The Last Story of Mina Lee by Nancy Jooyoun Kim

When Margot Lee returns home to visit her mother in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, she finds Mina dead in their small apartment. What at first seems like an accident soon unravels into a mystery that forces Margot to confront the truth about her mother’s past—and their fractured relationship. Told in alternating timelines, the novel follows Mina’s arrival in America decades earlier, a young Korean immigrant struggling to build a life amid isolation and sacrifice. As Margot pieces together her mother’s secrets, she discovers a hidden strength and an enduring love that transcends generations. The Last Story of Mina Lee is a poignant exploration of family, memory, and identity, revealing how even the quietest lives can echo with meaning.