Lulu and her best friends are over it all. Tired of society treating them like damsels in distress while the guys get all the glory and cash. They believe they deserve better. They're tired of being pushed around by their families too. So, they come up with a plan: Steal all the wedding gifts at Lulu's upcoming wedding. Weeks of planning culminate in the ultimate girls' getaway funded by the clueless patriarchy.

This funny book is about friendship, navigating Asian family expectations, and can you really steal your way to freedom? It's a funny story, with crazy happenings. I loved it!

"Women of Good Fortune" by Sophie Wan is a captivating and empowering novel that celebrates the resilience, strength, and interconnectedness of women. Set against the backdrop of a bustling city, Wan weaves together the stories of three women from different walks of life, each facing their own challenges and triumphs. Through their intersecting narratives, Wan explores themes of friendship, ambition, and the pursuit of happiness in a world filled with obstacles and opportunities.

Wan's characters are vibrant and multi-dimensional, drawing readers into their lives and making them care deeply about their journeys. Whether it's the ambitious career woman striving to break through the glass ceiling, the single mother struggling to make ends meet, or the young entrepreneur chasing her dreams, each woman's story is both relatable and inspiring.

With its compelling storyline, richly drawn characters, and thought-provoking themes, "Women of Good Fortune" is a testament to the strength and resilience of women everywhere. It's a must-read for anyone who appreciates stories of empowerment, sisterhood, and the triumph of the human spirit.

**Thank you to Harlequin for this free digital review copy.**

This was a fun heist novel where a group of women come together to try to improve their lives the only way they know how––making some fast cash. What occurs isn't what they expect, but it does all seem to turn out for the best. I enjoyed watching each characters' growth throughout the novel and the ways their relationships with each other, their significant others, and themselves developed over time. I got fooled at the end, which was a fun twist that I wasn't expecting.

When I started this book, I wasn’t sure I was going to enjoy it, but it was a pleasant surprise. I enjoyed the different personalities of the characters and their relationships with one another. As I read, I kept thinking how great a movie this would make. I recommend for those who enjoy books about heists and different relationships. A big thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced reader’s copy.

Heist stories seem to be en vogue right now, and I am here for it. In fact, intricately planned cons or heists are right in my wheel house at the moment. So when I read that this book was considered Crazy Rich Asians (which I really enjoyed) but with a heist, I was all in. And overall, it was a fun, although not perfect, read.

This book is another look into the masochistic and patriarchal society China still seems to be - where women are inferior and often passed over for opportunities. Their only recourse, often, is to marry well. This book follows three friends - June (unlikable and very superficial - she is married by arraignment, unhappy, and constantly told by family that she's ugly), Rina (career woman who eschews tradition and works herself to the bone only to be passed over again and again for promotion because she's a woman), and LuLu (engaged to the wealthiest bachelor with an insufferable mother-in-law who doesn't think she's worthy because her family isn't rich). These three women conspire together to steal the wedding money at the wedding (supposably 5 million yen) and start new lives. They elicit help from two other women to help carry off their plan.

Throughout the story, we get a look into each characters' lives (told in multiple POVs) and what brought them to make this decision. We also see how they grow and change in the 8 months leading up to the wedding. Here is a run-down of my pros and cons:

Pros - The premise is so cool! Extravagant wedding combined with a heist where women get the upper hand - yes, please! I also enjoyed learning about the Chinese culture, the process of planning such an elaborate wedding, and the all female POVs/cast. I also enjoyed that not all the males were terrible - just also misunderstood and living up to unrealistic parental expectations. The story moved along quickly and I was interested in the outcome.

Cons - The dialogue was very stilted and unrealistic. I actually looked to see if this was translated from Chinese, but it was not. Some of the phrasing was awkward and the conversations seemed to start and stop abruptly. I also didn't find many of the characters redeemable or likable. This could have been because of the surface level introduction we got from each of them. For example, Rina is supposed to be suffering from some sort of reproductive issue but it is never clearly defined or explained. Lulu is required to send basically all her money home to her parents, but that relationship isn't really explored. I think the author is trying to make this story deeper by including these important issues, but doesn't quite do them justice by skimming over them.

I'm not sure if this next bit is a real con, more of a wish - I wanted MORE heist. The planning and explanation was really quite simple and not spent a lot of time on. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Vic and Rina but their backstory was lackluster and we never really got to see them together very often. Overall, the story wasn't overly well-paced - or maybe I just wanted it to be something it wasn't.

I would definitely still recommend this read. Just know it isn't really a heist novel or a romance novel or a Chinese wedding novel... It skims the surface of all three. 3.75 rounded up to 4 for the fun time and easy read.

Lulu, Rina, and Jane dissatisfied with their lives and decide to plan a heist to steal the gifts from Lulu's wedding reception. Overall, a heist that's really about the three friends determining what they want for their lives. As they plan the heist, they end up addressing some of the issues that are making them unhappy and realize some of it wasn't what they thought it was and they could just change it. The characters aren't the most likeable but for the most part you understand where they're coming from and the pressures on them to conform to social and cultural norms.

A story about women empowerment set against the elaborate backdrop of a luxurious Shanghai wedding with thievery and competition a part of the mix the story takes several turns and at times can go off the rails. Loved the women supporting women aspect and the heist as well just wish it was a little more straightforward.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own

Description: 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.

Although I have watched quite a few heist movies and television shows, this novel marks only the second time I have read a heist-centric novel. I liked the premise. I didn't like the characters. I couldn't understand what each of them thought was so miserable about their lives and the men they were with. Not enough payoff for me, I guess.





Publication Date 05/03/24
Goodreads Review 27/03/24

#WomenofGoodFortune #NetGalley

I DNFd this one about 25% in. I wanted to love it but none of the characters were well developed enough for me to want to keep going. I was intrigued by the prospect of the best man and the single friend but not enough to read the entirety of the book. While normally a heist story would keep me going, there wasn’t a promise of pay off and I was dreading picking this up. Ultimately that meant and I had to let it go. Also the formatting was so off it was distracting (not the author’s fault obvi)

I was so excited to read this book. From the synopsis I thought it would bring together Oceans 8 and China Rich Girlfriend by Kevin Kwan. Overall, I was let down. The storyline was good and I was interested throughout. But I did not like any of the characters… But I also didn’t hate them. I just didn’t care if their story worked out or not.

What I enjoyed:
-The storyline/concept. The concept is absolutely amazing. Who doesn’t love a good heist book with women in charge?
-The focus on friendship and personal growth
-The characters are easily distinguishable. They each had their own storyline and background. Which was nice to be able to keep them separate throughout their POVs.
-Learning about traditions/standards in Chinese families through young women’s POVs.
What I did not enjoy:
-The three main characters were not likable. I don’t always need the characters to be likable, but they also weren’t characters that I wanted to hate/dislike. I did dislike Jane throughout most of the book.
-There was so much focus on money and the wedding, and I feel like we didn’t get to see/read about the extravagance.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I received this advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review. This novel was interesting but didn't captivate my attention. I found some of the themes tedious and although I had looked forward to reading it I found it a bit disappointing for me. This will likely be a good bookclub read for various readers.

Lulu has lived her entire life based on her parents' expectations, never her own. When an eligible and wealthy bachelor proposes to her, she has no choice but to accept. Her friends see through it, though, and it isn't long before Jane and Rina are helping Lulu plot to steal her wedding gifts at her elaborate wedding in Shanghai. All three women's lives would be dramatically improved if their relationships were different and they had financial independence. Sophie Wan's story is about what happens when women dream for themselves. The setting is thoroughly described and even side characters bring a lot to the story. I found myself laughing out loud at times. A great read!

I just finished Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan and here are my thoughts.

Lulu doesn’t want to get married but when the most eligible bachelor proposes… It's the answer to your family's money problems. Money makes the world go round and that is all that matters right?
She doesn’t love him and the only people she can tell are her 2 best friends.

Jane and Rina are the people she trusts and when a crazy idea comes to Jane, they could all be free… The amount of money Lulu’s money will bring in gifts is enough to fix all three women's problems. They plan a heist but things will not be easy for any of them.

The idea of an all woman heist? SOLD! It didn’t disappoint either. I could really connect with Rina and I could respect Jane after getting to know her. All three women have something special and the fact they have to work 5 times harder than a man to get the basics of rights is sad and infuriating. You can see why they want to do what they do.

I loved all the heist preparation. I was fully invested in the ins and outs of what they would have to do to get their payday! The book was entertaining as all hell and I actually chuckled a few times during the book. It was beautifully written and so much fun. The friendship between the women was probably my favorite part of the whole book. All so different but all fiercely loyal to each other.

Definitely one of my favorites of the year!

4.5 stars thank you to @netgalley and @harlequinbooks for my gifted copy!

OUT NOWWWWWWW

This book was laugh out loud funny but also had it's very serious moments. This centers around three women as one of them prepares to get married. They are all stuck in different phases of life and not too happy. They decide to pull a big heist at the wedding to make their dreams come true. This was so witty and full of so much heart. I really felt for these women. I loved this book!

Sophie Wan's debut novel “Women of Good Fortune” tells the story of three best friends who plan to steal the cash wedding gifts on Lulu's wedding. I thought some of the writing was a bit clunky, but the story was entertaining. The female friendships were the best part of the novel, although some of it fell into stereotypes that lessened the appeal. It took a little bit for me to get into the story, but then I was entertained by the heist drama.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House.

Rounded up to 3.5 ⭐️

Sophie Wan's debut novel, Women of Good Fortune, is a provocative and entertaining tale centered around a glittering Shanghai wedding, where three best friends—Lulu, Rina, and Jane—plot a daring heist on Lulu's big day in hopes that successfully executed, will change each of their lives for the better.

Disillusioned with love and marriage, Lulu sees the heist as a means to secure a better life. Rina seeks to address her career frustrations, while Jane dreams of divorcing her husband and living luxuriously.

The book's premise is intriguing, and I particularly enjoy the portrayal of strong friendships throughout. It's one of my favorite parts of a novel. The author also included a little romance that suited the book perfectly! It wasn't spicy, but blended perfectly with any future stories she may present us with...one of which I'm particularly excited about!

The characters were well-rounded, and their friendships added certain enjoyable moments to the story. However, I found the occasional "mean girls" elements somewhat uninspiring.

I did also enjoy learning about the places and culture in Shanghai. The portrayal of society's treatment of women in the book was discouraging, although I acknowledge that it isn't the author's fault.

I felt the book lacked a little oomph, but overall it was a quick and fun read.

Thank you so much, NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Graydon House for the opportunity to be granted access to this book!

Women of Good Fortune by Sophie Wan
.
Three best friends plan a heist at a wedding. Lulu, Jane, and Rina would do anything for each other. They each want something that seems unattainable. Can they pull off the heist of their lives and still be friends when it’s all over?
.
What I liked:
-I love heist books, so I was really excited when I realized they were trying to pull off a heist.
-I loved the three girls, and each chapter helped me to understand them. I was rooting for all of them, and also inwardly wincing when they each made their own mistakes.
-The little love stories in this book were so sweet.
-The epilogue was everything I could ever hope for.
.
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This book was a lot of fun and then it smacked me in the face with all the emotions. I loved that.

I loved this story so much!! It's like a heisty Crazy Rich Asians. I loved the strong female friendship representation. The culture present was done well. It sucks you in quick and keeps you on the edge of your seal. It was a very hard read to put down at night. I really enjoyed seeing the growth in all of the characters.

I’ve been on an enjoyable kick reading about Shanghai lately, and this book didn’t let me down. I love learning about other cultures—especially how they are similar and how they are different to the American culture.

The focus of Women of Good Fortune is a high-society wedding that features a reluctant bride and her two best friends. Lulu, the bride-to-be, does not want to marry the man who seems to have it all. Her friend Rina is focused on her career but still wants a baby. And her other friend Jane wants to be more beautiful, divorce her husband, and get a better one. Since none of these women is happy with her lot in life, they conjure up a scheme which will enable them to escape.

With themes about money, family, beauty, marriage, love, and friendship, the book questions the role each of these play in real happiness. As the women plot to steal the wedding money, they are challenged to consider what they really do want and if the plan is indeed the answer to all their problems.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review copy of this debut novel. I’ll be keeping my eye out for more from Sophie Wan.

I really enjoyed parts of this story! I loved the women supporting each other in a culture that makes it difficult for them to succeed outside of their husbands. This became a bit of a revenge story where the women were taking control of their lives which I loved.

I did have a very difficult time getting into the story and connecting with the individual characters. The pacing was very inconsistent throughout. Some parts moved so quickly while others seemed to drag on and on. Overall, this wasn’t really my cup of tea, but there were definitely aspects of it that I enjoyed and I can see why others would enjoy it!