Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City

This memoir is both parts vulnerable and powerful as Jane Wong shares her story of growing up in a working-class Chinese-American family. Wong’s writing style took some adjustment at first, but as the book progressed, her poetic and metaphorical voice became a beautiful rhythm to read. Moving back and forth through a nonlinear timeline, I experienced a wide range of emotions and related to many of her experiences. I felt the fear and insecurities she faced growing up in predominantly white spaces as an Asian-American woman. I felt the heaviness and shame of having loved manipulative partners who objectified, fetishized, and endangered. I felt both the burden and honor of being a first-generation immigrant child who is expected to meet seemingly impossible standards. The deep-rooted trauma and the constant push to keep moving as a survival mechanism resonated deeply, not just through Wong’s honest storytelling, but within my own experiences. This memoir is not only a love letter to her upbringing and her mother, but also a comforting embrace to all Asian-Americans who have ever felt out of place. It is a safety net and a reassurance that our stories are shared. Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City is a true gift from the heart that will stay with me for a long time.