Olivia Laguni, a pragmatic American woman, finds her skeptical worldview challenged when her eccentric Chinese half-sister, Kwan, insists on introducing her to the ghosts of her past. Olivia struggles to reconcile her desire for a conventional life with the persistent, often intrusive presence of Kwan, who claims to possess the 'yin eyes' to communicate with the dead. As the sisters travel to China to uncover family secrets, Olivia must confront the limitations of her own logic and the possibility that the unseen world holds truths about her identity. The narrative alternates between Olivia's contemporary perspective and the historical memories of Kwan's past life, creating a layered exploration of belief and belonging.

This novel is frequently noted for its blend of grounded family drama and ethereal, spiritual inquiry. Readers often highlight the contrast between the two sisters as the primary engine for the story's emotional development. The prose is recognized for its ability to balance humor with poignant reflections on cultural identity and the weight of the past. The work is generally regarded as a significant entry in the author's body of work, praised for its exploration of how memory and belief shape the present.