Women of Good Fortune

I was so incredibly excited to read this -- a group of best friends who plan a heist set in Shanghai?? How could I not be losing my mind in anticipation of getting my hands on this?? -- and it did not disappoint! The story and the prose were both effortless engaging, and it was impossible not to get lost in this book as I read. Lulu, Rina, and Jane were delightful characters, both sympathetic and lovable as well as relatable in their flaws and missteps along the way. I thought it was a perfect balance of humor and warmheartedness, juxtaposed with a thoughtful examination of societal understanding of gender roles and the way in which women are viewed and valued versus how they view and value themselves. I highly recommend this book for any fans of contemporary fiction -- it truly had everything that I love about the genre, and the ending especially was deliciously satisfying!

This book was funny and thoughtful in exploring the lives of three very different Chinese women and the obstacles they faced to live the lives they wanted when society and family pressures them to marry. Rina is a career woman who keeps getting passed over for promotion despite working all the time. Jane is unhappy in her marriage and thinks she would've had better prospects if she were more beautiful. Lulu eels a deep sense of obligation to help out her poor family by marrying a rich man she doesn't love. These three best friends plan a heist to steal the gift money at Lulu's high society wedding. The planning of it and the heist itself will have you on the edge of your seats for multiple reasons. More importantly, each of these women grow in different ways and that journey will have you turning the pages until the very end.

Thank you Netgalley and Graydon House for the ARC!