Thank you so much to NetGalley and HTF Publishing for this ARC of The Boy with the Jade by Charles Bush. I honestly don’t even know why I requested this one, as I had never read anything by this author before but wow, I was absolutely blown away.

From the very first page, I was hooked and ended up reading it straight through in one sitting. The characters are layered and complex, each one carrying a depth that makes them feel real and unforgettable. Bush has a gift for weaving together historical detail with emotional storytelling, creating a world that feels both distant in time and yet strikingly relevant in its themes of duty, tradition, and personal freedom.

As someone who has a secret love for the classics and historical fiction, this book gave me everything I crave in a story rich cultural atmosphere, a compelling central character, and the kind of prose that feels timeless. The writing carried the elegance of a classic novel, while still being accessible and emotionally charged.

What impressed me most was how immersive the story felt. Every moment, every conversation, every image was vivid and purposeful. It’s rare to find a book that balances historical detail with such intimate character development, but The Boy with the Jade delivers both in spades.

This was a beautiful, powerful read that reminded me exactly why I love historical fiction so much. Charles Bush is an author I’ll absolutely be watching from now on, and this novel will stick with me for a long time.

Where to start? I finished this book weeks ago, but kept pondering about how to write a review that would do justice at this incredible powerful work – but also at the great reviews I’ve read about this book here on GR. I’m not nearly as eloquent as I would like to be and I know I never will be so I decided to just start writing.
I cannot express enough my admiration and deep respect for the author for his retelling of this ancient story. I’ve read books from Pearl S. Buck and others who wrote about life in China but they did not exactly prepare me for this stunning work.
To me it felt like Baoyu, Dayiu, Baochai and especially Grandmother came to life from the first page on and sometimes I cringed reading how life must have been for people in general in those days. Not only for the poor people who had to slave away all their life for next to nothing but indeed also for the very rich, because they were bound by numerous traditions which left them no freedom at all.
It was a real revelation and of course I looked up more information about this story – I even tried to read part of the original The Red Chamber but it was too much for me. Maybe I should try later when my life is less complicated.
I’m very happy I was granted this review copy by History Through Fiction and Netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley and HTF Publishing for this eCopy to review

Charles Bush reimagines Dream of the Red Chamber through the eyes of Baoyu, a privileged heir navigating love, loss, and spiritual awakening in 18th-century China.

🏯 Plot Summary
Baoyu is born into the aristocratic Jia family, marked from birth by a jade pendant found in his mouth, a symbol of destiny and burden. His early life is steeped in luxury, but also in emotional complexity. He shares a soul-deep bond with his cousin Daiyu and a passionate relationship with his maid Amber. Yet, these connections are strained by societal expectations and personal failings.

After a brutal beating from his father, Amber’s tragic death, and Daiyu’s decline, Baoyu spirals into despair. His jade pendant is lost, and he’s tricked into marrying Baochai on the day Daiyu dies. Seeking meaning beyond the rigid confines of his upbringing, Baoyu turns to Taoist and Buddhist mentors who guide him toward spiritual clarity. Ultimately, he rejects the path laid out for him: Imperial exams, family duty to chooses a life of reflection and freedom.

📜 What Worked
Historical Immersion: Bush’s depiction of Qing Dynasty China is rich and evocative. The customs, family dynamics, and philosophical undercurrents are well-researched and immersive.

Spiritual Themes: Baoyu’s journey toward enlightenment is thoughtfully rendered. His internal conflict between duty and desire adds emotional depth.

Literary Tribute: For readers familiar with Dream of the Red Chamber, this novel offers a focused, character-driven lens on a sprawling classic.

🤔 What Fell Short
Pacing and Structure: The first half felt slow and indulgent, with Baoyu portrayed as a spoiled, passive character. His transformation, while meaningful, arrives late and somewhat abruptly.

Emotional Distance: Despite the dramatic events of betrayal, death, spiritual rebirth, I often felt detached from Baoyu’s pain.

Romantic Dynamics: The relationships, especially with Amber and Daiyu, felt uneven. Their emotional weight didn’t always match their narrative importance.

🌓 Final Thoughts
The Boy with the Jade is a thoughtful, beautifully written novel that offers a window into a fascinating time and culture.

This was a frustrating book. The first part was like reading about a thoroughly spoilt child. The second became an apology for the lifestyle of a Buddhist monk. While it is good to read of someone learning from life, for someone who disagrees with Buddhist doctrine the book was not as enjoyable as I had hoped. Certain ideas have great value, such as the discontent with materialistic lifestyles but to withdraw entirely from your society including your obligations to care for immediate family is not, in my opinion the way forward

I much enjoyed this retelling of a classic 18th-century Chinese tale (Dream of the Red Chamber). It featured an aristocratic youth reared in a privileged household. Baoyu, the family's male heir, is expected to be diligent in his studies so that he can take the classic examination required for advancement and prestige in Imperial China. He is also expected to marry well and produce heirs. He struggles with both these expectations, having sexual adventures with women who are not deemed appropriate and fearing that his true love may not be the one his family selects for him. His relationship with his father is troubled, so he also resists studying for the all-important exams that will enable him to bring honor to his family. The story follows his rising and falling fortunes and his growth as a reflective young man. It is a compelling story, well-told in this rendition. Readers will learn a lot about life in an 18th-century patrilineal Chinese aristocratic family. It is a light read, but the story will stay with you. I enjoyed this and recommend it.

This was a very different sort of book for me. Set in eighteenth century China we follow the life of Baoyu, who is born into a wealthy family, but there are expectations and a strange father to overcome. In some ways, Baoyu is fortunate, but he does have some trials, especially when his lovers die and he is tricked into marrying the wrong girl. It is a very circumscribed life as he tries to meet his filial obligations but remain true to himself. I enjoyed this book because it took me to a very unusual place and time, where the practices and the rules were vastly different to today. The examination part was also interesting, both for what was covered and the way it was run. Thanks to NetGalley and HTF Publishing for an opportunity to read this book.

DNFed this book. I have read a lot of Chinese historical fiction, written by Chinese authors.
This book had such an odd Western tone. Made me not want to read on.

Three and a half stars rounded up to four. Baoyu is the only surviving son of the wealthy Jia family. This book covers ten years of his life.
This book was fascinating, especially since it was written by a white Midwestern man. It was very detailed, and kept my interest from the first page to the last. I would recommend it.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Historical fiction that is universal and timeless in the quest for your place in the world. Realizing your privileges, the family teachings that are not always put into practice, the rules you place on yourself because of others perceptions of you, and the final leaving and learning to become your true self are all for front in this book.

The Boy with the Jade by Charles Bush is such a good story... I totally recommend everyone to read this book as fast as they can because it's really good and the characters are fantastic.

In the declining years of the Qing Dynasty in 18th Century China, a boy was born with a jade pendant in his mouth. The jade would portend happiness that would wane, a result of tragedy and loss.

Baoyu was born into the privileged Jia clan, a noble family living in a sprawling family compound in the center of Beijing. He lived with his doting Grandmother, visited regularly with his mother in her separate courtyard but avoided his rigid, authoritarian father who displayed “harshness when leniency was an alternative.”

Baoyu’s idyllic life was enhanced by the arrival of first cousin Daiyu, a thin waif who came to live at the mansion. She taught herself to write poetry, was gifted in painting and engaged in Zen conversations. She tended toward melancholy. Daiyu and Baoyu became inseparable, that is, until first cousin Baochai arrived. Baochai was beautiful, even tempered and obedient, gracious to both masters and servants. Daiyu appeared to be arrogant and was a bundle of nervous energy. “Each girl shared half of my name…Baoyu, Daiyu, Baochai…I saw a triangle with me at the apex…while Daiyu and I were soulmates, I also felt a pull toward Baochai.” Baoyu knew that aristocratic families liked to marry first cousins to each other. Would Grandmother arrange for Baoyu to marry Daiyu?

Secrets did not exist in the Jia mansion. “Servants surrounded us every moment of our lives…watching and listening…” When Baoyu formed his own independent household on his 14th birthday, Grandmother gifted him with her junior maid, Amber. Amber would become his chief maid. “No rule prohibited Jia masters from consorting…with their servants…Daiyu knew the rules…As long as my other partners (such as Amber) were mere servants, it didn’t matter.”

As a spoiled, pampered young man, Baoyu was unable to “man up” and prevent the repercussions of innocently sharing a candy. Unspeakable tragedy occurred when he returned home tearfully, wearing the red shirt belonging to another. His jade pendant was missing. Deception…a veil covered face…Baoyu, duped into an unwanted arranged marriage.

Worldly possessions were fleeting. Anyone, at any time, could fall from grace. The dilemma: uphold societal expectations in deference to Grandmother (Her Old Ladyship), parents and wife, or follow the path to enlightenment and personal fulfillment. How timely the mystical presence of a barefoot Buddhist monk wearing a moth eaten maroon robe and a lame Taoist priest with a head full of long, tangled hair. They had discovered the lost jade pendant! “There was an alternative to always obeying my family dictates…to seek peace of mind…that became the purpose of my life…”.”He who has attained the Way makes no show of it. He who makes a show of it has not attained the Way.”

An excellent historical fiction read of 18th Century Chinese society during the Qing Dynasty.

Thank you HTF Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.