September discussion - "Sister Snake" by Amanda Lee Koe

## Details

Our book for September 2025 is Sister Snake, by Amanda Lee Koe. Based in New York, Amanda Lee Koe is known for her evocative, grounded style covering topics related to capitalism, sexuality, ethnicity, and contemporariness.

A glittering, bold, darkly funny novel about two sisters—one in New York, one in Singapore—who are bound by an ancient secret.

Sisterhood is difficult for Su and Emerald. Su leads a sheltered, moneyed life as the picture-perfect wife of a conservative politician in Singapore. Emerald is a nihilistic sugar baby in New York, living from whim to whim as she freely uses her beauty and charms to make ends meet. But they share a secret; once they were snakes, basking under a full moon in Tang Dynasty China.

A thousand years later, their mysterious history is the only thing still binding them together. When Emerald experiences a violent encounter in Central Park and Su boards the next flight to New York, the two reach a tenuous reconciliation for the first time in decades. Su convinces Emerald to move to Singapore so she can keep an eye on her—but she soon begins to worry that Emerald’s irrepressible behavior will out them both, in a sparkling, affluent city where everything runs like clockwork and any deviation from the norm is automatically suspect.

Razor-sharp, hilarious, and raw in emotion, Sister Snake explores chosen family, queerness, passing, and the struggle against conformity. Reimagining the Chinese folktale “The Legend of the White Snake,” this is a novel about being seen for who you are—and, ultimately, how to live free.

This month’s discussion will be held at Commaa in Sheung Wan on the 14th of September @ 2:00 pm. Please note: the café asks that for large groups, guests buy at least one beverage per person ($60 minimum). They have a selection of coffees, teas, and other drinks available for purchase.

After the discussion, we will choose the next book by group vote. Please bring your suggestions for future books!