Told in two timelines, the first shows Celia in a frightening situation, leaving readers to wonder how she got there. The second timeline takes readers to the beginning of Celia's story when she was a servant in the home of the mayor, until she became pregnant and is sent to work as a cleaner in a brothel. There Celia finds her own 'found family' and raises her child until her past influences the present and sends Celia on a quest to stand up for the rights of Chinese workers.
This book has a decidedly different feel in the first half compared to the second half and it was jarring, to be honest. The first half felt like a historical fiction novel with great insight and atmosphere (reminiscent of Janie Chang and Kate Quinn's The Phoenix Crown). The second half relies on Celia's naive and impulsive decisions (which were at times frustrating) that send her on a dangerous quest filled with kidnapping, ships, train jumping and more that required me to suspend disbelief.
This is a well-researched story that goes a bit off the traditional historical fiction rails. The first half is atmospheric as it teaches readers about racism, long-forgotten massacres against Chinese Americans and the limited choices of women, while the second half is more of an entertaining madcap adventure. Personally, I preferred the first half and found the second half was too over-the-top, but the ending will appeal to readers who like their stories tied up nice and neatly.
Disclaimer: Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the complimentary digital copy of this book which was given in exchange for my honest review.
My Rating: 3 stars
Author: Kristina McMorris
Genre: Historical Fiction, BIPOC
Type and Source: ebook from publisher via NetGalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
First Published: May 20, 2025
Read: May 13-15, 2025
Book Description from GoodReads: The New York Times bestselling author of Sold on a Monday and The Ways We Hide shines a light on shocking events surrounding Portland's dark history in this gripping novel of love, lore, and betrayal.
She came from a lineage known for good fortune…by those who don't know the whole story.
Oregon, 1888. Amid the subterranean labyrinth of Portland's notorious Shanghai Tunnels, a woman awakens in an underground cell, drugged and disguised. Celia soon realizes she's a "shanghaied" victim on the verge of being shipped off as forced labor, leaving behind those she loves most. Although well accustomed to adapting for survival—being half-Chinese, passing as white during an era fraught with anti-Chinese sentiment—she fears that far more than her own fate hangs in the balance.
As she pieces together the twisting path that led to her abduction, from serving as a maid for the family of a dubious mayor to becoming entwined in the case of a goldminers' massacre, revelations emerge of a child left in peril. Desperate, Celia must find a way to escape and return to a place where unearthed secrets can prove deadlier than the dark recesses of Chinatown.
A captivating tale of resilience and hope, The Girls of Good Fortune explores the complexity of family and identity, the importance of stories that echo through generations, and the power of strength found beneath the surface.
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