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Entanglements that never end
Not yet published
Expected 14 Dec 25When her powerful father cheated on her mom and married a younger woman, Linh didn’t lash out. She waited until her stepmother got pregnant, then used it as leverage to negotiate her independence.
At nineteen, when she thought she could outmaneuver anyone, she met Quan, a rising executive with perfect self-control and a strategic approach to emotions.
Despite being six years younger, Linh approached, tested, and pursued him. The relationship slowly slipped beyond her control into an entanglement that blurred the lines between love, obsession, and manipulation.
Set in Vietnam, this coming-of-age story follows Linh’s fourteen-year journey from a rebellious teenager to a successful businesswoman, navigating family trauma, ambition, entrepreneurship, and messy romance.
Eventually, Linh must face the devastating emotional consequences of reducing every human interaction, even love, to a calculation.
Early reviews:
“The Machiavellian undertone combined with the dysfunctional relationships is what I am here for.”
“Linh was such a compelling protagonist. Her relationship with Quan was messy, toxic, and utterly captivating. I loved that Linh was fully aware of who he was and what he had done, yet she was still drawn to his intelligence, talent, and ambition. She simply understood him.”
“It’s an addictive, smartly written story full of strategy, romance, twists, and just the right dose of reality. If you love well-crafted storytelling with a mix of heart and intellect, this one’s definitely for you!”
“The depiction of Hanoi was beautifully crafted, allowing me to relive familiar childhood memories while experiencing my 20s as if I were in Vietnam.”
At nineteen, when she thought she could outmaneuver anyone, she met Quan, a rising executive with perfect self-control and a strategic approach to emotions.
Despite being six years younger, Linh approached, tested, and pursued him. The relationship slowly slipped beyond her control into an entanglement that blurred the lines between love, obsession, and manipulation.
Set in Vietnam, this coming-of-age story follows Linh’s fourteen-year journey from a rebellious teenager to a successful businesswoman, navigating family trauma, ambition, entrepreneurship, and messy romance.
Eventually, Linh must face the devastating emotional consequences of reducing every human interaction, even love, to a calculation.
Early reviews:
“The Machiavellian undertone combined with the dysfunctional relationships is what I am here for.”
“Linh was such a compelling protagonist. Her relationship with Quan was messy, toxic, and utterly captivating. I loved that Linh was fully aware of who he was and what he had done, yet she was still drawn to his intelligence, talent, and ambition. She simply understood him.”
“It’s an addictive, smartly written story full of strategy, romance, twists, and just the right dose of reality. If you love well-crafted storytelling with a mix of heart and intellect, this one’s definitely for you!”
“The depiction of Hanoi was beautifully crafted, allowing me to relive familiar childhood memories while experiencing my 20s as if I were in Vietnam.”
- GenresFiction
382 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 14, 2025
51 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 1, 2025
This book had me captivated from start to finish. It was sharp, emotional, and thought-provoking, with characters that felt real and raw. The open-ended conclusion left me eager for more!
The short, punchy sentences truly hit hard when things went wrong for Linh. They increased the pace, heightened my adrenaline, and made me feel her stress and anxiety while keeping the narrative sharp and rational. The straightforward, non-poetic language was a major highlight for me. It emphasized Linh’s rational thinking, adding depth to her character. This style immersed me in the story without overwhelming me with overly descriptive prose, cringey emotional thoughts, or dry non-fiction terminology.
The combination of past and present timelines added multiple layers to Linh’s character. It provided insight into her personality, thought process, and the reasons behind her actions. Her traumatic past and broken family had always been there, lingering in her subconscious and shaping her decisions. But she never let her past dictate her future. She created her own path—she made things happen.
Linh was such a compelling protagonist. Logical, driven, and ambitious, yet she still allowed space for love to grow. Her relationship with Quan was messy, toxic, and utterly captivating. I loved that Linh was fully aware of who he was and what he had done, yet she was still drawn to his intelligence, talent, and ambition. She simply understood him. Her affection and admiration for him—the foundation of their relationship—were portrayed exceptionally well.
Quan’s obsessive and manipulative side intrigued me. It made me wonder—what was it about him that pulled Linh in despite everything? He was such a complex and fascinating character.
As a rock climber myself, I couldn’t help but smile when I discovered that Quan was also a climber. The little details—his pile of climbing shoes, chalk-stained pants, and the way he described climbing as a fun hobby that allowed him to problem-solve, overcome challenges, and reach the top—made me feel deeply connected to the story.
Western novels often contain references that I don’t fully understand, but this book took me back to my roots. The depiction of Hanoi was beautifully crafted, allowing me to relive familiar childhood memories while experiencing my 20s as if I were in Vietnam. The subtle explanation of “dau” (mung bean) was a lovely touch, adding cultural context while also shaping Quan’s mother’s character. In my head, I immediately thought, “Ah! This is so Vietnamese!”
Many books hook readers at the start but either become boring or drag on in the middle, forcing readers to skim toward the end just to find out the resolution. Some simply lose momentum, leaving readers disappointed. But this book maintained an excellent pace, with plot twists that kept me engaged throughout. Reading it felt like riding a rollercoaster—thrilling, unpredictable, and unforgettable.
I would rate this book 5/5, 10/10, or even 100+/100 if I could! Kudos to Alex, Chip, and the team for putting together such a masterpiece!
The short, punchy sentences truly hit hard when things went wrong for Linh. They increased the pace, heightened my adrenaline, and made me feel her stress and anxiety while keeping the narrative sharp and rational. The straightforward, non-poetic language was a major highlight for me. It emphasized Linh’s rational thinking, adding depth to her character. This style immersed me in the story without overwhelming me with overly descriptive prose, cringey emotional thoughts, or dry non-fiction terminology.
The combination of past and present timelines added multiple layers to Linh’s character. It provided insight into her personality, thought process, and the reasons behind her actions. Her traumatic past and broken family had always been there, lingering in her subconscious and shaping her decisions. But she never let her past dictate her future. She created her own path—she made things happen.
Linh was such a compelling protagonist. Logical, driven, and ambitious, yet she still allowed space for love to grow. Her relationship with Quan was messy, toxic, and utterly captivating. I loved that Linh was fully aware of who he was and what he had done, yet she was still drawn to his intelligence, talent, and ambition. She simply understood him. Her affection and admiration for him—the foundation of their relationship—were portrayed exceptionally well.
Quan’s obsessive and manipulative side intrigued me. It made me wonder—what was it about him that pulled Linh in despite everything? He was such a complex and fascinating character.
As a rock climber myself, I couldn’t help but smile when I discovered that Quan was also a climber. The little details—his pile of climbing shoes, chalk-stained pants, and the way he described climbing as a fun hobby that allowed him to problem-solve, overcome challenges, and reach the top—made me feel deeply connected to the story.
Western novels often contain references that I don’t fully understand, but this book took me back to my roots. The depiction of Hanoi was beautifully crafted, allowing me to relive familiar childhood memories while experiencing my 20s as if I were in Vietnam. The subtle explanation of “dau” (mung bean) was a lovely touch, adding cultural context while also shaping Quan’s mother’s character. In my head, I immediately thought, “Ah! This is so Vietnamese!”
Many books hook readers at the start but either become boring or drag on in the middle, forcing readers to skim toward the end just to find out the resolution. Some simply lose momentum, leaving readers disappointed. But this book maintained an excellent pace, with plot twists that kept me engaged throughout. Reading it felt like riding a rollercoaster—thrilling, unpredictable, and unforgettable.
I would rate this book 5/5, 10/10, or even 100+/100 if I could! Kudos to Alex, Chip, and the team for putting together such a masterpiece!
March 29, 2025
The dialogue, the drama, the emotions—everything was on point! The character arcs hit all the right notes. It was such a good read: funny at times, gripping throughout, and just the right mix of heart and brains. I found myself wondering what I would do if I were in Linh's place.
The story follows Linh, a sharp and independent-minded girl who happens to be the daughter of a powerful businessman in Vietnam. However, she cannot stand her father; he walks out on her mom, and she wants nothing to do with his name, money, or influence. Instead, she’s determined to carve her own path. She meets Quan through her university club, and what follows is a rollercoaster of strategy, emotions, and relationships as she navigates love, friendships, academics, and family drama.
What I really loved was how real these characters felt. You can picture them, you know them. The writing makes it all so vivid.
Overall, it’s an addictive, smartly written story full of strategy, romance, twists, and just the right dose of reality. If you love well-crafted storytelling with a mix of heart and intellect, this one’s definitely for you!
The story follows Linh, a sharp and independent-minded girl who happens to be the daughter of a powerful businessman in Vietnam. However, she cannot stand her father; he walks out on her mom, and she wants nothing to do with his name, money, or influence. Instead, she’s determined to carve her own path. She meets Quan through her university club, and what follows is a rollercoaster of strategy, emotions, and relationships as she navigates love, friendships, academics, and family drama.
What I really loved was how real these characters felt. You can picture them, you know them. The writing makes it all so vivid.
Overall, it’s an addictive, smartly written story full of strategy, romance, twists, and just the right dose of reality. If you love well-crafted storytelling with a mix of heart and intellect, this one’s definitely for you!
April 3, 2025
If you’re someone who’s vulnerable and sensitive, you can relate to Linh (the main character) a lot. This story has many complicated feelings/thoughts. An interesting, realistic story about family trauma, messy relationships, psychological techniques, startup & business for those who love to dive deep in complex feelings. Really easy to follow and keep track of what's going on. I love the settings a lot. You can easily picture Hanoi in the book. It would definitely intrigue you to read in one sitting. Amazing novel!
April 6, 2025
This review is human written, no AI is used.
I wanted to like this book as somebody who has Vietnamese heritage as well but grew up in European countries.
I appreciate the glimpses about Vietnam. I appreciate it’s an easy read to be finished in 2 hours so that’s great to get yourself out of a reading slumber.
The language is really simplistic which probably realistically portrays the infantile way of thinking of 19-22 year old people. I wonder, if the target audience is teenagers & young adults in their early 20s?
Lots of unprocessed traumas of the characters. Authors love glorification of getting meaning as a person through productive, economic value generating work. You barely see glimpses of the actual people’s personality. In one chapter Linh talks about a friend getting married & she had to throw in what the couple started to do as a job. Not who they are today after all these years. We get their job titles (product managers, rly wow)
Characters barely develop as well, which probably makes sense due to their young age in this novel. Instead their professional characters grow a lot, which is just an extension to all the business self help books on the market.
The protagonist is insufferable & instead of going to therapy to manage her own abandonment issues she’s being drawn to a toxic business man who’s successful in his career but a disgusting dude who wrecked her maliciously. How is this cool?
It’s a great book for folks who love unhealthy characters & read lots of generic business self help book anecdotes in a Story telling format (I used to love that in my 20s so I get it I guess)
I wanted to like this book as somebody who has Vietnamese heritage as well but grew up in European countries.
I appreciate the glimpses about Vietnam. I appreciate it’s an easy read to be finished in 2 hours so that’s great to get yourself out of a reading slumber.
The language is really simplistic which probably realistically portrays the infantile way of thinking of 19-22 year old people. I wonder, if the target audience is teenagers & young adults in their early 20s?
Lots of unprocessed traumas of the characters. Authors love glorification of getting meaning as a person through productive, economic value generating work. You barely see glimpses of the actual people’s personality. In one chapter Linh talks about a friend getting married & she had to throw in what the couple started to do as a job. Not who they are today after all these years. We get their job titles (product managers, rly wow)
Characters barely develop as well, which probably makes sense due to their young age in this novel. Instead their professional characters grow a lot, which is just an extension to all the business self help books on the market.
The protagonist is insufferable & instead of going to therapy to manage her own abandonment issues she’s being drawn to a toxic business man who’s successful in his career but a disgusting dude who wrecked her maliciously. How is this cool?
It’s a great book for folks who love unhealthy characters & read lots of generic business self help book anecdotes in a Story telling format (I used to love that in my 20s so I get it I guess)
Want to read
April 2, 2025Have not read it yet but I support it 100% because of Chi Chip hihi.
Hope the author did not use GPT to write the book because it will be so perfect.
Hope the author did not use GPT to write the book because it will be so perfect.
July 24, 2025
Huge thanks to the author Chip Huyen for sending me an early copy of this book!!
Linh is incredibly smart and extremely manipulative hahaha but the writing makes u understand exactly why she is the way she is. Some of her choices aren't always likable but i get it, they feel real.
The story is a mix of ambition, control, and vulnerability. If you enjoy character-driven books, this one's worth it.
Linh is incredibly smart and extremely manipulative hahaha but the writing makes u understand exactly why she is the way she is. Some of her choices aren't always likable but i get it, they feel real.
The story is a mix of ambition, control, and vulnerability. If you enjoy character-driven books, this one's worth it.
April 13, 2025
Gonna preface this review by saying that I have nothing but admiration for chị Chip—the journeys she’s gone through and the books she’s written. This book, however, falls short of my expectations. The writing style left much to be desired; it reads more like a journal than a well-crafted narrative. The characters (except perhaps Linh) lack depth and are described in a told-but-not-shown manner—maybe because the story is told from Linh’s first-person perspective? There were a lot of chick-flick clichés: the damaged girl with a troubled past, the old flame, the confident, successful older man who turns out to be a manipulative asshole, etc. Above all, I had trouble reconciling the events in this book with its setting—Vietnam in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Having grown up then and there, I found the plot out of place. It would have been more reasonable to say all of this happened in the 2020s, or somewhere in the U.S., rather than Vietnam. That said, the plot itself is pretty interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 2, 2025
I didn't see it coming, I felt stupid as she did. All is not fair in love and war, I definitely don't agree. Be prepared for the reeling suspense and I hope you don't share the scars that Linh had.This book would definitely teach you a thing or two about the games people play.
To say, Linh is a young girl who develops from a rebellious teenager into a determined entrepreneur having to navigate through the struggles with family, love and betrayal. Her life is defined by unresolved ties- her fraught family relationships caused by her parent's divorce, unspoken affection from her friend Sang, her vulnerability and ambition manipulated by Quan.
At this point, I have only read 16 chapters that would take you through dual timelines leaving insights into Linh's parallels, exploits and entanglements. Whatever this cliffhanger makes for us who are already captivated, I hope to see Linh's arc and self-introspection edge towards a fulfilling reckoning.
It is such a compelling and easy read!
To say, Linh is a young girl who develops from a rebellious teenager into a determined entrepreneur having to navigate through the struggles with family, love and betrayal. Her life is defined by unresolved ties- her fraught family relationships caused by her parent's divorce, unspoken affection from her friend Sang, her vulnerability and ambition manipulated by Quan.
At this point, I have only read 16 chapters that would take you through dual timelines leaving insights into Linh's parallels, exploits and entanglements. Whatever this cliffhanger makes for us who are already captivated, I hope to see Linh's arc and self-introspection edge towards a fulfilling reckoning.
It is such a compelling and easy read!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews