This was a powerful novel that was a lot more serious than I initially anticipated, based on the synopsis alone. The murder mystery takes second stage to the real story in my opinion, and that is the depiction of the unfair conditions domestic workers are subjected to in society. A good solid read!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Let's talk about "Now You See Us". This is the upcoming release by Balli Kaur Jaswal, author of "Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows", which enjoyed a spot in Reese's Bookclub back in 2018.

Overall, I was pretty impressed with this book.

The plot centers around the plights of three domestic workers from the Philippines who work in Singapore as maids. The story alternates between these three viewpoints, which provide us with a look into three very real experiences of domestic workers in Singapore. The women, Corazon, Angel, and Donita, represent three generations who are bound in friendship by their shared experience of living and working in a society that desperately needs domestic workers in order to function but treats them as second-class citizens.

The book was heavy and hard to read at times, but I really enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to adding some of the author's other works to my TBR stack.

Now You See Us
by Balli Kaur Jaswal- author of Erotic stories for Punjabi Widows
March 7, 2023
Harper Collins
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGall;ey for the ARC of this book.
I was drawn to this book by the fact it was written by the author of another book I had read and enjoyed.
The author's note was very touching and educational as well. A quarter of the worlds 11.5 million migrant domestic workers are women from the Philippines. They are vulnerable to exploitation and often systems do not protect them. This is a story written with the hope for more dignity compassion and recognition of women like Cora, Angel, Donita and Flordeliza.
I was unaware of the issues domestic workers face in other parts of the world. The mystery storyline doesn't really work for me, but I am glad I read this book.
4 stars

Very interesting and thought provoking. I was captivated so much that I read it in one day. It was written so well that I could picture it clearly and was wanting to read more once it was done. I appreciated the author's note at the end as well.

I loved this book! Ignorantly, I had no idea what live for domestic workers was like in Singapore and it was shocking to read details about their treatment in the best of situations, let alone read about the abuse they sure in the bad ones. The idea that they're subjected to biannual pregnancy testing is insane to me.

The story focuses on three maids, Cora, Donita and Angel. Each of the women are struggling in some way: Cora left her last position suddenly, Donita's employer is wretched to her, and Angel is feeling displaced by the nurse who's helping her employer. There is also a murder where another maid is accused of killing her employer. All of this contributes to a rich portrait of the women's lives and friendships while make commenting on the communities larger social issues.

Donita in particular is a an awful spot as her boss is very controlling -- taking away her phone at times and patting her down to ensure she hasn't stolen anything. It's quite outrageous.

But overall, the story is far from bleak or depressing. In the end, it's eye opening and inspiring.

I absolutely expect a lot of people to be snatching up this book.

I received a free copy of, Now You See Us, by Balli Kaur Jaswal, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 3 fillpino workers Corazon, Donita and Angel, were sent Singapore to work. When they haar about another worker, who has been charged with killing her boss, they decide to investigate. A pretty heavy novel, at times a difficult read.

This is a sly and humorous novel told from the perspective of three maids from the Philippines, living in Singapore. Cora, Angel, and Donita are our narrators, with each alternating viewpoint showing a different experience as a maid in Singapore.

If you have read this author's previous works, including Erotic Stories for Punjabi Widows, you may be familiar with her unique sense of humor, which is presented in this book as well. There are keen observations made about the tight rope that the maids walk as the exist in a society that marginalizes them and doesn't recognize them as equal citizens.

This novel centers around these three women and their lives as maids, as they simultaneously look into the alarming arrest of a fellow Filipino maid who is arrested after her ma'am is murdered. Again, they have a precarious position in Singapore and struggle to unveil the truth while also wanting to keep their positions and not be deported.

I enjoyed this novel for the writing and sly humor presented, in a new setting and a new perspective that I have never experienced before. The different narratives were distinct with their own unique voice, and each maid had their own character development over the course of the book.

Thank you to William Morrow, Book Club Girl and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

This is a well written book, three Filipina maids become friends and work to prevent another maid, who is accused of killing her employee. At times humorous, at times heart breaking, this book is both a mystery and a social commentary on class, race and exploitation. At times, it is a little slow moving but it more a character study of the women

A very different look at Singapore from Kevin Kwan's humorous stories, this is seen through the eyes of the Filipina domestic workers who may see and work within the world of wealth and luxury, but never share in it. This follows three women, two experienced and one new to foreign domestic work, as they navigate new employment positions and some impossible employers. As difficult as this is, they are stunned to learn a fellow worker is being charged with the murder of her employer, and realize how easily any of them could be in the same place and helpless to fight back. It is with this realization that they begin to join forces and look for the truth the police seem indifferent to.
This is certainly a whole world of relationships I am completely unfamiliar with, so was quite fascinating. It is naturally very easy to identify with the workers. Some of the employers are quite mad. The rich truly are different. The three women are very different from each other, very different voices and motivations, and these are what drive the plot rather than the mystery. There is absolutely nothing predictable in this book. Just when I thought I knew where it was going, it went off in another direction, never a dull moment. Very interesting and grand conclusion. Highly recommend.