The Red Car to Hollywood is a moving and timely novel that explores identity, family expectations, and the courage it takes to chase your dreams. Jennie Liu gives us a compelling story through the eyes of a Chinese American teen navigating the pressures of tradition, ambition, and self-discovery.
The writing is honest and accessible, and the characters feel real and relatable. I appreciated how the book addresses cultural tensions and generational differences with nuance, while also celebrating the importance of forging your own path.
This is a great read for anyone who enjoys coming-of-age stories with heart and purpose. Big thanks to NetGalley for the chance to read this powerful and inspiring book!

Ruby’s journey is relatable as a young girl coming of age but I feel like the story fell flat. Her friendship with Anna is something I wish they would’ve explored more. I did love the bits about their culture and what it was like trying to represent authentic Chinese culture at that time. The different attitudes surrounding the themes of gender roles and immigrants were well done. The ending really fell flat though. It felt like the book ended immediately after the apex. There was so much build up and then oh ok book done.

3.75 stars

A huge thank you to NetGalley for the e-ARC!

While romance is my favorite genre, I do have a soft spot for historical fiction. And after reading quite a few romance books it was great to dive into this new story, especially one about an underrepresented community! Ruby felt like a real character and some of the solutions she came up with in her predicaments were fun to watch. Her struggle with the differences between Chinese and American values were another interesting facet to explore, especially for a teenage character.

I loved how the author included actress Anna May Wong in the story. Though an influential figure, she’s (sadly) not one of the first people to be thought of when someone mentions Hollywood’s golden age. Her friendship with Ruby helped make her feel more human rather than just a passing figure. The author pulled from real history and it definitely shows!

I also appreciated how, while the story ends on a high note, not everything gets resolved with a neat bow. Some of the perpetrators that Ruby dealt with never receive any comeuppance, and that felt like a more honest way to portray the landscape of the 1920s for Chinese Americans rather than sugarcoating it (as much I would’ve loved seeing her get justice).

I would’ve liked to see Ruby helping out in her father’s store before she had gotten in trouble. She has a huge passion for it, but the story only tells us she’s really good at working there before showing it. A scene or two showcasing her savviness with sales would’ve been a great addition. I also wish her relationship with James had more of a resolution. I don’t see them dating, but a continuation of their friendship would’ve been sweet. I do feel the reconciliation with her Ba was a bit too rushed, but I didn’t mind it so much since I loved seeing how Ruby was determined to help her father’s store.

I hope this book receives more attention, it’s a good one!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-galley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Hollywood in the 20's, that alone intrigued me enough to request this book.

The Red Car to Hollywood follows Chinese-American teenager Ruby Chan as her life is imploding amongst the racially segregated Hollywood in the 1920's. Ruby has done the unthinkable by dating a white (affluent) teenage boy, an act that brings undue attention, criticism and shame to her traditional Chinese family who owns a shop in Chinatown.

Ruby is full of teenage angst and rebellion and tries to strike out on her own to make money to run away before her Ba returns back from China and marries her off in order to quell the criticism of her previous actions. She meets and befriends Hollywood Actress Anna May Wong, typecast in stereotypical roles due to her "exotic" background. Ruby learns the hard way that the world does not favor her culture, and sees her as a pawn that can be played with.

I did not find Ruby likeable, which made it hard for me to sympathize with how she treated her elders in certain scenes. I also did not like the revenge scene, I thought it was tacky and unbelievable.

For a short novel, it does have powerful messages and wraps up quickly and a little bit too neat for my taste. But I enjoyed reading about this time in Hollywood through the lens of an outsider.

The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu is a heartfelt and introspective novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the pursuit of dreams. Set against the backdrop of Los Angeles, it follows a young woman named Lily, whose journey from a small town to Hollywood is both literal and metaphorical. The story highlights her struggles with familial expectations, cultural roots, and personal aspirations as she seeks to make a name for herself in the entertainment industry.

Liu’s writing is vibrant, weaving a tapestry of emotions, and her character development is rich. Lily’s internal conflicts are portrayed with nuance, making her journey both relatable and inspiring. The narrative is a blend of ambition and self-discovery, ultimately reflecting the universal desire to carve one’s own path in a world full of competing demands.

While the pace can be slow at times, the novel's strength lies in its emotional depth and the vivid portrayal of a young woman navigating complex cultural and personal landscapes. The Red Car to Hollywood offers a powerful, evocative look at the intersection of dreams, family loyalty, and self-realization. Fans of character-driven stories will find much to appreciate in this thought-provoking debut.

Thank you #NetGalley for allowing me to read The Red Car to Hollywood by Jennie Liu in exchange for a review. #TheRedCartoHollywood #NetGalley

Ruby Chan is not your ordinary Chinese American girl, she is determined to make a named for herself and her family. One major things gets in her way and that is Ruby’s relationship with a white boy is discovered by her community’s church leader. To cover up her act, the family must pay and enlist in the help of a Chinese Matchmaker. Ruby’s father even goes as far as not allowing her to work in her family’s antique store which she loves. Her Ba makes a plan to leave to not only find her a husband, but also goods for their store. Ruby has four months to either find a husband on her own or find another way out. As a Chinese American woman in the 1920s her options are limited. Will she join the movies and play scandalous roles like her friend Anna May or will she find another way to make a named for herself.

Liu crafts a pivotal piece about the discriminating treatment that Chinese Americans women experienced during the 1920s on and off the screen.

I want to thank NetGalley and Lerner Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a real eye opener to me not realizing the racism that Chinese and many other people of different ethnic backgrounds faced not just back in the 1920's but now! I loved this book for the stories of friendships and the love stories. I look forward to reading more books by Jennie Liu in the future!

It's 1924 and Ruby Chan and her family have recently relocated to Hollywood from San Francisco. Her father own an antique business selling Chinese goods he buys from China. Ruby is 16 years old, American born, however, she is living with her very traditional Chinese parents who are set in their old ways and customs. Ruby has been seen with a white boy and word has gotten back to her father who was horrified with her doing so and putting her reputation and that of the family's in a bad position. With that, he notifies a matchmaker and has decided that he wants his 16 year old daughter married as soon as possible. Determined not to let that happen Ruby stubbornly decides not to let them force her their way. In the interim, she meets the 19 year old Anna May Wong in Chinatown at a Chinese laundry owned by Ms. Wong's family.. They quickly become friends and as it turns out Ruby becomes in awe of Anna May's defiance of the traditions and customs of the Chinese. Working as an actress Anna May is far from the culture of her family, as she is seen on the silver screen in what her family sees as a lack of regard for their culture. Racism against the Chinese was rampant at that time as there could be no mix between the white families and the Chinese. Brought in to America to help build the railroads, once done they were looked down upon, Ruby remains stubborn defying all convention, but will she learn to respect her culture? My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an eARC from NetGalley of this book, all thoughts are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I was blown away with how good it was. It was moving and inspirational, a touch of romance with historical notes throughout. Watching Ruby grow into herself and come to terms with her mistakes was inspiring, and the addition of Anna May Wong was amazing. The novel discusses racism and sexism in a very thoughtful manner, and I think it can open the door to some really thoughtful conversations in the future. I think this a great book for everyone and am invested in reading more from this author.

This was such a great Hollywood story, I enjoyed how good everything worked in this universe. The characters were everything that I was looking for and enjoyed that they worked in this time-period and enjoyed everything that I wanted. It had that tension that I was looking for and enjoyed going on this journey with Ruby. Jennie Liu has a great writing style and can’t wait to read more from them.