#ADGIFTED all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Book Info
Genre: Historical Fiction
Length: 336 pages
Published: September 2024
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/204929184-the-light-between-us
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Light-Between-historical-time-travel-Singapore/dp/1915584671/

The Light Between Us is a Southeast Asian historical romance that defies time and
space as an archivist explores Singapore’s tumultuous past through a supernatural
connection.
At work one night, photography archivist Charlie Sze-Toh receives a misdirected
letter from Wang Tian Wei, a 1920s colonial era Chinese photographer. Through a
mysterious digital folder and photographic plates, a conversation is sparked,
leading to a romance that spans lifetimes.
In his time, Tian Wei scours a turbulent Singapore for his missing friend, Aiko,
leading him to the perfumed chambers of a Japanese brothel. Meanwhile, in the
modern day, Charlie struggles against a family dynamic dominated by her
stepmother, a manipulative matriarch who uses family secrets as bargaining chips.
Communication starts to become difficult and Tian Wei’s letters are tinged by the
increasing threat of Japanese Occupation. Will one last fate-defying letter from
Charlie allow Tian Wei to keep their love alive?
Inspired by her research into Singaporean historical archives, Elaine Chiew weaves
Chinese mythology and early 20th century colonial Singapore into this speculative

About the Author
Elaine Chiew is a writer, editor, creative writing teacher/mentor, and visual arts
researcher. Her debut novel The Light Between Us (Neem Tree Press), long listed
for the inaugural Cheshire Novel Prize, will be out May 16, 2024.
Her short story collection The Heartsick Diaspora (Penguin SEA 2019 & Myriad
Editions UK 2020) explores the Malaysian and Singaporean Chinese diaspora living
primarily in London, New York, and Singapore; it has been mentioned as a
recommended read in The Guardian, The Straits Times Singapore, BookRiot and
Esquire SG, been featured in literary festivals in Singapore, Malaysia and Kerala,
received a Special Mention in the UK Saboteur Awards, and reviewed favourably in
Malaysia, Singapore, UK and US.
She is also the compiler/editor of Cooked Up: Food Fiction From Around the World
(New Internationalist, 2015).
Twice winner of the Bridport Short Story Competition in the UK, she has had
numerous stories published in Singapore, US and UK anthologies, most recently
with BBC Radio Four. Originally from Ipoh, Malaysia, she has a J.D. from Stanford
Law School and was a corporate securities lawyer working in New York, Hong Kong
and London. In 2017, she received an MA in Asian Art History from Goldsmiths,
University of London. She is based in London. You can find her on X @ChiewElaine
and IG @epchiew.

My Review Is this a far cry from my usual read, but 2024 is my year for branching out, expanding my reading list, and discovering new authors. I’m so lucky to be able to do this. Set in Singapore and in 1920s we have an exotic location, glorious history and beautiful romance. We also have dual timelines that are 100 years apart, which I felt I would be lost at, but somehow I followed well. While this isn’t my genre and romance isn’t my favourite to read, it was beautifully crafted and I thoroughly enjoyed being whisked away to places I can only imagine. Well written and each chapter is a good length, so a huge bonus to read snapshots in the garden this summer. Drink some herbal tea, kick your shoes off and be whisked away in pure escapism.