Drawing on actual historical events, Adorable Enemies works on several levels. On its surface, it tells the tale of a scholar’s discovery and sharing of long-lost firsthand historical writings. One layer down, it weaves anecdotal tales of romantic love crossing the bounds of ethnicity and class in colonial-era Taiwan. Deeper still, it explores social repression, interethnic prejudices, female self-consciousness, and the oft-excessive approbation given to prominent figures from history. Although each of the “found” historical writings is unique, they all share commonalities that together paint a satisfyingly relatable picture of a now largely overlooked and untold era in Taiwan history. Moreover, the historical figures and events framing the narrative lend believable credence to the protagonists and narrative flow in this novel.