The premise of this really drew me in but the writing left a bit to be desired. Starting off slow but gaining momentum, this novel definitely shines more in the second half - particularly as Celia comes into herself.

Celia is a maid for the mayor in Portland, but she has done the unthinkable and fallen in love with his son. Cast out with a shattered reputation, Celia finds herself working as a maid/cook at a brothel. It is here that she truly comes into her own, but also where she faces the most danger. Ultimately, Celia is ‘shanghaid’ and taken aboard a ship as a forced laborer and she must do everything in her power to return to the life she once had.

Brilliantly researched with fascinating historical anecdotes that I knew nothing about, McMorris has written a solid historical fiction novel despite falling flat at some points.

3.5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a digital ARC of this title!

When the Bettancourts find out that their maid, Celia Hart, has been hiding a secret about her identity, she fears her new life is over. In a time when anti-Chinese sentiment is high, having a Chinese father can be dangerous, even deadly. She is such an excellent employee, though, that they are willing to overlook that. When they find out she and their son are in love, that’s a bridge too far. She is fired and left to fend for herself, and her beloved is sent to England for medical school.
As she struggles to rebuild her life, she endures a series of calamities and hardships, but she never gives up. She suffers unbearable loss, and some life-affirming joy. She gets lost in the Shanghai Tunnels under the streets of Portland; she’s kidnapped and pressed into slave labor on a pirate ship; she loses someone dear to her in one of the massacres of Chinese miners, and wait, there’s more. The story is based on one of the author’s ancestors and contains many true details.
This book is sure to become a classic. It’s a fascinating and enlightening look at a troubling part of American history as well as the uplifting story of one woman’s triumph over almost impossible odds to have a good life.

3.5⭐ rounded up
The historical events brought to life in this book are heartbreaking. From the Portland tunnels, the shanghai of persons to work on ships and the massacre of Chinese gold miners, the events are told in horrifying detail either happening to our heroine or being told to her by the perpetrator. Celia, half Chinese, works for the mayor and falls for the mayor's son. When he leaves for college, she discovers she's pregnant. Tossed out of the mayor's, she ends up working as a housemaid in a brothel. The dual timeline has her waking up in one of the tunnels and being shanghaied. Frankly, I had to suspend belief that all this happened to one person and she remained so unchanged by it with the topper being the ending. Still, it's an entertaining way to learn little known history. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Well laid out novel of the struggles and discrimination that the Asian community has faced over the decades.

What a great story. It tells of Celia, who is half-Chinese, and what happens to her after she is let go by the family she was working for. The racism is off the charts. The conditions Chinese immigrants had to endure were unimaginable. My heart broke for Celia more than once. Her father's murder, her treatment by the mayor and other higher-ups, was terrible. I have not read a lot of historical fiction about Chinese immigrants or the Shanghai Tunnels, so I learned a lot—excellent writing and characters.

This was an interesting piece of historical fiction that sheds light on the plight of Chinese-American immigrants in the late 1800s. The plot synopsis makes it sound like most of the narrative is devoted to Celia’s ordeal after being “shanghaied”, but over half of the book takes place before she finds herself abducted. This didn’t bother me– if anything, her struggles in trying to survive were more interesting than the abduction.

I kept checking to see if this book was classified as YA because the writing style and basic plot structure were giving a YA vibe, as the kids would say. I don’t intend this observation to be a criticism– if anything, an unpretentious writing style makes the book more accessible to a wider audience.

I would recommend The Girls of Good Fortune. This historical fiction book was clearly well researched and provides the reader with insight into a period of American history that most people don’t know about because the story of Chinese immigrants is rarely taught in schools. Celia overcame so many obstacles.


I received a digital ARC of this book from Sourcebooks/NetGalley

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books. This one was a little different read for me in that it took place in the summer of mid- to late-1880s. I was unaware of the prejudices against those of Chinese descent during that time period. Following along with Celia as she navigates life through difficult circumstances. I enjoyed learning about the Shanghai Tunnels and the secrets that prevailed. The romance sprinkled throughout the pages was interesting and added to the story. My one negative reflection is that in listening to the audiobook, the back-and-forth between the two time periods was a little difficult to follow. But eventually you will land in June 1888 and from there you continue in a forward movement through time. The author’s notes are a plus as she provides historical aspects of the atrocities that occurred. This is a well-researched and written historical fiction book that will appeal to those who enjoy books in that genre as well as women’s fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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This book was a gripper of a read for sure. The plot was filled with tons of family, love & corruption that spoke loud off the pages.
Throughly enjoyed reading this book, Like the ties towards real life events and historical accuracy.
Overall a great read to escape in that makes you think!

Another well-told and informative historical fiction novel by this author! I'm constantly amazed at the pieces of history that were never spoken of until recently, and I was fully invested in Celia's journey. It's late 1880s as we follow Celia, the MC, from her time as a housekeeper to being shunned and placed as a cleaning woman in a brothel.
I enjoyed the minor characters in the story, especially Owen and Lettie, and the twists involved in their personal stories. I highly recommend this read, one that will take you on an exciting journey as Celia fights for a better life for herself... and her daughter.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this great read!

Was unfortunately unable to read this because it could not be uploaded to my ereader, but I'll rate it high until I'm able to get my hands on a copy and read it.

I have been a McMorris reader for quite some time. As good as this novel was, the plot felt a bit too formulaic for me. It went exactly where I thought it would as opposed to surprising me. The story is weaved around a truer story about a time when Chinese immigrants were treated horribly and so devalued by the spread of hateful rhetoric that the lives of more than 30 gold panners took place by a group of young men to steal the fortune the men had worked so hard to sift from the river. The main character is of mixed race, Chinese and Caucasian. She has struggled with her own identity, as so many of us do, but she learns of the murders of the Chinese men by a drunken confession made to her.. In a similar fashion, she has fallen in love with a wealthy young man who feels lost to her while she has a child by him without his awareness due to being ostracized by the young man’s family who refuse to acknowledge her or the existence of their child. This, of course, feeds into the main character’s conflict of identity. The messages in the novel are strong and poignant for our current state of class and racial conflict, making this a worthy read.

I finished reading The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris a few days ago and I'm still thinking about it. The story takes place in Oregon in 1888 and is about the Chinese that came to America to build the railroads, but when they were done, they were no longer wanted. It follows Celia, the part-Chinese maid to a wealthy, influential family that hired her because she didn't look Chinese. Celia ends up falling in love with their son, Stephen, but due to her lineage, the relationship was doomed from the start. Stephen is sent to Europe to medical school and in the meantime, Celia ends up on a ship doing hard labor. This part of the book seemed to come out of nowhere to me, the lead up to it seemed rushed to me. But, that said, I did enjoy the book and learned a lot, something I always seem to do when reading his author's work.

Narrated in a dual timeline by Celia in 1888 when she wakes a captive in a cellar then returning to 1885 showing the events that lead to her abduction. The story starts by giving readers a glimpse of daily life in Portland then moves to a brothel, a ship, and a few other temporary locations as Celia becomes entangled in more and more unwanted adventures. Celia is a naive, somewhat impulsive, and altruistic young woman who takes great risks despite the fact that she is a single mother. With a compelling narrative, Celia comes to life on the page offering glimpses into life in Portland in the 1800s for a young maid who inadvertently becomes pregnant, thereby forced to leave her employment for a much lesser position in a place of ill repute. This is where Celia is forced to come to terms with her precarious situation even as she is faced with more unexpected decisions. To say much more than this may result in spoilers.

McMorris’ writing is captivating and engaging allowing readers to sink seamlessly into her narrative. I appreciate that McMorris sheds light on little known historical events. It’s heartbreaking that the Hells Canyon Masacre occurred and that no one was ever brought to justice; and it’s equally heartbreaking that the tunnels in Portland were a necessary safety net/escape hatch for many. I would love to learn more about the history of the tunnels and those who sheltered within.

I would have liked to know more of Marie’s back story and what happens to her after the story ends. I also wanted to know more about Owen’s story line both prior to the start of the novel and what happens to him afterwards. Lettie’s character also had me intrigued - though we learn more of her back story thanks in part to her friendship with Celia.

I found I often didn’t want to put the book down.

This was a really good historical fiction book! I really found myself getting lost in the story. There were several times when the author had me feeling all kinds of emotions.

I liked the time jumps in the different chapters. I really like when books do this because I think it adds so much to the story. I am definitely interested in reading more from this author because I got so lost in the story.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kristina McMorris has a gift for blending history and heart, and her latest novel, The Girls of Good Fortune, digs deep.

Set in 1888 Portland, the story opens in the city’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels, where Celia, a young woman of mixed heritage, awakens in a drugged haze, disguised and imprisoned. She’s about to be shipped off as forced labor—shanghaied into a nightmare that pulls no punches.

Celia’s struggle to piece together how she ended up there takes readers on a twisting journey through corruption, injustice, and survival. As a half-Chinese woman passing as white in a time of deep anti-Chinese sentiment, her very existence is a balancing act. The book explores identity, belonging, and the often-hidden cost of silence.

I appreciated the historical depth—especially the backdrop of the goldminers’ massacre and the seedy politics of the day. It was educational without feeling like a history lecture, and McMorris includes recipes and an excellent author’s note to round it out. Still, I had a hard time following the timeline at times, and emotionally, it didn’t hit as hard as some of her earlier novels.

Even so, this is a powerful, well-researched read with guts, grit, and relevance. Four stars from me.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Recorded Books for complimentary review copies of the eBook and audiobook. The opinions are my own.

3.5 ⭐️

A different story that takes place in the late 1880’s. Celia has a child with a man whose home she was working at. He leaves and so she must work as a Maid at a Brothel. She keeps Pearl, but is left to fend for herself. Considering, she is quite resourceful, but looking for a better life.

Many incidents occur throughout a 3 year period. Some realistic, some not as much. Overall, enjoyable read. Contains Historic Details I had not known about. The Chinese Workers Massacre where 30 Chinese Gold Miners are murdered is known as the Hells Canyon Massacres. No one was ever brought to justice. Then she is shanghaied, which means stealing Chinese Workers and taking them by boat to work in another country, and also just general hatred for Chinese Americans. Although Celia can pass as White, she is actually 1/2 Chinese and this causes trouble and confusion for her.

The story jumps back and forth between 1888 and 1885, which I found a little confusing. This made it hard to follow at times. Also, considering that Celia is a Poor, Single Mother working at a Brothel, some of the situations she finds herself in seem fairly unrealistic. That includes the ending. Overall, it was a well paced and intriguing read though and I did really route for Celia. She is resourceful, quick thinking, smart, industrious, and a caring person who really wants a good life for her daughter.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks, and Kristina McMorris for a copy of this book. I always leave reviews for books I read.

Set in 1880s Oregon, this is a beautifully written, heartbreaking story of love, betrayal, and resilience. Celia wakes up in a cell in the underground tunnels of Portland, about to be sent off and used as forced labor. She recounts the past few years of her life as a maid in the mayor’s house until they uncover secrets that result in her being forced to work (as a maid) in a house of ill repute.

Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Girls of Good Fortune focuses on one particular girl whose only good fortune is not looking Chinese like her father. In the United States during a very contentious time, being Chinese can mean life of death. McMorris has a lovely story following Celia and her crisis of identity. The story itself was an enjoyable read full of emotion and character development. However, the plot did become a little muddied when action happened faster and seemingly with no reason. Things were difficult for Celia, but then they would become super easy to overcome. Her challenges fell more into her poor fortune and quest to deny her identity, leaving the ending a little inaccurate. Overall, I enjoyed the story for what it was, but felt the emotional connection to her heritage and an internal struggle on identity were lost to forced chaos.

The Girls of Good Fortune digs into a pice of history I have not read much about. First off, as someone from the PNW I was intrigued to read a historical fiction from the area. While I enjoyed the historical aspects of this book, I felt the story line didn't keep me going. There is action, there is emotional ties with children being involved, and horrifying events, however it didn't keep me engaged and wanting to come back until it was over. While I will recommend to historical fiction lovers, I'm not sure if it was a story that gave me the wow factor. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me an advanced ecopy to read in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel takes us back to the Portland in 1888 where Celia, a half-Chinese young woman has been “shanghaied” and finds herself in an underground cell where she will eventually be shipped off along with others as forced labor. Finding herself kidnapped, she reflects on the trajectory of her life that led her to this point and finds herself desperate to escape and find the daughter who has no idea her mother has been kidnapped.

We hear Celia’s backstory of coming from a good lineage of “good fortune” but ends up as the maid of the town’s shady mayor, finds work at a brothel when she finds herself penniless and pregnant, gets entangled with the murders of gold miners and eventually finding herself kidnapped.

But Celia is resourceful and her desperation to be reunited with her child gives her the resiliency she needs to get herself out of the mess she finds herself in.

I enjoy Kristina McMorris’s novels because I learn so much about tidbits of history that are long forgotten while weaving a very human story. The threads of love, loyalty and motherhood run deep through this novel, even though some of Celia’s decisions frustrated me and the end felt like everything was wrapped up nearly with a bow. But, I also knew nothing about the Shanghai tunnels and how they were used when anti-Chinese sentiments were running high in the country.

Thank you @bookmarked @netgalley for a #gifted early digital copy of this novel