Anna Tan’s novel brings modern-day, relatable fantasy to streets of Penang’s George Town

Magic happens in the most unlikely places, and George Town, Penang is the last place you would look. But what do you know? After years of the George Town Literary Festival (GTLF), that is exactly what happened. Organically grown magic in the form of a teashop and a book.

I would not say it was December exactly (that is when the Christmas magic happens, but no, this is a different kind of magic). But right there, in the middle of a hot, humid day, a woman named Jasmine Teh, all tired, frazzled and burnt out from a job that was never really nine-to-five, just said, or thought, “enough is enough”. And quit.

Do you happen to remember the time when all the aunties and uncles would start asking if you had a girlfriend or boyfriend? Followed by the inevitable “When are you getting married, ah?” That “ah” was Jasmine’s life.