Member Reviews
White Ivy is a fantastic read. It's partly a coming of age novel, party an immigrant story, partly a book about privilege, and partly a thriller. Although Ivy, the title character, is totally unlikeable and I could see most of the twists coming, I can't stop thinking about this book. It's very well-written and the story is fascinating.
I really enjoyed this book about Ivy. It was very engaging to read about her complicated immigrant family. The transformation of her character was wild and layered.
White Ivy was absolutely fantastic. The dark tale of Ivy, a child of Chinese immigrants, spanned from her young teenage years to her early adulthood, revealing different facets about Ivy the whole time. The complicated relationships Ivy has with her parents, grandmother, Gideon and Roux are the basis for much of the story and the writing is stellar. A must read book for fall/winter 2020.
White Ivy chronicles the life of Ivy Lin, who struggles with her identity and perpetually tries to assimilate to the girls she goes to school with. Yang’s novel is more character driven rather than plot driven; as it progresses and Ivy gets older, her identity struggles manifest themselves through her educational aspirations or lack thereof, but also trying to figure out if she should focus on marrying someone who could give her a comfortably wealthy lifestyle, unlike the one she grew up with. Her experiences as a Chinese-American young woman in Massachusetts, New Jersey, and China help flavor this novel even more!
You know those books that you’re not sure how you feel about but at the same time there is just SO much going on that you can’t help but keep reading? Well.. White Ivy by Susie Yang was that book for me.
This was like some twisted cross between Gossip Girl & Cruel Intentions and I just had no idea how to feel about it. There was absolutely no way to root for the main character or hope for any sort of redeemable qualities. I definitely did like how twisted it was which was probably one of the only reasons why I stuck with it through the end.
White Ivy is a coming of age story. This novel is captivating, the writing is mesmerizing, I had a hard time putting it down.
Ivy Lin is the victim of a chaotic upbringing where her familial landscape was subject to change at a moment’s notice. Her parents leave her at a very early age in the clutches of a grandmother who, rather than showing her love and offering her security, sets Ivy on a path where victimizing and stealing from others is an acceptable life script. Ivy is unable to form appropriate friendships and meaningful relationships as she is shuttled back and forth to the US and China and from Boston and then New Jersey at the whim of her uncaring parents without notice or explanation.
White Ivy offers the reader a deep dive into the lengths in which people are willing to go to in order to get what they want. The novel explores why the drive in Ivy to acquire the trappings of another class and culture is so desperate and how in the end her unrelenting desire to “fit in” at any cost may not be worth the price of admission. Ivy, rather than grappling and attempting to conquer her inner demons, tries to drown out their cacophonous and mocking voices with inappropriate relationships and obsessive behaviors.
Although I didn’t understand or even like Ivy at times, I did have compassion for her. She longed to be accepted, to belong, to feel safe and loved, to find “peace.” White Ivy is dark and disturbing at times, filled with surprising twists, and I loved the ride!
Thank you to #whiteivy and #netgally and the author for my advanced copy. White Ivy will be published November 3, 2020.
Ivy was born in China and raised their until she was 5 with her grandmother before she moved to the states to be with her parents. Her grandmother taught her how to lie and steal. She wants to be like all her white friends at school. She ends up in a posh high school since her dads works there she gets to go for free and this is where she encounters senator’s son Gideon Speyr who she is obsessed with. Her only friend is her neighbor Roux a older Romanian boy who is an outcast like her. She lies to go to a sleepover party at Gideon's when her parents find out they come to get her and ship her off to her relatives in China for the summer while they move to New Jersey and she never sees either of them again. Years later she is working as a kindergarten teacher when she encounters Gideon’s sister Sylvia and meets back up with Gideon and they fall into a relationship. For Ivy this is like all her adolescent dreams are coming true. She is finally with Gideon her perfect man and now she can be happy and everything will be perfect . But past and present collide and roux ends up back in her life as the boyfriend of Gideon’s sister who has reinvented himself as well.
This was a really good read and I really liked the plot twists and man I did not see some of them coming. It ends and I was just like ok what just happened. Just really good.
Thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the complimentary copy of this book in e-book form. All opinions in this review are my own.
I finished White Ivy over the long weekend and I couldn’t put it down. Bummed that I couldn’t go out to a beach to read this because it makes for a great vacation read.
Ivy Lin is described as a thief and a liar. After traveling from China to join her parents outside of Boston, we learn about Ivy’s difficulties to fit in with her white, affluent classmates. She turns to shoplifting in order to acquire the trappings of a normal American teenager while also hanging out with her neighbor, Roux, who is rough around the edges but another outsider like her. Ivy’s crush on another classmate, Gideon Speyer, leads to a series of events that have Ivy spending her summer break in China. After some time, she runs into Gideon’s sister again and her attachment to the family feels inevitable, almost like fate. However, another person from Ivy’s past emerges that threatens to undo the perfect life Ivy has worked hard to create.
I enjoyed this take on the coming-of-age story, as it focused on Ivy’s feelings about class and assimilation past her teenage years. Many will say that Ivy is an unlikeable character, but the novel also asks you to question why you may dislike Ivy, especially given the amount of agency she has over her own life despite outside circumstances trying to control her. My one critique of this novel is that since it was really character-driven, I wish some of the ideas put forth by the author were explored more in-depth or tied into the story a little more clearly. For example, we find that Ivy’s brother struggles with depression that may stem from how he and Ivy were raised by their parents, and it is not really brought up again. I’m also not sure if we’re meant to critique Ivy’s obsession with whiteness, or if we’re to acknowledge that whiteness can be a means to a certain end and how that idea persists even today within immigrant families.
White Ivy will give you a lot to think about and it’s definitely like no other thriller I’ve ever read!
Awkward and just weird. A girl wants to try to grow up and no one wants to take care of her or really own her. She is taught to be selfish and value things fully on money. To not love. It was hard to read and follow. Would not recommend.m. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4.5 stars
"White Ivy" gives the reader a lot to unpack. It's very readable and one of the reasons it keeps you glued to the page is that you wonder what the hell Ivy Lin is doing. She is not really likeable, she's all over the place, setting her sights on marrying her middle school crush, even though it is blatantly obvious that there's something really wrong with the relationship. She's a liar and a thief--she gets her thieving skills from her grandmother, who taught her how to shoplift. There is only one person who really knows her, sees her, and that person is another pal from middle school with whom she has a powerful, raw attraction.
Susie Yang's one of those writers who can grab you with the first sentence and keep you hostage to her clear, sharp prose until the last page. But like Ivy, the novel is all over the place. She's so hard to understand, to relate to. But it's like watching a slo-mo train wreck, and hard to look away.
Deep, dark, and haunting book. You honestly feel for the main character in here. You feel sorry for the little girl and want to give the grown up version a hug. Very very good book.
A tour de force of remarkable prose – I think I burned out the battery on my Kindle just from highlighting memorable passages as they poured forth from Ivy’s mind and heart. Not to mention that Ivy’s cranky mother Nan and beloved grandmother Meifang have a meaningful saying of wisdom for any and every situation – and they aren’t shy about telling Ivy what they think. I couldn’t put this one down!
*Before I dive into the review, a big thank you to Susie Yang, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for providing a free Advance Reader Copy in exchange for this honest review.*
A multi-faceted novel, this tale is partly a coming-of-age story, partly the account of an immigrant trying to fit-in in America, partly a new-adult yarn, and a bit of a chilling, gothic romance. Ivy, who moves to the U.S. when she is just five years old is a girl who ultimately is just trying to fit in. As her parents had to start-over when arriving in Boston, Ivy’s family doesn’t have a lot of money, but all Ivy wants is to own all the same things her classmates do, and feel like a “real” American girl. Her crush on Gideon, a boy at school, epitomizes her struggles and longing, as she views him and his family as if they are gilded and golden and everything she wishes her poor immigrant family could be.
Just when Ivy thinks she is “this close” to being “seen” by Gideon, she suffers a humiliation that is excruciating to her teenage mind, and then is also unexpectedly ripped from the rose-colored life in Boston that she loves.
Fast-forward more than a decade, Ivy is reacquainted with Gideon and his brightly-lit world. More determined than ever to keep Gideon and his sparkling upper-class world within her grasp, Ivy faces life-altering choices that she never expected.
Ivy kept me on my toes throughout this tale – never been quite sure what she was going to do next – and figuratively, proverbially biting my nails throughout! This book was a good contender for five stars, as I was enraptured from the beginning, yet there were two issues I just couldn’t get over: 1) There was a side-story two-thirds of the way through that, in my opinion, was left as a loose end; and 2) I just couldn’t reconcile the ending – to put it plainly, I didn’t “get” why Ivy made the choice in the end that she did. I felt, in regard to Ivy, that she could be the actor in that once-famous TV commercial puzzling, “What’s my motivation”.
That said, I will confidently say that this was a very well-written and supremely engaging novel that is well worth reading. An impressive debut by author Susie Yang. I’ll be very much looking forward to what she does next!
#WhiteIvy
#SusieYang
#Simon&Schuster
#NetGalley
Tantalizing. Captivating. Seductive. Delicate yet lurid. Utterly consuming and compellingly honest. White Ivy is a darkly enthralling coming of age story that clutches you in its grasp, like a delicate hand tightly gripping onto a exquisite string of pearls, and doesn’t release its hold on you until you have read each and every word of Ivy’s beguiling tale because she is a thief and a liar and she’s not even sorry about it.
This is the spellbinding story of a Chinese immigrant woman living in America, and you follow Ivy’s story from childhood to adulthood and what a story it is. Ivy is desperately unhappy with her family’s background and upbringing and the narrative they try to push on her, and so she takes to thieving to try and fill the void within herself. We also watch as Ivy tries to immerse herself into the In Crowd during her youthful years at an elite private school, and she finds herself entangled with two boys: one she wants nothing to do with, and another, Gideon, who she longs for and grows a years long obsession with.
Years later, Ivy has grown into a poised yet still restless young woman, still conflicted about her upbringing and everything she wants for herself and ultimately, life. One day, out of nowhere, she bumps into Gideon’s sister, as if by fate, and suddenly she and Gideon are thrust back into each others lives.
Little by little, Ivy sinks her claws into Gideon and his family, and just when it seems she’s about to finally have everything she’s ever wanted, a ghost from her past resurfaces, threatening to upend everything and ruin the perfect life she’s worked so hard to attain and build.
Darkly glittering and dangerously glamorous, filled to the brim with twists and turns and offering sharp insights into both the immigrant experience and the lifestyles of the rich and affluent, White Ivy is a thrilling coming of age story that gives a glimpse into the dark side of a woman who yearns for love and success, no matter the cost.
This story was unlike anything I have ever read, and I mean that in the best way! It was so unique and all of the different elements that were interwoven together made it that much more compelling. It was part thriller part coming of age story part love story with a love triangle of sorts thrown in.
Susie Yang’s writing was so smooth and enthralling, making Ivy’s tale that much more spellbinding. SO GOOD! Seriously one of the best books 0f 2020!
I was totally engaged in Ivy’s life even though she is not likable and is absolutely deceitful. I liked how the author introduced the background of Ivy’s family in China and their roots. It was interesting to see how the family balances their cultural upbringing with the life in their current country and how their family dynamics continue to influence Ivy’s personality.
Ivy starts stealing at a young age with full support of her family and once she is an adult, she becomes more manipulative due to her obsession to be something else. It was interesting to see how she sneakily plants herself in Gideon’s life though she doesn’t really like it. I knew Gideon and his family were hiding something but it turned out to be entirely something else. The way she takes advantage of Roux who is the only one that truly sees her for herself, was absolutely horrible.
Amazing storytelling though I was upset by the ending! Even though the ending was predictable I kept wishing it ended differently!
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my advanced copy!
I don't know if this was so much a "me" problem or the writing, but everything about this fell flat. It was difficult to connect with anyone in the book and Yang teased a number of interesting stories about the secondary characters, only to go nowhere.
White Ivy by Susie Yang was a fantastic coming of age with an unexpected twist.
My heart stung for Ivy Lin growing up in Massachusetts, aching to fit in to her private school peers. Like many teenage girls, she is embarrassed of her family. Ivy struggles with her situation, affording private school tuition only because her father works there, not being able to afford nice things. She yearns to surpass her family standing and has her sights set on the Senator's son Gideon but he is just out of reach. Her only companion is the boy down the street, from a family with it's own problems.
I highly recommend this book, it's the best I've read in a while.
Ivy is a seriously disturbed woman, with a seemingly endless supply of longing. She longs for love, belonging, assimilation, and wealth. With laser-sharp determination she sets her sights on the one man who she believes will give her all of this. What she gets when she succeeds is shocking and revelatory.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book was incredible. I was just as obsessed as Ivy. I couldn’t stop once I started, the pages kept turning and boom I was done and had the biggest hangover. Do not sleep on this book!
I chose this book because I’m always fascinated when I get to read other accounts of first generation Asians in the US. I feel that many things were awkward and definitely socially difficult growing up because my mom couldn’t teach me certain things and reading of others makes me feel a little less alone. But I digress, because this ain’t that story.
Ivy started off as this pitifully lonely child that I could totally relate to, but then she basically became a cold and unfeeling thing and never looked back. Reading her story was like watching a car accident. I wanted to look away because it was just terrible, but I couldn’t bring myself to look away because I just had to know… what was going to happen.
I kept thinking that as Ivy grew older and found out who she wanted to be, she would also decide to be a good person. That never happened and honestly, I’m glad it didn’t. This was absolutely fascinating and I can’t imagine it would be quite so entertaining had Ivy not been the ice queen that she is.
I can’t say that this is my favorite book, but it sure was entertaining and hard to put down. The writing was mesmerizing and kept me interested the whole time. This book is still haunting me a week after I finished it. I just keep shaking my head and saying, I did not see that coming. I recommend this book as something interesting that was unexpected.
Thanks so much to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for a copy of this book for my honest and unbiased opinion.
*Many thanks to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and Susie Yang for an ARC of this book!*
Dark, lyrical, and utterly compelling!
Ivy Ling is a thief: and incredibly proud of it! She learned her craft under the tutelage of her grandmother, who expertly lifts items from garage sales and resells them to make a tidy profit. While Ivy is her own headstrong and intelligent young woman, the danger of her job is alluring in that she is finally able to own the finery that will help her feel acclimated to her wealthy environment. Ivy's ascent into popularity with the wealthy kids at her school comes to an abrupt halt, though, when Ivy's mother learns of her misdeeds and feels that some time in China will help to straighten out her daughter. The narrative then shifts across time, filling in the gaps until she returns to the United States, determined to forge her own path and once again attain the life she has always secretly felt was meant to be hers Wealthy golden boy Gideon once again catches her eye, and Ivy feels all of the same desires rush back to her. The only snag in this plan and disruption to her seamless integration into the posh family is the entrance of another figure from Ivy;s past, the edgy yet fascinating Roux. As Ivy gets swept back under his spell, which destiny is hers for the taking? Can she make a decision before fate makes it for her?
To call this book "just another thriller" in no way would do it justice! I was truly floored to find out that this is Yang's first novel! Her use of language was absolutely beautiful, captivating, and almost hypnotic! White Ivy manages to blend elements of historical fiction, drama, and romance, while still maintaining the quiet underlying tension of a slow-burn thriller from start to finish. Yang's imagery, similes, and metaphors are top-notch. You can absolutely feel her passion for language and dedication to the craft. The novel also definitely has a bildungsroman feel throughout, and watching Ivy develop from a young girl to a woman is a haunting yet beautiful transformation. The ending of the novel is also really open to interpretation and is certainly a shocker in some respects, leaving the reader to decide what sort of destiny is TRULY in store for Ivy and whether or not her choices were wise....or devastating!
Yang has certainly established herself quickly as an author to watch, and White Ivy is destined to be one of November's hottest releases! I wholeheartedly recommend this book and will be anxiously awaiting Yang's next release!