Stanley is dying. All any of his family are concerned about is whether he has set up a Family Trust and named them as trustees.
Stanley is the domineering and occasionally abusive father of Kate and Fred. Their mother and Stanley’s ex-wife, Linda, is concerned that Stanley will leave his substantial estate to his new younger wife Mary rather than their children. Linda, Kate and Fred have romantic issues. The siblings work in the high stress Silicon Valley. Kate as a manager in an Apple clone and Fred in corporate venture capital.
Family Trust is Crazy Rich American Asians set in San Francisco rather than Singapore. There is still the need for children to attend Ivy League schools, to have the best job titles and to leave a legacy behind. This book had more emphasis on careers, which I enjoyed. I especially liked Linda’s story of what it was like to be divorced later in life in Taiwanese-American culture. All the characters had intricate personalities that were totally believable and were well-matched to their actions.
Family Trust is perfect for fans of family pathos or anyone who wants to immerse themselves in a different culture than that which is in most books. 4 stars!
Thanks to the publisher, William Morrow, and Edelweiss+ for an advanced copy.