First, I need to talk about the marketing of this book. The publisher made this story seem like one of obsession and used words like “sinks her claws into” to describe Ivy’s relationship with Gideon and his family, but I don’t think that’s quite accurate. In my view, this is a story about a girl who is trying to figure out who she is, bristling against her parents’ traditional Chinese rules and customs and desperately wanting to fit in among her American peers. As an adult, Ivy thinks she should live a certain type of “respected” life, but constantly battles a darker wildness inside her that doesn’t line up with the life she thinks she’s supposed to live. It’s about who Ivy wants to be versus who she is at her core. It’s a character-driven coming of age story, but I wouldn’t call it slow or quiet…tension simmers throughout. I loved the exploration into Chinese immigrant culture and the struggle more Americanized children face trying to keep a foot in both worlds. And, I loved the social commentary on the wealthy from Ivy’s outsider perspective. I saw the ending coming, but it didn’t kill the book for me…but, I suspect some readers won’t love it. Finally, White Ivy is being compared to a wide range of other books (Everything I Never Told You, Social Creature, Luckiest Girl Alive, Little Fires Everywhere), but I think Everything I Never Told You is the most accurate.

I really loved this unique read. The interpersonal relationships were incredible, and the relations are what kept me reading. At a time where we aren't having much interaction - this book was rather comforting - and made me a bit glad I'm quarantined! Ha!

I ended up giving tis novel 3.25 stars. This story centers around Ivy, who struggles with being both an Immigrant and unlike her white peers. She grows up with her grandmother, who teaches her how to steal and cheat whenever possible. Ivy is extremely unlikeable, which is something I could never get past. My favorite part was the exploration of her family life and their upbringings and how they played a role in shaping Ivy's life.

Overall, I recommend if you are looking for a family drama with a dark twist. Although there is no "mystery", this is quite the thriller, with Ivy's lies and insecurities building throughout the novel to a breaking point.

This was cumbersome at the beginning
and a few of the characters are awful (the mother in particular), but the story was quite good.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

This one was a miss for me. I felt for Ivy, but at the same time I hated her refusal to do anything other than complain. There are almost no likable characters here, with Ivy's grandmother and her boyfriend's mother as possible exceptions (although the reader is told not to like the boyfriends mom, although not why).

While it was well written and there was some beautiful prose, it was just a depressing read.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for this E-Arc!


I really enjoyed this book and it’s anti-heroine Ivy.
This books was filled with twists and I saw a couple coming but was a bit off base with others.
I want to avoid spoilers but I will say Ivy is a product of her circumstances. While I don’t agree with her choices I do understand them. I wanted more because I would like to see how those choices effected her long term.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and definitely recommend.

I loathed Ivy and wasn’t willing to spend any more time in her head. I didn’t make it very far in this book. Instead of showing events and letting the reader grow to understand how the past influenced Ivy’s character, the author rationalized every aspect of Ivy’s appalling character in big bold letters. This definitely wasn’t the right book for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

What a stunning debut novel. Ivy Lin grows up in China then immigrates to America. Totally consumed with American consumerism she wants to be like her white classmates . Ivy literally will lie , cheat and steal to get wha5 she wants . She has a love affair with two very different men . What she does to solve her problems is astounding . Excellent character study of Ivy and her family you won’t be able to turn the pages quick enough

Growing up in America in a Chinese immigrant household, Ivy longs for a more opulent lifestyle, for a place at the table with the upper class. She finds her ticket in an old classmate and crush Gideon, whose picture- perfect life belies what it really means to achieve prestigious social status.

Never has a book spoken more to my personal experience as a Chinese-American than this book did. The drama of the plot did detract somewhat from what could have been an understated yet powerful critique of what it's like for immigrants to find their place in the American Dream. However, this book like no other in recent memory has managed to articulate so many of the second generation experiences that it was like looking into a mirror at times.

Some quotes that I still think about:
"That was the Chinese way: corporal punishment followed by an excess of kindness."
"Maybe passion, Ivy thought dreamily, could only bloom in illicit places."
"Love would exist for it's own sake, and not the sake of getting your sister and mother a United States green card."

This is one of those books that I feel does not fit nicely into any specific genre. Majority of readers seem to put this under the thriller / suspense category, but to be honest, despite the story having a few surprises (I would hardly call them “twists and turns”), there really wasn’t a whole lot of “suspense” in most of the narrative, at least from what I could see. If I had to categorize this, I would say that it goes best under contemporary fiction, since at its core, the story does explore many of the hot button issues that we see currently in our own society – issues such as immigration, wealth disparity between rich and poor, complicated family dynamics, assimilation versus cultural differences, social class and privilege, etc. For me in particular, there was a lot to unpack with this story, and as I sat down to write this review, I struggled with the realization that what I write here is barely going to scratch the surface of all the thoughts that went through my mind as I read. With fiction, I’m usually not a huge fan of highlighting passages while I read, as it breaks my flow and can be distracting at times, but with this book, I ended up highlighting a lot because so much of the story resonated with me. Many of the coming-of-age experiences that the main character, Ivy Lin, went through in the story were very similar to what I experienced as a Chinese-American girl who grew up in an immigrant household very much like Ivy’s. To be completely honest, I was actually floored by how much Ivy’s upbringing and family dynamics resembled my own, to the point that, as I was reading, I actually felt like I was reliving my own childhood all over again. Everything from the way the parents (and grandmother) behaved and acted, to the way Ivy interacted with them, the reactions of the friends around them, the pressure and stress associated with being a child of immigrants trying to navigate two different and often conflicting worlds while trying to understand her role in that world, the struggles with identity and trying to reconcile her family’s expectations with society’s cultural dissonance, right down to the feelings that Ivy struggled with throughout the story and how all of it ended up impacting her in a big way – all of it was familiar to me because so much of it was a lived experience for me (and for many of my Chinese friends as well).

With all that said, I do have put in a bit of a disclaimer here, as I approached this book very differently than most other readers probably did. Having some form of personal connection to a story can change the way that story is read and experienced, which, for me, proved to be absolutely true with this book. While most others likely approached this story more from the perspective of a plot-driven thriller, I came at it from a completely different perspective: I read this more from the perspective of it being a coming-of-age immigrant story, which meant that the plot was secondary in that it was merely a way for me to understand this character of Ivy and why she ended up doing the things she did. Of course, this by no means excuses Ivy’s actions or behavior or the fact that she deserves to be disliked because of not just her manipulative, deceitful ways, but also what she does to “fix” some of the mistakes she made. In choosing to focus on the “why” – specifically, the aspects of Ivy’s upbringing and the reality of her circumstances that undoubtedly played a role in the flawed person she became -- it allowed me to approach the character of Ivy with a sentiment that probably many others who also read this book would not have felt: sympathy. This is a sympathy bred from my familiarity with the upbringing and immigrant story that the author is trying to tell through Ivy (and her family). On a personal level, I know how it feels to grow up in a household where you are constantly reminded, day in and day out, that your parents gave up a life of comfort and familiarity in their home countries to move across continents, to a place that is foreign and where they don’t know the language, where the culture is completely (and in some instances, shockingly) different, where their talents back home can’t be utilized and they are viewed as second-class citizens, etc. – all of these sacrifices are because they want you, their child/children, to have a good future and hopefully live a better life than they did. I understand, intimately in fact, the tremendous pressure and stress from having to constantly strive to meet these expectations while trying to navigate how to fit in to a society that isn’t exactly accepting of you either. I also understand the constant uphill battle (a never-ending struggle that lasts your entire life) to reconcile your culture with the reality of your circumstances and the realization that, no matter how hard you try, it will never be enough, and you will find yourself forever straddling that precarious line between two clashing identities.

Further than just shared experiences though, I also resonated with Ivy from an emotional perspective. When it came to the feelings that Ivy experienced at different points in her life, particularly as it related to her family and cultural upbringing -- feelings such as shame, confusion, embarrassment, loneliness guilt, fear, regret, etc. – it brought back memories of all the times throughout my life where I can recall feeling the same way. With all that said though, while I sympathized with Ivy, I also sympathized – perhaps even more deeply – with her younger brother Austin, who had such a minor role in the story, yet to me, the few scenes he was in and the things that happened in those scenes were actually the most significant in terms of understanding the family dynamics as well as the lasting impact those dynamics have, whether intentional or not.

If this review sounds a bit vague, note that it was deliberate on my part, as the book’s plot summary already said quite a lot and there really isn’t much else I can say without giving away more of the story than necessary. With how much the story impacted me, of course I recommend this book, but with the caveat that your experience reading it will no doubt be different from mine. Reading this book actually gave me goosebumps -- not because of the plot necessarily (though there are plenty of triggers in here, especially as it relates to sex and violence, that may be uncomfortable for some readers, so definitely keep that in mind) -- but rather, the memories that the familiarity of the characters’ experiences drew up for me. Understanding that this is the author Susie Yang’s debut novel, I have no idea how much of the story’s background is related to her own or whether she is writing from a place of familiarity like I experienced. But one thing I do know is that I am definitely interested in what Yang decides to write next – regardless of genre, I know for sure it will be a book that I’ll want to read!

Received ARC from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley.

I'm on the fence about what my star rating is. I was drawn into the story pretty quickly. I always enjoy reading stories centered around a character's unhealthy obsession. This story and Ivy's decisions were stressing me outtttt, and I could not put the book down once the story really got going with Ivy's adult life. I am torn about the ending, I was hoping for a slightly different ending, but overall I enjoyed the ride. Fans of obsession focused stories like Necessary People will enjoy this.

‘White Ivy’ by Susie Yang is a fascinating, dark, and compulsively readable. I both listened to and read this book. The narration was excellent. The story revolves around Ivy Lin. A daughter of Chinese parents who reside in the northeast United States. The novel goes through her troubled childhood through to her late twenties. Ivy grows into a beautiful woman and pursues her vain aspirations for a wealthy husband with cunning. She had always desired to fit in with the wealthy blue bloods she encountered in her youth in Massachusetts. This book is literary fiction but with some pretty suspenseful plot points. What I found most thought-provoking was the idea of family and how their treatment and influence shapes us into adults. Ivy’s family is devoted in some ways, but also cold to her. ‘White Ivy’ is filled with not so likeable but intriguing characters. Yang’s writing has texture which brings each character to life.

Thank you Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for providing this ARC.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book struck all the cords I like when it comes to a coming-of-age story about an angsty girl and her time in the world. I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed the main character, Ivy, even though she was extremely flawed but it made her realistic. The ending wasn't what I was completely expecting but it says a lot to how humans are quick to turn a blind eye to things.

The story is about a Chinese American girl who adapts in different environments in order to blend in and survive while coming from a lower income family. We follow her through her youth into her 20's and see her grow in many different ways; some positive, some negative. She is a very guarded character and would do anything to get where she wanted to be.

Again, even though she wasn't the most likable character you can't help but relate to some of her actions and responses to things because she is human. Because of that, I really liked her and enjoyed seeing her story written out.

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes coming-of-age stories with endings that are somewhat open-ended and not the happiest.

4/5

Oh my goodness, what a book and what a fascinating debut by Susie Yang!

I absolutely loved this book, yet it's one of those where I can't even quite pinpoint why. As a fellow Chinese American, I think the premise and Ivy's story of growing up as an immigrant and wanted to fit in with and be accepted by her white classmates was so very relatable and real. Similarly, I felt the sense of shame around her heritage and confusion around her identify that followed her from childhood and even further through to young adulthood really resonated with me.

I will say that overall the story didn't quite go where I was expecting, but only in a good way! It had me racing to finish the book to find out what happened. Such a fascinating and engrossing plot!

Thanks for the publisher and NetGalley for an advance reader copy in an exchange for an honest review!

This was merely “fine” for me. Ivy was a challenging character to wrap my head around. She was immensely unlikable (which is totally okay in my book) - but she was also uninteresting. If you’re going to be unlikable you HAVE to at least be interesting. I found her one note and sort of boring. The ending irritated me - I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that. The writing itself was good, weaving a decent enough story, and once I got going I flew through the second half. The parts I was most interested in (Ivy’s family dynamics) took a backseat to the totally uninteresting romantic plot lines. I won’t be shouting from the rooftops about this one, but would not deter anyone who wanted to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

3.5/5

First and foremost, this is billed as a thriller and it’s just not. From the start it just didn’t feel like a thriller, more like a character driven coming of age story, which is fine, I just had to readjust my expectations while I was reading and then I started to enjoy it more. Anyway, go into this one already knowing that and I think you’ll be happier.

There was a lot to like about this one, the author had a really strong writing style and seeing Ivy’s experience as an immigrant in the US was thought provoking and interesting. There were so many layers to Ivy’s character, she is a complex and wholly unlikable woman, but damn is she captivating. This is a super slow burn and I’m not sure the payoff was totally worth it in the end for me, BUT the audio narration elevated it for sure. I had started reading the ebook and then switched about halfway to the audio and that really helped me get into it more. So if you’ve yet to read this one and plan on it I definitely recommend going the audio route.

As someone who loves, and even prefers, books with unlikable protagonists I was excited to read White Ivy. However the predictable plot and contradictory characterizations were tired and cliched.

Where do I even begin to process what I have just read?

Who is Ivy Lin? What type of person am I reading about here? We are introduced to Ivy in high-school. The child of immigrant parents from China. She is seemingly innocuous in the petty theft she has mastered under her grandmother's tutelage. Her insatiable hunger for grandeur and acceptance from parents she never understood or could connect with fueled a rather complex character.
I tried to grasp what type of adult she would become, who would she connect with, how does a self centered woman obsessed with the superficial and tangible find her slice of happiness. In the end that's all we want isn't it?
Prepare for a slow coming of age story cresting into an explosive thriller, spanning two continents. As an adult Ivy's goals gain momentum and sophistication, her life's expectations and what she deserves escalate - steam rolling any obstacles effortlessly.

Dark and self-absorbed the perfect formula for a debut thriller that is a must read this year.

Ivy Lin is by no means a good person — she prides herself on being a thief and a liar but believes these two actions are important in creating the image that she's a dutiful daughter. The only other person (besides her grandmother) who understands Ivy's thieving is Roux Roman, her neighbor and a fellow thief. However, Ivy and Roux grow apart because Ivy attends the prestigious Grove Academy. There, she meets Gideon Speyer and develops a crush on him. However, before their relationship can grow, Ivy's mother finds out about her thieving and lying and sends her to China for the summer as a punishment. While Ivy is navigating life in China, the Lins move to New Jersey. Ivy and Gideon fall out of touch, but not for long. Years later, Ivy and Gideon's sister, Sylvia, run into each other. Sylvia cordially invites Ivy to a New Years Party, leading to Ivy and Gideon reconnecting. Ivy slowly starts to become a major part of Gideon's life again and is constructing her ideal life until Roux re-enters her life. From there, Ivy's life descends into chaos until she's forced to act in order to protect her new life.

I'm a fan of thriller novels, and was excited to read White Ivy because at its core, it's about the immigrant experience and navigating life as an outsider. Too other to be Chinese, and too other to be truly American, Ivy had to learn to forge her own identity and take ownership of her actions. I think my favorite line from this book is "Lives are like rivers. Eventually they go where they must, not where we want them to go." This is something Ivy learns by listening to her mother and grandmother, who both faced lots of hardship but fought for themselves and their future. Ivy really developed as a character — she used to push her family away but realized at the end that they will be there for her, more than any lover could. This book was a slow burn, but I felt it was worth it — the story wove together many threads and tied them all together in a way that allowed the reader to really learn about each character. I'm particularly haunted by the ending, and wonder if Gideon truly knows of Ivy's nature and accepts it or if he's as innocent as Ivy has described.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Sad and sweet and endearing and full of humanity. Richly created characters and stories weaving through generations and across continents.