Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Sophie Wan’s Women of Good Fortune is a heist-driven novel following Lulu and her two best friends, Rina and Jane, as they scheme to steal the gift money on the day of Lulu’s wedding. This is an entertaining and introspective narrative where its characters confront the societal pressures women face in Chinese society, determined to live life on their terms.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This book was fun to read! Think Oceans 11 meets Crazy Rich Asians. Women of Good Fortune is set in the high-society of Shanghai with luxurious social functions and all the drama that comes with it. Lulu is reluctant to marry the man that her parents have arranged for her to marry but his family has a ton of money and this may be the answer to all of her problems. Lulu and her best friends who are fed up with their lives and the way they are treated, forge a plan to pull off the greatest heist of all time. The ending will surprise you!

Thank you to @harpercollins for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. 🙏🏻🩷

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I haven't read many heist books, so that caught my attention. While I enjoyed this one, the pace was slower than I expected. There were a number of characters, and I think I would've preferred fewer side characters so certain plot points could've been explores in more depth. The focus of the story was more on the relationships than the heist. I liked that families and relationships weren't portrayed as perfect. I liked that the story was told from multiple POVs, as well as the strong female characters and setting.

This was such a fun, interesting read. Loved learning about Chinese culture, specifically around classism, misogyny, and family ideals. The characters were funny and infuriating, the heist was ridiculous yet unpredictable and therefore somehow believable. The relationships were complex and the chemistry between Vic and Rina was palpable. That being said, the ending left me wanting more. I think it was too "and they lived happily ever after" for me. Maybe if there was more tension before Rina and Vic got back together, or if Jane and Zihao ended up divorcing, or there was more tension and conflict between Lulu, Harv, and his parents.

This is my first Sophie Wan book and I will definitely be looking for more of her books!

Women of Good Fortune centers around 3 friends living in Shanghai who plot to steal the money gifted to one of the women (Lulu) at her upcoming wedding. The book balances a heist with the story of friendship and personal growth. Each character has her own story and journey throughout the book and I thought the story was informative about the challenges faced by Chinese women. While reading the book, I couldn’t remember how the three women become friends, but I did enjoy the friendship depicted throughout the story. The main plot revolves around Lulu’s wedding and the heist. I’m usually wary of heists in books similar to this as I’ve been underwhelmed in the past, but I think the author did a good job of making it believable and thinking through the challenges the crew would face while trying to pull it off. The twists in the story keep readers engaged until the very end and I like that I wouldn’t have predicted the ending, despite foreshadowing earlier in the story. Overall, I really enjoyed this book (especially for being a debut novel) and would recommend it to others!

4.5/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was nit my cup of tea. Characters seemed to be portrayed superficially. I dropped it shortly in. I was hoping it would be as engaging as Crazy rich Asians but it was not at all

Lulu, Jane and Rina are good friends. They are considered ‘leftovers’ in their society.
Women get this label when they reach a certain age without getting married.
Jane gave in to the society pressure and married the best deal she could get.
Lulu is engaged but hates everything about her situation.
Rina is the only single lady in the group because getting a partner means giving up her career ambition.
They all aren’t happy and will stop at nothing to break free from society expectations.

That was a refreshing read! I enjoyed every chapter of the book. It was a funny read even though it was dealing with sensitive topics. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. The characters felt so real and were so relatable. I felt like I was the fourth invisible friend in the group. The characters development was spot on. I felt the characters growth through the book.

Do I recommend this? Yes, yes and YES!

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

Mix a lavish Shanghai wedding, 3 young women desperate for change, and unruly Mother-in-Law and you have WOMEN OF GOOD FORTUNE. This debut by Sophia Wan explores mother-daughter relationships and the role of class and cultural expectations, all while giving readers a glimpse into the extravagant lifestyle of Shanghai’s elite.

These women were conniving and clever, but each had deep flaws. I was captivated by their planning for the elaborate wedding heist, but was completely won over by the satisfying character growth each of them experienced. I anticipated the ending with eagerness and anxiety but loved how the heist was resolved. I came for the over the top antics, but I stayed for the bonds of female friendship.

READ THIS IF YOU:
-Can’t resist a conniving heist novel
-Are drawn to stories of rich people behaving badly
-Are intrigued by the premise of Crazy Rich Asians meets Oceans 11

RATING: 4/5

Many thanks to NetGalley and HTP books for an electronic ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very easy read about 3 friends planning a heist at one of their weddings. It reminded me of a "Crazy Rich Asians" scenario with all of the Chinese sayings and traditions weaved into the story! I kept reading expecting a little bit more character development, such as more feeling and information about the love story of Lulu and her fiance. It was heartwarming to see how the characters grew throughout the book but it dragged in some points.

Unfortunately this book isn’t for me. I do appreciate the look into Chinese culture and economic disparities. However, the reasons behind the 3 friends planning the heist are not justifiable in my opinion. I feel horrible for all the people giving the wedding gifts, when Lulu knows all along she won’t go through with the wedding. Thank you for the opportunity read and review, and I do wish all the best for the author and the book. I’m
sure there are other readers who will absolutely love it.
DNF at 30%
3 stars for writing quality
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Unfortunately in the state I received this ARC in, the writing was too simplistic / low quality to make this an enjoyable reading experience. The plot is unique and was very promising, but unfortunately the execution was poor in my opinion.

I also found Jane's motivations throughout the book to be completely annoying - I would totally understand and appreciate if she was hoping to earn financial freedom from her husband, but the way the author presents it as she's just hoping to shop til she drops and get plastic surgery was a weird choice in my opinion.

Also, the formatting of this ARC was completely nonexistent. There are no chapter breaks, and chapter titles are just written on the same lines as dialogue. It made for a really frustrating reading experience.

One part Crazy Rich Asians + one part Oceans Eleven = Women of Good Fortune. Lulu is set to marry into a very wealth family. When it comes to weddings and wealth in the Asian culture, the sky is the limit on all things - gifts, flowers, food, entertainment. It is also expected that the guests attending will give cash in HUGE amounts. It is this last part that sparks the idea for Lulu and her best friends, Jane and Rina to steal the money during the wedding celebration. This money will allow Lulu to escape to the US (the final wedding papers not actually signed), Jane to leave her humdrum marriage and Rina, the only single friend to pursue her own dreams.

The only problem is that the money will be in a specially made glass safe in the middle of the reception room. To steal this without being seen and escape with the money before anyone notices will take a bigger team than the three of them.

I did like the insight into the cultural expectations and customs. Having married into an Asian family, I know about much of this first hand. I did not feel a real connection to the plight of the characters. I do understand that the opportunities to create businesses and be seen a something other than a trophy or a handmaid is not to be discounted. I felt most connected/invested with Rina and Vic. I was rooting for them to get out of the own way.

The majority of the book is at a very slow pace as we get to know the characters and as the plan is being developed. Once we move closer to the wedding day, things up to an almost too quick pace. That being said, I see Sophie Wan as an exciting new author who I am confident will continue to produce interesting and exciting works in the future. I look forward to following her continued success!

My thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gifted eARC provided by Harlequin Trade Publishing and Netgalley.

I honestly don’t know what to make of this book. I liked it, but there were some parts of it that I didn’t.

Let me start off by saying I am not Chinese, but this book (from my perspective) gives a very in-depth look at women and men in the culture and how traditions and views impact everything from work to love. I liked the cultural aspects of this and being able to see these problems and situations from Lulu, Jane’s, and Rinas eyes.

This book is one part love story, one part heist, a a story of friendship. It’s a mismatch of things but it works. I like that the three women we follow are different and have different views and goals it helps to really get a rounded look at what it is like to be a woman within the Chinese culture.

The writing in this book was a little choppy, the pacing was too fast at times and then dragged in others. I was most invested in Vic and Rina.

The whole premise of this book is three best friends stealing the wedding gift money from Lulu’s wedding and the months leading up to it. But I don’t know if I can get behind them stealing the money? The reasons didn’t feel justifiable to me? I honestly don’t think they deserved their happily ever afters… it just seemed a little much.

Overall I think it was a fun read, and I loved the look into Chinese culture.

This was an extremely funny, tightly plotted heist story with wonderful characterization. The book is narrated from Lulu, Jane, and Rina's perspectives. All three women read as real and relatable, and all of their journies are inspiring. The side characters are equally entertaining and readers can't help wanting this heist to succeed and for every character to get their happy ending. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys heist stories and is looking for a fast, fun read with representation of the realities of living in modern-day Shanghai and the associayed familial and societal pressures.

This was such a fun concept with a great setting, developed characters, and delightful antics and hijinks along the way!

I enjoyed Women of Good Fortune! Each of the women have something to gain (and something to lose) from this heist taking place at a wedding in Shanghai. I found the writing to be simple and straightforward, easy to read and kept me flipping the pages. However, I didn't find there was much suspense until nearly the end of the book - I wish there was more! Overall, its a great beach read or something that does not require too much focus or deep thinking. I liked it, and would recommend if you're looking for something meaningful yet still light enough! A solid 3.5 or 4 stars.

Women of Good Fortune is like Oceans Eight but set in Shanghai. I really appreciated the accurate depiction of the evolution of female friendships as we get older. Not every friendship remains close or even survives as we grow into who we are. I enjoyed Rina’s storyline the most and Lulu’s the least. I felt bad for agreed with the shitty bridesmaids, but Lulu really was so boring and lacked a personality. Her entire life revolved around providing for her massively ungrateful family and being submissive to everyone around her. I felt like she was meant to be the central character but I didn’t care about her at all sadly. I would’ve enjoyed it more if Lulu had a life outside of the wedding and worrying about her family. That’s why I had to give the book 3.5 stars.

Venturing into 'Women of Good Fortune' was an unexpected delight for me. Set in contemporary Shanghai, the narrative orbits around three interconnected Chinese women, bound by deep friendship. Lulu, on the verge of marrying Harv, nicknamed for his Harvard background, grapples with doubts despite the apparent allure of Harv's opulent family wealth. Meanwhile, Jane navigates the disappointment of a loveless marriage, seeking solace in a drastic solution, and Rina, a diligent worker eyeing a promotion while confronting societal constraints.

The plot unfurls against the backdrop of Lulu's impending extravagant wedding, with the trio hatching a plan to utilize their monetary wedding gifts for personal transformation. Yet, as their lives intersect with unexpected opportunities - Jane reconnects with her spouse, Rina encounters a long-lost classmate - the storyline takes intriguing turns, highlighting the profound impact of these subtle shifts.

Beneath the surface of romance and humor lies a poignant exploration of female camaraderie and individual choices. The novel adeptly tackles themes like balancing familial obligations and career aspirations, navigating relationships for love versus practicality, and challenging societal norms. Sophie Wan skillfully weaves these themes into a narrative that's both entertaining and thought-provoking, maintaining a harmonious pace that blends humor and depth seamlessly.

For aficionados of stories akin to 'Crazy Rich Asians,' 'Women of Good Fortune' is a promising addition to the reading list. Its slated release in March 2024 is highly anticipated, promising an engaging journey into the lives and decisions of these three remarkable women.

I love stories, especially contemporary ones, set in China, and since this one is in Shanghai - a city I spend a lot of time in - I was excited. To be fair, this isn't my usual genre - I'm not such a fan of Harlequin-style romantic novels, but this one was fun. Let's be real - this isn't serious literature, and it doesn't attempt to be. I thought the relationship among the three best friends was honest and real - all the good and the bad. The heist story was a bit of a stretch, and more than a little unrealistic, but ,... who cares. The romance is weak, but, again, who cares. It's a quick read and you can vicariously join Shanghai's wedding of the year. I can definitely see some of my high school girls liking this story and reading it for an independent book project.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, Graydon House for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinions.

Women of Good Furtune by Sophie WAN was a fun heist story that to be honest I was not sure I would be into.
This story follows three best friends who each have their own reasons why they need to come into a big pay day.
I really enjoyed how this shows different aspects of women and the struggles they face depending on their situations. We have the single woman Rina who is career motivated and is being unjustly shot down for promotions. Jane who her whole life is told she is less than and in a marriage she never wanted. And Lulu our bride who is tired of having to put everyone else’s needs before her own.
This was very much Oceans 8 with a splash of Dial A for Aunties. Now the comedy is not like Aunties but I loved seeing the heist from different points of views and of course it does not go to plan. Some things happened exactly how I thought but there were fun twists I didn’t see coming.
Thank you to Net Galley, Sophie Wan, Harlequin Trade Publishing and Graydon House for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.