Lin expends more narrative energy interrogating Ellie’s inner life than Ian’s infidelity, crafting a subtle, character-driven story about interracial marriage ... Lin is deft and never overbearing in her handling of race ... At times, You Can’t Stay Here Forever drifts listlessly through the aftermath of Ian’s death. There aren’t clearly drawn, propulsive questions in its pages.
Lin does expert work in painting a very specific picture of white-collar life at a corporate law firm ... The novel’s level of unpredictability drops significantly ... Missed opportunities to bring this world of wealth to life and say something larger about Ellie’s decisions in relation to her privilege ultimately flatten the plot ... An entertaining escape even if you’ll likely return home unchanged.
Ellie learns the power of human connections as she heals and finds the push she needs to move forward. Lin’s debut is a heartwarming novel about self-discovery after loss, as she explores grief, deep disappointment, female relationships, and the Asian American perspective of living in a dominantly wealthy and privileged white society.
Lin's treatment of the glamorous, decadent setting, with its stream of gourmet meals and artisanal cocktails, is far from escapist wealth porn—she has complicated things to say about privilege and its intersection with race, ambition, and identity. A probing, astute portrayal of a fraught and late-blooming coming-of-age.
