An Evening with Rebecca F. Kuang

The Portobello Bookshop is truly excited to host An Evening with Rebecca F. Kuang for her forthcoming novel Taipei Story. This return to the literary fiction genre is highly anticipated after the massive success of her last fiction novel Yellowface. Rebecca is also known for her beloved fantasy novels including the Poppy War trilogy, Babel, and Katabasis.

Taipei Story is a wryly humorous and profoundly moving coming-of-age novel that grapples with grief, language, and culture shock—all set against the backdrop of an unforgettable summer in Taipei.

This special Edinburgh Launch of Taipei Story will take place in the beautiful Assembly Rooms, located on George Street in central Edinburgh. You will be able to collect your copy of the book (if you pre-order one with your ticket) from the venue on the night.

Doors will open at 6:45pm ahead of a 7:30pm start time. Please arrive in plenty of time so we can scan tickets, get everyone their books, and ensure enough time for all guests to find their seats. The talk will run from 7:30-8:45pm, with time for questions from the audience.

Rebecca will be signing after the talk, she is happy to sign and dedicate ONE book per reader. This can either be Taipei Story, or another one of her books. To ensure everyone has time to get their book signed, there will be no posed photography, but we are happy for you to take candid photos while she signs. Portobello Bookshop staff will be assisting during the signing by putting a post-it note with each attendees name on the book they would like signed, and we can take candid photos during the signing.

About Taipei Story:

College freshman Lily Chen is off to spend the summer in Taipei at an intensive language program like so many Chinese American students before her, hoping to connect with the culture she inherited but never fully understood. But a promising start quickly unravels. Her classes are grueling, her roommate is driving her insane, and a reckless trip to the hot springs with a guy she barely knows soon has her classmates viciously gossiping. She feels adrift, a foreigner in a country she thought would feel like home.

Then shocking news arrives: Lily’s grandfather has passed away. The loss forces her to grapple with now-unanswerable questions about her family history. As Lily grieves, she’s drawn into a journey of self-discovery—piecing together memories, stories, and silences over a series of hilarious and devastating attempts at connection.

Taipei Story asks: What if the diaspora fantasy of homecoming never comes true? What if learning a language can’t bring you any closer to the people you’re trying to reach? What if you search for your family’s history, but your family doesn’t want to share? What if you wait too long to ask the right questions? As Lily struggles for answers, her summer becomes a poignant search for understanding—of herself, her family, and the meaning of home.