I found this book to be very entertaining. The characters were very distinctive and intriguing. The plot was relatively predictable but the execution of it was so good that I didn’t mind. I still found myself eagerly reading in because I was desperate to see what would happen next. Nice book with a solid and thought out story.

Lulu has always been taught that money is the ticket to a good life. So, when Shanghai’s most eligible bachelor surprises her with a proposal, the only acceptable answer is yes, even if the voice inside her head is saying no. His family’s fortune would solve all her parents’ financial woes, but Lulu isn’t in love or ready for marriage.

The only people she can confide in are her two best friends: career-minded Rina, who is tired of being passed over for promotion as her biological clock ticks away; and Jane, a sharp-tongued, luxury-chasing housewife desperate to divorce her husband and trade up. Each of them desires something different: freedom, time, beauty. None of them can get it without money.

Lulu’s wedding is their golden opportunity. The social event of the season, it means more than enough cash gifts to transform the women’s lives. To steal the money on the big day, all they’ll need is a trustworthy crew and a brilliant plan. But as the plot grows increasingly complicated and relationships are caught in the cross fire, the women are forced to face that having it all might come at a steep price…

This was a quick, fun read! I love reading stories about friendships, especially set in cultures different from my own. Lulu, Rina, and Jane are BFFs, but they all want different things from life. Excellent commentary on the importance of money in our lives, and the pursuit of what we want at all costs. I definitely recommend this if you enjoy books about women friendships!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced digital reader's copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a hard one to rate. Loved the idea of it-like a female Ocean's Eleven that takes place in China, with wedding money as the heist. I loved the insight into the plight of women and their role in marriage in that country, and I also valued the power of women working together to help build each other up. There's also the beloved enemies to lovers trope woven in there, which is always a bonus! Unfortunately, the pacing was a bit off and I felt like it could have used a bit more comedic relief.

The best way to describe this is to day this to say it’s like crazy rich asians meet Oceans 11. It is a lighthearted read that is fast-paced. However, the storyline itself is not for me. I’m sure this is something a lot of people would like since I appear to be in the minority so it really could just be me. I think it was a little bit shallow/

This is very interesting book about how young women this Was a little hard to follow in places.! Remember the cultural difference of China and USA.

This cover, this title - amazing. I finished this book in one day!

Vic and Rina as frenemies ugh, their chemistry was so good. Honestly I would read a romance book about just the two of them.

Of course, these women were way more than their romantic interests. I loved the messages of female empowerment, the realness of railing against society's standards, and especially the complexities of living with older generations’ familial expectations. These themes came through really clearly, and relatably. Rina, working out of her mind, yet still being passed over for younger men in the business. Lulu, trying so hard to please everyone in her life except herself. Jane, facing insecurities about her looks and status.

The group's regular Hotpot Palace meetings were literally *chef’s kiss* (though certainly not those food specials iykyk). It was the perfect lighthearted meeting place that was so comforting in its consistent appearances. These women's struggles and relationships were pretty thoroughly developed all the way through the end. I liked the pace and size of chapters, but struggled a bit jumping into things at the beginning. I couldn't keep all the women's names, stories, and perspectives straight. It took a long time for me to wholeheartedly root for them as I wasn't immediately convinced they were worth rooting for. Sometimes I was just too sad by everyone's unhappiness, so those moments dragged on for me. Jane as a character was a hard sell for me initially, but through Lulu's eyes and just as a getting-shit-done person, I ended up really loving her. In hindsight, I see what led to Lulu's big breakdown, but I was kinda blindsided by it, and didn't really see her specific resentments until she spoke about it with her friends. The heist in the last third definitely had me on my toes. I did not expect what ultimately happened, but I liked it. By the end I had become so emotionally invested, I was heartbroken by the inevitable fallout. Really still feeling the reverberations of everyone's stories, and those HEA's.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the early copy :)

3/5 I'm not sure what to make of this book. It was slow and also fast. Romance but also heist? The romance wasnt romantic enough, the self discovery a bit superficial, the heist a bit lacking st moments. I enjoyed it but also it lacked something which unhelpfully I cannot put my finger on. Really interesting topics and plot and idea. But the execution might miss a bit for me.

Breezy, enjoyable read that pulls off the heist angle more successfully than I expected (maybe I’m still traumatized by portait of a thief). The book highlights social issues women in China (and worldwide) face and I enjoyed the Shanghai setting. I wish these women felt more like actual friends (which the book at least does comment on)

✰ 4.5 stars! ✰
The more I read, the more I got absorbed into this book. It was a very enjoyable read.

The characters: I liked how each of the three best friends got their own POV chapters and their stories got the chance to be told. The characters all felt real, which made it easier to connect with them. I think my favourite characters were definitely Rina and Mei.

The relationships: The familial, platonic, and romantic relationships were well-written and complex. The decisions the characters made, their thoughts, and the cultural aspect of it were all realistic.

The issues tackled: Loved the exploration of cultural expectations and gender roles.

The heist: It was exciting to read about the actual heist being pulled off. Close calls, decoys, tension, and more!

The ending: I really loved how everything tied up, and I couldn't have imagined a better ending.

I did feel like the heist planning took up a lot of the novel, but I also liked that it gave more time for character/relationship progression.

Overall, this was a fun read that I would pick up whenever I had spare time.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review

4*

Women of Good Fortune is a lighthearted read that is perfect for fans of Crazy Rich Asians. I loved the dynamic of friends Lulu, Jane, and Rina, and the concept of the heist was really intriguing.

I loved that this book handled the cultural narrative as well as strong women with distinct personalities who face constant discrimination, familiar familial struggles, as well as love and laughter. Though this book starts a little slowly, it's worth the pursuit as the characters grow and their stories evolve.

Sophie Wan's Women of Good Fortune can be described as Crazy Rich Asians meets Oceans 8 - I loved this! The plot kept me engaged and turning page after page. I wasn't a huge fan of the three main characters, but it almost made it more interesting to read as I watched their characters develop! This was a solid read - I will definitely be reading whatever Sophie dreams up next!!

This story has a well-paced plot and characters that are riveting and captivated me as I read. I was happy to receive this ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review. I look forward to more from this author.

I was a bit disappointed by this one. It was very slow to start, and even once the story picked up with the more thrilling element to the plot, I didn't find myself caring about any of the characters. I also found the concept overall to be unbelievable based on who the characters were and what they were trying to achieve. I can appreciate what the author was trying to do here, but unfortunately it wouldn't be a personal recommendation.

This story took me forever to get into. Each of the characters were so dislikable that I had to force myself to keep reading. And if I hadn't requested it as an ARC I might have stopped reading it.

But I'm so glad I didn't.

They each grew throughout the novel and they also made their way into my heart and as the plot got more and more convoluted, I was so invested in each of them and in finding out what happens. I loved the way the story came together and I laughed and I cried and I cheered.

I'm so glad I didn't give up on this one.

with gratitude to netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

This book was fun, Crazy Rich Asians meets a heist. Jane, Lulu and Rina are all very different personality wise and not happy with where their lives are heading. Lulu engaged to Harv even though she really doesn’t want to sees the wedding as an opportunity to get them all out of their current living situations. Heist planning and wedding planning over the course of 8 months, the target, a safe full of red envelopes. I loved seeing the growth in the three friends individually especially Jane and Rina, even Harv. Mei was probably my favorite.

ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange of an honest review.

This book was a fun, quick heist read and honestly what's not to like about that. Strangely enough where this book thrives is outside the heist plot, and when it focuses on the relationships between the three women. Their development separately and together was b y far the highlight of the book. My favourite dynamic is with Rina and her personal as well as romantic plotline. Unfortunately I feel some of the heist moments were sped through, and lacked the tension that I prefer present during this high stakes plot. They weren't necessarily bad, they just didn't hold my interest as much as other aspects of the book did.
Overall it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend more to a person looking for a book centered on female relationships and dynamics rather than someone looking for a crazy heist plot.

A well plotted heist with sufficient detail and twists ✅. A believable narrative about female insecurities and female friendships ✅ A bit of sweet love story that is not cloying ✅. Altogether those checks made for a very satisfying time spent with these characters and, as a bonus, the non Asian reader is given a glimpse of another culture in faraway world.

A heist takes place amid a high society Shanghai wedding - bit of a slow start for me but got hooked and ended up enjoying this read! Developed and dynamic characters, high quality ending with a twist, and detailed Chinese culture - what more do you need?!

I stopped after chapter 2 (3%) but the writing wasn’t working for me. It was third person present, and it just feels so jarring. It’s like, who is this random narrator who happens to be watching every move in real time? Maybe as I continue to be exposed to it, it will feel less odd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC.

Classic strong female friendship novel. Loved the fast paced and easy read. Multiple relationships and voices meets fast paced criminal heist. Wasn’t my favorite but it was an easy read and probably would’ve enjoyed it more if it wasn’t set in a different country.