Jean Kwok's The Leftover Woman continues her legacy of crafting impossible to put down books.
Fleeing an abusive man, Jasmine illegally emigrates to the U.S. While job hunting, she bumps into her childhood best friend. But no one from her former home can know where she is. Searching for the daughter that was given up for adoption without her knowledge, Jasmine is determined to pay off her debts, stay hidden, and build a new life for both of them. Meanwhile Rebecca, a New York City based publishing executive, is struggling in the aftermath of a scandal. Balancing a time-consuming career, being a mother, and tired of her adopted daughter being mistaken as the nanny's child, Rebecca is searching for her own sense of belonging at work-- and in her own family.
Kwok's trademark evocative writing lends itself beautifully to the intricate plot of The Leftover Woman. At times suspenseful and always engaging, this story asks the hard questions about who we belong to, and how we come to belong to them. With perspectives from Jasmine and Rebecca, the reader gets in intimate look at each woman's thought process, backstory, and journey.
Once again, Kwok brings well-developed characters in an interesting world together to explore themes of identity, belonging, economic status, and family dynamics.
A dissertation on motherhood, sacrifice, and womanhood, The Leftover Woman is one you don't want to miss.
Thank you to the author, William Morrow, and NetGalley for an e-ARC such that I could share my honest opinions.
The Leftover Woman is available now.

Readers who enjoy multicultural novels or domestic and psychological thrillers should pick up a copy of Jean Kwok’s latest novel, The Leftover Woman. It’s sure to appeal to several reading tastes.

Kwok opens with a mysterious prologue that will make readers crave the backstory. Dated May 6, 2022, the prologue consists solely of one unidentified person’s letter to another, addressed only as “My beloved.” The letter writer admits that the reader may not find forgiveness possible and speaks of “blood, so much blood.” Having taken someone important away from the recipient, the writer hopes that an explanation will, at least, bring “simple understanding” and dreams of a visit one day.

Telling the story from two female points of view, Kwok builds suspense through the four parts of the novel, ending each part in a way to keep readers turning pages

At fourteen, Jasmine is pushed into an arranged marriage to a twenty-six-year-old. After her best friend has left China to join his uncle in the U.S., thus ending Jasmine’s dream of someday marrying him, she accepts her marriage and quickly falls in love with the handsome and charming Wen. Her life seems almost perfect despite a series of miscarriages and the death of a newborn daughter. Gradually, the discovery of Wen’s personal secrets prompts Jasmine to flee China with the aid of human smugglers. In the U.S., she becomes yet another undocumented immigrant desperate to survive and willing to take any job, no matter how questionable.

Born into wealth and white privilege, Rebecca Whitney is a book editor married to Brandon, a Columbia University professor and a successful researcher and writer fluent in several Asian languages, including Chinese. Unable to have children of their own, Rebecca and Brandon have hired a Chinese nanny to help care for their adopted daughter Fifi, now ready to start school.

The chapters devoted to Jasmine and to Rebecca highlight their very different lives. However, readers quickly learn that both women face personal and work-related problems.

Roughly two-thirds of the way through the novel, as Rebecca courts a successful novelist, trying to persuade her to come to the publishing house started by Rebecca’s father, the novelist asks Rebecca what changes she would want made to the manuscript that has recently been shared with her as part of the author and her agent’s search for the best editor and publisher. Following Rebecca’s answer, Kwok’s novel takes a fascinating turn.

The Leftover Woman introduces an assortment of social and cultural issues, such as the plight of undocumented immigrants, the all-too-common attitudes of some privileged whites toward immigrants, and the effect China’s one-child policy had on first-born girls

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advance reader copy of this enjoyable new novel by Jean Kwok. Readers can expect many twists along the way.

Shared on GoodReads and Barnes & Noble.

2.5 stars

Reminiscent of The Leavers, this was a moving story of the effects of the One Child policy both inside China and in the USA. Jasmine has illegally arrived in the US to search out the child she didn’t know had been taken from her and given to an American family. Trying to pay back the smugglers and support herself leads to some dangerous choices. Rebecca is the adoptive mother of Jasmine’s child, facing her own challenges on many different fronts. This book examines the actions and consequences of decisions these women didn’t always make for themselves. I didn’t always connect with the dialogue and situations in this book but the subject matter was very moving.

*Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the book copy for review.

I wasn't really sure how I felt about this book until about the halfway point when I suspected what direction The Leftover Woman was going to go when the plot came together. Let me tell you, though, when it came together... it came together!

Love this author and loved this book. It was a 5-star for me. Definitely will be on my top books of the year. It was a bit hard to get into and a bit slow at first, but once I got into the story it flew by. Bravo!

Jasmine has arrived in NYC from China illegally in order to find the daughter that her abusive husband forced her to give up after telling her that the child died. Having found her daughter, she has managed to secure a position as the child’s nanny. Rebecca and Brandon are Fiona’s adoptive parents following a private arrangement with Jasmine’s deceptive husband, Wen and are unaware of Jasmine’s true identity. Both Rebecca and Jasmine love Fiona but struggle with mothering while dealing with their own secrets and life complications. Rebecca finds both her career and her marriage unraveling while Jasmine has to secretly find a way to secure funds to fend off the “snakeheads” who arranged her illegal immigration and hide from her husband.
Overall, I enjoyed the story and the surprises which kept it interesting. Both the main characters were well developed and I could appreciate their struggles. I found myself hoping for each of them even though it would be unlikely that they could both continue to be a mother to Fiona. The story was a slow build with no indications of resolution which I found to be very engaging. I really found the character of Anthony, Jasmine’s past and present love interest to be an unnecessary distraction and their relationship was frustrating to me as a reader. Even though the situation seemed to be a lose-lose for everyone, things wrapped up nicely and the ending was satisfying.
#NetGalley #WilliamMorrow

Jasmine has fled from her husband in China, and come to NYC where she hopes to start over and find the daughter who was given away at birth. She is forced to work at a strip club to pay back the people who helped her flee. Rebecca is an ambitious editor who seems to have it all: career, devoted husband and a beautiful child. But things aren’t as rosy for Rebecca underneath her carefully perfected facade. As Jasmine’s world collides with Rebecca’s, buried secrets come to surface that will endanger not only the lives of both women but also of the people they are both trying to protect.

This book encompasses the desperation that both Jasmine and Rebecca feel as they are trying to fight for their family but also fight against the boundaries that confine them. This was a page turning read for me as I wanted to know what happened as danger started seeping into the storyline. And I was totally satisfied by the ending.

This was the first book I read by this author but I have another one sitting on my bookshelf that I am now dying to read.

Thank you to the publishers for this gifted copy

Such an amazing and intricately woven story. I read this in one sitting and I could not tear myself away from it. Jasmine and Rebecca teach you that no matter where you come from and what your background is the power of motherhood and community is a powerful thing. I cannot believe this is the first book by Jean Kwok I have picked up. She is such a masterful storyteller, and I will definitely be reading more.

This novel focuses on two women who live totally different lives and are struggling. Rebecca is a publishing executive who is under extreme stress at work and home. She’s also struggled with issues in her marriage and infertility. The couple has adopted a Chinese daughter who they adore, but Rebecca struggles to balance work and home. Jasmine flees China after her abusive husband told her their daughter died in childbirth. The truth is he sold her so that they could try to have a son pursuant to China’s one-child policy. I loved these two stories and the writing. The book was tight and was well edited.

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok is storytelling at its finest. Jean Kwok weaved together an emotional and provocative story that kept me wanting to read. At 288 pages, it was really a very quick read. Told from two points of view that come together seamlessly. There's a moment when the plot reveals its truth, and it was such a show stopping moment that I had goosebumps.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read and review honestly an advanced digital copy.

Jasmine has fled China and her abusive husband with the help of a gang that must be paid back or they’ll force her to work and pay them back. She did all this to find her daughter who her abusive husband secretly put up for adoption soon after arriving she runs into Anthony a neighbor from her village in China and although she wants to steer clear from anyone who knows her Lincoln get word back to China where she is she can’t help but want to seek Anthony out. It is hard for Jasmine to find a job but when a girl gives her a number and tells her to go to the opium room Jasmine thinks it could help her pay back the snakeheads Little does she know working at the opium room will not only bring new problems but solve some of her old ones I didn’t want to get too much away this book is told from two different points of view one is Jasmine who also goes by Lucy and then there’s Rebecca who is FiFi/Fiona‘s adoptive mom this is a truly intricate and well told story and although I did find that were some things that went unanswered for the most part it really is a great story with a great twist at the end not that this is a Thriller because it isn’t but they do have dramatic moments in the end is definitely one of them I really enjoyed the story and highly recommend it I want to thank William Morrow and net galley for my free arc copy please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This book! The Leftover Woman is a beautiful work of literary fiction that has you turning the pages like that of a thriller. This is the story of Rebecca and Jasmine, two women with seemingly nothing in common. One steeped in privilege, the other an immigrant fleeing an abusive relationship. Told in alternating points of view, this story touches on identity, sacrifice, class, family, and how very hard it is to be a woman and a mother. I finished this book yesterday and can't stop thinking about it. One of my favorite reads of the year.

Jean Kwok's personal story seems to shape her work and I hope that she will write a memoir one day.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

This is truly an unforgettable story about two women, both mothers, whose lives have taken very different paths, but in time collide unexpectedly. Jassmine arrives in New York from a village in China. She is fleeing an abusive husband, but also searching for the daughter who was taken from her as an infant, due to China's then one-child policy. Rebecca is the wealthy, successful New York executive and mother to a beautiful adopted daughter from China. Jassmine's husband is on her trail, and Rebecca's way of life is endangered by a recent scandal -- so there's lots of tension to keep us turning the pages. A perfect choice for book groups, clubs and discussions, this is both suspenseful page turner and thoughtful literary fiction all rolled into one.

“The Leftover Woman,” by Jean Kwok, William Morrow, 288 pages, Oct. 10, 2023.

Jasmine Yang arrives in New York City from her rural Chinese village without money or family support.

She is fleeing her husband. Jasmine didn’t have a say in who she married. She is in New York searching for the daughter taken from her at birth because of China’s One Child policy. She was smuggled in by “snakeheads.” She didn’t realize that businesses wouldn’t hire her without documentation.

Meanwhile, Rebecca Whitney, a white, privileged, wealthy woman, a publishing executive, who is married and raising her adopted Chinese daughter Fiona, now five. She has a nanny, Lucy.

A string of incidents force these women to cross pathways. There's not much build up to the conclusion and the timelines are confusing. I had difficulty connecting with the characters. This wasn’t a book for me.

In accordance with FTC guidelines, the advance reader's edition of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I LOVED THIS BOOK—A show stopper!

New York Times bestselling author Jean Kwok dazzles with her latest evocative and emotional tale, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN — a riveting mystery of two tenacious, inspiring, and fearless women, both mothers—a story of injustice, abuse, sacrifice, and love.

Top Books of 2023! Look at this stunning cover! I cannot wait for my hardcover to arrive. Not only is this cover elegant and haunting on the outside—but it is just as exquisite on the inside—a complete package with a fitting title. The author is at the top of her game!

Jasmine Yang comes from a rural Chinese village. She was left on the roadside as a child because she was a girl. The culture/policy would only allow one child per family. Unfortunately, all the families wanted boys to help care for their parents in their old age.

Her aunt and uncle raised her, but she never felt like she belonged or was loved. Then, she was taken in by a controlling, abusive husband when she was 14. When she delivered her beautiful baby girl, her husband, Wen, wanted a boy, and since they were only allowed one child due to overpopulation, he lied and told her she died.

She was heartbroken. Later, she found the emails and learned that her abusive husband (they were not legally married due to her age) had given her up for adoption. Jasmine knows she must find her daughter. Whatever she has to do to escape this monster and find her daughter, Fiona. She will do anything to reunite with her daughter. Jasmine was just an obsession for Wen.

The clues lead to New York City to a successful, wealthy couple power couple. However, to get there, she has to make a deal with the devil to get to America. If she failed to pay, they would sell her into prostitution.

She had to make money and fast. Since she was an illegal immigrant, she had to turn to being a dancer at an Asian strip club and found a nanny job during the day. She did not want to strip, but it was better than prostitution if she did not come up with the money.

She planned and saved working during the day as a nanny and at night as a dancer at Opium. She kept her head down. The parents did not have a clue as she dressed very plainly and did not draw attention to herself. However, she lived in fear daily, fearing Wen would come after her.

In the meantime, we meet Rebecca and Brandon Whitney. Brandon spoke her native language. They adopted a Chinese girl, and Lucy is now their Chinese nanny for five-year-old Fifi.

Rebecca and Brandson seem to have it all with the family name, beautiful home, wealth, and prestige, and Rebecca a high-powered career in the publishing industry. This is so clever! Then, there is a scandal and blackmail, which could destroy Rebecca's career and marriage.

Beautifully told from alternating POVs: Rebecca and Jasmine in four parts. Two mothers from different walks of life with a shared love, their daughter. When the past and present collide, and the connection between Wen and Brandon comes front and center with the two mothers, it is EXPLOSIVE!

"In China, I'd seen posters warning girls of the danger of becoming leftover women, women that no one wanted. Leftover like scraps on a table, uneaten food, both a sacrilege and wasteful, something that should have nourished our country squandered and turned into rubbish: unwarned, 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." —Jasmine, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN.

Masterfully crafted, character-driven, and plot-driven, THE LEFTOVER WOMAN is a stunning work of art—a novel of motherhood, class, and culture. The writing is lyrical and heartfelt, and it will break your heart—full of raw emotion, keeping you on the edge of your seat in suspense as to how this could end positively for both mothers.

The author ratchets the suspense as readers try to breathe, hoping for a happy ending. The final Epilogue, told from Fiona's POV, was priceless! I was so worried how this would turn out. Never fear; the author has complete control, and the ending will have you crying tears of joy!

It is an award-winning novel; I cannot wait to see the book played out on the wide screen. WELL DONE! I enjoyed both POVs, both compelling; however, I was drawn more to Jasmine's story (a survivor) and her background, rooting for her all the way! I adored Jasmine, Fiona, and Anthony!

I cannot recommend this masterpiece enough. Get it now! A favorite. It is worth all the hype and then some!

Many thanks to William Morrow for the pleasure of reading an advanced reading copy for an honest review. I also purchased the hardcover copy and the audiobook narrated by Sura Siu and Caroline Hewitt by Harper Audio.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Oct 10, 2023
My Rating: 5 Stars ++
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The stories of Rebecca and Jasmine were so interesting and different, yet as their stories unfold, similarities unfold, proving that the womanhood and motherhood are shared amongst women of all races, countries, and classes. Similarly, the monsters that do the most damage are not the ones under the bed, but the ones walking around amongst us, disguised as a regular person. I ached for both women and was unhappy with their behavior in turns. This story of these women shows that you can’t really judge a person until you have been in their situation. Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Jean Kwok, and William Morrow for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was a fine thriller! The premise was interesting as the story follows two women with a daughter as a connection, the birth mother Jasmine and the adoptive mother Rebecca. I thought Kwok did a great job of writing both perspectives and creating instances of doubt and questioning between both women. I also really enjoyed reading the perspective of an immigrant woman who is trying to build a life for herself in NYC and how Kwok emphasized how truly difficult that is to do. The book did a good job of surprising me at certain parts, even if other reveals were a bit predictable. I found myself by the end truly rooting for both women and was satisfied with the ending overall. For me, it was just an okay read though because I did find certain things predictable, repetitive, or cheesy. I did not personally enjoy the scenes between Jasmine and Anthony either, as I felt they were a bit melodramatic. I also think more time/emphasis should have been spent on the final reveal of how things unraveled. Overall, I would check out more of Kwok's work as I think she does a great job at crafting a story, and even though this was not my personal favorite read, I think many will enjoy it.

THE LEFTOVER WOMAN by Jean Kwok is a gripping and emotional family drama that kept me engrossed from beginning to end. It is a heart-wrenching story of motherhood and how far a woman will go for her daughter. Set in New York City, this multi-layered story shows how the lives of two very different women are inextricably intertwined in ways they could never imagine. Jasmine Yang flees her rural Chinese village for a new life in New York City. She leaves behind her abusive and controlling husband and arrives alone, an immigrant with no money, papers or means of support. She will do anything to find the daughter that was taken from her at birth and sent to the US. Rebecca Whitney is a wealthy white publishing executive with a high-powered career, beautiful home, handsome professor husband and a beautiful adopted Chinese daughter, Fifi. With little extra time to spend at home, Rebecca has hired a Chinese nanny to help care for Fifi. A scandal at work threatens to ruin Rebecca’s seemingly perfect life and soon Jasmine and Rebecca cross paths in a shocking way. The story is told from both Jasmine and Rebecca’s points of view. It is a compelling look at family and motherhood, but also explores the impact of China’s one child policy, immigration, class differences and interracial adoption. I enjoyed this intense and moving novel and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

This was an interesting book, for some reason I thought it was a thriller. I think because of that, I was left a little disappointed . Don’t get me wrong, it’s still very interesting and enjoyed it!

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok is a mystery, thriller, literary, and historical fiction all combined together in a novel. Jean Kwok's novel leaves us with a lot of questions that make us think.

Jasmine and Rebecca are from two different worlds, but there's one common factor between them of motherhood. Jasmine is making ends meet after making from China to New York, whereas Rebecca is an American trying to prove that she is an excellent editor and trying to come out through a scandal.

This novel is powerful, though the issues are cloaked in a story that keeps interest throughout. Topics like immigration life, colorism, race, adoption, women oppression, patriarchy, sterilization, and female infanticide are a few that the author addresses in this book. I enjoyed this book a lot, and it hit home in so many places.

Thank you, William Morrow Books, for this book.

CW: hints of domestic abuse, cultural appropriation, infidelity, child bride, patriarchy