Wow, Off the Books was so much more than I expected in the best ways. I’d categorize this as general fiction with a subtle hint of romance that focuses on familial and platonic relationships during an emotionally charged roadtrip (my FAVORITE very specific genre!).

Mei learning more about her mother and accepting her complex family history felt so special, like a refreshing adult version of the typical coming of age story. This book also discusses the brutality and abuse of Chinese treatment towards Uyghur people - in an educational tone that doesn’t take you out of the story. What an important narrative.

Thanks a million to Henry Holt & Co and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest opinion. What a great read!

Mei Brown is Chinese-American and a native of the Bay Area -- Chinese mother and Anglo father, and it’s hinted that she married him to acquire citizenship -- and she’s very bright but she has issues. She was at Dartmouth on a scholarship, only a term away from graduation, when he father killed, an Army linguist at Monterey, himself, and Mei quit school and went back home. She hasn’t forgiven her mother, either, but she’s still very close to her hard-case widowed grandfather, who now lives in their renovated garage and who really raised her in all the important ways.

Mei made money during the summers driving a limo (a job Granddad got her), and then switched to working only for cash (“off the books”), mostly for Chinese sex workers (because Granddad knows everyone). Now she’s making good money ferrying sometimes sketchy people coast to coast and never declares a penny of it. And her latest client is Henry Lee and his big black suitcase, both of which she’s transporting to Syracuse, New York. Mei becomes rather obsessed by that suitcase, which he keeps at hand at all times. Finally, she listens with a water glass through the wall of their adjoining motel rooms . . . and hears another voice. Is Henry a kidnapper? A trafficker? So she confronts him and he tells her what’s going on. And the story takes off in a whole other direction.

The writing is of high quality and the author has a lot to say about the nature of families, and especially of Chinese families. Certain aspects of present-day ethnic politics in the PRC also play a large role. It’s the sort of story that will hold your attention strongly as you read it (you’re likely to miss your bus stop) and which you will continue to think about after you’ve put it down. She has earned numerous awards for her short fiction but this is (I think) her first novel. I have a strong feeling it won’t be her last.

Creative and mysterious, I enjoyed this title. I think the concept of the book is great and to read about a resourceful young woman was interesting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This title didn't keep my attention as hoped and I'm not sure why. I hope to revisit it in the future.

Interesting storyline with great characters. I especially enjoyed Mei’s conversations with her mom and her grandfather as she processed relationships within her family.

Advance reader copy courtesy of the publishers at NetGalley for

If you’re looking for a different road trip book that has intrigue and a very light romance, this book is for you. Thank you to Soma Mei Sheng Frazier, Holt Publishing and NetGalley for my free ARC copy of Off The Books.

This book won’t be out until July 30, 2024 but I would highly suggest you put it on your TBR/books to watch out for.

The story follows Mei, a private driver who dropped out of Dartmouth a few years prior. She’s driving a mysterious Mr. Lee, who isn’t much older than she is, across country. Mei has prepared information sheets on all the stops they’re making as she believes Mr. Lee wants to see the country, but when he continues to disappear at every stop with his oversized suitcase, Mei begins to wonder what the trip is really for.

As each stop goes by, we get not only a lovely slice of America, but Mei’s past unfolds including a relationship to a grandfather who she loves dearly, a mother she doesn’t quite understand, and an absent father. We also get to learn more of what is happening in China and the precious cargo that is in the bag, might hold things in the balance.

If you’re looking for a book with a different feel than your normal road trip, I do think this is one to read. It has a lovely slow pace, it’s very interesting, the characters open up slowly, and there isn’t a high level of anxiety, but plenty of twists to make it interesting.

4.5⭐️ rounded up

I was fooled by the seemingly light cover and synopsis; OFF THE BOOKS is a captivating, multilayered story that exceeded my expectations. I was unexpectedly drawn into the novel's exploration of the Uyghur genocide, generational family trauma, first generation angst, mother/daughter relationships, and the immigrant experience. The author navigates these weighty themes with a deft touch, shedding light on the Uyghur tragedy without sacrificing narrative pace. I never felt lectured to, simply enlightened by Mei's journey.

Speaking of journeys, some flashback sequences disrupted the momentum at times, particularly when placed right after a nail-biting cliffhanger. Similarly, Mei's grandfather's witty one-liners, while initially charming, occasionally felt unrealistic due to his unrealistic timing. These are minor quibbles in an otherwise great novel.

I appreciated that the romance angle was handled with a light touch, being clear about the direction things were headed while still leaving room for the reader to fill in the blank spaces. Anything too sappy would have taken away from the narrative, in my opinion.

Mei is also a challenging protagonist, which I liked. She wasn't a "hero" in the traditional sense; she was simply a person still processing her own trauma being thrust into a dramatic situation. Once we found out what was in the suitcase, I was so curious to find out what Mei would end up doing. I didn't predict her choice in the end, and while the morality of it might be questionable to some, I was very satisfied.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the ARC.

What an interesting and unique premise. I can’t wait to see what Henry’s hiding. I’m so excited to share my full thoughts and review on this title. I think readers will enjoy this unique quirky tale.

A really wonderful debut the author’s writing drew me into the mystery the characters and kept me turning the pages.Im looking forward to reading more by this new author.#netgalley #henryholt.

This was such a great, suspenseful thriller! I couldn't put this book down and I would love to read more by this author. You'll never guess the twist at the end!

This is a wonderful book and I was hooked from the very beginning! Frazier’s writing style is compelling and drew me in with the first few sentences. It is part mystery, part coming of age story, but so much more too. Měi is a young American/Chinese woman who has dropped out of Dartmouth and now is a driver and takes clients “Off the Books”. She picks up Henry (a handsome young Chinese man) and his giant black suitcase to drive him across the country. Měi soon realizes something strange is going on with Henry and whatever he has in that suitcase but I didn’t suspect the story would head in the direction that it did! I will leave it to you to find out for yourself!
Frazier did a superb job bringing Měi to life for me. I especially liked the background information and exchanges between Měi and her Chinese mother and grandparents. I appreciated how Měi came to a fuller understanding of her mom by the end of the novel and I loved her relationship with her grandfather. The dialogue between them is wonderful. As she and Henry spend many hours on the road together and the story begins to twist and turn Měi has lots of time to reflect on her past and some hard challenges she’s faced and I liked how this really fleshed out her story.
The book also covers difficult history of the Chinese government’s treatment of the Uyghur people. I only had a brief knowledge of these issues but the cruelty is horrifying and I plan to learn more after reading this book. That being said, the novel ended on a high note. I liked the conclusion and the wrap up to the story. I was both surprised and pleased.
I would definitely recommend this book to those who enjoy a coming of age story, a cross cultural story, or a road trip story (there is even some romantic tension). This will be one I truly remember reading and enjoying. Thank you Henry Holt and NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read this advanced copy.

3.5 stars

"Off the Books" follows Mei, a college drop-out who drives limos and takes "off the book" clients in order to make ends meet. When her grandfather refers her to a mysterious new client toting an equally mysterious suitcase, she embarks on a journey from San Francisco to Syracuse and gets roped into a scheme with global implications.

This book is not what I thought it would be, but I liked what it was so much more. Mei as a lead was both compelling and relatable. I enjoyed the frequent glimpses we got into her past in order to give context to the choices that led her to her current position as a limo driver. Her character and the pillar influence of her grandfather as her moral compass made her an easy protagonist to root for.

The additional characters of the story were also compelling, although some more than others. Mei's grandfather was a riot and I loved how much of a presence he inhabited in the story even without being physically present for most of it. On the flip side, I found it hard to fully like Henry's character, to be honest. And that made it hard for me to fully appreciate or enjoy his relationship with Mei.

My only other complaint arises from the writing style which at times felt a bit winded or lacking, especially when the focus wavered and the narrative drifted off onto tangents that were sometimes interesting but also sometimes too abrupt – taking away from otherwise gripping or engrossing bits of the plot. The plot itself is enough to hook a reader in, certain efforts to enhance an already engaging storyline will just come off as over the top or unnecessary.

Overall though, this author is one to look out for. I found this short novel weighty in both its subject matter and its impact, and I am curious to see what she attempts next.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Henry Holt and Co, for the digital advanced reader copy of this book!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. For this review I have to disclose I did not finish, stopping at 36%.

The book is about a woman offering a driving service, particularly in this case to a man cross country. The situation is peculiar and he seems to be hiding something that she ultimately confronts him about.

I did get to the point in the book where you find out what’s in his suitcase. I liked that this story was providing me an opportunity to learn about conflict I otherwise was unaware of regarding Uyghur in China. I also liked the parts I read involving Mei’s grandfather.

However, I found the flow of the book to be hard to follow. It often felt choppy, jumping from one thing to the next in a way that had me going back to reread because I felt I had missed something. I kept trying to push through because it’s a relatively short book, but because I had to keep going back it feels as though it’s dragging.

I also find the developing friendship? Relationship? Between the driver and client to be very uncomfortable. It seems to develop out of nowhere and isn’t believable with the amount of conversation and topic of conversations they have.

I would recommend this to someone more interested in reading about real world issues, specifically related to China and the Uyghur population. If you’re looking for a fun cross country road trip book, this is not it.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. and NetGalley for providing ARC of this book.

This was such a fun and engaging read ! It kept me hooked from the start and ended at a very high note ! I personally am not a fan of mystery but I loved this book a lot ! Definitely recommend it for someone new to mystery and someone who isn’t a big fan of it but want to try something in the genre!

Mei Brown recently dropped out of college and became a Limo driver. Her Laoye (grandfather) gifted her a sedan and convinces her to drop the Limo gig and take on her own clients, says he has plenty of contacts that could use a good driver and are willing to pay more if they can do it off the books. Mei doesn’t ask questions, it’s her code…even if most of her clients are sex workers. In college, Mei was a student journalist, one that chose to turn a blind eye and not write the story, not tell a sole. Her code is put to the test on a cross country road trip with new client Henry Lee. A trip that will change her life. What is in the suitcase? Why does he insist on frequent stops? Something is really off and she doesn’t know if she can look the other way this time.

This book is listed as a mystery, it’s much more than that. A glimpse into the life of a Chinese American young woman, with beautifully layered characters, heavy issues and plenty of secrets. Disturbing issues such as rape and Uyghur genocide are cleverly balanced with humor. If this were a live show, I would have stood at the end.

Thank you Henry Holt & Company for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley.

Our protagonist, Mei, is an off-books driver, with clients provided to her by her grandfather, She begins a cross-country journey with a handsome stranger who is protecting a mysterious suitcase. While I usually like road trip novels, the structure and pacing didn't quite work for me here. Every minute detail of the road trip was given (including all bathroom breaks) and almost every road trip paragraph was followed by Mei having a flashback or memory. It made me feel like nothing was pressing or imminent in real time, even though the stakes of the road trip ended up being high. I did enjoy all the conversations between Mei and her grandfather, and the development of the relationship between her and her mom.
Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of Off the Books.

The premise was intriguing, and though there were parts of the narrative I really liked, this wasn't for me.

First, I love the relationship between Mei and her grandpa; he's funny, honest, and blunt, unlike the stereotypical Chinese grandparents.

Second, I also liked how when Mandarin was spoken, the words weren't italicized, but part of a natural conversation between Mei and her grandpa or Henry and Anna.

Third, as the road trip progresses, Mei discovers the truth about her dad, her mom, and what it means to hold secrets from the people we love.

Now, for what I didn't like:

I did like the narrative giving voice to the atrocities and abuses suffered by innocent people willing to speak out against the Chinese government, which we know doesn't know anything about the concept of free speech.

There's a lot of interesting and disturbing background information about certain groups of people being denied religious freedom, amongst other things.

But, there was too much political discussions. I read to be entertained, not to be reminded what a hellhole our world is.

Then, I found it difficult to believe Henry is transporting a small, thin child in a suitcase. I guess if you found a large suitcase big enough to fit, it's possible, but still, I couldn't suspend disbelief.

You know you're reading a book when your client is a hottie, and so is Mei and naturally they get together by the end.

This is not real life; how many cab drivers have handsome and well spoken passengers.

And how many attractive cab drivers have you had? Me? None.

The writing is good, but there was no urgency or suspense, even when Mei suspects they might be followed or someone knows Anna is in their custody.

This was too political for me to enjoy, but I think some readers will like it.

WHAT'S IN THAT SUITCASE?! This question had me immediately hooked and didn’t relax its grip until the shocking discovery that launches readers into the real meat of the book. This is a wonderful, unexpectedly informative novel, unlike any I’ve ever read; I couldn’t put it down.

This book has been listed as “Mystery” but in my eyes it’s a cross-genre masterpiece. It's not often I read a book and feel like I’ve learned perspective-shifting information, but Off the Books touches on global issues of which I had very little knowledge. There are several content warnings readers should be aware of including: sexual violence, self harm, and racism. Despite the discussion and depiction of many serious topics, the weight of these issues never felt overwhelmingly heavy for me, thanks to Soma Mei Sheng Frazier’s beautiful writing style and deeply lovable characters.

I wasn't sure what to expect upon first meeting our protagonist, Měi. A former limo driver and college dropout, Měi drives private clients under the table at the urging of her grandfather. The novel centers around a trip from San Francisco to Syracuse with a client named Henry. Attractive, personable, and rich, Henry would be perfect if it weren’t for that gigantic suitcase he suspiciously lugs around. When Měi’s curiosity gets the best of her, she confronts Henry and embarks on a journey that transforms her understanding of herself, her family, and the world around her.

At the outset, I felt a bit detached from Měi and her choices (for example, why drop out of an Ivy League to become a limo driver? Why would you poke the suitcase?!). But as the novel progresses and we gain additional context, the reader (and Měi herself) comes to understand her history, perspective, and her blind spots. By the end of the novel, Měi is one of the most complex and wonderful protagonists I’ve read in some time.

I really enjoyed the interplay of family dynamics, cultural ties, and the growth that often transpires in your twenties. Měi and her family feel authentic; their conversations feel extremely real. The struggles which Měi and other characters encounter throughout this story moved me to tears.

Thanks a million to Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the advance copy of this book <3

While the synopsis of the book hints that this book will be suspenseful and engaging, the secret of Henry's big black suitcase makes this an important and timely read. Mĕi feel likes a fully realized and complex main character whose strong voice easily carries the plot along. Mĕi , her mom, and her grandfather are examples of nuanced and authentic representation of Chinese-Americans that manage to avoid many common stereotypes while calling them out along the way. I deeply enjoyed Mĕi's grandfather and the important historical and political conversations he brought to the book. He is a great example of what solidarity and an understanding of shared histories/struggles looked like and the way this was interwoven into his conversations with Mĕi never felt forced. Mĕi's relationship with her mother and its developments over the course of the book ,again, felt very natural and authentic. I enjoyed how Mĕi's inner turmoil and negotiating her understandings of her family dynamics developed alongside the unexpected twists and turns of the road trip with Henry.

I enjoyed that the romance element hinted at in the synopsis did not overtake the main plot of the book and felt like the chemistry between Mĕi and Henry was well developed.

On a more technical note, I appreciated the amount of Mandarin that was included in the book. Often times, books will put a translation in italics near by or stick to one to two words/phrases in another language. There were moments of multiple lines in Mandarin that honestly were difficult to understand even with context clues what was being said, however, this made it easier to experience things from Mĕi's POV with not being fluent in Mandarin either.

This is a very tiny detail in the overall plot, but I wish there was a bit more said about Mĕi going to Dartmouth. It felt like the school being Dartmouth was thrown in for the shock value of her dropping out from an ivy league school, when more could have been said about her passion for journalism, how politicized was her education (outside of her exposure from her grandfather), connecting this to the fact sheets, etc. Related to this, there were a handful of times she said something that truly made me facepalm (especially considering she two semesters away from an ivy league degree). While it showed how she had lead a more privileged and sheltered life, it also just seemed inconsistent with the rest of her character.

cw: sexual assault, gender-based violence, racism and racial slurs, and suicide


While I don't consider this a spoiler, it seemed to be pointedly left out of the synopsis, so I will put it here:

*SPOLERS AHEAD*

This is such a timely and important read to shine light and spread awareness about the ongoing Uyghur genocide in Xinjiang, China. The book serves as a great entry point for those unfamiliar with the issue by detailing the human rights violations occurring, the complicity of the international community and the United States in particular, and the role of surveillance/technology. I did not expect this to be a part of this book at all when I started it but am very pleased it was.

Interesting story that has a strong protagonist, a sidekick with a secret, and more information about the Uyghur people and how governments can control that I was ready for.
Mei dropped out of school and now drives a limo to earn money. Through her grandfathers connections, she always has plenty of customers. When asked to take Henry across the country, she says yes. He is an interesting, if quiet, passenger. He also has a very large suitcase he keeps by his side and requires frequent breaks.
when Mei discovers his secret, her life, as well as his, change. She is forced to see the ugly side of the world, but also sees how some humans really do care.