Kristina McMorris is one of the top historical fiction writers that I have read. The history that she shares is not well-known events, but they happened, and they deserve to be recognized. The Girls of Good Fortune is a story of racial divide and bigotry.

There are two storylines. Celia’s past and the kidnapping storyline. It took me some time to get invested in the story but once I did, I could not stop reading. I loved Celia’s grit and strength. The world she lives in is dangerous for her. She does what she can to keep herself safe but also stand up for the Chinese that have been done wrong. The kidnapping storyline is tough to read. I cannot imagine the fear she felt as she was forced to make choices that might cause her to never get back to her home.

The Girls of Good Fortune is an amazing historical fiction book. I could not put it down once the story got going. I am in awe of all the research that must have been done by the author. I recommend this book to any historical fiction reader.

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris was a historical fiction, was a beautifully written book that set in 1880s Portland, Amid the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realises she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment, she fears that far more than her own fate lay at stake.

As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a gold miners' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove even more deadly than the dark recesses of Chinatown.

This book took my breath away and was beautifully written especially as it was a hard topic to write about and was very moving, gripping, and heartbreaking throughout. I need to get The Girls of Good Fortune on audiobook to listen and take this book in again, and again. . . . . . Hence why I said it took my breath away!

Oh wow this one moved my heart. You saw it all playing out right from the start but the writing kept you going page after page. The sweet nativity of Celia to the resilient woman she becomes I was enthralled. I was saddened to learn of what Asian’s endured during this era but glad to be enlightened as well. Well paced book that is 100% memorable. Would recommend for a book club pick for sure!

When I started to read this story, I wasn’t sure that I wanted to commit to a book with so many chapters. Very soon , I was totally engrossed, compelled to read long into the night. I have read hundreds of books but never have I seen a heroine with that degree of strength and courage! She not only survived one calamity after another, she triumphed! An amazing story of resiliency, and an eye opening account of the atrocities committed upon the Chinese brought to the Pacific Northwest to work on the railroads in the late 1880’s.

Racism was rampant in late 19th-century Portland, and few suffered more than Chinese immigrants. Celia, born to a Chinese father and a white mother, passes as Caucasian—an unspoken advantage that allows her to navigate a hostile world. But when she falls for her wealthy employers’ son, his family cruelly rejects her knowing her true heritage. Her employer offers her a bribe to disappear. She refuses.

Forced out her home, Celia is grateful when her former employer secures her a new job—until she discovers it’s at a brothel. To her relief, she’s hired as a cleaner rather than a working girl. What first feels degrading slowly transforms into an unexpected sanctuary. The brothel, despite its rough edges, becomes a place of strange comfort and complicated camaraderie.

Still hiding her lineage, Celia is shaken when a visiting customer makes a horrifying confession she was never meant to hear—he was involved in a massacre of Chinese immigrants. Driven by conscience, she confronts him, begging him to report the atrocity. But speaking up in a city that would rather stay silent has consequences. Her determination to seek justice draws the attention of powerful and dangerous men, and soon Celia finds herself targeted.

Much like the labyrinthine Shanghai Tunnels beneath Portland, Celia’s story twists and turns, but each thread eventually weaves into a powerful whole. Impulsive yet compassionate, Celia emerges as a heroine whose personal journey shines a light on a dark chapter of American history. Her legacy—passed down through generations—becomes a testament to identity, resilience, and the courage to speak the truth in a world built on lies.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and of course the author Kristina McMorris for the advanced copy of the book. The Girls of Good Fortune is out now. All opinions are my own.

This was a good book with a different perspective on historical fiction but definitely offers an unusual story line. Celia works as a maid for the mayor in Portland, but has plans for a much better life for herself. She is in love with the mayor's son, Stephen, and he plans to marry her when he comes back from earning his medical degree. Shortly after he sets sail however, she discovers she is pregnant with Stephen's baby. Celia implores the mayor & his wife to contact Stephen to let him know, but instead, they terminate her employment and send her to a brothel to work as a maid. Celia - being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment - discovers that her father is killed in a goldminers massacre, and vows to get revenge. However, in the process of trying to obtain information, Celia gets "shanghaied" . She awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised, in the subterranean labyrinth of the notorious Shanghai Tunnels. Celia realizes she is on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Desperate, she must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove deadlier than the dark recesses of Chinatown. Definitely would recommend as there is a lot to this story and it was well written. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and Sourcebook/Landmark.

Having read another book by this author, I was excited to read The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris, and I was not disappointed.

Being a person of Chinese descent in Portland in 1888, Celia had a difficult upbringing, but she was able to hide her ancestry to make life a little easier. When she gives birth as a single mother, she has few choices to make a living, but she does her best to raise her daughter despite many challenges. Without giving spoilers, I will say some themes in the book are resilience and family loyalty. Although the various plot lines did not converge as smoothly as I would have liked and the ending felt a little rushed, the strong writing and historical setting make this a highly worthwhile read.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

As usual, Kristina McMorris writes a powerful story that packs a powerful punch. Her novels always resonate with me simply because I'm human. Her ability to strip stories down to that barest level is inspiring. This was something I had no idea about and was enthralled with her story as such. She's constantly opening readers mind applying compassion and empathy. Her writing is exquisite, her ability to draw you into a story is perfect. She sees the best and the worst in people and somehow manages to write a riveting story intertwining the two. It's not an easy. light read but it is deeply moving and profound. I need to read every Kristina McMorris title now.

Book Review: The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris

Rating: 4 Stars

I recently finished The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris, and it was a compelling read that earned a solid four stars from me. The story is set in 1888 Portland, Oregon, where the infamous Shanghai Tunnels form a dark and dangerous backdrop. The protagonist, Celia, wakes up drugged and disguised in an underground cell, realizing she’s been “shanghaied” — kidnapped to be sold into forced labor. What makes her story even more gripping is her mixed heritage; being half-Chinese but passing as white during a time of harsh anti-Chinese sentiment adds layers of tension and complexity to her struggle for survival.

As Celia pieces together how she ended up in this dire situation—from her time working as a maid for a questionable mayor’s family to uncovering the truth behind a goldminer's massacre—the stakes grow higher, her determination to escape and protect those she loves drives the narrative forward with heart-pounding urgency.

Beyond the thrilling plot, this novel dives deep into themes of family, identity, and resilience. It beautifully highlights how stories from our past shape us and how strength can be found even in the darkest places.

I also have to mention the cover — it’s stunning and really caught my eye! The writing itself is thoughtful and evocative, pulling you into the era with vivid detail and emotion. For fans of historical fiction, this book offers a well-researched and moving experience filled with moments of heartbreak but also hope and compassion. I also loved the added recipes the author included at the end.

Overall, The Girls of Good Fortune is an exceptional story that’s both captivating and insightful. It held me captivated from start to finish, and I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical dramas with rich characters and meaningful themes.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

2.5 stars.

The Girls of Good Fortune started out great. It was interesting to learn more about an unknown piece of history with the prejudices and atrocities committed against Chinese people in Oregon in the late 1800s.

But about halfway through the book, the story takes a turn and it feels like a completely different story. It turns into a wild adventure story that was just really hard to believe and take seriously. And it strays away from the original historical context which I thought was the most compelling part of the novel.

Ultimately this one ended up being a disappointment for me as I really struggled to get through the second half of the book. But I was still grateful to read it, as I always appreciate historical fiction that helps me to learn more about pieces of history that are typically overlooked.

I love reading books that teach me history in a way I can enjoy and understand. Kristina McMorris did just that. I had no idea of this time in history, and it was so close to home!

It took some time for me to be invested in this book, but by halfway through, I was on the edge of my seat and anxious for Celia and Owen.

I was not totally satisfied with the ending, jumping from 1888 to 1995. However, looking back, it's just my crazy opinion that perhaps the word "epilogue" should have come before the date August 1995.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an advanced reader copy of The Girls of Good Fortune in exchange for my honest review.

It is 1888 in Oregon and Celia is half Chinese and passing for white. She has a position in the mayor's home as a nanny but she falls in love with the son, Stephen. Just before he leaves for Europe for four years he proposes but then finds out she is pregnant. She is forced to leave her position and take one in a brothel as a maid. The story starts with Celia waking up in a tunnel wearing men's clothes and then it jumps back and forth between then and the previous three years which I found kind of confusing and detracting from the real time story. About half way into the book we finally just move along in 1988.

This is not a short book and still I didn't feel like the characters were that well developed. The crux of the story was to portray how awful the Chinese were treated but I never felt the horror of it all and wondered what a young unmarried woman with a daughter, working in a brothel was going to do and she makes some very bad decisions. Then the second half of the book reads like an adventure as she is mistaken for a man and forced to work on a ship all the while hiding her identity. Then the epilogue jumps to 1995 and it sounds like she had a great life which might have been an interesting story to read about.

I will read another book by this author as I really enjoyed her previous works but this one just didn't land for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with a digital copy.

For me, a good historical fiction novel not only tells a good story but also introduces me to a person or event that I was previously unaware of. I had slight knowledge of the treatment of Chinese in America in the late 1800’s, just enough to know it wasn’t good. THE GIRLS OF GOOD FORTUNE by Kristina McMorris introduces Celia, a half Chinese young woman who hides her paternity to find a job and fit in, who, as she was growing up, turned her back on her heritage. Her employers are aware of it, but when her father is killed in a riot and her employers find she has a relationship with their son, who is studying abroad, she gets sent away to work in a brothel and raise her child alone. When Celia inadvertently becomes privy to knowledge of another mass murder of Chinese men, she is determined to see justice done, which isn’t easy.
Her journey to find justice puts her on a path that requires resilience and resolve and ultimately embrace her cultural identity and finds the person she is meant to be. McMorris created a character and storyline that was intriguing and left me interested in learning more. I highly recommend picking this one up.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of the novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.

1888 is not medieval times but it literally could be. Celia working for an ultra rich family in Portland fell in love with the son of the house. It is not a relationship that would be accepted and Celia knew that. When she fell pregnant and was thrown out of the house, into the hands of a brothel, Celia had hit rock bottom. Never giving up on her dream of reconciliation with her lover, she kept her head down and got on with life.

The massacre at Little Rock’s which included the murder of her Chinese father was a catalyst for Celia to do something to get justice. Highlighting the case and bringing publicity was not going to do any good as the Chinese miners were considered by the whites to be subversive and dangerous. That they were murdered in cold blood for no reason other than the fact that they were hard working was not a plus in their favor. Celia was then kidnapped and put on a boat to get her out of the way. Her escape and return to Portland is a story in itself. Her uncovering of the high connections to the brothel trade was another.

The story of immense courage and a search for identity, a search for justice is the focus of the story. The romance and the happily ever after is secondary.

Descriptive in every aspect from the hypocrisy of the establishment, to the poverty and the brothels of Portland the story was an intense one. I did not find this an easy or comfortable read, just grateful to be born in present times with no strictures or unfair boundaries.

Girls of Good Fortune is a powerful, uplifting story that celebrates the strength and resilience of young women forging their own paths. Each character faces unique challenges, but it's their determination, courage, and growth that truly shine.

Rather than relying on privilege or luck, these girls learn to trust themselves and take control of their futures. It's an inspiring reminder that real fortune lies in self-belief and inner strength. A must-read for anyone who values empowerment and personal growth.

Many thanks to Netgalley and sourcebooks landmark for shining a light on the history of the shanghai tunnels and the hope of many.

I am a huge fan of Kristina McMorris' work so I was thrilled when I received an ARC of her newest release, The Girls of Good Fortune. One of the reasons I so respect McMorris' previous works is her apparent research to historical details.

The Girls of Good Fortune is a book that shines the light on a little known (in my opinion) history of prejudice to Chinese immigrants in the late 1800s specifically in the Pacific Northwest.

The main character is Celia who is the daughter of a Chinese man and an American woman. Her physical characteristics do not reveal to others that she is of Chinese decent and she does not make this fact public in light of the the risks it would pose to her safety and overall treatment.

The book is really a book of two different stories. The first part of the book I was able to enjoy for the most part even though I found Celia to be reckless despite the known risks

The second half of the book felt completely 100% unbelievable to me. This is the reason for my 2 star rating. Her encounters with Frank did not feel realistic especially when Celia went to a different town to sit in on the trial of Frank and his cohorts. How would someone of her status not to mention a single mother of a young girl be able to travel to a different city by train, afford a hotel, sit in on the trial etc.

I had such high hopes for this book but it fell short for me. I know I am an in the minority but not all books are for all people

I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Like McMorris’s previous novels, The Girls of Good Fortune was easy to get into and held my interest throughout. I enjoyed learning about the historical Shanghai Tunnels and the massacre of Chinese gold miners in Oregon in the late 1800s—events I hadn’t known about before. Celia starts off as a strong and determined character, but that shifts about halfway through the book as she begins making impulsive decisions during her wild ‘adventure.’ The story wraps up neatly, which many readers will appreciate. Worth a read! 3.5 stars.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a digital copy of this novel.

This somewhat true tale of a mixed race (White/Chinese) woman of the late 19th century reads very much like a novel from that time period. Includes plenty of the struggles that you would normally read of a woman from that time period, as well as the various class differences that were often depicted of that era. Added to that, our protagonist Celia, also has to contend with the discrimination towards the Chinese which was rampant then. Her father, being Chinese, and her mother, a White American, Celia always tries to hide her heritage just so that she can get by without the burden of others looking down on her. Add to that, her affair with the son of a high ranking family of the community which results in a whole kettle of trouble for her. I won't spoil you with the details because it all makes for good reading in a book that is hard to put down once started.

There's plenty of intrigue and unexpected twists and turns along the way. At one point, I couldn't help but think that this novel reminded me a bit of the Voltaire novel Candide. There is a whole cast of colorful characters that all have their part to play in interesting ways. What makes this all even more interesting is that a lot of this story is true. The author does elucidate a little further within some of the writings before and after the main story which are all well worth reading in themselves. Helps you to determine what parts are true, as well as which are totally fictionalized to enhance the story. In this case, there's a little more fiction that many other Historical Fiction novels, but it's rather surprising how much, and specifically what, is actually true.

A very entertaining novel for anyone who enjoys a good read, especially regarding the time period during the late 19th Century. Reads easily and is truly one of those books that you cannot put down.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of the eBook in lieu of a review.

This is a fast read combining historical facts with a frictional adventure.
The extreme measures taken when a servant of mixed race became pregnant by the son of the house for it not to become a problem in the political career of the would-be grandparent. The mass murder of the Chinese miners is based on facts. That one of the murdered men was the father of Celia just fits nicely in the story as to show how alone she is in her current situation. We see the hatred developing towards the Chinese workers. It is bad that about 140 years later we have the same attitude towards our current emigrants. We never seem to learn from history. I always enjoy the stories written by Kristina McMorris and this book was no exception. She did research on historical events prior to drafting the book so please take the time to read her notes at the end of the book.

When I was around 5, my father took me
on a trip by train across Canada to visit my
reat-grandmother. I was too young to know how
long we were on the train, but I remember it felt
like forever. I remember wondering who built it.
I wondered how they managed to lay the tracks
througn mountains, over water, and the rough
terrain of Canada. I asked my dad, and he told
me about the Chinese workers who had come in
search of a better life for themselves and their
families. I was too young to understand, so later
on, when I was older, I researched myself.
Non-fiction can be dry and doesn't have that
human element that is sometimes needed to see
the full picture. There are a few social maladies
that are examined in this book that are sadly still
issues today. Somehow, the author manages to
find a place for these various issues in the story
she is telling while making it an engaging but knowledgeable read. Through Celia's experiences
and choices, you get a glimpse into the stark
reality that was the Shanghai Tunnels while
also learning in a very real way about the brave,
hardworking Chinese immigrants who worked
on the railroad, mines and basically took any
dangerous job that others would not while facing
violence and prejudice. Yes, the book takes place
in the United States, but the experience and
prejudice Chinese immigrants faced were much
the same in Canada. Finding out that the author
shared a little of her own personal family history
enhanced the impact the book had on me. I've
read one other book by Kristina McMorris, but this one is my favourite.