"The Monstrous Misses Mai" was a quick read for me. The writing flowed well, the plot was fun, and I liked the characters. I actually liked everything except the last 10%: at this point the story somewhat lost me and I think the ending tied everything up a little too neatly.

This was really interesting and I liked the cultural references. The writing was very beautiful and the whole thing felt very vivid.

The Monstrous Miss Mai is a time period piece with a subtle magic system ; it is about a young woman named Cordi who has a falling out with her family. She decides to take the next step in her life and move out of her family's home. While searching for a new job her application to a nice apartment gets accepted.
With the new apartment comes a few lady tenants who become her friends & they also happen to share the same middle name. Mai.

A mutual acquaintance of the friends approaches them about getting things they most desire such as money or job promotions, however....there is a catch. To obtain these things they have to do things the magic way, perhaps illegally. 

Once decided and things are in place Cordi and her friends reap the benefits but it comes at an unexpected cost. As the story takes a turn for the worst Cordi is desperate to make things right even if it cost her everything.

The Monstrous Miss Mai in it's own way reminded me of the book Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants but I much preferred Cordi's story. 

I really appreciated that the author didn't cover up what it was like and probably still like for someone not Caucasian to be job and apartment searching . The touches of Asain culture while also presenting an enjoyable story.

Audrey and Cordi are my favorite friends of the Mai group. I would love for this to turn into a small series. I can't stop thinking about the friend who made a terrible choice towards the end.  I'd love to see how the aftermath of her choice affected how she perceives things and makes choices after the book ends.

Even though The Monstrous Miss Mai is listed under adult it read similarly to Young adult/ New adult. There is romance but it's minor and very sweet, loved it.

The chapters flowed well together and I never got bored once. I enjoyed the subtle magic system and was so happy with who showed up to help Cordi.

Overall this was a great read and I highly recommend it.

Parts of this book are set in LA Chinatown, a neighborhood that was once livelier than it is now. All of the women that rent apartments in this cheap loft have the middle name Mai, and I'm still not sure why. I thought there would be more discussions about race and gender, as this is set in the 1950s, and our main Mai, Cordi, is a Vietnamese American woman. The magic element feels very after the fact until the last 1/3 of the book. The nickname Silly has me reeling every time. My advice? Drop Tessa.

"The Monstrous Misses Mai" by Van Hoang is a spellbinding novel set in 1959 Los Angeles, exploring the dark and fantastical side of the city through the eyes of Cordelia Mai Yin, an aspiring fashion designer. The story weaves together themes of ambition, friendship, and the cost of making dreams come true.

Cordi, a first-generation child of Vietnamese immigrants, faces the challenges of being an outsider in a city filled with opportunities. When she rents a loft in an old apartment building, she discovers a sense of belonging with three other women, Tessa, Audrey, and Silly, who share the same middle name. Together, they navigate the struggles of life, dreaming of a better future.

The plot takes an intriguing turn when a charming acquaintance offers to fulfill their every dream through a bit of magic and a small sacrifice. As the characters' wishes grow, so does the price they must pay. Cordi, in particular, must come to grips with her own power and make choices that could either lead to her liberation or cost her everything she has worked for.

The novel beautifully blends the historical setting of 1950s Los Angeles with elements of fantasy and magic. The characters' diverse backgrounds and shared dreams create a rich tapestry of experiences, while the overarching theme of the cost of achieving one's desires adds depth and complexity to the narrative.

Van Hoang's storytelling is enchanting, drawing readers into a world where the boundaries between reality and magic blur. The exploration of friendship, ambition, and the sacrifices individuals are willing to make for their dreams makes "The Monstrous Misses Mai" a compelling and thought-provoking read.

A determined young woman in 1950s Los Angeles walks a darker city than she ever imagined in a spellbinding novel about the power to make dreams come true―whatever the sacrifice.

Beautifully written, I couldn't put it down.

What a compelling story this was and what a journey Cordi and the other Mais have gone through (and in turn so did I). I love the setting of the story and the themes the book set out to explored. Some things I wish we were able to dive in a bit more but other than that I thought that Van Hoang did a spectacular job here and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work in the future.

This book should be on EVERYONE’S most anticipated reads of 2024!

“What is success anyway, but privilege disguised as opportunity?”

This is the question a group of young women in 1959 LA are hungry to explore in this captivating, shocking fantasy novel by Van Hoang.
Four girls. Tessa, the aspiring model. Silly, the eager internship candidate. Audrey, the loner artist. And Cordi, the hopeful clothing designer seeking found family and acceptance.
One dream. Success.
But what are they willing to sacrifice for their dreams to come true?

Can Hoang delivers a thoughtful work of art with The Monstrous Misses Mai. This novel surprised me in the best ways and deserved every single one of the 5 stars I gave it.

Characters:
The four women in this story were written so well that it was impossible not to connect with each of them, even when I didn’t like their actions.
It was so easy to sink into each character’s personality; each of them being a fully-formed person. It was easy to learn what made each girl unique and their dialogue and actions matched this throughout.

Environment:
Hoang very carefully crafted this version of 1959 LA and it paid off. The writing, from beginning to end, maintains description that fully immerses the reader into the setting without being too dense or boring.
I had a clear idea of what the girls’ apartment looked like as well as the areas they frequented.

Magic System:
Magic is always tricky for me. I always go into a fantasy novel somewhat skeptical at the seemingly painless magic systems that are usually included.
The Monstrous Misses Mai, however, was a breath of relief. This is magic with real cost and dire consequences. I enjoyed learning about the magic used in the book and my only wish was that we could have gotten just a bit more information about how the magic at the end of the book works.

Overall, I was absolutely enchanted by this book from beginning to end and I CANNOT WAIT to have a physical copy of this in my hands. The Monstrous Misses Mai comes out April 2024.

*Huge thanks to Van Hoang, 47North, and Netgalley for providing the ARC of The Monstrous Misses Mai in e-book format*

I am hooked. Seriously. The book covers a young woman in 1950s Los Angeles. The way the writing is written is very much in my style of interest and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was left pondering my existence by the end.