This was a beautifully done novel, it had that element that I was looking for, the women were perfectly written and had that realism that I was looking for in this type of book. It weaved a strong tale and was hooked from the first page, I really enjoyed the way Emma Pei Yin wrote this and am excited for more.

Genre: Historical Fiction/Women’s Fiction
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine
Pub. Date: Jun 17 2025

The author brings us back in time to the 1940s during the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong. The story focuses on a Chinese mother and daughter and their part in the Chinese underground résistance. The title refers to the Chinese proverb, which means that when a woman realizes her inner strength, she begins to use it. The novel is well researched, yet still, the story comes off more about the women’s love life than the resistance—AKA women’s fiction. This may be because I have read historical fiction novels on The Rape of Nanking, where the brutality can make the reader to shiver. In “When Sleeping Women Wake,” the horrors are glossed over. However, I am confident other readers will enjoy the novel more than I did.

I was not a fan of this book. Way too dull and also slow with lack of plot. I did not enjoy this book, it was very hard to get through

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was a wonderful story and a beautifully written book. It tells generational stories of a mother, daughter, and maid/sister figure in Japanese occupied Hong Kong during World War II. This a a debut novel, so I didn't know what to expect, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The writing is poetic and the story touching. The packing is good throughout. The characters individual story loves are all well don't but also interconnect nicely. This will be one of the last books I read on 2024 and it was one of the best!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Some books don’t just tell a story—they shatter you, piece you back together, and leave an indelible mark on your soul. When Sleeping Women Wake by Emma Pei Yin is one of those rare, transformative novels. This harrowing, beautifully written debut masterfully intertwines the lives of three women navigating the horrors of the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong, crafting a tale of survival, resistance, and the unbreakable bonds of love and humanity.

The Characters
Mingzhu, Qiang, and Biyu are extraordinary in their ordinariness, embodying the quiet strength and resilience of women thrust into unimaginable circumstances.

Mingzhu, the matriarch of the Tang family, is poised and intelligent, balancing the delicate roles of wife, mother, and leader in a gilded cage. Her arc is devastating yet inspiring as she is forced to collaborate with the enemy to survive, grappling with the moral compromises that come with that choice.

Qiang, her daughter, starts as a sheltered young girl but grows into a fierce, determined survivor. Her separation from Biyu and eventual connection to the East River Column Resistance fighters is heart-wrenching and heroic, a testament to the strength born of necessity.

Biyu, the family’s loyal maid, is the beating heart of the novel. Her resourcefulness and unyielding spirit make her a compelling character who transcends her role in the household, becoming a figure of quiet revolution.

The relationships between these women—complicated by class, duty, and love—are the novel’s soul. Their journeys diverge, yet their longing to reunite and protect each other anchors the story, creating an emotional resonance that is both monumental and intimate.

The Historical Context
Pei Yin’s meticulous research shines through, bringing the Japanese occupation of Hong Kong to life with visceral clarity. From the brutal realities of forced labor camps to the underground resistance’s perilous efforts, the setting is vividly realized. The inclusion of cultural details—Mingzhu’s linguistic prowess, the women’s reliance on traditional remedies, and their enduring connection to their homeland—grounds the story in authenticity.

Themes
The novel is a profound meditation on resistance, both internal and external. It celebrates the extraordinary courage of ordinary people in the face of oppression. The title itself, When Sleeping Women Wake, is a rallying cry, encapsulating the quiet revolutions within each woman as they rise to confront their circumstances.

Pei Yin also weaves themes of sacrifice, love, and the relentless pursuit of hope throughout the narrative. These themes are never heavy-handed; they emerge naturally through the characters’ choices and struggles, leaving a lasting impact.

Favorite Moments
It’s impossible to choose just one, but several scenes stand out:

Mingzhu’s confrontation with her captors, where she uses her intellect and linguistic skills as weapons in a war she never signed up for.
Qiang’s initiation into the resistance, a moment of transformation that solidifies her resolve.
Biyu’s quiet rebellion, as she risks everything to smuggle supplies and messages to those who need them most.
The novel’s final moments, when the women’s paths intersect once more in a bittersweet reunion, left me breathless. It’s a testament to the endurance of love and the triumph of the human spirit.

The Writing
Emma Pei Yin’s prose is stunning—lyrical yet grounded, lush but never overwrought. Her descriptions of Hong Kong are both haunting and beautiful, contrasting the city’s physical devastation with the characters’ emotional depths. The narrative is perfectly paced, balancing tension and reflection, action and intimacy.

Final Thoughts
When Sleeping Women Wake isn’t just a book—it’s an experience. It’s the kind of story that shakes you to your core, forcing you to reckon with history, humanity, and the strength it takes to endure. Emma Pei Yin’s debut is nothing short of monumental, and I cannot recommend it enough. This is a novel that will stay with you long after you close the final page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. I have read many historical fiction books centered on World War II in Europe but only a few based on the Pacific Asian perspective, this book was an excellent story based on that view. The story of three women based in Hong Kong during the occupation by Japan was an interesting, heartbreaking, uplifting and thought provoking read. The story of Mingzhu,her daughter Qiang,and Mingzhu’s servant Biyu, and their individual and as a a group experiences during the occupation was at times very difficult to read and the horrors that these women and men experienced was truly devastating..I was impressed by the resilience and strength of both the men and women who participated in the resistance movement and their resourcefulness. The author of this book should be commended for her research that she put into this book. I would highly recommend this book.

When Sleeping Women Wake is a heartbreaking and yet hopeful tale of the brutal Japanese occupation of Hong Kong during World War II, a time period and place I know little about despite knowing a lot about WWII. It resonates painfully today with echoes of the Chinese occupation of Hong Kong.

Telling of the Japanese occupation through the eyes of three very different women, the story rotates from the points of view of Mingzhu, a woman born into an elite family from the Qing dynasty trapped in a loveless marriage with an abusive, wealthy man; Qiang, her headstrong daughter; and Biyu, their servant, who has been like a sister to Qiang.

The three women think nothing could be worse than the opulent, yet comparatively innocent oppression of the Tang household, where Minghzu competes with her husband's haughty concubine and engages in an emotional affair with Qiang's English tutor, Henry, a tender and yet tragically timed romance that blooms between a shared love of literature and poetry, only to be had in stolen glances, lunches of Chinese brisket and mysterious love letters.

I loved the love story between Minghzu and Henry, even if I hated how it ended. She finally knew requited love that she chose, even if it could never truly be hers.

Then this fragile equilibrium is shattered when the Japanese invade and the family is separated. Qiang and Biyu are forced to do factory labor until Qiang escapes and joins the resistance, leaving behind her privileged background as the "Young Miss" of a wealthy household to become a fearsome fighter and leader, with a sad love story of her own with a half-Japanese soldier and resistance fighter. Minghzu, meanwhile, is enlisted to be a translator for the Japanese due to her facility with language, but finds her own way to fight back.

Sometimes the prose could get stilted or formal to read in parts, and there was a little more telling than showing for my taste, but I found it fairly immersive in the war experience and the resilience of the resistance fighters from a woman's perspective, at a time when women's roles were changing. It focused a lot more on women finding their agency in their relationships and families than their careers and fighting back than I was expecting, but that was very realistic for the time period.

I really enjoyed this book overall and found the character development to be strong and compelling as I followed their journey to freedom against all odds. I also liked reading fiction about this time and place in history. It reminded me a little of Pachinko, despite the latter being set in Korea. That story also focuses on women and their relationships under oppressive Japanese occupation.

This is a very strong debut and it packed an emotional punch and maintained a gripping pace throughout.

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

A great historical fiction read! The author did a wonderful job of bringing to life historical research.