Holding Pattern: Difference between revisions

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{{For|the#REDIRECT flight maneuver|[[Holding (aeronautics)}}{{Infobox novel]]

| author = [[Jenny Xie (novelist)|Jenny Xie]]

| isbn = 9780593539705

| pub_date = June 20, 2023

| publisher = [[Riverhead Books]]

| image = Holding Pattern - Jenny Xie.jpeg

}}

{{R from move}}

'''''Holding Pattern''''' is a 2023 novel by [[Jenny Xie (novelist)|Jenny Xie]]. The novel explores themes of immigration, belonging, mother-daughter relationships, and the diverse ways people learn to support one another.

== Plot ==

''Holding Pattern'' follows 28-year-old Kathleen Cheng, a doctoral student who drops out of school and moves back home after her engagement breaks. Her mother, Marissa, immigrated from China and has a surprising new love interest. As Kathleen gets involved in helping her mother plan her wedding to a tech entrepreneur, she also takes on a job at an unconventional start-up. Throughout this process, Kathleen and Marissa explore their shared history, leading to a profound understanding of how they can support each other in their personal growth while also recognizing the obstacles that unknowingly held them back in their relationship.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Book Marks reviews of Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie |url=https://bookmarks.reviews/reviews/holding-pattern// |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Book Marks |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=López Restrepo |first=Manuela |date=2023-06-20 |title=Mother-daughter relationships are fraught. Jenny Xie explores how |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/06/20/1183312661/mother-daughter-relationships-are-fraught-jenny-xie-explores-how |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

== Reception ==

''Holding Pattern'' was well-received by critics.

Tammy Tarng, writing for [[The New York Times Book Review|''The New York Times Book Review'']], called the novel "exquisite and wise"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tarng |first=Tammy |date=2023-06-21 |title=Dumped by Her Boyfriend, She Takes a Job Cuddling Others |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/20/books/review/jenny-xie-holding-pattern.html |access-date=2023-09-14 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> while [[Publishers Weekly|''Publishers Weekly'']] referred to it as "funny and sharp".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-03 |title=Holding Pattern by Jenny Xie |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780593539705 |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=[[Publishers Weekly]]}}</ref>

[[Kirkus Reviews|''Kirkus Reviews'']] called the novel "an engaging and heartwarming story," writing, "Xie is a deft chronicler of the ways power shifts between people. What emerges is a novel offering a lucid examination of a range of relationships: those between a mother and daughter, old friends, and more passing acquaintances".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-24 |title=Holding Pattern |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/jenny-xie/holding-pattern-xie/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=[[Kirkus Reviews]]}}</ref>

''[[Booklist]]''<nowiki/>'s Sabrina Szos similarly highlighted how ''Holding Pattern'' "is full of mother-daughter emotions and beautiful moments of love and light".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Szos |first=Sabrina |date=2023-05-01 |title=Holding Pattern |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Holding-Pattern-/pid=9776523 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=[[Booklist]]}}</ref>

Sarah Neilson, writing for [[Shondaland]], said, "Xie is a brilliant writer, taking the reader inside Kathleen’s world while also exploring the notion of identity and home in late-stage capitalist America". Neilson further noted that the "characters are hard not to get attached to".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Neilson |first=Sarah |date=2023-06-26 |title=Jenny Xie’s Debut Novel, ‘Holding Pattern,’ Is a Mother-Daughter Coming-of-Age Story |url=https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/books/a44200218/jenny-xies-debut-novel-holding-pattern-is-a-mother-daughter-coming-of-age-story/ |access-date=2023-09-14 |website=[[Shondaland]] |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Alta''<nowiki/>'s Eva Recinos further noted that "Xie crafts a complex mother-daughter relationship, exploring the muddiness of care and connection between two very different people."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Recinos |first=Eva |date=2023-07-10 |title=The Right Touch |url=https://www.altaonline.com/books/fiction/a44402917/jenny-xie-holding-pattern-book-review-eva-recinos/ |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=Alta Online |language=en-US}}</ref>

''Booklist'' also reviewed the audiobook narrated by [[Annie Q.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2023 |title=Holding Pattern |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Holding-Pattern-/pid=9782051 |access-date=2023-10-13 |website=[[Booklist]]}}</ref>

== References ==

{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Riverhead Books books]]

[[Category:2023 American novels]]