimacyofqueerandimmigrantcommunitiesSeamlesslytransitioningbetweentheabsurdandthetenderhearted,balancingacerbichumorwithsharpemotionaldepth,AfterpartiesoffersanexpansiveportraitofthelivesofCambodian-Americans.AsthechildrenofrefugeescarveoutradicalnewpathsforthemselvesinCalifornia,theyshouldertheinheritedweightoftheKhmerRougegenocideandgrapplewiththecomplexitiesofrace,sexuality,friendship,andfamily.Ahighschoolbadmintoncoachandfailinggrocerystoreownertriestorelivehisglorydaysbybeatingarisingstarteenageplayer.Twodrunkenbrothersattendaweddingafterpartyandhatchaplantoexposetheirshadyuncle’ssnubbingofthebrideandgroom.Aqueerloveaffairsparksbetweenanoldertechentrepreneurtryingtolauncha“safespace“appandadisillusionedyoungteacherobsessedwithMoby-Dick.Andinthesweepingfinalstory,anine-year-oldchildlearnsthathismothersurvivedaracistschoolshooter.ThestoriesinAfterparties,“poweredbySo’sskillwiththetellingdetail,arelikebeamsofwry,affectionatelight,fallingfromdifferentdirectionsonacomplicated,struggling,belovedAmericancommunity“(GeorgeSaunders).
NPR ANINE HARPER friendship TIME AMERICANS YEAR
