Some stories grip you not just with their plot, but with the questions they leave behind. My Other Heart by Emma Nanami Strenner is one of those rare novels. A Read with Jenna Book Club pick, this moving debut explores motherhood, identity, belonging, and the secrets that shape our lives.
At its core, this is the story of three women whose lives intersect across time and continents: Mimi, a mother who never stops searching for her lost child; Kit, a Japanese adoptee longing to connect with her heritage; and Sabrina, a young woman navigating friendship, culture, and the weight of unspoken questions. When their paths collide, the result is a heart-wrenching and unforgettable reckoning.
Quick Look
Title: My Other Heart
Publication Date: August 5, 2025
Publisher: Pamela Dorman Books
Genres: Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Contemporary
Pages: 416
In June 1998, Mimi Truang’s life is shattered when her toddler vanishes in the Philadelphia airport. Seventeen years later, in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania, best friends Kit and Sabrina plan their last summer before college. Kit travels to Tokyo to trace her roots and finds both first love and hard truths. Sabrina, unable to afford her own heritage journey, discovers a mentor who forces her to confront questions she’s long avoided.
Meanwhile, Mimi follows a lead that brings her back to Philadelphia. As the three women come face to face, their stories entwine in ways that will change all of them forever.
Strenner’s novel spans Philadelphia, Tokyo, and Saigon, blending the intimacy of coming-of-age with the wide reach of diaspora. It’s a book that lingers, full of twists, tenderness, and a reminder of how identity can be both inherited and chosen.
About the Author
Emma Nanami Strenner is a British Japanese writer with a background in Modern Chinese Studies from the University of Leeds. Before turning to fiction, she spent nearly two decades as a journalist and editor, contributing to Vogue International, Elle, and Stylist. Having lived in Japan, Vietnam, Australia, China, Singapore, and the United States, she brings a global perspective to her storytelling.
My Other Heart is her debut novel, already praised for its luminous prose, layered characters, and unflinching exploration of race, belonging, and motherhood.
Why It’s Perfect for Book Clubs
This novel is packed with themes that invite deep conversation: cultural identity, female friendship, the weight of family secrets, and what it means to belong. The characters are flawed and human, making them easy to debate and empathize with. And the twists—especially the shocking climax—leave plenty for readers to unpack together.
Book Club Discussion Questions
- The book begins in an airport—a place of waiting and transition. How does this liminal space reflect the journeys of Kit, Sabrina, and Mimi?
- How do you interpret Mimi’s decades-long search? Is it an act of hope, grief, or both?
- In what ways do the different portrayals of motherhood (Mimi, Sally, Eva, Yuriko) challenge or reinforce your own ideas of what a mother is?
- Kit’s summer in Tokyo is full of contradictions—joy, love, alienation. Which moment of her trip stayed with you most?
- Sabrina can’t travel abroad, but her mentorship at home changes her in profound ways. How does her summer compare to Kit’s?
- The novel asks: do we choose who we become, or are we shaped by the past? Where do you see this tension play out most clearly?
- Money and privilege shape Kit and Sabrina’s opportunities. How do class differences impact their friendship?
- Kit and Ryo’s romance doesn’t last, but it marks her deeply. What do you think she learned from it?
- Why do you think Sabrina’s drama class performance was such a turning point for her?
- Consider the role of silence in the novel—what isn’t said between friends, mothers, and daughters. How do these silences affect the characters?
- Which scene was the most emotionally powerful for you, and why?
- How did you interpret the title My Other Heart? What does it mean for each main character?
- Were you surprised by the ending? Did it feel satisfying or unresolved?
- Philadelphia is the one city all characters share. How does it shape their identities differently than Tokyo or Saigon?
- Kit and Sabrina’s friendship evolves over the novel. What do you think keeps them connected despite their differences?
- Do you see Mimi, Kit, and Sabrina as mirrors of each other in some way? If so, how?
- If you could continue the story into their adult lives, where would you imagine Kit and Sabrina end up?
- Many readers compare this novel to works like Searching for Sylvie Lee. Do you see parallels?
- What do you think the book says about forgiveness—both giving it and receiving it?
- If you could ask Emma Nanami Strenner one question about this story, what would it be?
Final Thoughts
My Other Heart is more than a missing-child story or a coming-of-age tale. It’s a meditation on belonging—the kind that spans oceans, generations, and friendships. Strenner writes with elegance and courage, never settling for easy answers. It’s no wonder this debut has already become a book club favorite.
If you’re looking for a novel that will spark deep conversations and stay with you long after the last page, this is one to add to your shelf.
👉 Buy My Other Heart on Amazon
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