Jia Song was a striver since high school. She had just been made junior partner at a prestigious New York law firm but her eyes were already on the real prize-to be the youngest full partner ever, and she's going to get her chance. As the Korean-American daughter of immigrant parents, Jia was tapped by the head partner to handle a tricky sensitive case that was brought by the ultra-wealthy children of Jenny and Seven Park. The three Parks siblings, twin daughters Sora (the doctor) and Suzie (the messed-up one) and their MBA brother Minsoo, explained the situation to Jia with various levels of contempt, for her and each other. Their mother Jenny is dying of breast cancer and has a very short time left. Her husband left her doing her illness and took up with a much younger woman and they are now engaged and expecting a child. He has made an extremely lowball offer to his children in order to cut ties with them. He has listed "all" of his assets which they know doesn't cover the bulk of his holdings, but the investigators they've hired can't come up with the rest of the loot. They want to hire the law firm to find all of the hidden funds so that they can negotiate a fair (read amazingly over the top) settlement before Jenny dies. And to make this harder, Jenny wants them to accept the first offer and stop harassing Seven. If Jia can swing this case, the law firm will reap billions in new business and Jia can write her own ticket.

When Jia meets the elegant Jenny, she can't get her to budge from her implacable stance, but she does complete her first deal-Jenny will allow Jia twenty-nine days to find Seven's money. This begins the deep dive into luxury to which the siblings are accustomed-the best food, the best drink, the best hotels, the best clothing and accessories, and generally all of the money they would ever need for anything. Jia strategizes a plan-she will do her research and mine the siblings for information, then travel incognito to Seven's residences in search of documentation. Unfortunately she can't get the jump on him-there's a mole leaking plans and he always turns up to thwart her or the evidence gets moved. So who's the traitor...is it perfect Sora who's getting tired of being the pillar of the family, is it crazy Suzie who leads with her emotions, or is it Minsoo, who Seven believes is too flawed to inherit the business? Or could it possibly be the swoony house manager Darius who reminds Jia of the previous guy who broke her heart?

The author does a great job of ratcheting up the tension as Jia tries to complete her mission in the time allotted. The novel deals with the problems of immigrants scratching out new lives in America and the sometimes harsh price they pay to attain success. As we follow Jia, her good friends, and her strict family life, we can observe the lengths one can go to achieve without fully understanding whether the goal will lead to happiness or personal satisfaction. This is a cautionary tale told in a witty sophisticated voice-hope to hear more from Ahdieh soon.

Renée Ahdieh's latest is a fast-paced, high-stakes legal drama that captivates with its sharp dialogue, immersive storytelling, and unforgettable protagonist, Jia Song. As she navigates ambition, identity, and family loyalty, the novel weaves in rich cultural details—from Korean food to language—adding depth to an already gripping narrative. With its razor-sharp writing and relentless momentum, Park Avenue is a thrilling read that lingers long after the final page.

Sharp, stylish, and utterly addictive, this novel is a dazzling blend of high-stakes drama, family secrets, and personal ambition. At the heart of it all is Jia Song — driven, brilliant, and determined to claim the luxurious life she’s always dreamed of. As the daughter of Korean bodega owners, Jia promised herself she would one day have it all — Fifth Avenue glamour, the perfect career, and a Birkin bag to match. And when she’s tasked with mediating a billion-dollar divorce for one of the most powerful Korean families in the world, she’s convinced this is her moment to prove herself.

But the Park family is far from a straightforward case. Their wildly successful beauty empire, already crumbling under the weight of scandal, is about to shatter entirely as the dying matriarch, bitter patriarch, and feuding heirs pull the family in different directions. As Jia tries to navigate the sharp-tongued siblings and untangle the family’s darkest secrets, she finds herself dangerously pulled in — not only by the seductive world of wealth and power but also by an undeniable emotional connection to this flawed, fascinating family.

This novel is compelling because of the razor-sharp tension between Jia’s ambition and her growing empathy for the Parks. The author brilliantly captures Jia’s internal struggle — does she stay laser-focused on securing her own success, or does she risk everything to help a family that seems hell-bent on destroying itself? The high-stakes setting, filled with luxury jets, five-star hotels, and private estates, is deliciously indulgent. However, beneath all the glamor lies a tangled web of betrayal, heartbreak, and hidden truths.

The pacing is impeccable, with jaw-dropping reveals and unexpected twists that will keep readers glued to the pages. Every character — from the icy patriarch to the wayward heirs — is sharply drawn and bursting with complexity. But it’s Jia’s arc that truly shines: watching her wrestle with her identity, values, and the life she thought she wanted makes for an incredibly satisfying emotional journey.

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Park Avenue is the kind of novel that completely pulls you in, not just with its glamorous, high-stakes legal drama but with its interesting characters and sharp dialogue. At the center of it all is Jia Song, a woman who you can’t help but root for every step of the way.

Jia has worked to build the life she always dreamed for, which is far from her parents’ bodega and straight into the Manhattan elite. Now a junior partner at a prestigious law firm, she’s finally within reach of everything she’s ever wanted: success, security, and even the coveted gold-on-gold Birkin. But when she’s assigned to handle the legal issues of one of Korea’s wealthiest families, her world turns upside down.

The Parks, founders of a billion dollar Korean beauty empire, are in crisis. The family patriarch is divorcing his terminally ill wife, their three adult children are battling their own betrayals, and rumors swirl about hidden offshore accounts that could change everything. Jia has just one month to untangle their mess, protect their fortune, and—hopefully—secure her own future in the process.

As Jia jet-sets between Manhattan and Seoul and the Caribbean, she’s drawn deeper into the Parks’ world, where wealth and power mask deep, tangled secrets. But this isn’t just a novel about privilege—it’s a story about belonging, resilience, and figuring out what success truly means. The book’s rich inclusion of Korean food, language, and cultural nuances makes every page even more immersive, adding warmth and authenticity to an already captivating story.

Fast-paced, and impossible to put down, Park Avenue is as much about ambition as love for family, identity, and for the life we build for ourselves. The novel’s rich inclusion of Korean food, language, and cultural nuances adds another layer of depth, making the world feel even more immersive. With razor-sharp writing, a fast-moving plot, and an unforgettable protagonist, Park Avenue delivers a thrilling suspense novel that you will think about long after and want to share with your friends! #flatiron #parkavenue #renee ahdieh