Review of When the Tamarind Tree Blooms

[Jaidyn Taylor]

[Following is a volunteer review of "When the Tamarind Tree Blooms" by Elaine Russell.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Elaine Russell’s When the Tamarind Tree Blooms sets the scene of an 18-year-old girl finally released from her unhappy life in a French orphanage in Laos. Thrown into a world that won’t accept her mixed bloodlines, will she uncover her secret past? And will she find true love? Pick this up to find out!

After 14 unhappy years of living in the orphanage, Genevive Dubois is finally ready to leave. On the eve of her 18th birthday, she discovers secrets the orphanage kept from her: a twin brother and her mother who may still be alive. Determined to find the truth, Genevive, or Vivi, sets out in French colonial Laos to discover her family's secrets. While neither culture fully accepts her half-French/half-Laos ethnicity, she has caught the affections of two men from vastly different backgrounds. How will she fit in with both societies and who will she choose?

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book. The cover and title caught my attention, and the story had me reading late into the night. Vivi’s character was so well written that I could feel myself experiencing every emotion she had; it was like I was living the story from a first-person perspective. My favorite character was Catherine, who worked at the orphanage Vivi grew up in. She was an anchor for Vivi’s character and vital to the story.

There was not anything I disliked about the book. It had relatable characters, tension, and conflict, and was excellently written and edited.

I give When the Tamarind Tree Blooms by Elaine Russell a 5 out of 5-star rating for its excellent storytelling and vivid characters. Because of some sexual scenes and swearing, I would recommend this to more mature audiences, though there was nothing sexually explicit. I would recommend this book to those who love romance and historical fiction.

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When the Tamarind Tree Blooms
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