In Oregon 1888, drugged and disguised Celia awakens in an underground cell. She realizes that she is a “shanghaied” girl on the verge being shipped off as forced labor. She is half Chinese and half white. She passes white in the anti-Chinese sentiment time. As she pieces together the 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 goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets could prove deadly.

A captivating tale of resilience and hope, the novel explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface. In this page-turning novel, the author shows a forgotten corner of America, where immigrants faced horrible odds, as well as on one woman's fight. It’s a tale of identity, and redemption that kept me from stopping reading till very late at night. It’s terrific historical fiction.

The Girls of Good Fortune
Historical novels are my favorite genre, as I am always learning something I didn’t know. In that respect, this novel was no exception. I didn’t know about the discrimination and hatred of the Chinese at the end of the 19 th century in the US. The events are told through Celia’s story, who is part Chinese, but passes as white. The story got my attention in the beginning and really was looking forward to a good novel. However,about half way through the book, it got less and less likable and totally contrite. At the end the author gave us a totally unbelievable happy ending and tied it up in a nice bow. I can’t give this novel more than three stars.
I received a complimentary copy, opinions are my own.

Oregon is a blue state and known for its progressive ideals, but it wasn't always that way and that's mainly the cities where people move there from somewhere else. I've been a lifelong Oregonian aside from college and a gap year, and I've heard a little about its racist history. I certainly never learned about it in school. There's a reason why my state is so white and it was intentional.

I picked up this book because I rarely see fiction set in Oregon and centering Oregon history. This was a gripping work of well-researched historical fiction, the kind that brings dry transcripts to life with colorful details about adventure, epic romance, hardship, and prejudice.

This is the story of Celia Hart, a white-passing housemaid who has hid her true heritage in a society in 1888 where that could land her in jail or worse. Her father is a Chinese miner. Over furtive glances and late-night fireside chess games, she falls for her employer's son. But his racist mother and his father, the mayor's, ties to extremists doom the naivete of their union. I almost couldn't believe they could be so naive, but it was first young love.

Celia and Stephen have one whirlwind night together before he's sent away to medical school. Pregnant, she is sent away to become a housekeeper at a brothel managed by a Chinese madam with a brusque manner and a heart of gold.

I was ready to be angry at Stephen for his betrayal for most of the book as Celia follows a swashbuckling adventure, from witnessing a sham trial for the massacre of Chinese miners to getting kidnapped and sold into forced labor. It's almost incredible the amount of adventure she got herself into. But it was a good lens into the brutality, racism and transphobia of the time (Celia isn't trans, but she disguises herself as a man for protection and she is nearly sent away to an asylum for conversion therapy for gender identity fraud instead of the theft of bread that she was accused of.)

But the romance with Stephen was epic and heartwarming, proving to be a love story for generations to come. I loved how Celia needed to know that she could do all this alone in a time and place hostile to those of Chinese heritage.

I also loved how Celia had a passion for baking and the book included recipes at the end. This is definitely not a cozy book, however.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I was so disappointed in this book. I like the time and place but the first half deals with a predictable love story and then a single mother struggling to support a baby and it just felt like this has been done time and time again.
Thank to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a honest view. Sadly this book was not for me.2.5⭐️

3.5🌟

The Girls of Good Fortune is my second Kristina McMorris novel (the other was Sold on a Monday). I enjoyed being introduced to an unknown (to me) historical event regarding immigrants in the US. She managed to weave an intriguing tale featuring compelling characters. I was drawn into Celia's heartbreak and quest for survival.

Unfortunately for me, her endings fall flat. I don't want to give spoilers, so I won't say why, but I hate how things get wrapped up. The first ~90-95% is always captivating, and then...whomp whomp. I'm unsure if I'm the only one who feels this way.

Recommended for historical fiction lovers.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC.

*I was torn between rating this a 3 or a 4 because of the ending, but ultimately decided to round up to 4 since many readers would enjoy this book.

This is a story about a subject I knew nothing about and was thoroughly entertained and informed with. It is a historic take I’d hoe and strength and the power of women and adapting to what life throws at you.
The story is well researched and well written in two timelines of 1888 and 1885 and covers love, politics, motherhood, murder, racism and corruption. It is not a light read but it was a good and important one.
I especially enjoyed the authors note that covered the real life atrocities that were touched on in the story.
Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for this eArc in exchange for my review.

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris depicts a time in the USA where the Chinese people were treated badly. Celia the main character in this book, has personal experience in terms of both herself and her father.

However Celia is a very strong character, she needs to be, fortune doesn't seem to favor her for a long time. She has been thrown out of work by the family she works for, she is expecting a child, the father seemingly gone. And she has bad news about her father.

When she is kidnapped and taken on a rather strange journey that is full of danger, she faces forward. While all seems lost, she doesn't give up. All through this time she has people who help her until she can get to where she wants to be.

The book ended a little differently than I expected and I have to say I was really delighted. Good fortune came to pass.

The book really shows the fortitude of a mother, the terrible treatment of an immigrant people, and brings to the fore the proud heritage of those in our families that went before us. As well it gives us the other side of people who were good and helped someone needing it.

The book is well written, not padded out with lots of extra detail and is a book I'd happily recommend.

The Girls of Good Fortune looks at the anti-Chinese sentiment that overtook the US in the 1800s, as well as what it actually means to be “shanghaied.”
In the subterranean Shanghai Tunnels in 1888, Portland, Celia wakes up drugged and dressed like a man. She is a cell, soon to be shipped off as a slave far away from her child. Celia, being half-Chinese but able to pass for White, has had a complicated life. Her father was killed in a gold miner’s massacre in an anti-Chinese riot. Then she is turned out of the mayor’s house when she becomes pregnant with his son’s child. She has survived so far on a little luck. Will fortune continue to shine on her and allow Celia to make it home and find her daughter?
This novel was very unsatisfying. McMorris isn’t a very good writer. This is the second book I’ve read from her, and both show she tackles too many plot points while ignoring the emotional and developmental arcs of the characters that she puts through these trials. When I read Sold on a Monday, I had hopes that with time, McMorris would grow into her aspirations as a writer. But with The Girls of Good Fortune, I see that is not the case. In fact, I thought this was worse.
Why was I so unsatisfied? First, the writing is very basic. This can make the book go by quickly, but there are times when the story needs to slow down. I want to feel Celia’s grief when her father dies; I want to feel her loneliness when she is cast out of the home where she worked. But you don’t get that when you get basic action sentences. McMorris doesn’t develop emotional aspects much. And there are so many emotional elements in this book: anti-Chinese sentiment, classism, LGBTQ+ issues, sex work, slavery, forced adoption, and more. But Celia moves in and out of these quickly with very little thought (the only exception being the Chinese issue, as that is an identifier for her). Each page I turned, I was like, “What have you added now? Can we just not deal with the actual issue at hand?”
While this historical fiction looks at some great issues in American history, The Girls of Good Fortune lacks heart and emotion. I never felt the emotional release I needed, and left the book feeling unsatisfied.

Set in the 1880's The Girls of Good Fortune offers a snapshot of xenophobia and the trials of Chinese immigrants in the US and Oregon in particular.
This is the first book I've read by this author. She has done her research, much of which is fascinating, in particular the description of the Shanghai tunnels beneath Portland, but for me the novel leaned too much into romance. A love match between a housekeeper and the son of a prominent figure is a story that is often told. I wasn't engaged.
Told In two timelines the story moves from romance to abduction and adventure. I would have liked to see deeper character development. The opium smoking madame who turns out to have a heart of gold and the unethical politician seemed like caricatures.
Maybe I am not the audience for this novel, Women's lit can be hit or miss, although this was a miss for me, I can envision the story as an interesting movie.

*Thank you to the publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC via Netgalley, in exchange for honest review. All opinions are my own*
Inspiring, engrossing, heart breaking.

The Girls of Good Fortune is an outstanding novel about family, love, motherhood, hope, and strength. It’s clear from the moment that I started reading the book how much research the author had done. I liked how, toward the end of the book, the author addresses some of the story's historical components.
It made me curious enough that I ended up doing my own research once I finished the book. The Girls of Good Fortune is a story that makes you think. While reading the story, I occasionally paused to reflect on what I had read. It's a compelling story with a significant impact. I'm still reflecting on what happened.

I adored Celia; she was a strong and determined character. Celia went through so much between 1885 and 18888. However, she never gave up. Celia had one of the best character developments I've ever read about. Every chapter left me wondering what would happen to Celia next and where she would end up. On several occasions I stayed up late reading because I couldn't put the book down, and I had to know how Celia's story ended. I loved most of the story, though I did feel that the first half of the story was a bit slower than the second half of the story. I loved the descriptions throughout the novel, and it felt like I was on a journey together with Celia.

I loved that it was told from Dual timelines, and how it told story of Celia before and after. Even though I enjoyed both timelines, I was particularly drawn to 1888. Kristina McMorris's The Girls of Good Fortune was my second novel following The Ways We Hide , and I'm excited to read more of her work. This is the book that should be read, especially if you love historical fiction. It’s unlike other historical fiction I read before, it’s unique and I would highly recommend checking it out.

I was instantly invested in this novel about a young woman who was subject to the prejudices of the Chinese in the late 1880’s. Celia Hart is the child of a white mother and Chinese father. When her mother dies, Celia’s father places her into service as a maid for the mayor of Portland. Because her father worked on the Pacific Railway and later as a miner, he felt Celia was safer working as a maid and passing as white by using her mother’s maiden name.

Right around the time Celia is becoming of age, she falls in love and tragedy finds her. Fired from her job, then forced to live and work as a maid in a brothel, Celia proves her strength, especially when she is “shanghai’d” and finds herself on a ship posing as a man and working as a sailor.

Luckily her fortune soon changes and events transpire to give Celia the life she had long dreamed of. I loved this tale of a strong woman and the group of women that helped her during her time of need.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to give my honest review and recommend this to other readers.

Beautifully written story about making sure to know the past to keep history from repeating itself. Told in two timelines, Celia must navigate her way through anti-Chinese sentiment running rampant in 1880’s Portland. Great historical read, and well researched.

Celia is half Chinese and she is a house maid for the mayor of her town. She is also in love with the mayor’s son. This forbidden love soon leads to her downfall. As you can guess, she gets pregnant. But from there, her story takes a unique twist.

Celia ends up becoming a maid for a brothel. This becomes her saving grace and it puts her in danger as well!

This story takes on the prejudices against the Chinese, the resilience to survive and the power of love. And believe me, it will also have you researching the tunnels and the history of Portland. I enjoy a book which has me researching!

I did fluctuate between 4 and 5 stars. The reason I settled on 4 stars is part of this story just seems a bit far fetched. When Cecilia is Shanghaied and ends up on a boat full of men, I just don’t think she could have hid her identity for that long of a time period AND I do not think she could have escaped the way she did. But, it sure makes for a dramatic read.

Need a fast paced, intricate tale full of drama, heartbreak and great history…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

McMorris's fans and those who enjoy historical fiction will find much to like about this novel about a half Chinese woman trying to make it on her own in 1885 Portland. While the framework of the plot might not surprise you (servant who falls for scion of wealthy family and is sent to work as a maid for an ultimately kind madam at a brothel when she gets pregnant), it's the details of anti-Chinese prejudice and the attacks on Chinese miners that make this different. Celia's life is filled-filled-with melodrama but she's got spunk and a determination to keep her daughter. McMorris is a good storyteller and I kept reading even when I was doing a bit of eyerolling when Celia ended up in the ship. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

Do we ever know the full story of our family's lineage?

Celia Hart lives in Oregon in the late 1800's whose ability to survive as a half Chinese person at a time and in a place where anti-Asian sentiments are prevalent has been tied to her ability to pass for white. When she awakens in an underground cell she soon realizes that she has been taken..."shanghaied"...and will be shipped away from home and those she loves and placed into forced labor, an all-too-common occurrence for Asian-Americans at the time. How did this happen to her? She was working for a local mayor's family, one who was certainly on the shady side, and she became romantically involved with his son...could that have angered or worried someone? She also had become involved with looking into an act of violence against a group of Chinese, which may have contributed to someone wanting her gone. However she came to be in captivity, Celia knows that she is not the only person now at risk (although that is frightening enough); if she doesn't figure out how to escape from her captors, a child she loves may also share her fate.
The story unfolds in different time periods, first flipping between 1885/1886 (when the events that lead to her abduction are unfolding) and 1888 (when she wakes up in the tunnels under Portland), and at the very end of the book in 1995, when several generations later the truth of things that happened in those earlier years come to the attention of the public at large. There is a tremendous amount of information, clearly the result of diligent research on the part of author Kristina McMorris...the existence of Portland's Shanghai Tunnels which were used to transport people of Asian heritage against their will into slavery, the massacre of more than thirty Chinese gold miners for which despite a confession and other evidence the accused walked free after a brief trial (and ending up $55K richer). The novel deals with themes of racism, identity, and the strength people are able to summon when they confront adversity. Celia and the times in which she lived are vividly portrayed, and her courage and determination help to define her as a strong female character. The pacing was uneven at times, although it picked up in the later part of the book, and I was invested enough in Celia's story to want to continue. Readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly where issues of culture and identity are involved (authors like Janie Chang, Eve J. Chung and Kristin Hannah come to mind), will likely find this a welcome addition to their TBR pile. My thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebook Landmarks for allowing me access to this poignant and informative novel in exchange for my honest review.

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris is an excellent historical fiction book. The story takes place in the late 19th century in Oregon when Chinese Americans are being horribly discriminated against. The main character, Celia, is half Chinese and is able to pass as she looks white. The beginning of this novel is confusing and horrifying, but it leads us into the story.
I didn’t know anything about this period of American history but Kristina McMorris has done a great job in her research and we learn it through this story. McMorris does an excellent job of showing us the good and bad in people.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and Net Galley for this e-ARC. I very much recommend this book.

Portland 1888 - Celia is an expert on hiding. She hides the fact that she's half Chinese, during a time when anti-Chinese sentiment is strong and accepted. When she wakes up in an underground cell, she'll need all the skills she's learned during her years to hide well enough to escape and find her way back home.

This is an excellent historical fiction story that gives you hope while also breaking your heart. Celia and the women she meets along the way are all strong, well-written characters. I was drawn to her story and was riveted as she fought her way back home.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for providing me with an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Available May 20, 2025

Many thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and RB Media for gifting me both a digital and audio ARC of this historical fiction novel by Kristina McMorris, with the audiobook wonderfully narrated by Cindy Kay. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

It's Portland, 1888, when a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor. In an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment, being half-Chinese she is used to adapting for survival. She must find a way to escape.

This was a historical time period in Portland that I have never heard about. As always with McMorris's books, it is meticulously researched and you can definitely feel like you are in another world. As Celia awakes, she goes back in time to 1885, remembering how she got where she is, determined to fight for her life. I had to pay close attention to the year so as not to be confused, but once it was all set in the same time period, it flowed easier for me. It's a beautiful reminder of how important stories are to be passed through the generations, as well as a story of hope and human resilience in the face of evil. The narration was wonderful and added to the atmospheric feel of this book.

The story takes place in the late 1800’s and is addressing the atrocities committed against the Chinese in the US.

The main character, Celia, is half-Chinese.

I almost feel like I read 2 books. The story is told in two timelines. One side of the story is a love story between Celia and the son of a wealthy and politically prestigious family that she works for.

The second timeline is more of an adventure novel as Celia goes off trying to bring justice for murdered Chinese. It has disguises, kidnapping, and harrowing escape after harrowing escape. It just felt like a strange way to present such a serious topic and felt jarring to me.

I would have much preferred less adventure and more historical fiction. But if you want an adventure story, this one is for you.

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The heartbreaking historical pieces were meticulously researched. The characters were well-developed, and the pace was fast. I was captivated by the complex and powerful tale of murder and corruption, balanced by friendship, love, and a battle for justice. Even though Celia was naive and made some dangerously questionable decisions, she was also brave, fiercely determined, and resourceful—I was rooting for her the entire time. Some of the side characters were just as strong—Marie and Lettie were two of my favorites. Overall, a beautifully done must-read.