“[A] lush, vivid, and unpredictable narrative.” - Elle
“This lyrical novel held my heart captive from its opening scent of hibiscus to its final image of the dark and mighty volcano that bears witness to the rise and fall of one of Hawaii’s most prominent families. . . . A literary heartbreaker of a novel about the ways the heart betrays us, the ways it leads us to the truth.” - Ploughshares
“Wong will utterly transport you through her breathtaking prose in this impressively crafted story.” - Bustle
“A hot summer day is perfect for this sweeping multi-generational family saga which takes the reader from China to Hawaii.” - Book Riot
“A sweeping historical saga about several generations of the powerful Leong family. Its patriarch, Frank Leong, moved his shipping business from China to Hawaii at the turn of the 20th century and built a dynasty in the islands. His murder decades later throws the family into turmoil and exposes long-buried secrets, and his only grandchild, 18-year-old Theresa, struggles to decipher how the past will shape her present.” - Tampa Bay Times
“A sweeping family saga in the tradition of Amy Tan. . . .Wong perceptively captures her cast of characters and their setting.” - Publishers Weekly
“In Diamond Head, Wong has crafted a delicate tower of mystery and history. . . . Wong’s prose is lyrical and nearly poetic. . . . Lovely.” - New York Journal of Books
“An impressive story of romance stretching from early twentieth century China to Hawaii in 1964. . . . In this story of three generations of Chinese immigrants, ancient traditions and family secrets threaten the Leong clan in this captivating story of ill-fated romance set in beautiful island of Oahu.” - Iron Mountain Daily News
“Wong’s debut novel will hook readers from the first page and not let go until the final tragic secret is revealed. . . . By skillfully weaving a murder mystery into the story, Wong keeps the pace moving, and the twist ending is a surprise. . . . Reading groups and fans of Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club will enjoy exploring Chinese-Hawaiian history and culture with this lovely novel.” - Library Journal
“A shimmering tapestry of secrets and betrayals, beautifully told through the eyes of the women of the wealthy Leong family. An eye-opening, poignant read set against the backdrop of Hawaii’s rich history.” - Yangsze Choo, author of The Ghost Bride and The Night Tiger
“Cecily Wong’s lush debut novel hooked me in right away as it slowly unraveled the tangle of secrets the Leong family has kept for decades. Diamond Head is an intricate meditation on what is in our control and what is fate.” - Celeste Ng, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything I Never Told You and Little Fires Everywhere
“Wong’s multigenerational Hawaiian saga of deception and loyalty evocatively captures the tightly controlled worlds of privilege and power.” - Booklist
“Ms. Wong’s first novel is a vivid story of a family’s journey over time. We live and breathe with her characters as we witness history shaping family, and family creating its own history. Diamond Head is a jewel of a saga.” - Rebecca Wells, author of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
“[A] rich and compelling debut novel. . . . With keen insight, effused with sadness and hope, Diamond Head is an auspicious debut.” - Gail Tsukiyama, author of The Samurai's Garden and A Hundred Flowers
“Diamond Head takes the family saga to a new and very high place. . . . Readers will follow the fortunes of this family breathlessly, hungry for more.” - Mary Gordon, author of The Liar's Wife and There Your Heart Lies
“Wong’s pellucid prose style keeps the pages turning. . . . A promising debut.” - Kirkus Reviews