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.