Hodder Fiction has acquired Felicity Yeoh’s The Twilight Dumpling House, a London Chinatown-set novel blending family drama, food writing and magical realism.
Senior commissioning editor Kit Nevile acquired world all-language rights from Katie Greenstreet at Paper Literary. The novel will publish in hardback, e-book and audiobook on 3rd February 2028.
The synopsis says: “Set in the heart of London’s bustling Chinatown, the novel focuses on the members of the Chong family – husband and wife Tony and Lin and their daughters, Jen and Vivian – and their one-of-a-kind restaurant. Every day, under the twilight haze, their dumplings take on magical properties, the ability to heal and assuage the emotions of their customers: a nostalgic memory, a flash of inspiration…
“But when Tony falls ill and is placed in emergency care, it falls to the sisters to take over the family business. But with their relationship already tested to breaking point, can the magic of The Twilight Dumpling House survive?”
Nevile said: “Frequenting Chinatown as much as I do, always searching for the next amazing bite, that hidden gem, I could not have hoped for a more sumptuous feast of a novel than The Twilight Dumpling House. Felicity has created a stunning world, one on our doorsteps but subtly different, and I cannot wait to share its magic with dumpling lovers – the most universal of comfort foods – the world over.”
Yeoh said: “Writing a novel is a bit like making a thousand dumplings: a fearful undertaking, but achievable with a group of skilled pals. So, I’m unendingly grateful to Kit for his enthusiasm and creativity, to the whole team at Hodder & Stoughton, and to Katie for her magic touch. I can’t wait to invite readers into the hidden world of Chinatown and The Twilight Dumpling House.”
Greenstreet said: “The Twilight Dumpling House is truly a novel to savour, though I know many readers will want to gobble up the delicious world Felicity has created; her perfect blend of magic, flavour and heart is irresistible!”