This year has been slim on the 5 star reads aaaand THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTE 5 STAR BOOK!!

I tend to stray away from WW2 stories I’ve read so many, but this novel felt like a story I hadn’t read before. The Tang family has already fled Shanghai from Japanese occupation and believe Hong Kong to be safe under British occupation. Sadly that is far from the truth. Set in 1941, we follow three women, Mingzhu, her daughter Qiang and her servant/friend Biyu as they are taken and find themselves fighting not just for their freedom but for their country and future hope of reuniting with easier.

Ahh I just adored this story. It was high on action and narrative but also centered the women so well and showcased the power of fighting, resisting and hoping in your own individual way. Each women has a different journey but in a world where women have such little agency, “Men may have started this war, but let's ensure that women help to end it.”

“When sleeping women wake mountains move.”- Chinese proverb

When I read a historical fiction during wartime about THE WOMEN, this is what I want!!😉😆

This book had me in its grip right away and didn’t let go. Coincidentally, I’ve read several books recently about World War II in Asia, and I’m learning a lot and really enjoying it. This book specifically is about the Japanese occupation in Hong Kong and a mother, daughter, and maid who are separated by the occupation and endure unimaginable hardship.

Mingzhu is married to a wealthy man who ignores and disrespects her in favor of his concubine, so she dotes on her teenage daughter Qiang and spends time with her maid Biyu, who over the years has become like family to her. Mingzhu's family had to flee Shanghai due to the Japanese invasion only a few years ago, but Mingzhu’s husband is adamant that the British will protect them in Hong Kong, so they do not make any preparations or contingency plans. When the Japanese occupy Hong Kong, Mingzhu is forced to become a translator for the Imperial Army, while Qiang and Biyu get low-paying factory jobs. The three women must somehow navigate the new and frightening world, all while trying to make their way back together.

I found this very affecting and interesting. Following each character allowed me to see different facets of life in Japanese-occupied Hong Kong, and the writing is gorgeous and evocative. At its core, this is a story about unbreakable bonds and how people survive extremely horrific circumstances. At times the story is definitely heavy (hard to avoid when it concerns a violent occupation), but it's always anchored by the women's indomitable strength and perseverance, and I didn't feel as weighed down by the traumas as I expected I would. This is a beautiful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review!

When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin kept me up all one night. . .I had to find out how it all sorted out. In the beginning it was hard because of the terrible things the Japanese army imposed on the Chinese communities they invaded. . .so I had to take it in pieces. I'd become very invested in three Tang family members who had been forced from Shanghai: the mother - Mingzhu, the daughter - Qiang, and their faithful servant - Biyu. It is 1941, and they find themselves in Hong Kong, and forced to submit to the soldiers in so-called comfort stations, or if beauty or skillset supported other roles or the whims of those in authority, it was to that their bondage was tied.

When Sleeping Women Wake, Mountains Move.
- Chinese Proverb

The title comes from a proverb claimed by many cultures, but for the purposes of this book, the provenance claimed goes to China. These three women, along with the resistance of communities and self-selected fighters (all ages, both women and men) who fill all the aspects of resistance, show the single-minded focus, resilience and sacrifice when the shadow of war and terrorism overlays their beloved Hong Kong. These people are wide awake and moving their mountains, no matter the cost. That these fictional happenings are based on non-fictional events engaged me even further - I'm thinking about it still, weeks after having finished the read, and am ready to re-read.

The author mentions many books (including ancient ones!) that inspired these women, and her Historical Note at the end of the read generously lists them for those who want to pursue further research.

Emma Pei Yin's telling of this tale swept me away about 33% in, and I finished at dawn. . .like a waterslide that ended in a jump. . .and I'm still in the jump re-reading the end. It's open-ended, but I know - KNOW - how it ends. . .

This is the author's first book, and I'm looking forward to her future work. All the stars.

*A sincere thank you to Emma Pei Yin, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #WhenSleepingWomenWake #NetGalley

Beautifully written debut novel. Three strong enduring women take center stage here. Excell3nt read. Thank you Net Galley!

I occasionally get in the mood for historical fiction, especially if it takes place in a time or place I don't know much about. I will admit, I was a little nervous about this one--the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in WWII was brutal and graphic. Fortunately, this book handled the subject matter well. I felt like I understood the brutality that was happening without seeing much on the page, which prevented it from ever seeming gratuitously graphic. I felt like I could really see the resilience of the characters and the struggle they faced as they tried to figure out how to survive. My one complaint is that there were parts that felt much more "telling" than "showing" (especially near the end of the book) and that did make it harder for me to fully immerse in the characters and the plotline. It seemed like there was much more showing near the beginning of the book, so the shift to gradually more telling was unexpected and a little disappointing. That being said, I think this is a really good story for people who are interested in learning more about the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and honestly, I think it handles the more brutal content well enough that even younger teen audiences with enough maturity can read and enjoy it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy in exchange for an honest review!

There are a litany of atrocities committed by the Japanese Imperial Army during WW2 in Hong Kong (and other places) and the author doesn't mince any words describing them. It's an interesting juxtaposition with the dual love stories happening, but I guess that is life... or could be life. The book does serve as a good reminder of how we view different countries under different situations.

The story keeps you engaged and as an historical novel, it is a reasonable portrayal of this time period and place. I would have liked to have had more details on the resistance movement and the characters that were involved.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It can be very jarring to read but we need books like this.

This was... fine? This book follows three women: a mother, a daughter, and a "long-time confidante" (she works for the mother) throughout the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II. I picked this book up because I knew little to nothing about that occupation, and I have wanted to learn more about what occurred on the Eastern half of the globe during the War. While I know you're not supposed to pick up a fiction novel to learn about a historical event, I still expected something. This occupation felt generic, and I didn't really feel like it was any different than any other book I've read involving an occupation of some kind. The author didn't do as much writing about what the occupation was like and the politics that lead to the occupation -- I read a lot of fantasy so my mind goes to "lack of worldbuilding" but obviously that doesn't apply in historical fiction. There was just so little that made me feel like I was in Hong Kong and not [other city that has been occupied at some point].
The story of the women themselves were bland as well, and I didn't really feel like there was much there. This definitely falls more on the side of "women's fiction" than historical fiction, and that just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story provided an interesting look into what life might have been like in British-occupied Hong Kong in the late 1930s and early 1940s, especially after the Japanese occupation. The story focuses on three women — Mingzhu, her daughter Qiang, and her best friend (but also maidservant) Biyu. Relatively speaking, their lives before the Japanese occupation were better than most. They also had the opportunity to obtain a greater education than would have been typical for women in Chinese society. Which is not to say their lives were easy. Their families had already fled Shanghai in advance of the Japanese invasion. And despite their education, they were still subservient to Wei, Mingzhu’s husband and Qiang’s father.

However, when the Japanese invade Hong Kong, the lives of the three women are upended. They will find themselves in dangerous and trying situations but this change in circumstances will also enable them to take more agency over their individual lives. They will use their wits and resources to fight back against the Japanese.

While I can’t say I like the way things end up for one of the main female characters, it was an understandable choice by the author, lending more realism to the story. I do like how the author portrays the other two main female characters in the post-war years.

It was interesting to learn in the afterword which characters were real people or based on real people and which events were historical events or based on historical events.

This felt like the abridged version of what could have been a really long, immersive novel.

The plot was absolutely there. I liked learning about ‘the resistance’ in a non-European corner of the world, and it was a much appreciated bonus that the story focused on the experiences of women in Hong Kong’s struggle under Japanese occupation.

While the bones of the story were solid, I often felt like it was missing the detail I needed to fully embed in the setting and to emotionally connect. I would have preferred more background on the war, more descriptions of Hong Kong, and more day to day with the characters. I wanted to fully understand what it was like to live during this time, and I don’t think the book quite took me there.

On the flip, if you’re plot driven reader that gets bored with too much description, you could really enjoy this. It’s a good story, the execution just didn’t quite line up with my taste.

Not the faunt of an impressive debut, but I found that it took me forever to read this grim, fictionalized account. For some reason I can bear reading biographical data or historical about such wrenching subject but fiction, especially these days is a slow go. Your mileage may vary.

A powerful narrative, but of all the characters, in some of their decisions, I had a hard time identifying with Mingzhu. I will read other books by Emma Pei Yin, this was a remarkable debut.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion. A mother, her daughter, and their maid are torn apart one fateful night, during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941. This story follows their POVs as they fight to survive. The book is well written and inspiring, I was hooked from the beginning to end . I was immersed in the plot and characters. In the back drop of violence, there is hope and determination to fight for their way back to each other no matter what.

5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
When Sleeping Women Wake
Author: Emma Pei Yin

Grateful every day for my buddy reads with Vee and for her introducing me to amazing books I would not normally read on my own! This book was incredible. Three women make their way during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong in 1941. A mother, her daughter, and their maid are torn apart one fateful night, and we watch their stories unfold and get each of their POVs. It’s beautiful how their journeys are all far apart, but still woven together. The end was gut wrenching, yet beautiful at the same time. The strength of these women, and each of their individual impacts on the war was inspiring. I loved how the author used real people, events, and places in this book. I highly recommend reading the acknowledgments at the end. An amazing historical fiction read. Thank you Random House Publishing and Netgalley for my ARC!

Thank you @ballantinebooks for the gifted ARC!

"When sleeping women wake mountains move"

Title: When Sleeping Women Wake
Author: Emma Pei Yin
Pub Date: June 17, 2025

This book had me super excited for three main reasons! One, it's a debut and I love nothing more than a great debut! Second, it revolves around unlikely friendships. Third, it's about a part of history I know little about: Japanese occupation of Hong Kong in World War II.

I learned so much I didn't know about that time period in Hong Kong. So many of the WWII books I've read have been set in France, Germany, etc. that it was very interesting to read about familiar time periods from a different perspective.

The plot was a little slower paced in my opinion, but the real reason I wanted to keep reading on and on was because of how connected I became to the characters. The pacing at the end was perfect and the ending was wonderful!

Overall, I'm glad I read it, I learned a lot, and I can't wat to see what she writes next!

This was a well-written and thoroughly researched novel exploring the Japanese occupation of Hong King during World War II. I found it compulsively readable, with lots of character growth in the beginning and an action-packed finale. Highly recommended for fans of World War II and Asian fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a quick and entertaining read that I finished in a few hours.
A well written story that kept me hooked from the very beginning.
The characters draw you in and keeps you flipping the pages.
The characters were all realistic and very well developed.
I really enjoyed the writing style. I found myself hooked, turning the pages.
A great debut title.

Thank you to Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House Publishing Group, and Netgalley for the digital arc.
Well structured plot revolves around the survival of three women, Mingzhu, her maid Biyu, and Mingzhu’s daughter, Qiang, during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong and Shanghai in WWII. The challenges, convictions, and the literary references , all work to paint a striking picture of each character's personal development against the backdrop occupation and resistance. I highly recommend “When Sleeping Women Wake”.
#WhenSleepingWomenWake

4.5/5 Stars

When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin focuses on three women who find themselves on very different paths when the Japanese being to occupy Hong Kong.

How far will each woman go to survive? Gripping, sad, but even with some hope this novel is a page turning read that I highly recommend.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

I did enjoy this story, I think it’s a really strong debut novel. The plot and setting are spot on. It has a great cast of characters, but there were a few times I wished the development had gone a bit deeper. These women all face impossible challenges and rise above them, but sometimes that growth seemed to be rushed or glossed over. Still, it is a wonderful story.

I discovered When Sleeping Women Wake through NetGalley and am so glad I did. The historical fiction novel chronicles the life of three women during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during WWII. I am not as familiar with the Pacific Theatre of WWII as I should be, so this novel was a great jumping off point for wanting to learn more about the history. The three leads in this novel are all strong and empathetic while being very different from one another. The setting is of course a very dark one, but When Sleeping Women Wake focuses on the personal growth of these three women and does not get too dark, for the most part. I look forward to reading more from Emma Pei Yin!