A fun, rich people behaving badly story - family drama and a mystery. Entertaining and well-paced narration that I looked forward to listening. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to an advanced copy.

Let's call it....hmmmm. Maybe, “Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession with a Birkin bag full of secrets.”

Renée Ahdieh’s Park Avenue is the indulgent, whip-smart, globe-trotting adult debut I didn’t know I needed—and now I can’t stop thinking about it. If Crazy Rich Asians, White Lotus, and Knives Out had a love child raised on Korean skincare, Hermès lust, and Manhattan ambition, this would be the result.

At the center of the drama is Jia Song, a sharp, stylish Korean American attorney with a chip on her shoulder, a plan for the perfect life, and a deeply relatable desire to outshine her humble beginnings. She’s just made junior partner at her cutthroat New York law firm and is this close to snagging a gold-on-gold Birkin. Then she’s thrown into the case of her career—and into the orbit of the Parks, a billionaire Korean family with beauty empire money, dynastic dysfunction, and layers of dirty laundry.

Jia thinks she’s just there to clean up a high-profile divorce. What unfolds is a jet-setting, high-stakes mystery filled with missing money, hidden motives, slow-burn chemistry, and whispered secrets only hinted at in interludes from a mysterious, Gossip Girl-style omniscient narrator. Is Jia a lawyer or a fixer? Can she stay objective when the family she’s supposed to dismantle starts to feel disturbingly familiar?

What I Loved:
+ The Voice: Jia is razor-sharp, ambitious, and painfully real. Her internal tug-of-war between status, success, and self-worth had me underlining passages.
+ The Family Drama: Every Park sibling is their own hot mess and I loved watching their secrets unravel in delicious, suspenseful beats. Think Rich People Problems with edge.
+ The Tone: It’s slick, stylish, and often laugh-out-loud funny—but there’s a deeper emotional core that lands hard.
+ Cultural Nuance: Ahdieh weaves Korean culture, identity, and generational tension into every layer of the story—without sacrificing pace or glamour.
+ The Mystery: It’s juicy, well-paced, and not just about money. The real twist? Jia discovering what she actually wants.

This book demands to be adapted for the screen. Imagine Succession, but with better outfits, actual feelings, and someone who can pronounce “samgyeopsal” correctly. Until then, read this with a cocktail, a face mask, and a sense of drama.

Final Verdict:
A dazzling, witty, emotional rollercoaster that’s as much about family and self-discovery as it is about scandal and wealth. If you loved Crazy Rich Asians, Big Little Lies, or Inventing Anna, cancel your plans and dive in. Jia Song is the anti-heroine of the summer—and Renée Ahdieh has officially arrived in the adult fiction world.

🥂 Highly recommend pairing with a beach day, a playlist full of K-pop, and a healthy dose of petty gossip.

“𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘤𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘧𝘧 𝘨𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘥.”

Thank you Flatiron Books for the advanced listeners copy via NetGalley! This one released last month! I really enjoyed the audiobook and the narrator, although there are a lot of details that can easily get missed listening vs reading a physical or e-copy.

Likened to Crazy Rich Asians (which I LOVE), we readers find ourselves along with Jia wrapped up in the elaborate, wild, luxurious lives of wealthy Asians; they are bold, brash, elaborate, and full of secrets. If I were to compare it to any of the CRA trilogy it would most be like the third book, Rich People Problems, however they still are very different.

It’s part family drama, part light mystery with an unnamed narrator that may or may not be all that reliable that periodically pops up. Not everything is as it seems and we discover this as more layers and characters’ motives are revealed. There are shenanigans, little white lies, jet-setting, designer names, and all the things you’d expect in this type of sub-genre.

It was and wasn’t what I was expecting and while I didn’t connect with any character or element, by the end I liked it more than I did while I was reading/listening, if that makes sense. Still, and perhaps it’s due to not quite catching all the details and keeping names straight because I was listening, I do feel like I or the story itself was missing something. So if you have the chance to get your hands on a physical copy that would be the route I would go (though the narrator did a good job!) and bring this along as a beach read. Content includes profanity, mentions of infidelity, a side character is dying of cancer, and a character recounts physical abuse.

A compelling listen with great prose and interesting characters, but the pacing felt uneven at times. Ahdieh’s storytelling shines, though the plot was somewhat predictable. Still, a solid choice for fans of the books listed in all the marketing. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc.

I loved this book - I loved the exploration of Korean identity and family dynamics. I loved the main characters obsession with wealth and how that intersects with her immigrant identity. I also really enjoyed how this book interwined a family saga, a mystery (almost in a thriller type way) and romance! Well done!

This novel marks Renee Ahdieh's adult literary debut. I found the audiobook to be an enjoyable listen. The narrative explores a family's Korean beauty line and Jia's eventual management of it. It was instantly captivating.

At first glance, this is a family drama, but the dynamics make this feel cinematic. The stakes are vicious, and the dark humor of it all is very reminiscent of Succession. Our narration is snarky and deceptive, and you can't tell whether you want the characters to make up or duke it out. I would almost go as far as to call this a contemporary romance--not because it truly is one, but because the whole thing is so fiery.

While it's a different genre for Ahdieh, her execution is pretty spectacular. I didn't expect to be so taken by this story, and now I can't wait to see what else Adhieh does in the contemporary genre.

I have a lot of feelings about this audiobook! Firstly, the narration itself was great and well done, and I really enjoyed the audio. Now onto the plot - Park Avenue is a slow burn family drama a la White Lotus mixed with a little bit of Gossip Girl especially during the "author" points of view chapters. This book tells the story of the almost billion dollar Park family who resides on Park Avenue (and many other places around the world). The 3 adult children of the family are suing their father who has left their dying mother and had an affair with another woman. Their father is refusing to give any money to them. The main point of view of this store is from Jia, the lawyer hired to represent the children.

I found the love interest/attraction between Jia and the family manager to happen REALLY quickly and it seemed really unprofessional and just odd? The relationship between Jia and her clients also seemed to move way too close way too quickly. I just found myself questioning if these things would really happen and it was hard for me to believe..

I think it's great that this novel has been picked up for a tv series adaption because I think it will make a GREAT tv show. I think that the book needed some more detailing and plot lines as well as more build up into relationships which a tv show would do really well.

I'd recommend this audiobook to anyone who likes a slow burn family drama! Thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this eARC.

I really wanted to love this book but it fell a little flat for me. The premise was good and the book did deliver on family drama but the characters were insufferable at times. It also felt like YA at some parts.

I wanted to love this book a lot more than I actually did. All the elements were there, but it ultimately just fell a little bit flat for me. I picked it up, in part, due to the reviews that claimed it meshed Crazy Rich Asian and Succession, which sounded absolutely awesome to me. In theory, this comparison is true, but the combo just doesn't work as well as it seems it should have.

I liked the main character Jia and her story as the daughter of immigrant parents who own a corner store to becoming a junior partner at a major law firm. She's got big aspirations and goals. She wants to prove herself to her parents, siblings, and people who once knew her. And she also really, really wants a Birkin bag. She gets put on a major client at work, in large part because she's Korean and the client is a Korean family. The family owns a famed skincare company and is having a terrible dispute about money with the three adult children questioning what their father is doing to keep money from them and their money.

Perhaps because I'm not involved in the world of lawyering with extremely wealthy clients, but so much felt ridiculous with Jia traveling all over the world to simply meet with a family member. She felt more like a private investigator than a lawyer to me, but with lots of weird closeness to her clients. In some ways, it was fun, but I felt like I had to suspend my disbelief quite a bit.

I listened to the audio and the narrator is great and I loved the interjections from the narrator breaking the third wall, though I do wonder how they would have played in print. It works really well in the audio and definitely pulled me back into the story at times when I felt like I was losing a bit of interest.

I think it's really hard to live up to Crazy Rich Asians and it's a comparison that probably does a book a disservice when it's made simply because there are very wealthy Asian characters. I wouldn't pick this book up if you're expecting a book super similar to CRA, but if you enjoy books about very rich, kind of ridiculous people, you might like this one.

Park Avenue explores themes of family relationships and struggles, while tying in a mystery that keeps you guessing till the end. From the moment that we are introduced to our main character, Jia, she has a personality that fits the plot perfectly. She is cautious yet has the arrogance needed to deal with the rich as their lawyer. For being the first adult novel by Renée Ahdieh, she did an incredible job portraying the struggles of finding oneself in a quest to save family fortunes. I really loved the ending of this book, I did not expect that amazing twist and the ways in which it all came together. I found myself going back and listening to parts with a new perspective. I would highly recommend this book, but also the audiobook version of it. The narrator did a great job acting out the characters and portraying their feelings.

Ever since Jia Song saw her first Birkin bag as a child working in her parents bodega, she dreamed of a life of luxury. As an adult, she has just made junior partner at a prestigious law firm in New York when she lands a career making, or breaking, case. The uber-wealthy Park family are the owners of the Korean beauty brand Mirae. After their matriarch, Jenny, was given a terminal diagnosis, Seven, the patriarch, has filed for divorce, offering her and their three children $25 million and the Park Avenue residence. The only problem is that the three siblings believe the company to be worth much more than that. They have hired Jia to look into Seven's financial accounts, which also involves jet-setting around the world with the three siblings and their handsome house manager. This was a thrilling story about rich people behaving badly and maybe redeeming themselves.

I listened to the audiobook and I think that the narrator did a great job with it. The voices she did for each of the characters really fit with the narrative. There were also chapters from the perspective from an unknown narrator that were reminiscent of Gossip Girl, which I found to be really fun. The settings were opulent, the characters were entitled, and the time limit set for Jia to get the evidence needed really ramped up the stakes for the story. There was also a good amount of soul-searching and character development, which was satisfying for the reader. Jia really had to come to terms with the expectations that were set by her family and what her own actual dreams were. This will be a great one for people who enjoy mysteries and stories that revolve around the incredibly wealthy.

Renée Ahdieh’s adult debut is like Crazy Rich Asians crash-landing into Succession—with a hefty side of legal briefcases and designer envy.

The story follows Jia Song, a sharp-as-a-tack junior partner at a top Manhattan law firm—and the daughter of Korean bodega owners—who’s about to snag the ultimate trophy: a gold-on-gold Birkin bag… or at least that was the plan. But life (and her boss) have other ideas. Jia is fast-tracked onto a hush-hush case: the Park family—a K-beauty empire worth a billion—is imploding. The patriarch is divorcing a dying matriarch, hiding assets, and leaving their three chaos-driven adult kids in a stew of greed, lies, and private jet drama.

Jia sprints across the globe incognito: from penthouses to private jets to Seoul and the Cayman Islands, all while untangling the financial skeletons and resisting the irresistible pull of the dysfunctional Parks.

There was crisp pacing, high-fashion havoc, and a heroine who’s equal parts ambitious lawyer and undercover therapist to a billionaire brood. This was a fun read!

I am surprised by how much I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The narrator was fabulous and the plot enticing and binge-able. It was so fun to get into my car and have this to listen to on my commute. I’ve been to Korea a few times so loved the mention of some of the history and art and food. While I didn’t like many of the characters at the beginning of the story by the end they all seemed like friends. Congratulations to Renee Ahdieh on this entertaining and engaging story. I’m looking forward to what you are putting down next already - I’m a fan! Do yourself a favour and go on a holiday and listen to this tale of saga and style, suspense and family dysfunction . Thank you to Netgalley, Flatiron Books, and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC in exchange for an honest review. This is 4.5 stars of pure entertainment from me!!!

I really enjoyed "Park Avenue" by Renee Ahdieh and brilliantly narrated by Michelle H. Lee. It tells the story of a junior partner at a prestigious law firm. Jia Song, who had grown up with immigrant Korean parents. Determined to get ahead in life, her dream was to work hard enough to be able to afford every designer luxury and symbol of affluence. It isn't until she is assigned a case dealing with one of the richest Korean families in the world. Through her dealings with them, she learns that money has drawbacks and does not ensure happiness and love. The Park family is squabbling over the fortune; the philandering husband is trying to cheat them out of their inheritance by hiding his fortune. Jia is hired by the wife (who is dying of cancer) and children to track down the fortune and make sure everyone is done right by. Will this case be the key to Jia's future at the firm? Will she become the youngest senior partner in history? With twists and turns and a few clues offered by an anonymous narrator in several interlude chapters, Jia finally discovers what it is she wants in life.

Many thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for an ARC of this great book. My opinion is my own.

A complicated family drama that revolves around money, manipulation, duplicity, guile, infidelity, backstabbing, racism, social and career climbing and using people to get what they want no matter who they hurt along the way. The level of entitlement was astounding. The tag line for this book should be “He or she who dies with the most wins”. Most of the characters wouldn’t know what to do if they had to live without the vast sums of wealth they were born to and one who only sees it as a way to show success and be happy, even though she isn’t happy at all. Sadly, most of them are incredibly unhappy under their very expensive clothes. The story is well written, complicated and compelling. Not the easiest listen as no one is terribly likable, but I couldn’t press stop! The narration was stellar. Upped to 4 stars from what would have been a 3.5 rating if half stars were available.

Thoroughly satisfying, delightful and engaging narrative interwoven with NY high fashion, Korean food, art, culture and heritage with well-developed characters that one could form a bond with. In a sea of superficial pretense, greed and wealth this simply a story of a woman reclaiming herself. Thank you for this beautiful story and thank you for a peek inside the world of Birkin bags and Korean eommas.

3.75 rounded up. This started off confusing to me. There were a lot of characters and I had a tough time figuring it out, especially via audio. About 30% in most of the characters started to click in my head and I could navigate the story easier. I loved the drama of the Park family, and Jia was a great main character, I found her likeable and fun to follow. The narrator was easy to listen to, and the pacing was perfect. Overall a really fun drama filled story of a wealthy family!

This was a solid audiobook listen. A Korean family drama with mystery, intrigue and Singin' In the Rain references. A very slow burn but the pay-off is great! I liked the Gossip Girl like chapters. This would be great for a long road trip to keep your mind occupied.

Wow! I didn’t know what to expect going into this, but I was totally hooked. It’s been pitched as Crazy Rich Asians meets Succession, and honestly, that’s spot on. I always love a book about the super wealthy, especially when they behave badly, and this one was packed with juicy drama that had me flipping pages nonstop. I devoured it in under 24 hours.

The story follows Jia Song, a Korean American lawyer who’s just made junior partner. She gets pulled into this wild family drama when she starts working with the Park siblings, heirs to a major Korean beauty brand fortune. Their parents are going through a bitter divorce, and Jia is brought in to help investigate their father’s suspiciously low financial disclosures. What follows is a rollercoaster of secrets, power plays, and major “who can we trust” moment. And I ate it up!

I also loved the integration of Korean culture and language throughout the book. I tandem-read with the audiobook, and the narrator’s authentic pronunciation of Korean words and names really brought the story to life. I highly recommend the audiobook!

This book was bingeable, dramatic, and so much fun. I truly had the best time reading it and could not put it down.