I tried with this book, but unfortunately it just wasn’t for me. The writing felt really self-conscious, using words such as pulchritude.

Lots of others have loved this, so I’m sure it’s a case of ‘It’s not you, it’s me’

A great read about a woman's strength and determination. There can't be many who don't know about China's one child policy and the devastating effect this had on families. Top notch

Two different women and one child. Heartwrenching and also truthful in its telling. I cannot imagine living under China's one child policy and here it is explored in its cruelty and the longing of the mothers.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

A decent if somewhat underwhelming story of two women, one Chinese, illegally entering the US in search of her daughter who was put up for adoption at birth, and the other a successful New Yorker with a high powered job in publishing and an adopted Chinese child.

This one was a little frustrating. There was a lot to like about the story but there was also a lot to dislike. For one the book dragged for long parts and was quite repetitive. Told from both points of view of the two women, there’s large parts of the American woman’s narrative about her job and deadlines and wooing clients that really lead nowhere and was irrelevant to the overall story.

The Chinese woman kind of has a love interest in the form of a childhood friend that she bumps into NY and spends plenty of chapters thinking she loves him, then decides she can’t let him get in the way of her search for her daughter. Fine if it happens once but it seems to happen every time they meet(which is often).

Both women I found quite unlikeable so it was hard to have empathy with either of them which didn’t help with trying to connect with the story. Also the ending felt rushed and clumsily Shakespearean in its execution.

Despite these misgivings there are some really engaging chapters that fly by. There’s a rather obvious reveal but it does up the tension and move the story along.

Overall a slightly frustrating read. Lots of promise and at times panache, but also plenty of issues that were hard to ignore for this reader at least.

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.

The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok.
A moving read as Jasmine Yang who learns that her husband adopted her baby at birth is determined to find her child. This was a moving read. I did admire Jasmine. 5*.

A fantastic compelling read , it really tugs at the heart strings. Jaw dropping twists I thoroughly enjoyed this book .

I thoroughly enjoyed this read, as I have done with all that I’ve read from Jean Kwok. This story really got to me, it pull at my heartstrings, caused me to almost shed a tear on more than one occasion. To do what feels right, or what is right- which path should be followed, which will win out? That was the dilemma. I highly recommend this read!!!

When Jasmine discovers that the daughter she believed to be dead was actually adopted by an American family, she leaves China in search of her child.

I loved this brilliant book that was the perfect combination of family drama and mystery.

The story is told from the perspective of Jasmine and also Rebecca, the adoptive mother of Jasmine's child. There was such a huge contrast between the women in terms of their backgrounds, cultures and lifestyles which worked so well with the plot.

There were many themes touched upon in the story, from the choice that women face between their careers and families, to domestic violence. These were all threaded together perfectly to form such a heartbreaking story. I found it particularly harrowing how the events in the book stemmed from China's one-child policy and the knock-on effects it can have.

The jaw-dropping twists in this book make it a must-read for everyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Viper Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The Leftover Woman
by Jean Kwok

With it's themes of cultural identity, illegal immigration, China's One child policy, domestic abuse and cross cultural adoption this novel has important issues to highlight. I was particularly interested in the contrasts between Jasmine's life of privilege in China and what was hidden behind closed doors, against Rebecca's privileged life in NY and the tensions that existed behind the veneer.

The author gives plenty of food for thought about the motivations of white people who adopt babies born into other cultures, how their comparative wealth and more liberal lifestyle can offer so much to a child, but how much that subtracts from the child's cultural identity.

I'm sure I'm not supposed to, but I feel a bit sorry for the way Rebecca was being portrayed. It's so clear she loves her daughter wholeheartedly, but is she being working-mother shamed by the narrative? If I were an adoptive mother I think I would be offended by the polemic characterisation.

I found this story difficult to get into. I know the author was creating context for the thriller aspect of the book, but the set up felt drawn out. The clues she drops in which lead to the various reveals aren't subtle, which left me feeling more relieved to be getting on with the plot, than thrilled by the twists.

I think that this would appeal more to thriller or mystery lovers that are looking for a bit more heft to their reading, rather than readers who don't need a whole lot of plot to appreciate a story. If anything I feel that the twists and suspense detract from my enjoyment because the pacing is off and the characters rely somewhat on stereotypes.

I could see this novel as a mini series as it has elements of the "Big, Little Lies" flavour, and it also reminds me of what Angie Kim does with blending a raising of awareness with a suspenseful plot.

Publication Date: 2nd November 2023
Thanks to #NetGalley and #serpentstailbooks for the egalley

#bookreview #irishbookstagram #theleftoverwoman #jeankwok #suspensebooks

This was a compelling read following Jasmine as she arrives in America to find her daughter, who has been given up for her adoption by her Father due to his desire for a son amidst China's one child policy. Meanwhile, Rebecca Fiona's adoptive mother struggles to balance her career with motherhood and maintain her marriage. This was a fantastic novel, beautifully written, thought-provoking, and poignant with great characterisation. The story was told through the dual narrative of Jasmine and Rebecca, which was particularly effective and was well paced with a gripping finale. Overall, this was a fantastic read, and I loved having the opportunity to read this book. It certainly won't be the last book I read by this author! Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this brilliant read.

Thanks to #netgalley and publishers for arc
This novel tells the story of Chinese women and the harsh one child policy that used to apply in China, Rebecca is married to Brandon but they are unable to conceive a baby he then attaches a private adoption from china of a newborn baby girl from an orphanage Rebecca is delighted and falls in love with the little girl they name Fiona or Fi-Fi for short.
Brandon arranges for her to have a Chinese speaking live in nanny as after a few months it becomes apparent they cannot look after a child and run the household and work their high powered jobs, her name is Lucy and she is a dumpy looking thing so Rebecca has no worries about Brandon falling in love with her!
Then the story twists and turns and Fiona’s real mum turns up she had been told her daughter had died and had been distraught at the time to find out she was alive and happy was amazing
Then Fiona’s father turns up but he wants his family back much to Rebecca, Brandon and Lucy’s horror ( he had been violently cruel to Lucy and she had used any means possible to escape him) they were all tied together in a terrible tragedy until Wen (Lucy husband) pulls out a gun
Then the room goes silent
Who will get out
Are these women really as downtrodden as they used to be, Lucy has been doing self defence classes secretly maybe now is the time to use them but how?

Yet another good book by Jean Kwok, a real pull-at-the-heartstrings kind of book.

Emotional, versus right, 1 child but 2 mothers, can it work? An interesting read for a winter's night.

tbh i thought the prose in this was like really astonishingly clunky and the reveal of information was obvious ... not really any suspense or momentum and nothing interesting enough to really latch me in

"The Leftover Woman" is a powerful narrative that weaves together the lives of two vastly different women, Jasmine Yang and Rebecca Whitney, highlighting themes of motherhood, love, cultural disparities, and the challenges women face in their pursuit of identity and freedom.

Jasmine Yang is a Chinese immigrant who has recently arrived in New York City, seeking refuge from her tumultuous past, particularly her oppressive marriage. Her primary objective is to search for the child taken from her at birth. Living in the United States without proper documentation and under the shadow of snakeheads, she must navigate her new life while facing the possibility of her husband, Wen, tracking her down. Jasmine's life starkly contrasts with that of Rebecca Whitney, the editor-in-chief at a prestigious publishing house who hails from a wealthy and prestigious family. On the surface, Rebecca seems to have it all, but appearances can be deceiving.

Jean Kwok's remarkable character development is the standout feature of the book. She presents Jasmine and Rebecca as two central characters, each struggling to survive but in profoundly different ways. Both characters have intricate and compelling backstories, gradually revealed throughout the narrative. Jasmine's story is particularly powerful as she grapples with the weight of being labeled a "leftover woman" in Chinese society, a term that reflects the harsh reality of women who don't conform to societal expectations. Her journey as an immigrant and her encounters with racism in the United States add depth to her character. In contrast, Rebecca's narrative explores her experiences with motherhood, family, and the challenges of balancing a career with the expectations placed on women in society. The story delves into complex topics, including motherhood and adoption, offering multiple layers for readers to explore.

While the novel excels in character development and the exploration of the characters' experiences, there are moments when the pacing can feel slow. The level of suspense is not as high as one might hope for, and the major twist in the story becomes quite predictable. Nevertheless, the book's ending offers an emotional and dramatic conclusion, filled with both poignancy and sadness. Some loose ends may leave readers with questions, and the final fast-forward in time is notably abrupt.

Overall, "The Leftover Woman" is a thought-provoking exploration of love, motherhood, and cultural divides. Jean Kwok's ability to convey the complex lives of her two central characters is commendable. While the narrative may have its slow moments and the twist might be predictable, it still manages to engage readers on a profound level. Jean Kwok's storytelling has left an indelible mark, making her an author worth revisiting.

The story is beautiful and harrowing at the same time. The character Jasmine and her journey in life. Jasmine is trying to make a fresh start after falling pregnant and losing her baby at birth. Moving to America she tries to make ends meet and meets her ex lover who is married. They adopted a baby from China. Gripping story that I couldn’t put down.

Highly recommended read that captures the heart as two very different mothers care for the same child. Well written and great story worthy of five stars.

Full of twists.
Two women`s lives' entwined Jasmine escapes from a controlling husband in China to arrive in New York in search of her daughter that she thought had died at birth but found her husband has sold her.
In New York Rebecca has a powerful job with a loving husband and an adopted Chinese daughter.
A very moving story.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC
Posted to Goodreads

This is a great book, I love the dual narrative and story and timelines.
I felt at times that it was hard hitting and it was a tough read at times but I’m so glad I persevered.

I loved this book. It is told from the perspective of two very different women. Jasmine has left her husband Wen in China, and been smuggled into New York by the Triads. She finds work in a strip club to raise the money to repay her debt. She runs into her childhood friend Anthony but wants to keep her distance from him to avoid Wen finding her.
Rebecca is married to Brandon, and they live a luxurious life with their adopted daughter and her nanny.
As the story progresses, we learn that both women have secrets, and are doing the best they can to keep their lives on track. There's a brilliant twist that I hadn't anticipated. Highly recommended. Thank you for introducing me to this author, I will be reading her previous books.l soon.

Although a bit bit of slow burner, it is well worth sticking with this book. Beautifully written and truly a masterpiece.