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.

This is the third book I've read by the author and I love Jean Kwok's writing style and storytelling! This is best not to read the synopsis before - it's a bit spoilery. This story is compelling and I was so invested in both women, but Jasmine has one incredibly powerful journey. Jasmine and Rebecca come from very different backgrounds and cultures who are connected through motherhood. There are really captivating themes of adoption, motherhood, identity, and acculturation. I was rooting for Jasmine and wanted to see her find her peace and happiness.

I really liked the pacing of this book! It was a slow burn at the beginning and then swelled to unable to put down for the last quarter of the book. I thought the reflection on adoption was interesting and well thought-out.

Started a little slow but then I was totally engrossed. I was very invested in the fates of Jasmine and Fiona. Loved the twist about halfway through! Perfect ending.

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok caught my eye because it is a story of mothers and daughters and what makes a family. I love stories with a moral dilemma, especially when it concerns determining the best interests of a child.

The story was told from two points of view: Jasmine, the Chinese mother whose child was taken without her consent, and Rebecca, the American woman who, along with her devoted husband, is raising a Chinese daughter. Their two stories will intersect in both predictable and surprising ways.

I found both characters to be relatable and sympathetic, as they were both grappling with roles imposed on them by society and their families. Some of the plot seemed contrived, especially Jasmine's romance with Anthony. As the plot moved toward the climax, it was suddenly over in one major scene that I found too abrupt and a bit unbelievable. I will call this 3.5 stars rounded down for uneven pacing and a rushed ending.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Leftover Woman is a complicated story, yet easy to read. It's told primarily from the perspectives of 2 women - Jasmine, a young Chinese woman who has fled China and her abusive husband, and Rebecca, a wealthy white New Yorker who has adopted her daughter from China along with her white husband who speaks Mandarin fluently. Rebecca is torn between her love for her daughter and her work in the publishing world. Jasmine will go to far lengths to find the daughter she lost due to the one child policy. The way the characters' lives come together is not exactly surprising, but it is well written and interesting to read. It is a good example of one of the many ways the one child policy has had far reaching consequences.

The Leftover Woman is a beautiful exploration of family and the ties that bind us to each other. Jasmine has recently come to NYC to be closer to her daughter - an adopted baby that was taken from her at birth. Rebecca, a mother of an adopted child, is navigating family, work, and marriage stress as things start to unravel in every piece of her life. We see how these women are forever tied together.

Jean Kwok once again brings her gift for suspense, family drama, and beautiful prose to this book. Don’t miss it!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC - The Leftover Woman is out now!

Based on the description of this book I thought I would really love the content -- it seemed like a twisty thriller. In the end I don't think the book lived up to the description or what I was expecting. The book is told from two viewpoints -- Jasmine, a woman from China in the US looking for her daughter that was taken at birth, and Rebecca, the a (semi-)successful NYC editor who adopted the daughter.

I think there were some holes in the plot, or even situations which just came up abruptly and left me confused in the moment. The start of the book gave me more questions. How did Jasmine actually get to America (through immigration, etc) and then the Anthony character....why was he even there? He seemed like an insignificant side plot. In the beginning it was almost like we were plopped down into a scene but thinking through it logically I was left with questions. As Jasmine's story evolves I found myself liking her chapters less and less. It sort of went off the rails for me. I didn't feel that with Rebecca's chapters. It almost felt like the women (and their situations, plot) were written by two different authors. And for some of the side characters, they felt undeveloped.

When everything comes together in the end I was sort of left unfulfilled? Some of the actions and emotions of the people seemed unrealistic. I guess this just wasn't the book for me! I would classify it less of a mystery/thriller and more of a family drama.

The Leftover Woman, by Jean Kwok, is a fascinating family drama with a dash of a mystery thrown into the plot. The book focuses on two characters, Jasmine, a recent immigrant from China and Rebecca, a wealthy book publisher with a seemingly perfect life.

I don’t want to give too much away, but the book does come together in a very satisfying way. I appreciated learning about China’s controversial One Child Policy and the impact it has on Chinese society. The writing was compelling and, while Jasmine and Rebecca weren’t always likeable, the author did a nice job of creating very nuanced characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was completely immersed in this story about a woman who comes to America to seek the child that she was tricked into giving up. The child was adopted to a wealthy white couple. The woman has plans of kidnapping the child, because after all, it's her child, not theirs.

While I enjoyed this story, it was personally triggering for me. I am adopted. When I was young, about Fiona's age, I had a dream that my birth mom kidnapped me and brought me back to Korea. Growing up, I refused to visit Korea, for fear that I would be separated from my family. As I’m older, the fear has dissipated, but in reading this story, something got dredged up and I felt anxious. However in reading this book, particularly Jasmine's POV (the birth mother), was appreciated because I received a different view of a mother's love and sacrifice from afar. It was humbling.

For her faults, I also enjoyed reading Rebecca’s (the adopted mother) story, her background and career. Personally, my favorite character was Oswald! Strongly advocating for a sequel surrounding him and his fabulous fashion.

A family drama told from the viewpoints of two mothers, The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok twists and turns as it reveals dark secrets. With themes and scenes ranging from immigration and racism to cutthroat moves in the publishing world to strip clubs and Tavern on the Green, we experience a lot of New York in its pages.

While some of the secrets were broadcast miles ahead, others were indeed surprising. I did experience some eye-rolling as the narrative and the prose veer into soap opera territory, everybody's hiding something, how dashing, how cunning. Several of the characters were hard to like, but despite that I stayed up late to see how it would end.

It'll be hard to beat "Don't give up on that pot roast, Dawn" as one of the funniest lines ever read.

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC. The Leftover Woman was published in October 2023.

Jasmine Yang is a victim of the China one-child policy. Since her daughter was unknowingly taken from her at birth (and told the baby died), Jasmine leaves her husband and heads to NYC to find her daughter. She decides to take a job at a dance club to make enough money to re-claim her daughter and raise her.
Rebecca Whitney is a publishing executive with a wonderful husband, and an adopted Chinese daughter. She comes from wealth, but wants to make it on her own. One of her rivals is making her life difficult. Rebecca starts to wonder if the nanny she hired is getting too close to her daughter, Fiona.
Jasmine and Rebecca both have the same goal, to protect their daughter, but there are costs-and scandals surrounding them. It all comes to a head when Rebecca lands an exciting novel-and her rival exposes her.
I loved this story. Jean Kwok did an amazing job telling the story of the two women and their struggles.

3.5 stars

Now that I have a little bit of a break from the demands of work and school, I am hoping to get caught back up on the new releases and book club reads that I had been neglecting over the past month. One of those new releases is Jean Kwok’s latest novel The Leftover Woman, which came out earlier in the month. I had read Kwok’s previous novel Searching for Sylvie Lee several years back and had really enjoyed it, so of course this book, her newest work, was highly anticipated. In the end, Kwok definitely didn’t disappoint, as she delivered a solid, compelling story that proved to be both culturally resonant as well as thought-provoking - though not without a few flaws.

At the center of the story are two women from completely opposite worlds. Jasmine Yang is a young Chinese woman from a poor rural village who enters into an arranged marriage at 14 to a man years older than her. After suffering several miscarriages, Jasmine finally gives birth to a daughter, but not too long afterwards, is told that the baby died. Jasmine is devastated — until she finds out that her husband lied to her and actually gave the baby up for adoption so that they could try for a son under China’s strict One Child Policy. Determined to find her daughter, Jasmine plans an escape from her abusive marriage and eventually lands in New York through the help of “snakeheads” whom she has to figure out a way to pay back. Meanwhile, in New York, Rebecca Whitney is an editor at a glamorous publishing house who is living the dream life — she has a prestigious family name and the accompanying wealth and privilege that comes with it, and she lives in a beautiful house with a handsome, talented husband aa well as an adopted daughter whom she adores. But balancing a high profile career with the demands of marriage and motherhood is not easy and when a work-related scandal breaks out, Rebecca finds her perfect life slowly starting to unravel. The story is told alternately from the perspectives of these two very different women whose lives end up colliding in unexpected ways.

I really appreciated the premise of this story, especially Jasmine’s storyline about her struggles fleeing an archaic, patriarchal system and the choices she had to make once she was in America trying to find her daughter. Not that I didn’t like Rebecca’s storyline, but I just felt that it was less necessary — I would’ve liked to see Jasmine’s story explored more, as there were opportunities there that were only touched upon. I will be honest in saying that I preferred Jasmine’s story arc and the direction that Kwok went with it (though there was potential for more as I mentioned earlier), whereas Rebecca’s story arc felt typical of other stories that we’ve read before.

Plot-wise, I felt that the first half of the story dragged a bit and the buildup was slow — I definitely preferred the second half better, though the ending also felt too rushed (and there were some plot holes that weren’t too believable). Despite the pacing issues though, I enjoyed this one overall — the cultural aspects were done well and the “twist” did take me by surprise (though it didn’t blow me away to the point that I keep thinking about it like I’ve done with other twists).

I don’t want to say too much, since this IS a mystery / thriller after all, so it’s best to go in knowing as little as possible (though I have to say that the story was more character-driven than plot-driven, so from that aspect, the thriller element was less prominent). I definitely recommend picking this one up, especially if you’re looking for a story that has mystery / thriller elements, but also emotional depth and poignancy. I can’t wait to see what Kwok comes out with next!

Received ARC from William Morrow via NetGalley.

"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." Jean Kwok, The Leftover Woman. Four star read. An expected story of love, loss, identity, belonging and bond between mother and child.

This was honestly a bummer of a read. I was excited to read this one as an adoptive mom myself. The story was all tell, no show. Characters were one-dimensional and boring. The side story about Rebecca’s publishing job was completely unnecessary and added nothing to the story besides dragging the story out to an unnecessary length. The climax was a single page and it felt like even the author was bored by the story at that point.

A complex story of a wealthy and successful couple in the USA, an adopted child, her Chinese nanny, and the hidden secrets of all. This looks at mothers, careers, immigration, deceit, all through a bewildering chain of events. This is about love, deceit, and the invisibility of immigrants. It is a page turner.