A very enjoyable story of best friends working together to carry out a heist hoping for more money, get rich quick. This had an engaging plot set in Shanghai centered around unhappy women who want to get rich quick. Read this if you liked: a set up for a big heist like in Ocean's Eight, asian cultural norms and expectations, family dynamics, and discussions around marriage expectations culturally. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was an enjoyable read. It gave Crazy Rich Asian vibes which I loved. I would definitely recommence this to readers if you are looking for an entertaining read by a great debut author this is it.

Fun plot, but took a little while to get into. At first, it had “Crazy, Rich, Asian vibes”, but once the characters were more developed, it got moving. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fun plot, I enjoyed it. 3.5 stars for sure.

DNF @ 20%. I was so excited to read a lady heist novel, but I just could not get myself to like this one. The three main characters range from deeply unlikeable and unsympathetic (Jane, who is married but unhappy because her husband isn't rich, and she wants to divorce him, get plastic surgery, and trade up) to mediocre at best (Lulu, who is engaged to the eligiblest of eligible bachelors but doesn't want to get married). The two of them, along with their single-on-purpose friend Rina, devise a plan to steal the red envelope money from Lulu's wedding. But I just could not bring myself to root for these characters. So, since I have dubbed 2024 the year of unrepentant DNFing, I'm DNFing this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Graydon House for providing me with an eARC of Women of Good Fortune in exchange for my honest review.

This book was so much fun!!! I absolutely loved all the characters and their journey together and individually!!! This was such a fun story and I really loved the cultural representation! This was such a great story about not being afraid of what you and actually going for it. Also about putting yourself first sometimes. Expectations from family and friends can be so stressful and can make you lose sight of your own purpose when you’re trying to please everyone else. I really liked this story and the overall message! This was just a generally uplifting story! Absolutely recommend!!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

This may have been my first ever heist book and I must say I enjoyed it. Any time I can read a book and get a peak at the customs of another culture I'm happy, mix that in with a plot that keeps me reading we have a winner! Thanks to Sophie Wan I'll be looking up non-intensive heist books

This book had me genuinely in suspense! Rina, Lulu and Jane are a trio of friends that are undergoing some extraordinary circumstances, but somehow the emotions that they feel navigating their descent into further adulthood are easy to relate to. This book was also funny in a way that I didn't expect, and I definitely would read what comes next from Sophie Wan!

Three friends gather together each week to share their frustrations about their lives. Rina is smart and driven but because she is a women, she will not get promoted in her company. Jane is constantly put down by her mother for her looks and end up in an arranged marriage to someone she doesn't really know or love. Lulu is going from beauty shop worker to marrying one of the most eligible bachelors in all of China and she is miserable with the monetary demands put upon her by her poor family and the outrageous demands of her soon-to-be mother-in-law. As the months count down to Lulu's wedding, the three friends hatch a plot which will set them all free from the current restrictions placed upon their lives. But something goes awry with their plot and instead of being free from the families and relationships, they find themselves more entangled than ever. With the three questioning what it is they really want out of life turning a "simple" solution into a much more emotionally involved one.
With characters both sympathetic and dastardly, "Women of Good Fortune" will keep readers turning the pages to find out if the risk these women are taking is really worth it in the end and if it's what they all really wanted after all.

A heist novel that was very fun to read! Fans of Crazy Rich Asians will enjoy the setting and characters, and fans of mysteries will enjoy the heist!

This book was a delight to read. Set in current-day Shanghai, the various perspectives, and the societal standards placed on women in China from all aspects of life, made for a unique story. The heist's
plot was fun, and it was a unique way to explore the potential negatives of wedding culture in China. What kept this story from being 5 stars was how the events post-wedding felt rushed. I would have liked to see more growth and coming together versus a quick two chapters. I also strongly disagreed with how Lulu didn't take responsibility for how her actions affected Harv and the actions he had to take because of Lulu and her friends. Overall a super fun read for any AAPI Readathon or summer vacation!

I'm learning that I really love heist novels and Women of Good Fortune was such a fun adventure! I really loved the three main characters and how they were so unique yet their stories were so familiar. I really appreciated the author's POV as well. It can be hard to remember that what's important and valued in my country may not necessarily be the case elsewhere. Rina fighting her uphill battle at her job and being reminded that it isn't the same in China as it is in the States was the perfect reminder. I did find it hard to sincerely root for all three of the main characters (surely their problems could be solved without stealing and defrauding an annoying albeit innocent family) but I suspended disbelief and enjoyed the fun adventure.

A heist caper novel set around a high end wedding in Shanghai that is, to be honest, a little baffling at times. Lulu's getting married to Harv! Her annoying mother in law to be is running things- so so many things. She's from a farming community and has always sent most of her salary as a hostess home. Her pals Rina and Jane also have money concerns so the idea that there will be lots and lots of cash in red envelopes in a safe at the wedding sets them off on a quest to steal the safe. This is where they lost me. They hire a counterfeiter to make a double of the safe and Rina's niece to drive the getaway car. I had a hard time visualizing the safe itself much less how Michelangelo was going to duplicate it. I wish there had been more back story for each of the women. For example, Jane went to Oxford but there's little else besides the fact that she dislikes her husband and her looks and loves clothes. There's also a second chance enemies to friends romance for Rina that's more engaging than the other relationships. To be fair, I'm not a fan of heist novels and this does have fun Shanghai atmospherics. But I wanted more.

Oh, heck yes! This book came into my life at the perfect time and I absolutely loved it!

Lulu, Jane and Rina are three best friends all dealing with aspects of their lives that they wish were better. Lulu is set to be married into an exceptionally wealthy family. As great as that sounds, she's actually kind of dreading it; she certainly isn't in love. After confessing her fears during a girls night the three friends discover a way to make all of their lives better and Lulu's wedding is the winning ticket. Together they form a heist to steal from high society Shanghai. With an overly involved soon-to-be mother-in-law, top of the line security and hundreds of guests watching their every move will they really be able to pull this off and if so, is it all really worth it?

This was giving Crazy Rich Asians mixed with Ocean's Eleven and I was absolutely LIVING for it. I highly recommend for anyone looking for something juicy, exciting and fun!

Pub. Date: March 5, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC!

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