The Leftover Woman by Jean Kwok
Unique
I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and William Morrow publishing for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
The book is a captivating and emotionally charged narrative that held my attention for a few days, leaving me with a need to collect my thoughts. Apologies for the slight delay in sharing my reflections. ‘The Leftover Woman’ follows the journey of Jasmine, a young Chinese woman who escapes to America to find her daughter, given up for adoption by her authoritarian husband to an American couple in New York. Facing the constraints of China’s one-child policy, Jasmine’s husband’s actions are driven by his desire for a son to carry on his family name. The story unfolds through the dual perspectives of Jasmine and Rebecca, the American woman who adopted Jasmine’s daughter.
The narrative subtly delves into the complexities of cross-racial adoption, skillfully highlighting the social and personal challenges associated with such arrangements.
Once I delved into the book, it gripped me, although it didn’t precisely fit into the thriller or mystery genre due to its somewhat predictable plot and lack of intense suspense. Rather, it unfolds as a slow-burning tale with a strong focus on character development, falling more under the category of literary fiction with elements of suspense.
While the overall writing was compelling, I found some of the dialogues, particularly those between Rebecca and her husband, to be a bit awkward and forced. However, this minor issue didn’t significantly diminish my overall reading experience. The book remains a commendable effort by the author, delivering a poignant and impactful narrative. Notably, the conclusion was exceptionally satisfying, eliciting a response akin to an enthusiastic round of applause from me. If you’re intrigued, I highly recommend picking up a copy through the link provided below.
