This family drama with a mystery kept me reading until the end. When Jasmine Yang escapes from her small village in China and a brutal marriage she goes to New York City in search of her daughter that she was told had died at birth. China has a "one child policy" and because the baby was a girl her husband sold her to a couple in the US. Jasmine is in New York City illegally and is penniless but desperate to find her daughter, When she meets well-to-do Rebecca Whitney who has adopted her daughter she is torn because Rebecca has hired a Chinese nanny to care for the child and it is obvious that she is loved and well cared for. However, there is more to this story and as twists and secrets are revealed the reader will be completely caught up in this story.

The Leftover Woman was published on October 10th and would be a great book for a book club to discuss. Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy.

Kwok has crafted a well-written and bingeable story about adoption and motherhood. I feel like it’s a disservice to be marketing this as a mystery/thriller though, it definitely lies strongly in general fiction. the ‘mystery’ elements are pretty straightforward and obvious, most of the little reveals are just waiting for the characters to catch up. Jasmine and Rebecca were both interesting, dynamic characters to follow, and a lot of class commentary gave the writing a personal touch.

Unputdownable! A beautiful, multifaceted story that kept me hooked until the very end. This is one everyone should bump up on their tbr's!

The Leftover Woman is a moving story of a Chinese woman who was told her baby daughter died only to discover that she was really adopted by an American couple. Her husband had given the baby away under the one child rule in China, as he was hoping for a son. Jasmine runs away to the US terribly in debt to the snakeheads, who got her into the country illegally. Desperate to find her daughter she is literally willing to do anything to get her daughter back.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Whitely has the perfect life: she’s an amazing editor, her husband a handsome professor and their adopted Chinese daughter is the love of their lives.

Read what happens when ultimately these 2 women’s worlds collide!

Recommend!

I was SO wrapped up in this story! We follow two women, both struggling to be the best mothers they can be while also not completely losing themselves. Jasmine has fled China and an abusive husband in search of the daughter taken from her at birth. Rebecca is facing the biggest challenge she’s ever had at her prestigious publishing job and might be losing her husband. Although living in completely different worlds, Jasmine’s that of an immigrant with few resources available to her and Rebecca’s that of a very wealthy white woman with nearly everything at her disposal, both women find themselves in danger of losing what they love most and desperate to keep it. In the midst of these more domestic dramas are other mysteries you will want to solve alongside these women. Highly recommend!

Thank you, Netgalley, for the e-ARC of this title!

I am super late in writing this review. I think this was the best book that I read in 2023! It's my first book by Jean Kwok and I couldn't put it down. I have been recommending this novel to everyone! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

I loved Girl in Translation and anticipated another book that I would like equally as well. I was disappointed to find a book that seemed to have been written to draw attention to the foibles of cross cultural adoption and the attitudes toward women in China.

The plot was full of surprises, but the characters fell flat for me. Anthony seemed to have been created to be a martial arts instructor so I assumed Jasmine was going to need those skills. Jasmine treated him terribly and he barely noticed, yet a large part of the book was developing their childhood friendship, which grew tedious. I struggled with her willingness to snatch her daughter away from her adoptive parents, a purpose she was dedicated to.

Truly she had been treated badly but I still didn’t find her sympathetic. Clearly by other responses most readers didn’t share my feelings so I think it’s a case of me not being the right reader for this book. Thanks to NegGalley for providing me this ARC.

This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. The strength of motherhood, the struggle of immigrants, and cultural practices are weaved together to tell the most beautiful story I have read in a long while. Keep your tissues ready for this one. Thank you Netgalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my review.

4.5
This novel is a combination of family drama and mystery. Jean Kwok tells an interesting and thoroughly engrossing story which takes place mostly in New York but includes some background stories from China. The characters are believable and sympathetic. The conflict was realistic, and although some of the mystery was predictable there were many surprises as well! I enjoyed this novel which captures the love of parents - both biological and adoptive, the challenge of being an immigrant, the challenges of family responsibilities. It also includes scenes which depict cultural differences/perceptions and prejudice.

"Always know your own weaknesses," her father told her. "Know them better than your worst enemy and no one will be able to pull the wool over your eyes."

I liked the themes in this one. It really pointed out the struggle with the 'one child' rule and discarded baby girls. Fifi's been adopted by Brandon and Rebecca. In their quest to try to keep the Chinese heritage and language in Fifi's life, they hire a nanny from China.

I found this story jarring. I thought Jasmine's POV was bumping and confusing. I found both Rebecca and Jasmine confusing. I just can't imagine Rebecca having such dangerously loose finances that she doesn't have a checking overdraft? And Jasmine's yo-yo of club work and yet disheveled organized nanny. I thought the highs and lows and the secrets and ugly side of everyone in the book didn't always connect with me and I was often left wondering why someone was doing something. It was an interesting read, it held my attention. But I didn't love it.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

I liked this book. Liked it better as it was ending, because I became engrossed in the characters & what would happen. I liked the ending.

This was a compelling read filled with intense family drama and plenty of mystery and suspense elements. The story was slow to start, but once it picked up, it was thrilling and hard to put down.

I loved how this book touched on themes of race, gender, class, and motherhood. I felt it did a fantastic job highlighting China's one child policy.

The Leftover Woman was poignant and beautifully written. It certainly leaves the reader with a lot to think about.

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

I could not engage with this book. I found the writing really dry and didn't care about the characters or their saga. I am not the target audience for this book. I'm certain others will enjoy the storyline.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced readers copy

An interesting tale about a mothers love. No matter whether biological or not. Either will go to great lengths to protect their children/child.

Heartfelt and wildly entertaining!

This was the first book of Jean Kwok’s that I’ve read but it definitely won’t be the last. The premise drew me in immediately, and I couldn’t put this story down once I got started. Two women from completely different worlds are thrust together and eventually forced to commit the ultimate crime in self-defense.

I enjoyed the alternating perspectives between Jasmine and Rebecca and thought the author did an amazing job keeping their voices unique. The pace was steady and the suspense palpable, overall a very satisfying read. I love any story set in New York City and particularly loved the polar opposite experiences these women had, highlighting Rebecca’s privileged lifestyle compared to the abuses endured by Jasmine. I enjoyed the character development between both women including the relationships with the men in their lives. After Jasmine’s true identity was revealed in Rebecca’s chapters I blew through to the end, convinced that her ex husband, Wen, would find her. The final confrontation was shocking but it made sense given his violent nature.

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
For readers who enjoy domestic suspense, strong female protagonists, and heartfelt topics.

Jasmine Yang arrives in the bustling city of New York, escaping her rural Chinese village with no financial resources or familial support. Her journey is fueled by desperation, as she flees a controlling husband in pursuit of the daughter cruelly taken from her at birth—a tragic consequence of China's controversial One Child Policy. With her relentless husband hot on her trail, Jasmine faces a ticking clock, compelling her to make increasingly desperate choices in the hope of reuniting with her long-lost daughter.

On the other side of the spectrum is publishing executive Rebecca Whitney, seemingly living a charmed life. With a prestigious family name, abundant wealth, a thriving career, a luxurious home, a handsome husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter she cherishes, Rebecca appears to have it all. Even a Chinese nanny has been enlisted to assist her in navigating the challenges of balancing work and motherhood. However, when a scandal within the industry threatens not only Rebecca's job but also her marriage, the facade of her perfect world begins to crumble, raising questions about her role within her own family.

The book's standout element lies in the masterful characterization of its central figures, Jasmine and Rebecca. Each is fighting to survive, yet their paths are diametrically opposed. Both characters harbour intriguing backstories that gradually unfold, revealing layers of complexity. The prose is exceptional, contributing to a captivating narrative that holds the reader's attention from start to finish.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"I was a leftover woman, I realized. After everyone else had carved away what they wanted to see in me and taken what they desired, I was all that was left."⁣
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Summary⁣
The Leftover Woman finds two women on a shocking collision course. Twisting and suspenseful, it explores identity and belonging, motherhood and family. It is a story of two women in a divided city -- separated by severe economic and cultural differences yet bound by a deep emotional connection to a child.⁣
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I read Jean Kwok's first book Girl in Translation way back in 2012 and went to see her speak about it when she came to CT. I remember really enjoying both the book and the event. Her subsequent books didn't really call out to me, until The Leftover Woman. Unfortunately though, I was left a little underwhelmed. I almost DNF'd it because the beginning was not drawing me in at all. Around halfway, I started to enjoy it a lot more, good suspense, the mystery element had started to intrigue me more so I was glad I continued. The ending, however, felt rushed and like it didn't fit with the rest of the novel. Overall it was an enjoyable reading experience though so I'm glad I read it.⁣
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Thank you @netgalley for this copy!⁣
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Have you read any of Kwok's books?

3.5. This became predictable and doesn't have the thrilling oomph I expected from its description, but I still enjoyed the story (and especially how different cultural aspects play into the plot). There are several plot points that are not resolved or explored well, unfortunately, but it didn't detract from the readability. The characterization of Jasmine and Rebecca is also strong, though I found myself repelled by Rebecca's self-centeredness and thus ended up rooting for Jasmine and her wily perseverance.

“I have marked you as you have marked me, and you are written into the language of my soul.”

“…unwanted, purposeless, of no use to anyone. I was a leftover woman, I realized. After everyone else had carved away what they wanted to see in me and taken what they desired, I was all that was left.”

I expected a sad historical fiction story about China’s one child policy, but Jean Kwok delivers a modern social commentary, a suspenseful drama, and some sweet romance for balance and genre bending success! I actually didn’t want to put it down, needing to know how everyone fit into the narrative of a woman searching for her daughter (whom she thought had died shortly after childbirth). Fiona was adopted under false pretenses, the adoptive parents understood she had been abandoned in the Chinese one child policy when actually she was taken from her mother and sold to rich Americans. There is a sharp twist (which I loved) in the story and many levels of deceit and secrecy across just about all the characters. I particularly liked the juxtaposition of the privileged white adoptive mom next to the poor disheveled Asian immigrant nanny with the adorably precocious Fiona in between. But that’s just the surface presentation to the casual onlooker, and very much a challenge to societal prejudice. The gentle love story between Anthony and Jasmine was also sweet, albeit highly unbelievable (I mean, who waits 10 years for someone?). Was it overly dramatic at times? Maybe, but to me, it really worked!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

I enjoyed this a lot. The second half was more engaging to me, since its pace was so much quicker, but I do understand the need for backstory. Both Lucy and Rebecca were empathetic characters, despite a lot of Rebecca's cringey behavior. I especially appreciated learning about the effects of the one-child policy on American adoptions. The Anthony plotline felt a little overwraught to me, and not always realistic (the dialogue, action, etc.) but all in all I'm glad I read it.