Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel

The latest historical novel from New York Times bestselling author Lisa See, inspired by the true story of a woman physician from 15th-century China--perfect for fans of See's classic Snow Flower and the Secret Fan and The Island of Sea Women.

BUY THE BOOK

Published Jun 6, 2023

357 pages

Average rating: 8.24

1,738 RATINGS

|

These clubs recently read this book...

Girls' Night In

Can you spend hours in a bookstore? Is being in a bookstore almost as enticing as a shoe store? Could you spend all of your hard-earned money on books

Morris County Book Club

A local book club that meets in-person once a month on the fourth Tuesday in the Conference Room at the Morris County Library in Whippany, NJ from 6:30-7:45 pm.

Please only join this book club if you plan on committing to reading the book club selection and attending the meetings each month.

Please change your RSVP if you are not able to attend. Try to arrive 10-15 minutes prior to the meeting to socialize and get to know other members. Bring a copy of the book (if you can).

Cozy Chair Book Club

Greetings!  Welcome to the Cozy Chair Book Club!  This group is for anyone who loves books from different genres.We will vote on one book each month.

Community Reviews

What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *Lady Tan's Circle of Women* is a richly detailed, immersive novel set in 15th-century Ming China, following Tan Yunxian’s growth from eli...

Piac
Jan 22, 2025
8/10 stars
I thoroughly enjoyed the novel Lady Tan's Circle of I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel -Lady Tan's Circle of Women-. The story captivated me from the very first page, drawing me into its rich historical setting and complex characters. Each chapter unfolded new layers of intrigue and emotion, making it impossible to put the book down.

I found myself eagerly turning the pages, completely absorbed in the lives and struggles of the women portrayed in the story. Overall, it was a compelling read that fully held my attention throughout.
Lady Tan's Circle of Women kept me engaged; I could not put it down.
K Olson
Jan 10, 2025
8/10 stars
This is the 6th Lisa See book that I have read. As always her writing drew me into a time period I know little about which is one of the reasons I love her writing. I especially enjoyed having her come to my book club and explain her writing process. The sheer amount of research that she puts into her work is amazing. It was so interesting how she weaved in true accounts into the fictional story such as the scene with the worm. Highly recommend and I look forward to her next book which she said is 30 years in the making.
WineforReading
May 13, 2024
7/10 stars
Interesting historical fiction about women and china.
Mary Pat Holt
Feb 05, 2026
8/10 stars
"To Live is to Suffer"

This is another wonderful novel by Lisa See. She takes you on a journey into China during the 15th century. Lady Tan Yunxian was born into an elite class but when she lost her mother at a very young age, she is sent to live with her grandparents. Her grandmother is one of only a handful of female doctors and she begins to teach young Yunxian the craft of Chinese medicine. Her grandmother also gives her the gift of friendship with Meiling, Midwife Shi's daughter. This story is about class, restrictions, and expectations growing up in an elite class in China. She learns not only about Chinese medince but the yin and yang of life. Yunxian looks beyond her privileged life to understand what all women share.

Although there are many characters to keep track off, they are well developed, and the descriptions are rich with detail. Lisa See does a huge amount of research for her books and this one is no exception. You are totally taken to 15th century China and the Ming dynasty. There are a lot of strong female characters with complex relationships and power struggles.
Jazzy books
Jan 16, 2026
Satisfying

See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.