This book was sort of giving Crazy Rich Asians but make it from the perspective of the help. While it involves a little bit of murder mystery, it's definitely not the main focus of the book, but rather a social commentary about Singapore's elite and the lives of domestic workers, particularly those from the Phillippines. It also delves into the Phillippines "war on drugs".

I liked that the book focused on three women in different stages of their life, so we got to see the various experiences of workers. Overall, I thought this was good, but it didn't blow me away or anything. I'd still recommend though.

Also, I think we can all agree that Mrs. Fann was the absolute worst.

In Singapore, a Filipina domestic worker named Corazon Bautista finds herself entangled in a murder accusation involving her employer, Carolyn Hong. Returning from the Philippines burdened by personal tragedy, Cora navigates complex relationships with her employer, Elizabeth Lee, and her friend Angel, while also witnessing the plight of Donita, trapped in a cycle of abuse under Mrs. Fann. As the news of the murder spreads, Cora, Angel, and Donita are drawn into the mystery, despite the risks posed by their precarious positions in Singaporean society. Author Jaswal skillfully crafts a narrative that delves into the lives of these women, exploring their inner struggles, relationships, and the broader societal dynamics that shape their experiences.

Through nuanced character development and insightful storytelling, the novel sheds light on the challenges faced by maids and caregivers in Singapore, highlighting issues of exploitation and societal expectations. While addressing contemporary politics and gender dynamics, Jaswal avoids didacticism, allowing the characters’ experiences to speak for themselves. With its layered narrative and compelling portrayal of women’s lives, this novel offers a thought-provoking exploration of identity, agency, and resilience in the face of adversity.

This novel examines the treatment that Filipino women are subjected to when they are sent to be domestic servants in Singapore. The "mothers", or the employers, are often cruel to the workers. One day, one of the employers is found dead, and a Filipino maid is accused of the murder. However, another Filipino maid claims to have seen her on the day in question, and says there is no way that she could have committed the murder in the timeframe stated. So, Cora, Donita, and Angel band together to try and solve the mystery of the murder and free Flor.
This novel also explores sexuality, gender identity, and class differences.
It was interesting, but not a favorite.

This was so not like the other book I have read by this author. It was super powerful and there were some twists that I was not expecting but absolutely adored.
I do feel like this book started out VERY slowly so if you are inclined to DNF, know it gets better around 60%. I was really not enjoying it and then the murder happened and then ALL the other side stories. I really enjoyed the different POVs but again... it took so long to get to the meat of this book.
The character development was excellent. I really felt the pain and annoyance of the Filipino maids. It's always so bizarre to me to see how prejudice and racism works in other countries.
I did love the one play on Only Fans... it made me lol.

Thank you to NetGalley and William & Morrow publishing for the advanced reader copy of Now You See Us. This novel delves into the lives of three Filipina domestic workers in Singapore, exposing the often unseen labor and challenging working conditions they endure. A startling murder accusation disrupts their routine, prompting them to confront their secrets and unite against oppressive structures.

Balli Kaur Jaswal blends genres, infusing a thrilling murder element into the narrative while thoroughly exploring the labor conditions and constraints faced by Filipina domestic workers. Each protagonist emerges as a distinct voice, navigating individual challenges and desires with resilience. Jaswal authentically captures their struggles, emphasizing their strength in supporting one another against oppression. The novel refrains from sugarcoating workplace abuse, providing a raw portrayal of their mistreatment by those in power. The acknowledgements section, where Jaswal interviews Filipina domestic workers, adds depth to the narrative, showcasing her storytelling talent and ability to weave complex plotlines seamlessly.

Overall it was a 4/5 read for me and I would recommend it to anyone interested in overseas workplace conditions of women and also enjoys thrillers/muder mysteries.

Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal. Pub Date: March 7, 2023. Rating: 2 stars. Set in Singapore, this novel demonstrates the work environment of domestic workers for the wealthy and elite. There is a murder mystery at the core of this novel, but the true grit is in the voices of the women telling their experiences as domestic workers. Honestly, I really wanted to love this novel because I feel it has important topics within, but I felt it was flat and dragged. I think the concept was great, execution was not as great. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #nowyouseeus

Ever since visiting Singapore, I've been fascinated by the country. Reading Now You See Us by Balli Kaur Jaswal takes readers into the lives of the elite and domestic workers in the country. Add a murder mystery, and it makes foe a fascinating story.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

A fastinating exploration of the lives of domestic helpers in Singapore with a murder mystery.

In this novel, Cora, Donita, and Angel are Filipina domestic helpers in Singapore. Their friend is accused of murdering their employer, and the three women know that is untrue. They rally (in their own way) to help their friend and clear their name. Although a murder mystery is the center of this novel, it's not the main part. The three main characters have their own struggles and are all well-developed characters. There was a point in the novel where I actually forgot about the murder mystery.

The writing was fantastic as with Jaswal's previous novels.

This was excellent, and I think a very fair and clear portrayal of the lower calss/helpers in Singapore along with all the race and ethnicity stuff that comes with it, and a mystery to boot

I first heard about Balli Kaur Jaswal thanks to her novel Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows and although I haven't read it yet, I am looking forward to it even more now. Now You See Us has a mystery element but it ended up being a lot heavier than I expected it to be. There are definitely funny moments, but in my opinion, this is not a lighthearted read. Through the eyes of 3 different Filipina women, we see what it is like to be a domestic worker (specifically in Singapore), and a lot of it is not pretty. I am sure that the author had to do plenty of research in order to write this novel, and I loved the way the MCs come together to catch a killer, even if it is just a small piece of the overall story. I think I enjoyed Cora’s story the most, but I really liked getting to know each of the women and I was glad I got an insight into what it is like to be a female domestic worker outside of your own country. Something I can’t even imagine as a white woman living in America.

I do rather wish there had been 3 different narrators for the audio (if not 4), but I still thought Angela Lin did a fantastic job and I thoroughly enjoyed her narration for this book. I loved the mixed media that Jaswal decided to include in Now You See Us, and it was a great addition on top of the different POVs. The pacing is pretty steady throughout and it would have been incredibly easy for me to make this a one-sitting read if I had the time. There are only about 300 pages although the audiobook itself was a little over 11 hours, but it goes really quickly, and I didn’t want to put it down. I definitely enjoyed the author's writing style as well as the emotion she was able to exude in the storyline. I will be looking forward to reading more of her novels as well as going through her backlist now!

This book isn't in the least didactic, but I still felt like I learned a lot about the treatment of and culture of domestic workers in Singapore. The plot is fascinating, making this a compulsively readable book, with three main characters with distinct voices.

This novel reminded me a little of The Handmaid's Tale in that it also addresses a form of slavery, though economic in this case.

It's the story of three Filipinas (Corazon, Donita, and Angel) in Singapore, where they're employed as cleaners, maids, and caregivers and (for the most part) treated like dirt.

The novel opens on a mystery. A woman is murdered in her home and the police have arrested Flordeliza, a domestic worker from the Philippines.

Our trio is determined to find out what really happened and save Flor. How they do this entertains readers - and illuminates the underbelly of the city and its wealthy inhabitants.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for letting me read this book.The wildly entertaining, sharply observed story of three women who work in the homes of Singapore’s elite and band together to solve a murder mystery involving one of their own.

NOW YOU SEE US, at its core, is about class structure and the way people are treated based on their station within a specific society. The author clearly knows her source material, but as a reader, I wanted more. The characters didn't resonate with me and the mystery was too slow for my liking.

In return for an honest review, I was given an ARC.

The tangled web of life in Singapore. The rich and wealthy and the poor and serving weave an intriguing story of domestic workers, murder, and survival. Can the domestic workers stand up to the rich and wealthy? Are jobs secure? Are relationships real or just a farse?

I really enjoyed this story and found myself hanging on to each story.

As a former U.S. Ex-pat who had a Filipino woman as part of our family for 2 years, I couldn't wait to read this book and I was not disappointed. While we weren't in Singapore, we were in a country where a sign of your wealth and/ or status was how you treated your "help.' I wasn't used to it at all but it was what one did as an Expat. And I saw plenty of both fellow expats and nationals treat their help like garbage.

Now You See Us is a fantastic novel that shows the underbelly of the many businesses that prop up the borderline human trafficking of domestic help around the world. It's also a love story, and a mystery, all wrapped up in a compelling narrative about people living their lives in countries and cultures foreign to them. The underlying message of hope--that there are plenty of people who see the women who help them run their households and care for their children as humans and sometimes even family (like we did)--sometimes gets lost in the nastiness of other people who can't help but punch down when they're being mistreated themselves. But that's the beauty of this book which is a definite 5-star read.

I found this book more of a social commentary about the disparity between the rich and the downtrodden in Singapore than a mystery. While this was very well written, I was hoping for a solid mystery and this wasn’t it. I did learn a lot of the social mores in Singapore and from that aspect the book was really interesting. Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy for review.

Interesting and well written I just personally couldn’t get into the story. Three Filipina house workers and the secrets and deception they cover up in the houses they are supporting. Difficult to follow at times and a little slow. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you net gallery for this - but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. The characters didn’t connect with me. But the blame is on me - given I recently rEad a similar topic and thought I’d be able to read again about this part of the worlds domestic life . I didn’t like the ending which I hoped would help me like the sorry more .

This novel looks at the affluent nation of Singapore through the eyes of three Filipina domestic workers. Donita is young and recently arrived in Singapore; Angel is worried about being replaced as the caregiver to her elderly boss; and Cora said she’d permanently retired to the Philippines, but is now back for secretive reasons. When the island is set abuzz with the story of a Filipina maid who murdered her employer, the three women are determined to find out what really happened.

Each of the three protagonists in this novel brings something very different but equally powerful in this novel. Their voices weave together seamlessly to show a different side of Singapore. The mystery element was the least compelling part of the book for me personally, but that's more because there was so much else going on than because it was lacking. The epilogue was perfection!