The Review

“The Leftover Woman” was one of my most anticipated novels of 2023. I was instantly intrigued by a thriller with the premise focusing on Chinese Adoptions and the One Child Policy. One of my sorority sisters learned the true story of her adoption after taking an ancestry DNA test. The pain her birth father experience in fear of the having to pay the ruinously high “social maintenance fee” could really be felt in article. Zoe’s story has haunted me these past few years. Knowing that there are many more stories like hers, not always with a happy ending, I could only image what tale Jean Kwok would spin with a mystery thriller surrounding the horrors of the One Child Policy.

“The Leftover Woman” by Kwok tells the story of two very contrasting women. The first, Jasmine, is an illegal immigrant, who fled her abusive relationship in China, attempting to find her long lost daughter that was adopted by a couple in the United States. The second, Rebecca, is an extremely privileged white woman, who due to infertility issues, adopted her Chinese daughter. From the description alone, you can probably already guess how their lives are intertwined.

A strength of Kwok’s is her powerful storytelling ability, which captivates readers and immerses them in the lives of the characters. By choosing to write Jasmine’s sections in a deeply personal first-person narrative, and Rebecca’s in a more distant third-person perspective, Kwok created a compelling contrast that allows the readers to connect with each character in a distinctive way. This strategic move not only offers a unique and immersive reading experience, but also adds depth and complexity to the storytelling, making the narrative even more engaging and memorable.

My only downside to the novel is that the “mystery thriller” title is used in the loosest of senses. While the story did have intriguing elements that kept me engaged, the labeling of the novel as a “mystery thriller” felt somewhat misleading. When I first picked up the book, I was expecting a gripping plot filled with unexpected turns and relentless suspense, but instead, I found myself immersed in a detailed exploration of the characters’ inner struggles and the complex dynamics of their relationships. I was more drawn into the actual story being told, and Jasmine’s journey to find her daughter, that I forgot what genre it was actually given and assumed it was a literary novel. There were some mysteries – and some thrills – but ultimately, it really only accounted for 10% of the novel. Personally, I think “The Leftover Woman” was given this moniker because of the “big twist” may take some readers by surprise, but it really isn’t too much of a shock if you notice the right details.

Despite the loose genre definition, I was thoroughly enthralled with “The Leftover Woman” and highly recommend it under the advisory that I have zero clue how it was nominated for Best Mystery Triller. Instead, focus on the rich detail to the the story which overpowers its shortcomings. Also, there is an epilogue which I was extremely pleased with. Overall, I would rate it as 4.5 Stars, rounding down to 4.

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Short Review (AKA TLDR)

4.5 Stars!

For fans of “Little Fires Everywhere”, “The Leftover Woman” tells the story of two women whose lives are entangled by fate. Labeled as a Mystery Thriller, “The Leftover Women” was one of my Most Anticipated Reads for 2023 (I finally got off the Libby Waitlist); however, there is hardly any mystery and very limited thrills.

For those seasoned to the genre, the twist is easy to figure out if you know the correct clues. However, the story is rich in detail which allows forgiveness for its shortcomings. I am especially grateful that an epilogue was included.