The novel centers on the complex relationships between Chinese immigrant mothers and their American-born daughters, highlighting cultural differences, language barriers, and unspoken expectations. This is exemplified through Jing-mei 'June' Woo's struggle with her mother's expectations for her to become a prodigy.

Both generations of women struggle with identity - the mothers balancing assimilation with preserving their heritage, while their daughters navigate between their Chinese roots and American identities. This is portrayed through An-Mei Hsu's story and her mother's sacrifices in China.

The mahjong group serves as a platform for sharing stories and revealing hidden truths, emphasizing storytelling's role in preserving cultural memory and bridging generational gaps, as shown through Suyuan Woo's story about her abandoned twins in China.