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received an ARC from netgalley!

this book follows two asian american women who have both been “cancelled.” they’ve found each other through a questionable encounter, and Soyoung offers to help Shelley with her grief and rage following her recent fall from society.

the book is interesting. it encapsulates female rage, sexuality, cancel culture, morality, and more. however, there are times in which the context is missing or the story moves too fast to understand what just happened. the narrators are unreliable, which of course fits the theme, but sometimes leaves the reader questioning what the hell just happened. additionally, there are heavy themes of religion.

i enjoyed it, but i wouldn’t reach for it again. 3.5 stars rounded down.

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Shelley Hu meets Sophia Moon in Florida at a touristy motel where Shelley is hiding out after an embarassing incident on a subway in Manhattan made her lose her job and chances for studying law. Sophia is also suffering from an incident at Cornell University, where she faked being a student for several months before being outed in a very public way.

The novel, in my opinion, centers around females, in particular Asian females, and the hurdles they face in everyday life, in their careers, and their hope for the future. Shelley and Sophia think the only way to overcome their past embarrasing situations is to reinvent themselves, change their names to an American sounding name, and become other people with other skills. Sophia's plan to help Shelley do this is successful to a point, but the darkness around Sophia makes the effort challenging and even dangerous.

A bit of magical realism surrounds this tale that really is about stereotyping, racial discrimination, and sexualization of women.

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Shelley Hu gets into a fight with a fellow passenger on the New York subway and seemingly has a breakdown. Another passenger captures the exchange on his phone and it becomes a viral moment on the internet and Shelly loses both her internship and her spot at Columbia Law and her plans for the future all go up in smoke. She returns to her childhood home in Florida and takes up the job she had in high school: working at a kitschy pirate themed motel near Disney World.

One night she is checking in a woman named Sophia Moon who reveals that she is there to meet her. Like Shelley, Sophia has experienced internet infamy and she invites Shelley to come live with her. There, Sophia says, they will get revenge on the people that hurt Shelley and build her a new life.

Though initially cautious, Shelley takes Sophia up on her offer and becomes quite close to her. There is darkness in Sophia and secrets in her past. Can Shelley get out before it's too late?

The Plans I Have for You has a very interesting plot and it kept me thoroughly engaged throughout. Told in dual POVs between Shelley and Sophia, we are able to watch the revenge plans unfurl and also, through flashbacks, see what made the women who they are in the present. The story is layered with the good and the bad of familial bonds and deals with the racism and sexism both women have encountered.

Though I was completely entertained, I was a bit surprised at how dark things got at the ending. Still a good read and one that makes you think. 4.25 stars.

I received this advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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I was hooked from the first page and thought worked as a thriller novel. It had that feel that I was looking for and thought the use of revenge was so well done and the characters had that feel that I wanted. It was engaging and suspenseful that I was wanting and enjoyed the overall feel of the setting and characters. The characters were everything that I was looking for and were so well written in this book and enjoyed the overall storyline with them. Lai Sanders has a strong writing style and was glad I was able to read this.

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“The Plans I Have for You” by Lai Sanders is a captivating novel in which two Asian American women team up after becoming infamous for their so-called bad behavior. As they find each other, they strive for redemption.

The description suggests that fans of *Yellowface* may enjoy this novel, and I agree with that sentiment. Like *Yellowface*, this story delves into themes of imposter syndrome and identity, exploring the various identities we assume, such as those related to race, ethnicity, family roles, relationship status, religion, and more. The cast of characters are also all morally grey. Depnding on the context we all have the capacity to be the “good guy” or “bad guy” in a random moment.

Sanders examines our society’s thirst for sensationalism and scapegoating while also reflecting on how individuals have historically adjusted their identities to survive. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and believe it would be an excellent choice for a book club. It is rich with discussion potential and will keep readers on their toes. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

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I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. What an epic plot this book has! After a public breakdown goes viral, Shelley is hiding out in Florida when she’s approached by Sophia, a woman who went through something similar and offers a way to get revenge. There were so many diabolical moments in this book that I was gasping and unsure of who out of some of the characters was the most twisted. I absolutely love Shelley in this book as she grapples with right and wrong. This book’s plot is basically what we would all daydream about if the same thing happened to us.

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Shelley is down on her luck after hitting her breaking point in public which ended up costing her career and reputation.

With no better options, she returns to her hometown to work at the motel with her mother. During a night shift an unexpected guest arrives. Turns out this woman knows exactly what Shelley needs to get revenge on everyone who ruined her life.

Taking a leap of faith, Shelley puts everything she has left on the line for Sophia to help her. However everything comes with a price…

Wow what a wild ride! While this was very fast paced, I liked that the author took the time to build the backstory for the main characters. It really helped paint the picture on why they were looking for their own version of justice.

Also the plot twist blew my mind - I wasn’t expecting that ending at all.

Thank you to the publisher Simon & Schuster for the eARC.

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This is an odd but fascinating book once I got into it! It begins with Shelley, a young woman who works in a hotel when another woman comes in and tells her, "I know who you are." She wonders if it has anything to do with the subway when years ago a woman asked her to "move your stuff" and she refused. It's a tale of blackmail, hidden identities, and adoptions of Asian babies that may not be legal. It flows quickly and had me gasping a lot as every page has new information that shocks or ties loose ends together. Loved it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

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