Now, I'm not saying all Asian moms are like this, or only Asian moms can be like this—but let's just put it this way, if you know, you know. She has a passion for encouraging others to eat well in simple, practical ways that are realistic for the whole family.

The mother was a complete nutbag, I couldn't drum up any sympathy for her, she's beyond vile, and I couldn't understand why everyone carried on putting up with her - having unresolved issues yourself does not make it ok to abuse others. And since this book got deep with it and the way culture influences family dynamics, understanding that on a genetic level is necessary. It’s been a few weeks since I finished reading this, and I still find myself going back and thinking about it.

Over a sweltering London summer, all semblance of civility and propriety is lost, as Lily begins to unravel the harrowing history that has always cast a shadow on her mother. During this sticky summer, Lily starts to have disturbing hallucinations or flashbacks and she has to try and work out what’s real and what’s not and if her mother has been lying about her past. The horrifying secrets she uncovers will shake her family to its core, culminating in a shattering revelation that will finally set Lily free. Thankfully, there's no need to avoid eating whole fruits, despite some having a bad reputation for being too sugary. Ella takes time to let you as a reader learn what the family dynamic is like and form your own questions on what has made the characters the way they are.

You know something is up, but King withholds details, slowly revealing the narrative in a classic literary thriller way.

Author Ella King has crafted a multi-layered story filled with richly drawn and nuanced characters that explores difficult topics and asks hard questions. Eighteen-year-old Lily does everything to please her mother; she carries out her every whim, makes her spoiled juice every night and even dyes her hair and paints her face to look more like the good Chinese daughter she wants. A portrait of abuse, it hinges on absurdity and suspense to tell a wild story of familial trauma and reckoning that never feels like a 'trauma novel. Bad Fruit occupies that liminal space between psychological thriller and horror, beautifully written and incredibly disturbing. Her mother exerts an unhealthy amount of control over Lily, even forcing her to wear make-up and dye her hair black to look more like her, more Chinese: 'Despite everything Mama has done to bring out the Chinese in me, I remain resolutely myself, her whitest child.

And despite her being pretty vile almost all of the time, it is a testament to the author's skill, that by the end of the book, I did have some sympathy for her. Known as the "king of fruits" and cultivated and enjoyed worldwide, mangoes are rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, folate and fiber.As it reaches a climax towards the end it’s heartbreaking, so tense the atmosphere can be cut with a knife and although it’s not an easy read you are transfixed. Gripping and devastating, from a voice that cuts as sharp as a knife, this is an unforgettable story about a family gone bad.