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The Lotus Shoes

The captivating historical debut for fans of GIRL WITH A PEARL EARRING and MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA

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The Lotus Shoes

By: Jane Yang
Narrated by: Gabby Wong, Katie Leung
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About this listen

 THE CAPTIVATING, HEART-RENDING STORY OF TWO WOMEN IN 1800S CHINA
'Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time' HEATHER MORRIS, author of The Tattooist of Auschwitz

'Mesmerising. Jane Yang masterfully creates this 19th century lost world' THE TIMES

'This story of love, loss and betrayal will leave a deep imprint on your soul. Perfect for fans of Memoirs of a Geisha' WOMAN & HOME

Love and loss. Sisterhood and betrayal. Little Flower and Linjing's fates are bound together.

As a child, Little Flower is sold to Linjing's wealthy family to become a muizai. In a fit of childish jealousy over her new handmaiden's ladylike bound feet and talent for embroidery, Linjing ensures Little Flower can never leave her to ascend in society.

Despite their starkly different places in the Fong household, over the years the two girls must work together to secure both their futures through Linjing's marriage. As the two grow up, they are by turns bitter rivals and tentative friends.

Until scandal strikes the family, and Linjing and Little Flower's lives are unexpectedly thrown into chaos. Linjing's fall from grace could be an opportunity for Little Flower - but will their intertwined fates lead to triumph, or tragedy for them both?

'Jane Yang is an exciting new talent' SANTA MONTEFIORE
'More than a book, this novel is an act of empowerment for women' NGUYEN PHAN QUE MAI
'Enchants from the first page to the last' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, STARRED REVIEW
'This fascinating, evocative story would make a great book club pick' RED
'Captivating and exquisitely rendered' MELISSA FU
'If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, then you will love The Lotus Shoes' SORAYA LANE
'I devoured this stunning debut' ALKA JOSHI
'This big, juicy saga has scandal, hardship, love and sisterhood' GOOD HOUSEKEEPING
'A hugely talented writer whose storytelling prowess fully immerses the reader' NATASHA LESTER
'I enjoyed every single page of The Lotus Shoes' ELIZABETH CHADWICK
'Captivating, utterly compelling' SUNDAY POST
'You'll love it' MANDY ROBOTHAM
'Stunning, transporting, unforgettable' AMANDA GEARD©2025 Jane Yang Historical Historical Fiction World Literature Heartfelt China

Critic reviews

Brilliantly written, masterful storytelling, and hard to put down. This story will stay with me for a very, very long time (HEATHER MORRIS, author of THE TATTOOIST OF AUSCHWITZ)
Mesmerising. Jane Yang masterfully creates this 19th century lost world with the complicated customs that rule women's lives
Heartbreaking and powerful. Set in 1800s China, this saga will completely transport you . . . Delving into class, gender, polygamous marriages and the practice of ancient foot-binding, this story of love, loss and betrayal will leave a deep imprint on your soul. Perfect for fans of Memoirs of a Geisha
The Lotus Shoes is a powerful story beautifully told. Little Flower and Linjing's story is complex, brutal, tragic, heartbreaking but ultimately uplifting and satisfying. I feel I have learned a great deal about a place and period I knew very little about. Jane Yang is an exciting new talent and I can't wait to read more from her (SANTA MONTEFIORE, author of SONGS OF LOVE AND WAR)
Yang's expert plotting and nuanced historical details result in an exceptional story that enchants from the first page to the last
Set in 19th-century China, this fascinating, evocative story of two little girls with very different destinies would make a great book club pick
Captivating . . . An utterly compelling read
Perfect for fans of Memoirs of a Geisha . . . beautifully evokes 19th century China
A captivating and exquisitely rendered novel that spans the last decades of 19th century China, as the country began its complex transition from a closed, imperial power to a modern nation, embracing Western ideas and influences. With deep research and elegant storytelling, The Lotus Shoes offers a fascinating look at the traditions of foot-binding, muizai, filial piety, and polygamy. For me, the centrepiece of the novel was the emotionally rich relationship between Linjing and Little Flower as it evolves over a lifetime and through multiple turns of fortune. I was invested in their story from the first page until the very last words. I so enjoyed this beautiful book (MELISSA FU, author of PEACH BLOSSOM SPRING)
Set in 1800s China, this big, juicy saga has scandal, hardship, love and sisterhood
Captivating
A fabulous read from the very first page, this is historical fiction at its absolute best. Yang's carefully crafted characters and intricately woven tale showed me a part of history I knew nothing about, and had me reading until midnight to discover the ending. This is easily one of the best books I've read in years, and the story of Linjing and Little Flower will stay with me for a long time to come. If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, then you will love The Lotus Shoes (SORAYA LANE, author of THE SAPPHIRE DAUGHTER)
All stars
Most relevant
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was such a very unusual story, very gripping. It was also beautifully read Janet from Kent

The Lotus Shoes

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The harsh reality of life for women in China in the 19th century I was gripped from start to finish. This story will stay with me for a long time.

Very moving story well narrated

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While the book itself is genuinely good, the audio production leaves a lot to be desired—especially when it comes to the portrayal of Ling Jing’s character. The narrator just doesn't deliver. Her pacing is inconsistent, and she lacks the natural rhythm and flow that makes for an enjoyable listening experience. She frequently pauses over words, and in Chapter 24, she inexplicably gives Spring Rain’s character a sudden Cockney accent, which completely breaks immersion.

To make matters worse, at the end of Chapter 14 (listed as Chapter 15 on Audible, which is its own issue), you can clearly hear the narrator for Little Flower say, “Oh, sorry. Yeah, cool,” apparently responding to someone off-mic—likely a sound engineer or director. Additionally, in chapter 47 (listed as Chapter 48) a word, which I could not decipher, is poorly edited in as Ling Jing, rushes to protect Little Flower.

Honestly, I wish I’d picked up the physical book when I first saw it in the bookstore. The audio version just doesn't do the story justice.

The book itself is genuinely good, the audio production leaves a lot to be desired

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It was like listening to a senior school writing exercise. Terrible plot, 2 dimensional characters, zero flow. I kept listening to see if it got any better and it never did. Truly awful

Could have been so much better

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