Coming to America for a better life is a common theme in American history. In PAPER NAMES, Susie Luo brings us a different kind of immigrant. Unlike those who come to America because there is nothing for them in their home country, the Zhang family had been successful in China. Tony was a respected engineer, and his wife, Kim, was a doctor. But they came to the US for a better life for their daughter, Tammy.

"At its heart, the crux of the story is our relationships with family --- not only how we shape our lives to fulfill their expectations, but also the lengths to which we will go in order to hide shameful secrets from our past."

In addition to the Zhangs, Luo introduces us to Oliver. He is a successful Harvard-educated attorney, born with a silver spoon in his mouth. But he has a darkness in his past that he hides from others. He meets Tony, the doorman in his exclusive New York City apartment building. When Tony comes to the aid of one of the residents --- a celebrity --- who is being robbed, he gets his moment of fame. Actually, Tony has anger issues, and attacking the robber felt good to him. But after witnessing his bravery, Oliver becomes interested in Tony's family and offers to give his daughter piano lessons.

So their lives continue to be entwined. Through Oliver's connections, Tammy attends Harvard and goes on to Harvard Law School. She ends up working for the same firm where Oliver is the youngest partner. But his life isn't easy, and we see the pressure his loved ones put on him to do their bidding. Family loyalty is demanded, but Oliver has covered his embarrassing past and has no desire to openly declare his ties to his grandfather, as much as his family might insist.

The story begins in 1997, then moves forward and backward --- to 2014, back to 1999, forward to 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2015. We then jump back, forward and back again. Notice the dates; it's important to think about where in Oliver and Tammy's life each chapter is taking place. The jumps enable us to witness an event or action and then see the backstory of how that came to occur.

Luo effectively investigates cultural differences as we see the Zhangs navigate life in the US. They don't go to any social event without bringing a homemade dish for their hosts as that's a matter of common politeness in their culture. In some homes, we see that those carefully prepared foods end up in the garbage. Tammy has to learn how to present herself among the extremely wealthy as her boyfriend’s family eats at the best private clubs and restaurants and flies to exotic places. Vince is not snobby and doesn't care about making money --- he just wants to do the right thing. But is she really in love with him, or is she capitulating to her parents' expectations?

At its heart, the crux of the story is our relationships with family --- not only how we shape our lives to fulfill their expectations, but also the lengths to which we will go in order to hide shameful secrets from our past. Such deceptions are not benign, and they can eat at one's soul. Not one character in PAPER NAMES emerges unscathed --- because they are all human.