Portrait of a Thief is a great story, with perhaps one of my favorite concepts ever: an art heist by a group of college students that explores the Asian-American diaspora, the colonization of Chinese art, and what it means to make history. Li writes with beautiful, reflective prose that adds layers of complexity and emotion to the story; she develops each of the five characters deeply, giving each of them distinct voices that separate their perspectives and vivid desires, flaws, and central questions that guide them. She treats her characters with so much empathy that it’s hard not to fall in love; each one struggles with a different idea throughout that the events of the story both accelerates and helps resolve, and you see how the characters will live on afterward. Will’s drive, his passion, that magnetic focus and sense of unfulfillment; Alex’s family, her background, and her intelligence; Irene’s incredible charisma, her ability to get anything she wants, her feeling of falling short; Daniel’s relationship with his father, his quiet support and knowledge; Lily’s adrenaline, her street racing, the way she looks at the world. Li also writes about the Chinese-American experience, the diaspora, eloquently and in a way that will move anyone in the same position… the moments between Daniel and his father were the most emotional part of the book for me, and handled so gently – that idea of one’s parents wanting the best for them but often not knowing how to show it, and the idea that we can learn to grow. There’s also almost an anger that bubbles below at how the West has colonized Asian art, how museums steal it, that is familiar. The way Will feels about the art, the way Daniel feels about Beijing, the way Lily feels both a disconnect and a connection, are all too real. The plot itself is excellent and makes the novel near-impossible to put down. It drives forward at an exciting pace that still leaves room for its characters to breathe, and weaves across countries and time in such a cinematic way. I really enjoyed the action of the heist, the thrilling tension in the air, the way Li builds believable, frightening conflict… fun plot twists that moved the story forward. There’s also a certain part of the novel where everything crumbles down that is excellently done, consequences catching up, and the sense of hopelessness is palpable. I thought that the final endeavor was so well done, and when revealed to the reader, was a stunning moment. Without spoiling, it brings the events of the story together, tying up what was unfulfilled in a really smart way, grounding it in modern life and providing a satisfying conclusion to the story of these characters. As a whole, a wonderful story conveyed through reflective writing, vivid characters, and important themes. Portrait of a Thief was my most anticipated novel of 2022, and I think it will stand as one of my favorite books I read this year.

Thank you to Tiny Reparation Books, Penguin Random House, and NetGalley for an electronic copy of this book to read in advance in exchange for an honest review.

Will Chen has been hired to steal art that originated from the Old Summer Palace in China. And with ten million dollars on the line he immediately says yes. He sets about recruiting the best conwoman, thief, getaway driver, and hacker he knows from his family and friends. Yet all of them are novices, and they have a lot to learn about theft and themselves as they set out to stage the biggest heist of the century.

Grace Li's debut novel, PORTRAIT OF A THIEF, is an interesting and compelling look at art history and how theft interacts in that world. I was definitely drawn to the art heist part of the story, but found the heist parts a tad lacking. Instead, it was the relationships between the characters that drew me in and made me want to know how everything played out. Grace Li's writing really shines in the five points of view where each chapter advances the plot through another perspective. I loved this aspect of the book. Sometimes these types of books get bogged down with too much detail or chapters that are too long, but I felt this one married these two things so well. I especially liked how short the chapters were.

While the plot involves art theft, the heartbeat of the novel is really about the idea of belonging. Each of the five characters are searching for their place in the world, and Li specifically addresses the feelings of diaspora between being Chinese and American. In some way or another, each character felt like they did not fit in either world, and yet belonged in both. I enjoyed this novel and would recommend it to people who want to experience the thoughts and emotions of another person in a tangible way. A more detailed look is up on the blog!

CW: colonialism

Chinese diaspora grief, pain, joy, and loss, summed up in a single book. Absolutely brilliant.

Despite the marketing of this book as a fun art heist novel featuring Chinese-americans and colonialism, this book is NOT that. Anyone coming in expecting an Oceans 8-esque tone is going to be left disappointed. Instead, A Portrait of a Thief reads more like a literary character study using the heist setting as a vehicle to explore the different facets of being Chinese American.

And damn does Li do a phenomenal job with those character studies. Our five main characters, Will and Irene Chen, Lily Wu, and Alex Huang, are so well crafted to really embody the different facets and experiences different Chinese Americans experience growing up as a child of two worlds. Growing up in the back of a crowded Chinese restaurant, the pressure that getting into a good college will unlock all doors for your future because that’s what happened to your parents, the bitter love between parent and child through the teenage years of wanting to please but wanting to be your own person. In this book, I felt seen.

Li’s prose throughout this book is beautiful, in a way that hooked me in from the very beginning. There’s something both very literary yet approachable to her writing that just draws the reader in. The musings on colonialism, on the rightful ownership of art, and the Western lens through which Chinese culture too often gets examined, are so poignantly done. I especially loved that Li really plays with having distinct prose styles with each of the five POV characters, which just adds even more distinctness to each character. Li really brings out a phenomenal debut voice and I can’t wait to see what she brings next.

Because the heist kind of takes a back seat, I think the plot is probably the weakest part of the story. The heists, to some of the greatest, most secure museums in the word, are plotted over WhatApp, Zoom, and Google Docs. Hiiighly insecure. The heist-y bits were enjoyable but very very short and the five seemed to really get away with some of their heists only because the plot demanded it. Honestly speaking, they probably should have gotten arrested immediately after the first one. That being said, the ending of the story actually took me by surprise and I was really really pleased with it.

Overall, I rate this book a 5/5. Li brings out an absolutely stunning debut novel that so beautifully highlights the different facets of being Chinese American in your early 20s. When I finished, I had to put this book down and collect myself because I was so in awe with the way this was explored. Highly highly highly recommend.

This book blew me away! I was unable to but it down. Perfect, dazzlingly, very well written. The details the author described throughout the book was so amazing. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

When working at a museum, Will witnesses an art theft and is left a card, to have a chance at getting historical objects back their countries. But first he needs a crew and a plan...

First of all let me say, I love the conversation of stolen objects being sent back to there rightful owners/countries. I think the author did an amazing job asking what right do we have to other cultures belongings and is it stealing if it's already stolen?

I also thought the author did a really good job of showing the characters being the bridge to these opposing countries.

But unfortunately, I never really connected to the characters or there struggles beyond a surface level. And due to the fact that this is a multi perspective novel, it's very difficult for each character to stand out in any note worthy way. I also think it would have been better if the characters where a little older maybe late 20s because I think they would have come off as more world weary, which would have shown them being more disenchanted by the West

I wanted to love this book, truly I did. The characters were richly written, the concept was fantastic, the representation was DIVINE. But for me, the book moved incredibly slowly - I almost DNF'ed it twice, but persevered because of how much I loved the characters.

I loved this book! Such a great read about diaspora, friends, and family. I was very excited to read this book because I thought it was a heist book, but quite honestly, it is not a heist book. This is a book about longing for once was, and discovering the meaning of diaspora. I think this book is defintely more coming-of-age than mystery/thriller/heist. It was phenomenal, and I am excited to see it in the hands of readers worldwide, especially Asian-American readers.

Will Chen is a senior art history major at Harvard, and also a witness to an art theft at the place he works. The last thing he expects is for this to spiral into him being chosen to lead a group to steal back five stolen art pieces all across the world and return them to China. The price: 50 million dollars. The Crew: Will, the leader. Lily, the getaway driver. Irene, Will's sister and people expert. Daniel, the insider. Alex, the "hacker." Will they get the job done? Or will they crack under the pressure?

I thought this book was well done. I was hooked from the first heist on, although towards the end between the second and last heist there was a lull where nothing really happens except the characters moping and coping. The stage and the stakes were set pretty early on, which I appreciated. One thing that did bug me, however, was everything but the dialogue. I loved the dialogue, it was great. But there was too little of it for me.

A majority of the story is describing what's happening or reflecting upon the characters' internal dilemmas and thoughts. As a result, a lot of common themes with characters became really repetitive, like Alex and reflecting on the fact that she is "not a hacker" and she'll never be able to leave the shell of the job she's secure under. Because of this, a lot of the impact of the characters' stories became numb, in a way, to the point where I could acknowledge that they feel a certain way, but it never really stuck with me.

The romance was interesting. Do I think the story could have gone without it? Maybe? One romance plotline I loved, the other I was really impartial to and didn't feel that it added to either of their characters. But do I think that the romance was really important to the plot? No, it wasn't.

In terms of the plot itself, I thought it was adequately paced. It took a long time to get to the first heist, and the second went a tad too quickly for me. Although looking back on it, a lot of the build-up to each heist was a tad unbelievable? They each used Zoom to call and even had a groupchat on WhatsApp, but even then how secure are either of those forms? Even when they finish the first heist, they somehow just walk away with the first zodiac head in airport security? I was absolutely baffled when that happened, because with the news dropping the next day there was no way they would have gotten away with that. Even the reveal at the end was shocking because there is no way that the museums would have retaliated like that. I get it leads to a satisfying ending and the start to trying to amend for colonialism and stealing from cultures, but I don't think it would end that satisfactory.

Portrait of a Thief is an intriguing and compelling story about the marginalized voices who are impacted by museum colonialism and what it means to claim something as yours.

I received a copy of this book as an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. Any and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This book was not what I was expecting, and I’m kind of grateful for that. Instead, this book was an absolutely incredible and compelling story about identity, diaspora, art, and history.

Portrait of a Thief is a multi-POV highly character driving story about a crew of Chinese-Americans, each who holds their own complicated relationship with the country from which they or their ancestors came from; and especially, on the expectations that come with that origin, especially those within their selves.

I would say that some character’s felt more shallow than others, but there were some standouts in Daniel and Alex. Daniel grapples with his grief and a strained relationship with his father after the death of his mother and leaving his home in Beijing. Alex’s family is still in China, and to them, she is the first to go to college, MIT to be exact, but then she left. She left the place that made her happiest in order to take care of those who she had left behind, and she struggles with the grief and the constant ‘what if’s’ she is left with.

What stuck out to me though was this books discussion of art and history, specifically the question of “who does art belong to?”, “should art from another country be returned by the people who have coveted it for so long?”, “when do we call it out?” Art, especially ancient art is something that is deeply entrenched in a country’s history, and unfortunately, many countries also hold a history of imperialism and conquest, meaning that art disappeared, was erased, or was taken.

The crew in Portrait of a Thief seek to return the ancient Chinese artifacts talked in the British and French raids of the Old Summer Palace. They’ll take these from museums across the United States and Europe. Admittedly, the story is less about those heists, and more about the characters, so if you’re expecting a heist story, this isn’t the best book for that, though you should read it for the themes alone.

Museums all over the western world proudly showcase priceless art stolen from other countries through war and conquest, a side benefit of colonialism and imperialism. Many of those countries want their art and cultural identity back, but museums refuse to part with the pieces. Portrait of a Thief is based on the true story of Chinese art that has gone missing from western museums. The book is in response to the question: Who’s stealing the art?

In Portrait of a Thief, Stanford medical student and debut novelist, Grace D. Li, spins an intricate heist story juxtaposed with a pitch-perfect depiction of the complex nature of immigrant identity.

Full Review for the International Examiner: https://iexaminer.org/grace-d-lis-debut-novel-portrait-of-a-thief-asks-who-the-actual-thieves-in-an-art-heist-are/

This book is extremely fast paced! Almost to it's own detriment. There were times when I felt a little lost in the plot. The common description of this book is Ocean's 11 meets Crazy Rich Asians and that is pretty accurate. For most of the book it felt like a very generic heist story and I was thinking it would probably get a 3 star rating from me, but the end really pulled through and did something special. Overall, a fun read with some great discussion of diaspora and the ethics of art.

Partly a revealing look at museums claiming ownership of art belonging to other nations, partly a study of the diaspora felt by so many first generation immigrants, and partly a humorous story of college students planning major art thefts on google docs! The character development is excellent and core to the story. Their relationships are what makes this novel work!

Thanks to NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for the ARC to read and review.

Good story line but it took me forever to actually get into it which stunk because I was really looking forward to this book. Overall it was underwhelming for me:(

2.75 stars. I finished this book a bit over a week ago and my thoughts on it are a little clear now. I wanted to love this book so much: a heist novel featuring 5 Chinese-American college students bringing looted Chinese art back to China?? Stunning concept! But overall, I felt disconnected from the characters, the writing was beautiful but it went by so slowly and at a certain point I was worried it was going to put me in a reading slump.

Though this novel wasn't my favorite, it tackles how you could feel so far away from the country you/your parents came from, want so desperately to decode the yearning you feel for a place you aren’t sure you can call home. The conversations about art, the Chinese Diaspora, and feeling lost were so great to see, but unfortunately overall this book just didn't hit the mark for me.

THIS BOOK GAVE ME A NEW PASSION.

Ok, let me explain this book because I feel like the synopsis is far from the truth of it.

If you are looking for a heist novel this is not the book for you. If you are into the planning and the doing and the high risk of getting caught while doing this is not the book for you. There is very little heist action.

If you are into character driven stories, especially those that delve into the complexities and inner workings of why these characters are who they are this is the book for you.

I mentioned at the beginning of this review that I found a new passion. Let me explain that now.
This book contains a bit of history about the Summer Palace located in Beijing, China. How it was burnt down and looted by the French so many years ago. You won't hear about this in western world history classes because I sure never heard of it til I read this book. And it made me mad.
I was furious reading about how these people went in and stole art and statues that didn't mean anything to their history but so much to the people they stole it from.
The art in question is 12 bronze heads representing the 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac. Our team is tasked with hitting western museums and taking back the remaining 5 heads that haven't been found. And this is my new passion. I want all stolen art that is sitting in museums to be returned to where is was taken from. That is all. Call me Killmonger (or his wife cause whewwww)


The Chinese government hires 5 college kids with Asian backgrounds to steal back these heads. Sounds believable right? Ok let me tell you that this isn't the only team stealing from museums in this book and they are also the same age. Here lies my issues with this book.. it just so happens that one of the kids has a very important father go figure . And that plays a huge role in this heist.

Ok the heist is done. The rest of the novel is the characters deciding how their future is gonna be, finding themselves, falling in love and outta love and thinking about morals.

The writing is good. The story behind the story was good. The heist that I wanted so much wasn't there.

I loved this book! It's an art heist book, a family drama novel, a Chinese diaspora tale, and an immigrant story. The author weaves all of these seemingly disparate ideas into a well paced book with wonderfully relatable characters. Although it is told from the perspective of the five main characters, they are all written in the third person, and the story moves seamlessly from one to the next. HIghly recommended

Thank you NetGalley and Tiny Reparations Books for the ARC.

I wasn’t sure if I was going to like this book but I ended up really enjoyed this book. I didn’t know that it was based on a true story. It was a good change of pace from what I normally gravitate towards. It definitely had echos of Oceans Eleven and it was quite entertaining. I also found it interesting that the characters wrestled with their identities they created for themselves while thinking about their Chinese heritage.

Will Chen the eldest child and the picture perfect son. As a senior at Harvard, he majors in art history when a mysterious and rich stranger offers him an unimaginable job opportunity to steal back five priceless Chinese sculptures that were taken from Beijing long ago.

Will puts together an unstoppable team, each tasked with a specific job essential to the heists success. If they succeed not only will they get fifty million dollars but they will create history. If they fail they will lose everything.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

The premise for one was intriguing. I appreciated how it looks into some heavier themes about being Asian diaspora, specifically Chinese diaspora. The heist aspect wasn’t done well and took away from the story but did appreciate the rest. Full disclosure that I put it down for now but might pick it up again at a diff time as the writing wasn’t bad just not what I was expecting. Four stars for what I read

This is an excellent heist novel (that would make one hell of a film or miniseries), and it's got great political and ideological underpinnings as well. The characters were well-developed, their relationships were engaging, and the plot itself was just FUN, particularly the dazzling stakes and scope of the heist(s).

It's a little dangerous to be as excited about a book as I was about this one, because the let down if they're not as great as you're expecting them to be feels so bad. But the payoff of a highly-anticipated book being even better than you could have imagined is so, so good. The second I read this book's premise, I was hooked, as a lover of art history and someone who works in a cultural heritage field. The conceit alone is great, but Li's prose is incredible and searing and made this read so much more than I could have imagined. The way each character conceptualizes their relationship with China and America, their parents, their heritage - it's nuanced and emotional and wildly good.

I think some people will struggle with the way that the team fumbles through their heists, escaping without what seems like a ton of research and often by the skin of their teeth. But to me, it seemed so perfect - don't you remember what it feels like to be 21 and just a little invincible, just a little smarter than anyone else in the room, just a little desperate to prove to everyone that you're someone, even if you're not quite sure who that someone is? Of course this crew would make it work until they can't, and even then they find a way.

This is an absolutely fantastic debut novel, and one that should be on the TBR of anyone working in cultural heritage. I won't be able to stop thinking about this one for a few days.