What an intense and emotional ride!
I love historical fiction, and this one had so much to teach. Celia’s story of resilience, courage, and hope had me completely hooked. A beautifully written tale of love.

Here’s a middling review you could use:

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Review of The Girls of Good Fortune by Christina McMorris, narrated by Cindy Kay

Christina McMorris delivers a well-researched and engaging story in The Girls of Good Fortune, with a plot that had the potential to earn a solid four stars from me. Unfortunately, the audiobook experience was hampered by the narration. Cindy Kay’s delivery was extremely girlish in tone, which undercut the gravity of some of the more serious themes and moments in the novel. While the story itself was compelling and worth the listen, I couldn’t help but feel that a different narrator might have allowed the book’s depth and emotional weight to come through more fully. As it stands, my rating lands in the middle.
Thanks to NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for my honest review

This book sounded and looked so good! It had been on my TBR before it came out and I was excited to try out this author’s historical fiction for the first time.

The amount of research the author shared in the author’s note was so extensive and interesting!

The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris is a powerful historical novel about Celia, a half-Chinese woman in 1888 Portland who is kidnapped and forced into dangerous labor. The story reveals the harsh realities of racism and exploitation faced by Chinese immigrants, showing Celia’s fight to survive and reclaim her identity. The book is full of rich detail and strong characters, perfect for anyone who likes stories about courage and history. In short: a moving tale of resilience and hope in a tough time.

In 1885, the Chinese Exclusion Act is well underway, and Celia, a biracial woman, is doing her best to pass as white.
When Celia and the son of Portland’s mayor become pregnant out of wedlock, her employment as their maid quickly comes to an end, and she is sent to work at a brothel.

Then, in 1888, Celia wakes up in a tunnel disguised as a man, and falls victim to being shanghaied.

Unfortunately, this never quite gripped me. The writing was weak and the historical themes weren’t properly delved into. I wanted so much more from the characters and the setting.

I was intrigued by this historical fiction that was based around a subject that I was not familiar with and rather enjoyed it. Celia's story is not unique, even for a half Chinese young woman in the state of Oregon at the time. When the man she loves leaves for school, leaving her behind with with a promise of love and a child his family turns her out. She does what she must to survive. She also has to navigate the blatant racism against Chinese immigrants at the time and her own identity issues since she does not appear Chinese. All the while the whole world seems mounted against her and her daughter.

Celia is a dynamic character but she is also very naive and willing to trust way too easily. This leaves her constantly betrayed by those who she trusts the most. And while I wanted the best for Celia and her baby, the happy ending was a little too perfect in my mind. Celia worked hard to stand on her own, I would have seen her continue to do that.

I found this story very interesting, especially considering the history it was based off of as well. It was painful, heart wrenching, and surprisingly had a lot of action to it. The narrator also did a really good job inflecting and changing their voice for all the different characters and accents.

3.5 stars
This was an interesting take on the experience of the Asian American community in the late nineteenth century. Celia is really put through the wringer from start to finish. I suspect the author intended her experiences to touch on all the highlights/tropes of the time/area and it was easier to have the main character go through it all!

Richly atmospheric and grounded in a harrowing slice of forgotten history, The Girls of Good Fortune is a gripping tale of resilience, identity, and survival. Celia’s journey through the shadowy underworld of Portland’s Shanghai Tunnels is as suspenseful as it is emotionally resonant, with themes of race, class, and motherhood woven throughout. Though the pacing slows slightly in parts, the historical detail and Celia’s compelling voice make this a standout novel with both heart and grit.

This work is mostly told from the present timeline, though there are short chapters set in 1888 scattered throughout the primary timeline, and it’s about 65% through the book before the two timelines merge. The strongest part of this book was the details included around historical events of Chinese persecution that was prevalent during this time. From casual racism to dangerous working conditions to downright massacres and shanghaiing, it was all covered in this novel.

There were a few things that weren’t my favorite though. The book feels uneven, with the first half being more focused on Celia and Pearl, motherhood, and trying to get by. Then the second half (post 60%) turns into an action/adventure with constant perils, escapes, and then running straight into another peril that needs escaping. I also didn’t feel like the characters were that strong. This was partially due to the writing style (we’re told how they’re feeling rather than it coming through in the writing), and partially due to the strong focus on the history than the adventure aspects. The romance didn’t feel realistic and added nothing positive for me. The epilogue was a time jump to 1995 where we learn about Celia’s later life of activism, which is a story I think I would have been more interested in than the adventure section of this book.

This may work well for folks who don’t mind a shift in genre in the last half of a book or who are interested in learning about this history. I do recommend the audiobook version of this work, as the narrator did an excellent job. My thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for allowing me to read this work. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

The Girls of Good Fortune explores an interesting place in time. As a Portlander, I was excited to read about the history of my town, and learned a lot about its seedier element. Very little time was spent on the Shanghai Tunnels and the kidnapping element, but the story was interesting nonetheless. Action-packed, this is a quick read, great for those interested in Portland's history.

This was an interesting concept, but I couldn't really figure out when the timelines switched. I think this would have been understood better in physical format, rather than audio, but I didn't care enough to try it. The main character didn't seem to understand the way the world worked at the time she lived in, which made me feel disconnected to the story.

Thank you to Netgalley and RBMedia for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley ad the publisher for the ARC of this novel.
Set in Portland in 1888, this is the story of Celia, a half Chinese half Anglo American. Celia, who passes for white, sees many instances where Chinese immigrants are mistreated, and sets out to find out more about these people. The book has a strong start, and the author provides a rich, detailed history about some of the challenges faced by Chinese American immigrants.
When Celia is Shanghaied and her story becomes a series of adventures is when I admittedly lost focus. I felt the story line became about Celia's poor choices in her efforts to return to her infant daughter, all tied up neatly in the end.
If you like a light read with some interesting history woven into the story line, this book might be for you.

The narrator of the audiobook was AMAZING!
I hope the author can work with her again. They make a good team!
I had never read a historical fiction like this so I hope to read more from the author (soon, please)

3.5 stars rounded up
Interesting tale of the treatment of Chinese immigrants in America in the 1880's, specifically in Portland, OR. The story initially focuses on the plight of Celia, a woman who is half-Chinese passing for white and working as a maid for the mayor. She finds herself "shanghaied" to be used as forced labor. Told in alternating timelines of 1885 and 1888, we learn of her experiences and how she came to be imprisoned. I appreciate the author creating a strong female character who was resilient despite her circumstances. Unfortunately, I felt the author tried to include so many issues affecting the Chinese in America during this time period, that the story of the main character's plight became less of the focus. Other reviews have mentioned the author's note providing more historical information, but this was not included in the audiobook.

I am a huge fan of historical fiction books. This one was a little different read for me in that it took place in the summer of mid- to late-1880s. I was unaware of the prejudices against those of Chinese descent during that time period. Following along with Celia as she navigates life through difficult circumstances. I enjoyed learning about the Shanghai Tunnels and the secrets that prevailed. The romance sprinkled throughout the pages was interesting and added to the story. My one negative reflection is that in listening to the audiobook, the back-and-forth between the two time periods was a little difficult to follow. But eventually you will land in June 1888 and from there you continue in a forward movement through time. The author’s notes are a plus as she provides historical aspects of the atrocities that occurred. This is a well-researched and written historical fiction book that will appeal to those who enjoy books in that genre as well as women’s fiction.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

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The Girls of Good Fortune by Kristina McMorris is a gripping historical fiction audiobook that blends suspense, resilience, and identity into a richly atmospheric tale. Set in Portland, 1888, the story follows Celia, a half-Chinese woman who wakes up drugged and imprisoned in the infamous Shanghai Tunnels. As she pieces together how she ended up there—having worked as a maid for a corrupt mayor’s family and becoming entangled in a goldminers’ massacre—she uncovers secrets that threaten not just her life, but the people she loves.

If you enjoy audiobooks that combine historical grit with heartfelt storytelling—especially ones that spotlight underrepresented voices—this one might be right up your alley. Want help finding where to listen or curious how it compares to The Ways We Hide or Sold on a Monday? I’d be happy to dive deeper.

What a gripping, moving, and at times, heartbreaking story. I couldn't stop listening to this. The narrator did a really good job of getting every single emotion across and making me really feel like I was a part of the story. As an Asian-American, I really felt this story. This is a top tier historical fiction that everyone should read.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kristina McMorris has a gift for blending history and heart, and her latest novel, The Girls of Good Fortune, digs deep.

Set in 1888 Portland, the story opens in the city’s infamous Shanghai Tunnels, where Celia, a young woman of mixed heritage, awakens in a drugged haze, disguised and imprisoned. She’s about to be shipped off as forced labor—shanghaied into a nightmare that pulls no punches.

Celia’s struggle to piece together how she ended up there takes readers on a twisting journey through corruption, injustice, and survival. As a half-Chinese woman passing as white in a time of deep anti-Chinese sentiment, her very existence is a balancing act. The book explores identity, belonging, and the often-hidden cost of silence.

I appreciated the historical depth—especially the backdrop of the goldminers’ massacre and the seedy politics of the day. It was educational without feeling like a history lecture, and McMorris includes recipes and an excellent author’s note to round it out. Still, I had a hard time following the timeline at times, and emotionally, it didn’t hit as hard as some of her earlier novels.

Even so, this is a powerful, well-researched read with guts, grit, and relevance. Four stars from me.

** Thanks to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Recorded Books for complimentary review copies of the eBook and audiobook. The opinions are my own.

The Girls of Good Fortune

The Girls of Good Fortune delivers a compelling, atmospheric journey into 1888 Portland, weaving historical accuracy with a haunting portrayal of identity, survival, and buried secrets. The novel’s greatest strength lies in its richly researched backdrop—the infamous Shanghai Tunnels—and its unflinching depiction of racial tension and exploitation in a forgotten corner of American history.

Celia is a memorable protagonist, both resourceful and haunted, shaped by the necessity of passing and the weight of her mixed heritage. Her voice is strong, even as the narrative immerses readers in moments of fear, betrayal, and painful discovery. The mystery of her abduction unfolds at a deliberate pace, laced with layered connections—from political corruption to a long-buried crime involving missing goldminers.

Though some of the darker elements may feel heavy, they serve the narrative’s deeper exploration of identity and generational trauma. The novel doesn’t shy away from its unsettling realities but balances them with moments of tenderness and resilience. The ending, while not neat, feels earned—especially in light of the thematic focus on how the stories we inherit shape the futures we fight for.

A gripping read for fans of historical fiction that isn't afraid to peer into the shadows, *The Girls of Good Fortune* offers a powerful meditation on what it means to reclaim your story—no matter the cost.