Member Reviews

enjoyed this book a lot. will read more of this author and more of their books. i was grateful to get a copy of it. Thanks so much.

Was this review helpful?

With so many modern retelling of Jane Austen novels, I started this book with some hesitance. I’m very glad I didn’t let that bias, sour me from reading this. So eloquently funny, and well written. The characters are charming and the author does a phenomenal job in staying true to their unique stories, culture and regional characterization while paying homage to Austen. There were many times, I laughed incredibly reading this. The dialogue is witty. I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend.

Was this review helpful?

Modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice but plonk it in Chinatown.

I can imagine the setup of their Chinatown apartment, sounds exactly like where I lived in SF Chinatown. In the apartment my landlady grew up in with 5 siblings, bunk beds and 1 bathroom.

The names of the girls are the same as in the original which threw me a little bit it’s common for Chinese to have “American” names or after someone they admire. It actually helped me keep the girls straight.

The Chen girls help out at the family restaurant where their dad works, while their mom brokers real estate deals (mainly the community center) with cranky out of towners.

Slow burn, Jane Austen style. A must read if you like Chinatown, Pride & Prejudice & community!

Was this review helpful?

Yes, I may have already read a few Pride & Prejudice retellings, but I apparently can’t seem to stop myself. I even enjoyed the pop culture references which can be like a bucket of cold water to the story when not done right.

Like all Jane Austen, this is a slow burn which isn’t usually my jam but there are exceptions every now and again. There was one moment where I thought we were gonna get spicy though…

Was this review helpful?

Didn't find this particularly engaging - no character was particularly well fleshed out, which I think is the problem with retelling a story that already has (excellently) established characters.

Received a free copy on Netgalley.

Was this review helpful?

Good Fortune was a really lovely read, a modern re-telling of Pride and Prejudice. I loved the Chinatown locale, and the themes of love, family, identity, and culture. It was great fun and well-written.

Was this review helpful?

Good Fortune is a fun, contemporary spin on Pride and Prejudice set in NYC (Chinatown) and is full of snappy dialogue and charm. The story explores gentrification, socioeconomic status, family, community, cultural identity, love, ambition, and more.

For readers already acquainted with Pride and Prejudice (in book/movie/mini-series format), there are still some surprises in store with the way C.K. Chau tells this modern version.

Overall, I enjoyed reading this, and found the second half more propulsive and compelling as Elizabeth “LB” Chen considers and reconsiders whether her impressions of Darcy may not have been wholly accurate. Recommended to anyone looking for a new take on one of literature’s best romances.

Thank you to HarperVia and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

Good Fortune by C.K. Chau was a great debut novel.

This book was so much fun.
A beautifully told redefined Pride and Prejudice, set in contemporary Chinatown, exploring real life issues of class divides, family ties, cultural identity, and the joy and discouragements that come with falling in love.
I truly enjoyed everything this story had to offer.
The writing was amazing. The characters are well developed. The story was just charming.
After devouring this authors debut I will definitely pick up her next book in the future.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperVia for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I read four or five chapters before realizing that the book is roughly based on Pride and Prejudice. I realized it once Elizabeth meets the proud Darcy at a wedding. I must confess that turned me off from reading this romance. I don't mind a romance based on a classic, but to have the same names of the main characters and the book's characters are Chinese? I would have been fine with the book had the characters had other names than those of Pride and Prejudice. The author seems to be pushing the similarities of plot and characters too hard.

Was this review helpful?

Good Fortune by C.K. Chau is a great contemporary fiction that is full of family, culture, community, and helps define what it means to be true to one’s own beliefs.

I really enjoyed this immersion into a community and families richly portrayed within this book that takes place in Chinatown. Reading about the family dynamics, the cultural and societal differences (and also the similarities), and how that is incorporated into everyday situations was an interesting aspect for someone that know very little about this community.

I enjoyed the threads of romance, family, preconceived assumptions, trust, faith, sense of self and belonging, and what it means to stand up for what one believes in and for what one feels that truly matters that were all present in this book.

Elizabeth and Darcy were great characters (hello, Pride & Prejudice anyone?) and I enjoyed reading their interactions, and the evolution of their relationship throughout the book. A nice read.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Harper Via for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 7/11/23.

Was this review helpful?