Joan Is Okay

Joan is a Chinese American doctor who is focused on her work in the ICU of a New York City hospital and has little in the way of a social life. Her brother Fang is a successful hedge fund manager who lives in posh Greenwich, CT, with his wife and three children. When their father dies unexpectedly, Joan requests only 48 hours’ leave to attend his funeral in China. This triggers an HR intervention requiring Joan to take a six-week leave from the hospital. An overfriendly neighbor teaches Joan how to fill her down time, but these lessons cause Joan to flee to Greenwich. The close proximity of family precipitates a number of conversations that help Joan clarify what she wants. Wang (PEN/Hemingway–awarded for her debut novel Chemistry, and with a PhD in public health) offers a compelling story and gentle exploration of immigration, success, and lifestyle choices. Narrator Catherine Ho is just the right voice for Joan. She navigates the English and Chinese parts of the story with ease and voices the conflicting opportunities and choices each character faces with compassion and humor.