I like this one a lot and learning about this period of history and the Shanghai tunnels and the horrible mistreatment at the hands of the whites against the Chinese immigrants. It was a good book as all hers are
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review book

The Girls of Good Fortune is a historical fiction novel that explores the gritty, dangerous world of the Shanghai Tunnels, the infamous underground network in Portland, Oregon, where people were abducted and forced into servitude on ships. The story centres on a woman, Celia, who wakes up in an underground cell, drugged and disguised—she's been "shanghaied," kidnapped and sold into forced labour.

The novels greatest success is in it's historical context, and McMorris has done a commendable job of depicting the harsh realities faced by the Chinese community in the late 1800s in the USA. The treatment of Chinese workers is a sobering theme that is well-explored, shedding light on the exploitation, racism, and violence they endured during this era. McMorris has successfully weaved this historical backdrop into the plot, and I found this the most compelling aspect of the book.

However, while the historical setting is well-crafted, I felt that Celia was a difficult protagonist to connect with. She was reckless and thoughtless in ways that felt out of step with her situation, the time period, and the dangerous circumstances she finds herself in. Her actions throughout the book often made me cringe, and I found her very hard to empathise with in her plight for freedom. I also found that many of the minor characters were very underdeveloped, and there was an implausibility to some of the plot elements.

Whilst this book does offer a glimpse into a dark chapter of American history, and its portrayal of the exploitation of Chinese immigrants provides a poignant reminder of the struggles faced by marginalized communities. I felt that the characters within the novel were too unrelatable, and I was frustrated by many of their choices; this left the book from reaching its full potential.

Thanks NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC copy of this book in return for my honest review.

Another masterpiece by Kristina McMorris! I felt like I was aboard the ship and was jumping the train. The best storyteller! This story relays historical facts of the mistreatment of the Chinese in the late 1800s-1900s. History is kept alive. I thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book.

Gorgeous, poignant story telling melded seamlessly with a little history lesson.

The Girls of Good Fortune centres around Celia who in 1888 finds herself coming to, wearing a disguise and completely unsure of her location. We move back 3 years with Celia and follow events that lead to her being there, and how she can escape to save herself.

A beautiful piece of historical fiction blending anti-Chinese sentiment, the role of women, resilience and love.

The epilogue felt like a jilting afterthought and as is the sole reason this wasn’t a 5 star read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

“The Girls of Good Fortune” is another great historical novel by Kristina McMorris.

I read a lot of historical fiction, but I have never read a novel that focused on Chinese prejudice in the 19th century in such a poignant and noteworthy manner. Here, we meet Celia who discovers herself as trapped in the Shanghai Tunnels, which is part of a secret network of tunnels beneath the streets of Portland’s waterfront. As history goes, these tunnels were used to kidnap individuals into slave labor including prostitution. Hence, when Celia realizes she is "shanghaied,” she also realizes she must do everything she can to ensure her survival.

I enjoy McMorris’s fiction, not just because of the historical events she portrays, but the deeply memorable characters that she created. This novel is no exception.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and Net Galley for the privilege of reviewing this book.

While I appreciated the history lesson, I found this tale far fetched and bogged down with superfluous descriptions. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this was a great book. It had a lot of information about the time period and it held my interest throughout. Recommended for readers of historical and women’s fiction.

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris weaves a story of the mistreatment of Chinese immigrants in America. A lot of themes were going on, including racial identity and discrimination, prostitution, corruption, and class divisions.
The story all comes together as the author develops the characters.
The underground world of the Shanghai Tunnels was intriguing to me and a very scary reality.
The plot is super involved.
As the story begins, we meet Celia, who becomes a victim of being “shanghaied” and her journey in an underground cell.
Learning about Chinese prejudice and murder in the 1880s West was heartbreaking.
This is historical fiction at its best and I was intrigued and heartbroken.
Thank you to the author for this story and to NetGalley for an electronic ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

“She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don't know the whole story.”
This line really showcases the novel and sets the pace for the little underground world of the Shanghai Tunnels. I don’t want to give away too much of the plot as it is super involved, intriguing and interesting.
1988, We find Celia who is the victim of being “shanghaied” and her journey begins in an underground cell. What will she do to save herself? Can she save herself?
I was soon immersed in her story to survive. Thank you McMorris for always giving us unique stories in Historical Fiction. I cannot wait to get my hands on a physical copy.

A most entertaining and informative novel. I hadn’t read much about the mistreatment of Chinese immigrants in America before. There were a lot of themes going on, including racial identity and discrimination, prostitution, corruption, friendship and class divisions. I liked the way the story all came together in the end, as well as some of the distinctive characters like Marie and Owen. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC to read and review.

The Girls of Good Fortune by new to me author K. McMorris, published by Sourcebooks is a story that stays wih the reader.
I read about the author and was intrigued by her previous books The Ways We Hide and Sold on a Monday.
This historical fiction spans decades and generations. A heartwrenching story of strong heroines tells the story of family and identity.
Blurb: She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don't know the whole story.
Portland, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake.
As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' disaster, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more dangerous than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

1888 Portland...the Chinese were good enough to be brought to the United States, but when it came to staying that ,was another story. Celia, a girl of mixed heritage being (half Chinese, half Caucasian) finds herself disguised as a man, drugged and on the verge of being sent away to forced labor. This story of prejudice, and forbidden romance in an ear that is full of anti-Chinese sentiment was written with the explanation of the importance of identity and family that endures through generations. As she is a maid in a family of wealth and power, she is mostly invisible except to the family's son. Hidden romance, cultural differences and drama take up this novel, making it an interesting read. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest opinion and review.

I really enjoyed this book. I love the themes of family, culture, resilience, hope, and growth that were covered in this book. I think it was very well written, but I do think the middle of the book dragged on a bit from my liking.

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

Kristina McMorris’ story of the Chinese prejudice and murder in the 1880s West was heartbreaking. Thank you for educating me on this history. The strong female lead and her friends made a tough subject readable. I appreciate the ARC from the author and NetGalley.