S. F. Prescott

Heartfelt and wildly entertaining.

Jean Kwok is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of Girl in Translation and Mambo in Chinatown. She has been selected for numerous honors, including the American Library Association Alex Award, the Chinese American Librarians Association Best Book Award and the Sunday Times EFG Short Story Award international shortlist. She received her bachelor’s degree from Harvard University and earned an MFA from Columbia University. She is fluent in Chinese, Dutch, and English, and divides her time between the Netherlands and New York City.

Published October 10th, 2023.

This was the first book of Jean Kwok’s that I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last. The premise drew me in immediately, and I couldn’t put this story down once I got started. Two women from completely different worlds are thrust together and eventually forced to commit the ultimate crime in self-defense.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Jasmine and Rebecca and thought the author did an amazing job keeping their voices unique. The pace was steady and the suspense palpable, overall a very satisfying read. I love any story set in New York City and particularly loved the polar opposite experiences these women had, highlighting Rebecca’s privileged lifestyle compared to the abuses endured by Jasmine. I enjoyed the character development between both women including the relationships with the men in their lives. After Jasmine’s true identity was revealed in Rebecca’s chapters I blew through to the end, convinced that her ex husband, Wen, would find her. The final confrontation was shocking but it made sense given his violent nature.

For readers who enjoy domestic suspense, strong female protagonists, and heartfelt topics.

Synopsis:

Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City from her rural Chinese village without money or family support, fleeing a controlling husband, on a desperate search for the daughter who was taken from her at birth—another female casualty of China’s controversial One Child Policy. But with her husband on her trail, the clock is ticking, and she’s forced to make increasingly risky decisions if she ever hopes to be reunited with her daughter.

Meanwhile, publishing executive Rebecca Whitney seems to have it all: a prestigious family name and the wealth that comes with it, a high-powered career, a beautiful home, a handsome husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter she adores. She’s even hired a nanny to help her balance the demands of being a working wife and mother. But when an industry scandal threatens to jeopardize not only Rebecca’s job but her marriage, this perfect world begins to crumble and her role in her own family is called into question.