Chinese on the Beach

Chinese on the Beach is set in the brief, electric window when China threw open its doors and the world came rushing in. Spanning the 1990s into the early 2000s, these stories track expats, locals, and returnees as they chase opportunity, reckon with history, and try not to fall through the cracks. A power struggle in a Beijing media empire, a love triangle shadowed by the SARS pandemic, the ruthless choreography of Shanghai's social scene—each story explores the tensions of a country speeding toward the future, and the people caught in its wake. A cinematic, sharply observed debut collection set in the brief, electric window when China threw open its doors and the world came rushing in. Chinese on the Beach follows expats, locals, and returnees as they chase opportunity, reckon with history, and try not to fall through the cracks. Spanning the1990s to the early 2000s, these stories capture a generation living through pivotal transformation—when old rules dissolved overnight and new ones hadn't yet formed. A power struggle in a Beijing media empire, a love triangle shadowed by the SARS pandemic, the ruthless choreography of Shanghai's social scene. Each story explores the tensions of a country in the throes of reinvention, and the people caught in its wake. For readers of Yiyun Li, Jhumpa Lahiri, and Te-Ping Chen, Chinese on the Beach is a moving, atmospheric portrait of modern China in transition. Praise for Chinese on the Beach ❞ Terrific writing -- very fast-paced, beautifully rendered; narrative compelling throughout. Mikhail Iossel, author, Professor of English at Concordia University. Founding director at Summer Literary Seminars. ❞ Vanessa’s voice is clear, precise and determined. Her descriptions reveal the idiosyncrasies of the human soul and capture a character’s vulnerability in subtle and unexpected ways. Across a wide range of settings, from the insular ballet world to corporate hallways, Fabiano pulls off depth and emotional engagement. Fabiano blends an economical usage of language with a poetic sensibility that creates empathy for any character she writes about. Kiki Denis, award-winning author “The Last Day of Paradise”