The Fourth Daughter

About the book

In Taiwan, the bond between grandmother and granddaughter opens up a healing world for them both in an inspiring family saga about the comfort of food, untold histories, and indomitable mother love.

Chef Liv Kuo’s star is on the rise…until a traumatic incident leaves her emotionally unable to venture outside her Manhattan apartment. But an unexpected reason to break free comes from Ah-Ma, Liv’s beloved grandmother in Taiwan. Ah-Ma needs Liv’s help in finding her fourth daughter, taken from her when the girl was an infant. After all these years, it seems impossible. It’s also a mystery: Ah-Ma’s fourth daughter is an aunt Liv never even knew existed.

After landing in Taiwan, Liv hears the heartbreaking story of her grandmother’s plight in a country once under martial law, of choices made for her, and of the hopeful search for a lost girl that has endured for more than sixty years. Like the enriching food and traditions that bind Liv and Ah-Ma, their journey for answers brings them together.

And it’s a quest that turns up both a precious old cookbook and a tale of fatal betrayal that shakes everything Liv believed about her family-revelations that could also give her the courage to face the trauma she left behind.

Praise for this book:

"Lyn Liao Butler has woven a stunning tale of love, loss, and the unbreakable ties of family. The Fourth Daughter is a novel that doesn't flinch from the complexities of truth or the pain of what has been lost - but it also celebrates the resilience of love and the hope that binds generations together. With vivid storytelling and deep emotional resonance, Butler takes us from modern-day New York to the Taiwan of the past, exploring identity, sacrifice, and the power of finding our way home. A rich, wise, and unforgettable novel." - Patti Callahan Henry

"Lyn Liao Butler's The Fourth Daughter is a richly woven tapestry of heritage, healing, and the unbreakable bonds of family. Steeped in the vibrant culture of Taiwan, from its tantalizing cuisine to its deep-rooted traditions, this poignant and moving novel explores resilience, love, and the courage to uncover buried truths." - Jean Kwok

"Taiwan is a small country, but its history and culture stretch across the entire world. Butler beautifully details the hopes of its people, who are sometimes powerless in the face of unrelenting authority and misfortune, but never defeated." - Ed Lin

"The Fourth Daughter is one of the best novels I've read in a long time. Effortlessly melding family, food, and history into a multigenerational saga that kept me turning the pages well into the night, Lyn Liao Butler swept me away. I'll be thinking about this story for years to come." - Camille Pagán

"The Fourth Daughter burrows deep into the heart. Set against the complex political and social dynamics of Taiwan, Butler's story is a beautifully layered exploration of love, resilience, and hope. It's also a terrific read. I was completely swept away." - Shawna Yang Ryan

"A beautiful multigenerational story that asks if we can ever truly regain the things we have loved and lost, The Fourth Daughter is a wonderfully transportive novel of family, identity, acceptance, and healing - and a sensory delight for foodies and would-be travelers. Lyn Liao Butler has found the perfect recipe for a satisfying read." - Jessica Strawser

"Up-and-coming chef Liv Kuo must overcome a recent trauma to help her Taiwanese grandmother find the daughter she thought she had lost forever. A heartwarming blend of romance and family drama with roots in martial law-era Taiwan, The Fourth Daughter will have you turning pages filled with delicious food, tragic secrets, and the healing power of love." - Julie Wu