author, editor & sausage dog mum
longlisted for the 2025 ARA Prize
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longlisted for the 2025 ARA Prize —
nguyễn phan quế mai
'A heart-breaking, moving, and soaring novel. An important literary feat from from an exciting new voice. Emma Pei Yin uncovers the hidden history of Hong Kong and lets us befriend the women who have the power to transform us as we witness their journeys of self-discovery and survival'
weina dai randel
'Compelling, beautiful, and deeply moving, When Sleeping Women Wake is a powerful tribute to the forgotten women and men who fought and resisted during a dark period of Hong Kong's history . . . Emma Pei Yin is a talent to watch!'
ashton lattimore
‘I devoured Emma Pei Yin’s heart-rending, transportive, and action-packed When Sleeping Women Wake in a single day. Brimming with intrigue and fascinating history, this sweeping story brings to life beautifully drawn characters and paints a gripping portrait of the strength of women’s bonds.’
juhea kim
'With vivid historicity and deeply relatable characters, When Sleeping Women Wake is a lushly romantic and impassioned story of women's agency and resilience'
eve j.chung
'Yin’s debut is a riveting account of the resistance of three very different women during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong—not only against the occupation, but against the traditions that bound them. These are women’s stories beautifully intertwined with history brought to life!'
wiz wharton
'A breathtaking, important story of family, love and endurance told with unflinching clarity and beauty, this is historical fiction at its finest. I urge you to read this book'