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

1,776 RATINGS

|

Join a book club that is reading Lady Tan's Circle of Women: A Novel!

Downtown New Rochelle Book Club

Join New Rochelle’s Book Club at Casaroma Cafe with The Humble Bumble Bookstore & The Self Studio! Enjoy great reads, coffee & community.

Cover to Cover Girls Bookclub - Boulder

📚 Soul-deep stories ✨ Vibrant community 🥂 Main character energy

The Novel Strand Book Club

Monthly book club hosted by Novel Strand Brewing company located in the Baker Neighborhood of Denver, CO

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...

Debbie B.
Mar 08, 2026
9/10 stars
Such a beautifully written book. I felt as if I was living within the walls of these majestic compounds of the Emperor and wealthy political families. The description of the gardens was exquisite - I could see, taste and feel the flora and fauna. I did some research on Chinese medicine after reading the book and it’s as equally fascinating as the description of herbs and flowers used for medicine for women in the storyline. The storyline was haunting and the characters developed so well; especially when teasing out the differences between the classes of people. I couldn’t put the book down and highly recommend for a book club as there is so much to discuss.
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.
necola0701
Feb 13, 2026
Discussion 4/15/24

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