Received this as a netgalley arc.

This book gives a very real and raw glimpse at the racism faced by the Chinese immigrants.

Pacing felt off at times but the deeper meaning and core to the story was never lost. The material in this book was heavy at times and the end left me wanting more. Hoping for a clearer outcome.

I recommend this book for anyone seeking insight.

Really engaging story about the treatment of Chinese people in Oregon in the late 1800s. Very compelling historical novel. A part of American history that most people probably don't know anything about.
Very good character development. Not everyone who seemed good was and some who didn't seem good initially actually came through.
Another very good book by Kristina McMorris.

This was interesting and emotional historical fiction. I liked the feistiness, compassion and quick-wittedness of the main character throughout the entire story. She had many trials and tribulations and she mostly handled them well.

This covered a lot of ground and touched on subjects that I knew very little about - I always enjoy feeling like I’m learning something along with reading a great story!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

So well written so engrossing an author who I look forward to reading more by.If you enjoy historical fiction a wonderful saga this book is for you.#netgalley #sourcebooks

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advance copy of The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris.
I really enjoyed the first half of this novel, but felt a bit bogged down and bored with the second half. I do question some of the choices the FL made, and the story seemed to jump forward a few times not quite so seamlessly, and the ending felt a bit rushed. Overall, I did enjoy the story and the history it provided. Overall rating 3.5

The story of Chinese-Americans in the United States is often left untold, and works of fiction that explore this facet of history are seldom seen. "The Girls of Good Fortune" constitutes an intriguing offering into this theme. Author Kristina McMorris blends actual history with the story of Celia, a young working-class woman who must navigate an unexpected pregnancy and the tragic death of her father while cloaking her Chinese heritage in late-19th Century Portland, Oregon. The novel depicts some obscure yet harrowing real-life events, namely the Rock Springs Massacre, the Hells Canyon Massacre, and the subsequent trial, which intersect with Celia's story and highlight the themes of identity and racial injustice. If you never learned about these events in history class, McMorris' portrayal of them illuminates the trials and tribulations faced by the earliest Asian Americans.

I have to admit, the choice of title is still somewhat unclear to me, even after reading the complete novel, for Celia's fortunes are not necessarily "good" during pivotal moments of the novel. Without giving too much away, readers are kept in gentle suspense as Celia lands in situations that entail varying degrees of peril as well as overt racism. It makes for a page-turning read punctuated with social messages to give readers pause. I was quite impressed with Celia's characterization: Even though her circumstances were often difficult, and she routinely acknowledged how difficult they were, she maintained a sense of hope that kept her going, along with her love for her daughter and her daughter's father. I found Celia's ability to hold all of these contrary thoughts and emotions simultaneously highly relatable and realistic. The chapters set in Chinatown, on the ship, and on the train inject a sense of adventure into the novel. In all, "The Girls of Good Fortune" is an entertaining, emotional, and thought-provoking read for anyone with an interest in historical fiction about female protagonists.

This book has everything we can imagine. It starts out with c. E! L. A.
In a house as a maid for the mayor. And his family. She falls in love with Stephen who is the son of the mayor. She is Half american And half chinese. This was a hard time in Portland because your father sent her there.Because she had to work As a A servant. And?
Her father worked in the mines in idaho. This was in the eighteen eighties. It was very unsettling times for chinese peopl Her father is killed in a I don't know when they had a massacre over something. She felt like she was all alone. She became.
Pregnant with stephen And this led her to i Crazy.
Adventures. When stephen left to go to medical school in scotland. The mayor threw her out of the house She became pregnant. She told the mayor his son was gonna marry her.. He sent her to live In prostitution house as a Servant. She became friends with one of them ladies on the night. The man was not a very nice man.He had a lot of bad baggage around him. I love story and a mystery already into one. She struggled when she had the baby, but she kept it. She was a very courageous woman for that time. She as I read the book you'll find out more about the massacre and how she dealt with it. There's.
So many great points in this book. Like when she was dressed as a man To find out more a situation with a father and Stephanie as well. This.
Led to her being put on a ship as a sailor and is really rough for her, and this was like a real adventure. She had her wits about it was very hard for her. I know the book is really great too and it's a happy ending

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris is a historical fiction novel due to be published on May 20, 2025.

This story takes place in Portland in the late nineteenth century and includes several historical events that I have not known much about, so I learned quite a bit. It follows Celia who is a housekeeper and all the things she has to go through to protect herself and her family in a world that is not hospitable to an unmarried woman, much less one who has Chinese heritage.

The story is well written and Celia's journey is as harrowing as it is compelling. Even though I found the pacing i a little bit uneven and the characters besides Celia not fleshed out enough, I really had a good experience reading this story and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and learning something new.

Thank you to the author and Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley for allowing me to read this book early in consideration of a review. All opinions are my own.

1880's Portland
Celia finds herself cast out when her fiancee's wealthy parents won't acknowledge their son's involvement with a half Chinese maid. Celia's only hope for herself and her unborn baby is to take a cooking and cleaning job at a bordello but finds her future even more dismal when she is shanghaied and wakes up in the bowels of a ship disguised as a man heading for a work camp away from her daughter. This is due to her uncovering a plot to hide involvement in the massacre of Chinese gold miners. A fascinating and well researched account of gold rush Oregon, anti-Asian hate crimes, underhanded politics, the social stigma of mixed marriages and the famous underground tunnels as well as Celia's harrowing adventures on land and sea. The alternating chapters where Celia wakes on the ship and pieces together what has happened was an interesting approach. Readers of Lisa See and FOUR TREASURES OF THE SKY will enjoy this. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Such a well-written and touching story offering a glimpse into the racism experienced by Chinese immigrants in America in the 1800s. My only complaint was the questionable choices made by the FL in several parts of the story, and the rushed ending — with all the air-time given to a few key side characters, I would prefer to have known how their lives unfolded too. That said, this story still moved me to tears by the end.

I have never read this author before. I enjoyed the book for a while then I begin to get bored. Too many things happened to Celia. I grew tired of reading about her misfortunes.

The Girls of Good Fortune is a historical drama set on the West Coast during the time of the Chinese Exclusion Act. Anti-Chinese sentiment was prevalent, and systemic racism and prejudice were rampant at all levels of society. In a world that seems determined to oppose her, Celia must not only survive as a single, unprotected woman but also strive to preserve her heritage and dignity.

Celia’s mixed heritage allows her to pass as Caucasian in an era characterized by prejudice. This enables her to secure a job with a wealthy family, but it also leads her to fall in love with their son. The family, recognizing the social dilemma, separates the two with an ocean and a web of lies. Left alone and pregnant, Celia is displaced from the only security she knows. As she navigates the dangers of society, she tries to keep her daughter with her while seeking employment. A kidnapping further tears her away from her daughter, and she must find a way to reunite with her. The journey is challenging, but fortune will be on her side.

I appreciated the historical accuracy of this novel and its focus on the prejudice against Asians that persisted for decades, manifested in the form of federal laws and government action. It is crucial to highlight the struggles of minorities during this era and the significant obstacles they had to overcome to simply reside in the United States.

An engrossing piece of historical fiction. It's the late 1800s, and our protagonist Celia works as a maid for a wealthy family. She's in love and hopeful for the future. Unfortunately, her life doesn't work out quite as she had planned, leading to her eventually being shanghaied and having to fight her way back to those she loves. Her life may not be an easy one, but with strength and determination, Celia will hopefully find her happy ending.

I really enjoyed Celia's story. I was immediately sympathetic towards her character. (I'm a new mother, so that may have had something to do with it as well.) She's so resilient, and though she may make unfortunate decisions from time to time, she always picks up the pieces and marches onward. Kristina McMorris has shined some light on several historical tragedies that were unknown to me, and she did so in a way that was easy to read and full of empathy. Would recommend.

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

The Girls of Good Fortune is a moving portrait of resilience set against the backdrop of post–Gold Rush America, where anti-Chinese sentiment festers beneath the promise of opportunity. Kristina McMorris reaches into a rarely spotlighted corner of history to illuminate the immigrant experience: its pain, perseverance, and the injustice that, heartbreakingly, still echoes today.

At the center of it all is Celia: a young woman navigating fresh grief and the terrifying solitude of new motherhood. One misfortune follows another with merciless rhythm, and at times, I found myself wondering how much more she could bear. Her journey is raw and unrelenting, and that’s exactly what makes her so easy to root for. Every small victory she claws back from the brink feels hard-won, though I found some moments of good luck arrive with a bit too much convenience.

Still, the novel never loses sight of its emotional stakes. The violence that shadows this era is brutal and constant, a cruel contrast to the vision of 1880s America as a land of freedom and pride. Yet the makeshift family of women - defiant, tender, and bruised, who offer Celia sanctuary when the world has turned its back were heartwarming to read. Their stories are layered, their hopes just as fierce as hers.

And while the final reunion offered a glimmer of hope, I found myself yearning for more, in particular more reckoning from her betrothed, considering all that Celia endured. She deserved not just love, but love that met her where she was: weathered, stronger, and far from the girl she once was.

[NetGalley Read #26]

4 ⭐️

'Strange, the way some days stretched into eternity, while the months, at least upon reflection, passed in a blink.'

'She recognized more than ever: the stories people tell, to themselves above all, were often what kept them going. When looking back on life, really, who was anyone without them?'

Good!

Really beautifully written (there are so many great lines) with great characters. Highlighting an important aspect of history often forgotten.

Felt a bit uneven at times. But the characters more than make up for it.

Recommended (especially if you like Historical Fiction). 👍

Thank you for the advance copy. I really enjoyed this book. I was enthralled and couldn’t put it down. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

From the author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide, Kristina McMorris returns with another informative and engaging historical fiction. With themes of racial discrimination and class division, McMorris tells the story of Chinese immigrants' mistreatment in America.
A story of survival and perseverance with well rounded characters. A very well written book about motherhood, friendship, true love and resilience. Another winner for Kristina McMorris that I’ll be recommending to all historical fiction fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the advanced reader’s copy.

This book recounted the life of a half Chinese woman during the late 1800's and the discrimination against the Chinese during that time period. It depicted what life was like during that time. The book brought to light the massacre of Chinese miners whose murderers were never brought to justice. The fact that the story is based on the life of an ancestor of the author makes it an even stronger story.

The Girls of Good Fortune is a charming and uplifting story about friendship, dreams, and the pursuit of happiness. The friendships in the book feel authentic, and the author's ability to balance humor with more serious themes creates a wonderfully well-rounded read. A heartwarming journey of growth and self-discovery.

For most of this exciting and informative historical fiction book, the heroine, Celia, doesn’t seem to be experiencing much good fortune. The story takes place between 1885 and 1888, in Portland, Oregon.

I have read several books by the author, Kristina McMorris, and I enjoyed this story the most. Reminiscent of her other books, the main characters are doing their best, but are faced with prejudice and an uncaring American society. “The Girls of Good Fortune” focuses on Celia, the daughter of a Chinese father, who has worked on the railroads. Celia was employed at a prominent home in Portland, and had a secret romance with the son. This led her to employment in a Portland brothel.

At this point, Celia faces a desperate future, as events become increasingly worse. Who can she count on? This is a book which will keep you reading until late in the night. It’s an exciting story, but even more important is that it reminds us that there are tragic moments in America’s history.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.