This book has my heart!!! ❤️

It just feels so genuine, so authentic, like a true #ownvoices novel written for itself. Not to hit a diversity quota, not to cater to an international audience, not to make it more sellable to the mass market like so many others.

I had so much fun reading this and cackled at so many scenes. Some of the dialogue is comedy gold and there's even Chinese swearing 😂. Not to mention the references to inherently Chinese things such as WeChat, Meitu, the booming counterfeit industry, extravagance, marriage, hierarchy, everything! The accuracy of it all! I'm Singaporean Chinese and even though the book is set in China, I felt truly represented.

The heist itself felt a little confusing, messy and draggy to me but the characters really shine. I love all 3 women but Jane is my absolute favourite and I rooted so hard for her. Vic sounds super dreamy and I was extremely invested in his romantic entanglement with Rina. Everyone had such satisfying arcs and I really enjoyed their journeys of self-love, growth and discovery.

Women of Good Fortune is a gem that's just so unapologetically itself. I had a blast with it and can't wait to read more from the author!

I picked up this book thinking it would be similar to Crazy Rich Asians. I really wanted to like this book but struggled for weeks to get through it. I found only one of the main characters likeable, and the plot was silly and often confusing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for my advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

3.5 stars
I was excited when I read the blurb about a wedding heist. What’s not to love? Well, pretty much every single character in the book. I get the redemption arc and the journeys of self discovery you can experience but if you start too far down in the hole, there’s a risk of losing people before the story even starts to get going. That was definitely my experience. I stuck with it & came to like the people most of them became, even though quite a few of the transformations were quite far removed from where they started. All in all, if you can make it past the first couple of hours, the story does kick into gear!

Three friends, a high-society wedding, and a heist.

In the midst of a lavish Shanghai wedding, Lulu finds herself reluctantly engaged to a wealthy bachelor, driven by family financial pressures rather than love. With the support of her two best friends, Rina and Jane, who share their own struggles against societal norms, they devise a plan to steal the gift money from the event. As their scheme unfolds, they confront the complexities of friendship, desire, and the true cost of pursuing their dreams. This book was cute and light!

This book was Crazy Rich Asians meets Oceans 11- but better. I loved the whole thing! I kept wondering how it was going to work out and changing what I was thinking over and over! I loved the characters and the settings!

My thanks for the ARC goes to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House. I'm voluntarily leaving a review with my thoughts.

Genre: Women's Fiction, Asian Literature, Romance, Chinese Literature
Spice Level: Medium (fade to black)
Language: Medium (some swearing but scattered)

What a surprise! *WOMEN OF GOOD FORTUNE* threw me into Shanghai and the best friends' lives in the best way.

Lulu: The reluctant bride. She's essentially been bartered off by her family to a wealthy family so she can give her parents money. Lulu doesn't even know why her fiancé has chosen her after such a short dating period. She's not in love. But that's never been the question.

Rina: A career woman. She grew up in America but returned to Shanghai after her mother's health scare. Even with working ridiculous hours, she gets passed over for promotion because she's a woman. She also wants kids, but how when she doesn't have time to breathe.

Jane: The stay-at-home wife. Her husband married her for the promised apartment in Shanghai, not for love and certainly not for her beauty. She's grown up believing that she's ugly and desperately wants a divorce and money for plastic surgery. Her ugliness is actually inside.

These women pull together a team for a heist—it's got an *Ocean's Eleven* vibe—because the money from the wedding will solve all their problems. I've also getting *Crazy Rich Asians* vibes from the ultra-wealthy angle and disapproving mother. It's a fascinating combination and deals with problems all women experience. Disappointment, jobs, family, expectations, fertility, and getting stretched.

As they prepare for the big day, each one is changing. I didn't know if I should root for them to pull it off or pull out. But I wanted all of these women to find happiness. And I loved the ending! Well, it's a little bitter-sweet, but I think that's what makes it work. If the author was here, I'd applaud. This book deserves an award.

Yes! I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

⊹ 🏮 𓏲࣪ 3 stars ★ 𓄹 ࣪ .
⤿ no spoilers

this was so fun what the heck omg. vengeful women planning a heist and asian girls supporting girls <3

Lulu and her two best friends, Jane and Rina, are frustrated with their lives and fed up with how society treats women. Lulu comes from a poor family who expects her to marry a wealthy man to provide for her family so she has no choice but to accept when one of Shanghai's most eligible bachelors surprises her with a proposal. The three friends are convinced that money will solve their problems so they come up with a crazy plan to save Lulu from a loveless marriage and make all of their dreams come true by stealing the red envelopes stuffed with cash gifts at her high society Shanghai wedding ceremony.

A mostly lighthearted heist novel but also a story of female friendship with a couple of romance side plots. I loved the Shanghai setting and the author also tackles some more serious issues about the expectations placed on women by society and their families.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

In Sophie Wan’s debut novel, “Women of Good Fortune,” readers are whisked into the extravagant world of high-society Shanghai, where a reluctant bride, Lulu, and her two best friends, Rina and Jane, concoct a daring plan to secure their financial futures by stealing all the gift money from Lulu’s lavish wedding.

Wan’s narrative paints a vivid picture of societal pressures and the pursuit of wealth, with each character grappling with their own desires and motivations. Lulu, torn between familial expectations and her own autonomy, serves as a poignant reflection of the complexities of modern womanhood. However, while Wan adeptly navigates themes of identity and societal norms, the execution falls short in some areas.

The prose, though occasionally entertaining, suffers from choppiness and moments of ambiguity, particularly with untranslated Chinese expressions, leaving readers feeling disconnected from the narrative. Additionally, the middle of the book drags, testing the reader’s patience and almost prompting abandonment.

Despite these flaws, Wan shines in her portrayal of Asian parental control and the treatment of women in Shanghai’s elite circles. Through sharp observations and poignant descriptions, she exposes the harsh realities faced by her characters, shedding light on the challenges of navigating tradition and modernity.

However, where the novel falters is in its characterization and portrayal of friendships. The bond between Lulu, Rina, and Jane feels contrived at times, lacking the depth and authenticity expected from lifelong friends. Their actions often come across as self-serving, undermining the novel’s exploration of female solidarity.

In conclusion, “Women of Good Fortune” offers glimpses into Shanghai’s opulent world and the struggles of its inhabitants, but falls short of its potential. While Wan’s debut shows promise, it ultimately fails to deliver a cohesive narrative and fully realized characters. Despite its shortcomings, the novel offers moments of enjoyment, particularly in its portrayal of romance and the intricacies of Shanghai’s social hierarchy.

I received a DRC of this book from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read this if you like:
•multiple POVs
•Crazy rich asians
•Oceans 11
•Heist plot

This was a fabulous debut. Three friends create a plan to steal all the wedding money for themselves so they can each reach their own goals. I flew through this engaging book!

Thank you HTP for the eARC!

3.25-3.5 Stars

Lulu and her two dearest friends are utterly exasperated with the way women are perceived and treated by society and their own families. They believe that women are not given the respect and recognition they deserve and are tired of being pushed around. As a result, they hatch a daring plan to steal all the cash gifts at Lulu's upcoming wedding. With the money, they each can take control of their lives and enjoy the financial independence they had been seeking. The trio has been meticulously planning their heist for weeks. The question now is, will their preparations pay off? Will they be able to execute the heist with precision and get away with the stolen money?

This was a fun and entertaining story that also highlighted how women are treated and the involvement of Asian parents in their children's lives. The story also showed how this involvement can sometimes become overwhelming. However, I felt that the story lacked a bit of oomph. Nonetheless, it was still a good read.

***Thank you to NetGalley, Sophie Wan, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for graciously sending me the ebook to review. As always, all thoughts are my own.***

Fun, friends and romance. Can't ask for much more.
Lulu, Rina and Jane need money to do the things that they think will bring them happiness. They have a plan to steal millions but what will they lose to gain the money?
I really enjoyed reading this book. A few things were predictable but the story was entertaining to see how the plot got from A to B. Mei was a fun side character.
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an ARC of this book.

A sweet story about friendship and female agency with a high stakes heist and lavish wedding at its center, Women of Good Fortune is a great read (with such a fun cover!)! I loved the way this story combined the fun of a heist story with a wider conversation on the expectations placed on Chinese women to get married and the social dynamics they must manage with that. I loved the friendship between Lulu, Jane and Rina and the way the story honored each of their own complicated inner journeys, giving them a true sense of agency and emotional accountability that made for a richer story. This one is great for those looking for a friendship-centered story with a dash of clever hijinks involved. Enjoy!

**Many thanks to the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is such a blast! Set at a Crazy Rich Asians-style wedding, Women of Good Fortune follows three best friends, each believing that money will be the key to their happiness, as they plan a heist to rob the wedding. While the book is lighthearted and fun, it doesn’t back away from exploring societal expectations of women and themes of filial piety. A great caper all around!

🦇 Women of Good Fortune Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD If you could pull off a heist, what would you steal? ❓

🦇 Lulu, Rina, and Jane have long considered themselves The Leftovers; non-married women considered far past their prime by Shanghai’s society. Now luxury-focused Jane is trapped in a loveless marriage, career-dedicated Rina keeps getting passed over for promotion, and Lulu is engaged to Shangai's most eligible bachelor. Lulu's wedding is their golden opportunity to get what they've always wanted: freedom from the standards and expectations that have trapped them for too long. The cash gifts from Lulu's wedding could transform their lives...IF they can get away with it.

💜 Sophie Wan's debut novel is a stunning study of how society treats women--and the hoops they need to jump through to make a life of their own. Each woman has her own distinct motivations and own clever voice. The real focus of the story is the found family these women built between them, their friendship stronger than the strain society's expectations set on their shoulders. Wan explores a number of important themes, including sexism, beauty standards, classism, and the weight of familial standards. While the romances in this story aren't the main focus, Rina and Vic's enemies-to-lovers sub-plot is the primary source of humor and entertainment. Each women grew to reconsider their primary motivations, leaving us with beautiful character development.

💙 For a heist story, this novel is all tell and very little show. The lack of descriptions or layered character-building makes the story dry and distant. The women only have one primary focus each, making them very one-dimensional and unrealistic when they could have been layered, diverse characters. We're given very little time to connect with them on any emotional level, making it difficult for us to root for their success. The pacing drags as the story establishes each character's world, stressors, and motivations when a heist story should feel action-packed and fast-paced. I love stories that delve into different cultures and provide us with an intimate look into someone else's point of view, but most of the cultural details are rushed through, as if readers would already understand them. I wanted so much more from a diverse, women-centric heist story.

🦇 Recommended to fans of Ocean's 11 and Crazy Rich Asians.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🧧 Heist Story
🧧 Sisterhood/Female Friendship
🧧 Chinese Culture Rep
🧧 Multiple POVs
🧧 Debut Author
🧧 Wedding Story

🦇 Major thanks to the author and publisher for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

💬 Quotes
❝ It's helped me to see how much we let the people around us inflate our views of something that might be objectively worthless. ❞

❝ "Purpose is something you choose. You can't rely on others to give it to you. ❞

This book offers the reader a wild ride through friendship, romantic relationships and a big hoist with twists and turns.
Lulu finds herself engaged and ready to be married to a man she’s not sure she loves. Shes so used to following along and not so used to determining what she wants. Her two friend Rina and Jane are also struggling with their own wants versus expectations in life. They design a seemingly prefect heist over hotpot dinners and invite a counterfeiter and a getaway teen driver into their scam. The book is a good escape read however the underpinning theme of cultural and societal expectations keep the novel from becoming too light. Themes like capitalism, paternalism and equity in the workplace are highlighted for the reader’s attention. Overall a good, engaging read that held my attention. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4. I’m looking forward to reading other books this author will write. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced reader copy.

(Will post review to Indigo/Chapters and Amazon once I’m able to once book releases).

⭐️ 3.5/5 stars!
😢 tears were had (happy, touching)

GENRE: contemporary fiction with some romance - as others have said, this book is for lovers of Ocean’s Eleven, Crazy Rich Asians, and Bridesmaids (also felt a bit like The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants re: friendships and growth)

SUMMARY: “Set against a high-society Shanghai wedding, a heartfelt, funny, dazzling novel about a reluctant bride and her two best friends, each with their own motives and fed up with the way society treats women, who forge a plan to steal all the gift money on the big day.”

Received as an ARC in exchange for an honest review - all thoughts are my own. Thank you Sophie Wan, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley!

🍑 PEACHES & PITS (likes and dislikes) 🍑

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD

peaches:
- ugh the sisterhood of female friendship and growth experienced by all characters by the end of the book brought a literal tear to my eye
- always down for a heist!!!
- the twists and turns were fun and most were unexpected/unpredictable
- thankful that each of the characters got their own version of a resolution 💖
- Chinese culture representation!!

pits:
- my ARC copy’s formatting made it sometimes quite challenging to feel like I could read with good flow (missed spacing on words, no formal chapter divisions/sections, etc.)
- plot was quite slow to start and so it was a bit of a challenge to keep coming back to initially, but im so glad I stuck around til the end (the last 35% is where it picks up imo)
- the villians were villian-ing hard - F*** THESE PARENTS (except for Rina’s)

✏️ ANNOTATIONS & SPARKLE TEXT ✏️
> “I’ve been wondering lately,” Vic says, ignoring her, “How things could be different if I could see the world with someone by my side. If home, for me, is a person.” 🥰
> It’s uncreative of her to steal someone else’s dream, but she thinks that Wu Laoshi wouldn’t have minded *this* theft. After all, it has set her free. 🌻

This is so good!!!! I love the premise so much, like Oceans Eight, and all of characters are so well-developed. I loooved all the lavish descriptions of all the food, the clothes, the locations etc., and it makes me want this to be developed into a movie so badly. The way the heist plan caused their relationships to be strained is realistic and I liked that, that things didn’t work out easily. The resolution was clever and the ending made me cry. It felt super satisfying!

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC in exchange for my review!

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Unfortunately I DNFed. The plot was interesting but where I was struggling were multiple characters - I felt I had to take notes. This absolutely could be a timing thing with me given my recent slump. I’m excited to see what others think so I can determine if I will pick up again.

Great book. I love when friends are included in life events. Fun is bound to happen as well as drama! Great book.