I kept reading just to see if there was any redeeming value in this book. If there was, I missed it. The main character, Sarah Walters didn't have any real personal goals other than to "find love" and the reader just follows her mindless wandering from junior high through her early thirties.

I wanted to like this book, but it never captivated me. I just wanted it to end!
The piano teacher, Claire, did not add significantly to the story for me. She was simply a means to guide the reader through Will and Trudy's story. I didn't like Claire or find her to be interesting in any way.
Trudy was overall annoying. In most of the conversations she flitted from one topic to another, one emotion to another, none of it seemed very meaningful. To me she is the epitome of the person you avoid at social gatherings if you can.
Will Truesdale was drawn to these two self-centered, self-serving women and was romantically involved with both during different time periods in Hong Kong's history. He regrets what he withheld from Trudy and cannot give Claire anything meaningful of himself either.

I didn't care for the author's style of writing. I was expecting something different in story line and writing style. I found the lengthy listings of all the different expectations a group of people may have had for coming to America, the lengthy paragraphs of how they left their homes, happy, sad, proud, not looking back, etc. becoming monotonous. I couldn't wait to move forward.

The author took way too much time to tell a simple story. The main character was repetitive and unbelievable.

Quick read. Hopefully this is a "linking" book in the series, otherwise, why bother?