Love Can't Feed You, A Novel By Cherry Lou Sy

Love Can’t Feed You is a searing and tender debut novel that delves into the complexities of intergenerational fractures and the emotional toll of immigration. Following Queenie, a young woman navigating life in the United States after emigrating from the Philippines, the story explores her attempts to reconcile familial expectations with her own aspirations.

After a difficult flight, Queenie, her younger brother, and their aging Chinese father finally arrive in America, joining their Filipina mother who has been working tirelessly as a nurse in Brooklyn. But the reunion is not as heartwarming as expected—Queenie’s mother seems distant, changed, almost too American, and the disconnect between them is palpable.

Queenie, teetering on the edge of adulthood, dreams of college and getting lost in the pages of literature. Yet, the harsh reality of financial limitations means that she must work instead, sacrificing her education to support the family. Her brother, meanwhile, begins withdrawing from both school and family, his behavior increasingly troubling, while her father’s temper grows volatile, exacerbating the tension.

As the pressures of assimilation take their toll, Queenie finds herself stuck between two worlds: the home she left in the Philippines and the uncertain one in America. Torn between conflicting identities and the ever-growing fractures within her family, Queenie must navigate the challenges of belonging and survival. Love Can’t Feed You offers a raw, nuanced look at the disillusionment of the American Dream, the complexities of being between cultures, and the cost of family sacrifice. 📚❤️