This book was a page turner for me. I really couldn’t get enough of Ivy’s story and I wanted to see what was going to come next. In the end I was a little disappointed by the wrap up and the revelation. It felt almost... trope-y in a somewhat offensive way? That being said I did enjoy the family dynamics between her and her family but I much preferred the beginning to the middle and end.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I kept trying to like Ivy, but she is, in the end, too self-serving. Was Nature or Nurture to blame for Ivy's calculating and devious personality? She confesses that she is a thief in the very first chapter. Is Ivy a sociopath? Or can we blame Ivy's parents for leaving her behind with her grandmother while they created a new life without her in the U.S.?

Ivy's mother is so ruthless and the worst type of social climber - her own children are pawns in her bid to gain acceptance in a rich man's world. For me, Ivy and Gideon''s engagement comes out of nowhere, but I suppose that is fitting. The engagement is a facade, - Ivy is very well aware - but to hide what? We eventually do find out, and yes, I'm sure the reader will have guessed, too. When Ivy meets Roux again and has an affair with him, you think: aha, she will finally surrender to love and become a fully fledged person. Wrong!

I don't want to give too much away, but suffice it to say that I was totally disappointed in Ivy. I kind of did believe she was capable of all sorts of evildoing, but the way she dealt with Roux's ultimatum - the execution of it - was just brutal. How could Roux have been so blind about Ivy? She even asked him herself what he could find to love about her. I'm still trying to decide that myself.

Very well written, but there are times when I wonder why Ivy wasn't able to pick up on clues a bit faster. Gideon's dilemma was a standard trope in just about every fiction genre out there. That plot twist seemed a bit contrived, but I give the author points for not belabouring that .revelation. And - Big Spoiler Alert here: in the end, Ivy's actions regarding Roux were totally unnecessary. If only Ivy had been just a tad more observant and perceptive!!! Obviously, Gideon was going to marry Ivy regardless of her straying affections. Theirs' was the absolutely perfect marriage of convenience!
I rate this one a 3.75 out of 5.

What a gorgeous, gorgeous novel about women who fight, deceive, defer, and struggle to achieve all that the world denies them.

This novel. It didn't go in ANY of the directions I was expecting, and I seriously couldn't stop reading until I was done.

White Ivy is Author Susie Yang’s Debut Novel

I started reading this book after reading the description not knowing what to expect from the storyline.

I immediately was intrigued by the main Character Ivy. She is a troubled girl with lots of flaws and family issues, growing up outside of Boston. She is raised primarily by her Asian grandmother – who taught her to steal and thinks nothing of this as a normal part of life.

I really started to dislike Ivy, and all she represented, however the story kept drawing me back in to she how her life would progress.

A good ending, and a good debut novel

Thank you to NetGally, Simon & Schuster Canada, and Author Susie Yang for my advanced copy to read and review

#NetGalley @ NetGalley

White Ivy is a well-written story about the American Dream chinese immigrants wants to have. There are many details revolving around Ivy, through her adolescence until adulthood. She’s a character that is very self centered. The story is a little slow though.

Thank you Simon and Schuster Canada for this ARC.

What an utterly fantastic novel! I truly believe White Ivy is about to be the next bestseller of the season. It’s just that good.

White Ivy follows the life of Ivy Lin, a Chinese immigrant who was raised in the United States by her hardworking parents and her grandmother along with her little, American-born brother. Growing up in a working class neighbourhood only makes the wealthy students from the elite private school her parents send her to more appealing – particularly the golden boy, Gideon Speyer.

But after being sent away for a summer in her early teens to China after being caught shoplifting, Ivy returns to the States to find her family has moved across the country.

Nevertheless, her infatuation for her childhood crush never ceases. And her unwavering commitment is rewarded when, years later, she runs into Gideon’s older sister.

But things are never as simple as they seem. Soon enough Ivy finds herself in a complicated web of her own doing. And one not easily disentangled from.

Susie Yang writes with a maturity that makes it almost impossible to believe she is a debut author. The sophistication of her prose belies the novelty of her position. If I were to become a writer I would want to write like Yang; she’s incredibly skilled at the art of weaving words into story.

Ivy was such an intriguing character!

I was so compelled by the way she saw the world, and how her thoughts influenced the way she behaved in it. Yang manages to write her lead character in such a way that I was both terrified for – and terrified of – her in equal measures. I felt for her, and at the same time was worried about what she was capable of doing, both to herself and to others.

Both the beautiful writing and the intriguing character development gave high expectations for the plot line of this story, particularly how Yang was going to conclude it, and truly, it did not disappoint!

I did find some of the twists predictable. But rather than have that hinder the story; I felt like the only reason I could see where the book was headed was because of how well I had been lead to the most fitting conclusion by the expert narration. In the end, everything made sense and felt obvious because that was the result that fit absolutely flawlessly together. Which left me, the reader, feeling utterly satisfied.

I think this book is perfect for fans of Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn and The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. It’s smart, clever, and a unique take on the experience of growing up an immigrant and a woman in today’s America that rings completely true.

Thank you to the publisher, Simon & Schuster Canada, and NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC of this book. All thoughts are my own.

What an exceptionally written and thought-provoking book about immigration, racism, and the lengths we go to get what we want. Ivy may be considered a very unlikable heroine which is why I think I liked her so much. I liked how easy it was for her to change things about herself to get the things she wanted. There is a love triangle and I usually don’t like those but in this case I didn’t mind it, it was handled well like love triangles should be they are messy and complicated. Overall, White Ivy is an exemplary thriller from an own voices author that you don’t want to rest on.

A mesmerizing story about the depths Ivy will plunge to in order to achieve her goals. There's not a single likeable character in this book and reading about what each is willing to do to get what they want is like reading a train wreck. This novel has all the right echoes of Dreiser's An American Tragedy and is an accomplished debut novel that's well worth reading.

#netgalley

Ivy Lin was born in China, and her family moved to the States soon after. As an immigrant she spent many years trying to fit in. Her family was strict and only wanted her to focus on becoming a doctor one day. Her grandmother, was perhaps unlike any other grandmother -- teaching her to steal the things she wanted or needed to fit in. At the age of 14, she realizes she’s been scrutinized amongst her school aged peers, and a bad decision (a desperate attempt to fit in) sends her to China as punishment.

Years later, educated as a teacher and living in Boston, Ivy meets up with her old Middle Grade crush (one of the kids who dissed her earlier). They magically start dating and she is welcomed into his wealthy family unit. But living in this world of the wealthy is not cheap – weekend trips to the mountains, clothes and salon visits to look the part start adding up. But for the first time she feels welcomed and accepted. But is she really though? Her own Lin family is cold and harsh in contract to the warm and accepting Speyer family. A twist looms when the past catches up with her. A fellow from the other side of the tracks, one who has also made his way to the land of the posh. When Ivy’s new life is threatened and her back against the wall, how will she react? How will she fix this disaster she always wanted?

White Ivy starts off as a bit of a coming of age novel, but years later when Ivy is an adult the story becomes full of lies and deception. White Ivy is the perfect story if you like reading through the layers to reveal the dark desperation within. The ending was unpredictable and gasp worthy. I think it’s a wonderfully written and thought out book for this debut author. 4 stars.

A big thanks to @Simonandschuster and #NetGalley for the advanced copy.

4 stars for now - may change once I can able to wrap my head around a full review.

I am a sucker for morally grey characters, and damn I adore reading Ivy. Dark, and manipulative, but I couldn't help but be drawn to her.

While I found it was a tad slow to start, the story blossomed into a fantastic coming of age story, with the right amount of suspense peppered in.

Read this right off the heals of another Chinese American contemporary, and I have throughly enjoyed reading these own voices stories, and getting a better glimpse into Chinese American family dynamics.

Will be sure to get a full review up soon - thanks to S&S and Susie Yang for the eARC.

Ivy Lin is a thief. Taught by her grandmother early in life Ivy continues to steal to provide those things she was denied by her parents. Only one person recognizes her for what she is - Roux, who recognizes his own traits in her. Years down the road while dating Gideon Spayer, Ivy meets Roux again but circumstances have changed and Roux is a millionaire. Lives intertwine as Ivy tries to join the perfect Spayer family and Roux attempts to pull her away. How much is being accepted worth and how far are you willing to go to attain acceptance? An excellent debut novel. So glad it was chosen as Staff Pick of the Month by Indigo. Worthy of recognition. Thank you Simon Schuster for the ARC. #White Ivy#Net Galley#Indigo Employee

It took me a while to get into this, as Ivy is such an unlikeable narrator, however, that is actually part of her charm. It’s a slow-burning coming-of-age drama, that is so real and raw that I couldn’t put it down.

Ivy is a first-generation Asian- American who is struggling to fit in to her new world while coveting the “finer things” that her family can’t afford. As a child, her grandmother teaches her how to shoplift, and she uses the skill to keep up with her peers, and ultimately try and impress her crush, Gideon. Her parents ship her off to China for 5 weeks, and when she returns, she discovers that they have moved to a new state, away from everything she knows and Gideon.

Flash forward 10 years, Ivy runs into Gideon’s sister and manages to worm her way back into their life. However, her greed and desire will push her to places she’s never known, and will undoubtedly change the course of her life forever.

› Ivy Lin is a complicated person. At fourteen she had already become an expert thief, thanks to her grandmother, Meifeng. Ivy is NOT a good person, but I somehow found myself rooting for her and her family. We also get to know Meifeng and discover she's had a secret she's kept for decades...


"Meifeng never hit Ivy but she hit Austin almost every day, telling him it was for his own good, he should be thankful she made the effort to discipline him, her grandson, as those poor American kids with lazy grandparents grew into hooligans, unspanked and unloved. Then she'd bring him to a McDonald's for a Happy Meal. In the Lin household, you were rewarded for being punished."


› I read a Kindle e-arc provided by Netgalley. The first 60% was slow, interesting, but slow. The last 40% is filled with twists and jaw-dropping surprises. It ended up being a page-turner.

I use the CAWPILE method to rate books.
0-3 Really bad
4-6 Mediocre
7-9 Really good
10 Outstanding

› Characters: 9

› Atmosphere: 7

› Writing Style: 8

› Plot: 7

› Intrigue: 8

› Logic: 9

› Enjoyment: 9

Average 8

1.1-2.2 = ★
2.3-4.5 = ★★
4.6-6.9 = ★★★
7-8.9 = ★★★★
9-10 = ★★★★★

My Rating ★★★★

› Final Thoughts
• White Ivy is an interesting, compelling, twisty, generational story about loneliness, obsession, secrets, love, and learning that the path to happiness is often a bumpy road. A BRILLIANT debut. I can't wait to see what Yang does next.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.


*Quotes taken from an ARC copy and subject to change*

This is kind of a female The Talented Mr. Ripley. It's also about immigrant family and the mother/daughter relationship. It started off a little slow but it builds up nicely. A rather surprising and exciting ending. There are little hints along the way.

I was really excited to see what Ivy got up to in this book. The promise of this edgy young Asian girl trying to live in America while appeasing her very conservatively Chinese parents sounded fantastic ...

I was a little disappointed. The whole book felt very monotone and just kind of plodded along. I could tell the author is highly gifted with her writing but this one just short of fell flat for me. Even the end I saw coming and it was like waiting for the build up that never came and it should have been earth shattering but it wasn't. I just kind of nodded and forgot about it to be honest.

The premise was sound and the writing was solid. Maybe it was just me but it was one dimensional and lacking originality a little. It won't put me off trying more from the author though.

I gave it three stars because it really might have just been the mood I was in while reading.

4.5 stars!

Ivy lives with her grandmother in China until her immigrant parents have saved enough money to send for her. She arrives in Massachusetts at the age of five with a chip on her shoulder. When Ivy arrives, she struggles to fit in with the dynamics of her family as her parents have recently given birth to her baby brother, Austin. Ivy has an unrequited crush on a white boy named Gideon who attends her private school which she got into due to her father being the IT technician. Fast forward to adulthood and Ivy has a chance encounter with Gideon’s sister. They being dating and things get increasingly complicated as a love triangle develops when another man from Ivy’s adolescent past appears.

Ivy drove me bonkers. I loved to hate her but also hated to love her. She is so infuriatingly herself. She struggles with significant issues concerning her identity like race, class and immigration issues. She is constantly in pursuit of the perfect “white” life and this desire echoes throughout her decisions that shape her destiny. Ivy is one of the best protagonists I have ever encountered due to her duplicity. This novel has a wide variety of everything as it incorporates romance, action, a coming of age tale and even some elements of a thriller. Yang’s writing really captured my imagination and I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. My only critcism is that I clued into what was going on with Gideon pretty early on into their adult relationship. Ivy is so savvy in all other areas I had a hard time picturing her not figuring out the issue.The ending was totally what Ivy deserved even though I found it unsettling, I almost liked it. Ivy Lin is not a woman I will forget anytime soon. Great debut @suzieyang!

A contemporary, Chinese American spin on Talented Mr Ripley, White Ivy explores themes of racism (overt and internalized), family, immigration, and the struggle women (particularly women of colour) face when making it in a man's world. Main character Ivy Lin is a fantastic anti-heroine -- complex, cunning, and charismatic -- with a deep-rooted vulnerability that makes you root for her. I was completely captivated by Ivy's story, full of scheming and plotting, all of which is centred around her very human need for love, belonging, and purpose. I absolutely loved this book, and highly recommend it for anyone

Ivy Lin grows up a super successful thief. She takes advantage of her youthful, innocent appearance (hell yeah! to turning racist Asian stereotypes to one's advantage). She is also taught these skills by her Chinese immigrant grandmother, who later rather hypocritically scolds Ivy for continuing to steal long after the grandmother no longer needs her services as an accomplice. Here again is a note that hits home: Ivy's grandmother argues that it's okay for her to steal, because she's an immigrant from an impoverished village in China who needs to survive, whereas Ivy is an American-born citizen, with all the privileges and access to American opportunities implied by that status. Yes, it's a self-serving double standard, but it also feels real, and highlights some very real expectations immigrant families can have for their American children. Because, after all, the chance for these American children to have a better life, and not have to struggle or compromise as their immigrant parents or grandparents did, is part of the entire point of leaving one's home country in the first place.

Much of Ivy's scheming centers around her rich, handsome, white classmate Gideon Speyer. Ivy crushes on Gideon as a child, and when she runs into Gideon's sister Sylvia in adulthood, Ivy grabs the opportunity to insert herself into Gideon's world. I absolutely love how Ivy isn't so much attracted by Gideon himself, but rather by what Gideon represents: whiteness and inherited wealth, two pillars of privilege Ivy can never herself claim.

I love how much the author integrates Ivy's family, and their pasts, into Ivy's story. Through this, it's clear that Ivy's pursuit of Gideon isn't about attaining a romantic ideal, nor is it even just about achieving some kind of lifestyle. Rather, it's about obtaining the perceived pinnacle of the so-called "American dream" her parents immigrated to the US to achieve. If, by proximity to Gideon, Ivy can also become a part of white, wealthy society, then she fulfills the dreams her family has worked so hard, and sacrificed so much, for.

In contrast to Gideon is Ivy's childhood friend Roux. He lives in Ivy's neighbourhood, is raised by a single immigrant mother (Romanian), and is also a skilled thief. In short, he's everything Ivy wants to escape becoming. When Roux re-enters Ivy's life as an adult, and confesses his feelings for her, he puts all she's worked for into jeopardy. Roux's reappearance sets off a bit of a love triangle subplot, and the thriller section of the novel.

And again, I'm blown away by the intricate, interwoven layers throughout this novel. As much as Ivy wants to be part of Gideon's world, she continues to be undeniably attracted to Roux, yet, equally undeniably, she refuses to be drawn back into the life she could have with Roux. Here, we see how much Gideon's attraction for Ivy isn't his wealth, but rather his social status as a wealthy WASP.

I realize I talk a lot about Ivy's desire for Gideon's whiteness. This is similar to a stereotypical trope that is rarely, possibly never, done well, and I've seen far too many novels, often by white writers, of submissive Asian women who get gooey eyed over white saviour heroes. In <em>White Ivy</em>, Yang successfully subverts this trope, and shows how an Asian American lens completely changes the way the trope is handled. Unlike the characters in those other novels, Ivy is the one driving the narrative, and using her proximity to whiteness to her advantage. More importantly, the narrative is, at all times, self-aware, always somehow managing to keep us within Ivy's perspective, while at the same time, signalling to us why some of her perspective is shaped by the racism she faces in society. It's a difficult balancing act, yet Yang manages to pull it off.

Perhaps most importantly, alongside Ivy's desire to become part of a piece of society different from her own, is the very rich story of her grandmother and mother. We initially see both figures from Ivy's perspective, yet as the story progresses, we learn more about both women, and all they've done and sacrifice to get to where they are. By the end of the novel, it's clear that <em>White Ivy</em> isn't just the story of one Chinese American woman, but rather a multi-generational, matrilineal tale. While Ivy's mother and grandmother's stories form fairly brief flashbacks or conversations in the overall novel, the thematic thread that runs through all three of their lives is powerful. The way in which the three generations influence each other, while keeping parts of their own stories under wraps, is beautiful and moving.

White Ivy is downright brilliant, one of my favourite novels this year. It's a compelling, fast-paced thriller. It's also a love story, featuring a wide range of different kinds of love. It's the kind of story you can zip through in a single afternoon, and the type of novel you can spend a full semester unpacking in a university English literature class. I loved it, and cannot recommend it enough.

Thanks to Simon and Schuster Canada for an advance reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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NOTE: This review will go live on my blog on Oct 7, 8 am ET.

This book!! Wow.

This book follows Ivy, who was left behind in China with her grandma, Meifang, while her parents moved to the USA to settle before inviting her as well. Ivy's mom, Nan, is the definite pant wearer of the family, sometimes, clashing with grandma. Ivy lives a typical Asian immigrant childhood where her parents fear the Western world and are very restrictive. Ivy rebels; she steals, lies, and loses her virginity out of spite. As we follow Ivy through her journey to adulthood, she continues to lie, cheat and steal, stopping at literally nothing to have her way. As much as she tries to run from her family's ideals, they are embedded in her and stay with her until the very end.

I could not put this book down. We follow Ivy from when she's a small child, until the time she is almost 30. I found the story so fascinating. Being the daughter of Asian immigrants, I could really relate to some aspects of her upbringing. My parents were also extremely strict, but I wasn't the rebellious type, so things didn't get as messy as they do with Ivy.

This story goes to so many places that I couldn't even have imagined. Ivy is a complex character that keeps you on your toes, and it's hard to predict what she's going to do next.

How far is Ivy willing to go to get the happily ever after that she's always wanted?

Highly recommend this book! I will be telling all my friends about it.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster as well as NetGalley for the eGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

A special thank you to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Canada for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

When she was two-years-old, Ivy Lin was left in the care of her maternal grandmother, Meifeng, because her parents emigrated to the United States. At the age of five, she flew solo to the U.S. where she is reunited with her parents and baby brother, Austin. Her frigid mother, Nan, was incredibly strict and often subjected Ivy to verbal and physical abuse. Meifeng, a petty thief, eventually follows her family and teaches Ivy her tricks—the pair pilfer items from thrift shops and yard sales.

Then Ivy meets Gideon Speyer, a politician's son, and becomes obsessed with him. After Ivy's parents discover that she has been sneaking out and lying about her whereabouts, she is sent to China for the summer. Thinking that she will defy her parents upon her return, Ivy is shocked to find out that the family has moved to New Jersey, dashing her hopes of reconnecting with Gideon.

Ivy, now living in Boston, is teaching grade one and is unfulfilled with her life. After a chance meeting with Gideon's sister, Sylvia, she is welcomed back in the Speyer family's fold and captures Gideon's heart. When Ivy's past collides with her new life, she completes a shocking and desperate act to preserve the happily ever after that she has worked so hard to build

With her razor sharp prose, Yang has crafted a story that rivals that of a seasoned writer—her debut is haunting and mesmerizing. Permeating the narratives is a loneliness, a pathos that follows Ivy into all of her relationships and threatens her success. She is completely disconnected with reality and gets swallowed by her dark side.

Ivy is a highly-developed character that is layered with culture and family. As the daughter of Chinese immigrants, Ivy struggles with finding her place—she is marred by an obsession with the upper echelon and Yang juxtaposes this with her modest Chinese-American upbringing. Ivy feels a sense of shame because of her poor family yet is both repressed and empowered by this, all while exploring her race, class, and identity.

On the whole, White Ivy just didn't work for me and I'm not exactly sure why. Perhaps because I can't figure out the main character. What makes her tick? What motivates her? And she is incredibly unlikable. Why did Yang choose to write her this way? Is that the point of the story, that the reader will feel for someone that they also loathe? That being said, I was impressed by Yang's writing—she is a compelling storyteller—and I would definitely read her again.

White Ivy is a coming-of-age story and a comment on race, class, and identity.

BOOK REVIEW: White Ivy by Susie Yang
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3.75/5 ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫
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In her debut novel, Susie Yang has crafted a unique coming of age story for a cunning and savvy girl you won’t soon forget.

Ripe with themes of identity and acculturation, Yang constructs a story that emphasises the dichotomy faced by an immigrant family and their daughter and lead protagonist, Ivy, who seek to preserve their heritage and tradition while also assimilating to their new home home and culture in America.

Ivy is neither likeable nor unlikable. She is narcissistic and selfish, but also a survivor who is keenly aware of her position and role within the larger society and her relative power that she is able to wield but also bend to depending on her situation. Centred around her personal struggle to "fit in," Ivy longs to create an her own identity untethered to her cultural norms or the westernized expectations. Resulting in Ivy often being left empty and unfulfilled. That is until she heeds her family stories and takes back her power in a way only Ivy can.

You will love her and hate her. Sympathies and demonise her. But, you won't forget Ivy. Not by a long shot.

My thanks to Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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